Sterling extended gains above $1.70 to hit a 5-1/2 year high against the dollar on Thursday, bolstered by the diverging monetary policy outlooks between the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve. Britain's pound was also helped by robust data. A meas

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic head to Wimbledon fearing the title may be beyond them as the season's third Grand Slam tournament shapes up to be the most open in a decade. World number one Nadal, fresh from a record ninth French Open title, was Wimbledo

Switzerland are trying to pile the pressure on France by claiming the underdog tag for the Alpine neighbours' World Cup Group E clash in Salvador on Friday. Both teams won their openers, with France topping the table after a convincing 3-0 win over Hondur

Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan grabbed three quick wickets before the third and final one-day international against India was called off due to persistent rain. Shakib, 27, unravelled India's middle order after the fast bowlers had the visitors reelin

FIFA said Thursday it was embarrassed that scores of Chileans managed to gate-crash Maracana Stadium before their team's World Cup match against Spain, vowing to tighten security to avoid a repeat. A crush of fans, many wearing their country's red jersey,

Colombia maintained South America's strong start to the World Cup on Thursday, downing the Ivory Coast 2-1 to stay on course for a place in the last 16. A day after Chile eliminated defending champions Spain, Colombia produced a fine attacking display to

Spain's long reign as the kings of international football came to a dramatic end at the World Cup on Wednesday, with the defending champions sent crashing out after a 2-0 defeat to Chile. On a day when King Juan Carlos tearfully sealed his abdication afte

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is adamant a drawn series with England won't satisfy the tourists. Mathews's side face England in the second and final Test at Headingley on Friday, having held out for a draw in the series opener with just one wicket stan

FIFA on Thursday banned Portugal defender Pepe for one match and fined him for the head butt he carried out on Germany's Thomas Mueller in their World Cup clash. A FIFA statement said that the 31-year-old Real Madrid defender, who was red-carded for the i

Sulieman Benn starred with the ball as the West Indies claimed three wickets to have New Zealand struggling at 129 for four in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test at Queen's Park Oval on Thursday. Having started their inning

A time difference of up to 12 hours between China and Brazil has given Chinese wheeler-dealers a lucrative opportunity selling fake sick notes to football fans staying up all night to watch World Cup games. A search by AFP for "Beijing" and "sick notes se

The United States on Thursday slapped sanctions on Uganda including cancelling a military air exercise, visa bans and freezing some aid after Ugandan leaders brought in tough anti-gay laws. The new legislation signed into law in Feburary "runs counter to

Zimbabwe police on Thursday arrested the editor of a state-owned newspaper, a colleague said, highlighting bitter rivalries within the ruling party. Edmund Kudzayi, editor of the Sunday Mail, was "arrested this morning and police searched his office takin

The world's largest study of dementia was launched by British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday as part of a drive to speed up the search for treatments. "The truth is that dementia now stands alongside cancer as one of the greatest enemies of huma

Two Japanese satellites will be launched from Russia late Thursday to monitor environmental damage near the crippled nuclear plants in Fukushima and Chernobyl, officials said. The Ukrainian-designed Dnepr rocket carrying 33 satellites, including the two,

Nato on Thursday reported another build-up of Russian forces near Ukraine as its new president put in place key pieces of his pro-Western government and embraced an EU trade pact that has been bitterly fought by the Kremlin. Ukraine's parliament unanimous

An Air Canada flight to Brazil packed with World Cup fans was forced to turn back to Toronto Thursday after authorities learned that a man had sneaked onboard. Air Canada 090 was already over the Caribbean and four hours into the flight when Transport Can

A man claiming to have a bomb in the office of a human rights group in Stockholm gave himself up on Thursday after negotiating with the police on the phone, law enforcement said. "A man has left the building and he has been arrested," police spokesman Sve

Malaysian authorities said Thursday 14 people had died and 27 others were still missing following two boat accidents at a time when many illegal migrant workers head home to Indonesia for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. In the latest reported inciden

Israeli troops arrested some 30 Palestinians in the West Bank overnight as they ramped up a search for three teenagers believed kidnapped by Hamas, the army said on Thursday. The arrests raised the number of Palestinians detained since the youths went mis

Spain's new King Felipe VI vowed to clean up the scandal-hit monarchy as he launched his reign on Thursday, cheered on by crowds waving red and yellow flags. Thousands of Spaniards put aside their World Cup misery to line the sun-splashed streets of Madri

Indian law enforcement and justice authorities have shirked their responsibility to fight sex attacks, a UN child rights watchdog said on Thursday, amid uproar over the horrific gang-rape and lynching of two girls. "There has been a dereliction of duty in

As many as 10,000 people demonstrated in Vienna on Thursday in protest at a visit by Turkey's strongman Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, organisers and police said. Erdogan has been accused of autocratic tendencies in his home country and a similar tr

