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Indonesia’s first naval drills with Russia get under way

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Indonesia’s first naval drills with Russia get under way

 

Analysts say the joint exercises signal the start of Prabowo Subianto’s foreign policy shift, seeking to boost alliances with major powers

Indonesia and Russia kicked off their first joint naval drills on Monday, as the Southeast Asian archipelago’s new leader seeks to boost ties with Moscow.

The region’s biggest economy maintains a neutral foreign policy, refusing to take sides in the Ukraine conflict or in great power competition between Washington and Beijing.

But newly inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to be bolder on the world stage and in July visited Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.

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The five-day drills will take place in two phases at a naval base in Surabaya and in the Java Sea.

Russia has sent three corvette class warships, a medium tanker ship, a military helicopter, and a tug boat, the Indonesian navy said in a statement last week.

Local broadcasters showed Russian ships calling into port and being welcomed by an Indonesian marching band on Sunday ahead of the drills.

Analysts say the joint exercises signal Prabowo is beginning a significant foreign policy shift, pledging to boost Jakarta’s alliances with major powers.

During a visit to the Kremlin in July, Prabowo – a 73-year-old ex-general – said he wanted to deepen the relationship with Russia.

“We consider Russia as a great friend and I would like to continue to maintain and enhance this relationship,” Prabowo told Putin.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc, which Indonesia is a member of, held joint exercises with Russia in 2021, but Jakarta had never held drills alone with Moscow before this week.

Jakarta has billion-dollar trade ties with Moscow, yet major arms imports have stalled in recent years after Russia seized Crimea in 2014 and launched its full-scale military offensive on Ukraine in 2022.

Still, since becoming defence minister in 2019 Prabowo has kept alive a US$1.1 billion Russian fighter jet deal agreed a year earlier, despite the reported threat of US sanctions.

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Politics

Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a critic to Governor Hope UZODINMA was abducted by policemen yesterday in front of his wife and children in their Abuja home and taken to Owerri.

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Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a critic was abducted by policemen yesterday in front of his wife and children in their Abuja home and taken to Owerri. His crime: criticizing Hope Uzodinma, Imo state governor.
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Suspected gunmen have reportedly abducted Fabian Ihekweme, the former commissioner for foreign affairs in Imo state.

In a viral video seen by TheCable, a woman who identified as Ihekweme’s wife pleaded for the release of her husband.

She added that the incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at their residence.

“They first took my husband’s driver to my house and gave him the phone to call my husband, and when he came out, they picked him up,” the woman said.

“I do not know why they are trailing me; I don’t have any business with Imo politics; I don’t know why they are trailing my children.

“I don’t know where my husband is. They are still holding him now; Ndi Imo, please help me.”

Ihekweme, who served as a commissioner between 2020 and 2022 under the Hope Uzodimma-led administration, later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In October, the former commissioner alleged that the governor refused to appreciate his efforts towards his reelection, despite all he did for him.

Henry Okoye, the Imo police spokesperson, told TheCable that the command had not been briefed about the abduction.

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Obasanjo Sends Strong Message To Those who Wish Him Dead

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Obasanjo Sends Strong Message To Those who Wish Him Dead
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Ekwutosblog has gathered that Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has debunked his death rumours making the rounds on social media, saying he’s alive.

The ex-president, who wondered why some people would wish him such, said he quickly informed his family members that he’s hale and hearty.

Obasanjo stated this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Old Garage/Oke Fia-Lameco Dual carriageway in Osogbo, Osun State, one of the projects being inaugurated to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“I heard the rumour that I was dead. I saw it on the social media. I quickly told my children and my relations that it was not true and that I was alive. Those who want me dead, that is their wish but God still keeps me alive.

“Why would anyone wish me dead? Those who harbour such thoughts will not escape tragedy themselves.

“This kind of rumour is not only disturbing but shows the extent to which some people misuse technology. It is unacceptable,” Obasanjo stated.

Speaking at the event, the governor, Adeleke stated, that his government is committed to the state’s infrastructure development and provision.

“My dear people of Osun State, our administration has constructed over 120 kilometres of roads across the state. Two major flyovers are also progressing to completion at Osogbo while works are progressing at the Ile-Ife flyover and Ilesa dualisation.

“I have redirected our efforts and plan at the completion of Iwo-Osogbo Road. We have added the dualisation of Odoori-Adeeke Road inside Iwo to be executed in two phases. The first phase will reach the Post Office and the Oluwo Palace, while the second phase will take off from the Post Office to Adeeke Junction.

“I want our people to note for the record that for all our projects and programmes, we did not obtain any loan. We only block leakages in the state’s finances and employ local content to moderate project costs and enforce high stand

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House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF

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House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF
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The House of Representatives has passed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025 to 2027 as submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

This followed the consideration and approval of the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning which laid its report at Wednesday’s plenary.

The House adopted the projected oil benchmark prices pegged at 75 dollars per barrel for 2025, as well as 76.2 dollars and 75.3 dollars per barrel for 2026 and 2027.

Domestic Crude Oil Production Projections for 2025 is put at 2.06 million barrels per day representing a significant increase from 1.78 million barrels per day in the current year.

GDP growth rate is projected at 4.6, 4.4 and 5.5 percent for 2025 to 2027, respectively, while the projected exchange rate is pegged at 1,400 Naira to the US Dollar for years 2025, 2026 and 2027

The MTEF projections aim towards a realistic and sustainable foundation for Nigeria’s budget planning over the next three years.

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