https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3250962/myanmar-border-guards-flee-bangladesh-amid-clashes-rebel-arakan-army-fighters At least two people were killed in Bangladesh on Monday after mortar shells fired from Myanmar during clashes there landed in a village across the border, police said.Parts of Myanmar near the 270-kilometer border with Bangladesh have seen frequent clashes since November when rebel Arakan Army fighters ended a ceasefire that had largely held since a 2021 coup. Additionally,… Read more »
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Russia-And-Iran-Finalize-20-Year-Deal-That-Will-Change-The-Middle-East-Forever.html In January 2022, Iran’s Supreme Leader gave his official approval to a new 20-year cooperation deal between Iran and Russia. The agreement will replace the 10-year deal signed in March 2001 and has been expanded not only in duration but also in scope and scale. The new deal includes far-going agreements on defense and energy. This can include the… Read more »
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-research-vessel-heads-maldives-could-concern-india-2024-01-22/ In recent developments, China has sent a research vessel to the Maldives. These vessels are highly advanced mobile research stations and are dual-use. The information gathered by the vessels can be used for civilian and military purposes, including the deployment of submarines. This raises a concern for India, as previously the Indian government viewed this move as problematic, as… Read more »
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3245358/china-urges-iran-and-saudi-arabia-work-together-avoid-miscalculation-diplomats-meet-restoration-ties Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently spoken with senior Saudi and Iranian officials in the first meeting of a committee to support relations between the two countries. About the US, Saudia’s ally and Iran’s rival, the Chinese government calls on the Middle Eastern countries to ‘eliminate external interference’. Also going on to say “The Middle East can no longer… Read more »
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-777775 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of Israel, spoke with Putin for 50 minutes and expressed sharp criticism of the dangerous cooperation between Russia and Iran, as in recent developments Iran inches closer to Russia. The governments completed work on a new treaty and spoke of a Gaza ceasefire, as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaking with Iranian Foreign… Read more »
https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-seeks-us-help-against-pakistani-taliban-in-afghanistan/7397076.html Pakistan’s army chief is in Washington this week seeking U.S. assistance against what Pakistan alleges are terrorist havens in neighboring Afghanistan, as Pakistan believes there has been an escalation in terrorist activities since the Afghan Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2022. The Pakistani government has been trying to convince U.S. security and defense officials that militant groups such… Read more »
