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With March ending relatively cool (average temperature according to meteorological officials recorded at 27.6°C), wheat crops might have had the chance to recover from earlier losses caused by smog at the tillering stage in November, loss of acreage and a long dry spell early this year. At least farmers and Punjab’s agriculture officials are hopeful, though at varying levels. Apart from a cooler March, the agriculture bureaucracy in the province also counts positive policy impacts of initiatives like subsidised solarisation of tubewells, Kissan and Livestock Cards, distribution of laser-levellers and e-credit for a better, if not bumper, crop. Based on these factors, they hope wheat will cross 21 million tonnes. Alas, these hopes are not without critique by those who base their case on the massive loss of acreage — 16.25m acres this year against 17.44m acres last year. Official average yields were recorded at 34.74 maunds per acre a year ago. There is no way the crop can even come c...

BNP-M President Sardar Akhtar Mengal said on Monday that his party’s sit-in demanding the release of arrested Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders will continue until “our women are released and reach their homes.” Mengal had announced a “long march” from Wadh to Quetta to protest the arrests of BYC chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other leaders as well as police crackdowns on a sit-in. However, the Quetta administration had denied the party permission for the rally. On Saturday evening, a provincial government delegation comprising Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Bakht Muhammad Kakar and Sardar Noor Ahmed Bangulzai met Mengal and other BNP-M leaders at the party’s sit-in site in Mastung but could not convince Mengal to end the sit-in, which continued . Addressing the protesters today, Mengal said, “The sit-in will be written in history and will continue until our women reach home after being released.” “Let’s promise that until we take our imprisoned women home, it will be forbidd...

Just when fans thought Attack on Titan had reached its final chapter, new updates suggest the franchise might not be finished just yet. The epic anime  Attack on Titan  officially ended in November 2023 with the last part of Season 4, but fresh rumours hint that more stories from this world could still be told. A mysterious update has sparked excitement among fans, leading to speculation about what could come next. The Attack on Titan franchise has remained hugely popular even after its conclusion, with The Last Attack,  a film compiling the final chapters performing well at the box office. Now, fans are wondering if this renewed interest could lead to something even bigger. Could we be about to see a brand-new spin-off or prequel? So far, the recent updates have mainly focused on box office success and social media activity, but many fans are hoping for something much more exciting. A prequel exploring the Great Titan War is at the top of many wishlists. This ...

A viral photo of footballer Jens Odgaard’s neck injury had fans joking that he had been bitten by a zombie. The viral photo was taken during Bologna’s match against Venezia on Saturday, showing a large red mark on the back of the striker’s neck. As the viral photo spread online, wild theories emerged, with some comparing the mark to a shark bite and others insisting it looked like something out of a horror film. Despite the attention on his injury, the 25-year-old striker delivered a strong performance, helping Bologna secure a 1-0 victory. The win kept them ahead of Juventus in the fight for a top-four spot, but it was the viral photo of Odgaard’s neck that stole the headlines. One curious fan posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Is that a tattoo or a shark bite on Jens Odgaard’s neck?” Another added: “What is that thing? A zombie bite?” The debate continued as DAZN’s cameras repeatedly focused on the injury during the match, making the viral photo even more talked about. Read Mor...

• Akhtar Mengal refuses to end protest until BYC leaders are released • Quetta remains inaccessible after authorities place more containers QUETTA: Negotiations bet­ween Sardar Akhtar Mengal and a government delegation failed on Sunday, as the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader refused to call off the sit-in at Lakpass until his demands were met. Mr Mengal insisted that the protest would continue until the release of all detained Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) female leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch , and until protesters were allowed to enter Quetta peacefully. A government team, led by provincial minister Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, met with BNP-M leadership, including Mr Mengal, Agha Musa Jan, Sajid Tareen Advocate, Mir Akhtar Hussain Langove, Sana Baloch and Mir Hammal Kalmati, to urge an end to the protest. The delegation cited security concerns and travel disruptions for residents of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as reasons to call off the sit-in. Howeve...

