Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan left his residence in Lahore to lead a rally comprising thousands of his supporters on Monday. Subsequently, Islamabad police arrived at the scene using a special helicopter to arrest Khan in accordance with the two non-bailable warrants that had been issued against him. The former PM had decided to conduct the rally, which was initially slated for Sunday, in defiance of the local administration banning public gatherings.
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto will meet their Japanese counterpart, Yasukazu Hamada, in Japan on Thursday to discuss their fighter jet project. The project marks the Asian nation’s first major industrial defence collaboration, excluding the US, since World War II.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine started last February. The call will likely happen after Xi meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week.
On Monday, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto accused Russia’s Wagner Group of orchestrating “hybrid warfare” by increasing migrant crossings across the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe. The Russian company operates in several African countries, such as Libya and Mali.
A Bangladeshi panel set up to investigate the devasting 5 March fire at a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazaar said that the incident was a “planned act of sabotage.” The fire that engulfed 2,800 shelters leaving over 12,000 homeless, was allegedly initiated by “community-based gangs” seeking to exert control within the camps.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday emphasised that the Chinese-brokered peace deal between his country and Iran paves the way for diplomatic solutions. In an interview with Asharq Al Awsat, Prince Faisal said the interests of Riyadh and Tehran lie in “activating the paths of cooperation […] instead of considerations of domination.” Noting that he is looking forward to meeting his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian soon, he stressed that the Kingdom “hopes to open a new page with Iran.”
Several Turkish polls show opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu leading against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by over ten percentage points ahead of the presidential election on 14 May. Touted by many as the most consequential election in Turkey’s history, the vote will happen as Erdoğan’s popularity continues to decline due to his government’s handling of the severe economic crisis and the cataclysmic earthquakes.
Under the AUKUS agreement, the leaders of Australia, the UK, and the US released a joint statement on Monday stating that Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) from the US. From this year, the Royal Australian Navy personnel will be embedded “with the US Navy, the Royal Navy, and in the US and UK submarine industrial bases” to accelerate training and development. In the early 2030s, Australia will have the option to purchase two additional submarines.
NATO member countries are conducting exercises along Russia’s border in the Gulf of Finland under the “Arctic Forge 23” joint drills, which will last until 17 March. According to Russian experts, the West plans to retaliate after Russia announced its plan to suspend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in February. The exercise began in February with 20,000 troops from 16 NATO countries. Sweden and Finland, which are yet to become members of NATO, have been included in these drills as well.