Daily News Brief

 

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May 8, 2024 (Wednesday)

GLOBAL

Asia Pacific

1.       British PM Declines to Name China over Armed Forces Payroll Hack. Rishi Sunak said he was limited in what he could say over who was to blame for a "malign act" on the Ministry of Defence website and added that China has "fundamentally different values to ours" but would not name it is as the suspect over a cyber-attack.

2.       China Threatens to Release Audio of Secret Deal with Philippines. China may soon release audio of a purported phone call with a Philippine military official that Beijing claims is evidence of an agreement over disputed territory in the South China Sea, according to Chinese officials.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       US Army Sergeant Arrested in Russia Accused of Theft. A US Army soldier stationed in South Korea has been detained in Russia, the US military said while the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the charges were not related to "politics or espionage" but to a "purely domestic crime".

4.       Undercover Plot to 'Kidnap and Kill' Zelenskyy Thwarted, Ukraine's Security Service Says. Ukrainian State Agency SBU claimed two agents who were posing as Ukrainian state guard servicemen were tasked by Moscow to kidnap Mr Zelenskyy and later kill him.

REGIONAL

India/South Asia

5.       3 Indian Navy Ships On Way for Operational Deployment in South China Sea. Three Indian Naval Ships have arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit as part of the operational deployment of the Navy's Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea, underscoring the strong linkages between both navies.

IIOJK

6.       Indian Troops Martyr Three Kashmiris in Kulgam. According to Kashmir Media Service, the youth were martyred by the troops during a cordon and search operation in Redwani area of the district.

Afghanistan

7.       Kabul, Astana, and Ashgabat Plan to Build a Logistics Center in Western Afghanistan. According to the Afghan official, the authorities of the three countries will prepare a written agreement on official plans for the creation of a hub within two months, allowing Central Asian countries to more actively supply their goods to South Asian states.

Middle East/Africa

8.       U.N. Chief Presses for Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza, Warns Israel against Military Escalation in Rafah. Speaking to reporters, Secretary-General António Guterres urged Israel and Hamas to "show the political courage and spare no effort" to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages that were taken on 7 Oct.

Iran

9.       US Tries to Pressure Southeast Asia into Sanctioning Iran: Bloomberg.  The United States is attempting to rally the support of Southeast Asian countries to implement further sanctions on Iran and its allies in the Axis of Resistance.

INTERNAL

Security

10.      Karachi Police Arrest Two Alleged RAW Agents in Korangi. In a significant breakthrough, security forces in Karachi have apprehended two individuals suspected of affiliation with India’s intelligence agency, RAW. The duo, identified as Khawar Hussain and Jabbar, were reportedly planning a major terror strike in the city.

Economy

11.      SIFC Focusing on Development of Yak Farming in Pakistan. Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), besides other steps to boost country’s economy, has been focusing on the development of Yak farming in the country which plays a pivotal role in Livestock.

Politics

12.      Uzbekistan Foreign Minister to Arrive in Pakistan. Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov will undertake an official visit to Islamabad on 8-9 May 2024, said Foreign Affairs ministry.