The USA, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines conducted joint naval and air drills in the South China Sea, coinciding with China's regional exercises. The goal of the multilateral exercise, which took place in the West Philippine Sea, was to improve participant forces' maritime skills and collaboration. It included division tactics and communication drills. Even if it wasn't overt, China's aggression in the area was a driving force behind the drill. The defence minister of Japan opposed forceful unilateral reforms and underlined the importance of the South China Sea for maintaining region
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian embarked on a diplomatic journey to Oman, marking the initial leg of a pivotal regional tour. This move comes amidst heightened tensions following a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus nearly a week ago. The ministry revealed that Amirabdollahian's visit to Oman was accompanied by a delegation comprising political and parliamentary figures. The agenda includes bilateral issues between Iran and Oman as well as regional issues, particularly Gaza. The recent escalation began with a suspected Israeli ai
On Thursday, Kuwait opened its first polling stations since Sheikh Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah took office in late 2023. According to the official news agency, the elections, which are the fourth to be held since December 2020, are set to end at midnight local time. The people will choose representatives from five electoral seats for the 18th legislative term of the National Assembly. 200 candidates are running for 50 seats in the parliament this year since political parties are banned in Kuwait. All of these candidates are running as individuals. There are 834,733 voters eligible to vote and the
Ousmane Sonko, the new prime minister of Senegal, who is well-known for rallying youth support, succeeded his ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye in securing the presidency. The appointment was made just hours after Faye was sworn in as president of the country in West Africa after winning the election on March 25 by a wide margin. Despite being barred from the most recent election due to a defamation conviction, Sonko, a critic of former president Macky Sall, supported Faye to succeed him. Former tax inspectors Sonko and Faye support Senegal's independence from French colonial ties and are agai
China, Russia, and North Korea are increasingly launching cyberattacks, so Japan, the United States, and the Philippines are teaming up to create a collective cyber defence network. At their trilateral summit in Washington on April 11, Presidents Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are expected to reach an agreement on this cooperation. This initiative aims to protect critical infrastructure and government facilities. There are currently cybersecurity negotiations between the United States and Japan, as well as ongoing discussions with the Philippines. The United States and
Indonesia purchases two submarines from the state-owned French Naval Group to be constructed domestically. This comes after recent defence contracts with French businesses, which included the 2022 purchase of 42 Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. The 18 torpedoes and missile-capable diesel-electric Scorpenes will be constructed at the PT PAL shipyard in Indonesia. Technology transfer is part of the agreement, and Indonesians will handle management and maintenance, producing a large number of skilled jobs. The CEO of the military group, Pierre Eric Pommellet, applauds the collaboration an
On Monday, India delivered two Dornier-228 aircraft to Guyana as part of a Line of Credit Agreement, marking a new phase in their partnership. The Indian Air Force team facilitated the delivery, initiated by diplomatic efforts led by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa. This demonstrates India's commitment to enhancing Guyana's defence capabilities, with President Ali's visit to HAL in 2023 being a starting point. Guyana's government, represented by Dr Ashni K Singh, expressed gratitude for India's support and emphasised the importance of advanced t
According to Japanese media outlets, the United States government is arranging a significant summit set to take place in July. The summit is likely to occur on the sidelines of a NATO gathering in Washington and will feature President Joe Biden alongside his counterparts from Japan and South Korea. As per a report, the anticipated discussions during this summit are expected to encompass a wide array of pressing issues, ranging from fortifying deterrence measures against China to addressing North Korea's persistent nuclear threat. Additionally, concerns regarding North Korea's increasingly
On Monday, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the country's first female prime minister, marking a historic moment in Congolese politics. President Tshisekedi made a promise during his campaign, and the announcement represents a significant advancement in gender equality under the country's leadership. Former planning minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka steps into her new role at a crucial time for the nation, particularly in the conflict-ridden eastern region. Rich in minerals and resources, this region has been plagued b
India has continued its steadfast support of the bilateral development partnership by providing the second tranche of five billion Indian rupees (INR) or Ngultrum (Nu) to Bhutan for the GyalSung Project. India’s Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela presented the amount to Bhutan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, on March 26, 2024. The King of Bhutan has endorsed the GyalSung Project, which aims to empower Bhutanese youth through thorough skill development and encourage active participation in the country's development. This second instalment brings India's to