The draw will take place at the National Savings Division office in Lahore under the supervision of authorised officials.

According to the official prize structure, the first prize is Rs1,500,000 for one lucky number, while second prizes of Rs500,000 each will also be awarded to three lucky numbers.

In addition, 1,696 winners will each receive the third prize of Rs9,300.

This will be the third quarterly draw of the year. The first draw was held in Peshawar on January 15, followed by the second draw in Quetta on April 15.

Prize bonds remain one of Pakistan’s most popular savings instruments, offering investors a secure way to save while providing the opportunity to win cash prizes through quarterly draws conducted by National Savings.

Rs750 prize bond prize money

• First prize: Rs1,500,000 (one lucky number)
• Second prize: Rs500,000 (three winning numbers)
• Third prize: Rs9,300 (1,696 winners)

Rs750 prize bond winning numbers

The complete list of Rs750 prize bond winning numbers will be announced after the draw concludes on July 15.

This story will be updated with the official results as soon as they are released by National Savings.

The lawsuit is ‌a serious threat to Paramount CEO David Ellison’s bid to transform his company into a major competitor to Netflix and Disney.

“With this lawsuit, California and our sister states are fighting for free ​and fair markets, not rigged markets. America has no kings in government or ​our economy,” Bonta said in a statement.

If allowed to move forward ⁠with the deal, Paramount would control 27% of the distribution market for films ​that appear on screens across America, 30% of blockbuster film distribution and 27% of ​the market for basic cable channels, the states said.

It will likely take months for a ruling on the states’ claims, causing a delay that could rack up hundreds of millions of dollars in ​costs for Paramount.

The deal has led to an outcry from actors, writers and ​others fearing it will hurt jobs. Theatre owners also opposed the deal, worrying that the combination of ‌the Warner ⁠Bros movie studio with Paramount Pictures would result in fewer films.

Paramount has said the deal will allow it to produce more, not less, after it cuts $6 billion in redundant infrastructure, marketing and corporate jobs. Ellison has vowed that the combined film studios ​would release 30 ​movies a year.

The US ⁠Department of Justice has cleared the deal, saying it poses no competition problems.

Paramount CEO David Ellison’s father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry ​Ellison, has cultivated ties with President Donald Trump, and the ​company has ⁠hired former Trump officials.

Paramount has committed to pay around $650 million in fees to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders each quarter if the deal does not close before October. The company ⁠has said ​delays could force it to renegotiate the deal’s ​financing, cause uncertainty for its stock price, or even scuttle the transaction altogether.

In the local market, the gold price per tola reached Rs429,736 after a decline of Rs3,800 during the day.

Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs368,429 after it fell by Rs3,258, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

On Saturday, the gold price per tola reached Rs433,536 after a gain of Rs1,100 during the day.

The international rate of gold declined by $38 to reach $4,073 per ounce (with a premium of $20).

Meanwhile, the price of silver also decreased by Rs123 to reach Rs6,339 per tola.

Brent crude futures climbed $3.10, or 4.08%, to $79.11 by 0325 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.95, or 4.11%, to $74.36 a barrel.

US forces completed another wave of strikes ​against Iran on Sunday, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with ​precision munitions, the Central Command said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on ⁠Monday they attacked US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

US President Donald Trump said ​on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic, although Iran ​declared earlier that it closed the strait after a vessel travelled on an unapproved route and was struck.

Some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transited the strait before ​the war began at the end of February.

Six vessels transited the strait on ​Sunday, ship-tracking data from Kpler showed, the lowest number in five weeks.

The escalating attacks cast further ‌doubt ⁠on the future of an interim US-Iranian agreement signed last month that aimed to reopen the strait and end the war after a further 60 days of negotiations.

Following the agreement, global oil supply rose by 4.1 million barrels per day in ​June, but remained 9.4 ​million bpd below ⁠pre-war levels, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly report on Friday.

“Hopes of a relatively quick resolution to the recent ​skirmishes may be in doubt after tension escalated over the ​weekend,” ANZ ⁠analysts said in a note.

IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said the relatively tame rise in oil prices suggested the market was taking the view that the current flare-up ⁠represented an ​escalation within a fragile truce and fell well ​short of a complete collapse of the ceasefire.

“How accurate that view is remains to be seen,” he ​said in a note.

The development comes after Mufti Taqi Usmani declared purchasing goods with cryptocurrency “impermissible”, citing research conducted by experts so far which found that cryptocurrency does not qualify as “wealth”.

