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Newsdesk

Rawalpindi suffer fifth consecutive defeat

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Rawalpindi suffer

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators delivered a dominant performance to defeat Rawalpindi by 61 runs in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 match at National Bank Stadium, handing their opponents a fifth consecutive loss in the tournament.

Chasing a target of 183, Rawalpindi’s batting lineup collapsed and was bowled out for 121 in 17.3 overs. Saad Masood top-scored with 31 runs, while Daryl Mitchell contributed 30 and Yasir Khan added 22. Captain Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for a duck, and Usman Khawaja managed just 7 runs.

For Quetta, Usman Tariq, Saud Shakeel, and Jahandad Khan picked up two wickets each to dismantle the opposition.

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators posted 182/6 in their allotted overs. Rilee Rossouw led the charge with 52 runs, while skipper Saud Shakeel added 42.

Hasan Nawaz played a blistering knock of 39 off just 16 balls, and Jahandad Khan chipped in with a quickfire 21 off 6 deliveries.

For Rawalpindi, Ben Sears claimed three wickets, while Mohammad Amir took two and Mubasir Khan picked up one.

Earlier, Rawalpindi captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to field first.

Rawalpindi are still searching for their first win in the tournament, having lost all five matches so far, while Quetta have secured one victory in four games.

Trust deficit biggest challenge in US-Iran talks, says Bilawal

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Trust deficit

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the lack of trust between the United States and Iran will be the biggest challenge in upcoming negotiations.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, he noted that the recent conflict involving Iran has impacted the entire world, triggering global economic challenges. He expressed hope that the ceasefire would evolve into a stable and lasting peace.

Bilawal highlighted that Pakistan is facilitating direct talks between the two sides, adding that global attention is now focused on delegations arriving in Islamabad. He termed reaching the negotiation stage itself a significant achievement.

He further expressed optimism that both parties would choose diplomacy and dialogue as the path to peace.

Emphasizing the importance of peaceful resolution, he stated that the international community currently has no alternative plan, making dialogue the only viable option. He added that the outcome now depends on the commitment of both sides and the broader global community.

Bilawal reiterated that Pakistan wishes to see the issue resolved through peaceful means and sustained diplomatic efforts.

Sindh tightens business hours with new austerity measures

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Sindh tightens

KARACHI: The Government of Sindh has announced the implementation of an austerity policy, directing early closure of shops and shopping malls across the province.

According to an official notification, new business hours have been introduced for markets, hotels, and wedding halls. In districts other than divisional headquarters, all shops, markets, and shopping malls will close at 8:00 PM. Meanwhile, in divisional headquarters including Karachi, these establishments will remain open until 9:00 PM.

Under the new rules, hotels and food outlets will be allowed to operate from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM. However, home delivery and takeaway services will continue without any restrictions.

Wedding halls and banquet facilities will be permitted to host events from 8:00 PM to midnight.

The notification also clarifies that essential services such as tandoors, milk shops, bakeries, medical stores, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, and petrol pumps will remain exempt from these restrictions.

The austerity measures have been enforced with immediate effect. Authorities, including commissioners and deputy commissioners, have been directed to ensure strict implementation in coordination with law enforcement agencies.

It is worth noting that similar measures have already been introduced in other provinces following the federal government’s austerity policy, with Punjab and Balochistan also enforcing early market closures.

Lebanese PM seeks Pakistan’s help to end Israeli attacks

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Lebanese PM

ISLAMABAD: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has urged Pakistan to play an active role in halting ongoing attacks on Lebanon and its people.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the request came during a telephone conversation between Shehbaz Sharif and his Lebanese counterpart.

During the call, Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of thousands of lives.

He reaffirmed that Pakistan is actively engaged in sincere efforts to promote regional peace, including facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States.

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Nawaf Salam appreciated Pakistan’s peace efforts and requested cooperation to ensure an immediate end to attacks on Lebanon. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

According to international media reports, the Lebanese premier also called for confirmation that Lebanon is included in the ongoing ceasefire framework, warning that exclusion could lead to further incidents like the recent Israeli strikes.

The development comes amid escalating tensions after Israeli attacks reportedly killed more than 200 people in Lebanon. While the United States and Israel maintain that the current ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, Israeli leadership has indicated that operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah will continue.

Meanwhile, Iran’s parliamentary leadership has warned that excluding Lebanon from the ceasefire is unacceptable, emphasizing that Tehran considers Lebanon an essential part of any agreement.

Babar Azam breaks world record as fastest to 12,000 T20 runs

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Babar Azam

KARACHI: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has set a new world record in T20 cricket by becoming the fastest player to score 12,000 T20 runs.

