Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has explained why he chose to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season.&nbsp;Speaking on the ARY podcast, Zampa said the money he would earn in the IPL no longer justifies the time the tournament demands.&nbsp;The 34-year-old went unsold in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/phones-stolen-at-ipl-match-leave-spectators-disappointed" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;mini auction after being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad. He soon joined Karachi Kings in the PSL for $170,000, making an immediate impact by helping his team secure a win against Lahore Qalandars.&nbsp;&ldquo;To be brutally honest, for someone with my skill set, the money just isn&rsquo;t there compared to what&rsquo;s available for other skill sets. Considering the amount of time the IPL requires, it didn&rsquo;t seem reasonable to keep playing,&rdquo; Zampa said.&nbsp;He also revealed he had planned to take a break from league cricket before the PSL offer came about a month ago. &ldquo;It all happened pretty quickly, but I&rsquo;m enjoying it,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Zampa praised Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi for his performance in their recent match. &ldquo;One player I really enjoy watching is Shaheen Afridi. He bowled really well and took four wickets. It always feels like something exciting is happening whenever he&rsquo;s bowling,&rdquo; Zampa said.&nbsp;So far, Zampa has played two matches for Karachi Kings, taking three wickets. He was named Player of the Match for his figures of 2 for 11 against Lahore Qalandars in a low-scoring game.&nbsp;Zampa&rsquo;s IPL career included stints with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, and Rising Pune Supergiant, but he never secured a regular place. Across six IPL seasons, he earned $95,000 in total, far less than players like Cameron Green, who secured a $320,000 deal.&nbsp;Now, Zampa&rsquo;s move to the PSL appears rewarding both on the field and off, giving him consistent playing time and satisfaction.

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa speaks after a match-winning performance in the PSL 11 match against Lahore Qalandars on Monday, March 30, 2026. 

Cricket

Zampa says the money he would earn in the IPL no longer justifies the time the tournament demands.

Australian leggie Adam Zampa explains why he chose PSL over IPL

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan witnessed a significant decline in violence-related casualties in March 2026, with overall deaths falling by 35% compared to the previous month, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. The report said 331 people were killed in March, down from 506 in February, even as the number of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/security-forces-kill-34-terrorists-in-kp-and-balochistan-operations-army" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorist attacks</a> increased. The think tank attributed the drop in fatalities partly to Pakistan&rsquo;s cross-border strikes targeting terrorist&nbsp;hideouts in Afghanistan, carried out from late February until March 18, before a ceasefire was reached. Despite threats of escalation by banned outfits including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, and Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen, the overall impact of violence remained limited, with attacks largely shifting towards low-intensity operations. Civilian casualties saw the sharpest decline, dropping by 70% from 132 in February to 39 in March. Fatalities among security forces fell by 26% to 59, while terrorist&nbsp;deaths decreased by 22% to 228. Injuries also declined by 37% overall, with 210 reported in March compared to 333 in February. Civilian injuries dropped significantly, while injuries among terrorists&nbsp;rose, indicating increased pressure during security operations. However, the frequency of terrorist&nbsp;attacks increased, rising to 146 in March from 83 in February. Suicide attacks fell to one in five in the previous month. Terrorists&nbsp;also kidnapped 19 individuals, while security forces arrested 41 suspects. Regionally, Balochistan recorded the highest number of fatalities, though deaths dropped by 34%. Civilian deaths in the province declined sharply, but injuries surged. The merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also saw a 42% reduction in fatalities, despite a rise in injuries and continued terrorist&nbsp;activity. In mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, fatalities remained largely unchanged, though security forces&rsquo; losses declined. The report noted an increase in attacks targeting pro-government peace committee members, signaling a shift by terrorists&nbsp;towards softer targets. Punjab and Sindh reported no terrorist&nbsp;attacks during the month, while isolated incidents were recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan, where a terrorist&nbsp;attempt near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam was foiled without casualties. The report concluded that while terrorist&nbsp;groups increased the frequency of attacks, their operational effectiveness appeared to have declined, reflecting the impact of sustained security measures.