A new rumour has emerged about James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film, suggesting that Bradley Cooper, a long-time collaborator of the director, may be cast as Jor-El. The news was first shared by Twitter user @ViewerAnon, who claimed Cooper appears early in the film. While the details about Bradley Cooper’s role in the reboot remain unclear, the rumour has gained traction on social media. @ViewerAnon reassured fans that Bradley Cooper’s role would not be a major spoiler, mentioning, “He appears in the first couple of minutes of the movie, so I promise this is not a big spoiler.” Though the original post was deleted, the speculation about Cooper’s involvement continues to spread. Earlier this month, there were whispers that Superman would feature a “major casting surprise,” with names like Tom Cruise and Chris Pratt mentioned. While Pratt’s involvement seems unlikely due to his commitments to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, no official confirmation about Jor-El’s role has been ma...

Salman Khan’s much-awaited film Sikandar is set to release on March 30, and Bollywood fans are already showing huge excitement, with Sikandar ticket prices soaring. Advance bookings for the AR Murugadoss-directed movie opened on March 25, with tickets selling out quickly. The demand has been so overwhelming that Sikandar ticket prices have surged across major cities. In Mumbai, Plaza Cinema in Dadar is charging INR 700 for recliner seats for evening shows, while premium seats in multiplexes are being sold for as high as INR 2,200. Delhi-NCR is following a similar trend, with premium tickets priced between INR 1,600 and INR 1,900. Regular multiplex seats in major cities are also being sold for INR 850 to INR 900. Sikandar is releasing in both 2D and 2D IMAX formats. According to Sacnilk, the film has already sold 1,38,209 tickets for its opening day across 12,820 shows, bringing in INR 4.03 crore even before the official release. Sikandar marks the first on-screen collaboration...

KALAT: At least six terrorists were killed during an IBO in Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday. “On 29 March 2025, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Kalat District of Balochistan, on reported presence of terrorists”, the ISPR said. The military’s media wing said that during the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, six terrorists were successfully neutralized. The killed terrorists remained actively involved in recent terrorist activities in the area against the law enforcement agencies as well as the innocent civilians, the ISPR added. A sanitization operation is being conducted in the area to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan. Read More: 11 Khwarij killed in KP IBOs...

EASTON: A Pennsylvania woman, Heidi Markow, who owns Salvage Goods Antiques in Easton, made an extraordinary discovery when she purchased a $12 drawing at a Montgomery County auction. Heidi Markow, a Pennsylvania woman, may have stumbled upon a priceless treasure at a collector’s auction, which later on was suspected to be a great work by the renowned French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Initially drawn to its unique charm, the piece is now believed to be an original masterpiece by Renoir. Markow, who attended the auction in January 2025 to source items for her store, described the moment she spotted the drawing. “I didn’t know what it was, I just knew that I wanted it,” she told a News Channel. The auction featured paintings selling for thousands of dollars, but this particular piece was overlooked and sold for a mere $12. Upon closer inspection at home, Pennsylvania woman Markow noticed a faint signature on the artwork, which led her to suspect it might be a Renoir mast...

ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has set a cap on the annual tuition fees charged by private medical and dental colleges, ARY News reported on Thursday. After a review, a special committee on medical education, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, approved the recommendations regarding fee regulations. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Council had forwarded the recommendations regarding fee regulations to the special committee for review. The committee reached the consensus that the fee cap will be adjusted annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. The committee discussed fee regulation and rationalization in private medical colleges, aiming to ensure fairness for students and viability for institutions. A maximum fee range of Rs1.8 million to Rs2.5 million has been set for the annual fees at all the private medical colleges. For private medical institutions currently charging less than this amount, fees will be capped at their existing le...

