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

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dismissed claims circulating on social media about the removal of barbed wire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, calling them &ldquo;fabricated&rdquo; and part of a wider misinformation campaign amid ongoing cross-border tensions. In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting&rsquo;s fact-checking unit said videos shared by Taliban-linked outlets showing individuals cutting border fencing were staged and misleading. <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; text-align: left; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" 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=2039357175139815579&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=f02c18f8d4b3e600f453b7a7597dc682e3e72516&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 626px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2039357175139815579"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;The multiple claims&hellip; regarding the removal of barbed wire along the Pak-Afghan border are fabricated and devoid of facts,&rdquo; the ministry said. According to the statement, the clips, circulating over the past week, depict individuals briefly cutting sections of fencing before leaving, describing the content as &ldquo;staged&rdquo; and part of a propaganda effort. &ldquo;All clips&hellip; are staged content, outdated, and part of propaganda tactics,&rdquo; the ministry added. Operation Ghazab lil HaqThe claims emerge as Pakistan&rsquo;s cross-border military campaign, Operation Ghazab lil Haq, continues following weeks of escalation triggered by &ldquo;cross-border terrorist attacks.&rdquo; Pakistani officials say the operation has targeted terrorist infrastructure, including camps, logistics hubs and support networks used to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Authorities have also reported drone incidents, artillery exchanges and strikes on what they describe as terrorist-linked installations in Afghanistan, underscoring heightened tensions along the border. &#39;Fence remains intact&rsquo;Pakistan began fencing the more than 2,600-kilometre border with Afghanistan in 2017 to curb illegal crossings and infiltration by terrorist groups. Officials say the fence remains operational and secure. &ldquo;Pak-Afghan border fence is fully intact, and all such attempts are met with an immediate and strong response,&rdquo; the ministry said. The statement added that the Afghan side does not maintain the border in the same way, alleging that gaps are exploited by terrorist groups and criminal networks. The ministry said the circulation of such content follows recent military developments, including the destruction of hundreds of posts during the ongoing operation. It described the videos as part of a broader pattern of misinformation. &ldquo;Afghan Taliban regime&hellip; are internationally known for frivolous claims,&rdquo; the statement said, referencing previous unverified claims including alleged drone strikes and aircraft incidents. Officials say the information environment has become an increasingly important dimension of the conflict, with competing narratives emerging alongside military developments. Pakistan maintains that its operations are based on verified intelligence and aimed at countering terrorism, while urging caution against unverified claims circulating online.

Security

Officials say viral videos showing fence removal are staged and outdated, emphasizing the border barrier remains intact and monitored, while warning of coordinated misinformation efforts amid ongoing military operations and heightened tensions along the border.

Pakistan rejects Afghan border fence claims as propaganda amid tensions

KENNEDY: Four astronauts are set to embark Wednesday on the first crewed journey around the Moon since 1972, an odyssey that aims to launch the US into a new era of space exploration. The NASA mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making after facing repeated setbacks and massive cost overruns, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as 6:24 p.m. (2224 GMT). Under bright Florida sunshine, the rocket&rsquo;s giant tanks started filling with liquid hydrogen and oxygen at 8:35 am. The team featuring Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen will set forth on the approximately 10-day mission and hurtle around Earth&rsquo;s nearest celestial neighbor without landing &mdash; much like Apollo 8 did in 1968. The journey marks a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of color, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission. It is also the inaugural crewed flight of NASA&rsquo;s new lunar rocket, dubbed SLS. The mammoth orange-and-white rocket is designed to allow the United States to repeatedly return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will offer a platform for further exploration. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a stepping stone to Mars, where we might have the most likelihood of finding evidence of past life, but it&rsquo;s also a Rosetta Stone for how other solar systems form,&rdquo; Koch told reporters on the weekend. Repeated setbacksThe mission was originally due to take off as early as February. But repeated setbacks stalled the mission and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for analysis and repairs. As of Tuesday afternoon, NASA officials voiced confidence that engineering operations and final preparations were proceeding smoothly. If Wednesday&rsquo;s launch is canceled or delayed, there are more liftoff opportunities through Monday, although weather later in the week was looking slightly less favorable. Melinda Schuerfranz, a retiree from Ohio, traveled to Florida for the launch. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking forward to it, we&rsquo;ve never seen anything like this,&rdquo; the 76-year-old swimsuit-clad beachgoer told AFP. But Schuerfranz remembers the Apollo era, and thinks some of the magic might be lost in today&rsquo;s more fragmented media environment.&ldquo;I think it was way more exciting then,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Everybody tuned into it.&rdquo; &lsquo;Astronauts for Halloween&rsquo; Artemis is facing pressure from President Donald Trump, who has pushed the pace of the ambitious program that&rsquo;s aiming to see boots hit the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029. Artemis 2&rsquo;s objectives include verifying that both the rocket and the spacecraft are in working order in the hopes of paving the way for a Moon landing in 2028. That deadline has raised eyebrows among experts, in part because Washington is relying on the private sector&rsquo;s technological headway. The astronauts will require a second vehicle to descend to the moon&rsquo;s surface, a lunar lander that remains under development by rival space companies owned by billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. This contemporary era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort in competition with China, which is currently aiming to land humans on the Moon by 2030. For NASA head Jared Isaacman, it&rsquo;s a multi-pronged pursuit related to scientific discovery, national security and economic opportunity &mdash; as well as some less tangible goals. &ldquo;I guarantee after these astronauts fly around the moon, you&rsquo;re going to have more kids dressing up as astronauts for Halloween,&rdquo; Isaacman said during a recent television interview. &ldquo;And that&rsquo;s going to inspire the next generation to take us further.&rdquo;