Security personnel stand guard at the site of a bomb blast in Bajaur district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on July 31, 2023. (AFP/File)

Security

The report says 331 people were killed in March, down from 506 in February, even as the number of terrorist attacks increased.

Cross-border strikes disrupt terrorists, casualties drop 35%: Report

ISLAMABAD: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that his country will not become involved in the ongoing Middle East conflict, emphasizing that it is not in the nation&#39;s best interest. Addressing a press conference at Downing Street on Wednesday, Starmer made it clear that while the UK is actively pursuing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate, it will avoid direct involvement in the war. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been absolutely clear that this is not our war, and we&rsquo;re not going to get dragged into it,&rdquo; he said, while addressing a press conference in Downing Street on Wednesday. Responding to a question on remarks by Donald Trump about potentially&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-us-may-end-iran-operations-within-two-to-three-weeks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">pulling out of NATO</a>, Starmer reaffirmed Britain&rsquo;s strong commitment to the alliance, calling it &ldquo;the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen&rdquo; that has ensured security for decades. He warned that the conflict is already impacting global stability and could affect Britain&rsquo;s future, particularly through rising energy prices linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer announced that the UK will host a meeting with international partners to push for reopening the vital shipping route, which has been disrupted amid escalating tensions. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to lead talks with multiple countries to ensure maritime security in the Gulf. &ldquo;And today I can announce that later this week, the foreign secretary will host a meeting that brings those nations together for the first time, where we will assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and resume the movement of vital commodities.&rdquo;&nbsp; The UK PM added that easing tensions in the Middle East is key to controlling the cost of living, as energy supplies remain under pressure. Separately, Starmer signaled a shift in foreign policy, saying it is &ldquo;increasingly clear&rdquo; that the UK&rsquo;s long-term interests require closer ties with European allies and the European Union. He announced plans for a new summit with EU partners in the coming weeks, aimed at strengthening economic and security cooperation in what he described as a &ldquo;dangerous world.&rdquo; Acknowledging economic challenges ahead, Starmer said the path forward would not be easy but reaffirmed that the government has measures in place to support households, including energy bill caps and fuel duty relief. He reiterated that Britain remains focused on diplomacy, stability, and long-term economic resilience.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivering his first address as prime minister of the United Kingdom, 10 Downing Street, London, July 5, 2024. (Photo: AFP/File)

Europe

Middle East

Starmer says that while the UK is actively pursuing diplomatic efforts for de-escalation, it will avoid direct involvement in the war.

‘Not our war’: British PM says will not be drawn into Mideast conflict

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Political analyst Zoon Ahmed Khan has highlighted Pakistan and China&rsquo;s crucial roles in promoting stability and dialogue in the region on Tuesday.&nbsp; Speaking on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s The Newsroom with Sana Maqbool from Beijing, China, Zoon Ahmad Khan emphasized that both countries have long-term stakes in regional peace, connectivity and adherence to international law. She said China and Pakistan have consistently supported regional efforts, including trilateral dialogues with Iran focused on peace.&nbsp; &ldquo;We are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and have spearheaded initiatives to reduce misunderstandings and improve dialogue,&rdquo; the political analyst said. On Pakistan&rsquo;s role in the Middle East, Zoon said Pakistan has a security pact with Saudi Arabia, strong ties with neighbors like Iran, and has repeatedly pursued diplomacy and dialogue despite challenges. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"> </div>&ldquo;Pakistan, with a very balanced approach towards its neighbors and towards the Middle East region at large, is an excellent candidate; a country that can bring together the foreign ministers&#39; dialogue,&rdquo; she said, adding that, &ldquo;You have Turkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia coming together, trusting Pakistan, again, because of Pakistan&#39;s track record and the way Pakistan has conducted itself for years&rdquo;. Zoon also&nbsp;praised China&rsquo;s role in global peace initiatives.&nbsp; &ldquo;China promotes peace, connectivity, and dialogue through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative and multilateral mediation efforts. Its five principles of peaceful coexistence, central to its foreign policy, echo the spirit of the Bandung Movement and the rise of the Global South,&rdquo; she said. Highlighting Pakistan-China cooperation, Zoon Ahmad Khan said the strategic partnership, mutual trust and regional experience position both countries to facilitate positive developments.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan previously played a key role in easing tensions between China and the US, demonstrating our capacity to act responsibly in times of global crises,&rdquo; she added. Zoon said the stakes are high, and all responsible countries must step up to prevent conflicts that could affect the world at large.