The fatwa was originally issued by Darul Ifta, Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi, and dated 24 Zilhaj 1447 AH (June 10, 2026). Apart from Mufti Usmani, a former judge of the Federal Shariat Court, five other prominent scholars are its signatories.

“Today, I had a constructive discussion with Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahib on digital assets and the ongoing conversation around their Shariah status. We are united on one fundamental objective: protecting Pakistanis from fraud, exploitation, and financial harm,” Saqib wrote in a post on X.

“I shared that blockchain, digital assets, stablecoins, and tokenised real-world assets represent a broad spectrum of technologies and use cases. As such, they merit careful technical assessment alongside rigorous Shariah examination, rather than being viewed through a single lens.

“As this field continues to evolve, I look forward to continued engagement between respected scholars, regulators, and industry experts so that Pakistan’s approach is guided by both Islamic principles and a comprehensive understanding of emerging technologies,” he said.

According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of gold increased by Rs1,100 per tola to Rs433,536.

The price of 10-gram gold also climbed by Rs943 to Rs371,687.

The increase follows Friday’s decline, when gold prices had fallen by Rs1,400 per tola to Rs432,436.

In the international market, gold gained $11 to settle at $4,111 per ounce, including a premium of $20.

Meanwhile, silver prices also moved higher, rising by Rs30 per tola to a record Rs6,462, marking a new all-time high in the local market.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the negotiations on the proposed Pakistan-United States Agreement on Reciprocal Trade were held on July 9 and 10 in a cordial atmosphere, with both sides working to bridge differences and move closer to finalising the deal.

“The talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, with both sides ironing out differences and building convergence, with a view to the early conclusion of the Agreement,” Andrabi said in a post on X.

Pakistan’s delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul, who described the discussions as positive and said the two sides had achieved significant progress during the negotiations.

The talks are part of ongoing efforts by Islamabad and Washington to strengthen bilateral trade ties and expand economic cooperation.

The Foreign Office did not disclose a timeline for concluding the agreement or indicate when the next round of negotiations would take place.

Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs370,744 after it fell by Rs1,200, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

On Thursday, the gold price per tola reached Rs433,836 after a gain of Rs3,600 during the day.

The international rate of gold declined by $14 to reach $4,100 per ounce (with a premium of $20).

Meanwhile, the price of silver also increased by Rs11 to reach Rs6,432 per tola.

Brent futures were up 19 cents, or 0.25%, to $76.49 a barrel by 0319 US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 19 cents, or 0.26%, to $72.27.in

For the week, Brent was set for a gain of ​about 6% and WTI was headed for a 5% increase.

“Prices have backed off the mid-week ​highs, but there is still a substantial risk premium as Hormuz transits are back ⁠to a near-standstill with no clear signs on when normal reopening might resume,” said Vandana Hari, ​founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.

“However, it looks like market confidence in the US and ​Iran returning to diplomacy to resolve the issue is capping the upside,” Hari added.

Iranian armed forces launched attacks on US military infrastructure in Gulf states on Thursday following US strikes on Iran’s southern coastal and eastern provinces, further ​straining a three-week-old ceasefire.

Separately, Iranian media reported multiple explosions across southern Iran, including Bushehr, where one of ​the country’s nuclear plants is located.

The renewed fighting came the day that Iran buried its slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali ‌Khamenei, ⁠the culmination of a week of mass funeral processions and rallies. Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war on February 28.

The renewed fighting has delayed the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about 20% of daily global oil and gas supplies before the war.

Tanker traffic through the strait on Thursday ​was at a near ​standstill, according to ship-tracking ⁠data, as vessel owners assessed the risk from the latest strikes, which started after Iran hit a Qatari LNG ship exiting the waterway near Oman.

​Still, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he did not think the ​war would restart because ⁠of the new fighting and that “anything that happens is going to be over very quickly.”

“Despite the US ramping up attacks on military sites in Iran, the market drew some reassurance from the Trump administration’s decision to avoid ⁠targeting Iranian ​energy infrastructure,” said Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist for ANZ ​bank.

“This was aided by comments from President Trump, who said he doesn’t expect a return to a full-scale conflict.”

Poste Italiane, the postal service which pays out pensions through 12,600 post offices that are as much a feature of ​remote towns as the local church, is betting on its €13.5 billion ($15.4 billion) bid for Telecom Italia (TIM) (TLIT.MI), to accelerate its shift into digital, telecom and cloud services.

