How Trump Put Himself in the Middle of America’s 250th
The president placed his image and initiatives front and center, blurring the line, critics said, between loyalty to nation and loyalty to him.
Shaheen Afridi dropped: The real reason revealed
Pakistan men’s national selection committee member Aqib Javed has broken his silence regarding the omission of star left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi from the upcoming Test squads.
Following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) announcement of the rosters traveling to the West Indies and England, Afridi’s absence quickly dominated headlines. Addressing reporters in Lahore, Javed made it clear that the high-profile omission is down to tactical planning and workload management rather than a slight against the pacer’s long-term career.
Conditions-Based Selection Overrides Star Status
The selection committee emphasized that modern squad planning operates strictly on a tour-by-tour basis. According to Javed, the decision to leave out Afridi stems directly from technical assessments of the pitches and environments expected in England and the Caribbean.
“You make selections from tour to tour, and no selector or individual can decide someone’s career or future,” Javed stated. He noted that review data from Pakistan’s most recent red-ball outings showed a distinct need for a faster, more aggressive bowling unit. “After the last Test series, we felt that we needed more pace, which is why this squad has been selected for the West Indies and England tours.”
Key Takeaways from the Selection Briefing:
No Permanent Spots: The selection committee explicitly stated that newly selected bowlers are not guaranteed long-term positions. Dropped players must find domestic form to earn reinstatement.
Pace Target: The technical staff prioritized out-and-out speed for the English and Caribbean wickets.
Workload Optimization: Managing the stress on elite fast bowlers is a central pillar of the team’s long-term strategic plans.
The New System: Format-Based Central Contracts
Javed heavily hinted that the PCB is pushing its top athletes to establish explicit format priorities. The physical strain of cross-format scheduling has routinely impacted the efficiency of the national team’s premium bowling assets.
To address this issue, the PCB recently overhauled its financial structure by introducing format-based central contracts. The objective is to incentivize players to dedicate their peak fitness windows to specific versions of the game.
“Shaheen is an outstanding bowler. At times, you have to assess which format of cricket you want to focus on and where your greater interest lies. If a player is not focusing enough on a particular format, we will try to encourage them to increase their focus so they can deliver better performances for Pakistan.”
— Aqib Javed, National Selection Committee
Afridi remains considered one of Pakistan’s elite fast-bowling threats, and the doors are not permanently shut on his red-ball career. However, the move signals a major shift in how the PCB manages its star talent—demanding maximum adaptation to specific formats and pitch conditions moving forward.
The Funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei
Iran’s new leaders are commemorating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli war against the country, with a funeral unlike any other in Iran’s recent history.
NHA increases toll tax on Islamabad-Lahore M-2 Motorway by 7pc
ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has announced an increase in toll tax on the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M-2) by 7 per cent.
According to a notification issued on Saturday, the authority has raised its toll rates by 7pc for M-2 Motorway, and the revised toll rate shall be in effect till April 23, 2027.
The toll was raised under the concession agreement between NHA and Motorway Operations and Rehabilitation Engineering (Private) Limited (MORE), a subsidiary of Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). The organisation is responsible for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the M-2 Motorway.
The revised toll rates for vehicles travelling on the M-2 Motorway are as follows:
- Rs1,430 for cars, jeeps and taxis,
- Rs2,390 for wagons,
- Rs3,350 for coasters,
- Rs4,770 for buses,
- Rs6,210 for trucks (2- and 3-axle), and
- Rs7,980 for articulated trucks
The rates have been increased according to the per-kilometre charge.
On Friday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the operation of the NHA’s notification that imposed an additional 50pc toll on vehicles travelling on motorways without an M-Tag or with insufficient balance in their M-Tag accounts.
Clashes reported from AJK as JAAC holds demonstrations
MUZAFFARABAD: Despite the weekend, a shutter-down strike was observed across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Sunday, alongside demonstrations called by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), with clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel reported from several areas, particularly in Mirpur district.
Sources and residents said that around a dozen people, including some policemen, had been injured in clashes in Dadyal, the lakeside town of Mirpur district. There were also reports of some casualties, but these could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, the internet suspension in AJK entered its 30th day on Sunday.
