Among those arrested are 11 African nationals who, according to investigators, smuggled cocaine into Pakistan and supplied it to Pinky.

Investigators said the African nationals had married Pakistani women, apparently to facilitate their operations. Arrests have been made in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Kasur.

Karachi’s City Court has remanded Pinky into police custody until May 22 in more than 12 registered cases. The court has also sought a progress report at the next hearing.

During a Saturday court appearance, Pinky alleged that police had coerced her statements and fabricated cases against her. The investigating officer rejected all her allegations.

At a press conference, Additional IGP Karachi Azad Khan said investigators recovered 869 phone numbers from Pinky’s mobile phone and traced transactions worth Rs30 million through a single bank account. Eight of nine motorcycle riders linked to the network are from Punjab. Police have requested that four key suspects be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Investigators say Pinky’s network used female motorcycle riders for drug deliveries, and that her brothers are also allegedly involved. According to investigative reports, she was not only involved in drug supply but also in cocaine processing, and had allegedly established her own drug brand.

Police records show Pinky was first arrested in Karachi in 2018 and again in Lahore in 2024, but faced no consequential action on both occasions due to alleged influence and financial dealings. She had been declared a proclaimed offender in multiple cases before her current arrest.

Investigators say the network’s scope is widening and further arrests are expected.

Ghana’s Semenyo turned ​and back-heeled the ball past ​Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal from an Erland Haaland ​cross.

The goal sparked what ​had been a cautious game into ‌life ⁠with both sides having chances in the last 20 minutes, Rayan Cherki ​forcing ​a fine ⁠save from Sanchez and team mate ​Matheus Nunes hitting ​the ⁠post.

It was City’s eighth FA Cup triumph and followed ⁠victory ​in the ​League Cup in March.

The violence erupted approximately ten days after 14-year-old Sidra, from the Channa community, married Muhammad Hassan Burro of the Burro community. The couple left the area following the marriage, and Hassan’s family vacated their home citing security fears.

According to victims, attackers doused homes with petrol before setting them alight, destroying clothing, grain, household goods, and personal belongings. Multiple families have since fled the village. Victims estimate losses running into crores of rupees.

On the directions of SSP Jacobabad, police registered a case against 32 suspects — including Mohsin Ali Channa, Saddam Hussain Channa, and Abdullah Channa — under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Investigators say hundreds of people participated in the attack.

Heavy police contingents have been deployed in the area to prevent further violence. Local political, religious, and civil society figures are attempting to mediate between the two communities.

Residents told reporters that normal life has been severely disrupted and families are living in fear. Citizens are demanding immediate intervention by senior authorities, protection for affected families, and strict legal action against those responsible.

Civil society representatives said the incident reflects a continuing pattern in rural Sindh, where honour-based and tribal codes are used to justify taking the law into one’s own hands, a trend they described as deeply alarming.

Speaking at a multi-party seminar titled “The Constitutional Future of Article 140-A and Empowered Local Governments,” organised by the civic platform Baikhtiar Awaam, lawmakers and political heavyweights stressed that the spirit of democratic devolution has been stifled by provincial centralisation.

The colloquium brought together a diverse group of political leaders, including former federal minister and leading member of Baikhtiar Awaam Asad Umar, senior MQM-Pakistan leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Aminul Haque, PTI Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Jamaat-i-Islami leader and opposition leader in the KMC Saifuddin Advocate, PML-F leader Sardar Rahim, and GDA’s Hasnain Mirza, alongside several sitting and former legislators.

Addressing the gathering, Asad Umar underscored the need for a new ‘charter of democracy’ that explicitly guarantees constitutional, administrative, and financial protection for local bodies. He observed that persistent attempts to govern the entire country strictly from Islamabad and the provincial capitals had only bred administrative inefficiency and exacerbated public grievances.

Local governments must be granted formal constitutional recognition as a third tier within the National Finance Commission (NFC) framework to ensure an equitable and direct distribution of resources,“ Asad Umar proposed.

He further emphasised that elected local bodies require absolute constitutional protection to prevent provincial governments from arbitrarily dissolving them for political expedience.

Endorsing the view, MQM-P’s Dr Farooq Sattar argued that while the 18th Amendment was envisioned to empower local tiers of governance, provincial administrations had instead concentrated authority within their own hands. He noted that autonomous local bodies form the backbone of developed nations and remarked that the debate surrounding local government autonomy has now escalated into a critical national issue.

PTI’s Firdous Shamim Naqvi focused on the administrative challenges plaguing the provincial capital, asserting that a financially and administratively autonomous local government system is indispensable for a mega city like Karachi. He maintained that civic issues should be resolved directly by local representatives rather than forcing citizens to approach distant provincial or federal authorities.