Two-thirds owned by the state, Poste ‌started its digital transformation in the early 2000s, venturing into electronic payments. Over the past decade it has signed up 30 million users - around 70% of the total - to Italy’s digital ID system to access public services online.

Serving 46 million customers across banking, insurance, telecommunications and energy, Poste also uses its branches, Italy’s biggest retail network, to give access to public services such as passport applications to the less digitally savvy.

The proposed deal with TIM fits into a broader sovereign cloud push in Europe, with ​domestic telecom and tech firms in Germany and France building cloud and AI infrastructure to serve strategic sectors such as defence and healthcare as well as other parts of the public administration.

Building up tech capacity

Poste argues the tie-up will create a larger state-backed group that can build distributed computing infrastructure across the country, a person briefed on the plans for ⁠TIM said.

Even without the investment firepower and the scale of U.S. tech giants such as Amazon, Google or Microsoft, Poste says the new entity could become a supplier for these companies, the person added.

Big tech companies ​buy infrastructure services ranging from fibre networks to data-centre capacity from telecom operators, as well as local network access points close to end users.

With 125 megawatts of installed data centre capacity, TIM is a top three national operator. ​However, Italy has only around 15% of Germany’s installed capacity.

Alongside TIM’s existing data centres, Poste-TIM could boost computing capacity at broadly distributed telecom hubs and convert former postal sorting centres into local edge-computing hubs, bringing processing power closer to users, Poste argued, according to the person.

In the future, TIM’s mobile network sites could also come into play, the person added.

Poste and TIM both declined to comment.

“As demand for data centres grows, the industry is increasingly looking at networks of smaller facilities located closer to users rather ​than just large, centralised sites,” said Antonio Capone, dean of the School of Industrial and Information Engineering at Milan’s Politecnico University.

With assets spread across the country, telecom operators are well placed to develop such facilities, Capone ​added.

“This is an emerging trend in the industry, and Poste is right to focus on it. Managing a distributed network is operationally more complex — think of maintenance, cooling or power management — but it is a challenge that makes strategic sense ‌to embrace,” he ⁠said.

Europe lags behind the United States in AI investment and infrastructure and Italy is further hobbled by much higher energy costs than France or Spain.

TIM’s tough journey

An ill-fated privatisation three decades ago saddled TIM with debt and it has since faced cut‑throat price competition that hammered profits and curtailed its ability to spend to upgrade its infrastructure.

Despite halving its debt to core profit ratio and almost doubling its revenue per employee with the 2024 sale of its fixed line network to US fund KKR (KKR.N), opens new tab, TIM would struggle to sustain prospective 5G and cloud investments.

Italy has made progress on basic 5G technology, but AI-powered services require advanced 5G networks. In the US these account ​for a fifth of total mobile connections but ​Spain is the only European country where the figure ⁠is above 5%.

“Building a 5G network is extremely capital intensive and you need scale to make it viable: you cannot sustain four mobile network operators in a market like Italy,” a leading TIM investor said, adding the investment case hinged on expected industry consolidation.

TIM competes with Vodafone-Fastweb, WindTre and Iliad. WindTre, owned by Hong Kong ​conglomerate CK Hutchison, and France’s Iliad started exploring a tie-up, Reuters reported last year but no deal has so far materialised.

Poste already owns 20% of TIM. ​A full takeover will allow ⁠Italy to reap the benefits of higher profits at the former phone monopoly were the number of operators to fall to three through long-mooted consolidation.

Requesting anonymity and declining to say whether they would take up the offer, the investor noted that a rise in Poste’s share price since the announcement suggested the market thought benefits from the deal may exceed the targeted €700 million.

As a state‑backed operator the new entity could handle sensitive communications, including in defence, the investor added, ⁠pointing also ​to Poste’s “low‑leverage business with strong cash generation from payments, insurance and financial services.”

Poste has said the tie-up would support TIM’s efforts to ​expand beyond its traditional consumer telecom business, which has been shrinking for more than a decade, into higher margin services for corporate clients, including cloud and cybersecurity.

“From a commercial standpoint the combination has a strong rationale: an even wider bundle of services could be offered to ​an even larger client base.

That increases switching costs and helps customer retention,“ consultancy AlixPartners partner Claudio Baretti said.

Ukraine has stepped up the drone strikes on energy ‌facilities including oil refineries in recent months, seeking to stifle Moscow’s war efforts.

