WASHINGTON: State Bank of Pakistan Governor Reza Baqir on Thursday said that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the 6th review of its $6 billion financial package were going smoothly. Last month, the IMF also said it was holding open and constructive discussions with Pakistan on the 6th review and stood ready to support the country in achieving …

Sri Lanka batting coach Grant Flower tested positive for coronavirus Friday, shortly after the Sri Lankan tour of England concluded. The news comes as the Sri Lankan cricket team prepares for a home series against India. Flower, 50, had returned from England where Sri Lanka played a one-day and Twenty20 international series and was preparing for next week’s India games …

ISLAMABAD: The delayed 10th meeting of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) will be held on July 13 (Tuesday). Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong, while speaking at the concluding session of a conference titled, ‘Pakistan-China At 70: Vision for the Future’, which had been hosted by the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI), said: “I am very happy to brief you that the …

Europe’s drug regulator has found a possible link between rare heart inflammation and COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, and advised people with a history of a rare blood disorder to avoid getting J&J’s coronavirus shot. Heart conditions myocarditis and pericarditis must be listed as possible side effects of the two mRNA vaccines, the safety committee of the European Medicines …

KARACHI: After a scintillating six-under 66 in the opening round of the CNS Open Golf Championship on Thursday, Waheed Baloch strolled to the lawn overlooking the clubhouse at the Karachi Golf Club to catch a breath and let it all sink in. There, he saw the championship trophy and even as he reflected on his performance, he didn’t move his …

TOKYO: Fans will be banned from Olympic venues in Tokyo and the capital will be under a virus state of emergency throughout the pandemic-postponed Games, Japan’s government announced on Thursday just two weeks before the opening ceremony. The decision means Tokyo 2020 will be the first Games ever held largely behind closed doors, the latest unprecedented decision about a Games …

Pfizer and partner BioNTech plan to ask U.S. and European regulators within weeks to authorize a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, based on evidence of greater risk of infection six months after inoculation and the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said, …

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has told his teammates not to think much of the humiliating loss against England, telling them “Ghabrana Nahi Hai” during the post-match conference. Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a second-choice England squad Thursday. When asked how big of a setback the loss is for the team, Azam said:  “Of course, there are …

NEW DELHI: Cairn Energy said on Thursday a Paris court had accepted its petition that Indian state-owned assets in the city worth over 20 million euros ($24 million) be frozen, claiming a significant win in its campaign to force the Indian government to pay Cairn billion-dollar damages in a protracted tax dispute. A French tribunal ordered the freeze on some …

Ben Affleck seems to be getting on the good side of Jennifer Lopez’s kids after the couple’s vacation in the Hamptons. A source spoke to People saying that the couple spent their fourth of July weekend in the Hamptons after which they returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday night. “They had an amazing weekend in the Hamptons. It was very relaxing and …