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			<title>Israeli army warns residents of 3 Lebanese towns to evacuate despite renewed ceasefire</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611567/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-be-managed-jointly-with-oman-under-international-law</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 04:54:04 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611567</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Israeli army on Friday issued an urgent evacuation warning to residents in the Lebanese towns and villages of Arnaya, also known as Arnaba, Anqoun, and Kfar Fila, despite the renewed ceasefire.

The army told residents to evacuate their homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away from the towns and villages to open areas.

The warning came despite a fragile ceasefire in place since April 17, which Washington extended until early July, and amid continued diplomatic efforts to preserve it and prevent its collapse.

Israel kills 4 in a dozen attacks on southern Lebanon

Israel killed four people and wounded at least 14 others Friday in a dozen attacks on Lebanon, despite efforts to shore up a ceasefire, according to an Anadolu tally based on statements from Lebanon&rsquo;s state-run National News Agency.

The tally covered attacks reported as of 1:12pm PKT.

In the Nabatieh province, one person was killed and another wounded when an Israeli strike targeted a building near a police station in the town of Doueir, destroying it.

Three more people were killed in another Israeli strike on the same town, raising the death toll there to four, the agency reported.

Israeli drones also launched a series of strikes on the towns of Habboush and Abba, as well as on a motorcycle near the Popular Aid junction, wounding one person.

The escalation also included artillery shelling that targeted Kfar Rumman, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and the outskirts of Choukin and Mayfadoun, while an Israeli drone struck the area around the Harouf-Toul roundabout.

In Tyre, 12 people were wounded in a strike near Jabal Amel Hospital that destroyed a building belonging to Bank Audi. Civil defense teams transferred the wounded to the hospital, the agency reported.

The attacks came despite a fragile cease-fire in place since April 17, which Washington extended until early July, and amid continued diplomatic efforts to preserve it and prevent its collapse.

Netanyahu reportedly said &lsquo;no agreement&rsquo; while Hezbollah opposed to Lebanon ceasefire

Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel&rsquo;s government has not yet approved the implementation of a &quot;ceasefire&quot; between Israel and the Lebanese government, according to Al Jazeera.

&ldquo;There is currently no agreement; Hezbollah is opposed, and therefore I am not making a decision. If they agree, I will bring it to your approval,&rdquo; Netanyahu is reported to have said at a security cabinet meeting on Thursday evening.

Israeli army claims Hezbollah commander killed in Lebanon

The Israeli army claimed that it killed Abdul Harb, a commander in Hezbollah&rsquo;s engineering unit, in a strike last week. The Lebanese group has not confirmed the killing, according to Al Jazeera.

In a statement on X, the army claimed Harb was involved in assembling and activating explosives aimed at Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.



‼️پس از تلاش برای هدف قرار دادن نیروهای ما: فرمانده یگان مهندسی حزب&zwnj;الله به هلاکت رسید و سکویی که به سوی نیروهای ما شلیک کرده بود منهدم شد

❌ارتش اسرائیل هفته گذشته حمله کرده و تروریست عبد حرب، فرمانده یگان مهندسی سازمان تروریستی حزب&zwnj;الله را به هلاکت رساند.

⭕️این تروریست&hellip; pic.twitter.com/UymuB14hn6
&mdash; ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) June 5, 2026


It described him as a senior Hezbollah commander who had been involved in attacks on Israeli forces since the 2006 Lebanon war.

The Israeli army also said its air force struck and destroyed a launcher overnight, claiming Hezbollah fighters had used it to fire rockets at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Iran and Oman will jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law.

In remarks carried by Iran&rsquo;s state broadcaster IRIB, citing Lebanon&rsquo;s Al Mayadeen TV, Araghchi said Iran and Oman, as the two countries bordering the strategic waterway, have the &ldquo;natural right&rdquo; to coordinate and make decisions regarding its management.



📍Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi states that the two countries bordering the strategic waterway have the &#39;natural right&#39; to coordinate and make decisions regarding its management&hellip; pic.twitter.com/3oBQROtTa0
&mdash; Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) June 4, 2026


He said Tehran would exchange views with Gulf countries over developments related to the strait but stressed that decisions concerning its administration would ultimately be made by Iran and Oman.



In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that during his tours in the Gulf region, he had already conveyed to all the countries of the region that Iran does not want war, but if war is imposed on it, then Tehran will certainly&hellip; pic.twitter.com/ni93lwmluZ
&mdash; Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 4, 2026


Araghchi said efforts by both sides are aimed at ensuring safe passage for all ships through the strait in accordance with international law.