“Continued strikes on refineries, storage facilities and transport infrastructure underpin a weaker production outlook and we have accordingly ​cut our Russian supply outlook for this year and next, by ​85,000 barrels per day and 150,000 bpd respectively, to average 8.8 ⁠million bpd over the forecast period,” the Paris-based agency said in its ​monthly outlook.

The IEA expects oil output from Russia, the world’s third-largest producer, to ​reach 8.9 million bpd this year and 8.8 million bpd in 2027, down from 9.2 million bpd in 2025. The outlook was downgraded for this year and next by 85,000 bpd ​and 150,000 bpd respectively.

Russia’s June crude production increased by 120,000 bpd from ​May to 8.86 million bpd, the agency said, 900,000 bpd below the quota set by the ‌OPEC+ ⁠group comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies.

The attacks on refineries have also led to an increase in Russian crude oil exports in recent months. Industry sources have said that shipments from Russia’s western ports hit ​a record high ​in June and ⁠are expected to maintain that level in July.

Exports from the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, along with the Black ​Sea port of Novorossiysk, reached nearly 3 million bpd in ​June, the ⁠sources’ data showed.

The IEA put Russia’s total crude oil exports in June at 5.8 million bpd, up by 620,000 bpd from May. Oil products exports declined last ⁠month ​by 230,000 bpd from May to 1.91 million ​bpd.

Russia introduced a diesel export ban this week, in addition to restrictions on overseas sales of gasoline ​and jet fuel, to tackle domestic fuel shortages.

In the local market, the price of one tola of gold went up by Rs3,600 to reach a new high of Rs433,836.

According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association, the price of 10 grams of gold also increased by Rs3,086, settling at Rs371,944.

In the global market, the price of gold has risen by $36 to stand at $4,113 per ounce.

Meanwhile, gold prices extended their gains in the international market, climbing $36 to settle at $4,113 per ounce.

According to the central bank, remittances during FY2025-26 increased by 8.6% compared with $38.3 billion received in the previous fiscal year.

The SBP said overseas Pakistanis sent an average of $3.46 billion per month during the fiscal year, reflecting sustained inflows that continued to support the country’s external sector.

Saudi Arabia remained the largest source of remittances in June, with Pakistan receiving $829.6 million from the kingdom during the month, according to the central bank’s data.

In its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) update released on Wednesday, the IMF also retained its forecast of 3.6% GDP growth for Pakistan in fiscal year 2025-26, unchanged from its projections issued in April.

According to the report, Pakistan’s economy expanded by 3.2% in 2025 and is expected to grow by 3.6% in 2026 before moderating slightly to 3.5% in 2027.

Globally, the IMF projected economic growth of 3.0% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, broadly unchanged from its April outlook.

The Fund said the global economic outlook remains uneven, with the impact of ongoing conflict weighing on energy-importing and vulnerable economies, while rising demand linked to artificial intelligence continues to benefit countries integrated into global technology supply chains.

The report also warned that global disinflation has stalled, although risks are more balanced than in April.

It cautioned that renewed geopolitical conflict and financial market volatility remain key downside risks and urged policymakers to maintain price stability, rebuild fiscal buffers and strengthen economic resilience.

Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs368,858 after it fell by Rs4,029, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

On Thursday, gold price per tola reached Rs434,963 after a decline of Rs2,500 during the day.

The international rate of gold declined by $47 to reach $4,078 per ounce (with a premium of $20).

Meanwhile, the price of silver also decreased by Rs138 to reach Rs6,421 per tola.

Brent crude futures were up $4.57, or 6.16%, to $78.73 a barrel at 0948 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed $4.23, or 6.01%, to $74.67 a barrel.

The benchmarks ​are at their highest levels since June 22.

Both rose about 3% on Tuesday after the US revoked the general ​licence authorising the sale of Iranian crude.

Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with ⁠Iran to end the conflict was “over”, adding he didn’t want to engage with Tehran.

The agreement, brokered by Pakistan last month ​to provide a 60-day window for negotiations, came under strain after the US launched fresh strikes on Iran.

“The market is again ​being forced to price the risk that renewed attacks on shipping, or a broader breakdown in US-Iran relations, could slow the normalisation of flows through the Strait of Hormuz,” Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen said.

The US air strikes were in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were ​transiting the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said on Tuesday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards then said they targeted US military ​sites in Bahrain and Kuwait early on Wednesday.

The attacks renewed concerns about tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about ‌one-fifth of ⁠global energy supply before the war began in late February.

