SportsSarfaraz Ahmed says criticism over his appointment as Pakistan Test head coach will not affect his focus ahead of the two-match Bangladesh series. He also backed Babar Azam’s form and expressed confidence in his support staff.
SportsAston Villa and Nottingham Forest will meet in the Europa League semi-finals with both clubs aiming for a first European final in decades. Villa enter as favourites, while Forest arrive unbeaten in eight matches.
NATIONALPlanning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for a national consensus on water security, saying Pakistan must move beyond crisis management. He urged new reservoirs, conservation measures and technology-driven governance amid growing internal and external pressures.
NATIONALChina’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Corporation has reported record revenue and profit after the Pakistan-India conflict in May last year. The company makes the J-10C fighter jet used by the Pakistan Air Force.
PoliticsThe Supreme Court has said election officials must act with complete neutrality and transparency, warning that manipulation during vote consolidation threatens democratic legitimacy. The court also ordered the ECP to notify PNAP’s Khushal Khan Kakar as the returned candidate from NA-251.
NATIONALThe Islamabad High Court has fixed for April 30 the appeals of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi against their convictions in the £190 million corruption reference. The same bench will also take up pending miscellaneous applications, including pleas for suspension of sentence.
WorldEuropean airlines are facing mounting pressure from the Iran conflict as jet fuel prices surge and travel through the Middle East remains disrupted. Industry leaders say demand is still holding up, but warn prolonged fighting could strain fuel supplies and bookings.
WorldBangladesh has reported 227 child deaths in a measles outbreak since March, with suspected cases reaching 34,980. Authorities say remote areas such as Kurukpata in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are among the hardest hit.
NATIONALNAB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed says new real estate reforms will be introduced within two months and the file system will be abolished after implementation. He also said several cases had been referred to the FIA and anti-corruption departments.
SportsNaoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani will meet at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday with both unbeaten fighters carrying 32-0 records. The bout has been billed as the biggest boxing match in Japanese history.
SportsSan Antonio beat Portland 114-95 to wrap up their first-round series 4-1 and reach the NBA playoffs second round. Philadelphia also stayed alive by defeating Boston 113-97, while New York moved 3-2 ahead of Atlanta.
NATIONALActing President Yusuf Raza Gilani has approved the transfer of Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Babar Sattar and Saman Rafat Imtiaz from the Islamabad High Court. The move follows a Judicial Commission recommendation under Article 200 of the Constitution.
