During a meeting with Indian Defence Minister (DM) Rajnath Singh, UK DM Grant Shapps announced that the UK would send its Littoral Response Group to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) later in 2024 to operate and train with Indian forces. Shapps mentioned that the Carrier Strike Group will visit the IOR during the Flagship 2025 Deployment. Additionally, the two sides agreed to conduct more complex military exercises, ultimately leading to a landmark joint exercise that would be held before 2030.
In a significant development, the Maldives signed 20 agreements with China, including one on cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During his five-day visit to China, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu met Chinese President Xi Jinping and signed agreements in areas ranging from tourism cooperation and digital economy to green development and agricultural cooperation, among others.
On Thursday, Israel prepared to defend itself at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against allegations of genocide in Gaza. The ICJ was scheduled to hold hearings on Thursday and Friday in a case brought by South Africa in December, alleging that Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said, “Israel will appear before the International Court of Justice to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel, as Pretoria gives political and legal cover to the Hamas Rapist Regime.”
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Wednesday denouncing “in the strongest terms” the ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels near Yemen’s coast, which have hampered global trade and prompted concerns about future spillover from the Gaza War. The resolution was passed by 11 members, with no votes against it. China, Russia, Algeria, and Mozambique abstained. Earlier, Russia proposed three amendments to the draft text, but all were rejected, establishing the way for a vote on the draft resolution.
The China National Space Administration said on Wednesday that its latest lunar explorer had arrived at the launch site and is in preparation for a mission to the moon scheduled in the first half of this year. The announcement came a day after US company Astrobotic Technology abandoned a lunar landing planned for 23 February because of a fuel leak that started soon after takeoff on Monday.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on eastern Indonesia’s Flores Island, erupted on Wednesday, spewing ash clouds 2 kilometres above its peak. Authorities raised the volcano’s alert status to the highest level. Locals have been advised to remain alert for potential flooding as volcanic mudflows pour into rivers.