15-Dec-2018: Australia recognises West Jerusalem as capital of Israel
Australia now recognises West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, but a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved.
Mr. Morrison also committed to recognising a future state of Palestine with east Jerusalem as its capital when the city's status is determined in a peace deal.
Australia now recognises west Jerusalem — being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government — is the capital of Israel.
Australia would establish a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city. The Australian government is also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in east Jerusalem.
Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Most foreign nations have avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city's final status — until US President Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year.
Mr. Morrison first floated a shift in foreign policy in October, which angered Australia's immediate neighbour Indonesia — the world's most populous Muslim nation.
The issue has put a halt on years-long negotiations on a bilateral trade deal.
23-Oct-2018: Iron Magic 19
The joint military exercise Iron Magic 19 between United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United States (US) kicked off near Dubai. The two-week military exercise is part of series of joint military exercises held throughout the year between UAE armed forces and armed forces of other countries.
The exercise seeks to reinforce cooperation, joint actions and exchange of expertise in military areas between both countries. This will contribute to maximizing combat capabilities and increasing coordination between UAE and the US armed forces.
The bulk of UAE military hardware, such as F-16 fighter jets, Mirage jets and Apache Longbow attack helicopters are mostly manufactured by companies from US, Britain and France. UAE, a major oil supplier, has established growing defence industry in recent years, mainly in armoured vehicles and naval military equipment.
22-Oct-2018: Druzhba-III: Russia and Pakistan to conduct military exercise in Pakistan.
A Russian Army contingent will take part in the third edition of a joint bilateral military training exercise in Pakistan. The two armies will be holding joint military drills in the mountains of northwestern Pakistan which will continue till November 4.
Earlier, the Russian army said that drill will be held at the training range in Nowshera district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and over 70 soldiers from Russia's southern military district will participate. The servicemen from the two countries' armed forces will perform tasks at the altitude of 1,400 meters above the sea level.
The two sides are trying to bolster defence ties and in August this year they inked an agreement allowing Pakistani troops to train in Russia. The agreement was signed during the visit of Deputy Defense Minister of Russia Colonel General Alexander Fomin to Islamabad to participate in the first Russia-Pakistan Joint Military Consultative Committee (JMCC) meeting on security and defence.
Russia and Pakistan have been holding the 'Friendship' drills since 2016. In October 2016, they held their first-ever joint military exercise in Pakistan. In 2017, over 200 servicemen took part in the drills, hosted by Russia at Minralney Vody in the North Caucasus at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level.
Pakistan's defence ties with Russia have moved past the bitter Cold War hostilities in recent years and the chill in the relations between Pakistan and the US has further pushed the country towards Russia and China.
Pakistan has shown eagerness to build defence level ties with Russia. Russia has over the past three years provided four Mi-35M combat and cargo helicopters to Pakistan.