Exit polls set to be aired as voting draws to a close in Israel
JERUSALEM – Election day was near its money time as Israel’s television stations were set to air a set of exit polls right as voting ends at 10 pm on Tuesday, providing an estimate of the results.
Saudi Arabia backs Pakistan mediation efforts to defuse regional tensions
RIYADH – The Saudi Council of Ministers on Tuesday reiterated Saudi Arabia’s firm commitment to advancing regional de-escalation, underscoring its strong support for all initiatives aimed at easing tensions, particularly the mediation efforts spearheaded by Qatar and Pakistan.
Current fuel crisis linked to global price surge, says PM
ISLAMABAD – A delegation of Jamaat-e-Islami led by its Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban’s allegations, reaffirms right to self-defence
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has categorically rejected the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations by the Afghan Taliban regime regarding civilian casualties attributed to its counter-terrorism operations.
SBP raises policy rate by 50 bps to 12pc
KARACHI – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), on Monday, increased the policy rate by 50 bps to 12 percent owing to the continued geo-political uncertainties in the Middle East and rising energy costs and their potential impacts on domestic economy, inflation outlook and external account.
450 Palestinian families displaced in Hebron as Israeli military siege hits day 4
GAZA/UNITED NATIONS – Israeli forces forcibly displaced more than 450 families in the Hebron governorate, occupied West Bank, as a military siege entered its fourth consecutive day, according to the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA).
FO rejects Afghan Taliban claims, defends Pakistan’s right to self-defence
Pakistan on Monday categorically rejected allegations of civilian casualties resulting from its counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan, describing the claims as baseless and unsubstantiated while accusing the Afghan Taliban authorities of providing sanctuary to militant groups operating against Pakistan.
Mass protests sweep across Europe, France and Italy see fresh unrest
PARIS/ROME – Mass protests over the rising cost of living, low wages, education, housing, public services and government policies have spread across Europe, with France and Italy witnessing fresh demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police.
Up to US to take necessary steps to get itself out of ‘quagmire’: Ghalibaf
TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that Tehran was prepared to meet any violation of its territorial integrity with a response beyond its enemy’s imagination, asserting that the country will not be intimidated by threats of all-out war or assassination.
Houthis launch missile barrage on Saudi Arabia as Riyadh airport reopens
RIYADH/SANAA – Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia on Sunday, prompting air defence systems to intercept multiple projectiles as Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport partially resumed operations after a two-week closure.