Marvel is making big waves with the announcement of Avengers: Doomsday entering production, and fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the franchise. After years of rumours and speculation, Marvel has started to reveal a star-studded roster of talent joining the new film Avengers: Doomsday. In a YouTube live stream, Marvel teased the growing list of actors by showing directors’ chairs with their names on the back, one by one. The names are being revealed at regular intervals, and already, the list includes some very familiar faces. Here are the actors announced so far: Chris Hemsworth Vanessa Kirby Anthony Mackie Sebastian Stan Letitia Wright Paul Rudd Wyatt Russell Tenoch Huerta Mejia Ebon Moss-Bachrach Simu Liu Florence Pugh Kelsey Grammer Lewis Pullman Danny Ramirez Joseph Quinn David Harbour Winston Duke Hannah John-Kamen Tom Hiddleston Patrick Stewart Although no characters have been confirmed yet, it’s possible that some of these stars could b...

• Envisions new recruitments, training, procurement of modern weapons • Database of terrorists, facilitators to be established PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday unveiled an 84-point Provincial Action Plan against terrorism, assigning a lead role to the civil administration and law enforcement agencies in counterterrorism efforts. The decision was finalised during a meeting chaired by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur. Sources said that the shift towards a civilian-led counterterrorism approach follows recommendations from the military, which seeks to redeploy personnel to other security hotspots. The action plan is structured around seven key pillars, including counterterrorism measures, political and social initiatives, legal reforms, good governance, general administrative measures, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns. “It outlines 84 specific actions across 18 thematic areas, assigning responsibilities to relevant provincial departments and fe...

The federal government has reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new $1.3 billion arrangement and also agreed on the first review of the ongoing 37-month bailout programme, the Fund said on Tuesday. Pending board approval, the government can unlock the $1.3bn under a new climate resilience loan programme spanning 28 months. It will also free $1bn for the country under the $7bn bailout programme, which would bring those disbursements to $2bn. Pakistan had requested $1bn from the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RSF) in October. The funding under RSF is made available to nations who commit to high-quality reforms to build resilience against climate catastrophes through adaptation. It is repayable over 30 years, including a 10-year grace, and is normally cheaper than terms for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF), such as the $7bn loan programme with Pakistan which is underway. The programme, secured mid-year in 2024, has played a key role in stabi...

KARACHI: In an important update, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) has issued a clarification regarding the ban on flying to UK, ARY News reported. According to a spokesperson of PIA, the UK Department for Transport has not made any decision on reviving UK flights from Pakistan. The spokesperson added that the UK Department has neither issued a statement nor sent any formal communication. The spokesperson further emphasized that all relevant Pakistani aviation authorities are in continuous contact with the UK Department, working in a coordinated manner, and urged the need to refrain from spreading rumors. PIA authorities expressed strong hopes of resuming UK flights, citing their achievement of all targets set by the DFT audit. However, there are conflicting reports. Some media outlets claim that PIA will remain banned from flying to and from the UK, as the UK Department for Transport confirmed PIA’s inclusion on the air safety list. This list bans all air carriers certified b...

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to take strict action against government employees involved in anti-state propaganda and activities, ARY News reported. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti chaired a high-level meeting with administrative officers, which was also attended by the IG Balochistan and the Chief Secretary. The meeting focused on the law and order situation in the province. CM Sarfraz Bugti instructed all commissioners and district officers to take immediate action against government employees involved in anti-state narratives, propaganda, and activities. He added that anti-state elements would be included in the Fourth Schedule for close monitoring of their actions. The meeting also emphasized the importance of hoisting the national flag and reciting the national anthem in all educational institutions across the province to strengthen national unity. Chief Minister Bugti stated that heads of educational institutions failing to enforce these dire...

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue with the interim Afghan government to address Pakistan’s concerns and promote bilateral relations. He was chairing a meeting in Islamabad today regarding Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, provided a detailed briefing on his recent visit to Kabul, highlighting key engagements with Afghan authorities and discussions on bilateral cooperation. The Foreign Secretary and other senior officials of the Foreign Ministry also attended the meeting. On the direction of the Deputy Prime Minister, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq Khan paid a three-day visit to Kabul from Friday last. During the visit, he called on Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on all issues of mutual concern, including peace and security, trade and economic cooperation, ...