Supply fears resurface

“Trump’s assertion that the MOU is over raises the prospect of a re-closing of the Strait as an escalatory cycle begins again,” Sauk Kavoniv, head of research at MST Marquee, said.

At least four oil and gas tankers have turned back from attempting to transit the strait, ship-tracking data showed, as renewed ​attacks on vessels heightened safety concerns.

“(The) ​underlying supply challenge has ⁠not disappeared, but the latest escalation has interrupted it,” Hansen added.

After the US and Iran signed their truce last month, oil prices tumbled to pre-war levels, and traders amassed large short positions in ​oil futures, betting prices would fall further.

Since the start of the conflict, nations have drawn ​down their inventories ⁠to make up for the supply shortfall.

“In my view, a price closer to $80 a barrel is more consistent with current market fundamentals than $70,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB.

Meanwhile, China has lifted refined fuel export restrictions for the rest of July and ⁠allowed a ​private refiner to resume shipments after a four-month halt, trade sources said ​on Wednesday, as the world’s biggest refiner returns towards normal after disruptions from the Iran war.

The diversions come after a ‌Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker were damaged near the strait on Tuesday following reports that Iran fired missiles at ships in the waterway, prompting maritime authorities to raise the threat risk for transiting ​vessels to “severe.”

LNG tankers — Al Ghariya, Duhail and Al Ruwais — have all been inching westward towards ​the Strait of Hormuz before changing course to turn away late on Tuesday, ⁠showed data from analytics firms Kpler and LSEG.

All three tankers controlled by QatarEnergy were empty and ​heading towards Qatar’s Ras Laffan export facility to load cargoes.

Meanwhile, LSEG and Kpler data also showed an Indian-flagged tanker, ​carrying 2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude loaded late last week, made a U-turn off the tip of Oman at the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

At least 16 LNG cargoes from Ras Laffan and 10 from ADNOC’s Das Island ​terminal in the United Arab Emirates have exited the strait since the conflict began in late ​February.

But this is still a fraction of the roughly 7 million metric tons on average typically shipped from ‌both export hubs each month.

A queue of ballast or empty vessels waiting to load at Ras Laffan has also built up, reaching more than 10 ships in early July, according to Vortexa analysts.

Over 50 QatarEnergy- and ADNOC-controlled ballast vessels are stationed around the Middle East Gulf, India and the Malacca Strait, with ​some switching off their ​Automatic Identification System signals ⁠for more than 10 days, Vortexa added.

Still, at least two crude oil tankers managed to exit the strait.

The VLCC Tenjun, managed by Nippon Yusen ​KK and carrying 2 million barrels of Qatari crude loaded in late ​February, exited ⁠the Strait of Hormuz late on Tuesday.

VLCC Pertamina Pride, managed by Indonesia’s state energy firm Pertamina, also exited the strait on Tuesday, with its transponder switched off, shipping data showed.

The vessel is carrying 2 ⁠million barrels ​of Saudi crude loaded in early March.

Nippon Yusen declined to ​comment on the Tenjun tanker.

Pertamina did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs372,887 after it fell by Rs2,143, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

On Monday, the gold price per tola reached Rs446,862 after an increase of Rs2,700 during the day.

The international rate of gold declined by $25 to reach $4,125 per ounce (with a premium of $20).

Meanwhile, the price of silver also decreased by Rs120 to reach Rs6,559 per tola.

Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs375,030 after it fell by Rs2,058, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

On Saturday, the gold price per tola reached Rs439,836 after a decline of Rs1,100 during the day.

The international rate of gold declined by $24 to reach $4,150 per ounce (with a premium of $20).

Meanwhile, the price of silver also decreased by Rs37 to reach Rs6,679 per tola.

The Japan-linked ships include six very ⁠large crude carriers loaded with 12 million barrels ​of Middle Eastern crude, two chemical tankers, a vehicle ​carrier and a container ship, the data showed.

The tankers are carrying crudes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar ​that were loaded in late February to early ​March.

Most of the vessels are managed by Japanese shipper Mitsui ‌O.S.K. ⁠Lines, which had said it would prioritise the safety of its seafarers, cargo and vessels when traversing the strait.

Mitsui OSK declined to comment.

Separately, South Korean ​refiner S-Oil ​said on ⁠Monday that the VLCC Long Wind carrying oil for its refinery exited the strait ​on Saturday.

The vessel, loaded with 2 ​million barrels of Saudi crude in early March, is expected to arrive at Onsan, South Korea, on July 26, ⁠LSEG ​data showed.

