TOKYO: Athletes arriving in Tokyo for next year’s Olympic Games, postponed from 2020 because of Covid-19, will be exempt from the 14-day isolation period Japan has imposed on anyone arriving from overseas to help stop the virus from spreading. Organisers said on Thursday details still need to be worked out, but measures for athletes are likely to include coronavirus testing …

m KARACHI: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ehsan Mani has said that it is Pakistan’s right to participate in ICC events and the BCCI should facilitate Pakistan team for the mega events scheduled in India. Talking to this correspondent in an interview on a private TV channel, Mani said that the matter of Pakistan’s participation in the …

BABAR Azam is now fully loaded with authority and responsibility. The batting prodigy has now been handed the reins of the Test team too, along with the ODI and T20 leadership, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took back the mantle from Azhar Ali who proved an obvious flop against top-shelf opponents like Australia and England during his one-year stint …

KARACHI: The refurbished ground of Coach Emad Football Academy was inaugurated in a ceremony held on Thursday followed by a 7-a-side match between its teams. The refurbished ground will function as a safe community space to increase opportunities for interaction and positive form of recreation for the youth of Lyari. The ground, formerly a sand-based field, underwent a major transformation …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finally decided to capitalise on the opportunity created due to Covid-19 pandemic and is aiming to increase pharma exports by $1 billion annually to $5bn in five years. “Since the pandemic, we have started manufacturing and exporting Remdesivir injections. Moreover, demand for medicines and personal protective equipment has increased across the globe, and we are exporting these …

Two days after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Mumbai Indians, cricketer Krunal Pandya was stopped by airport customs carrying gold and luxury watches, media reports said on Friday. The 29-year-old all-rounder was stopped at Mumbai airport late on Thursday as he returned from Dubai where the IPL was played, the Press Trust of India news agency and other media …

ISLAMABAD: The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may not be back on track in a formal way very soon as the authorities struggle on politically challenging issues — power sector and revenue — amid difficult economic conditions. While the two sides are currently involved in setting timelines for revised structural benchmarks, the government wants some …

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan has asked banks to stop online payments for electronic media content from India with immediate effect. “We are in receipt of a letter from the cabinet division, Government of Pakistan, whereby they have instructed to stop different modes of payments, including credit cards, for subscribing (to) Indian Content in Pakistan, including Zee5 video-on-demand service,” …

ISLAMABAD: In two major developments on Thursday, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) declined interest payments on the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) loans in hydroelectricity tariff while the government reduced return on its Wapda equity to 10 per cent from 17pc at present as part of efforts to reduce capacity payments. As such, the power regulator reserved …

Reese Witherspoon cannot contain her excitement after shoot for The Morning Show resumes with Jennifer Aniston. The actress expressed her happiness on going back to the set, after COVID-19 outbreak hampered everything around the world. In an Instagram post, Witherspoon said, “Wakey wakey. It’s back to work!” She can be seen holding a mug with ‘wakey wakey’ written on it. …