PAKISTAN’S climate challenge is enormous. Despite contributing less than 1pc to GHG emissions, the country is among the nations most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. In fact, the Global Climate Risk Index lists Pakistan as the world’s fifth most climate-vulnerable country. The massive floods of 2022 that killed hundreds, displaced millions, and inflicted economic losses in tens of billions of dollars, besides increasing food insecurity, highlighted the kind of existential threat the cash-starved Pakistani economy must fight off to survive. As if the periodic extreme weather events, ranging from heatwaves to abnormal rains to destructive floods, did not pose enough of a challenge, the shrinking glaciers in the north mean the country would have far less water for its agriculture in the not too distant future. Sadly, the fact that policymakers understand the implications of climate change for the people and economy does not mean their concern will automatically translate into ...

• PM reiterates package to reduce electricity tariffs ‘set to be announced soon’ • Official says govt needs to do a lot on ‘legal, procedural and regulatory grounds’ to ensure relief • Shehbaz chairs meeting on power sector amid criticism, insists no changes in solar energy policy ISLAMABAD: A substantial reduction in electricity tariffs, promised by the government, could not get past the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is currently holding back a staff-level agreement (SLA) on the first biannual review of the $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF). It was widely reported in the media through official leaks that the prime minister would announce a Rs8 per unit reduction in electricity rates in his speech to the nation on March 23. The prime minister, however, did not announce any such relief package in his Pakistan Day speech. Instead, he presided over a meeting on the power sector in light of the last-minute hiccup. The meeting, also attended by Awais Leghari, Ahad Cheema, ...

A Pakistan Day rally organised by the PTI on Sunday met “resistance” as it made its way to the Mazar-i-Quaid, according to a statement from the party. According to the statement issued by party spokesperson Mohammed Ali Bozdar, the rally was led by PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi President Raja Azhar, General Secretary Arsalan Khalid, and other party leaders. The demonstration, which commenced from Empress Market, was scheduled to reach Mazar-i-Quaid. “However, law enforcement authorities placed barricades at multiple locations in an attempt to obstruct the march,” the statement read. “Heavy police deployment was observed around the Press Club, while at Mazar-i-Quaid, officials allegedly used force to disperse participants, resulting in several PTI workers being manhandled,” the party alleged. Condemning the police action, Haleem Adil Sheikh was quoted as saying, “We are patriotic Pakistanis, yet we are being stopped from celebrating Pakistan Day. We are carrying na...

Pattoki Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Punjab has come under scrutiny after a viral video revealed shocking negligence in its emergency services, ARY News reported. In the shocking viral video, a sweeper named Abid has been seen performing medical procedures, including stitching wounds and dressing injuries, due to the absence of qualified personnel. The video obtained by ARY News clearly shows sweeper attending to a female patient, highlighting the terrible state of emergency services at the Pattoki hospital. After the viral video, citizens have expressed outrage over the lack of medicines and the routine emergency staff missing at Pattoki Hospital. They claim that despite receiving substantial funds, the hospital remains under-equipped and mismanaged, raising concerns about corruption. The Punjab government faces rising pressure to address these issues. Residents have called on Chief Minister Punjab to take immediate notice and hold those responsible accountable after review...

WASHINGTON: The United States said it was terminating the legal status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, giving them weeks to leave the country. President Donald Trump has pledged to carry out the largest deportation campaign in US history and curb immigration, mainly from Latin American nations. The order affects around 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who came to the United States under a scheme launched in October 2022 by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden and expanded in January the following year. They will lose their legal protection 30 days after the Department of Homeland Security’s order is published in the Federal Register, which is scheduled Tuesday. That means immigrants sponsored by the programme “must depart the United States” by April 24 unless they have secured another immigration status allowing them to remain in the country, the order says. Welcome.US, which supports people seeking refuge in the United States, urged those affected by the mov...