Representing Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar achieved this milestone during a match against Karachi Kings. He reached 12,000 runs in just 338 innings, surpassing the previous record held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who had taken 345 innings.

For comparison, Indian stars Virat Kohli and David Warner achieved 12,000 T20 runs in 360 and 368 innings respectively.

Babar Azam is now the 12th player worldwide and the second Pakistani to reach this landmark, following former national cricketer Shoaib Malik.

This remarkable feat further cements Babar Azam’s status as one of the premier T20 batsmen in the world.

Pakistan in global spotlight as world leaders contact PM over peace efforts

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Pakistan in global

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as a focal point of global attention amid ongoing Islamabad peace talks, with several world leaders reaching out to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to reports, the prime minister received telephone calls from key international figures, including the Amir of Qatar, the King of Bahrain, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, the Chancellor of Austria, the Chancellor of Germany, and the Prime Minister of Italy.

Global leaders congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Pakistan’s successful diplomatic efforts, which contributed to a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, paving the way for dialogue between the two sides.

The development highlights Pakistan’s growing role in facilitating regional peace and diplomacy on the international stage.

‘Like Family’: Ali Raza opens up about bond with Hina Afridi

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‘Like Family’

ISLAMABAD: Actor Ali Raza has revealed that co-star Hina Afridi is like a family member to him, sharing that they often ended up laughing while performing romantic scenes together.

The two actors recently appeared in an interview where they discussed their acting careers and various experiences from their projects.

Responding to a question about romantic scenes in a private TV drama, Ali Raza said that both actors would frequently burst into laughter during such moments, adding that treating the work professionally made things easier.

He further stated that his strong friendship and comfort level with Hina Afridi allowed them to perform scenes with ease and even attempt things that audiences might not have expected.

Hina Afridi also shared that during certain scenes, she would consult Ali Raza for suggestions, and together they would coordinate with the director to execute the scenes effectively.

Shah Rukh Khan’s heartfelt birthday message for Anant Ambani goes viral

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Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has captured attention on social media after sharing a heartfelt birthday message for Anant Ambani, son of renowned business tycoon Mukesh Ambani.

Taking to his official Instagram account, Shah Rukh Khan congratulated Anant Ambani and encouraged him to continue spreading positivity and bringing smiles to people’s faces. He also wished him good health and a life filled with happiness.

The message quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising the actor’s warm words and highlighting the close bond between the two.

According to media reports, Shah Rukh Khan recently arrived in Jamnagar with his family to attend the birthday celebrations, where Anant Ambani marked his 31st birthday in the presence of close relatives and prominent figures from the entertainment industry.

Mass rallies held across Iran to mark 40th day of Ayatollah Khamenei’s death

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Mass rallies held

TEHRAN: Millions of people took to the streets across Iran, including in the capital Tehran, to mark the 40th day (Chehlum) of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and schoolchildren who were killed in recent attacks.

According to Iranian media, the main rally began Thursday morning from Jomhuri Square and proceeded toward the site where Khamenei was killed. Similar gatherings and processions were held in multiple cities and districts across the country.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also joined the procession, mingling with the public as citizens interacted with him during the event.

Reports state that Khamenei was killed on February 28, along with several family members, during the first day of attacks on Iran attributed to the United States and Israel.

Several top Iranian military officials and advisers were also killed in the incident, including Abdolrahim Mousavi, Ali Shamkhani, and Mohammad Pakpour.

Pakistan receives worldwide appreciation for role in Middle East ceasefire

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Pakistan receives

The world has acknowledged Pakistan’s pivotal role in facilitating the US-Iran ceasefire. Paolo Gentiloni, former Prime Minister of Italy and European Commissioner, suggested that Pakistan deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts.

In a statement on social media, Gentiloni wrote that, in his view, Pakistan is the rightful recipient of the award in the current circumstances.

In addition, several countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire. Major global powers such as China, Russia, and European nations also called the US-Iran agreement a positive development.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized its own efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the Middle East. The British Prime Minister highlighted the importance of turning the ceasefire into a long-term peace agreement. French President welcomed the ceasefire while expressing concern over the situation in Lebanon.

Germany’s Chancellor thanked Pakistan for facilitating the ceasefire, while Turkey announced full support for the negotiations held in Islamabad. Australia, Egypt, and Malaysia also welcomed the development.

Russia expressed hope that direct US-Iran negotiations will continue and noted that the ceasefire provides the US more time and flexibility to resume talks with Ukraine.

The United Nations Secretary-General and Pope Leo, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, also welcomed the ceasefire.