In the same interview, Araghchi said communication with Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains ongoing and that his directives are received &ldquo;in due time&rdquo; and implemented precisely.

He also said there is broad national consensus around Iran&rsquo;s leadership and that state affairs are proceeding &ldquo;in a very good direction.&rdquo;

Tehran says Germany&rsquo;s UNSC seat loss reflects &lsquo;global outrage&rsquo; over Gaza, war on Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmael Baghaei has said Germany&rsquo;s recent failure to secure a non-permanent seat on the powerful UN Security Council amounts to &ldquo;a stark rebuke from the international community&rdquo; driven by &ldquo;growing global outrage&rdquo; over Berlin&rsquo;s policies on Gaza and Iran, as per Al Jazeera.

Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, writing on X, accused Germany of &ldquo;irresponsible, hypocritical, and complicit&rdquo; behaviour, saying it has &ldquo;consistently justified the genocide of Palestinians&rdquo; and is &ldquo;one of the largest suppliers of lethal weapons to Israel&rdquo;.



Germany&rsquo;s failure to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council &mdash; for the first time in decades &mdash; is a stark rebuke from the international community. It reflects growing global outrage over the German ruling establishment&rsquo;s irresponsible, hypocritical, and complicit&hellip;
&mdash; Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 5, 2026


&ldquo;When the Israeli regime launched its aggression on Iran, Berlin refused to condemn it,&rdquo; Baghaei wrote.

&ldquo;Instead, it shamelessly described it as &lsquo;dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us&rsquo;.&rdquo;

&ldquo;The world is changing,&rdquo; Baghaei stated.

&ldquo;Nations are no longer judging governments by their lofty rhetoric about international law, but by their actual behaviour. Those who choose to ignore this shift will inevitably pay a heavy diplomatic price.&rdquo;

Top Iranian military adviser says missiles were ready after Israeli threats to Beirut&rsquo;s southern suburbs

A top military adviser to Iran&rsquo;s supreme leader said on Thursday that missiles were ready to be launched after Israeli threats to target Beirut&rsquo;s southern suburbs, reaffirming support for Hezbollah.

Read: Kuwait airport attack kills one, injures at least 63, damages terminal building

In an interview with Iranian state television, Mohsen Rezaei said Israel sought to pressure Lebanon in an attempt to influence negotiations with Iran.

He warned Israel to leave Lebanon, saying the country would be &ldquo;an inseparable part of any agreement.&rdquo;

Rezaei said Iran remains committed to supporting its allies, particularly Hezbollah, which &ldquo;sacrificed lives&rdquo; during the recent war.

&ldquo;A state that does not support its allies loses credibility,&rdquo; he added.

The Iranian official also warned that any confrontation would place northern Israel under conditions &ldquo;far more difficult&rdquo; than those seen during the 40-day war.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Rezaei described the strategic waterway as &ldquo;a strong deterrence arm&rdquo; in Iran&rsquo;s hands.

&ldquo;The Strait of Hormuz is open for trade, not for military presence,&rdquo; he said, accusing Washington of maintaining maritime pressure despite the continued movement of commercial shipping.

Rezaei also called for the release of at least $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds to help build trust in negotiations.

US House blocks Lebanon war powers resolution

The US House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a war powers resolution aimed at preventing US military involvement in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, where airstrikes by Israel have killed thousands since early March.

Read more: US House votes to rein in Trump war powers

The &quot;Lebanon War Powers Resolution,&quot; introduced by Representative Rashida Tlaib, failed in a 92-324 vote, with two members voting present. The measure sought to direct the president to remove any US armed forces present in Lebanon out of the country within seven days of adoption.

Following the vote, Tlaib expressed deep regret over the outcome but vowed to press forward with her efforts. In a statement, she said her resolution was a critical step toward ending US participation in &quot;the Israeli apartheid regime&#39;s ongoing brutal invasion, indiscriminate bombing, and ethnic cleansing campaign in Lebanon.&quot;

While Tlaib lamented that &quot;far too many&quot; of her colleagues failed to recognize the severity of the situation in Lebanon, she expressed gratitude to the lawmakers who voted in favor of the measure.