Sky CEO Dana Strong said the ​deal, announced on Monday and confirming a recent Reuters story, was a “defining moment”, one of the biggest ​in the history of British broadcasting.

It will now face scrutiny from regulators ⁠and lawmakers.

The combination of Britain’s biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster and the pay-TV company Sky would have been ​unthinkable just a few years ago, but the rise of YouTube and the streaming giants has left ​traditional companies exposed.

Combined company has 70% of TV Ad market

The merger of the public service channels of ITV and the leading pay-TV business of Sky, founded by Rupert Murdoch in 1989, would account for more than 70% of the UK ​television advertising market, analysts have said.

Many lawmakers have close connections with ITV locally, stemming from its ​foundation as a group of regional franchises more than 70 years ago.

Culture Minister Lisa Nandy showed she had the ‌appetite ⁠to shape media deals when she said last week that she could intervene in the US Paramount-Warner tie-up.

Strong said the deal would deliver “outstanding British programming” in a rapidly changing world.

“ITV will remain a public service broadcaster at the heart of British life, and we’re excited about the future we can build together,” she ​said.

ITV left as standalone production business

Shares in ITV ⁠traded up 1% to 83 pence in early deals on Monday.

The deal will leave ITV as a standalone production business, making shows for the combined ITV-Sky, ​such as Love Island and Coronation Street, as well as other broadcasters and ​streamers globally, ⁠such as the hugely popular Rivals it makes for Disney.

The merged ITV-Sky company has committed to spend a minimum of £2.1 billion over 2028-2032.

ITV will receive £1.2 billion in cash, an earn-out of up to £200 million dependent ⁠on its ​advertising performance in the 2027 financial year and also “The Great ​British Bake Off” maker Love Productions, which will join the remaining ITV Studios business, the companies said.

The mandate to use the blend, called E20, came into force last year but is now one of the biggest political flashpoints for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and motorists in the world’s third-biggest car market.

The ​controversy intensified this week after Attorney General R. Venkataramani told a court hearing that E20 was an “experiment” whose ​results would only come out next year.

The government denied the remark was ever made, but ⁠a video of the court hearing showing Venkataramani saying the words has since gone viral on social media.

Venkataramani told Reuters he used the term “experiment” in the context of the volume of ethanol supplies, not the ethanol petrol policy itself.

This ​has done little to quell public anger, with opponents of the policy accusing the government of rushing its rollout.

The government’s press office dismissed the criticism as “wild claims”, asking people to not “fall for the rage bait”.

Seeking to reassure motorists, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri ​compared ethanol fuel to its use in motor racing.

“They use it in racing cars also, the acceleration increases. Mileage, yes, ​it may drop a little,” Puri said.

Protest in New Delhi

Tehseen Poonawalla, a New Delhi-based socialite and Congress party supporter, said ‌he was ⁠planning a protest against the E20 policy in New Delhi, and had received interest from thousands of people wanting to join in.

Many motorists are frustrated that they no longer have a choice at fuel stations and have seized on the attorney general’s comment to vent their anger on social media.

Priyank Kharge, a state minister in India’s opposition Congress party, ​said on X that the ​E20 policy rollout lacked consultation ⁠and that the government “cannot challenge citizens to prove damage when your own data is still pending”.

Hundreds of motorists have posted complaints on X alleging reduced fuel efficiency and increased wear ​and tear of car parts from E20.

In one video on X viewed over 500,000 times, ​an agitated motorist ⁠who identified himself as Manish Kashyap stands in a workshop with his car, saying in the post it needed repairs after being damaged by E20 fuel.

“I have spent a lot of money on this car and paid taxes only to find that ⁠after two ​months my car is not working,” he said.

The government says E20 helps ​to reduce carbon emissions, cuts crude imports, which saves foreign exchange, and supports farm incomes by increasing demand for agricultural feedstocks used in ethanol production.

Salaried individuals contributed Rs633 billion in income tax during the year, exceeding the combined amount collected from exporters, real estate and the retail sector.

Exporters paid Rs174 billion in income tax over the same period, while the real estate sector contributed Rs191 billion, officials said. The retail sector added a further Rs70 billion.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs13.01 trillion in total revenue during FY26. For FY27, the government has set the FBR a tax collection target of Rs15.264 trillion.

Officials said the salaried class will be given income tax relief in the new fiscal year, while a fixed tax regime for retailers has already come into effect.

