Facing growing international and domestic pressure, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's military campaign in Yemen has further pushed Riyadh to plead for Washington's assistance, according to a report.

The Trump administration has backtracked on its earlier bid to build a military coalition in the Persian Gulf to counter what it called the “Iran threat”, saying now that the coalition is not aimed at countering the Islamic Republic.

The United Nations has slammed Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for undermining the UN's relief operations in Yemen by ditching humanitarian aid pledges to the war-torn country.

Argentina has joined the US in designating Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement as a terrorist group over trumped-up charges of posing a “threat” to the economy of the South American country.

Following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Lahore, major provincial cabinet shuffle was witnessed on Friday as the portfolio of Samsam Bukhari was changed from the Information and Culture Department to the Consolidation Department.

The accountability court granted the National Accountability Bureau a 13-day remand of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the LNG Terminal case on Friday.

The Sindh High Court approved on Friday Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Miftah Ismail and former managing director of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq’s plea for protective bail in the LNG case.

An explosion on Friday near a gate to the campus of Kabul University in the Afghan capital killed six people and injured at least 27 as students waited to take an examination, officials said.

A man suspected of torching an animation studio in western Japan shouted that he had been plagiarized and appeared to have planned the attack, media said on Friday after a blaze that killed 33 people in Japan’s worst mass killing in two decades.

The Accountability Court dismissed on Friday the National Accountability Bureau plea against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz in the Avenfield reference.

Pakistan would grant consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav in accordance with the country's laws, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release issued late Thursday.

Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar branded Donald Trump a "fascist" on Thursday as the president sought to distance himself from mocking chants of "Send her back!" directed at the Somali-born lawmaker by his supporters.

Britain has expressed support for economic sanctions against Venezuela amid an ongoing political row in the South American country.

The supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro say they will fight “tooth and nail” for him, amid speculation that the United States is preparing to invade the Latin American country to overthrow his government in the midst of anti-Maduro protests.

The United States and Russia have failed to make any progress in negotiations on a landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty, with Washington expected to go ahead with a unilateral withdrawal from the key pact this weekend, a senior Russian diplomat says.

The European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal have finalized a much-awaited transactions channel with Iran aimed at protecting trade ties with Tehran against American sanctions, German media say.

In Bulgaria, a senior Iranian diplomat cautions Europe against stepped-up attempts by the US to set up a coalition against Tehran, amid Washington’s plans to host an Iran-focused confab in Poland.

After bagging over $100 billion in cash-for-freedom settlements, Saudi Arabia says it has ended the probe of the high-profile figures detained as part of a much-criticized “anti-graft” campaign, as the regime continues to grapple with international pressure over the brutal assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Saudi-led coalition waging war on Yemen has threatened to use “force” to push the country’s Houthi Ansarullah movement to withdraw from the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hudaydah under a UN-brokered ceasefire in the flashpoint area.

American lawmakers are making stated efforts to end US President Donald Trump’s support for Saudi Arabia’s war on impoverished Yemen.

ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday announced the monetary policy, increased the interest rate by 25 basis points to 10.25 per cent.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Thursday conducted another successful launch of short range surface to surface ballistic missile 'Nasr' as part of Army Strategic Forces Command training exercise which included quad salvo on 24 January and single shots on 28 and 31 January 2019, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday rejected India’s objections over a phone call between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

LAHORE: Family members and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders met ousted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at Kot Lakhpat jail on Thursday.

Moody's Investors Service in a report published on Thursday said the mini-budget will help narrow the current account deficit.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair hit back at Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday for comparing Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram, terming it an insult to the swing legend.

MATIARI: Consul General of Qatar in Karachi Mishal M. Al Ansari has said his country is going to recruit 100,000 Pakistanis by issuing work visas to them in all sectors.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa livestock department on Thursday decided to establish donkey farms in DI Khan and Maneshra as part of its donkey export plan.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday met and paid rich tribute to the polio workers who braved harsh snowy weather to perform their duties, vaccinating children against the crippling disease in the remote northern areas.

ISLAMABAD: A petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari’s disqualification was not heard in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Wednesday rejected objections raised by India over Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s telephone call to All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

US President Donald Trump says the Daesh terrorists “will soon be destroyed,” pushing back on intelligence chiefs’ warning that the militants could regroup in Syria.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Wednesday maintained that Asia Bibi has the right to travel anywhere after the Supreme Court of Pakistan's verdict, absolving her from the blasphemy charges.

