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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for its players, barring them from participating in foreign T20 leagues, sources confirmed on Tuesday. The move comes just a day after Pakistan’s loss to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final. According to sources, PCB Chief Operating Officer Syed Sameer Ahmed issued the notification instructing players to withdraw from international leagues and prioritise domestic cricket instead. Top cricketers, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Faheem Ashraf — who had been granted NOCs to feature in Australia’s Big Bash League — will now be directly affected…

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced an 18-member Test squad for the upcoming home series against South Africa, with Shan Masood continuing as captain. The squad features three new faces — Asif Afridi, Faisal Akram and Rohail Nazir. The national training camp will be held in Lahore from September 30 to October 8. Players currently engaged in the Asia Cup will join the squad on October 4. The first Test between Pakistan and South Africa will be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, from October 12 to 16, while the second Test is scheduled in Rawalpindi from October 20 to…

Bollywood villain-turned-actor Rajat Bedi has revealed that his daughter Vera was upset after social media users compared her looks to Kareena Kapoor Khan. The comparisons began after Vera’s pictures and videos from the screening of Bedi’s latest project, Bastard of Bollywood, went viral. Rajat Bedi returned to the screen after a long break and attended the premiere of his web series with his wife, daughter Vera, and son Vivaan. Soon after, clips and photos of his family circulated widely online, with many users describing Vera as a “young Kareena Kapoor,” while some even said she looked “more beautiful and charming” than…

ISLAMABAD : The foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt have welcomed US President Donald J Trump’s leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza, and assert their confidence in his ability to find a path to peace. They emphasized the importance of the partnership with the United States in securing peace in the region, according to a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office on Tuesday. Along these lines, the ministers welcomed the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rolled out major visa reforms, introducing new categories for artificial intelligence (AI) specialists, tourists, and event visitors, while also extending humanitarian support to refugees and widows without the need for sponsors. The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) unveiled four new entry visa types. AI Specialists: Single or multiple entry permits available, with applications requiring a letter from a recognized technology entity. Entertainment: Temporary visas for foreigners participating in entertainment projects. Events: Issued for attendance at festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and seminars, with host entities required to provide details of…

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected that Pakistan’s economy will gradually improve, forecasting GDP growth of 3% in 2025-26. The latest Asian Development Outlook report highlights progress in reforms under the IMF program but also cautions about persistent inflation, structural bottlenecks, and risks from natural disasters. According to the ADB, Pakistan’s government has set a more ambitious growth target of 4.2% for the current year. However, recurrent floods and natural disasters are likely to hinder momentum by disrupting supply chains and damaging agricultural land and infrastructure. The ADB expects gradual improvement in foreign exchange reserves and investment inflows, adding that medium-term…

If you’ve ever wondered whether a YouTube Premium subscription is worth the monthly fee, the platform has just sweetened the deal with five new features now rolling out to more users worldwide. According to an update on the official YouTube Help forum (via 9to5Google), these upgrades were previously limited to experiments or specific devices but are now expanding across Android, iOS, web, smart TVs, and consoles. Faster playback: 4x speed option Premium users can now crank up playback speed to 4x, double the maximum 2x speed available to regular users. This feature is live on Android, iOS, and the web.…

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, inaugurated the “Ambassador’s Kitchen” in Xi’an during the Euro-Asia Economic Forum 2025, showcasing Pakistan’s cuisine, hospitality, and exports such as mangoes, basmati rice, and pink salt as tools of cultural diplomacy. The initiative, launched in Shaanxi province, aims to strengthen cultural and economic ties, echoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 2024 visit that deepened cooperation with the region. Hashmi highlighted food as a bridge for people-to-people connectivity and linked the effort to CPEC Phase-II goals in agriculture, food processing, and trade diversification. Held in Xi’an, the historic starting point of the Silk Road,…

ISLAMABAD : China and Pakistan have expanded cooperation in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector during the China-Pakistan International TVET-Industrial Cooperation and Exchange Seminar in Beijing. Over 50 participants, including senior Pakistani officials and Chinese institutions, attended the event. Five Chinese universities joined the China Pakistan TVET-Industrial Centre of Excellence (CPTICE), while five MoUs were signed in sectors such as EVs, agriculture, intelligent manufacturing, and infrastructure. Additionally, 11 Chinese institutions became part of the Pakistan-China International Industrial-Academic Integration Alliance (CPIA), and eight experts were inducted into its expert bank. A Teacher Training Platform was also launched to…

Members of the Pakistan cricket team, including captain Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, and Hassan Ali, returned home on Monday following their loss to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final. The team’s flight touched down in Lahore as fans continue to digest another painful defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals. India once again got the better of Pakistan in the Asia Cup final, securing their third consecutive title win. In a nail-biting encounter, India chased down the target in the final over, winning by five wickets. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, grabbing 4 wickets for 30…