Highlighting the legal lacunae, JI’s Saifuddin Advocate pointed out that Article 140-A lacks a precise, binding interpretation regarding the transfer of powers to the grassroots level. He criticized the systematic shifting of key municipal institutions from the city administration to the provincial government, a move he said had actively crippled local governance and compromised public service delivery.

PML-F’s Sardar Rahim attributed the provincial dominance over municipal bodies to the prevailing ambiguities within Article 140-A. He stressed the need to administratively unify Karachi, adding that sustained discourse on local governance is vital to raising public awareness about municipal institutions.

GDA’s Hasnain Mirza lamented that despite the constitutional commitments made in the wake of the 18th Amendment, both the Provincial Finance Commissions (PFC) and District Finance Commissions had failed to function effectively. He noted that legal loopholes continue to allow ruling provincial parties to maintain an authoritarian grip over local setups.

Former provincial lawmaker Bilal Ghaffar added that any meaningful consolidation of democracy in Pakistan hinges on an empowered local government system that pairs authority with accountability.

At the conclusion of the seminar, the participants consensus-built on a shared commitment to push for comprehensive constitutional reforms aimed at establishing an autonomous, self-sustaining, and legally shielded local government structure across the country.

“Mohsin Naqvi arrived today in the Islamic Republic of Iran on an official two-day visit as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to facilitate talks and promote regional peace,” the Tasnim News Agency reported.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni received Naqvi, whose visit to Tehran comes days after that of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

In April, Field Marshal Munir, along with a Pakistani delegation including Naqvi, paid a three-day visit to Tehran, where he met Iranian civil and military leadership as part of Islamabad’s mediation efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.

During his stay, he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Commander Major General Ali Abdollahi.

Field Marshal Munir had also held separate meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, who were part of the delegation that held direct talks with a US delegation in Islamabad last month.

In today’s meeting with Naqvi, Momeni appreciated Field Marshal Munir’s efforts to help resolve tensions with the US, Iranian media reported.

Islamabad has been actively mediating in the peace talks between Iran and the US, and last month hosted a high-stakes meeting between delegations from both sides.

A ceasefire that began on April 8 has largely halted the fighting that erupted when US and Israeli forces attacked Iran on February 28.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran had received messages from Washington indicating that President Donald Trump’s administration was willing to continue negotiations.

Iran’s chief negotiator and speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that Washington should accept Tehran’s proposal for peace or face “failure” after Trump rejected an Iranian counteroffer and warned the ceasefire was on “life support”.

“There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal. Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another,” Ghalibaf said, in a social media post.

Police deployed ‌4,000 officers, including reinforcements from outside the capital, and pledged “the most assertive possible use of our powers” in what they called their biggest public order operation in years.

By 1200 GMT, shortly after both marches started, police said they had made 11 arrests for a range of offences. They had earlier forecast turnout of at least ​80,000.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday accused organisers of the Unite the Kingdom march of “peddling hate and division, plain and simple”.

The march ​was organised by anti-Islam activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson. The government barred 11 people it described ⁠as “foreign far-right agitators” from entering Britain to address the protest.

A previous protest led by Robinson in September drew around 150,000 people, police said, and ​featured a video address by US tech billionaire Elon Musk. More than 20 people were arrested, and police are still seeking more than 50 suspects.

MARCHERS ​WAVE BRITISH AND ENGLISH FLAGS

On Saturday, Robinson supporters gathered in central London, waving mainly British and English flags.

“I think that too much migration — not migration, but too much migration – is causing a lot of problems, upsetting a delicate balance here,” said Allison Parr, who also criticised net-zero environmental policies.

Annual net migration approached 900,000 in 2022 ​and 2023, but fell back to around 200,000 last year after tighter work visa rules.

Concern over immigration - including the arrival of asylum seekers on ​small boats - has weighed on Starmer’s popularity and boosted the right-wing Reform UK party, whose leader Nigel Farage has distanced himself from Robinson.

Some protesters chanted abuse about ‌Starmer.

Robinson, who ⁠has convictions for assault, stalking and other offences, urged supporters this week to act peacefully in what he billed as “the greatest patriotic display the world has ever seen”.

Earlier this year, he travelled to the US, where he met a State Department official and addressed supporters about what he called “the dangers of Islam” and “the Islamification of Great Britain”.

Census data showed 6.5% of people in England and Wales identified as Muslim in 2021, up from 4.9% ​in 2011.

PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS MARK NAKBA DAY

Nearby, ​pro-Palestinian demonstrators held a march to ⁠mark Nakba Day, commemorating Palestinians’ loss of land in the 1948 war that followed the creation of Israel. “Nakba” means catastrophe in Arabic.

