Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Sahibzada Farhan will lead the Pakistan Men&rsquo;s Team in the Asian Games 2026, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan from 19 September to 4 October, said a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday.The statement added that the 10-team Men&rsquo;s T20I event will be played at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.&ldquo;The men&rsquo;s cricket event will commence on 24 September, while the medal matches will be played on 3 October,&rdquo; the statement further said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 826px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2064559013963133370&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=064408886c64dcc76c5364389fe616c2322f35d3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>According to the statement, the 30-year-old Farhan has featured in 46 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 1,305 runs, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries.&nbsp;The statement said that Abdul Samad, who has played five T20Is for Pakistan, is&nbsp;named vice-captain of the squad.Among the 15-member squad, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood are the four players yet to represent Pakistan in the T20I format.Additionally, 14 of the 15 players selected for the Asian Games squad are part of the NCA White-Ball Camp, which is set to commence in Lahore from Monday, 15 June. 15-member squad&nbsp;Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper). Support&nbsp;staffMike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), Muhammad Tahir (physiotherapist), Imran Ullah (trainer), Usman Hashmi (analyst-cum-team operations coordinator). Men&#39;s cricket teams in the Asian Games 2026Ten men&#39;s teams have officially qualified for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Japan (host), and four teams from the qualifiers: Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Oman.&nbsp;The tournament will feature these nations competing in the T20 format in September.

Cricket

Pakistan Cricket Board statement says Abdul Samad will be his deputy; Ten teams, including Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, qualify for the tournament to be played in Japan.

Sahibzada Farhan to lead Pakistan's squad in Asian Games 2026

LONDON: British Defense Secretary John Healey sensationally quit on Thursday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country. His shock resignation weakens Starmer&#39;s authority further at a precarious moment for the embattled Labour leader, a week before a by-election that could prompt a bid to replace him. In stinging criticism, Healey warned that Starmer&#39;s long-awaited Defense Investment Plan (DIP) for funding over the next decade&mdash;which the premier has yet to publish&mdash;risked making Britain &quot;less safe.&quot; &quot;You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,&quot; Healey wrote in a resignation letter to Starmer posted on his X account. &quot;After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our Forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation.&quot; Healey&#39;s sudden departure comes after months of delays to the defense plan, which Starmer has insisted he will publish before a NATO summit in Turkey beginning on July 7. Starmer&#39;s centre-left government, elected in July 2024 following 14 years of Conservative rule, has pledged to ramp up defense spending, with priority given to NATO commitments. The rise comes amid threats from Russia and as US President Donald Trump repeatedly urges NATO allies to spend more and become less reliant on Washington for security. &#39;Grave moment&#39;Starmer has vowed to raise defense spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product from next year, increasing to three percent if Labour wins the next general election, expected in 2029, before reaching 3.5 percent in 2035. British media has for weeks been reporting on behind-the-scenes battles within the government over the DIP settlement. In his resignation letter, Healey said he was first given full sight of DIP on Monday, and it sees defense spending rise to only 2.68 percent of GDP in 2030. A source close to the former defense secretary told AFP the deal offered by the Treasury did not put a date on the three percent commitment. The plan &quot;falls well short of what is required for defense and the country at this dangerous time,&quot; Healey wrote. &quot;Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.&quot; Tan Dhesi, chair of parliament&#39;s defence committee, said the government must take Healey&#39;s warning &quot;with the utmost seriousness&quot;. &quot;That a defence secretary of his integrity and commitment has felt compelled to resign in response to the inadequacy of the proposed defence settlement is a grave moment,&quot; the Labour MP said in a statement. Starmer faces political peril in next Thursday&#39;s contest when Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham stands for the Makerfield parliamentary seat. Both men have said they would participate in any Labour leadership race, although none has yet been triggered. Wes Streeting quit as health secretary last month following disastrous local and regional election results for Labour and has also said he would run in any future contest. Healey, 66, has been previously talked about as another potential contender, but there was no immediate suggestion that his resignation is linked to the leadership speculation. It &quot;underlines that Starmer has become a lame duck prime minister who cannot get decisions through his own government,&quot; Patrick Diamond, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, told AFP. The investment plan, originally due to be published in late 2025, has repeatedly been pushed back, to the frustration of industry and others. Healey&#39;s resignation &quot;creates a sequence of political headaches in terms of a replacement, and trying to get the defence investment plan published,&quot; said Ed Arnold, senior associate fellow at the RUSI think-tank. A government source insisted that Starmer had made Britain &quot;safer,&quot; adding the defense spending proposals &quot;will deliver the capability our armed forces need.&quot;

