The NUST Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) organised a seminar on "Pak-US Relations" in Islamabad, featuring a keynote address by Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States. The event was attended by statesmen, former officials, academics, and think tank experts who highlighted the strong potential for bilateral ties between Pakistan and the US. They emphasized the importance of pragmatic cooperation, mutual respect, and adopting a forward-looking approach to strengthen relations. The participants also stressed the significance of increased academic, business-to-business exchanges, and trade linkages in areas such as agriculture, education, ICTs, renewable energy, healthcare, and minerals.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1269529-nust-organises-seminar-to-highlight-strong-pak-us-tiesThe United Nations has warned that aid efforts in Gaza are at a breaking point due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. The situation is further complicated by the Israeli military's destruction of a UN convoy carrying food supplies, which was slammed as an attack on humanitarian workers. Meanwhile, international flights have resumed at Damascus airport, and Jordan has secured the release of a doctor who was detained by Israel while on a relief mission in Gaza. Technical meetings to negotiate a ceasefire are ongoing, facilitated by Qatar.
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/palestine-slams-settler-violence-israeli-threats-against-west-bank-cities-18251239US diplomat Amos Hochstein expressed hope that the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon is proceeding in the right direction after meeting with Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri. The agreement requires the Israeli army to withdraw from southern Lebanon over a 60-day period, while the Lebanese army deploys alongside UN peacekeepers in the south and Hezbollah pulls its forces north of the Litani River. Hochstein met with Major General Jasper Jeffers, a US representative on the committee overseeing the ceasefire, and said that despite some delays, he is optimistic about the progress being made. He also urged political consensus in Lebanon ahead of a presidential vote this week, calling it an opportunity to focus on rebuilding the economy and implementing reforms for economic growth and prosperity.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/us-envoy-says-israeli-forces-begin-pullout-from-second-south-lebanon-townSouth Korean officials have expressed concern over a recent missile launch by North Korea, which flew around 1,100 kilometers before falling into the sea. The US and Japan are in close coordination with South Korea about the launch, and Seoul has strengthened its surveillance and vigilance for potential future launches. In a separate development, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with acting President Choi Sang-mok and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as well as trilateral cooperation with Japan. The meeting comes ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has taken a more isolationist approach to foreign policy and has been critical of South Korea's contributions to the cost of hosting US troops on its soil.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/01/06/north-korea-fires-missile-as-blinken-warns-of-pyongyang-and-russian-cooperation/162213China's foreign ministry stated that any solution to the border dispute with India should be fair and acceptable to both sides. The two countries agreed to maintain peace in their shared border areas and promote healthy bilateral relations. Beijing also expressed a desire to separate the border issue from overall relations between the two nations, without providing further details on what this entails.
https://channelnewsasia.com/commentary/india-china-dispute-diplomatic-relations-himalayan-border-4836516Italy's reliance on SpaceX for secure communications could leave it vulnerable to disruptions, according to Matthew Hodgson, co-founder of Matrix, a protocol used by the U.S. Navy and European governments. If Italy relies too heavily on Elon Musk's services, it may be unable to communicate with other countries if they were to go down or be shut off, posing a significant risk to its security.
https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-giorgia-meloni-starlink-secure-telecoms/India and China, the world's two most populous countries, have a choice between cooperation or rivalry as they navigate their complex relationship in the 2020s. A commitment to cooperation could allow them to manage their differences, particularly on border issues, and focus on shared economic growth and stability through increased trade, investment, and technology exchanges. This could help reduce their dependence on Western economies and promote joint interests in areas such as climate change, global health, and multilateral trade.
https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/india-china-relations-2025-bridging-the-divide-or-widening-the-rift-13850346.htmlThe Israeli government has rejected accusations of war crimes in the ongoing conflict with Hamas, claiming its actions comply with international law. However, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack killed over 1,200 people in southern Israel. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 45,800 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children making up over half the casualties. Israeli airstrikes have continued to cause civilian casualties, including five deaths in the Nuseirat refugee camp, four in Khan Younis, and three in the Bureij refugee camp. The war has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza's population, leaving vast destruction in its wake.
https://www.euronews.com/2025/01/06/israel-aids-former-soldiers-exit-from-brazil-amid-war-crime-allegationsUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit South Korea from January 4 to 9, amidst ongoing political turmoil in the country. During his trip, he will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with South Korea to promote a "free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific" region. The visit includes stops in Japan and France, where Blinken will engage in diplomatic efforts to address regional security concerns.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/antony-blinken-to-visit-south-korea-japan-and-france-from-january-4-to-9/