The march also drew those opposing the Unite the Kingdom rally, alongside predominantly Palestinian flags.

London has ​recently seen a spate of arson attacks on Jewish sites, and two Jewish men were stabbed last month in ​an incident being ⁠treated as terrorism.

Police said repeated large pro-Palestinian marches — 33 since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023 — had left many Jewish people feeling too intimidated to enter central London.

While protesters held a range of views, police said they routinely made arrests for racially and religiously aggravated public order offences, inciting ⁠racial hatred ​or supporting proscribed organisations.

The government said police would arrest protesters who chanted “globalise the intifada”, a ​reference to Palestinian uprisings against Israel that many British Jews view as inciting antisemitism.

Some protesters on Saturday chanted “Death to the IDF”, referring to the Israeli army — language that police ​said had previously been a reason for arrests when aimed at Jewish people.

Government spokesperson Sadia Javed confirmed that one incident did occur, a girder slipped and fell during construction, but stressed that no lives were lost and work on the project continues in compliance with international standards and safety protocols.

Javed accused unspecified elements of attempting to mislead the public, saying opposition voices were trying to politicise a development project that previous governments had neglected entirely.

She said the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government remained committed to delivering on its development pledges.

The Ghotki-Kandhkot bridge is being built under a public-private partnership model. Officials describe it as a transformational infrastructure project and claim it will be the longest bridge in the region upon completion.

Once finished, the bridge is expected to cut the travel distance between the two areas from 147 kilometres to approximately 30 kilometres, reducing commute times, fuel costs, and transport expenses for residents.

Authorities say the link will also strengthen trade connectivity between Upper Sindh and South Punjab, boosting the local economy.

Javed urged critics to stop contesting every development initiative and to refrain from spreading false information through media channels.

The property cell arrested Nishit Patel following the fraud’s exposure.

An FIR registered at Khar Police Station names six accused, including Mahesh Patil, an Assistant Commissioner with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A court has remanded Patel to police custody until May 19.

According to investigators, the scheme began in April 2024 when Habiba Jaffrey received a BMC property tax notice regarding her Andheri flat.

A man identified as Ali Raza then connected her with Patil, who pitched a supposedly lucrative investment opportunity in a Bandra redevelopment project and directed her to route funds through Nishit Patel.

The accused convinced the Jaffrey family that they held close ties to prominent builders and senior government officials. They promised high returns, premium property, and swift possession to secure the family’s trust.

Police say the conspirators fabricated documents, including forged letters of interest and fake registration papers, to make the scheme appear legitimate.

Habiba Jaffrey’s funds were subsequently moved through multiple shell company bank accounts. Patel has since admitted to preparing the fraudulent documents, according to investigators.

Police are now raiding multiple locations in search of Patil and other absconding accused.

Investigators are also examining whether other prominent Mumbai residents invested in the same project and may also have been defrauded.

This is not Patil’s first brush with controversy. He faced allegations of illegal investment in the same Bandra project previously, resulting in a forced leave of absence last year, charges he denied at the time.

The session will be held at the Pakistan Meteorological Department in Karachi and chaired by Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.

Zonal committees will meet simultaneously at provincial headquarters in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar.

The ministry has issued a formal notification for the sittings.

If the crescent is sighted on Sunday, Eid al-Azha will fall on Wednesday, May 27. If the moon is not visible, the festival will be observed on Thursday, May 28.

Eid likely on May 27

Astronomical data supports the earlier date.

The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has said the new moon of Zul Hijjah 1447 is expected to be born on May 17 at 1:15 p.m., giving the crescent an age of approximately eight hours and 30 minutes by sunset.

SUPARCO added that coastal areas of Pakistan could see a gap of around 60 minutes between sunset and moonset on the day, conditions that may support naked-eye visibility if skies remain clear.

Based on these projections, SUPARCO estimates the first of Zul Hijjah will fall on Monday, May 18, putting Eid-ul-Azha on May 27.

The final determination, however, rests with the official moon-sighting committees.

A.S. Dulat, former director of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), made the remarks in a recent interview, saying India had deployed every tool at its disposal — lobbying, proxies, and counter-terrorism narratives — without result.

“It is India’s misconception that Pakistan would disintegrate,” Dulat said, adding that Pakistan would never break apart.

He said India had also failed to turn the international community against Pakistan on the terrorism issue. By contrast, he said Pakistan’s role as a diplomatic mediator had strengthened its global standing.

Dulat singled out Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, noting that Pakistan’s army chief was drawing growing international attention, including from Washington. He cited US President Donald Trump’s reported description of Munir as his “favourite field marshal.”

Talking about the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Dulat said the situation remained volatile beneath the surface. He described an “invisible” undercurrent of unrest, uncertainty, and public grievance continuing to simmer among residents.

Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah, but the strikes were preceded by an evacuation warning covering nine villages.

And the continuing bombardment has only increased scepticism about the truce among the many thousands of Lebanese driven from their homes in the south.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported strikes on at least five villages on Saturday, including one more than 50 kilometres from the border.

At the same time, it reported a new exodus of residents towards the southern city of Sidon and the capital, Beirut.

On Friday, the two countries agreed to extend a ceasefire, which began on April 17 but has been marred by numerous violations, by another 45 days.

Since the start of the ceasefire, Israel has repeatedly issued evacuation warnings for South Lebanese villages ahead of strikes.

Over this period, their geographical scope has expanded to include areas north of the Litani River and further from the border.

The Israeli military also struck at least one town that was not included in the warning, near the southern city of Nabatieh.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to conduct strikes in Lebanon, and its forces are occupying territory near the border.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, regularly claims attacks on northern Israel and against the Israeli military in southern Lebanon.

‘What kind of a truce is this?’

Israeli attacks since the start of the war have killed more than 2,900 people in Lebanon, including more than 400 since the truce took effect, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel has also reported the deaths of 19 soldiers in southern Lebanon since fighting with Hezbollah erupted.

The latest strikes come after envoys from Israel and Lebanon held negotiations in Washington – following the first direct talks in decades last month between the two countries, which do not have diplomatic relations.

They agreed to extend the ceasefire.

Iran-backed Hezbollah opposes the negotiations and claimed an attack against Israeli troops in the Lebanese town of Khiam on Saturday.

The group justified their action by accusing Israel of ceasefire violations and “attacks that targeted villages in southern Lebanon”.

On Friday, an Israeli strike hit a centre of the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Committee in the southern town of Harouf, authorities said.

Six people were killed, including three paramedics, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Displaced residents from southern Lebanon say the truce is not being implemented.

“This is not a truce as long as Israeli attacks continue against the south and its people, with deaths, injuries, and destruction,” said Ali Salameh, 60, from a school in Beirut where he has been displaced since the start of the war on March 2.

Others said they backed Hezbollah to keep fighting Israel in retaliation for its attacks.

“What kind of truce is this when they have just threatened villages and people are being displaced? Where is the state? We stand only with the resistance,” said Nawal Mezhir, also displaced from the south.

‘Lasting stability’

Lebanon’s negotiating delegation in Washington on Friday nonetheless welcomed the truce’s 45-day extension and the creation of a US-facilitated security track, saying they “provide critical breathing space for our citizens, reinforce state institutions, and advance a political pathway toward lasting stability”.

Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

On Friday, Israel struck the southern city of Tyre.

An AFP correspondent saw significant destruction at the targeted site near the coastal city’s ancient ruins.

“They destroyed the entire neighbourhood,” said Ibrahim Kahwaji, a tailor who was wounded in the leg.

“They are emptying the south of its population… it’s a real occupation. We want a solution.”

“Following the passage of ships from East Asian countries, notably China, Japan and Pakistan, we received information today indicating that Europeans have also begun negotiations with the Revolutionary Guards navy” to get permission to pass, state television reported, without specifying which countries.

Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8.

Its grip over the waterway has rattled global markets and given Tehran significant leverage, while the United States has imposed its own naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In peacetime, the route accounts for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, along with other key commodities.

Iran has in recent days allowed passage for dozens of ships including from China “after an agreement on Iran’s strait management protocols,” the Guards, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, said in a statement.

Since the war broke out, Iran has repeatedly said that maritime traffic through the strait would “not return to its pre-war status” and last month said it has received the first revenue from tolls it imposed on the waterway.

On Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, said Iran “has prepared a professional mechanism to manage traffic” through the strait, adding that it will be “unveiled soon”.

“In this process, only commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran will benefit from it,” he noted, adding that “the necessary fees will be collected for specialised services”.

“This route will remain closed to the operators of the so-called ‘freedom project’,” he said, referring to a temporary US military operation to guide stranded commercial ships through the strait.

The court directed that the compensation be paid within 90 days.

The case was heard by the Senior Civil Judge (Central), who announced a detailed verdict and imposed the financial penalty on K-Electric for failing to ensure public safety.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Usman Farooq, told the court that Sheikh Saad Ahmed, the sole breadwinner of his family, was attempting to rescue a child from a live electric pole in 2019 when he was fatally electrocuted.

According to the lawyer, local residents had previously reported current leakage from the pole to K-Electric, but no effective action was taken.

He added that the deceased supported his family’s expenses while pursuing his education.

K-Electric’s lawyer, meanwhile, argued that the pole in question did not belong to the company and carried wires from private generators, telephone lines, and cable operators.