&quot;This fight is not over,&quot; Tlaib said. &quot;The Lebanese people continue to be subjected to violent forced displacement, illegal military occupation, and deadly US-funded bombs.&quot;

She added that she looks forward to House Democratic leadership &quot;swiftly delivering on their promise to support H.Con.Res. 108, a new Lebanon War Powers Resolution, and reassert Congressional authority to put an end to US. participation in this unjust invasion.&quot;

Earlier Thursday, House Democratic leadership had announced that they would vote against Tlaib&rsquo;s initial resolution, opting instead to signal support for another war powers resolution that Tlaib introduced on Wednesday.

&quot;We stand with the Lebanese people, the government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces in their efforts to live peacefully and defeat Hezbollah, a violent terrorist organization that is a sworn enemy of the United States,&quot; Democratic leaders said in a joint statement.

The statement also emphasized that they did not support any effort by the Trump administration to entangle the United States in a war in Lebanon or other parts of the Middle East. It noted that &quot;currently, there are no US service members involved in combat operations or hostilities in Lebanon.&quot;

The vote comes a day after Lebanon and Israel agreed to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish &ldquo;pilot zones&rdquo; placing the Lebanese army in exclusive territorial control, with all non-state actors excluded.

The agreement was announced in a joint statement released following a fourth round of US-mediated talks held at the State Department on Wednesday.

Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Washington did not need a deal with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country.

Also read: Trump says US to remove Iran&#39;s high-level enriched uranium in &lsquo;near future&rsquo;

&quot;We could get it right now. I don&#39;t think they could stop us if we wanted, but there&#39;s no reason to. It&#39;s entombed,&quot; he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump also said that he did not want to meet with Iran&#39;s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

But he added that if Washington and Tehran reached a deal, it was possible that the two would meet and added: &quot;If it happened ... I&#39;d be respectful&quot;.

MORE MODERATE SHOOTING

Along with Lebanon, residents of Gaza, northern Israel ​and Kuwait have all been under fire this week, despite&nbsp;U.S.-arranged ceasefires&nbsp;that Trump said on Wednesday involved &quot;shooting in a more moderate manner,&quot; rather than a total halt to fighting.

Iranian and U.S. forces traded attacks in the Gulf on Wednesday in one of the most intense bouts of fighting since early April, when a ceasefire halted large-scale hostilities.

Iranian forces struck Kuwait&#39;s airport, killing one ​person and injuring more than 60, authorities said, while the U.S. military launched strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.

In Oman, an alleged drone attack&nbsp;forced the suspension&nbsp;​of oil loading at the Mina al Fahal terminal after an explosion, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

&nbsp;

Item 1 of 6 Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 5, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

[1/6]Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 5, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer&nbsp;Purchase Licensing&nbsp;Rights, opens new tab

&nbsp;

A fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies &zwnj;go through the ⁠strait in normal times, but it has been largely closed since the war began three months ago.

Iranian oil exports have fallen to their lowest in six years, shipping data show, but global&nbsp;oil prices&nbsp;fell about 3% on hopes that the Lebanon ceasefire could help Washington and Iran find a diplomatic off-ramp from their war.

There has been little evidence of diplomatic progress, though Trump has repeatedly declared since late March that a deal is close.

Trump, under pressure at home to bring down fuel ​prices ahead of November&#39;s congressional elections, received ​a rare rebuke from the House ⁠of Representatives on Wednesday, when it voted to&nbsp;block him&nbsp;from continuing the war, a largely symbolic gesture as Trump is unlikely to sign it into law.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran&#39;s enemies had already been defeated on ​the battlefield and were now seeking to sow internal divisions.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since he succeeded ​his father, who was ⁠killed in an airstrike at the start of the war.

Tehran wants access to billions of dollars in oil revenue, waivers on sanctions on crude exports, a lifting of a US&nbsp;blockade on its ports and leverage over the strait.

Trump, who has said his&nbsp;top priority&nbsp;is to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, told reporters Washington did not ⁠need a deal ​with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country.

&quot;I don&#39;t think they could stop us if ​we wanted, but there&#39;s no reason to,&quot; he said in the Oval Office. &quot;It&#39;s entombed.&quot;

Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.

The UN&nbsp;nuclear watchdog said on Thursday it found Iran&#39;s nuclear program&nbsp;largely ​unchanged&nbsp;despite three months of war.]]>
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			<title>Six terrorists killed in Panjgur IBO: ISPR</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611579/six-terrorists-killed-in-panjgur-ibo-ispr</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611579/six-terrorists-killed-in-panjgur-ibo-ispr#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 07:09:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Panjgur]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611579</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Recover weapons, ammunition, IEDs, vehicles from terrorists, says military media wing]]>
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				<![CDATA[Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on June 3 and 4 in the Panjgur District of Balochistan, killing six Indian sponsored terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Hindustan, the military&#39;s media wing said on Friday.

