WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives will fast-track a vote next week on legislation that would give China’s ByteDance six months to divest from short video app TikTok or face a US ban after a committee unanimously approved the measure Thursday. The Energy and Commerce Committee 50-0 vote represents the most significant momentum for a US crackdown on TikTok, which …

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand pace bowler Ben Sears will make his Test debut against an unchanged Australia in the second and final match in Christchurch as the Black Caps look to square the series 1-1. Wellington quick Sears was drafted into the squad following a hamstring injury to rookie pacer Will O’Rourke sustained in the 172-run thumping at the Basin Reserve. …

JEDDAH: Three-time world champion Max Verstappen shut out the noise surrounding his Red Bull team on Thursday to clock the fastest lapin opening practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Verstappen topped the times in one minute and 29.659 seconds to finish ahead of two-time former champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin by 0.186 seconds. The 26-year-old Dutchman’s Red Bull …

DHARAMSALA: Kuldeep Yadav took five wickets to bundle England out for 218, with India’s batsmen starting strongly on a dominant opening day for the hosts in the fifth Test here at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday. Yadav returned figures of 5-72, with fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin — playing his landmark 100th Test — taking four wickets, the …

RAWALPINDI: The stakes were high as Karachi Kings and Islamabad United locked horns in the most important HBL Pakistan Super League fixture so far here at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Only a point separated the two sides ahead of the match. While the Kings had their eyes on the fourth spot that Islamabad were occupying in the league …

KARACHI: Amid falling foreign exchange reserves of the State Bank of Pakistan and uncertainty about the interest rate outlook, the stock market extended its losing streak for the third straight day on Thursday as some investors resorted to profit-taking as a result the benchmark KSE 100-share index saw another day of losses in a volatile session. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit with the Middle East narrowed 41.31 per cent to $5.674 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year mainly due to low imports of petroleum products from the region. In absolute terms, the value of Pakistan’s exports to the Middle East rose 36.18pc to $1.769bn between July and January 2023-24 while imports dipped …

KARACHI: A consortium of Engro Fertilisers Ltd (EFL), Fatima Fertilisers and Fauji Fertilisers will invest over $300 million in the Gas Pressure Enhancement Facilities (GPEF) project at the Mari network to ensure the availability of gas for domestic urea production and safeguard the food security. “Our expected share in capital expenditure in this project is over $100m, Engro Fertilisers Chief …

WASHINGTON: The US State Department has conveyed a clear message to Pakistan’s new rulers, emphasising the importance of collaboration with the Interna­tional Monetary Fund (IMF) and economic reforms for stability. In response to a set of questions from Dawn, a State Department spokesperson underscored the enduring partnership between the two nations, stating, “We value our long-standing partnership with Pakistan and have …