In Dadyal, clashes first erupted in Amb village. Witnesses said at least three people were injured.
Another clash broke out later in the evening, after which another critically injured protester was brought to the Divisional Headquarters Hospital in Mirpur.
Officials at the Mirpur Divisional Headquarters Hospital told Dawn they had received four injured persons, two of whom were said to be in critical condition.
Mirpur Divisional Commissioner Tahir Mumtaz, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kamran Ali and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khurram Iqbal could not be reached for comment, despite repeated attempts.
Elsewhere in Mirpur district, a demonstration by women in Khaliqabad, on the outskirts of Mirpur city, dispersed peacefully, according to residents. Similar protests were also held in Islamgarh and Chakswari without any reported violence.
In Bhimber’s Samahni valley, groups of men and women staged demonstrations at three locations. However, no clashes were reported as police did not intervene, local journalists told Dawn.
According to them, protesters misbehaved with an election candidate in one area, who avoided confrontation. Meanwhile, in Choki, some demonstrators allegedly assaulted local journalists and damaged one reporter’s mobile phone.
In Moyel village of Barnala subdivision, a large number of women and children also held a peaceful demonstration.
Most shops shut, public transport off roads in Muzaffarabad
In Muzaffarabad, almost all markets remained shut. Although Sunday is a weekly holiday for many businesses, shops that usually stay open over the weekend were also closed.
Most thoroughfares wore a deserted look as public transport remained off the roads, while the movement of private vehicles also remained limited amid a shortage of fuel.
Law enforcement personnel carried out flag marches in different parts of the capital. However, clashes broke out at Airport Chowk, where police used tear gas to disperse a group of protesters, including around a dozen women, who had reportedly arrived from Ghan Chattar village.
Police sources said that four men and three women were taken into custody.
Footage recorded by journalists showed around a dozen motorcycles and some furniture lying in a ravine along the roadside as a result of clashes. The footage also showed damaged vehicles, with smashed windowpanes and punctured tyres.
Residents later staged a sit-in to protest what they termed the excessive use of force by law enforcement personnel.
In the Tariqabad and Lower Chattar neighbourhoods, police detained several youths after they allegedly attempted to pelt stones from the surrounding hillsides and block the road.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Muzaffarabad police claimed that the people of the district had rejected the JAAC call, claiming that life had remained normal and law and order had remained under control.
The statement did not make any mention of the Airport Chowk incident.
Reports from Poonch division said demonstrations were held at several places, including Mutyalmera, Paniola, Shujaabad, Hajira and Abbaspur, besides the main gathering at Eidgah ground.
Addressing the gathering after sunset, JAAC core committee member Imtiaz Aslam gave the government what he described as a “final deadline” of July 8 to implement the group’s charter of demands and address the prevailing situation.
“Otherwise, we will announce our next course of action on July 9, on the completion of one month of the JAAC sit-in,” he said.
The regional administration and the JAAC remain at odds over various issues, most notably the committee’s demand to abolish the 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly that are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947.
Ahead of the July 27 elections in AJK, the JAAC had called for widespread protests demanding the abolition of the 12 seats.
Elections for these seats are held separately from the 33 general seats in AJK, with refugees registered in 12 constituencies across Pakistan voting for their representatives. The seats have long been politically sensitive due to disputes over voter lists, delimitation, and constitutional amendments.
On June 5, the JAAC was declared a proscribed organisation by the regional government and placed under the First Schedule of the region’s anti-terrorism act (ATA).
A day later, AJK authorities launched a crackdown on the JAAC, arresting scores of its leaders and later placing 147 of its activists on the Fourth Schedule of the ATA.
Pakistan prioritising port modernisation, blue economy, sustainability, says Junaid Anwar
ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has said Pakistan is prioritising port modernisation, the blue economy and environmental sustainability as part of wide-ranging reforms to transform the country’s maritime sector. During a meeting in Istanbul with Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the minister briefed him on the government’s initiatives to attract maritime investment and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthen international cooperation, received a press release here on Saturday. The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in ship recycling, maritime governance, the blue economy and environmental protection. Junaid Chaudhry highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to conserve coastal ecosystems through large-scale mangrove plantation and other sustainable initiatives. Mr Dominguez praised Pakistan’s progress in maritime reforms and welcomed its efforts to advance ship recycling, strengthen maritime governance and harness the potential of the blue economy. The IMO secretary-general also expressed interest in visiting Pakistan to further deepen cooperation and review ongoing maritime initiatives. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration between Pakistan and the IMO to promote a safer, more sustainable and competitive maritime sector while expanding opportunities in the blue economy.