A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces conducted the IBO &quot;on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan.&quot; It added that during the operation, the security forces &quot;effectively engaged multiple terrorist locations,&quot; killing the six terrorists after intense fire exchanges.

&nbsp;



On 3/4 Jun 2026, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Panjgur District of Balochistan, on reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan.

During the conduct of operation, own forces effectively engaged multiple terrorist&hellip; pic.twitter.com/IzuFuQLBTk
&mdash; DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) June 5, 2026


According to the ISPR, weapons, ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and vehicles were also recovered from the terrorists, &quot;who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.&quot;

Read: Security forces kill 4 terrorists in DI Khan, Mohmand IBOs: ISPR

&quot;Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorist found in the area,&quot; the statement added.

The terrorism campaign, under the vision of Azm e Istehkam (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, will &quot;continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,&quot; the statement concluded.

Read More: Major, 4 soldiers martyred in Balochistan operation

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for successfully carrying out an operation against Indian-backed Fitna-al-Hindustan terrorists in Panjgur, resulting in the killing of six militants.

In separate statements, both leaders said that operations against terrorists under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam would continue until their logical conclusion.

President Zardari reaffirmed the nation&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate terrorism, stating that Fitna-al-Hindustan and its facilitators would never succeed in undermining Pakistan&rsquo;s peace and stability.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for neutralising the terrorists, who, he said, were plotting to harm the lives and property of innocent and unarmed Pakistani citizens.

The prime minister also reiterated the government&rsquo;s commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country and ensuring lasting peace and security.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has praised the security forces for a successful operation in the Panjgur.

He commended the forces for their bravery and professionalism after six Indian-sponsored terrorists were eliminated in a timely action that foiled their nefarious designs.

Naqvi paid tribute to the security forces and said that operations against such elements in Balochistan were highly commendable. He added that the nation stands with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Earlier, security forces killed 17 terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Hindustan during a series of IBOs conducted across multiple districts of Balochistan following the May 24 train incident, the ISPR had stated on Tuesday.

The operations were carried out in Mastung, Nushki, Zehri, Khuzdar, and Ketch districts as part of an intensified counter-terrorism response.

The media wing had also revealed that a large cache of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and prepared IEDs were recovered from the slain terrorists.]]>
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			<title>Naqvi urges enhanced intelligence coordination among SCO member states</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611569/naqvi-iranian-counterpart-momeni-discuss-de-escalation-security-issues-in-bishkek</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611569/naqvi-iranian-counterpart-momeni-discuss-de-escalation-security-issues-in-bishkek#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 05:20:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Earlier, Naqvi and his Iranian counterpart Momeni discuss de-escalation, security issues on the sidelines]]>
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				<![CDATA[Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)&nbsp;member states to strengthen intelligence cooperation and joint efforts against online extremism under the organisation&#39;s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) framework.

The interior minister was attending&nbsp;a gathering of interior and public security ministers from SCO&nbsp;member states in Kyrgyzstan&#39;s capital,&nbsp;Bishkek, which is being held from June 4 to June 6.

Addressing the&nbsp;special meeting, Naqvi said,&nbsp;&quot;Our region faces serious security threats. Terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime and terrorist financing require a collective response.&quot;

He said criminal networks are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence and digital platforms, making it essential for institutions to modernise and strengthen cooperation to address evolving threats. The minister said Pakistan remains fully committed to the principles of the &ldquo;Shanghai Spirit&rdquo;, including mutual trust, equal partnership and respect for sovereignty.



Speaking at the special meeting of the SCO Interior Ministers and Public Security in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that solid measures were vital, as the SCO platform is crucial for border security. He added that Pakistan respects the sovereignty of&hellip; pic.twitter.com/s98yBnjO7X
&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) June 5, 2026



Highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s counterterrorism efforts, Naqvi said the country had&nbsp;made unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and extremism, while strengthening intelligence coordination, border management and anti-money laundering measures under the National Action Plan.

He stressed the need to enhance intelligence sharing, joint threat assessments and coordinated efforts to counter online extremism under the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) framework.