He claimed the electrocution resulted from the generator’s wiring and that K-Electric’s installations were fully safe.

He also contended that the victim endangered his own life by approaching the hazardous site.

The court, however, ruled that utility providers carry an exceptional duty to protect the public.

It noted that the presence of wires from other entities does not absolve K-Electric of responsibility.

The court emphasised that electricity leakage from a public pole constitutes clear negligence, while efforts to save a life cannot be considered negligence, as the law views attempts to save human life leniently.

Under the Fatal Accidents Act, the court ordered K-Electric to pay Rs13.5 million to the victim’s family within 90 days.

The programme will start ​in May and is expected to scale up as more Maltese residents ​complete the course, which ​will be free.

It will also be open ‌to ⁠Maltese citizens living abroad.

“We are turning an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, ​students, ​and workers,” ⁠Maltese Economy Minister Silvio Schembri was quoted ​as saying in an ​OpenAI ⁠statement.

Malta is the first country to launch such a programme.

The ⁠company ​did not disclose the ​financial details of the deal.

Firefighters and rescue ⁠crews were dispatched as ​flames engulfed the bus and nearby ​vehicles, they said, adding the crash involved a train, the bus, cars ​and motorcycles.

Rescue teams worked ​to pull injured victims from the wreckage ‌as ⁠fire crews battled the blaze with water hoses in a race to contain the fire, ​officials ​said.

The fire ⁠has now been brought under control, with ​crews cooling the area, ​venting ⁠gas and continuing to search for victims, they said.

The ⁠cause ​of the accident is ​under investigation.

In a brief statement released on Thursday, the studio confirmed that auditions for the next instalment in the long-running franchise are underway.

“The search for the next James Bond is underway,” the company said, adding that the casting process had “just begun”.

The studio did not reveal details about potential candidates but said more information would be shared with fans later.

Speculation over the future of the role has intensified since Craig’s final appearance as 007 in the 2021 film No Time to Die.

Actors frequently linked to the role include Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, Cillian Murphy, Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson and Australian actor Jacob Elordi.

Last year, Amazon MGM Studios took over creative control of the Bond franchise from longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

The James Bond film series, based on Ian Fleming’s novels, began in 1962 with Sean Connery starring in Dr No.

Other actors to portray Bond include George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

The upcoming film will be directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049.

Villeneuve will work alongside executive producer Tanya Lapointe and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.

The screenplay is being written by Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders.

The pressure on Starmer comes amid wider debate over whether Britain has become increasingly difficult to govern after years of economic strain, leadership changes and voter dissatisfaction.

Historian Anthony Seldon, who has written biographies of Britain’s last eight prime ministers, said the rapid turnover of leaders has transformed British politics.

If Starmer were replaced, Britain would have its sixth prime minister in seven years.

Starmer led Labour to a large parliamentary majority in 2024 on promises of national renewal, but recent election losses across England, Scotland and Wales have weakened confidence in his leadership.

Critics inside and outside Labour say Starmer has struggled to define a clear political vision while failing to convince voters that his government has a long-term strategy to improve living standards and economic growth.

Britain continues to face slow productivity growth, high public debt, expensive energy costs and the lingering economic effects of Brexit and the 2008 financial crisis.

Political analysts also point to increasing fragmentation in British politics, with Labour and the Conservatives now competing against smaller parties including Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and nationalist movements in Scotland and Wales.

Oxford political scientist Ben Ansell said Starmer has failed to explain what changes his government intends to deliver despite campaigning on a promise of “change”.

Analysts argue that Labour’s refusal to raise major taxes has limited its economic options, forcing the government to rely on smaller and politically unpopular revenue measures.

Some within Labour are now looking toward Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as a possible future leader.

Burnham has gained popularity for policies focused on public services and regional economic growth.

However, Burnham would first need to return to parliament before launching any leadership challenge.

Despite the criticism, Starmer has ruled out resigning and warned against returning Britain to the political instability seen under previous Conservative governments.

Supporters of the prime minister say improvements are beginning to emerge, including reductions in National Health Service waiting lists and stronger international relations following years of Brexit-related tensions.

Still, analysts say Starmer’s main challenge remains persuading voters that his government has a clear direction at a time of deep public frustration with British politics.

Sources say the decision is being viewed as another opportunity for India to host a major cricketing event.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has received an invitation to attend the meeting, along with an invitation to watch the IPL final.

However, the final decision regarding the PCB chairman’s travel to India will be made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The ICC meeting is expected to focus on potential changes to the World Test Championship (WTC) format.

Under the current structure, every series must include a minimum of two Test matches.

Sources say the inclusion of Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan in the WTC is also under consideration.