The Main Attraction at Africa’s Most Lucrative Horse Race? Black Wealth.
In South Africa, where the Black majority was excluded from the economy for generations, the annual Durban July event is a chance to celebrate luxury and high society.
Canada’s historic World Cup adventure comes to end
Canada’s record-breaking World Cup run came to an end with a 3-0 last-16 defeat by Morocco on Saturday, but the overriding feeling was not disappointment so much as optimism about what this young side has achieved for the sport in Canada.
For a team forced to navigate the tournament without talisman Alphonso Davies, Canada still smashed through barrier after barrier.
Playing coach Jesse Marsch’s swashbuckling brand of football — pressing high, attacking relentlessly and refusing to sit back against more fancied opponents — they claimed the nation’s first World Cup point, first World Cup victory and first knockout-stage win.
That fearless approach, coupled with a resilience forged despite injuries and adversity, helped them push deeper into the tournament than any Canada men’s side before them.
And while their eventual exit denied them a place among the world’s final eight, it did little to diminish the impression they left on supporters at home and abroad, having captured the imagination of a nation along the way.
While Canada produced one of the most dominant halves in their history against Morocco with 13 touches in the opposition’s box to one for the North Africans, they were left to rue chances missed.
Midfielder Stephen Eustaquio could not help but wonder whether the outcome might have been different had Davies been fit to play.
‘WE MISSED OUR BEST PLAYER’
“If there’s someone that can face Hakimi, it’s Phonzie,” he said of Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, who set up the North Africans’ first goal. “We missed our best player.”
Their depth was tested throughout the tournament. Davies was limited to a 15-minute cameo off the bench in the round-of-32 victory over South Africa, his only appearance of the competition.
Marsch suffered another major blow when Marcelo Flores tore his ACL days before Canada’s opening match, depriving the side of one of their most creative attacking players. Matters worsened when midfielder Ismael Kone suffered a gruesome broken leg in the 6-0 thrashing of Qatar.
Flores and Kone remained with the team, hobbling through training grounds and stadiums on crutches and celebrating every milestone. Video of Kone dancing in the locker room after their South Africa win became an enduring image of Canada’s run, reflecting a group that repeatedly refused to be defined by setbacks.
For years, Canada has struggled to convert its vast soccer participation numbers into sustained success on the men’s side.
By contrast, the women’s programme has been among the world’s best for two decades, producing one of the game’s greatest players in Christine Sinclair and winning Olympic gold in 2021.
LAUNCH PAD FOR FURTHER SUCCESS
But this generation of men has begun to change that narrative. Led by stars such as Davies, Jonathan David, Richie Laryea and Eustaquio, and guided by the energetic Marsch, Canada delivered the kind of breakthrough tournament many believe can serve as a launch pad for further success.
Canada were among the tournament underdogs, ranked 30th in the world and carrying a combined transfer value of about $232 million according to Transfermarkt — with Bayern Munich’s Davies accounting for 20% of that total.
Gold price falls by Rs1,100 per tola
ISLAMABAD – The price of gold witnessed a decline in the local market on Saturday, with 24 karat gold per tola decreasing by Rs1,100 to settle at Rs439,836, according to rates issued by the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association. Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold fell by Rs943 to Rs377,088, whereas 10 grams of 22 karat gold declined by Rs865 to Rs345,676. In the international market, the price of gold decreased by $11 to $4,174 per ounce. Meanwhile, the price of silver per tola decreased by Rs48 to Rs6,716, while the price of 10 grams of silver fell by Rs42 to Rs5,757.
The price of silver in the international market also decreased by $0.48 to $62.37 per ounce, the association reported.
China Raises Pressure on Taiwan With Expanded Coast Guard Patrols
Beijing sent two ships to patrol the waters east of Taiwan, a new campaign to challenge the island’s control of waters crucial to any future invasion.