A court in Egypt on Thursday sentenced to death Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and 13 others over violence that killed 10 people in Cairo in summer 2013. Since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, hundreds of his supporters an

Benchmark cotton futures were down on Thursday after lacklustre sales for the 2014/15 crop year offset robust sales for the current crop and as liquidation from the July contract dragged. The most-active December cotton contract on ICE Futures US edged do

Brent crude hit a nine-month high of more than $115 a barrel on Thursday as the United States said it could send military advisers to Iraq, raising concerns about the escalating conflict. Government forces continued to battle Sunni militants for control o

Jamaatul Dawa, a relief and welfare wing of Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation on Thursday set-up relief camps for the internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency, residing in makeshift shelter camps in district Bannu and D I Khan. In the Falah-e-Ins

In the wake of growing terror threats, rangers and police would conduct joint search operation in the slum areas of the federal capital to eliminate terrorist elements. Police sources said that following the directives from the Ministry of Interior, range

Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif visited Air Headquarters here on Thursday and called on Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt. According to ISPR, progress of the ongoing operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' was reviewed and matt

The provincial government on the proposal of the parliamentary leaders of political parties has decided to convene an All-Parties Conference (APC) on internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan and maintenance of law and order. The decision

Civilians are streaming out of a tribal area in a two-pronged exodus ahead of an expected ground assault against Taliban militants, officials said Thursday, with many crossing the border into Afghanistan. The military is waging a long-awaited offensive ag

Foreign Office on Thursday said that Afghanistan has assured its co-operation to beef up security along Pak-Afghan border so that militants cannot escape the ongoing military operation "Zarb-e-Azb" in North Waziristan. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim A

Two weeks ago, BR Research met Dr Shimail Daud Arain--a medical doctor by profession who is currently the President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). The Rawalpindi Chamber is one of the oldest in the country and has about 5,000 m

Two weeks ago, BR Research met Dr Shimail Daud Arain--a medical doctor by profession who is currently the President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). The Rawalpindi Chamber is one of the oldest in the country and has about 5,000 m

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) on Thursday termed the RO plant project "mother of all scandals", saying that despite spending Rs 35 billion, the water purification installations were lying dead across the province. During the budget discussion

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has expressed serious concerns over the Lahore incident and said the incident was tragic and the probe should be conducted and real culprits should be punished. He said this while speaking during his visit to Hazara

Employer Federation of Pakistan (EFP) on Thursday urged the federal government to take concrete measures for the economic development of the country. Commenting on the federal budget 2014-15 at a news conference at Karachi Press Club, EFP President K. M.

The frequent feeders tripping, PMT faults and falling of wires have exposed the K-Electric's claim of investing heavily on improvement of infrastructure and transmission and distribution system of the utility. Sources said that feeders' tripping, PMT faul

Lahore College Women University students have triumphed in the Pakistan final of the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) 2014 Global Business Challenge, held in partnership with Barclays. SIMZ will now represent Pakistan at the global fin

The country's total liquid foreign exchange reserves rose by $114.3 million during last week. According to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan's total liquid forex reserves surged to $13.571 billion as on June 13, 2014 compared to $13.457 billion on Ju

The Balochistan Cabinet on Thursday approved provincial budget for Fiscal Year 2014-15 with total volume of Rs 215.713 billion. The meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch at CM Secretariat, discussed the salient feature

The Balochistan Cabinet on Thursday approved provincial budget for Fiscal Year 2014-15 with total volume of Rs 215.713 billion. The meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch at CM Secretariat, discussed the salient feature

PEL, Pakistan's largest electronic and power products' manufacturer, along with the traffic police will promote and maintain traffic safety. PEL will provide assistance to traffic police in preserving and educating the commuters regarding the traffic guid

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nasir Khan Durrani while taking notice of the involvement of Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) driver constable in Charas smuggling case has suspended him with immediate effect and ordered further departmental i

Dozens of people have died at Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sehwan during a severe heatwave, officials said on Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of devotees attended the death anniversary of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a 13th century Sufi saint, at a shri

Persistent hot and sultry weather has increased the sale of soft drinks and juices in the city. Owners of juice centres and departmental stores also admitted that their sales have recorded a substantial increase in this season. Demand of mango and banana

Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU), Karachi, has attached bank accounts of some 17 private and public companies to recover around Rs 18billion tax liabilities outstanding against them, it was learnt here on Thursday. According to sources, the city's LTU, the bigg

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has completed seven inquiry reports against companies involved in deceptive marketing practices and issued three policy notes to government departments, including negative impact of capacity tax on beverages wh

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan, while appreciating the ambitious plans of the National Highway Authority(NHA) towards development of road network in the province, has said the improvement in pace of progress on the ongoing projects

Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) has been ranked 1st in Pakistan and 106th in Asian Universities in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking of 2014. The QS is an established authority on global provider of specialist higher edu

At least four persons, including a woman and a child, were killed and more than 20 others injured when a tractor trolley carrying internally displaced persons (IDPs) overturned here on Thursday. Police said the accident took place in Bakkakhel area at Mir

The Supreme Court on Thursday suspended Islamabad High Court's (IHC) orders that restricted a TV anchor from holding talk shows on any television channel till the next hearing of case. A three-member bench led by Justice Nasirul Mulk took up the appeal of

President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday appealed to the nation to stand united as country's valiant forces were confronting the terrorists, with the full backing of people. Addressing the 62nd Convocation of the Comsats Institute of Information Technology (

Cooking classes led by award winning chef of Pearl Continental Hotel, Rawalpindi ended, says a press release issued here on Thursday. These classes were light, hands on and geared for the novice cook to the experienced chef.

A three-day Shandur Polo Festival, organized by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Corporation (TCKP) will start from today (Friday) in Chitral. The festival is celebrated every year in the month of July; but, due to holy month of Ramazan, it will be held from Ju

Population experts on Thursday claimed that Pakistan would be exploding a population bomb if proper preventive measures were not taken and it would be more dangerous than all the terrorism related bombs we are pre-occupied with.

Taking prompt action on report of the murder of a five-year-old minor girl after being raped in the jurisdiction of Sadar police station, Mansehra, police arrested two accused involved in the crime within a short span of five hours after registration of a

The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI) inked memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aik Hunar Aik Nagar (AHAN) on Thursday. The MoU was signed by Dr Shimail Daud Arain, President RCCI and Imran Ahmad CEO AHAN, whereas S M Muneer CEO TDAP, Mr

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a comprehensive report from Saeedullah Shah, DG-PC, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, pertaining to fulfilment of a contractual liability of the Exploration and Production (E&P) companies' towards social co

Pakistan has the capability to boost its fish industry through coastal financial investment and resource development, said Urban Planner at Sustainable Initiatives, Farhan Anwar, during launching ceremony of 3rd position paper on 'Linking coastal financia

The National Assembly on Thursday approved two demands for grants of Ministry of Water and Power amounting to Rs 42.96 billion for the next fiscal year and rejected 75 cut motions moved by the opposition parties against the demands. Winding up the debate

Samsung Electronics, market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, and telecommunications, has launched Greentech Service center and repair lab in Lahore. A special inauguration ceremony was held at the Greentech service center locate

Microsoft Corp announced Team Amplifiers from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI), KPK as the project winners from Pakistan to compete in the Imagine Cup worldwide finals to be held in July in Seattle, USA. The Imagine Cup is the world's premier competitio

The National Assembly on Thursday approved a total of 11 demands for grants amounting to Rs 76.69 billion by the Interior Ministry and rejected 153 cut motions tabled by the opposition lawmakers. The National Assembly also approved six demands for grant o

The district administration Peshawar launched crackdown against heroin addicts. According to details on the directives of the provincial government, a special team headed by Assistant Commissioner (AC) arrested 16 addicts and shifted them to Khyber Teachi

The government is likely to allow local car manufacturers to import CNG kits, banned in 2011 due to serious gas shortage, it is learnt. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the government was going to allow the import of CN

The federal government will not allow any political or religious party to hold rally or sit-in at a time when the nation is fighting a war against militancy and terrorism in the country. This was stated by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting

The Lahore High Court here on Thursday has directed Interior Ministry to submit report with regard to the detention and release of seven Pakistanis recently repatriated from Bagram jail in Afghanistan by June 25. The court was hearing a petition filed by

US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson announced that the US government plans to contribute $8.9 million to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the joint Government of Pakistan and UN Refugee Affected and Hosting A

They have the capacity to spot and catch the smallest creatures but they can't see the elephant in the room, as they go about in the guise of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). It has arrested three officials of the Private Power Infrastructure Board (

In a wood-frame building at the waterside, near a touristy strip of Greek restaurants selling baklava, the craftsman carries on a family tradition as he pounds away at copper sheeting, hand crafting helmets for sponge divers. Artisan Nicholas Toth is amon

When the United States sneezes, Asia catches an economic cold, but when it recovers it's a boon for the export-reliant region. That, at least, is how it used to be. Today, China plays a much greater role in the fortunes of Asian exporters and their econom

The Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, in the Finance Bill 2014, ignored the demand that tax appellate system should be made independent, free from the administrative controls as directed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Even the amendments proposed in section

With presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah on boycott of vote counting Afghanistan seems to be in for protracted political crisis adding to feared vacuum of power following the exit by year's end of US-led coalition forces from the country. It is hard