Middle East War ceasefire being discussed on Pakistan TV Satellite show, The Newsroom. (Screengrab: Pakisan TV Satellite)

Foreign Affairs

Zoon Ahmed Khan says Pakistan and China play key roles in promoting regional peace, dialogue, and stability through cooperation and diplomacy.

Pakistan, China positioned to foster regional peace, analyst Zoon says

PARIS: A study commissioned by Greenpeace said on Wednesday that oil companies have been making more than 80 million euros a day in &quot;war profits&quot; in the European Union since the start of the war in the Middle East. &quot;If this level persists, the oil companies can expect additional operating profits of approximately 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion) for the month of March alone,&quot; the study said. The study examined the difference between the price of crude oil and the price of fuel at the pump between January and February 2026, and the first three weeks of the war in March. &quot;The report shows that the rise in prices at the pump is far greater than that of underlying crude oil prices,&quot; Greenpeace said in a statement. The increase in margins was much greater for diesel fuel than for petrol. &quot;Compared with the pre-war months, the oil companies earned a daily excess profit of 75.3 million euros from the sale of diesel fuel to cars and trucks,&quot; the report said. &quot;Petrol sales contributed 6.1 million euros per day.&quot; Margins were expanded predominantly in countries with high purchasing power such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Germany, the report said. In Germany, excess profits stood at 23.8 million euros per day, followed by France, at 11.6 million euros per day. &quot;Greenpeace France is calling on European governments to introduce permanent additional taxes on the profits of oil and gas companies, the proceeds of which would be used to reduce energy bills and accelerate European energy independence,&quot; the environmental group said. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering a regional conflict that has caused global oil and gas prices to surge and sparked fears of fuel shortages, especially in import-reliant Asia. Last week, the price of diesel in France hit its highest level since 1985, surpassing the peaks reached after Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Under increasing pressure, many governments have rolled out measures to limit the impact of supply difficulties and soaring energy prices.

Business

A Greenpeace-commissioned study said oil companies in the EU are making over 80 million euros a day in excess profits during the Middle East war, driven mainly by sharply higher diesel margins.

Greenpeace accuses oil companies of reaping Mideast 'war profits'

GILGIT: The harsh days of winter are over in Pakistan&#39;s high north and while snow still tops the towering peaks that dominate the landscape, spring has arrived in the foothills. But this year, visitors who have come to witness the region&#39;s cherry and apricot blossoms see it as the perfect tonic to the war in the Middle East and its knock-on effects. &quot;There&#39;s war going on all over the world right now. It&#39;s a petrol crisis, this and that, everything has become more expensive, everyone is in a depression,&quot; Hatib, 27, from Pakistan&#39;s biggest city, Karachi, told AFP. &quot;But to get out of depression, you need to step outside, go out somewhere for a bit, see places, explore, and relax the mind,&quot; he said. The blossoms that turn bare trees into a vibrant shade of pink carpet the thawing farmland of Gilgit-Baltistan from late March every year, marking renewal and the promise of fruit harvests to come for local people. &quot;The best part is when these flowers are falling. It literally feels like a dream,&quot; Hatib said. The region, home to about 1.7 million people, has some of the world&#39;s highest mountains, including K2, which soars to 8,611 meters (28,251 feet), the second-highest peak after Mount Everest. The jagged mountain ranges, high-altitude lakes and glaciers of Gilgit-Baltistan are a magnet for the daring and adventurous. But more sedate visitors can instead take selfies in the orchards of the flowering deep valleys, under a clear blue sky with only the chirrup of birdsong and the bleat of foraging goats to break the surrounding silence. &quot;No matter how much inflation there is in Pakistan today, no matter how much petrol prices are going up, tourists still don&#39;t want to miss the cherry blossom and apricot blossom season,&quot; said local visitor Maria Akbar, 29. &quot;Even if we have to spend extra money, it&#39;s not a problem, but we&#39;ll enjoy this view.&quot; &quot;Things like cherry blossom and apricot blossom are what make Gilgit-Baltistan unique compared to all other regions,&quot; added Junaid Ahmed, 31. &quot;Tourists from all over the world come to enjoy this season. As you can see around me how beautiful it is, the beautiful view of these cherry and apricot blossoms is right before your eyes.&quot;