According to cricket websites, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will conduct its meetings in two phases this month.

The ICC’s Chief Executive Committee will hold a virtual session on May 21, while the board meeting is scheduled for May 30-31 in Ahmedabad, India.

In the local market, the gold price per tola dropped to Rs476,262 after a decline of Rs600 during the day.

Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs408,317 after it fell by Rs515, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

On Friday, the gold price per tola reached Rs476,862 after a decline of Rs15,500 during the day.

The international rate of gold declined by $6 to reach $4,539 per ounce (with a premium of $20).

Meanwhile, the price of silver also decreased by Rs159 to reach Rs8,073 per tola.

Investigative sources revealed that Anmol Pinky’s purported handlers have changed their contact numbers and continued selling drugs.

Following Anmol Pinky’s arrest, messages reportedly circulated to customers informing them that her previous number was no longer in service, but her associates were still providing the service.

The messages claim that the drug is available 24/7 throughout the week.

Two types of drugs were reportedly advertised in these messages:

— ‘Golden Stuff’allegedly priced at Rs25,000 per gram, and ‘Silver Stuff’ allegedly priced at Rs15,000 per gram.

The messages also instructed customers not to send payments to accounts previously associated with Fayyaz Communications, which have since been blocked.

The sources said that team members of Anmol Pinky’s network have issued new contact numbers, and law enforcement agencies have received the updated details and information about the online network.

The sources said that despite the arrest, the drug supply chain has not been completely dismantled.

Investigations indicate that drugs were being sold via online orders and digital payments.

Authorities are continuing to probe facilitators and financial links within the network.

Witnesses said that mosques in ​Gaza City ​had announced Izz Al Din Al Haddad’s “martyrdom”. ‌

There ⁠was no immediate comment from Hamas on the fate ​of ​the ⁠Palestinian group’s leader.

Israel has ​not said ​if ⁠he was killed in the air ⁠strikes.

The Women’s National Selection Committee has named a 15-member squad for both tournaments.

Pakistan will feature in a tri-series in Ireland, where hosts Ireland and the West Indies are the other two participating teams.

The tri-series will be played in Dublin from May 28 to June 4, with Pakistan set to play four matches in the event.

The tournament will help Pakistan and the other two sides gear up for the 12-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place from June 12 to July 5.

Among the 15 players selected, Eyman Fatima, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Saira Jabeen and Tasmia Rubab will feature in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time.

Fatima, who will feature in her third ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, will captain the side for the second successive T20 World Cup after having led the team in the previous edition held in the UAE in 2024.

Pakistan recently enjoyed a successful T20I series against Zimbabwe in Karachi, where the hosts secured a convincing 3-0 clean sweep.

The series provided players with an opportunity to showcase their skills and prepare for the upcoming tournaments.

Ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales, the Pakistan women’s team will play two warm-up fixtures against Sri Lanka on June 6 and Scotland on June 9.

Both matches will take place in Derby.

Pakistan will begin their campaign against arch-rivals India on June 14 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

They will take on South Africa in their second fixture on June 17 at the same venue.

Pakistan will then travel to Southampton to face Bangladesh at the Hampshire Bowl on June 20.

Their fourth fixture will be against Australia at Headingley in Leeds on June 23, while their final group-stage match will be against the Netherlands at the Bristol County Ground in Bristol on June 27.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for June 30 and July 2.

The final will be staged at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on July 5.

15-member squad:

Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan

Pakistan fixtures in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 

June 14 vs India, Birmingham

June 17 vs South Africa, Birmingham 

June 20 vs Bangladesh, Southampton 

June 23 vs Australia, Headingley 

June 27 vs Netherlands, Bristol

In turn, left-arm spinners Sadia Iqbal (3-20) and Nashra Sundhu (2-21) shared five wickets to skittle Zimbabwe for 90 all out in 17.1 overs as Pakistan secured a 133-run win — their third largest winning margin by runs in the format.

Pakistan also concluded the first-ever white-ball bilateral series against Zimbabwe women in an emphatic manner, winning all six games across the ODI and T20I series, according to a PCB statement.

This is only the fourth time that Pakistan has completed a series sweep in a three-match WT20I series.

Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first and posted their second-highest total in the format and only the second total in excess of the 200-run mark.

The highest came in the first match of the series, with the hosts posting 237-5 in the allotted 20 overs.

Fatima walked in to bat when Pakistan were 152-4 in 16.2 overs after the departure of Iram Javed (29, 20b, 2x4s, 1x6).

She blazed a total of 10 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 71-run fifth-wicket stand off just 22 balls with Saira Jabeen, who notched her maiden half-century finishing 50 not out off 32 balls on the back of eight fours.

Saira’s contribution in the breezy partnership was only seven off three as Fatima dominated the last three overs.