Europe

British Defense Secretary John Healey sensationally quit on Thursday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country

UK defense minister quits with stinging rebuke of PM Starmer

JERUSALEM: Radio France Internationale (RFI) condemned Thursday Israel&#39;s entry ban on French reporter Alice Froussard, who freelances for the station and other outlets, as &quot;an obstacle to press freedom&quot;. &quot;Israeli authorities have not provided any justification to RFI for this decision,&quot; the broadcaster said in a statement. &quot;RFI&#39;s management offers its full support to Alice Froussard and protests against this expulsion, which constitutes an obstacle to press freedom and comes at a time when journalists are facing increasing difficulties in covering current events in the region,&quot; it added.

Middle East

Calls it an as "an obstacle to press freedom"

Radio France Internationale condemns Israel's ban on French reporter

Faraz Saeed

Muhammad Ibrahim

Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb gestures while presenting the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 during a news conference in Islamabad on June 11, 2026. (Faraz Saeed/Pakistan TV Digital)

Economy

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says stronger fiscal performance, rising remittances, expanding technology exports and improving investor confidence are helping strengthen economic resilience as Pakistan advances reforms to support private-sector activity and sustainable growth.

Pakistan records 3.7% growth, economy reaches $452 billion milestone

Simran Siraj

KARACHI: An intense heatwave coupled with powerful dust storms has created a dangerous weather emergency across Sindh, causing deaths, damaging infrastructure, disrupting agriculture, and exposing Pakistan&#39;s growing climate vulnerabilities. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Dadu recorded a scorching 51.5 degrees Celsius on May 30, the highest temperature reported in the country this season and an all-time high for the district. While extreme heat gripped upper and central Sindh, strong winds and dust storms swept through areas including Nawabshah and Moro, uprooting trees, damaging homes, disrupting power supplies, and destroying commercial solar installations. Environmental and public health expert Dr Zafar Fatmi said the destructive weather pattern was driven by a combination of severe pre-monsoon heat, dry land conditions, and thunderstorm-generated winds.&nbsp;&ldquo;When temperatures remain exceptionally high, the atmosphere becomes unstable, and the arrival of cooler air masses or moisture can trigger intense wind events,&rdquo; Dr Fatmi told Pakistan TV Digital. He explained that vast stretches of land across Sindh undergo intense solar heating during May and June, creating low-pressure zones over the interior. As hot air rises rapidly, incoming cooler or more humid air can trigger violent wind bursts, dust storms, and localized thunderstorms. Authorities advise avoiding prolonged exposure to sunPMD heatwave alerts warned that temperatures in districts including Dadu, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Ghotki, and Khairpur could range between 47 C and 50 C, remaining 4 C to 6 C above normal levels. Authorities have advised residents, particularly children, women, and the elderly, to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and stay hydrated. However, Dr Fatmi said the accompanying windstorms have transformed the heatwave into a broader public safety crisis. &ldquo;The loss of life in such events is often caused by collapsing roofs, falling trees, damaged structures, flying debris, road accidents, and electrocution from downed power lines rather than dust inhalation alone,&rdquo; he said. Beyond the immediate damage, the storms are also taking a toll on Sindh&#39;s agricultural sector by stripping away fertile topsoil, damaging standing crops, accelerating moisture loss, and affecting livestock health. Dr Fatmi warned that climate change, prolonged drought, land degradation, and vegetation loss are increasing the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events across the arid and semi-arid regions of Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab. He added that when large dust clouds reach urban centers such as Karachi, they combine with existing air pollution, creating serious health risks for people suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Fatmi stressed the need for stronger early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved land management practices, and greater community preparedness to reduce future economic losses and save lives.

Blogs

Record heat and deadly dust storms batter Sindh, with temperatures exceeding 51 degrees Celsius in Dadu, raising climate, health, and infrastructure concerns across Pakistan.

How extreme heat is fueling deadly dust storms in Sindh

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss the latest regional developments, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs&#39; post on X.&nbsp; The call came amid continuing diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and other regional partners to reduce tensions and support peaceful engagement. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs&rsquo; post, Dar and Fidan exchanged views on the evolving regional situation. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The exchange reflected close coordination between Pakistan and Turkiye on issues of mutual interest. Dar briefed his Turkish counterpart on Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic outreach and efforts to support regional peace. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2064957046718660642&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=ed944e922fd35313ddeef5d28bdbfc89aa71021f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 770px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Fidan and Dar also reviewed bilateral ties and agreed on the need to maintain regular contact. Pakistan has repeatedly called for restraint and diplomacy as conflicts and tensions continue to affect regional stability. The latest conversation underscores Islamabad&rsquo;s position that dialogue remains the only viable path for resolving disputes. Turkiye has also remained engaged in regional diplomacy and has maintained close contact with Pakistan on key international developments. The two foreign ministers agreed to continue consultations as diplomatic efforts move forward.