Americas

After repeated setbacks, NASA prepares Artemis 2 launch sending four astronauts around Moon, first crewed mission since 1972, testing SLS rocket, advancing lunar base plans, inspiring exploration, despite delays, costs, and global competition with China.

NASA’s Moon flyby mission primed for launch

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;Pakistan and Norway on Wednesday signed the first landmark bilateral agreement under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, opening the door to international carbon trading, climate finance and major investment in clean energy and climate-smart agriculture, according to a statement by Ministry of Climate Change and Enviromental Coordination.&nbsp;As per it, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed in Islamabad under the auspices of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, marking Pakistan formal entry into the global carbon market. This is seen as a breakthrough in the country&rsquo;s climate diplomacy, said the statement.&nbsp;Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik termed the agreement a &ldquo;historic milestone&rdquo;, saying it would shift Pakistan from carbon market preparedness to practical implementation, said the statement.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is Pakistan&rsquo;s first bilateral agreement under Article 6.2 and an important step towards implementation,&rdquo; Malik said. &ldquo;It creates a credible pathway for international cooperation and investment in Pakistan&rsquo;s climate priorities.&rdquo;&nbsp;Under the agreement, Pakistan will be able to develop &ldquo;carbon-credit generating projects&rdquo; in sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, transport and waste management and potentially sell the resulting emission reductions to Norway, as per the statement.&nbsp;Officials said the deal would help channel international finance into Pakistan at a time when the country is grappling with recurring floods, heatwaves and other climate shocks.&nbsp;Malik said the agreement would strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s position in international carbon markets and create new opportunities for the country&rsquo;s emerging green economy, added the statement.&nbsp;&ldquo;Carbon markets cannot be treated as an end in themselves,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;They must help countries like Pakistan finance transition pathways, create jobs, attract technology and deliver real benefits to communities.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister said Pakistan had already put in place the country&rsquo;s first national policy guidelines for carbon trading, approved by the federal cabinet in January 2025, and was now moving to establish rules, reporting systems and bilateral arrangements needed to operationalize the market.&nbsp;He said Pakistan had &ldquo;strong mitigation potential&rdquo; in sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, transport and waste management, and that the agreement would encourage project developers and investors to move forward, said the statement.&nbsp;Addressing at the signing ceremony, Norway&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan Per Albert Ilsaas said the accord marked the beginning of a new era in bilateral environmental cooperation.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan is among the countries most affected by climate change, and we believe this partnership can deliver both measurable emission reductions and real development benefits,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The ambassador said Norway, which aims to become climate neutral by 2030, was seeking to purchase Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under Article 6, not to meet its formal climate targets but to go beyond them.&nbsp;&ldquo;Norway is not purchasing ITMOs to meet its nationally determined contribution targets. We are purchasing them to achieve climate neutrality beyond those commitments,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Mr Ilsaas said Norway&rsquo;s Global Emission Reduction Initiative, launched in 2024 with a budget of $1.5 billion approved by the Norwegian parliament, would provide carbon finance to countries such as Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Through NOGER, we want to channel carbon finance into countries such as Pakistan and help bridge the gap in climate mitigation finance,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He added that Norway was looking beyond individual carbon-credit projects and was interested in large-scale programmes in renewable energy, industry and agriculture.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are looking beyond individual projects,&rdquo; the ambassador said. &ldquo;We are interested in cooperation across entire sectors where climate policies can generate emission reductions at scale.&rdquo;&nbsp;The ambassador said Norway had already signed similar agreements with Benin, Indonesia, Zambia, Jordan and Senegal and was working to buy 15 million carbon credits by 2030.&nbsp;He also invited Pakistan to present a broader pipeline of projects, specifically pointing to renewable energy ventures such as the Zhenfa 100-megawatt solar project and the Indus wind energy project as possible candidates for future cooperation.&nbsp;Both sides also agreed that the new ambitious pact could significantly boost Pakistan&rsquo;s access to climate finance and private-sector investment, while helping the country pursue low-carbon growth and meet its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Climate & Environment

Islamabad secures landmark climate accord to unlock green investment, clean energy and international carbon finance

Pakistan, Norway sign landmark Paris Agreement carbon trading climate deal

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&nbsp;<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>&nbsp;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)

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

Casualties drop as Pakistan hits terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan: 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)

Middle East

Europe

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)

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

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.