A man with a child walks past apricot blossom trees at Ghanche district in Gilgit-Baltistan region on March 30, 2026. (Photo by Manzoor BALTI / AFP)

Climate & Environment

Tourists flock to northern Pakistan’s spring blossoms in Gilgit-Baltistan as a peaceful escape from global and economic pressures.

Pakistan's blossom season brings calm in a troubled world

LONDON: A 36-year-old man accused of driving a car into several people on a street in a central English city was due to appear in court on Wednesday. Sandhu Ponnachan was charged with six counts over the incident in Derby on Saturday night, police announced late Tuesday. Seven people were injured when a car struck pedestrians around 9:30 p.m. in the city&#39;s Friar Gate area, a popular nightlife spot. India-origin Ponnachan has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving and possession of &quot;a bladed article,&quot; Derbyshire Constabulary said in a statement. Police have not suggested a possible motive. The injured were taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. Four have since been discharged, according to police. Ponnachan was due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court later on Wednesday. When the suspect was arrested, police said he was originally from India, but is a Derby resident who has lived in the UK &quot;for a number of years.&quot; UK police forces have started to release such details in some high-profile cases, after a 2024 Southport mass stabbing targeting children was initially falsely blamed on a supposed immigrant.

Police forensic officers work amongst a variety of personal items seen covering the road, inside a cordon set up on Friar Gate in central Derby, central England on March 29, 2026, following an incident the night before where a vehicle was driven into pede

United Kingdom

India-origin Sandhu Ponnachan was charged with six counts over the incident in Derby, police announced.

Suspect charged after car hit pedestrians in English city

ISLAMABAD: A mosque in India&rsquo;s Uttar Pradesh Sitapur district was demolished in a pre-dawn operation on March 30 over alleged encroachment, with rights group Hindutva Watch highlighting the incident on Wednesday. The demolished structure was identified in local reporting as the Syed Hazrat Umar Farooq mosque in Laharpur. Local authorities alleged that the structure stood on government land recorded as a pond and cemetery. District officials said the action followed legal procedure. According to local reports, the administration said notices had been issued and that the demolition was carried out under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code after a tehsil court order. The Sitapur case comes amid a series of similar actions involving Muslim religious structures in Uttar Pradesh. In Sambhal, another mosque was demolished in 2025 after authorities said it had been built on government pond land, with reports describing it as the second mosque demolition in the district within four months. A separate case in Uttarakhand drew national attention in February 2024. In Haldwani, authorities moved to demolish a mosque and seminary they said were built on government land, triggering unrest in which at least five people were killed, according to the Associated Press. Rights groups and opposition voices have said such demolitions reflect a broader pattern in which anti-encroachment drives and punitive demolitions disproportionately affect Muslims.&nbsp; Amnesty International described demolitions of Muslim properties in India as discriminatory and unlawful in a 2024 statement cited in international reporting. The issue has also reached India&rsquo;s Supreme Court. In November 2024, the court condemned arbitrary demolitions, laid down due-process safeguards, and responded to petitions arguing that such actions had disproportionately affected Muslim communities. The Sitapur demolition is likely to add to that debate. While authorities maintain the action was a land-recovery measure, critics say repeated demolitions of mosques and other Muslim properties are increasing scrutiny of how India&rsquo;s secular and constitutional commitments are being applied on the ground.