Pakistan skipper opened her account with a boundary and didn’t look back as she struck Kudzai Chigora for four fours in the 18th over and her counterpart Nomvelo Sibanda for three fours and two sixes in the penultimate over.

Fatima made the world record for the fastest women’s T20I fifty and joint-fifth fastest in all T20Is, including men’s cricket, on the second ball of the last over, taking two off Adel Zimunu.

The record was previously jointly held by Sophie Devine of New Zealand, Phoebe Litchfield of Australia and Richa Ghosh of India, who all got to the milestone off 18 balls.

At the start of the innings, player of the series Ayesha Zafar (45, 28b, 9x4s) and Muneeba Ali (22, 17b, 3x4s) put on a 58-run opening stand in 6.1 overs.

Both the openers were pinned leg-before by Lindokuhle Mabhero as she finished with two for 36.

Ayesha collected 150 runs in the series, including a record-breaking century in the opening match of the series, along with one scalp against her name.

After Natalia perished for one and Pakistan 93-2 in 10.2 overs, Saira and Iram joined forces to stitch a 59-run stand off 36 balls to steady the innings.

In reply to Pakistan’s total, Zimbabwe raced to 36-1 in 2.3 overs with opening batter Kelis Ndhlovu scoring 32 off 14 balls, striking six fours and one six before Sadia Iqbal struck twice in the third over to stop the visitors’ run flow.

Zimbabwe slipped from their powerplay score of 44-3 to 90 all out in 17.1 overs with Pakistan spinners applying the squeeze as Tuba Hassan (3-0-8-1) and Rameen Shamim (4-1-11-1) only gave away 19 runs in their seven overs combined.

Speaking to China Global Television Network (CGTN) after the official Panda Bond Issuance Ceremony in Beijing, the finance minister described the successful issuance as a reflection of growing confidence from Chinese institutions and global investors in Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, ongoing reforms, and economic direction.

Aurangzeb highlighted that the Panda Bond is not only a pivotal step in Pakistan’s financing strategy but also supports the internationalisation of the Chinese Renminbi (RMB).

He noted that nearly 25% of bilateral trade between Pakistan and China is already conducted in RMB, underscoring the deepening financial integration and expanding economic partnership between the two nations.

“The strategic priorities of Pakistan and China remain closely aligned in advancing connectivity, trade, investment, and sustainable economic growth,” the minister added.

In a statement on X, Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon stated that food outlets and wedding halls have also been given relief from the fixed operating times, allowing businesses to continue their activities as usual.

The minister explained that the specific hours had initially been imposed as part of energy conservation and austerity measures.

“All shops, markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, food outlets, marriage halls and marquees are hereby exempted from the closure timings prescribed vide Home department’s notification No SOJI/8-12/2026 (Lockdown) dated 10/04/2026,” stated a notification shared by the minister on X.

In consideration of promoting business activities, public convenience, and economic stability, the decision was revised after taking into account the suggestions and difficulties faced by traders and industrialists, sources added.

“Decisions are made after consultation, public interest, and ground realities. Traders form the backbone of the national economy,” the minister observed.

He added that the government will continue taking all possible steps to address the concerns of the business community and safeguard the interests of both citizens and entrepreneurs, even during challenging economic conditions.

During the visit, she will represent Pakistan at the International World Urban Forum in Baku, according to a statement.

During her stay, Maryam Nawaz will also hold a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Besides, she will address the World Leaders Summit at the Baku Olympic Stadium as a state guest.

The initiative is a joint venture of the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Port Qasim Authority and Gwadar Port Authority.

The establishment of NDMS is aimed at reducing dependence on foreign dredging companies and saving valuable foreign exchange through the development of local capacity.

The company will undertake dredging operations to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of Port Qasim and improve the overall efficiency of maritime transportation in the country.

Flying back from Beijing on Friday after two days of talks with Xi, Trump said he was considering whether to lift US sanctions on Chinese oil companies buying Iranian oil.

China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil.

“I’m not asking for any favours because when you ask for favours, you have to do ​favours in return,” Trump said when asked by a reporter on Air Force One whether Xi had made a firm commitment ​to put pressure on the Iranians to reopen the vital strait.

Xi did not comment on his discussions with ⁠Trump about Iran, although China’s foreign ministry expressed frustration with the Iran war, calling it a conflict “which should never have happened, has no reason ​to continue.”

‘We want the Strait open’

Iran effectively shut the Strait, which carried one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply, before ​the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28.

The disruption to shipping has caused the biggest oil supply crisis in history, sending oil prices skyrocketing.

Thousands of Iranians were killed during the US and Israeli air strikes, and thousands have been killed in Lebanon in renewed fighting there between Israel and Hezbollah.

