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This handout photograph released by the state-run Saudi Press Agency shows Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, left, embracing Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after signing a joint defense pact in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia AP/PTI(AP09_18_2025_000172B)
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Pakistan, Saudi Arabia ink defence pact for joint action against 'aggression'
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a "strategic mutual defence" agreement, which declares that any attack on either country will be considered "an aggression against both". The deal comes days after an Israeli attack on the Hamas leadership in Qatar, a key US ally in the Gulf region.
Commenting on the development, India on Thursday said it will study the implications of the move for its national security as well as for regional and global stability.
The "Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement" was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday during the Pakistani leader's day-long visit to the Gulf Kingdom, according to a joint statement.
The agreement states that "any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” said the statement issued by both sides. "This agreement, which reflects the shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security and to achieving security and peace in the region and the world, aims to develop aspects of defence cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression," it added.
In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India will study the implications of the move for its national security as well as for regional and global stability.
Neeraj loses crown at World Championships
Defending champion Neeraj Chopra endured a nightmarish outing at the World Championships' men's javelin throw finals to end a disappointing eighth, outperformed by debutant compatriot Sachin Yadav who logged a personal best performance to finish a creditable fourth here on Thursday. On a day when no thrower managed to cross 90m, Chopra was ousted after the fifth and penultimate round with a best effort of 84.03m that left him eighth overall.
The shock result was unexpected as the Indian fans have been used to Chopra either winning a gold medal or finishing on podium for the last four years since scripting history by winning the Tokyo Olympics gold in 2021.
Chopra, who had also won a silver in the 2022 edition besides the gold in 2023, has not finished outside the top-2 since winning gold in Tokyo in 2021. After Tokyo Olympics, he has either won or finished second in 24 international events.
Known for his consistency, it was inexplicable for Chopra not to even cross the 85m mark in five attempts. His worst performance before Thursday was 82.27m while winning gold at the Federation Cup in May 2024. Thursday's result would be ranked as one of the worst in Chopra's illustrious career.
The gold went to Keshorn Walcott (88.16m) of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Grenada's Anderson Peters (87.38m) and Curtis Thompson (86.67m). Sachin was fourth with his first round effort of 86.27m.
Ahead of COP 30, only 37 countries submit their climate goals
Only 37 out of 195 countries have so far submitted their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The Paris Agreement requires countries to submit new NDCs every five years to regulate fossil fuel emissions. Australia is the latest to have submitted its NDC. The European Union, which has brought down its carbon emissions by 37% compared, is yet to announce the updated NDC. The European Commission aims for a political agreement on the 2040 target before submitting the third NDC.
“The EU needs to update its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement by September 2025. This extended deadline allows the United Nations climate secretariat enough time to assess the collective effect of all national climate plans, relative to the targets under the Paris Agreement, before the start of the COP30 climate change conference in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025,” European Parliament Think said.
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China, which is one of the largest emitters, has argued that fossil fuel is crucial for economic development. India submitted its first NDC in 2015 with two goals of reducing the emissions intensity of its by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 and to achieve about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. “India has progressively continued decoupling economic growth from GHG emissions. Between 2005 and 2020, India’s emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reduced by 36%. India has claimed that it has achieved the NDC target before the scheduled target of 2030. This includes cutting down its emission intensity by 45% and ensuring meeting half of its electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels, and creating a carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes by increasing forest cover.
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