ROME: Three years after an embarrassing failure to qualify for the World Cup, Italy are back in contention with the best in Europe. England, meanwhile, are already out of contention for the Nations League finals with one round of matches still to play. An Italy squad badly hit by the coronavirus still managed to beat Poland 2-0 on Sunday, putting …

LAHORE: Nasir Iqbal and Israr Ahmad entered the final of the PSF-Punjab Satellite Squash Tournament at the Punjab Squash Complex here on Monday. In the first semifinal, Nasir chalked up a straight three-game victory against Amaad Fareed with the score being 11-6, 11-8, 11-7. Experienced Nasir did not allow Ammad to pose any challenge as he dominated the game from …

KARACHI: When the Pakistan Super League V came to a shuddering halt midway through last March, nobody would have predicted then that the conclusion of the franchise-based Tweny20 competition could throw up a dream final here on Tuesday between two teams — Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars — with very high reputations and expectations but much less achievements. Prayers of …

ADELAIDE: Australia’s cricket series against India has been cast into uncertainty again after a coronavirus outbreak in Adelaide, where the first Test is scheduled to be played next month. Players from Western Australia and Tasmania states who recently returned home from domestic games in Adelaide were ordered into home isolation on Monday when their provincial governments closed borders to South …

TOKYO: Olympic participants and fans arriving for next year’s postponed Tokyo Games will be encouraged to be vaccinated to protect the Japanese public, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Monday. Bach said it won’t be mandatory, but he left no doubt it will be strongly pushed. Bach campaigned across Tokyo on Monday, his first visit to Japan since the Olympics …

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Monday approved four major supplementary grants totalling Rs38 billion for security expenditures. It also approved Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for the staff of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Presided over by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance & Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the meeting was attended …

ISLAMABAD: After a gap of few years, Pakistan and Afghanistan has resumed formal talks on improving bilateral economic relations. An official announcement said that Adviser on Commerce to Prime Minister Razak Dawood left for a three-day talk on Monday. Soon after reaching Kabul, the adviser called on Speaker of Afghan Wolesi Jirga in Kabul and discussed strengthening of trade and …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that at a time when the global economy was being battered by the adverse effect of Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan’s economy has been recovering at a pace rivaled by none in the region. Chairing a meeting to review the economic situation, PM Khan reiterated the government’s resolve to improve macroeconomic condition of the …

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) on Monday approved the transaction structure for the divestment of 96.6 per cent shares of Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC), and constituted a committee to improve upon the transaction structure for Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). Chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the CCoP also instructed the Ministry …

ISLAMABAD: Turkish delegation on Monday expressed their interest for setting up industrial units in Pakistan to start production activities to meet the needs of the construction industry, a press release issued by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said on Monday. ICCI President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan briefed the visiting delegation about the potential business and investment opportunities …