SHARJAH: In-form Luke Ronchi’s third half-century of the last four matches helped Islamabad United defeat Multan Sultans by 33 runs in the 25th fixture of the Pakistan Super League 2018 at Sharjah Stadium here on Tuesday night. With that victory, Islamabad secured their qualification for the play-offs, whereas the Multan …

SHARJAH: Veteran batsman JP Duminy confirmed on Wednesday that he would be visiting Pakistan with Islamabad United for the upcoming Pakistan Super League 2018 playoffs and final. The South African had earlier said there was only “a bit of chance” of him being on a Pakistan-bound flight but has since …

SHARJAH: England captain Eoin Morgan will lead Karachi Kings in absence of Imad Wasim, who has been advised rest as he recovers from a concussion he suffered during fielding on Sunday. Imad Wasim will be rested for a couple of days, and Morgan will lead the team in his place, …

HELSINKI: Fans of skiing, saunas and Santa Claus won’t be surprised to hear Finland is the happiest place to live. The World Happiness Report published Wednesday ranked 156 countries by happiness levels, based on factors such as life expectancy, social support and corruption. Unlike past years, the annual report published …

LONDON: Britain will expel 23 Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack on a Russian former double agent in southern England, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday, adding it was the biggest single expulsion in over 30 years. May told parliament Britain would also freeze Russian state …

BEIRUT: For the first time since its meteoric rise in 2012 amid the chaos of war, al-Qaida’s branch in Syria is in retreat, battling rival militant groups in the north and fighting for survival in a key foothold near the capital, Damascus. Over the past three weeks, the extremist group …

As Cuban President Raul Castro prepares to step down next month, ending his family’s six-decade grip on power, his successor will be faced with major challenges, including the implementation of economic reforms vital for the island’s future. On Sunday, Cubans went to the polls to ratify a new National Assembly, …

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday thanked residents of Crimea for voting to annex the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, calling the move “real democracy” in a speech days ahead of Sunday’s presidential election. “With your decision you restored historical justice,” he told the crowd of supporters in the city …

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Bahawalpur Corps headquarters on Wednesday wherein he was given a detailed briefing on the operational preparedness of the troops. “COAS appreciated the Corps for keeping themselves well prepared for response against any threat on eastern border as per assigned tasks,” …

*Hints at seeking help from FIA, intelligence agencies ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday said it will use all powers at its disposal and might also seek help from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and intelligence agencies to probe the allegations of horse-trading in the recently held …