Though the budget debate this year has been largely overshadowed by the military operation in North Waziristan and political heat in the country including the Lahore killings on 17th June, 2014, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar made it a point to accommodate ce

Expressing concern over excessive electricity loadshedding in Hayatabad Industrial Estate Peshawar, KP Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) termed that industrial activities are rapidly slowing under a planned conspiracy. "The unannounced electricity

As part of preparedness and readiness for contingency planning process for monsoon and flood control, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab and World Food Programme (WFP

Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Pakistan Dr Song Jong-Hwan on Thursday said adequate efforts are being made for further enhancing business co-operation in all areas between South Korea and Pakistan. Special attention has been focused on mutual interest

Ambassador of Korea to Pakistan Dr Song Jong-Hwan on Thursday said that all out efforts were being made to enhance interaction between the business doing people of Pakistan and Korea in order to increase the volume of two-way trade. He said this while tal

Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (Tusdec) has completed the training of second batch of solar technology for the instructors belonging to the different Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes of Sindh province

Inequality is a global phenomenon and every country faces it in various forms. Pakistan faces extreme multi-dimensional inequalities including power, income, gender and geography. However, energy crisis, economic growth, security and terrorism related cha

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has organised its "Pre Biennial Medical Conference 2014" in collaboration with Tetra Pak Pakistan to raise awareness about critical issues related to nutrition and food safety in the country. This conference provided a p

Chairman APTMA Punjab Syed Ali Ahsan has said that APTMA is ready to mainstream the sustainability of textile industry. He said the rising energy prices, increased production costs, lowered productivity and consumer demands for environmentally friendly te

Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab government has prepared a mega project for providing potable water to the masses and a sum of five billion rupees has been allocated in the new budget for Saaf Pani Project. He said that provisio

The Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Khawaja Imtiaz Ahmad has appointed Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah as a "Reform Judge", who will recommend and suggest structural reforms at the court as well as the district judiciary. The CJ further ordered that all

Submitting a report to the Lahore High Court about licenses issued for import of animals, the Punjab Secretary Wildlife stated that there are 111 wildlife breeding farms in the province. The court adjourned further hearing till June 26 and sought details

The Lahore High Court here on Thursday directed Registrar of the court to take concrete steps for providing facilities for disabled persons at the Principal Seat as well as its Benches at Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi. The court asked the registrar to

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while talking to a delegation of Assembly Members on Thursday said that demands of justice will be fulfilled at any cost in the tragic incident of clash of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) workers and police and the guilty

An emergency meeting of the Milli Yakjehti Council (MYC) held at Mansura on Thursday, condemned in strongest terms the police crackdown at the Minhajul Quran headquarter resulting in about a dozen deaths and injuries to scores of people. The heads of the

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Punjab Parliamentary Party on Thursday has submitted a resolution over the Lahore incident in the Punjab Assembly Secretariat. The resolution says the House condemns in strong words the Model Town Lahore incident in which 12

The members of Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) here on Thursday offered "ghaibana namaz-i-janaza" of Pakistan Awami Tehrik's workers who were killed on Tuesday outside residence of Dr Tahirul Qadri in Model Town. Besides the Bar's President Shaf

There was so much anger and hatred among the people in the provincial capital following killings of unarmed people at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat on Tuesday that visibility of police at the vintage points and markets was reduced to the minimum on Thurs

The National Assembly on Thursday turned into a fish market after independent MNA Jamshed Dasti and State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali traded allegations and clashed over Lahore incident. Opposition lawmakers came down hard on Punjab governm

The judicial commission has directed IG Police Punjab, DG Lahore Development Authority and District Co-ordination Officer Lahore to file their detailed replies before it about police operation against Pakistan Awami Tehrik. The commission directed the DG

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Thursday said that his party has no alliance with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) of Dr Tahirul Qadri but after brutal Lahore incident it will stand by it. Talking to a selected group of journalists here,

The Senate Standing Committee on Defence, under the chairmanship of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, has taken a number of significant initiatives to promote civil-military relations; such as preparing work plan, holding public hearings, publishing committ

The weather report on Thursday (June 19, 2014) and the forecast for Friday (June 20, 2014).

National Humanitarian Network (NHN), the network of civil society organisations and NGOs urged the government for giving sufficient time to the people of North Waziristan Agency for evacuation and requested for proper space to establish camps and proper f

Gold and silver rates in rupees per 10 grams prevailing in major cities on Thursday (June 19, 2014).

Deputy Convenor MQM Co-ordination Committee Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has strongly condemned the assassination attempt on MQM MNA Tahira Asif on Lahore-Islamabad Motorway after being identified. Speaking at a press conference outside Sheikh Zaid Hospital