India

The demolition has renewed scrutiny of similar actions against Muslim religious structures in India, with rights groups and courts raising concerns over selective enforcement and due process.

Demolition of India’s Sitapur Mosque sparks wider concern over pattern

ISLAMABAD: Tensions have emerged between India and France after Paris reportedly refused to give New Delhi access to key source codes for the Dassault Rafale fighter jet. The move is seen as a major setback to India&rsquo;s goals for greater airpower independence. According to Defence Security Asia, the restriction applies to key systems, including the Thales RBE2 AESA radar that spots enemies, the Modular Data Processing Unit, which processes all the information and helps make decisions, and the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite components that form the technological backbone of the Rafale&rsquo;s combat capabilities.&nbsp; French authorities have classified these software systems as highly sensitive intellectual property, developed over decades and central to national defense interests. The move limits India&rsquo;s ability to independently upgrade or customize the aircraft, particularly when integrating indigenous weapons such as the Astra beyond-visual-range missile or other domestically developed systems.&nbsp; Without access to the underlying source codes, any modifications would require ongoing coordination and approval from French manufacturers, including Dassault Aviation and associated defense firms. The issue comes at a critical time, as India evaluates a potential acquisition of up to 114 additional Rafale jets under its Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft program.&nbsp; Valued at approximately $36 billion, the deal would rank among the largest fighter jet procurements globally. However, the lack of full technological transfer could complicate negotiations and influence India&rsquo;s final decision. Strategically, the development highlights India&rsquo;s ongoing challenge in balancing foreign procurement with its long-term goal of defense self-reliance. The Indian Air Force currently operates well below its sanctioned strength, intensifying the urgency to modernize its fleet while maintaining operational independence. The situation also revives memories of the earlier Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft deal, which collapsed due to disagreements over cost, liability, and technology transfer. Now, alternative offers, such as Russia&rsquo;s proposal for its fifth-generation fighter jet, the Sukhoi Su-57, with broader access to source code, may gain renewed attention in New Delhi&rsquo;s strategic calculations. As India weighs its options, the Rafale source code dispute underscores a broader reality in global defense partnerships: while hardware may be shared, control over software remains a decisive and often contested domain.

Dafault Rafale - (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The refusal limits India’s ability to independently upgrade and control its airpower systems.

France denies Rafale source code access to India

WASHINGTON: Anthropic accidentally released part of the internal source code for its AI-powered coding assistant, Claude Code, due to &quot;human error,&quot; the company said Tuesday. An internal-use file mistakenly included in a software update pointed to an archive containing nearly 2,000 files and 500,000 lines of code, which were quickly copied to the developer platform GitHub. &quot;Earlier today, a Claude Code release included some internal source code. No sensitive customer data or credentials were involved or exposed,&quot; an Anthropic spokesperson said. &quot;This was a release packaging issue caused by human error, not a security breach.&quot; A post on X sharing a link to the leaked code had more than 29 million views early on Wednesday. The exposed code related to the tool&#39;s internal architecture but does not contain confidential data from Claude, the underlying AI model by Anthropic. Claude Code&#39;s source code was partially known, as the tool had been reverse-engineered by independent developers. An earlier version of the assistant had its source code exposed in Feb&nbsp;2025.

Artificial Intelligence

The exposed code related to the tool's internal architecture but does not contain confidential data from Claude, the underlying AI model by Anthropic.

Australian leggie Adam Zampa explains why he chose PSL over IPL

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‘Not our war’: British PM says will not be drawn into Mideast conflict

Pakistan, China positioned to foster regional peace, analyst Zoon says

Greenpeace accuses oil companies of reaping Mideast 'war profits'

Pakistan's blossom season brings calm in a troubled world