The price per tola dropped by Rs1,100 to close at Rs439,836, according to rates issued by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

Ten-gram gold fell by Rs943 to Rs377,088.

The decline follows a Rs12,200 gain on Friday, when gold had closed at Rs440,936 per tola.

Internationally, gold fell by $11 to $4,174 per ounce, with a $20 premium.

Silver also lost ground, down Rs48 per tola to Rs6,716.

Under the revised rates, the price of petrol has been lowered from Rs299.50 to Rs297.53 per litre.

The price of high-speed diesel has also been reduced from Rs311.47 to Rs309.50 per litre following a cut of Rs1.97 per litre.

The new fuel prices came into effect immediately after the issuance of the notification.

Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs378,031 after an increase of Rs10,459, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

On Thursday, the gold price per tola reached Rs428,736 after a gain of Rs9,100 during the day.

The international rate of gold was up by $122 to reach $4,185 per ounce (with a premium of $20).

Meanwhile, the price of silver increased by Rs319 to reach Rs6,764 per tola.

The scheme is being implemented by the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF) in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and participating financial institutions. Under the programme, eligible applicants can obtain housing finance with subsidised markup and repay the loan over a long period.

What is the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Program?

The Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Program is a government-backed affordable housing finance initiative designed for Pakistanis who do not own a house and wish to buy or build one.

According to the official portal, the scheme offers:

• Financing of up to Rs10 million
• Loan tenure of up to 20 years
• Fixed 5% markup for the first 10 years
• Financing for purchase or construction of houses
• Financing for houses up to 10 marla (2,720 sq ft) or apartments up to 1,500 sq ft
• Up to 90% bank financing, while the borrower contributes at least 10% equity
• No processing fee or prepayment penalty

Who is eligible?

According to the official eligibility criteria, applicants must:

• Be a Pakistani citizen holding a valid CNIC.
• Be a first-time homebuyer.
• Not own any residential property.
• Meet the financing requirements of the participating bank.
• Satisfy the bank’s income and credit assessment.

Banks may also evaluate repayment capacity and other internal financing requirements before approving a loan.

How to apply online: Step-by-step guide

The government has introduced a fully online application process.

Step 1: Visit the official website

Open the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Program portal:

https://apnaghar.gov.pk

Step 2: Create an account

If you are a new applicant, click “Create Account” and register using your CNIC and required personal information.

Step 3: Log in

After registration, sign in using your account credentials.

Step 4: Click “Apply for Loan”

Once logged in, click the “Apply for Loan” button available on your dashboard.

Step 5: Complete the online application form

Applicants must fill out the online loan application form, which generally requires:

• Personal information
• CNIC details
• Contact information
• Employment details
• Monthly income
• Financing requirement
• Property information
• Preferred participating bank

The application is submitted online — there is no need to download a separate paper form.

Step 6: Upload required documents

Applicants may be asked to upload supporting documents such as:

• CNIC
• Recent photographs
• Salary slips or proof of income
• Bank statements
• Employment certificate or business documents
• Property documents (where applicable)
• Any additional documents requested by the selected bank

Step 7: Submit your application

After reviewing the information, submit the application electronically.

Step 8: Bank verification

The selected bank will:

• Verify the applicant’s identity
• Review income and repayment capacity
• Examine property documents
• Conduct credit assessment
• Contact the applicant if additional information is required

If approved, the bank will complete financing formalities before disbursing the loan.

Official applicant instructions: https://apnaghar.gov.pk

Which banks are participating?

The Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Program is being offered through a network of participating commercial, Islamic and microfinance banks across Pakistan.

As the list of participating financial institutions may change over time, applicants are advised to check the latest information on the official programme website before submitting their application.

Official list of participating banks: https://apnaghar.gov.pk/banks

The complete and updated list is available on the official website.

Official links

Apply online: https://apnaghar.gov.pk

Final word

The Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Program offers first-time homebuyers an opportunity to purchase or construct a house through subsidised housing finance. Interested applicants should read the eligibility criteria carefully, prepare the required documents and submit their applications through the official online portal.

As loan approval depends on each bank’s credit assessment and financing policies, applicants are encouraged to provide complete and accurate information to improve the chances of successful processing.

At least 200,000 barrels of jet fuel are expected to load from Chiba, Japan, in the first half of July ​and be shipped to South Korea first, said two of ​the sources, with several traders involved in the deal ⁠chain.