&quot;Cyber-enabled terrorism includes online recruitment, cyber-financing and attacks on critical infrastructure.&quot; He added, &quot;The SCO must strengthen cooperation on cyber intelligence and digital forensics.&quot;

Naqvi said Pakistan strongly supports workshops and expert exchange programmes aimed at improving regional security cooperation, adding that collaboration in cyber intelligence and digital forensics has become a pressing necessity.

The interior minister also described drug trafficking as a major source of terrorist financing and called for a joint strategy against narcotics smuggling, online criminal networks and illicit cryptocurrency transactions.

The minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s Anti-Narcotics Force is actively contributing to SCO-level counter-narcotics initiatives.

Emphasising the importance of border security, Naqvi said it remains vital for regional peace and stability. He also called for greater cooperation against forged documents, improved watchlist coordination and stronger measures to combat human smuggling.

The minister said disrupting terrorist financing networks remains one of Pakistan&rsquo;s key priorities, noting that the country has introduced significant reforms to strengthen its anti-money laundering framework.

Concluding his address, he said, &quot;Our challenges are shared. Our responses must be connected, coordinated and forward-looking.&quot;

&quot;Let us work together for a peaceful and secure SCO region,&quot; he added, saying Pakistan looked forward to welcoming participants to Islamabad in 2027.

Earlier,&nbsp;Naqvi met with&nbsp;his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, on the sidelines, where they discussed efforts to reduce regional tensions and matters related to internal security, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

In a post on X, the ministry said the two ministers held talks on Pakistan-Iran relations and the latest developments in the region.



وفاقی وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی اور ایرانی وزیر داخلہ سکندر مومنی کے درمیان اہم ملاقات
پاک ایران تعلقات اور خطے کی تازہ ترین صورتحال پر تبادلہ خیال
کشیدگی میں کمی اور داخلی سلامتی کے امور پر تبادلہ خیال pic.twitter.com/9iAXpqvJ6h
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) June 5, 2026


&ldquo;De-escalation efforts and internal security issues were discussed,&rdquo; the ministry said, adding that both sides exchanged views on regional developments during the meeting.



دونوں وزرائے داخلہ نے خطے کے پائیدار امن کے لئے سفارتی کوششیں تسلسل کے ساتھ جاری رکھنے کی ضرورت پر زور دیا
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) June 5, 2026


The ministry further said that both interior ministers emphasised the need to continue diplomatic efforts on a sustained basis to ensure lasting peace in the region.

Naqvi last visited Tehran on May 21, which lasted four days, and was his second visit within days, underscoring a growing sense of urgency, with some sources claiming that President Donald Trump had set a timeline for the negotiations to succeed or risk renewed military escalation.

The interior minister met with Ahmad Vahidi, a senior commander of Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and considered among the country&#39;s most powerful figures after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Naqvi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the second time in less than a week.

Two days after Naqvi&#39;s visit, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran and held meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

According to the military&#39;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), &ldquo;The discussions remained focused upon expediting the consultative process underway to support peace and stability in the region and to reach a conclusive agreement.&rdquo;

Read: CDF Munir drafting peace deal: Vawda

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other Gulf countries hosting US assets.

Pakistan subsequently positioned itself as a key mediator for peace, brokering a two-week ceasefire and hosting the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Although the &quot;Islamabad Talks&quot; ended without agreement, the ceasefire was held and later extended upon Islamabad&#39;s request.

Since then, the two sides have been exchanging proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to reach a middle ground and resume a second round of direct talks aimed at ending the conflict, which has already disrupted global energy supplies and daily life across the region.

While Pakistan remains hopeful for the resumption of direct talks, sources said there was no &ldquo;significant&rdquo; change in Iran&rsquo;s earlier stance on the nuclear issue in its response to US proposals.

According to sources, Tehran&rsquo;s response &mdash; delivered to the United States via Islamabad last week &mdash; primarily focused on an &ldquo;immediate&rdquo; end to hostilities, with &ldquo;little [in it] in terms of Washington&rsquo;s core demand about Iran&rsquo;s nuclear programme&rdquo;.

Iran, the sources added, has proposed &ldquo;broader and separate&rdquo; talks on the nuclear issue, citing its &ldquo;complexity&rdquo;.

