On Friday morning, the first charter flight to repatriate Indian citizens stuck in Israel amid the ongoing war arrived in New Delhi. The flight carried 212 Indian passengers, including an infant. The plane took off Thursday night from the Ben Gurion airport in Israel under ‘Operation Ajay.’ Passengers were chosen on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis to be on the flight.
The Sri Lankan Finance Ministry said on 11 October that Colombo has reached an agreement with the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of China to cover about $4.2 billion of its outstanding debt. The deal will enable Sri Lanka to implement its ambitious reform agenda and get past the first review of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. Additionally, it will allow the country to secure a second IMF tranche of about $334 million.
Following the recent fatal attacks by Hamas terrorists, US Defence Department officials announced Thursday that Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III would visit Israel on Friday to meet with Israeli authorities and reiterate the US’ unwavering commitment. Austin is scheduled to meet with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Israel’s War Cabinet members to discuss operational strategy and objectives and security support needs.
NATO will undertake a major exercise involving fighter planes capable of carrying nuclear weapons, though no live bombs will be used, the alliance announced on Thursday. Every year, the alliance conducts the Steadfast Noon exercise, which includes nuclear-capable aircraft, conventional planes, surveillance and refuelling aircraft, and over a dozen NATO allies. The drills will begin next Monday and last until 26 October.
North Korea on Friday denied that Hamas had used its domestically manufactured weapons in the attack against Israel. Pyongyang said that the US press was spreading such “groundless and false” rumours in order to divert the blame for the conflict from itself to a third country.
China said on Thursday that it had sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a US Navy’s patrol aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, which flew through the Taiwan Strait on the same day. The US said that it was simply acting “in accordance with international law” and that the transit demonstrated its commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”