The air chiefs of Bangladesh and Pakistan have held talks in Islamabad regarding a potential deal for the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Bangladesh, according to a statement from Pakistan’s military. The discussions also focused on strengthening bilateral defense ties, with Pakistan expressing interest in expanding arms supply and cooperation. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Air Force told the BBC that no agreement has yet been reached, though Bangladesh has shown interest in purchasing the aircraft.

The JF-17 Thunder is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter jointly developed by Pakistan and China. It is equipped with advanced radar and long-range missiles and has been exported to countries such as Myanmar, Azerbaijan, and Nigeria. During the visit, Bangladesh’s Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan led a high-level delegation that met Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at the Pakistan Air Force headquarters.

The meeting emphasized training, capability enhancement, and aerospace cooperation. Bangladesh expressed interest in aircraft maintenance, radar system upgrades, and continued training support. Both sides described the visit as a reflection of their historical ties and a step toward deeper strategic partnership.

China has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about forming an “exclusive partnership” in Venezuela’s oil sector, calling them a violation of international law and a direct threat. At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Venezuela is a sovereign state with full and permanent control over its oil resources and economic activities.

Mao accused the United States of using coercion and attempting to force Venezuela to align with American interests in managing its oil assets, describing such actions as a serious breach of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty. She added that China and other countries have legitimate rights in Venezuela that must be respected and protected. The spokesperson emphasized that cooperation agreements between Beijing and Caracas are legally binding under both domestic and international law.

The dispute underscores renewed competition between the U.S. and China over influence in Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Analysts noted that China’s strong response following Trump’s remarks could further strain already tense relations between Washington and Beijing.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unhappy with him because of the high tariffs imposed on India. Speaking at a meeting with Republican members of Congress, Trump claimed that Modi had requested to meet him, saying, “Sir, may I see you?” Trump added that despite their good relationship, Modi was displeased due to the tariff rates India faces.

Trump further stated that India had ordered 68 Apache helicopters and had significantly reduced its oil purchases from Russia. He described Modi as a good person who understood the importance of keeping the U.S. president satisfied, noting that the U.S. could quickly raise tariffs on India if necessary. Trump also said the tariffs were making the United States wealthier.

Discussing defense ties, Trump mentioned that India had been waiting for years for the Apache helicopters, but the process was now moving forward. He said the situation was changing as India’s order for 68 Apache helicopters progressed.

Iran’s army chief, General Amir Hatami, issued a warning on Wednesday that the country will not quietly accept threats from foreign powers. His statement came after the United States and Israel expressed support for anti-government protests in Iran and made strong remarks against Tehran. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, Hatami said the Islamic Republic views the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not tolerate its continuation without response.

In recent days, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could intervene in Iran if protesters were killed, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly voiced support for the demonstrations. Tehran’s reaction, delivered through its military leadership, signals a firm stance amid ongoing political unrest and growing international pressure.

The statement reflects Iran’s intent to resist external interference as tensions rise over domestic protests and foreign criticism, underscoring a potentially volatile phase in its relations with the US and Israel.

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez has declared seven days of national mourning following a US military strike on Saturday that killed at least 57 people. In a televised address on Tuesday, Rodríguez said the mourning honors those who gave their lives defending the country and President Nicolás Maduro.

According to BBC, the dead include 23 members of Venezuela’s security forces, 32 Cuban fighters, and two civilian women. Cuba’s state newspaper Granma published details of the fallen soldiers under the headline “Honor and Glory.” The Cuban government expressed condolences to the families of the 32 Cuban fighters, while President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced two days of national mourning in Cuba to honor their bravery and dignity.

Cuba has long been a close ally of Venezuela, providing military and police support in key operations. Mourning ceremonies were held across both countries over the weekend to commemorate the victims.

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he may use direct military force to take control of autonomous Greenland, according to an AFP report from Washington on Tuesday. The White House described the move as a national security priority, saying military measures could be taken if necessary. The statement is expected to heighten tensions between the United States and Denmark, a NATO ally.

Following military intervention in Venezuela, Trump has turned his attention to the Arctic territory, citing its rare minerals and strategic importance as melting ice opens new sea routes. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said controlling Greenland is vital to counter rivals such as Russia and China, and that the president keeps all military options open.

Greenland and Denmark have called for urgent talks to ease tensions, while European nations including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain have voiced support for Denmark’s sovereignty. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reaffirmed that the island is not for sale and that only its people can decide their future.

The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition carried out what it described as limited preemptive strikes in Yemen to prevent further escalation of conflict involving UAE-backed separatists. The coalition announced the operation in a statement on Wednesday, saying it acted after recent territorial advances by separatist forces in Hadhramaut province near the Saudi border. Those forces had previously expelled Saudi-backed government troops but were forced to retreat following coalition air and ground operations last week.

According to the coalition, the new strikes were launched as fighting under separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi risked spreading into Al-Dhale governorate. The statement said the coalition was coordinating with the Yemeni government and local authorities to strengthen security and maintain order. Al-Zubaidi was expected to attend talks in Riyadh on Tuesday but reportedly missed his flight, and the coalition claimed he has since fled to an unknown location, creating uncertainty within the separatist ranks.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have long supported rival factions within Yemen’s southern-based government while jointly fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who seized much of northern Yemen in 2014.

