ISLAMABAD: The unprecedented gas price shock and some essential eatables led to an increase in short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), of almost 27 per cent on an annual basis in the week ending April 25, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Friday. “The SPI for the current week ended on April 25, eased 1.1pc,” …

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday criticised the power companies for inefficiencies and the use of expensive power plants despite the availability of cheaper sources but hinted at allowing them to charge another Rs22.8 billion to consumers in the billing month of May. At a public hearing presided over by Nepra Chairman Waseem Mukhtar, it was …

KARACHI: Nestlé Pakistan Ltd on Friday reported that its profit-after-tax (PAT) fell 10.49 per cent to Rs50.67 billion, translating into earnings per share (EPS) of Rs111.75, in the first quarter of 2024 compared to Rs56.61bn (EPS: Rs124) in 1QCY23. However, sales revenue rose 9.7pc to Rs54.4bn for the first quarter due to broad-based growth across products and demand-generating activities. In …

LONDON: Britain’s King Charles is set to return to public duties next week. This is a first-ever since he was diagnosed with cancer, as he makes good progress following treatment and a period of recuperation, the Buckingham Palace stated on Friday. In February, the palace revealed that the 75-year-old king had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer. This was picked …

TEL AVIV: A young woman was stabbed and her attacker killed near the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Friday, while the country’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was injured in a car crash as he returned from addressing journalists at the scene, officials said. The young woman was stabbed in the city of Ramla and taken to …

WASHINGTON: A pro-Palestinian US group filed a federal civil rights complaint against Columbia University following last week’s mass arrest of anti-war protesters after the school called police to clear demonstrator encampments, the group said on Thursday. Palestine Legal, an organisation that seeks to protect the rights of people in the US to speak out on behalf of Palestinians, urged the …

LONDON: Scotland’s First Mini­s­ter Humza Yousaf said he intended to fight a vote of no confidence called by political opponents following his decision to withdraw from a coalition agreement and try to run a minority government. “I’m quite confident, very confident in fact, that I’ll be able to win that vote of no confidence,” he told Sky News on Friday. Scottish National Party …

NEW DELHI: The second phase of Indian elections on Friday saw 88 constituencies in the fray, including Rahul Gandhi’s contest in communist-ruled Kerala. Speculation is rife that he could return to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh to challenge BJP’s Smriti Irani. The cabinet minister defeated him in the traditional Gandhi family hub narrowly in 2019. Alternate media claims Priyanka Gandhi will be the …

PARIS: Student-led protests over the war in Gaza were widening in Europe on Friday as activists in France and Britain follow the lead of a campus demonstrations spreading in the US. Protesters in Paris blocked an entrance to elite university Sciences Po on Friday, refusing to back down after a tent “occupation” was broken up by police a day earlier. Activists at …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Saudi Arabia on Saturday to attend the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) special meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy being held on April 28-29. The premier was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. This is the prime minister’s second trip to Saudi Arabia in less …