Foreign Affairs

In a call, both leaders reaffirm the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Pakistan's DPM Dar, Turkish foreign minister discuss regional developments 

ISLAMABAD: Nepal has banned imports of Indian mangoes after inspectors detected excessive levels of chemical pesticides and inadequate quarantine facilities along parts of the border, a move that could lead to shortages and higher prices in the Himalayan nation, according to the Indian news website, First Post. The restrictions, imposed by Nepal&#39;s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and reportedly in effect since April-May, target Indian mango shipments entering through border regions, particularly in Madhesh Province. Authorities say the measure is intended to protect consumers and encourage domestic fruit production. &quot;The federal government&#39;s decision will provide additional encouragement to local production, while citizens will have access to healthier and safer produce,&quot; Manish Kumar Pal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Madhesh Province, told state-run newspaper The Rising Nepal. Nepal produces mangoes domestically, with major cultivation concentrated in the districts of Siraha, Saptari and Dhanusha. The harvest season runs from mid-May to mid-July. However, local production is insufficient to meet year-round demand. Ban to benefit local farmersAjaya Gyawali, an information officer at the province&#39;s agriculture ministry, said the ban has benefited local farmers by reducing competition from imported fruit. &quot;It has promoted local production, which is a positive development,&quot; Gyawali said. Still, he warned that domestic supplies may not be sufficient to meet nationwide demand, particularly in major urban centers such as Kathmandu. Mangoes currently sell for about 100 to 150 Nepalese rupees ($0.73 to $1.10) per kilogram in Kathmandu. Traders warn prices could rise significantly if the restrictions remain in place. They point to a previous ban on banana imports from India, after which prices reportedly doubled from around 120-150 Nepalese rupees ($0.80 to $1.00) per dozen to 250-300 Nepalese&nbsp;rupees ($1.60 to $1.95) per dozen. The restrictions could also affect industries that depend on mango supplies, including juice manufacturers, Gyawali said. For India, the impact is expected to be limited yet symbolically significant. India produces about 24 million metric tons of mangoes annually, exporting only a small share. Its largest export markets include the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia. While Nepal is not a major destination for Indian mangoes, the ban affects premium varieties such as Alphonso, Dasheri, Chausa, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli. The move comes weeks after Japan suspended imports of several Indian mango varieties for the first time in two decades, following inspections that found irregularities at treatment and production facilities. In March, Japanese quarantine officials identified deficiencies in fumigation and disinfection procedures at facilities in Uttar Pradesh. The subsequent import suspension has added pressure on Indian exporters.

Mango cultivation in Nepal -(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

India

For India, the impact is expected to be limited yet symbolically significant. India's largest export markets include the US, the UAE, the UK, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia.

Nepal bans Indian mango imports over pesticide concerns

This guide explains key terms including GDP inflation fiscal deficit debt servicing and revenue targets helping readers better understand the government's fiscal priorities and policies.