GAZA: Hamas has clarified that it has no intention of governing Gaza, saying that negotiations with mediators were ongoing to secure a ceasefire and halt Israel’s renewed offensive on Gaza. Speaking to Arab media Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou dismissed claims made by US Middle East envoy Steve Wietkoff, who recently accused the Palestinian group of insisting on governing Gaza. Al-Qanou emphasized Hamas’ openness to arrangements for Gaza’s post-war governing and commitment to national consensus. “We are not interested in being part of Gaza’s administration,” al-Qanou said. “That’s why we agreed to form a social support committee in Gaza that excludes Hamas. We have no ambition to govern Gaza – what matters to us is a national consensus, and we are committed to its outcomes.” Al-Qanou emphasised that Hamas had shown sufficient flexibility in talks with mediators to reach an agreement. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing ...

LONDON: Heathrow Airport closure due to an unprecedented incident at a nearby substation has led to significant disruptions and flight suspensions. Investigations are ongoing, and partial recovery is underway, with full operations expected soon. Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, faced an unprecedented closure following a fire at a nearby electrical substation. According to the sources, the unprecedented incident caused a significant power outage, leading to many flight suspensions. Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation, although no evidence of criminal activity has been found so far. The fire, which broke out in Hayes, approximately 1.5 miles from the airport, resulted in large flames and thick black smoke. Around 150 residents were evacuated, and a 200-meter safety cordon was established. The London Fire Brigade deployed 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines to control the blaze. Despite their efforts, the power outage severely impacted a...

Thousands of Turks ramped up protests on Thursday despite a ban on street gatherings over what they called the undemocratic detention of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, as the opposition sought to pin the blame on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Even as police erected barricades and dozens of people were detained over social media posts, protesters gathered at a municipal headquarters and police station in Istanbul and at universities and public squares across the country. Imamoglu, 54, Erdogan’s main political rival, was taken in on Wednesday facing charges of graft and aiding a terrorist group, a move that the opposition condemned as a “coup attempt” and that sparked an initial round of demonstrations and criticism from European leaders. The move against the popular two-term mayor caps a months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures that has been criticised as a politicised attempt to hurt their electoral prospects and silence dissent, charges the government denies. In an i...

LAHORE: A court issued an arrest warrant for actor Nazish Jahangir on Thursday in connection with a fraud case, ARY News reported. The judicial magistrate directed the Defence-C police to arrest Nazish Jahangir, along with co-accused Sikandar Khan and others, and present them in court by March 22. The case was filed against Jahangir by fellow actor Aswad Haroon under various sections, including cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, as well as additional sections related to threats with weapons. Haroon’s complaint alleges that Jahangir borrowed his car and Rs .5 million for a project, with a promise to return them within two months. However, after six months, she failed to return the items. Haroon also claims that Nazish Jahangir sent a man named Sikandar Khan, who allegedly threatened to kill him. In response, Jahangir has denied the accusations, calling them a premeditated attempt to blackmail her and damage her reputation. The plaintiff in the case submitted t...

KARACHI: A police officer was suspended for refusing to pay for a sherbet bottle in Karachi, ARY News reported. In yet another case of police high-handedness, a cop forcibly took a beverage bottle (rose sherbet) from a shopkeeper in Sher Shah area of Karachi. The incident took place at a shop within the jurisdiction of Site B police station. The viral video showed a police sub-inspector forcibly taking a rose sherbet bottle without paying. The shopkeeper resisted, stating he was just a salesman, but the cop insisted, even revealing his face by removing his mask, stating, “It doesn’t matter, just inform the shop owner about me.” The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Madadgar 15, Imran Shaukat, swiftly responded to the Ary News report and suspended Sub-Inspector Javed. Read more:  VIDEO: Karachi police beat up fruit seller in front of minor daughter Earlier, a viral video surfaced showing a Karachi police officer and three companions assaulting a street fruit seller in...