A Chinese man and his wife who teach Chinese at a local language center were abducted in Pakistan. The Chinese presence in Pakistan has increased thanks to the thriving China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $46-billion investment project that involves roads, ports, power plants and other crucial infrastructure as part of teh China-led Belt and Road initiative. Source Global Times
Saudi security forces foiled an attack on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca on Friday, state television Al-Ekhbariya and Al Arabiya TV reported. Source Reuters
Turkey rejected a call from four Arab states on Friday to shut down its military base in Qatar, saying the base was a guarantor of security in the Gulf and demands for its closure represented interference in its ties with Doha. Source Reuters
The ECB has approved the yuan as a reserve currency. This is a symbolic but historic step for China, which can now establish its currency in Europe as a counterweight to the US dollar, says DW’s Frank Sieren. Source Deutsche Welle