Budget 2026: Understanding key terms shaping Pakistan’s economy

MEXICO CITY: The World Cup kicks off Thursday with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, launching a sprawling tournament of 48 teams that will last nearly six weeks. The extravaganza hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada is the biggest World Cup in history, stretching until the final in New Jersey on July 19. It is projected to generate a record-breaking $13 billion in total revenue. But football&#39;s world governing body FIFA has faced stinging criticism over the eye-watering costs of tickets, while Donald Trump&#39;s immigration crackdown has seen a top referee, Iranian team officials, and fans refused entry to the United States. Speaking in Mexico City on Wednesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino launched a spirited defense of the organization of the tournament and brushed off criticism over visa issues. Infantino insisted that tickets -- which in some cases have topped $30,000 -- had been priced appropriately, citing a small number of $60 tickets that were made available in response to criticism. &quot;Let me just say that our entry price, which is 60 dollars, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases,&quot; Infantino said. &quot;Our average price, which is below us$ 500, is again the lowest of the American sports on average.&quot; &nbsp;We don&#39;t control everything Infantino also played down the controversy surrounding Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry after arriving in Miami. FIFA has since confirmed Artan, who the US State Department said had &quot;associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations,&quot; will play no part in the tournament. &quot;It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,&quot; Infantino said. &quot;We don&#39;t control everything... Sometimes it&#39;s good to chill, relax, we work on everything, we try to solve everything.&quot; The FIFA leader also portrayed Iran&#39;s participation at the World Cup in the midst of its military conflict with the US as a victory for his organization. &quot;People were saying Iran couldn&#39;t come to the World Cup,&quot; Infantino said. &quot;There are challenges, it&#39;s not easy, but I don&#39;t know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances -- which we could not influence -- Iran could come and play.&quot; Infantino&#39;s close relationship with Trump has come under scrutiny, but the FIFA chief lavished praise on the US president. &quot;Without his engagement and involvement, I think it would have been, simple as that, impossible to organize a World Cup in the United States,&quot; Infantino said of Trump. Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he plans to attend some World Cup matches, without providing details. &quot;I spoke to Gianni this morning... he said there&#39;s never been anything close&quot; to the success of the coming tournament, Trump said. Wall of noise South Africa coach Hugo Broos warned his players to block out a wall of sound during the opening match in the Estadio Azteca, a legendary venue that hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. &quot;They will have 85,000 Mexicans shouting and singing. But we have to focus on our game. And if we can do that... then we can have a good game,&quot; the Belgian said. Mexico has not won any of its seven appearances in an opening game. &quot;We have to break the statistic,&quot; coach Javier Aguirre said. &quot;It will be another source of motivation.&quot; South Korea and the Czech Republic play the second game on the opening day in Guadalajara. Spain, France, and England are the favourites, while reigning champions Argentina will look to their 38-year-old talisman Lionel Messi to drive them to the final. England wrapped up their preparations on Wednesday with an impressive 3-0 win over a feisty Costa Rica in a match delayed by an hour because of thunderstorms in Orlando. Coach Thomas Tuchel liked his side&#39;s intensity as Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins got on the scoresheet. &quot;Until now, it was more a feeling of a pre-season, like an overseas pre-season,&quot; the England boss said. &quot;I think we set the tone today.&quot;

Football

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in Mexico with hosts Mexico facing South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium, launching the biggest-ever 48-team tournament amid excitement, record revenues, ticket-price criticism and political controversy.

World Cup set for kickoff after high ticket prices, visa issues dog buildup

ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan has launched its first-ever Research Agenda for 2026-2029, outlining a comprehensive roadmap aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and addressing the country&rsquo;s most pressing economic challenges, said a statement from the country&#39;s central bank on Thursday. According to the statement, the initiative seeks to deepen research on inflation, financial stability, and long-term economic development as Pakistan navigates an increasingly complex global and domestic economic environment. The SBP statement added that rapid technological change, climate-related disruptions, geopolitical uncertainties, and persistent structural weaknesses have made economic policymaking more challenging than ever.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 649px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2064968546929795250&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e22c25f3fe8e9f979775494362a6886772c197fe&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> &quot;The new agenda is designed to provide policymakers with stronger analytical tools to respond to these evolving realities.&quot; The statement further said that the three-year framework is built around three major themes: Inflation Dynamics and Monetary Policy; Financial Sector Deepening; Soundness and Efficiency; and Structural Transformation and Economic Development. &quot;Under the first theme, the State Bank plans to examine inflation behavior, monetary policy transmission, inflation expectations, and the potential adoption of a flexible inflation-targeting framework. The agenda also highlights emerging issues such as digital finance, virtual assets, central bank digital currencies, artificial intelligence, and the transition towards a more Shariah-compliant banking system,&quot; it elaborates.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/8dc2d89d-fad9-4d1e-8121-83265d7d41f8.png" style="width: 781px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> The statement further explains that the second theme focuses on strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s financial sector by exploring ways to improve financial inclusion, expand credit access, enhance banking efficiency, and evaluate the impact of liquidity management and regulatory policies on economic growth. &quot;The third theme addresses broader structural challenges facing the economy, including informality, export competitiveness, foreign investment, remittances, climate risks, technological change, and governance reforms needed to support sustainable growth,&quot; the statement added. Importantly, the SBP has invited academics, policymakers, researchers, and industry experts to collaborate on the agenda. The central bank also plans to support selected priority research projects, encouraging a wider national effort to generate actionable policy recommendations. Officials say the initiative aligns with SBP Vision 2028 and will help strengthen the foundations for price stability, financial resilience, and inclusive economic development in Pakistan.

State Bank of Pakistan launches its first Research Agenda 2026–2029; Focuses on inflation, financial sector reforms, and economic transformation; Invites academics and researchers to support evidence-based policymaking.

Pakistan's central bank launches 3-year research roadmap for smarter economic policymaking

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