Pakistan to play India in T20 World Cup, government says

  • Islamabad announced boycotting the Feb. 15 match in Colombo to protest the ICC’s exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup
  • Pakistan’s government says the decision to play India is taken to protect ‘spirit of cricket and to support the continuity of global sport’
By Waseem Abbasi ·

Pakistan showcases fiscal turnaround, reform agenda at Saudi-hosted AlUla forum

  • Pakistan has delivered successive primary surpluses and reduced its fiscal deficit from around 8 percent of GDP to approximately 5.4 percent
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb says fiscal space created through consolidation, reforms is being directed toward priority growth-enabling sectors
By Ismail Dilawar ·

Special video

In Peshawar, 76-year-old artist struggles to keep near-extinct Mughal wax art alive

  • Craft involves intricate process using heated wax, oil, pigments, limestone to create textured, miniature artworks
  • Riaz Ahmad, who has trained his son in wax art, says he hopes to train more people to preserve traditional craft 
By WASIM SAJJAD ·

video

Pakistan to invest $1 billion in AI by 2030 in push to modernize economy

  • PM says government will introduce AI curriculum in schools nationwide
  • The transformation plan will help train 1 million non-IT professionals in AI
By Waseem Abbasi ·

Update

Saudi Arabia launches key projects at World Defense Show in Riyadh

  • Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman unveils initiatives
  • New firms set up and deals inked at event running to Feb. 12  
By Tamara Aboalsaud ·

Special

UN chief warns Israel’s actions in West Bank are eroding prospects for a two-state solution

  • Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ‘gravely concerned’ by new rules that tighten Israeli control of the territory and make it easier for Israeli settlers to buy land there
  • He calls on Israel to reverse the decision, urges all parties to safeguard what he describes as the only viable path to lasting peace: a negotiated two-state solution
By Ephrem Kossaify ·

US military boards sanctioned oil tanker in Indian Ocean

  • Tanker tracking website says Aquila II departed the Venezuelan coast after US forces captured then-President Nicolás Maduro
  • Pentagon says it 'hunted' the vessel all the way from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean
By AP ·

Saudi Arabia pulls in most of Partners for Growth $450m capital push

  • Global private credit fund leans into region’s largest market for growth-stage technology financing
By Nour El-Shaeri ·

MENA funding surges on flurry of startup rounds

By Nour El-Shaeri ·

Special graphic

AI’s shift toward proactive healthcare

By Nada Hameed ·

Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots

  • The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize
By AFP ·

Bad Bunny brings Gaga, Martin and Puerto Rican pride to Super Bowl as Green Day, Puth play pregame

  • Bad Bunny’s halftime show celebrated Puerto Rican culture with appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin
By AP ·