However, Tehran has &ldquo;reiterated&rdquo; its willingness to halt uranium enrichment for a period of five years, while rejecting Washington&rsquo;s demand for a 20-year moratorium, according to the sources.]]>
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			<title>Appointments to key offices must be merit-based and transparent, FCC rules</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611580/appointments-to-key-offices-must-be-merit-based-and-transparent-fcc-rules</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611580/appointments-to-key-offices-must-be-merit-based-and-transparent-fcc-rules#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 07:14:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611580</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Order says public appointments not to be made on subjective preference but through a process of merit, accountability]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) ruled on Thursday that the appointments to important public offices must demonstrably conform to constitutional standards of fairness, transparency, institutional integrity, and merit-based governance.

&quot;Public authority cannot be exercised on undisclosed considerations, nor can structured procedures be reduced to empty formalities. The legitimacy of public administration depends not merely on the existence of power, but on the disciplined and transparent exercise of that power in accordance with law&quot;, says the 12-page judgement authored by Justice Rozi Khan Barrech while upholding the Peshwar High Court judgement wherein the appointment of the present petitioner as Chairman, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Bannu (BISE, Bannu) was set aside.

Commenting on the FCC judgment, advocate Abdul Moiz Jaferii says he wholeheartedly agrees that appointments to important public offices, such as those of superior court judges, must demonstrably conform to constitutional standards of fairness, transparency, and institutional integrity, and be merit-based. And that such appointments cannot be exercised on undisclosed considerations, nor can structured procedures such as the judicial commission be reduced to empty formalities.

Jaferii also welcomed the FCC judgment by saying that when the tide turns, it will be a fit precedent for the unwinding of the 26th and 27th amendment courts.

A three-judge panel of the FCC, led by Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, heard the matter.

The order noted that the record shows that after advertisement of the post of Chairman, BISE, Bannu, the government constituted a Search and Scrutiny Committee on February 8, 2021, to evaluate the candidates and recommend three names in accordance with the ToRs. The committee examined the shortlisted candidates and forwarded three names for consideration by the chief minister.

Read: Imran&#39;s plea: Supreme Court to follow case-fixation policy

The original summary, which was duly processed through the administrative hierarchy, was subsequently altered without any fresh deliberation by the committee, without any recorded reasons, and without any lawful justification apparent from the record. The Petitioner, who was not among the candidates recommended by the Committee, was later inserted in the summary dated 28.01.2025 and ultimately appointed by the competent authority through notification dated 13.05.2025, says the order.

The court said that the doctrine of pleasure, in its constitutional and administrative sense, does not confer an unfettered licence upon the executive to act in disregard of self-imposed procedural discipline.

&quot;While the executive may, subject to law, appoint and remove public functionaries, the exercise of such power remains subject to the rule of law and the constitutional
obligation to act fairly and rationally. The doctrine of pleasure cannot be used as a shield for arbitrariness, nor can it override an institutional process already adopted by the competent authority to ensure integrity in selection.&quot;

The court said that where the executive itself has structured the appointment process through a notified procedure and a search and scrutiny committee, the discretionary power under the Act cannot be exercised in disregard of the prescribed mechanism or in a manner that undermines institutional integrity.

Public appointments are not to be made on subjective preference or undisclosed considerations, but through a process that reflects merit, accountability, and due application of mind.

&quot;The principle of &#39;seven instruments&#39; of administrative justice, legality, fairness, transparency, reasoned decision-making, proportionality, nonarbitrariness, and accountability must therefore govern the exercise of the Controlling Authority&rsquo;s powers under the Act of 1990&quot;, says the order.

The court said that it is by now well settled that where public power is exercised through administrative discretion, such discretion must operate within recognisable legal limits.

The &ldquo;seven instruments of power&rdquo; in administrative governance, namely legality, fairness, transparency, reasoned decision-making, proportionality, non-arbitrariness, and accountability, are not mere aspirational ideals but enforceable standards which lend legitimacy to state action.

&quot;In the field of public appointments, these principles assume heightened significance because the process concerns not private preference but public trust. The present matter is a classic illustration of why structured procedures must be respected, particularly where the State has itself chosen to institutionalise the selection process through a formal committee mechanism&quot;, says the order.]]>
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			<title>Campaigning peaks as G-B polls near</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611563/campaigning-peaks-as-g-b-polls-near</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611563/campaigning-peaks-as-g-b-polls-near#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:35:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Waqas Ahmed]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611563</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[All eyes are now fixed on the polling day on June 7]]>
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				<![CDATA[With the election clock ticking down and political temperatures rising sharply across Gilgit-Baltistan, the contest has entered its most charged phase, where campaigning was in full swing, rival parties locked in intense mobilisation, and every corner of the region - from remote valleys to busy town centres echoing with slogans, rallies, and last-ditch efforts to sway an increasingly attentive electorate.

Party flags flutter across roadsides, election banners line narrow streets, and workers&#39; slogans echo through bustling neighbourhoods, reflecting an atmosphere where corner meetings, rallies and public gatherings have become a daily feature of political life. In many constituencies, candidates are seen exerting maximum effort to secure voter trust as polling day draws closer.

Against the scenic backdrop of G-B&#39;s mountains and green valleys, political activity has taken on a vibrant intensity. Observers say the campaign has entered its final and most critical phase, where narrative-building and voter engagement are now central to party strategies.

Some parties are projecting pledges of development and infrastructure uplift, while others are framing visions of a more stable and prosperous future. Yet, local sentiment appears increasingly discerning, with many voters showing greater caution and reluctance to be swayed by rhetoric alone.

All eyes are now fixed on the polling day on June 7, when the decisive power of the ballot will determine which political force gains ascendancy in G-B&#39;s evolving political landscape.

Meanwhile, in a parallel development amid the heightened election environment, senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) held high-level consultations in Gilgit, focusing on the evolving electoral situation and potential avenues of cooperation.

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira met Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and PML-Q Secretary General Tariq Hassan, where detailed discussions were held on the electoral landscape, possible joint strategies, and broader political alignments.

The PPP delegation included G-B Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider, and central leader Chaudhry Manzoor, while the PML-Q side was represented by central spokesperson Ghulam Mustafa Malik. Other participants included Anila Ayaz Chaudhry, Rizwan Sadiq, and PPP G-B President Dilfaraz Khan.

Sources said both sides reviewed the overall political situation, explored possibilities of post-election cooperation and government formation scenarios, and discussed coordination in the context of the ongoing electoral contest. Both parties agreed to continue consultations and maintain contact in the coming days.

The participants expressed satisfaction over constructive progress. Shah noted that mutual respect between PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would be further strengthened, adding that coordinated strategies could yield stronger electoral outcomes in G-B.

According to PML-Q spokesperson Ghulam Mustafa Malik, the meeting was convened on the direction of party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. He added that the delegation had also briefed senior leadership, including Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, Dr Muhammad Amjad and Punjab President Malik Muhammad Sameen, and reaffirmed that all decisions would remain subject to party leadership approval.]]>
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			<title>ECC to meet ahead of budget</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611545/ecc-to-meet-ahead-of-budget</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611545/ecc-to-meet-ahead-of-budget#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611545</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Meeting to focus on approving substantial grants, additional funds across multiple sectors]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has been summoned for an important meeting on the weekend ahead of the federal budget, where a wide range of financial and development-related proposals involving billions of rupees are expected to come under review, sources said on Thursday.

Officials said the meeting will focus on approving substantial grants and additional funds across multiple sectors, with decisions likely to shape key fiscal and development priorities before the announcement of the new budget.

Among the major proposals on the agenda is a grant exceeding Rs7 billion under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme, which is set to be discussed in detail during the session. Sources indicated that Rs528 million for the Pakistan Land Ports Authority is also under consideration.

The approval of Rs150 million in additional funds for the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) is expected. Security-related funding will also feature prominently, with over Rs410 million proposed for payments linked to the Reko Diq project.

In addition, Rs690 million has been requested for security arrangements connected to the Islamabad peace talks.

The agenda also includes the transfer of development funds under the Karachi and Hyderabad package, as well as deliberations on the redistribution of special programme funds for K-P.

A proposal worth Rs 1.3 billion for the upgradation of the Pakistan Mint is also part of the agenda, alongside consideration of a syndicated financing facility for Pakistan State Oil (PSO). Sources said that an agreement related to an oil refinery upgrade project will also be reviewed during the session.

In addition, supplementary grants and additional allocations for various ministries are expected to be approved, as the government moves to finalise key fiscal and development decisions ahead of the upcoming budget announcement.]]>
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			<title>Senate panel flags Dasu discrepancies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611547/senate-panel-flags-dasu-discrepancies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611547/senate-panel-flags-dasu-discrepancies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611547</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Expresses concern over errors in economic affairs ministry documents]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has expressed strong displeasure over discrepancies and inaccuracies in documents submitted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, while also reviewing the progress of the Dasu and Mohmand hydropower projects.

The committee met on Thursday under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro and conducted a detailed examination of both strategic energy projects.

