Australia strikes US$118 million policing deal with China-friendly Solomon Islands
Australia is confirmed to help boost the police force of Solomons Island with an infrastructure package, multi-year funding, and training for the Pacific nation with close ties with China.
It represents a new foundation for Australia’s security partnership with the Solomon Islands, according to Prime Minister Antonio Albanese.
The Solomons police announced on the same day that it had received a modest donation from China as well, a sign of the competition Australia faces from Beijing.
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Australia announces $118 million deal to enhance policing in the Solomon Islands
An ethnic group claims to have captured a regional army headquarters
The latest in the long series of regional talks held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, it has made no headway in restoring peace to the war-torn Southeast Asian nation.
Myanmar has been wracked by violence ever since its army overthrew the elected government in the year 2021. They violently repressed the pro-democracy protests, lasting to the arms resistance movement.
The military government has used harsh tactics to suppress its opponents, including air strikes, but the war has only become fiercer, especially in the past year.
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Pakistan Denounces US Sanctions on Its Missile Programmes
Pakistan denounces the US sanctions on the country's missile program as “discriminatory” that puts the region's peace and security at risk.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the sanctions “have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond.”
It also accused the U.S. of “double standards” for waiving licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries.
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Pakistan denounces US sanctions on its missile program as ‘discriminatory’ | CNN
US arms manufacturers could help boost Vietnam's military capabilities, said US ambassador
US manufacturers could help build up Vietnam’s armed forces by working with Vietnamese counterparts
The US Ambassador Mark Knapper said, “Our goal is to ensure that vietnam has what it needs to defend its interests”.
Vietnam has been trying to increase its domestic arms manufacturing instead of being dependent on Russia for weapon imports.
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102 Rohingya refugees were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy
A Sri Lankan navy spokesperson said that more than 100 people believed to be Rohingya refugees were spotted by a fisherman on the Sri Lankan northern coast.
The refugees include 25 children and 30 women. Later they were escorted to the eastern coast where they were given medical care, food, and water.
The navy has not yet confirmed if the refugees are Rohingya because of the communication difficulties but the group is believed to be from Myanmar according to the navy.
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Sri Lanka's navy rescues 102 Rohingya refugees found adrift aboard a fishing trawler | AP News
China criticizes Phillippine’s plan to deploy mid range missiles
The Philippines has announced their plans to acquire midrange missile systems to strengthen its territorial defence amidst tensions with China in the South China Sea.
China has marked this move as "extremely irresponsible," claiming it could provoke geopolitical confrontations and an arms race.
The United States has reaffirmed their commitment to mutual defence and advocated for the typhoon as a necessary defence against China’s growing military presence.
Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/china-philippines-deploy-missile-system-95a5d4b923b262f400c540e1b6926b0e
Violence in Manipur leads to widespread displacement
Ethnic violence in Manipur has led to a humanitarian crisis, causing thousands of people to be displaced from their homes due to ongoing standoff.
The violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, is causing concerns over the region's stability and human rights violations.
The Indian government has been criticized for its slow response, with calls for immediate action to restore peace and provide assistance to the displaced populations.
Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-manipur-ethnic-violence-displacement-9153549db3852e7f34a3ef70b7bdb349
India marks tsunami anniversary with reflection on earthquake’s impact
On the anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, India mourns the devastating loss of life, with thousands of families still in pain of their lost loved ones in Tamil Nadu.
The scars left by the tsunami and the earthquake remain, as survivors are still facing the harsh reality of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the tragedy.
For many, the trauma of that day is still raw, and the anniversary serves as a painful reminder of the immense cost of human lives due to natural disasters.
Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-tsunami-anniversary-earthquake-tamil-nadu-9b0f71ec5cb2135747f349208bf5beb2
Japan’s former Emperor Akihito marks his 91st birthday
Japan’s beloved former Emperor Akihito marked his 91st birthday on Monday, as he continues to pursue his lifetime research into goby fish, care for his wife and pray for peace.
Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 and handed over the Chrysanthemum throne to his son, Emperor Naruhito, now holds the title of Emperor Emeritus.
Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the northwest
The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the country’s northwest.
The militant group said it killed 35 soldiers and injured 15 others in an early morning raid. It also claimed seizing equipment including a night vision device and weapons.
It’s Pakistan Taliban’s latest assault on troops in the restive province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan. They made the claims in one of their WhatsApp chat groups.
Read ahead: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-taliban-checkpoint-attack-waziristan-fff19247b8a3f72b10b12554527ea039
Drafted by:
Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)
Gouri Kapoor (BA IR, 1st Year)
Published by:
Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)