Iran’s Armed Forces have unveiled new military hardware, including drones and missiles, during an exhibition ahead of the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

At least two people have lost their lives when unidentified assailants hurled a grenade at a mosque in the troubled southern Philippines, just days after twin bomb blasts at a Roman Catholic cathedral killed nearly two dozen people and wounded many more.

A group of Latin American countries that includes Canada and that is largely opposed to the Venezuelan government has nevertheless expressed opposition to any military intervention in Venezuela, amid speculation that the United States is preparing to invade the country to overthrow the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Police in Germany have arrested three Iraqi citizens suspected of planning to carry out an attack in the European country, according to a federal prosecutor’s office.

The top US intelligence official has warned Israel of the consequences of keeping up its military strikes on Syrian soil, saying the attacks could eventually trigger a response from Iran, which has its military advisors based in the Arab state.

The United Nations (UN) has again slammed the latest killing of a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank by armed Israeli settlers, expressing deep concern about the “extremely violent attack.”

Amnesty International has slammed online tourism companies for offering services in Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land, saying they are actually contributing to the regime’s land theft and profiting from “war crimes” against Palestinians.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei pays respect to late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini and Iranian martyrs in the lead-up to ten-day celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

President Hassan Rouhani has called on all Iranians to stay united in the face of threats posed by the United States and its allied reactionary regimes in the region, noting that unity is what will enable the nation to overcome the ongoing tough economic situation caused by the sanctions.

CAIRO: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a telephone call from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday to discuss progress on resolving the war in Yemen and other regional issues, Saudi Press Agency reported.

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to PM on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Wednesday said Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered improvement in Pakistan's ease of doing business ranking.

Funeral prayers were held on Wednesday for seven police staff martyred in yesterday’s attack at the DIG police compound in Loralai, Balochistan.

ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry on Wednesday permitted Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz to travel abroad, according to sources.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered lifting of the ban on the entry of maids at elite clubs, to "remove symbols of elitism and colonial mindset", Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi said on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday approved a draft bill raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 years.

Millions of Chinese have begun the annual exodus for the Lunar New Year, the world´s largest annual human migration, leaving major cities to return to their hometowns for the holiday.

MUSCAT: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held talks with the Omani leadership on Wednesday during his official visit to the Gulf country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to expel an international observer group tasked with safeguarding Palestinians in the flashpoint city of al-Khalil (Hebron), in the occupied West Bank, claiming the mission is working against Israel.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has lashed out at the United States over new unilateral sanctions imposed on the Latin American country’s oil sector, vowing to take legal action in response to the move.

Iran’s top security official says the country faces no scientific restrictions for increasing the range of its missiles, but that it currently has no plans to do so and is only focused on improving the accuracy of its missile technology.

The US and the Taliban have drafted the framework of a deal which could pave the way for peace talks with Kabul, Washington´s main negotiator was quoted as saying Monday, but major hurdles including a ceasefire and a withdrawal of foreign forces remain.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday rejected a review petition challenging the top court's decision to acquit Asia Bibi, a peasant Christian woman enmeshed in a years-long blasphemy row.

DUBAI: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has expressed hope that the upcoming edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be the last to be played in the United Arab Emirates.

Four undercover Houston police officers were shot on Monday as they attempted to serve a warrant in a narcotics investigation and two suspects were killed when police returned fire, police said.

KARACHI: A security guard employed at a private bank in Karachi’s Defence area robbed the bank and stole Rs 6.5 million in what is being called the biggest heist of the year.

MANCHESTER: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says trophies are more important for Manchester United than a top-four finish as he targets success in two cup competitions over the second half of the season.

In a first, Pakistan has appointed a female Hindu judge to the civil and judicial magistrate.

ISLAMABAD: The chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, while hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) disqualification petition against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Asif Ali Zardari, remarked that political fights should be fought in the relevant forums or the Parliament.

The United States last year slid down the rankings of a global corruption index as America´s system of checks and balances faced growing threats on Donald Trump´s watch, Transparency International said Tuesday.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu says the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant group is annually earning more than a billion US dollars from drugs.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and South Korean President Mon Jae-in have held a summit in Seoul on ways to bolster bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of economy.

