Pakistan and China signed six key documents to facilitate the second phase of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects under a new model. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng signed the documents on Monday at a ceremony to mark ten years of the CPEC.
An Indian Navy Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and an Indian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft visited Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI) in the Southern Indian Ocean earlier this month. Diplomatic sources confirmed the visit in which the aircraft stayed at the islands for almost a week in efforts to expand the strategic reach of the Indian military and improve interoperability with Australia.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Bajaur suicide blast in Pakistan, which killed 54 people, including 23 children. The explosion occurred during a pro-Taliban rally held by Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hardline politician Fazlur Rehman.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba announced on Monday that, for the export of Ukrainian grain, the country is planning to use the Croatian ports on the Danube and in the Adriatic Sea. The announcement came after Kuleba’s talks with Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman. According to the Ukrainian minister, “weapons were the main topic of negotiations today, as traditionally with other partners.” Kuleba did not provide specifics but affirmed that the agreements will be implemented soon.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated on Tuesday that Russian Air Defence Forces shot down several military drones targeting the Russian capital, with one of the drones striking and damaging one of the Moscow City skyscrapers. Sobyanin posted on his Telegram channel that the drone attack damaged the building’s facade on the 21st floor, and emergency services were working on the site.
China on Monday imposed restrictions on the export of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and concern that the equipment might be used for military purposes. The Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that export controls to prevent the use of drones for “non-peaceful purposes” would take effect on Tuesday.
Indonesia has purchased 12 new drones from Turkish Aerospace worth $300 million, its defence ministry said on Tuesday. This is the latest in a series of purchases aimed at modernising the country’s ageing military equipment.
Niger’s neighbouring coup-hit countries, Burkina Faso and Mali, have cautioned that any armed action against Niamey would be perceived as “a declaration of war” towards their respective nations. Both countries, which have witnessed their own military coups within the last two years, delivered this warning through simultaneous statements broadcasted on their national media platforms on Monday. This comes shortly after regional leaders in West Africa had expressed their intention to use military force to restore Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum.