ADB President Masato Kanda said energy and digital connectivity would underpin the region’s long-term growth as demand rises and technological change accelerates.

“By linking power grids and digital networks across borders, we can lower costs, expand opportunity and bring reliable power and digital access to hundreds of millions of people,” Kanda said in a statement.

The plan includes $50 billion for a new Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative (PAGI) and $20 billion for technology and digital connectivity projects, the bank said.

READ MORE: ADB sees GDP growth at 3.5pc in FY26, 4.5pc in next fiscal year

Under PAGI, ADB aims to integrate about 20 gigawatts of renewable energy across borders, build 22,000 circuit-kilometres of transmission lines and improve electricity access for 200 million people by 2035. It expects the initiative to cut regional power-sector emissions by around 15%.

ADB plans to finance about half of the power grid initiative from its own resources, with the remainder coming from co-financing, including private investment.

The remaining $20 billion will be mobilised through the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway to support fibre-optic networks, subsea cables, satellite links and regional data centres.

The digital programme aims to provide first-time broadband access to 200 million people and improve connectivity for another 450 million by 2035, reducing costs in remote areas by about 40% and creating up to 4 million jobs.

ADB expects to finance $15 billion of the digital initiative itself.

The IPL is the world’s richest cricket tournament and mixes sport and show business in a glitzy format. It is broadcast around the world and features top international stars, with some teams fronted by Bollywood superstars.

The Mittal family will own about 75 percent of the franchise following completion, with Poonawalla holding around 18 percent, the statement said.

READ MORE: Rajasthan’s Jadeja pleased with middle order’s response under pressure

The remainder will stay with approved existing investors, including seller Manoj Badale.

As well as the IPL team, Rajasthan Royals also owns Paarl Royals in South Africa and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean.

“The transaction consideration is approximately $1.65 billion and represents the enterprise value of Rajasthan Royals’ men’s franchise, Paarl Royals and Barbados Royals,” the statement said.

Rajasthan have not won a trophy since 2008, when late Australian great Shane Warne led them to the inaugural title.

“I love cricket and my family is from Rajasthan, so there is no IPL team that I would rather be part of than the Rajasthan Royals,” Mittal said in a statement.

Poonawalla said he looked forward to supporting the franchise’s long-term growth.

“Rajasthan Royals is a premier IPL franchise with a strong legacy,” he said.

Badale, who has been involved with the Royals since their inception, will remain a shareholder and join the board alongside the new investors.

“We are delighted to welcome the Mittal Family and Adar Poonawalla as the new owners of the Rajasthan Royals,” he said.

“Their passion for cricket, their connection to Rajasthan and India, and their long-term ambition for the franchise make them ideal custodians.”

The announcement comes after a group of investors, including US asset management giant Blackstone, bought reigning IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru for $1.77 billion in March.

The IPL is a top revenue earner for the Board of Control for Cricket in India and was estimated in 2020 to generate more than $11 billion a year for the Indian economy.

The Middle East war, launched by the United States and Israel in late February, has been on hold since April 8, with one failed round of peace talks having taken place in Pakistan.

Negotiations have since stalled as the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran has kept the key Strait of Hormuz largely closed.

The Guards intelligence organisation said that US President Donald “Trump must choose between ‘an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran’”, in an online post carried by state television.

READ MORE: Iran says ‘ball in US court’, but ready for talks or war

It added that the window for US decision-making “has been narrowed”, citing what it described as a “shift in tone” from China, Russia and Europe towards Washington as well as what it called an Iranian “deadline” over the US naval blockade, without elaborating.

US outlet Axios, citing two sources briefed on a recent Iranian proposal to the US, reported that Tehran had set “a one-month deadline for negotiations on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the US naval blockade and permanently end the war in Iran and in Lebanon”.

On Sunday, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he would be reviewing Iran’s latest proposal but added that he “can’t imagine that it would be acceptable”.

Iranian media, including the Tasnim and Fars news agencies, reported Saturday on the contents of the proposal.

According to Tasnim, Iran has said the outstanding issues between the two sides “should be resolved within 30 days” and should focus “on ending the war instead of extending the ceasefire”.

The issues, Tasnim said, included “the withdrawal of US military forces from Iran’s periphery, lifting the naval blockade, releasing Iran’s frozen assets and lifting sanctions”.

The report mentioned “ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon and agreeing a new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz”.

The move to ditch OPEC and the expanded OPEC+ group will allow the UAE to produce as much or as little crude as at wishes after decades of following a quota system instituted by the cartel, potentially providing a windfall of cash to the country.

“ADNOC today confirmed it is accelerating growth and delivery of its strategy with AED 200 billion ($55 billion) in new project awards for 2026-2028,” read a statement released by the company.

READ MORE: UAE’s ADNOC to invest tens of billions to build US gas business, FT reports

The move comes as the Gulf has been rattled by the US and Israel’s war with Iran, which has seen the Strait of Hormuz choke off massive amounts of energy exports and attacks by Tehran damaging infrastructure across the region.

Before Iran’s blockade of Hormuz disrupted oil flows, the UAE was OPEC+’s fourth largest producer and accounted for nearly 13 percent of OPEC production.

The UAE has long been frustrated with the Saudi-led OPEC’s quotas, which sought to cap Emirati production at 3.4 million barrels a day to maintain prices.

Abu Dhabi aims to expand its production capacity to five million barrels a day by 2027.

“The planned project awards span ADNOC’s upstream and downstream operations and usher in a new phase of project delivery that will supercharge UAE’s manufacturing capacity, strengthen industrial resilience, deepen the impact of the company’s” plans to boost spending and production in the UAE, ADNOC added.

The UAE has been an OPEC member through the emirate of Abu Dhabi since 1967, four years before the former British protectorate became an independent country.

It officially left the cartel on May 1.

As ADNOC announced the new lavish spending plans, the seven OPEC+ members announced a hike in oil-production quotas during their first meeting since the UAE’s departure.

The flotilla of more than 50 vessels had set sail from France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and bringing supplies to the devastated Palestinian territory.

They were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Greece early on Thursday, with Israel saying it had removed some 175 activists – two of whom were taken to Israel for questioning.

Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila appeared before a court in Ashkelon on Sunday.

“The court extended their detention by two days,” Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah, told AFP.

READ MORE: Two Gaza aid flotilla activists brought to Israel for questioning: foreign ministry

Israeli authorities had asked to extend their detention by four days, Azem said.

In a separate statement, Adalah said the state attorney had presented a list of suspected offences committed by the pair, including “assisting the enemy during wartime” and “membership in and providing services to a terrorist organisation”.

Adalah challenged the state’s jurisdiction, arguing that the activists were seized in international waters.

The group’s lawyers told the court Avila and Abu Keshek had testified to “severe physical abuse amounting to torture, including being beaten and held in isolation and blindfolded for days at sea”.

No formal charges were filed against the two, it said.

“Both activists are continuing their hunger strike in protest of their unlawful detention and ill-treatment,” the group added.

Adalah’s lawyers had met the two men at Ashkelon’s Shikma Prison on Saturday.

READ MORE: Gaza flotilla activists taken to Crete after Israeli interception

They said Avila recounted being “subjected to extreme brutality” by Israeli forces when the vessels were seized, saying he was “dragged face-down across the floor and beaten so severely that he passed out twice”.

Since arriving in Israel, he said he had been “kept in isolation and blindfolded,” according to Adalah.

Abu Keshek was also “hand-tied and blindfolded … and forced to lie face-down on the floor from the moment of his seizure” until reaching Israel, the group said.

Accused of ‘illegal activity’

Israel’s foreign ministry said the pair were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA) – a group accused by Washington of “clandestinely acting on behalf of” Palestinian group Hamas.

It said Abu Keshek was a leading member of the PCPA, and that Avila was also linked to the organisation and “suspected of illegal activity”.

Spain has rejected the Israeli accusation against Abu Keshek and denounced his detention as “illegal”.

Organisers of the latest flotilla said the Israeli interception took place more than 1,000 kilometres from Gaza and their equipment was smashed, leaving them facing a “calculated death trap at sea”.

Dozens of intercepted activists disembarked on the Greek island of Crete on Friday, an AFP journalist said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s first Mediterranean voyage to Gaza last year drew worldwide attention, before being intercepted by Israeli forces off the coasts of Egypt and Gaza.

Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were arrested and expelled by Israeli forces.

Avila was among the organisers of a flotilla that tried to bring aid to Gaza last year that was also intercepted by Israeli forces.

Israel controls all entry points into Gaza and the territory has been under Israeli blockade since 2007.

Throughout the Gaza war, there have been shortages of critical supplies in the Palestinian territory, with Israel at times cutting off aid entirely.

The seven major producers will add “188,000 barrels per day” to their total production quota for June, as part of “their collective commitment to support oil market stability,” according to a statement published by OPEC+. The statement made no mention of the United Arab Emirates, which quit the body this week.

Oil market analysts had widely expected the increase of 188,000 barrels, which is similar to the 206,000-barrel daily increases OPEC+ announced in both March and April, subtracting the portion allotted to the UAE.

But raising the quota on paper may not have much impact on actual production, which is already short of the limit.

Untapped OPEC+ reserves are mainly located in the Gulf region, and exports there are trapped by the blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz, imposed by Iran in response to the US-Israeli strikes that started the war on February 28.

Jorge Leon, an analyst at Rystad Energy, told AFP on Sunday that the cartel was looking to send “a two-layer message” that the UAE’s exit would not disrupt how OPEC+ operates and that the group still exerts control over global oil markets despite massive disruption to oil trade due to the war.

“While output is increasing on paper, the real impact on physical supply remains very limited given the Strait of Hormuz constraints,” Leon told AFP. “This is less about adding barrels and more about signaling that OPEC+ still calls the shots.”

The UAE, one of the world’s top producers, announced April 28 it was withdrawing from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the expanded OPEC+ group, after chafing at their production quotas. The withdrawal took effect on Friday.

Neither group has reacted publicly so far – making the lack of any mention of the UAE in Sunday’s statement notable. The statement followed an online meeting by OPEC+ members Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

All arrangements for the final at Gaddafi Stadium have been completed, with fans advised to reach the venue by 6:00 pm. The closing ceremony will be held at 6:30 pm, featuring various performances and activities ahead of the match.

The winning team will receive a prize of $500,000, while the runners-up will be awarded $300,000. An additional $200,000 prize has been announced for the franchise with the best player development.

The PCB has appointed Ahsan Raza and Christopher Gaffaney as on-field umpires, while Alexander Wharf will serve as the third umpire and Asif Yaqoob as the fourth umpire. Sri Lanka’s Roshan Mahanama will perform duties as match referee.

Peshawar Zalmi are aiming to secure their second PSL title, while Hyderabad Kingsmen are eyeing their maiden championship appearance. Zalmi captain Babar Azam will look to guide his team to victory in what marks his first PSL final as skipper.

Babar, who joined Zalmi in 2022 after representing Karachi Kings from 2017 to 2021, previously led his former side to the PSL title in 2020.

He has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 588 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate exceeding 146.

Speaking at a pre-final press conference in Lahore, Babar expressed confidence in his team’s combination and momentum, saying they would aim to execute their plans and deliver a strong performance in the final.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne said his team remained focused on their processes and would stick to their plans in the crucial match.

He noted that confidence and belief were key to success, adding that the team had learned significantly during the tournament and aimed to deliver their best performance in the final.

Reports in national dailies La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera did not indicate whether Rubio, a Catholic, would meet personally with Leo, but said he ​was expected to meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s lead diplomatic ​official.

Rubio last met Leo, the first US pope, in May 2025, alongside ⁠Vice President JD Vance. The two US officials attended the new pope’s inaugural ​Mass in St. Peter’s Square and had a private meeting with the pontiff the ​next day.

The pope, who maintained a relatively low-profile on the global stage in the first months of his papacy, emerged in recent weeks as an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli led war on ​Iran and sharply criticized the Trump administration’s hard-line anti-immigration policies.

Trump criticized Leo on social ​media several times in April, at one point calling the pontiff “terrible”.

The US State Department, Vatican press ‌office ⁠and an Italian government spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the reports.

Rubio is also set to hold talks with Italy’s foreign and defence ministers, the papers reported, adding that the trip aimed at easing tensions between the two countries ​after Trump’s blunt criticism of ​Italian Prime Minister ⁠Giorgia Meloni - one of his closest European allies - last month.

The schedule has still not been finalised, Corriere reported, and a meeting ​with Meloni is not excluded, La Repubblica added.

US seeks new coalition to get ships moving again in Hormuz, internal cable says

The trip comes ​days after ⁠the Pentagon announced the drawdown of 5,000 US troops from Germany, its largest European base, on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war and tariff tensions placed further strain ⁠on ​relations between the US and Europe.

Italy is among ​the European countries with the biggest presence of US troops, with almost 13,000 active-duty soldiers at the end of ​2025, across six bases.

The defendant, ​identified as Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, ​was described as one of the main individuals responsible for the ​death of security officer ​Abbas Fatemiyeh, killed in 2022 during ‌a ⁠nationwide protest movement sparked by the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, ​in ​police ⁠custody.

Mizan said the defendant confessed to assaulting ​the security officer. Rights ​group ⁠HRANA quoted an informed source as saying Abdollahzadeh ⁠was ​subject to torture ​to extract forced confessions.

Israeli military urges residents of multiple towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate amid operations against Hezbollah

The Seoul Metropolitan Government staged its third annual spring event, dubbed a power nap contest, from 3 p.m. (0600 GMT), under a refreshed set of admission requirements for would-be participants: wear outfits befitting either a sleeping beauty ​or prince, come tired, with a full belly.

For a metropolis that famously runs on ​24-hour shopping malls, competitive hustle and iced Americanos, the underlying exhaustion on the ⁠lawn was palpable.

“Between exam prep and part-time jobs, I survive on three or four ​hours of sleep a night, patching it up with desk naps during the day,” said Park ​Jun-seok, who showed up draped in the silken, crimson robes of a Joseon Dynasty monarch.

“I’m here to show off my napping skills, and to demonstrate exactly how a king sleeps,” said Park, a 20-year-old university student.

Nearby, Yoo ​Mi-yeon, 24, an English teacher from Ilsan north of Seoul, stood out in a plush, oversized ​koala-themed onesie.

“I’ve always suffered from insomnia, I struggle to fall asleep, and wake up easily,” she said. “Koalas are ‌famous ⁠for their deep slumber. I came dressed as one hoping to borrow a little of their magic.”

Now in its third consecutive year, the sleep competition underscores a chronic issue for South Koreans. Data show South Korea is one of the most overworked and sleep-deprived nations among Organisation for Economic ​Co-operation and Development members, ​and, as a consequence, ⁠people have some of the fewest sleep hours.

As the clock struck three and eye masks descended across the park, officials went around to ​measure participants’ heart rate to make sure they had a stable reading - ​an indicator ⁠of deep, peaceful sleep.

The winner of the contest was a man in his 80s.

Hwang Du-seong, a 37-year-old office worker, was a runner-up.

“I was completely drained, having done night shifts often on top of ⁠going ​to work everyday plus I also drive a lot ​for work. So when I saw the contest I was determined to sleep to fully recharge amid river breeze, and ​I’m very happy to be placed second place, luckily.”

The Gunners started brightly and with purpose, taking a deserved lead in the ninth minute when Saka put Raul Jimenez on his backside and laid the ball on a plate for Gyokeres to slot home.

Gyokeres returned the favour shortly before halftime, finding Saka who beat former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno at his near post to double ​the lead.

The Sweden striker then ended the contest in added time, heading in Leandro Trossard’s cross to cap an impressive performance with ​his 21st goal of the season in all competitions.

With one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg at ⁠home to Atletico Madrid, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could afford to take off Saka, making his first start since the League Cup final on March ​22, at halftime.

Man Utd cuts financial forecast after early Champions League Exit

Gyokeres was denied his hat-trick by a good save from Leno before he too was replaced in a sedate second half with the ​victory long since wrapped up.

Arsenal move to 76 points from 35 games, with second-placed Manchester City on 70 points from 33 games – and, perhaps crucially, Arsenal now have a four-goal advantage on goal difference.

The Gunners could, however, be second again if City win their two matches before Arsenal’s next league game at West Ham United on May 10.

Arteta ​deflected a question about whether Saturday’s performance sent a message to City, telling reporters: “It says to us and to our dressing room that we keep ​the dream alive.”

Fulham are 10th with 48 points from 35 games, three points behind west London rivals Brentford in sixth and, despite their poor performance, coach Marco Silva said ‌they were ⁠still in the running for a first European campaign since 2011/12.

Arsenal make light work of Fulham

Arsenal made five changes from Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid – whose manager Diego Simeone named an entirely different team for their trip to Valencia – with Saka captaining the Gunners in the absence of Martin Odegaard.

They made a fast start in a raucous atmosphere, in stark contrast to the nervousness at the Emirates Stadium during last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United.

Trossard ​dragged an early shot across the ​face of goal shortly before Saka ⁠left Jimenez behind and played a simple ball across the six-yard box which Gyokeres duly converted.

Fulham could barely get near their rampant hosts and Leno was repeatedly called into action, saving a Gabriel header from close range and ​a low effort from Gyokeres.

Riccardo Calafiori had a goal disallowed for offside before Arsenal got their second in ​the 40th minute ⁠after good hold-up play by Gyokeres, who played inside to Saka to fire home and then headed over Leno right before the break.

The second half was a non-event, with a marginally improved Fulham showing more fight but without laying a glove on Arsenal, who nearly added a fourth when Calafiori’s header bounced off Leno’s ⁠head and ​onto the bar with 10 minutes to play.

Arsenal are keeping alive the dream, says Arteta after Fulham win

The three points but more importantly their assured ​performance will give Arsenal renewed confidence, after a mini-wobble following the League Cup final defeat seemingly ceded the advantage in the title race to City.

Gyokeres, however, insisted recent results had not ​affected the side’s mentality, telling Sky Sports: “We never stopped believing and we are not going to.”

“It says to us and to our dressing room that we ​keep the dream alive,” Arteta told reporters .

“What these guys have done, not now but throughout the ‌season, to win that many games in the circumstances that we had to do it, without so many players available at times, is remarkable.”

Arsenal rediscovered their attacking verve as they blew away Fulham with a first-half masterclass, with fit-again Bukayo Saka on song ​and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres delivering arguably his best performance for the Gunners.

Their season had seemed to ​be unravelling, with March’s League Cup final defeat to title rivals Manchester City being followed ⁠by a FA Cup quarter-final loss to second-tier Southampton to end their pursuit of a quadruple.

Back-to-back losses in ​the league, the second at Manchester City, then saw Arsenal cede the advantage to their rivals and they were ​knocked off the top of the Premier League for the first time since October when City beat Burnley last week.

Having lost just three of 49 games in all competitions, a run of four defeats in eight prompted questions about Arsenal’s mentality and their ability ​to finally add to the 2020 FA Cup, their only major trophy under Arteta.

But Arsenal shrugged off recent ​shaky performances and the exertions of Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid to move six points clear at ‌the ⁠top of the league with their assured 3-0 win over Fulham.

Arsenal raced out of the blocks on Saturday and took an early lead they never looked like giving up, generating a positive atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium which in turn spurred on the players, Arteta said.

“When you feel that connection with them (the fans), we are much, much better,” ​he said. “And I know that ​it has to come ⁠from us.

“It certainly came from us today but we need to do it somehow, even when the team is not giving it probably the right reasons.”

The Gunners were out ​of sight at the break after what Arteta described as one of their ​best first-half performances ⁠of the season, allowing him the luxury of resting key players before the visit of Atletico on Tuesday, taking off Saka at halftime and withdrawing Gyokeres and Declan Rice around the hour-mark.

Arteta said his side needed to harness the positivity ⁠of Saturday’s ​performance and take it into Tuesday’s game, with his side four – ​and possibly five – games from greatness.

“Use that momentum, energy, belief towards Tuesday,” he said. “We’re going to certainly need that.

“When I look at the atmosphere ​in the dressing room, I think it’s striking in the right direction.”

With four games remaining, Barca top the table on 88 points, 14 clear of ‌second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and visit Espanyol on Sunday. Should Madrid fail to win, Barcelona will be confirmed champions for the second successive season.

Barca broke through in the 81st minute when ​Marcus Rashford crossed from the right and Lewandowski rose to head in. Five minutes ​later Fermin Lopez slipped Torres clear and he finished low past Sergio Herrera.

Raul ⁠Garcia pulled back a goal from close range two minutes later, but it was too ​little too late for Osasuna.

“We’ve now put the pressure on Real Madrid; if they don’t win ​tomorrow, we’ll be crowned champions,” Torres told DAZN.

“Today’s match was one of the toughest away fixtures in LaLiga. Those three points were worth more than just three, and I think the team put in a brilliant performance.”

For ​much of a slow-burning encounter at El Sadar, however, it was Osasuna who looked the greater ​threat.

Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia proved the difference, producing a string of fine saves to keep the visitors afloat. ‌Ante ⁠Budimir struck the post from close range in the 35th minute after bursting into the box on the counter attack, then curled an effort towards the bottom corner two minutes later that Garcia tipped away with the faintest touch.

The keeper was at it again in the 69th minute, ​denying Ruben Garcia from the ​edge of the ⁠area as Osasuna pressed on in pursuit of European qualification. The hosts are 10th on 42 points, just two behind sixth-placed Celta Vigo.

With frustration ​mounting among the home support, Barcelona delivered a clinical late blow.

In the ​81st minute ⁠Rashford floated a precise cross from the right into the middle, where Lewandowski jumped above his marker to nod past Herrera.

Five minutes later Lopez threaded a clever through ball behind the defence for ⁠Torres, who ​raced clear and slotted low beyond the keeper in a ​composed one-on-one finish.

Garcia pulled one back with a close-range header two minutes later, but Osasuna’s rally came too late as Barca ​moved to within touching distance of back-to-back league titles.

The 24-year-old has had a near non-stop schedule over the past two months, reaching the closing rounds in tournaments as the circuit moved from hardcourts ​to the clay season, winning titles at Indian Wells, Miami ​and Monte Carlo.

“I’ve played a lot in the last one ⁠and a half months, going very deep in tournaments,” Sinner told reporters ​after defeating Arthur Fils 6-2 6-4 in the Madrid semi-finals on Friday.

“It’s ​a good sign, of course, and at the same time you tend to get a little bit more tired.

“I think and I believe, when I play big matches, ​semi-finals, quarter-finals, finals, there’s also a little bit of adrenaline that ​pushes me.”

Victory over Alexander Zverev in Madrid on Sunday would hand Sinner a fifth ‌successive Masters ⁠1000 title going back to Paris last year and further underline his strong start to the clay season, with the French Open beginning on May 24.

Kostyuk downs Andreeva to claim Madrid Open tennis title

With defending Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz ruled out due to ​a wrist injury, ​world number one ⁠Sinner will be the top contender in Paris, where he can complete the career Grand Slam, having won ​the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon.

For now, however, ​Sinner’s focus ⁠remains on Madrid and next week’s Italian Open in Rome.

“I’m of course very happy to play my first final here. It means a lot to ⁠me … ​whatever (happens) on Sunday, it has been a ​great tournament,” Sinner said.

“In between here and Rome I’ll try to recover again as much and ​then we’ll see.”

The Ukrainian, ​whose only previous triumphs came in Austin in 2023 and Rouen last month, arrived in the ‌Spanish capital on a mission and left with silverware after a display brimming with intent and nerve.

Kostyuk began with relentless intensity, stepping into the court and striking as if every blow might be the last. She brought raw power and will, while Andreeva countered ​with a more polished, patient approach, mixing up her shots in a way that at times frustrated her ​opponent.

But it was Kostyuk who seized control. In the sixth game of the opening set ⁠she piled on the pressure, drawing a string of unforced errors from the Russian before breaking for a ​4-2 lead. Another commanding hold stretched her advantage to 5-2.

Serving for the set, however, Kostyuk wobbled. She offered up two ​break points, which she saved to reach deuce, only to double fault on set point and level the contest once more. Regaining her composure, she closed it out 6-3 after 34 minutes for her first WTA 1000 title.

“It feels unbelievable to be standing here ​right now,” Kostyuk said. “ I can only thank my team for supporting me throughout the years. If you look ​at the stats, I was way down the line and never thought I would be standing here where I am right now, ‌playing ⁠the way I’m playing.“

Andreeva, who turned 19 this week and is eighth in the world rankings, has long been regarded as one of the game’s most gifted young players. Yet in Madrid she again seemed to be struggling when cast in the role of favourite.

The second set swung wildly. Andreeva donated an early break with successive unforced errors, then ​immediately hit back, earning two ​break points after a ⁠Kostyuk double fault and levelling at 1-1. She surged to 3-1 when Kostyuk missed a routine smash, the Ukrainian staring in disbelief as momentum appeared to shift.

It did not ​last. Kostyuk struck back for 3-3, capitalising on triple break point, and the match ​turned into a ⁠test of nerve.

Leading 5-4 with Kostyuk serving to stay in the match, Andreeva conjured up three superb rallies to reach deuce but squandered a set point with an unforced error. She earned another with a dazzling winner, only for Kostyuk to ⁠hammer down ​two successive aces and level at 5-5.

The Russian’s rollercoaster afternoon ended ​with a double fault that gave Kostyuk the decisive break at 6-5. This time there was no hesitation. Kostyuk served out the match in ​commanding fashion to secure a title that underlined both her firepower and resilience.

A senior Iranian official said on ‌Saturday that an Iranian proposal so far rejected by Trump would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade of Iran while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear program for later.

When asked about Iran’s proposal before boarding a flight to Miami at West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump replied: “They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now.”

He added on his social ​media channel that he could not imagine the proposals would be acceptable and that Iran had not paid a big enough price for what it had done.

Asked if ​he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If ⁠they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen.”

Iran says it’s ready for diplomacy

Trump has said repeatedly that Iran can never ​have a nuclear weapon and said on Friday he was not satisfied with the latest Iranian proposal, while Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran was ready for diplomacy if the US changes its ​approach.

Reuters and other news organizations reported over the past week that Tehran was proposing to reopen the strait before nuclear issues were resolved. The official confirmed that this new timeline had now been spelled out in a formal proposal conveyed to the United States through mediators.

Trump also said on Friday that “on a human basis,” he did not prefer the military course of action and told congressional leaders he did not ​need their permission to extend the war beyond a deadline set by law for that day because the ceasefire had “terminated” hostilities.

While saying repeatedly he is in no hurry, Trump is under ​domestic pressure to break Iran’s hold on the strait, which has choked off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices. Trump’s Republican Party faces the risk of ‌a voter ⁠backlash over higher prices when the country votes in midterm congressional elections in November.

Trump not happy with latest Iran proposal to end the war, US official says

Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal included the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, lifting the blockade, releasing Iran’s frozen assets, payment of compensation, lifting sanctions and ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, as well as a new control mechanism for the strait.

The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, but appear no closer to a deal to end a war that has caused the biggest disruption ever to global energy supplies, roiled ​global markets and raised worries about the possibility ​of a wider global economic downturn.

Iran has ⁠been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months. Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports.

Washington has repeatedly said it will not end the war, which has led to the deaths of ​thousands of people, without a deal that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the primary aim Trump cited when he launched ​strikes in February in the ⁠midst of nuclear talks. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its latest proposal to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement.

Under the proposal, the war would end with a guarantee that Israel and the United States would not attack again. ⁠Iran would open ​the strait, and the United States would lift its blockade.

Israeli military urges residents of multiple towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate amid operations against Hezbollah

Future talks would then be held on curbs to ​Iran’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions, with Iran demanding Washington recognize its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, even if it agrees to suspend its nuclear program.

“Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated ​nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official said.

Kartik, 20, was signed for 142 million rupees ($1.5 million) at the IPL auction last year, making him the joint most-expensive uncapped Indian player, alongside all-rounder Prashant Veer.

But the ​youngster struggled early on, managing only 58 runs from his first ​five matches.

Chennai trusted him again on Saturday, and Kartik repaid that ⁠faith with an unbeaten 54 alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (67 not out) to guide ​the side to an eight-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians while chasing 160 in ​18.1 overs.

“It is a big stage no matter what they’ve been doing at domestic level,” Fleming told reporters.

“They can have all the talent in the world, but the temperament is ​what we’re looking for.

Kartik’s “introduction was tough at the start and then he had ​a little bit of time out. He worked hard and today was a good reward ‌for ⁠that… We’re really pleased and proud of what he did today.”

Chennai’s management has also helped Kartik cope with the pressure of his price tag by encouraging him to spend time with former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and mental-skills coach David ​Reid.

“The mental aspect ​of staying calm ⁠and understanding what the mind and body are doing is reasonably untapped in this competition,” Fleming said.

“We have had one ​of the best in MS Dhoni, who has been ​as calm ⁠as anyone can be in winning games. So learning from him but also understanding a little bit more of the science around it.”

Kartik’s timely return to form has ⁠eased ​concerns for the five-time champions, who have lost ​18-year-old Ayush Mhatre - their most prolific batter - to a hamstring injury.

Sixth-placed Chennai will next play Delhi Capitals ​on Tuesday.

Written and directed by Gerwig, the film is the first adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ 1955 book, which explores the origins of Narnia. It will be released in ​theaters on February 12, and made available on the streaming service on April ​2.

This marks a departure for Netflix, which typically releases movies exclusively on ⁠its streaming service. There have been some exceptions, including for movies with the potential ​to win an Academy Award. Movies must debut in theaters to be eligible for consideration ​for an Oscar.

Netflix said it opted for a wide theatrical release for “Narnia” because of the series’ broad appeal across generations and geographies.

Theater owners applauded Netflix’s decision.

“This is welcome news,“ Cinema United President Michael O’Leary ​said in a statement, adding, “Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ is a movie audiences will ​want to see on the big screen. Now they’ll have that opportunity.”

Netflix has shown an increasing ‌willingness ⁠to embrace the theatrical experience, last year releasing a sing-along version of its popular animated film, “KPop Demon Hunters” in movie theaters. During the pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos also said the company would continue to release Warner Bros movies in ​theaters and honor the ​traditional 45-day window ⁠of exclusivity.

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“Narnia” was originally scheduled to be released for two weeks in IMAX theaters, starting on Thanksgiving. Gerwig lauded Netflix for opting ​to offer the film more widely.

“I cannot wait for people to ​see the ⁠film in theaters on February 12 and on Netflix on April 2,” Gerwig said.

Adam Aron, chairman and CEO of AMC Entertainment, said the nation’s largest theater chain would “throw everything we have” ⁠to support ​Netflix.

“We are in their corner fully,” Aron wrote ​on the social media platform X. “We are and will be all in.”

The Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, ​a once-in-five-years political gathering aimed at mobilising citizens aged roughly ​14 to 30, concluded last week with mass rallies, ⁠torchlight parades and a gala in the capital.

Kim on Saturday told ​delegates that youth was the “vanguard” in advancing state goals, calling the ​league a key force for carrying out party decisions. He urged tighter organisation and ideological discipline and posed for a group photograph with participants, KCNA ​said.

In a letter published on Friday, the ruling Workers’ Party explicitly ​linked youth loyalty to Pyongyang’s involvement in the Ukraine war, telling the congress ‌that ⁠young soldiers sent on overseas operations had “become bombs and flames” in defending the country’s honour.

South Korea, US to conduct major joint military exercise in March

North Korea sent an estimated 14,000 troops to fight alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region, according to South ​Korean, Ukrainian and ​Western officials, ⁠who say more than 6,000 North Korean soldiers were killed.

Kim last month unveiled a new memorial in Pyongyang ​to honour soldiers killed during those deployments.

The emphasis ​on youth ⁠control comes amid intensified repression of foreign cultural influence, with exposure to South Korean music, films and slang treated as serious political offences, as ⁠Kim ​casts youth policy as a pillar ​of social stability.

He has also increasingly appeared in public with his young daughter, believed to ​be named Ju Ae, at major state events.

Cole Tomas Allen allegedly stormed a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun outside the White ​House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25.

When he was initially ​booked into the jail facility on April 27, ⁠Allen was assigned a “safe cell,” described as a padded room ​with 24-hour lockdown procedures and a requirement to wear “a vest ​akin to a strait jacket,” according to a filing by his lawyers in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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He was then ​downgraded to “suicide precautions,” which means Allen could still not ​make phone calls, receive visits from anyone aside from his legal team, ‌or ⁠spend time outside his cell except for legal visits or showers, with an escort, the filing states. A nurse on Friday recommended those precautions be ended, but they remained in place ​as of ​a visit by ⁠one of his public defense lawyers that day, the filing states.

Allen’s status “amounts to punishment” and ​denies him resources such as the use of ​a ⁠jail tablet, “which would permit him to communicate with loved ones outside of the jail,” the filing states.

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Allen is charged with attempted ⁠assassination, ​discharging a firearm during a crime ​of violence and illegally transporting guns and ammunition across state lines. He has ​not yet entered a plea.

Jefferson Lewis, 47, ‌was also charged with two other offences, which cannot be publicly disclosed for legal reasons, over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby, the name by which the victim is known in line with Indigenous custom, police ​said in a statement.

“This is an horrific event and an horrific set of ​circumstances, and our thoughts remain strongly with the family,” Northern Territory Police Commissioner ⁠Martin Dole said in televised remarks from Alice Springs.

Lewis, who had presented himself to ​one of the camps on the outskirts of the outback town, was charged on Saturday evening ​and will appear in court in the territory’s capital, Darwin, on Tuesday, police said.

Protesters clash with Australian police after suspected killer of Indigenous girl arrested

The girl’s killing and subsequent capture of the suspect, after he was found and beaten unconscious by locals, sparked protests by roughly ​400 Indigenous people near Alice Springs late on Thursday. Lewis has past convictions for physical ​assault and had recently been released from prison.

Some demonstrators threw projectiles and lit fires, injuring a number ‌of police ⁠officers and medical workers and damaging police vehicles, ambulances and fire trucks. Members of the crowd were seen in televised footage calling for payback - traditional, mostly physical, punishment in Aboriginal societies.

Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, local officials and ​a spokesperson for the ​victim’s family appealed ⁠for calm.

Australia has struggled for decades to reconcile with its Indigenous people, who have inhabited the land for some 50,000 years but were ​marginalised by British colonial rule. Indigenous Australians account for 3.8% of ​the population ⁠and face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates.

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Thousands, including the victim and her family, live in camp communities where housing and services are often inadequate. A ⁠fifth of ​Alice Springs citizens are Indigenous.

The victim’s body was located ​on Thursday by one of hundreds of people searching the dense bushland around the town, a popular tourist destination ​that has previously had problems with alcohol-fuelled violence.

De Guindos, a former Spanish economy minister, steps down at the end of the month, succeeded by Croatia’s Boris Vujcic, leaving Spain, one ​of the euro zone’s top four economies, without board representation.

However, ​three spots on the six-person board open up next year, ⁠including that of ECB President Christine Lagarde and comments from ​de Guindos suggest Spain will fight for one of them.

“The presidency would ​undoubtedly be the best outcome, but the most important thing is to have a seat on the Executive Board,” de Guindos told Spanish newspaper El País.

“Spain ​is the fourth‑largest economy in the euro area, and I am ​convinced it will secure a seat on the Board,” he said. “It’s important to have ‌one.”

While ⁠all 21 euro zone members can contest board seats, the bloc’s four biggest economies, Germany, France, Italy and Spain dominate the board, shutting the vast majority of the remaining 17 nations out.

ECB watchers consider ​former Bank of ​Spain Governor and ⁠Bank for International Settlements General Manager Pablo Hernandez de Cos a contender for the presidency but de ​Guindos stopped short of endorsing him.

“Pablo was a ​good governor, ⁠even though it’s true that it was Luis Linde and Fernando Restoy who oversaw the entire bank restructuring process,” de Guindos said.

Other potential board ⁠seat ​or even presidential contenders from Spain include ​current Bank of Spain Governor José Luis Escrivá, European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño ​and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo.

The military said ​it was conducting operations against Hezbollah following what it described as a ​violation of their ceasefire agreement, ​warning that anyone near Hezbollah fighters or ‌facilities ⁠could be at risk.

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Israel has continued to carry out strikes across southern Lebanon, and its troops ​are occupying ​a ⁠strip of the country’s south, destroying homes they ​describe as infrastructure being used ​by ⁠Hezbollah.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah has kept up its drone and ⁠rocket ​attacks against Israeli troops ​in Lebanon and on northern Israel.

K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana said: “As power demand escalates, KE is ready and committed to ensuring sustainable supply of electricity to Karachi. Our field teams remain on alert to ensure swiftest possible restoration of faults. However, we also urge the public to closely monitor the prevailing conditions and adhere to heatwave SOPs. KE remains in contact with all civic agencies and will cooperate to the best of its ability. Let this be a time when all public utilities stand together and be the representation of Karachi’s resilience.”

As demand soars during the heat, KE is in touch with its suppliers to ensure supply remains at par. KE will suspend preventive maintenance shutdowns and as the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s report indicates apparent temperature crossing 45°C, KE will also pause economic load shed.

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Held at the Gadap Kirthar Range, the programme brought together volunteers from across the city. Participants received practical training in water and height rescue, fire fighting, emergency response, use of modern rescue equipment, and safety procedures.

CEO Alkhidmat Karachi Naveed Ali Baig visited the camp and encouraged the volunteers, stressing that saving a single life is equivalent to saving all of humanity.

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FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh and Mian Zahid Hussain, while speaking at the high-level meeting of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan held in Islamabad on April 30, 2026, stated that the nation’s judicial system is currently groaning under the weight of an unprecedented backlog, with official statistics indicating that more than 2.37 million cases are pending across the superior and district judiciaries.

Within this overwhelming bottleneck, banking tribunals and civil courts are inundated with around 30,000 recovery suits and execution petitions related to non-performing loans.

These financial disputes have effectively paralyzed hundreds of billions of rupees, stifling corporate liquidity and restricting the economic growth of the country.

The vital session was chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan and was attended by key stakeholders, including Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attorney General Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Atif Ikram Sheikh, Chairman of the FPCCI Policy Advisory Board Mian Zahid Hussain, and the President of the Pakistan Banks Association.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that during the extensive deliberations, it was observed that traditional litigation in banking defaults often stretches over multiple years, eroding the value of the disputed assets and inflating legal expenditures for both the creditors and the borrowers.

He highlighted that the current ratio of non-performing loans remains a significant hurdle to private sector credit expansion, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises. When commercial banks are forced to provision heavily against toxic loans trapped in prolonged judicial stays, their capacity to lend to productive sectors is severely curtailed.

Implementing robust Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, such as commercial mediation and out-of-court arbitration, offers a pragmatic and rapid mechanism to clear this backlog and recycle capital back into the formal economy.

Mian Zahid Hussain assured that the business community, represented by the FPCCI, fully supports the Chief Justice’s visionary approach to integrating ADR into the financial sector’s regulatory framework. At the meeting, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh presented a compelling case for the institutionalization of mediation centers dedicated exclusively to corporate and banking disputes. Such a move would not only alleviate the crushing burden on judges but also save genuine businesses from the reputational destruction associated with public litigation. Out-of-court settlements allow for flexible restructuring and debt rescheduling, preserving jobs and sustaining industrial operations that would otherwise face liquidation due to the government’s policy shifts and temporary cash flow constraints.

In his concluding remarks, Mian Zahid Hussain urged the State Bank of Pakistan and the Ministry of Finance to act swiftly on the policy recommendations. He stressed that adopting a mandatory ADR protocol before the formal initiation of banking recovery suits is no longer a choice but a dire economic necessity. Fostering a culture of commercial conciliation will drastically improve Pakistan’s ease of doing business metrics, attract foreign direct investment, and ensure that the banking sector remains a catalyst for national prosperity rather than a graveyard for distressed capital.

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The chief minister said that according to the Meteorological Department, Jamshoro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki and Sanghar were in the grip of a heatwave.

He has instructed the district administrations in the affected areas to establish heatwave relief camps. He also directed that special arrangements be made in hospitals for heatstroke patients.

According to police data, the incidents included 24 cases of carjacking, 10 instances of street crime (mobile phone and cash snatching), five robberies, two dacoities, and two murders.

The data indicated that during the past week criminal gangs were mostly active within the jurisdictions of Khanna, Aabpara, Shalimar, Sangjani, and Sabzi Mandi police stations.

One of the most shocking incidents of the week was reported from Ghouri Town, where robbers shot dead a man identified as Munib Qureshi during a robbery within the limits of Koral police station.

According to details, three motorcycle riders armed with weapons intercepted the victim when he, along with his friend Noman, was walking on a main road in Phase 7 of Ghouri Town. The gunmen held both at gunpoint and snatched a mobile phone from Noman. They later took another mobile phone from Qureshi. When he offered resistance, one of the gunmen opened fire, hitting him in the chest. He died on the spot while the attackers managed to escape.

In another incident, gunmen shot and injured a man during a robbery in the Khanna area. The injured was identified as Amir Bahadur.

Two armed men intercepted Bahadur near Farooq Azam Chowk while he was riding his motorcycle and held him at gunpoint. They demanded his motorcycle, but when he resisted, they opened fire, leaving him with two bullet injuries.

Meanwhile, a gang of four robbers looted a motorcycle, mobile phones and cash from a man and his son in the Jhangi Syedan area.

During the last week, two cases of street crime and two cases of auto theft were reported at Khanna police station. Three cases of auto theft were registered at Aabpara police station, while Shalimar police station recorded one case of car theft and two cases of street crime. Sabzi Mandi police station registered two cases of street crime and one case of carjacking.

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Themed “Shaping the Future of Medical Ethics,” this landmark event brought together a premier assembly of clinicians, academicians, and policymakers to address the critical intersection of healthcare, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Islamic ethical frameworks.

The conference opened with a high-profile plenary session featuring Prof Dr S M Tariq Rafi, Chairman of HEC Sindh, as the Chief Guest. He was joined by Tahir Hussain Sangi (PAS), Secretary of Health, Government of Sindh, and Distinguished Guests of Honour including Prof Dr Amjad Siraj Memon (VC Jinnah Sindh Medical University) and Prof Dr Saad Khalid Niaz (Former Health Minister, Sindh).

The discussions focused on how the sanctity of life can guide responses to modern challenges, ranging from AI-driven clinical decision-making to safeguarding patient confidentiality in an increasingly digital world.

Expert Insights and Strategic Debates

Prof Dr Abrar Ashraf Ali (King Edward Medical University) delivered a critical analysis of professional conduct in the digital age.

Prof Dr Junaid Sarfraz Khan (Health Services Academy) and Prof Dr Abdullah Shah led sessions on integrating AI tools into research and academic assessment.

Prof Dr Mohammed Ghaly (HBKU, Qatar) joined virtually to provide an authoritative discourse on Islam and Biomedical Ethics.

Dr Athar Mahboob (VC, Al-Kawthar University) highlighted the role of faith-based values in driving institutional excellence.

The afternoon session included a report by Dr Nasir Hamdani, General Secretary of MMM, regarding the mission’s ongoing relief efforts.

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