Daily News Brief

 

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May 10, 2024 (Friday)

GLOBAL

Asia Pacific

1.       China Anger as American Warship USS Halsey Sails Through Taiwan Strait. The guided missile destroyer passed through a corridor "beyond the territorial sea" of any coastal state, said a statement by the US Navy's 7th fleet but China's military described the move as "public hype" and said it had sent naval and aerial forces to monitor and warn the ship and "deal with it in accordance with the law and regulations".

2.       Chinese Deployment to Ream Naval Base Not Permanent, Cambodia Says. Cambodia’s government has denied that the months-long presence of two Chinese warships at its main naval base constitutes a permanent deployment, saying that they are in the country for training and military exercises.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       Russia Celebrates Victory in Second World War at Victory Day Parade. Russia wrapped itself in patriotic pageantry for Victory Day, a celebration of its defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War that President Vladimir Putin has turned into a pillar of his nearly quarter of a century in power and a justification for his move into Ukraine.

4.       Russia to Withdraw Troops from Armenia’s Border. Hundreds of Russian soldiers will stand down from their positions along Armenia’s borders, the Kremlin confirmed, marking a significant rift between the two former allies.

REGIONAL

India/South Asia

5.       'No Reliable Evidence': Russia Refutes US Allegations Against India in Pannun Murder Plot. Russia has refuted allegations of the involvement of Indian citizens in a foiled assassination plot against pro-Khalistan radical Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.    

IIOJK

6.       Indian Troops Continue Cordon and Search Operations in IIOJK. According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian troops, paramilitary, police and VDG [so-called Village Defence Guards] personnel along with surveillance equipment, including drones and sniffer dogs, continued the cordon and search operation on the 6th successive day today in different areas of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts.

Afghanistan

7.       Taliban Deploy Additional Forces to Badakhshan: Sources. Mohammad Ayoub Khalid, the Taliban-appointed governor of Badakhshan, told BBC that the increased military presence was due to efforts to eradicate poppy fields, but this has led to “misunderstandings” among the local population.

Middle East/Africa

8.       First Shipment of Aid to the US-Built Floating Pier in Gaza Departs from Cyprus. A shipment of humanitarian aid left a port in Cyprus and was on its way to the U.S-built pier in Gaza, the first delivery to the newly built ramp, Cyprus’ foreign minister said.

Iran

9.       Iran Frees 5 Indians Among Crew from Seized Portuguese-Flagged Ship.  Iran has freed the seven (of which five are Indians) of 25 crew members from the Portuguese flagged ship MSC Aries, which was seized on 13 Apr.

INTERNAL

Security

10.      Pakistan Asks Afghanistan to Take Action against TTP. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also said Pakistan is concerned about the terror threat it faces from individuals and entities in Afghanistan.

Economy

11.      SBP-Held Reserves Cross $9bn after IMF Tranche. Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by $1.114 billion week-over-week (WoW) to reach $9.12 billion, according to the latest data released by the central bank

Politics

12.      May 9 Anniversary: COAS Warns Against Misconstruing Restraint as Weakness. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has reiterated the resolve to ensure justice for the planners, abettors, facilitators, and culprits of the 9 May incident, stating that they will be brought to account within the framework of the law.