The US paused ​its attacks last month but began a port blockade.

Tehran said it would not unblock the strait until the US ended its blockade. ​

Trump has threatened to resume attacks if Iran does not agree to a deal.

“We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon, we want the straits ‌open,” Trump ⁠said in Beijing, alongside Xi.

Iran, which has long denied that it intends to build a nuclear weapon, has refused to end nuclear research or relinquish its hidden stockpile of enriched uranium, to Trump’s frustration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had received messages from the US indicating Washington was willing to continue talks.

“We hope that, with the advancement of negotiations, we will reach a good conclusion so that the Strait of Hormuz ​can be completely secured and we ​can expedite the normalisation of ⁠traffic through the strait,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

Trump, who told Fox News’ Hannity programme in an interview aired on Thursday that he was losing patience with Iran, said Tehran “should make a deal.”

Oil prices rose around ​3% to around $109 a barrel on Friday on concerns over a lack of progress in resolving the ​conflict, while US ⁠Treasury yields hit their highest in around a year on expectations the Federal Reserve might need to raise interest rates.

Talks on ending the war, which has become a liability for Trump ahead of US congressional elections in November, have been on hold since last week when Iran and the US ⁠each rejected ​the other’s most recent proposals.

Iran would welcome Chinese input, Araqchi said on Friday, adding ​that Tehran was trying to give diplomacy a chance but did not trust the US, which has curtailed previous rounds of talks by launching air strikes.

The 38-year-old victim, yet to be ​identified, was bitten on Saturday morning ​at Horseshoe Reef near Rottnest Island, about ⁠31km west of the state capital Perth, ​police said in a statement.

The man was taken ​to shore but could not be revived, police said, adding that a report would be prepared for the ​coroner.

State authorities advised people to take extra ​caution in the water at Rottnest Island, a popular ‌tourist ⁠destination.

Aerial footage from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed a police boat, police officers, and a rescue helicopter with a stretcher at the scene.

The ​attack follows ​the death ⁠in January of a boy bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour, ​after a series of shark attacks ​along ⁠the country’s east coast.

Most shark attacks occur along the east and southeast seaboard of Australia, which ⁠averages ​around 20 such incidents a ​year, according to Australia’s Institute of Health and Welfare.

What is the Eurovision Song Contest?

It is a ​celebration of pop music, high camp and diversity now in its 70th year.

Songs from countries ‌across Europe, and now as far afield as Australia, compete.

The most famous song to win was Waterloo by Sweden’s ABBA in 1974, while perhaps the best-known winning singer was Canadian Celine Dion in 1988, competing for Switzerland, with Ne partez pas sans moi (Don’t leave without me).

Sweden and Ireland ​hold the most titles with seven each.

Organisers say it is the world’s biggest music show, drawing more viewers than ​the Super Bowl.

How do you win?

Points for each of the 25 finalist songs are awarded ⁠in one of two ways.

Viewers can vote online, by text message or by phone up to 10 times each. ​

The 10 songs with the most votes in a given country are awarded points from that country, ranging from 12 for ​the most popular to 1 for the 10th-placed.

Each country taking part also has a jury that picks the 10 best songs and awards them points the same way.

Half the total points come from the public vote, and half from the jury.

A country cannot vote ​for its own song.

What is the controversy this year?

There has been a dispute over whether Israel should be allowed to ​participate following its killings of Palestinians in Gaza.

The public broadcasters of five ‌countries — Spain, ⁠Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia — are boycotting because Israel is taking part.

Israel is also under pressure over attempts to sway the public vote.

Last year, its entry came second despite earning few points from juries, because it secured the most public votes.

Organisers responded by halving the number of public votes allowed per person to 10 and encouraging the public to ​vote for multiple songs, as ​well as clamping down ⁠on “disproportionate promotion campaigns”.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN received a formal warning from the organiser last week over videos appealing to the public to vote for its song 10 times.

KAN said ​it plays by the rules, and the videos were immediately taken down.

Who are some of the favourites?

⁠* Finland’s Liekinheitin, or Flamethrower. An electropop-classical crossover about a tempestuous relationship, performed by violinist Linda Lampenius and singer-songwriter Pete Parkkonen, with arguably the most spectacular, flame-engulfed stage set.

* Australia’s Eclipse, performed by one of the country’s biggest pop stars, Delta Goodrem, a seasoned performer ⁠who brings ​polish to the show.

* Greece’s Ferto, or Bring it. An electro-pop track with ​traditional Greek flourishes criticising modern consumer culture.

* Israel’s Michelle. A love song sung in Hebrew, French and English, less controversial than its entry last year, which ​was sung by a survivor of the October 7 attack.