Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, on Thursday reaffirmed the strong alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, declaring the two nations as one united front against any aggressor.

On social media platform X, Prince Khalid bin Salman stated: “KSA and Pakistan. One front against any aggressor. Always and forever.”

The announcement follows the signing of a “Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement” between Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on Wednesday.

The agreement explicitly states that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

A joint statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office highlighted the significance of the pact.

“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 defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.

The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” a joint statement shared by PM Office Media Wing said.

The two sides reviewed the historic and strategic relations between both countries, and a number of topics of common interest.

The prime minister expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also received a warm gesture of friendship as Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 fighter jets escorted his aircraft upon entry into Saudi airspace.

• Cops were serving search warrant when gunfire erupted.
• Police shot and killed gunman; his identity not yet released.
• Govt yet to disclose the agencies the slain officers belonged to.

Three law enforcement officers were shot dead and two others were critically wounded in Pennsylvania on Wednesday in a confrontation with a gunman who was fatally shot by police, officials said.

The shooting unfolded in Codorus Township, a York County community in southeastern Pennsylvania, when the officers involved returned to the scene of some earlier police work, state police commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris said.

“They were there to follow up on an investigation that began yesterday,” he told reporters at a news conference hours later. He declined to elaborate on the circumstances, except to characterise the investigation as “domestic-related.”

Three officers died, and two others struck by gunfire were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were listed in critical but stable conditions.

At least one local news media outlet reported the officers were attempting to serve a search warrant when the gunfire occurred.

Paris said the shooter was shot to death by police. The suspect was not publicly identified, and authorities declined to immediately reveal the law enforcement agencies to which the officers belonged.

Governor Josh Shapiro travelled to the hospital to pay respects to the fallen officers, saying, “This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day for York County, for the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” He asked for prayers for the families of the victims.

“It’s important for you to know that these families who are grieving right now … how proud they are of their loved ones who put on the uniform to keep us safe,” he said.

Shapiro also acknowledged he had received a call from US Attorney General Pam Bondi offering whatever federal support was necessary.

LONDON: Armed with signs and shouting slogans, thousands of anti-Donald Trump protesters descended on central London on Wednesday to decry the US president’s unprecedented second state visit to the UK.

London’s Metropolitan Police estimated that there were around 5,000 people at the protest, which culminated in a rally in front of parliament.

With Trump receiving the red-carpet treatment at Windsor Castle, around 22 miles (35 kilometres) west of London, demonstrators marched in the heart of the British capital to display their disdain on the first full day of the trip.

“We’re protesting, I suppose, about everything about Donald Trump. You don’t know what placard to carry, really, there’s so many things” to dislike, former teacher Dave Lockett, 67, told AFP.

“He’s sowing destruction and disorder throughout the whole Earth… If Trump’s ideas get into this society, then what we’re talking about is fascism in Britain,” he added.

Left-wing lawmakers, including new Green Party leader Zack Polanski, were among those to address the crowds in Parliament Square at the rally hosted by well-known comedian Nish Kumar.

“We are gathered here united to say this is not in our name,” Polanski said of Trump’s invitation from the ruling centre-left Labour government.

“This is the moment to challenge everything Donald Trump stands for. This is the moment to reject the politics of hate and division.”

‘Hiding’

Protesters had first massed early afternoon near the BBC’s headquarters, holding aloft an array of banners, flags and signs, covering everything from support for the Palestinians to rejecting fascism.

Amid a cacophony of drumming, some demonstrators had recreated smaller versions of the giant balloon depicting Trump wearing a nappy, which was famously flown during his first state visit in 2019.

Yashi Sriram, a doctor originally from India, turned out with a placard reading: “End the genocide. Stop Trump.”

“I just wanted to show support for the people of Palestine, really, more than anything else,” said the 32-year-old.

A group called the Stop Trump Coalition organised the demonstration, with a broad alliance of organisations sponsoring it, including Amnesty International UK, Black Lives Matter UK, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and Greenpeace.

The coalition questioned why Trump would spend so little time in London during the visit.

“Because he knows we’re protesting against him,” the group said in a statement ahead of the march.

“Instead, he’ll be hiding and having a sad little carriage ride all by himself in Windsor with a parade that no one will even see. This is because of the power of our protest.”

Those at the evening rally repeatedly chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear: Donald Trump is not welcome here,” as various speakers railed against him.

Trump unpopular

London’s Metropolitan Police deployed more than 1,600 officers — including 500 brought in from other forces — to ensure the event passed off without incident.

A purported counter-demonstration failed to muster, and there were no reports of disorder or arrests.

A lone protester, surrounded by police, displayed a sign reading: “We Love Trump,” sparking boos as anti-Trump campaigners marched past him.

Trump remains deeply unpopular in Britain, with new polling on Wednesday showing almost half of respondents thought it was wrong to invite him for a second state visit.

Only a quarter believed it would improve UK-US relations, according to the YouGov/Sky survey.

London mayor Sadiq Khan, who allowed the unflattering Trump baby blimp to fly during the American president’s first-term visits, has been a persistent critic amid a years-long feud.

Khan wrote Tuesday in The Guardian: “Trump and his coterie have perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years.”

An estimated 150,000 people attended a weekend rally in London organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with 26 police officers injured in clashes on the event’s fringes.

In the article, Khan — the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when he was first elected in 2016 — accused Trump of “scapegoating minorities, illegally deporting US citizens, deploying the military to the streets of diverse cities”.

“These actions aren’t just inconsistent with western values — they’re straight out of the autocrat’s playbook,” he wrote.