At least 22 migrants were killed and 65 others injured when a truck overturned in Ethiopia’s northern Afar region, local authorities said on Tuesday. The accident occurred near Semera, several hundred kilometers west of neighboring Djibouti. According to officials, the victims had fallen prey to traffickers and were unaware of the dangers of the route. The injured were taken to Dubti Referral Hospital for full medical treatment, and the regional government expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

Ethiopia is one of the main transit routes for migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking work in Gulf countries. Thousands of migrants from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti travel this route, often moving from Djibouti to Yemen and then to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. However, the route used by traffickers to move Ethiopian migrants toward Djibouti is considered extremely dangerous.

According to the International Organization for Migration, 890 people died on this route between January and February 2025, making it one of the world’s most perilous migration paths.

Suspected Colombian guerrilla commanders are fleeing Venezuela following a U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, according to a Colombian security source cited by AFP on Tuesday. The report said the situation emerged after Washington’s weekend assault in Caracas, which led to Maduro’s ouster. Colombia has long suspected that leaders of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and remnants of the disbanded FARC group had taken refuge in Venezuela, controlling cocaine trafficking routes along the border.

Security analysts noted that several ELN bases operated inside Venezuela under conditions tolerated by the Maduro government, though Caracas consistently denied such allegations. A Colombian military officer told AFP that guerrilla leaders are now attempting to cross back into Colombia. In response, Bogotá’s defense ministry warned that their presence near the border could pose a serious national security threat. Thousands of troops have been deployed along the more than 2,200-kilometer frontier to prevent potential attacks.

AFP journalists reported visible Colombian army patrols in the border city of Cúcuta on Tuesday.

A United States-made fourth-generation F-16 fighter jet crashed off Taiwan’s eastern coast during a routine training mission, according to a statement from the Taiwanese Air Force on Wednesday. The single-seat aircraft took off from Hualien Air Base at 6:17 p.m. local time on Tuesday and went down at 7:29 p.m., about 10 nautical miles east of Fengbin Township in Hualien County. Authorities believe the pilot ejected safely, and search operations were launched immediately after the crash.

Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Li said that Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai called on Taiwan’s Coast Guard and nearby fishing vessels to assist in the search and rescue efforts. The Air Force has not yet provided further details about the cause of the crash or the pilot’s condition.

Taiwan maintains close defense ties with the United States amid tensions with China. The island recently ordered 66 new F-16V jets from the U.S. and began upgrading 141 older F-16A/B aircraft to the V standard in 2023.

Iran has executed a man named Ali Ardestani after convicting him of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. The execution was carried out following approval from the country’s Supreme Court and completion of legal procedures, according to Mizan, the media outlet of Iran’s judiciary, which reported the event on Wednesday.

Mizan stated that Ardestani had provided sensitive national information to Mossad. The report noted that Iran has executed several individuals over the years for alleged links to Israel’s intelligence network. The number of such executions has risen notably this year, particularly after Israeli and U.S. forces attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June, leading to direct confrontations between the two nations.

Observers view Iran’s latest execution as a reflection of the continuing hostility and security tensions between Iran and Israel, two long-time regional adversaries.

A Reuters poll has found that one-third of Americans support the recent US military strike in Venezuela, while 72 percent are concerned about deeper US involvement in the South American nation. The two-day survey, concluded on Monday, showed sharp political divisions, with 65 percent of Republicans backing President Donald Trump’s military action, compared to only 11 percent of Democrats and 23 percent of general voters.

The poll followed a US military operation early Saturday in Caracas, where American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The United States has long accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking. Analysts noted that Trump, who had previously criticized other presidents for foreign wars, has now taken direct military action abroad. In a post-operation press conference, Trump declared that the US would take control of Venezuela, sparking widespread international debate.

Political analysts described the move as a major strategic decision for the Trump administration, especially ahead of the midterm elections that will determine congressional control for the final two years of his term.

All flights at Aleppo International Airport in Syria have been temporarily suspended following clashes between government security forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday. The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that the decision was made to ensure the safety of passengers, flight crews, and airport operations.

According to the authority’s statement, all scheduled flights will be redirected to Damascus International Airport until technical and security assessments are completed in coordination with relevant agencies. The suspension has been described as a precautionary and temporary measure, with updates to be provided once the review period ends or if new developments occur.

Authorities have advised passengers to contact their airlines for updated flight information. The SDF, led by the YPG group, has been blamed for a terrorist attack in Aleppo that killed one soldier and four civilians and injured several others.

China has announced the suspension of exports of dual-use goods to Japan following heightened bilateral tensions triggered by Japan’s comments on the Taiwan issue. In a statement issued on Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the restriction applies to products usable in both civilian and military sectors. The ban covers items such as drones and certain rare earth materials used in semiconductor production. Exports to Japanese military users or for purposes that could enhance Japan’s military capability are prohibited. The ministry also warned that individuals or entities violating the restrictions would face legal action.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested the decision, calling it “completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable.” Tokyo accused Beijing of violating international norms and targeting Japan specifically. Japan has urged China to immediately withdraw the export suspension.

The move underscores escalating friction between the two Asian powers, with trade and security dimensions now intersecting over the sensitive Taiwan issue.

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over a recent dramatic operation by the United States in Venezuela, warning that it constitutes a clear violation of a fundamental principle of international law. The statement was reported from Geneva on Tuesday by AFP, where the UN said the incident raises serious concerns about international law and state sovereignty.

At a press conference in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, stated that any threat or use of force by one state against another’s territorial integrity or political independence is contrary to international law. She added that such actions could undermine global stability and the international law-based order.

The UN’s remarks highlight growing apprehension about the implications of unilateral military or coercive actions, emphasizing the need to uphold international legal norms and respect for national sovereignty.