Taiwan has two defense procurement deals with the United States in the pipeline for 2021, worth approximately US$8 billion, Vice Defense Minister Chang Che-ping (張哲平) said Monday during a legislative hearing.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan revealed that his country is under pressure from sisterly countries to recognise the State of Israel.
In statements made on Friday, Khan announced: “We have been under pressure from friendly countries to recognise Israel, however, we will not do so without a fair settlement to the Palestinians.”
Last week, the New York Times reported that in August of this year, Israeli agents killed al-Qaeda’s number two, Abu Mohammed al-Masri, in Tehran.
Credible rumors recently circulated that al-Qaeda’s current leader Ayman al-Zawahiri died of natural causes, although this remains unconfirmed.
Through its Belt and Road Initiative, China seeks to play a larger role in the Black Sea region. China has been wooing littoral states in hopes of securing new markets for its goods and investing in infrastructure projects.