SOURCE: REUTERS

 Israel for the first time used a seaborne missile defence system to shoot down a drone approaching from the Red Sea that had set off sirens in the port city of Eilat, the military said on Tuesday.

Eilat has been a frequent target for launches by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen as a show of support for Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules Gaza and is also backed by Iran. Israel positioned missile boats in the Red Sea after the start of the war in Gaza, the military said. One of those missile boats shot down the drone with the new system called the C-Dome.

SOURCE: ANI

 Shabir Choudhry, a prominent writer and activist based in London, has issued a stark warning regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar connectivity project, predicting a bleak future for the Baloch people.

Hailing from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Choudhry cautioned that by 2024, Baloch could be on the path of becoming a minority population. “In Pakistan, CPEC has brought numerous challenges. It’s not just an economic corridor; it’s a military project. Who stands to benefit from CPEC? Ultimately, it’s China alone,” Dr Shabir emphasized in a video message on his YouTube channel.

SOURCE: ANI

The Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), a non-government organisation (NGO) from Pakistan, raised its voice on Sunday, for the protection of minorities, their properties, and worship places, the HRPF said in a statement.

The NGO expressed severe concern, highlighting the recent attacks on churches, Hindu temples, Ahmadiyya’s mosques, and minority towns and the grabbing of agricultural land, homes, graveyards, and worship places, among other properties.

SOURCE: REUTERS

 President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned in remarks aired on Saturday that Ukraine could run out of air defence missiles if Russia keeps up its intense long-range bombing campaign.

The Ukrainian leader’s starkest warning to date of the deteriorating situation faced by his country’s air defences follows weeks of Russian strikes on the energy system, towns and cities using a vast arsenal of missiles and drones.

SOURCE: AFI

Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) has reported that six F-16 fighter jets sustained minor damage during a powerful earthquake on April 3rd, 2024.

The 7.2-magnitude quake, the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years, struck the eastern coast near Hualien, where the ROCAF’s 5th Tactical Composite Wing is based. This wing operates a fleet of F-16Vs and F-5 fighter jets.

SOURCE: AP

A training aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force has made ‘an emergency landing’ in a rice field on a wetland in Narail. The incident occurred in the Tarashi Beel of Maizpara in Sadar Upazila around 2:40pm on Wednesday, said Sajedul Islam, an inspector at Narail Sadar Police Station. 

Two pilots on the aircraft were safe and taken to the Air Force’s base in Jashore, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.  Md Afsar Uddin, a deputy assistant director at the fire service, said the aircraft took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman in Jashore at 1:34pm. Farmers working in the Tarashi Beel rice fields saw the jet coming down later in the afternoon.

SOURCE: AFI

North Korea has recently made headlines by joining the exclusive club of nations possessing Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) with the unveiling of the Hwasong-16B. This significant development marks a milestone in the country’s missile capabilities, raising concerns among regional and global powers.

In simple terms, an HGV can be likened to an unmanned stealth bomber carrying a warhead, capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5. What sets it apart is its ability to maneuver unpredictably, making it difficult for existing Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS) to intercept effectively.

SOURCE: AFI

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of Russia has secured a patent for a game-changing weapon: an air-launched attack drone designed to be deployed from the country’s top-of-the-line Su-57 fighter jet. This development signifies a potential leap forward in modern warfare strategies.

Details surrounding the drone remain classified, but leaked patent documents offer a glimpse into its capabilities. The drone is designed to function as a force multiplier for the Su-57, extending its reach and firepower. Some analysts believe it could fulfill a “kamikaze” role, taking on high-risk missions.

SOURCE: AP

Iran and one of its key proxies vowed Tuesday to respond to a strike widely attributed to Israel that demolished Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus and killed eight people, including two Iranian generals.

Iran’s state TV reported Tuesday that the country’s Supreme National Security Council, a key decision-making body, met late Monday and decided on a “required” response to the strike. The report said the meeting was chaired by President Ebrahim Raisi, but provided no further details.

SOURCE: AFI

Military enthusiasts are abuzz after a clear image of China’s long-rumored Z-21 attack helicopter recently surfaced online. The photo provides the first detailed look at the aircraft, sparking debate about its design influences and potential capabilities.

While some design elements resemble the existing Chinese Z-10 attack helicopter, the Z-21 appears to share a greater number of features with Russia’s Mi-28 attack chopper. This has led to speculation about possible collaboration between China and Russia on the Z-21 project.

SOURCE: REUTERS

The U.S. in recent days authorized the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel, two sources familiar with the effort said on Friday, even as Washington publicly expresses concerns about an anticipated Israeli military offensive in Rafah.

The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, said the sources, who confirmed a report in the Washington Post.

SOURCE: AFI

Chinese researchers have reportedly designed a game-changing air defense system – a long-range, hypersonic, solid-fueled missile. This missile, according to a report in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), boasts an unprecedented range of 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometers).

Current air defense systems typically have ranges of tens to hundreds of kilometers. This new missile, if realized, would be a significant leap in technology, potentially quadrupling the reach of China’s aerial defenses.

SOURCE: ANI

Israeli soldiers continued operations against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists holed up in Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital and in Khan Yunis, the Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday morning.

Israel returned to the hospital, Gaza’s largest, after receiving intelligence that senior Hamas figures were inside the compound planning attacks. Since entering the compound on March 18, Israel has killed over 200 terrorists and detained 800 terror suspects, of whom at least 500 have been confirmed as members of the Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups.

SOURCE: AFI

Bangladesh has significantly bolstered its military capabilities by incorporating advanced anti-tank ammunition into its arsenal. This move marks a pivotal moment in the modernization of the country’s armed forces.

The new weaponry, supplied by the Spanish arms manufacturer Instalaza, includes the powerful Alcotan-100 (M2) anti-tank weapon. This system has gained international recognition for its effectiveness against armored vehicles, particularly those of Russian origin. This is significant for Bangladesh, considering the prevalence of such equipment in the region.

SOURCE: REUTERS

A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing six people, police said, the third major attack on Chinese interests in the South Asian country in a week. The first two attacks targeted a Pakistan naval air base and a strategic port used by China in the southwest province of Balochistan where Beijing is investing billions in infrastructure projects.

The engineers were en route from Islamabad to their camp at the dam construction site in Dasu in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur said.
“Five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack,” Gandapur told Reuters.
Dasu is the site of a major dam and the area has been attacked in the past. A blast on a bus killed 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, in 2021.