Indian and Russian officials will likely meet soon to discuss the final delivery schedule of the remaining two S-400 air defence missile squadrons. India had signed a contract worth $5.43 billion with Russia in 2018-19 to procure five squadrons of the S-400 missiles. Out of these, three have already arrived in the country, but the Russia-Ukraine conflict has hindered the delivery of the remaining two.
A military base being built by India on Agaléga Island of Mauritius is almost ready. It will soon be available for long-term deployment of air and naval assets. India has built the base to gain a strategic edge against China in the Indian Ocean region. India is also set to sign an MoU with Port Louis for the joint development and launch of an earth observation satellite for Mauritius.
On Wednesday, Ukraine stated that Russian warplanes had dropped “explosive objects” three times into the routes of civilian ships in the Black Sea over the last 24 hours but that its growing shipping corridor was still operational.
During his address in Minnesota on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden confirmed that at least 1,000 people, including American citizens, would be able to leave the Gaza Strip on 1 November. “American citizens were able to exit today as part of the first group of probably over 1,000. We’ll see more of this process going on in the coming days,” Biden stated, stressing that Washington’s diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern allies have made this possible.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said 43 Chinese military aircraft and seven ships had been spotted near its territory as of 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. It added that 37 of the aircraft had crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, which China no longer recognises as an informal divider between the two countries.
North Korea is in the final stages of preparing for the launch of a spy satellite, and the chances of succeeding in this third attempt are high, according to South Korea’s intelligence service.