Undercover agents have targeted researchers who found out that an Israeli spyware firm had helped Saudi Arabia spy on the communications of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi before his murder last year.

In a provocative move, an Israeli minister has toured the occupied Old City of East Jerusalem al-Quds, and a group of Israeli settlers have stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says the foreign troops in Afghanistan will have to gradually leave the war-torn county.

Iran's First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri has arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus on a two-day visit to hold talks with senior officials of the Arab country.

Three students and a police officer have died in the southeastern of the Democratic Republic of the Congo during weekend clashes at a protest over water and power outages, according to an updated death toll by the presidency.

A decision by Bahrain's highest court to uphold life sentence for prominent Shia cleric and opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman is “political,” says an activist, adding that there is no independent judiciary in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir says restoring peace to the country’s southern province of South Kordofan — where government troops are fighting rebels — is Khartoum’s “top priority,” as anti-government protesters plan to hold rallies in Sudan’s war zones.

Human Rights Watch has accused the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group of using “torture” against those opposing its rule in Syria’s militant-held northwestern province of Idlib.

The United Nations (UN) has urged Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a panel on the Rohingya crisis that was led by a former UN head, the late Kofi Annan, including ensuring freedom of movement and access to education for children from the persecuted Muslim minority.

A senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the Zionist regime of Israel will be eliminated and the entire occupied Palestinian territories will be retaken if it embarks on starting a new war.

British Prime Minister Theresa May intends to give the UK parliament a second chance to approve a Brexit deal with the European Union as soon as possible.

The $1.5 trillion tax cut package approved by the administration of US President Donald Trump appeared to have no major impact on capital investment or hiring plans by American companies, according to a survey.

Tensions have grown in central Madrid, as a strike by taxi drivers entered its eighth consecutive day on Monday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that he has directed relevant authorities to make necessary arrangements for the Torkhum border to be opened for 24/7 services within the next six months.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser formed a 13-member parliamentary committee to make sure that the decorum of the House sessions is maintained.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government on Monday, calling it a ‘master of taking u-turns’.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday submitted a constitutional amendment bill in the National Assembly for the creation of Bahawalpur and South Punjab provinces.

Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Monday assured locals in North Waziristan that the shops destroyed during Operation Zarb-e-Azb will be handed over to their "rightful owners" soon.

Doctors in government hospitals across Sindh went on strike on Monday as their salaries and allowances have not been raised.

Finance Minister Asad Umar spoke to reporters here on Monday about the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan for Pakistan.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif will not use his powers as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman to issue his own production order, sources said on Monday.

National cricket team captain Sarfraz Ahmed’s return to Pakistan was delayed on Monday.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday summoned all medical reports of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday briefed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other government officials regarding his recent talks with the Taliban in Qatar and said there was no agreement on the demand of the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Finance Minister Asad Umar on Monday said that economic matters cannot be resolved till the trade deficit is reduced.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that anchorperson and former chairman of Pakistan Television (PTV) Dr Shahid Masood be released on bail in a case pertaining to corruption in the state television.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court seeking Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari’s disqualification.

Asian markets reversed early gains to end mostly down Monday as investors look ahead to a week chock-full of crucial events including the high-level trade talks between China and the United States.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, on Monday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's January 7 decision in the ongoing money laundering case.

Farooq Sattar on Monday moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) against his expulsion from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Pakistan faction.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan’s role in bringing Taliban to the negotiation table has been appreciated by US President Donald Trump.

An Iranian official has warned of Israel's warmongering policies in the Middle East, saying the regime's acts of provocation pose a serious threat to regional security.

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address will not take place despite him ending the government shutdown, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The United States and Canada have sent four fighter jets to shadow Russian long-range bombers flying near Canadian air defense identification zone in the Arctic region, authorities say.

Thousands of British companies have already triggered emergency plans to cope with a no-deal Brexit, with many gearing up to move operations abroad if the UK crashes out of the EU, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.

JOHANNESBURG: Pakistan shrugged off the loss of captain Sarfraz Ahmed to suspension as left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari took four wickets in six balls and South Africa were dismissed for 164 in the fourth one-day international on Sunday.