KARACHI: The man who once used to lead the line for England was, on Monday, leading talks for the launch of a franchise league in Pakistan. Former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen scored for the Pakistan Football League as soon as he touched down in Islamabad, helping the project get the government’s nod. The approval came when a delegation …

Rahul Dravid said on Monday that he will leave his post as India coach at the end of the T20 World Cup after almost three years in charge. Dravid’s contract runs out at the end of the month and he will not re-apply for the job, which has been advertised by India’s governing cricket body, the BCCI, since last month. “It is …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recor­ded its highest monthly growth in exports in three years with a jump of almost 19pc in May 2024. The month-on-month growth rate of 18.76pc in dollar terms was the highest since June 2021, when the exports went up by 63.32pc. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data released on Monday, exports increased to $2.79 billion in …

Bears took over at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as shares plunged more than 800 points on Tuesday. The benchmark KSE-100 index plunged 834.24 points, or 1.1 per cent, to stand at 74,741.01 at 3:09pm from the previous close of 75,575.25 points. Raza Jafri, chief executive of EFG Hermes Pakistan, said, “Buyers seem to be shying away as they await …

Indian shares plunged over 8 per cent on Tuesday, set for their worst day in four years and erasing their gains for 2024, as vote-counting trends showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alliance falling short of a predicted landslide victory. Modi’s bloc looked set to secure a majority in early vote counting in the general election on Tuesday, but the numbers were well short of the landslide …

ISLAMABAD: The ann­o­uncement of the federal budget for 2024-25 remains in unusual limbo, with key customary ingredients still missing, casting doubts on its presentation in parliament on June 10. Sources said the critical National Economic Cou­ncil (NEC) meeting, essential for reviewing the current year’s macroeconomic situation and development programme and approving the next year’s economic and development agenda, has yet to be …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has selected six companies qualified to bid to buy national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the privatisation minister said on Monday. The announcement came a couple of weeks after Pakistan had extended the date for submitting expressions of interest. A total of eight companies and consortiums had expressed an interest. Air Blue, Arif Habib Corporation, Blue World City, Fly …

GENEVA: A group of United Nations experts called on Monday for all countries to recognise a Palestinian state to ensure peace in the Middle East. The call came less than a week after Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state, prompting anger from Israel, which has found itself increasingly isolated after nearly eight months of aggression in Gaza. The …

WILMINGTON: Jury selection kicked off in a criminal case against Hunter Biden, a historic prosecution that could further influence the 2024 presidential election four days after Joe Biden’s rival Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted. Hunter Biden, 54, arrived at the courthouse for the first trial of the child of a sitting president, in which …

PARIS: French police arrested three people on Monday after five empty coffins wrapped in French flags with the words “French soldiers from Ukraine” written on them were found near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. The public prosecutors have requested that the three individuals, who are from Bulgaria, Germany and Ukraine and who are all under 30 years old, be charged …