Japan Intercepts Chinese Surveillance Plane

"The Japan Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets to intercept a Chinese surveillance aircraft on Monday.

The Y-9 electronic intelligence-gathering plane carried out a circular patrol as it passed near islands belonging to Japan's southwestern most prefecture, Okinawa, the U.S. ally said in a press release." Newsweek

China to Hold Live-Fire Drills Near Burma Border on April 2-3

"In accordance with the annual exercise plan, a unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army will conduct joint live-fire drills on its side of the border area with Burma from 08:00 local time [00:00 GMT] on April 2 to 18:00 local time on April 3, 2024," the administration said in a statement." Sputnik

Russia will significantly reduce diesel exports due to strikes on refineries

"The export of Russian diesel by sea in April will significantly decrease. This is due to the strikes on oil refineries in Russia, according to Bloomberg." UV

Does Armenia plan to join NATO: Foreign Minister's response

"Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan answered whether Armenia plans to join NATO.

"We are already cooperating with NATO, participating in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, increasing our presence in Kosovo, this is a form of cooperation. If you mean the intention to join NATO, then no. This is not an issue that is on Armenia's agenda today," Mirzoyan replied." MS

Erdogan vows to make amends after humbling election loss in Turkey

"President Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Monday to correct any mistakes that led to his party's

defeat in Turkey's local elections where the opposition capitalized on economic woes and alienated Islamist voters, casting uncertainty over his reform plans.
Sunday's vote marked Erdogan and his AK Party's (AKP) worst defeat in more than 20 years in power, revitalizing the opposition party and strengthening Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's standing as the president's main rival. Redrawing a political map long dominated by the AKP, the Republican People's Party (CHP) won the popular vote for the first time in decades and swept most of the main cities, penetrating far into conservative central Turkey..
Analysts said voters lost patience with both a cost-of-living crisis driven by near 70% inflation and Erdogan's divisive political style." MS

Israel kills top Iranian general

"Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been killed in an Israeli airstrike on Damascus, Syria.

The Monday attack destroyed a building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, killing at least six people, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). Iranian media identified the building as the Iranian consulate and the ambassador’s residence." RT

61 combat engagements in the last 24 hours

"As many as 61 combat engagements occurred on the front lines in the last 24 hours. The Russian invaders carried out 7 missile strikes, 61 air strikes and 89 attacks using multiple rocket launchers against Ukrainian positions and populated areas.
The situation in the Volyn and Polissia sectors remains largely unchanged, with no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups.

In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna sectors, the enemy maintains his military presence in the border areas, conducting subversive activities to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to dangerous sectors and increasing the density of minefields along the state border.
Russian air strikes targeted Kozacha Lopan, Vovchansk and Okhrymivka in the Kharkiv region.
About 20 settlements in the said two sectors came under Russian mortars and artillery fire, including Seredyna-Buda, Popivka, Kindrativka, Oleksandrivka, and Velyka Pysarivka of the Sumy region.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy did not conduct offensive (assault) operations but attacked populated areas. In particular, the invaders launched air strikes near Kupiansk, Tabaivka, and Sadove of the Kharkiv region.
The Russian army directed artillery and mortar fire at more than ten settlements in this sector, in particular at Synkivka, Ivanivka and Stepova Novoselivka of the Kharkiv region.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight enemy attacks near Terny of the Donetsk region. The Russians tried to break through Ukrainian defenses there.
Russian air strikes were recorded near Cherneshchyna in the Kharkiv region.
More than ten settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire in the Lyman sector, among them Nevske in the Luhansk region, Yampolivka and Torske in the Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 enemy attacks near Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, Spirne, Ivano-Darivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region. Russian troops, supported by aircraft, tried to improve their tactical position there.
More than ten settlements in this sector came under artillery and mortar fire from the invaders, including Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky and Klishchiivka of the Donetsk region.
In the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian forces repelled six enemy attacks near Berdychi and Pervomaiske of the Donetsk region. Russian troops tried to drive Ukrainian units out of their positions.
The Russian army launched air strikes on Novobakhmutivka, Oleksandropil, Orlivka, Umanske, Yasnobrodivka, Karlivka, and Ocheretyne of the Donetsk region.
About 20 settlements in the Avdiivka sector came under artillery and mortar fire of the invaders, including Berdychi, Umanske, Netailove and Nevelske of the Donetsk region.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold off Russian troops near Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Velyka Novosilka, and Urozhaine of the Donetsk region. The Russian army, supported by aircraft, made 18 attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses there.
Vodiane and Zolota Nyva in the Donetsk region were hit by enemy air strikes.
Throughout the day, more than ten settlements in the Novopavlivka sector came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Novomykhailivka, Kostiantynivka, and Urozhaine of the Donetsk region.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian troops, supported by aircraft, carried out two attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces near Staromaiorske, Donetsk region, and northwest of Verbove, Zaporizhzhia region.
The Russians carried out an air strike on Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region." Ukrin

Romanian and US soldiers begin JCET 2024 military excercises in Moldova

"Multinational JCET-2024 military exercises have commenced in Moldova, with military personnel from Romania and the United States taking part. The training will run from April 1 to April 19, according to the Ministry of Defense of Moldova. Moldova's Information and Security Service, Alexandru Mustiață, said that Russia had prepared plans to destabilize the situation within Moldova. Specifically, Moscow aims to interfere in Moldova's presidential elections and disrupt the referendum on the country's European integration.

Mustiață specified that there was a record level of activity by Russian special services in Moldova in 2023.
Recently, the so-called Transnistrian Moldovan Republic appealed to Russia for "protection from Moldova."" MS