Our daily trip around the world

🇵🇰 Protests erupted in major cities across Pakistan yesterday, after government authorities tried (and failed) to arrest former PM Imran Khan. Police clashed with protesters outside Khan’s home yesterday, leaving them unable to gain entry and arrest the 70-year-old former cricket star, who was ousted as Pakistan’s PM by a vote of no-confidence last October. Government officials have accused Khan of illegally selling gifts given to him by foreign dignitaries while in office, though he claims the charges are false and politically motivated.

🇷🇺 A Russian jet collided with a US surveillance drone, knocking it out of the sky in international airspace near Crimea. According to US officials, two Russian jets were following the drone yesterday morning when one of them flew past the American craft, dumped fuel on it, then pulled away. When the second Russian jet tried to do the same, it struck the drone’s propeller, causing it to crash in the Black Sea. The Pentagon described the incident as a “juvenile” but accidental move, while Moscow insisted that its planes never hit the drone. Separately, the International Criminal Court is expected to announce arrests in two war crimes cases against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, per the NYT and Reuters.

🇫🇲🇨🇳 The outgoing president of Micronesia, a small Pacific island nation, accused China of “political warfare” over Taiwan. President David Panuelo said China has been engaging in nefarious tactics like spying and offering bribes in an effort to ensure that, if Beijing goes to war with Taiwan, Micronesia would align itself with China and not the US – or would at least refrain from choosing sides. Beijing and Taiwan have a history of competing over allegiances in the Pacific islands, where four of Taiwan's 14 diplomatic allies are located.