World news from The Thursday Times' foreign desk.
Bangladesh has confirmed a draft agreement to buy Chinese J-10CE jets, becoming only the second country after Pakistan to move toward operating the aircraft, and citing Pakistan's combat performance against India as the direct basis for the decision.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement at Al-Safa Palace, a trilateral pact under which an armed attack against any one of the three states will be regarded as an attack against them all.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are expected to sign a joint defence agreement in Saudi Arabia on Friday, according to Reuters, citing two regional sources. Erdogan arrives in Riyadh to meet Mohammed bin Salman and Shehbaz Sharif, with Field Marshal Asim Munir already in the Kingdom.
The United States has permanently adopted a refundable visa bond scheme requiring selected applicants from 50 countries to deposit between $10,000 and $20,000 before receiving tourist or business visas. Pakistan is not among the affected countries.
Pakistan has formally requested a rare $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility from the United States, according to Reuters. The proposed arrangement could strengthen the country's foreign exchange reserves, support the rupee and mark a significant step forward in bilateral economic relations.
Andy Burnham has become the United Kingdom's 59th Prime Minister, succeeding Keir Starmer after being invited by King Charles III to form a government. The former Manchester mayor, Britain's seventh PM in a decade, promised "a circuit breaker for Britain."
The FBI has confirmed the capture of Nitish Kaushal, a 26-year-old Indian national wanted over his alleged role as an enforcer for the Bhagwanpuria crime network. He was arrested in Vermont near the US-Canada border, the first confirmed capture among the fugitives named under Operation Hard Ball.
For the first time, more people view China favourably than the US across most of 36 countries surveyed, Pew Research Center finds, with more expressing confidence in Xi than Trump. The US leads China in just six countries. In Pakistan, 84% call China a reliable partner against 36% for the US.
The FBI has issued a wanted notice for Nitish Kaushal, a 26-year-old Indian national alleged to be an enforcer for the Bhagwanpuria crime network, one of three India-based groups named in Operation Hard Ball. He is wanted on racketeering charges and considered armed and dangerous.
Turkish President Erdoğan received Field Marshal Asim Munir at Ankara Airport for talks on regional security and the Pakistan-Türkiye strategic partnership. Munir received a guard of honour and was awarded the Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal during his two-day official visit.