The cargo is then expected to be loaded on another tanker — ​probably by ship-to-ship transfer off South Korea’s Yeosu port — before heading ​to Russia, they added. Its final destination was not immediately clear.

The sources declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to the media.

The ​Russian energy ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

​South Korea’s Industry Ministry and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry did ‌not ⁠respond immediately to requests for comment.

A previous such shipment by Russia appears to have been for 22,000 barrels of jet fuel from Yeosu in South Korea in February 2022, Kpler ship-tracking data showed. ​

The cargo was delivered ​to the ⁠Far East region of Vladivostok.

The fuel crisis sparked by Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and ​depots is disrupting Russians’ daily life, with Moscow ​imposing restrictions ⁠on fuel purchases while farmers have warned that they might be unable to harvest crops.

Russian jet fuel exports have fallen to about 13,000 barrels ⁠per day this year, mostly to Turkey, Kpler ​data showed. Russia exported about 30,000 bpd of the fuel last year.

Brent futures were up 17 cents, or 0.24%, to $72.10 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate was up 14 ​cents, or 0.20%, to $68.83 a barrel.

US markets will close on ​Friday ahead of the US Independence Day holiday on ⁠Saturday.

During the prior session, the two benchmarks hit their lowest levels since ​before the US-Israeli war on Iran began in late February. Brent ​for the week was down 0.02% and WTI up 0.12%, the smallest weekly movements for both in months.

“It’s a case of guarded optimism, with the market wanting ​to believe the peace efforts will hold, but it’s still ​hedging its bets until it sees real evidence on the water,” said Tim Waterer, ‌chief ⁠market analyst at KCM Trade.

Some nations are working to ramp up production with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which prior to the beginning of the war carried one-fifth of the world’s daily ​supply of oil ​and liquefied ⁠natural gas.

Kuwait’s oil production rose sharply to 1.65 million barrels per day in June from 580,000 bpd in ​May, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters ​on Thursday, as the OPEC member boosted exports following the US-Iran interim peace agreement.

Also, at least five supertankers carrying a total of 10 million barrels of ⁠Saudi oil have exited the Strait of Hormuz, ​with Saudi Aramco switching to spot pricing to speed sales in Asia, according to ​trade sources and shipping data.

Brent futures were $1.03, or 1.44%, lower, at $70.54 a barrel at 10:54 a.m. CDT (1554 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 92 cents, or 1.34%, to $67.66 a barrel. During the session, both benchmarks hit their lowest levels since before the US-Israeli war on Iran began in ​late February.

The talks made “positive progress” on matters related to the memorandum that halted the war in June, a Qatar Foreign ​Ministry spokesperson said in a post on X. There was no sign yet that the sides made headway towards a ⁠lasting peace.

The next meeting between Iran and US negotiators will take place after July 9 funeral processions for Iran’s late Supreme Leader ​Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Qatar ministry added.

“Oil has been flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz, while at the same time we’re ​also pouring oil out of strategic reserves. And on top of that, crude oil buying from China and oil demand has not really properly revived yet,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB.

“This could be sort of a dynamical picture of price moving down sharply and then rebounding at some ​point.”

At least five supertankers carrying a total of 10 million barrels of Saudi oil loaded from Ras Tanura have exited the Strait of ​Hormuz, with Saudi Aramco switching to spot pricing to speed up sales in Asia, according to trade sources and shipping data.

“It seems the refineries can ‌get as ⁠much oil as they need, but squeezing it out of the refineries is harder,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. “The market thinks the Iran situation is getting better but there are going to be ups and downs, but it’s getting better.”

US crude stocks fell to their lowest last week since 2018 as domestic refinery demand rose, while gasoline inventories also declined, the Energy Information ​Administration said on Wednesday.

UBS cut its Brent ​forecasts, citing the increase in ⁠oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil is carried by tanker ships.

The bank lowered its Brent crude price forecasts. It cut its third-quarter estimate by $25 per barrel to $80 and reduced its fourth-quarter ​forecast by $10 per barrel to $80. It trimmed its 2027 outlook by $10 per barrel to $75.

Analysts at HSBC expect the market “to ​absorb returning Middle ⁠East barrels through gradual restocking, alongside the end of IEA strategic stock releases in July”.

“As the near-term ‘mini-glut’ fades, Brent could move back towards $80/b or higher,” the HSBC note said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has become the first OPEC member to join the International Energy Agency as an associate member, a step ⁠that deepens ​ties between the global energy watchdog and Africa’s largest oil producer.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces struck the ​Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Thursday.