The committee voiced serious concerns over errors in documents provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Abro pointed out that ministry documents listed the signing date of the Dasu project as 2023, whereas officials had informed the committee during the briefing that the project had commenced in 2017.

The Wapda officials informed the committee that Dasu Hydropower project&#39;s approved cost under PC-I stands at Rs1.737 trillion. Once completed, it is expected to generate a total of 5,400 megawatts of electricity, making it the country&#39;s largest power-generating unit.

According to Wapda officials, the first phase includes the installation of 12 generating units with a combined capacity of 4,300 megawatts. An additional three units will be installed in the second phase, with each unit producing 360 megawatts of electricity. Work on the associated 765-kv transmission line is also underway.

The officials stated that external financing had been secured for the project and that all required funding is currently available. The committee was informed that physical progress on the project has reached 30 per cent, while completion is targeted for November 2028 under the approved PC-I schedule.

Senator Waqar Mehdi, however, expressed skepticism over the timeline, saying it did not appear likely that the project would be completed within the stipulated period. In response, Wapda officials acknowledged that the project had suffered delays due to two unfortunate incidents.

Senator Rubina Khalid criticised what she stated as poor coordination among government departments, remarking that every officer appeared to be operating independently.

&quot;In my own institution, officers sitting in adjacent rooms prefer sending emails rather than speaking directly to one another,&quot; she said.

She proposed the establishment of clear timelines for official work and recommended that officers who fail to complete assignments on time should face suspension.]]>
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			<title>Imran's plea: Supreme Court to follow case-fixation policy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611552/imrans-plea-supreme-court-to-follow-case-fixation-policy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611552/imrans-plea-supreme-court-to-follow-case-fixation-policy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611552</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Lawyers believe that cases involving civil liberties not being prioritised during CJP Yahya Afridi's tenure]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court will fix contempt matter related to the non-implementation of a judicial order permitting meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan in line with the court&#39;s new case-fixation policy.

A senior Supreme Court official told The Express Tribune that the contempt petition over the denial of meetings with Khan, despite an Islamabad High Court order allowing them, would be listed under the court&#39;s new policy.

Earlier, on May 20, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, a senior advocate, called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and urged the court to expedite the listing of cases involving Imran Khan.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Raja said the chief justice had assured him that cases related to Khan would be scheduled for hearing soon after Eid.

In November last year, Raja filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court&#39;s dismissal of his contempt petition over the non-implementation of its March 24 order directing jail authorities to allow meetings between Khan and his family members and lawyers.

It is learnt that the contempt matter is listed at number 60 on the Supreme Court&#39;s cause list, with the chief justice strictly following the court&#39;s fixation policy, under which contempt cases are taken up in turn.

However, senior lawyers have raised concerns, noting that the matter is of considerable significance as it pertains to the former prime minister, whose meetings with family members and lawyers have been almost completely restricted since December.

The government on the other hand is claiming that Imran Khan is frequently holding meetings with his wife Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail.

Lawyers are of the view that cases involving civil liberties are not being prioritised during the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.

Since the passage of the 26th Amendment, the PTI has struggled securing relief in the superior courts, with key petitions involving its jailed founder and senior leadership remaining in limbo, deepening its legal and political uncertainty.

The party, whose founder and chief Imran Khan remains incarcerated, continues to approach the judiciary for hearings of his cases, but progress has been slow, with petitions stuck in limbo across multiple forums.

Despite filing several petitions, the party could not get any relief from the Islamabad High Court.

Interestingly, despite pendency of dozens of important constitution petitions, the PTI is reluctant to approach the FCC.

After the meeting between Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Salman Akram Raja, PTI had renewed hopes in the Supreme Court, but those expectations have since faded.

Political analysts suggest that meetings with Imran Khan may only be restored if he avoids criticising the security establishment during interactions with family members in custody.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal pushes for 'big' mandate in G-B</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611548/bilawal-pushes-for-big-mandate-in-g-b</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611548/bilawal-pushes-for-big-mandate-in-g-b#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611548</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says clear majority will help defend region's rights]]>
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				<![CDATA[PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the people of Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday to vote &quot;overwhelmingly&quot; for his party, saying a clear majority would strengthen efforts to defend the region&#39;s rights.

The Bhutto scion is on a tour of G-B where PPP and other political parties have stepped up efforts in recent days to mobilise voters for June 7 polls.

Addressing a public rally in Ghizer, Bilawal said the PPP was seeking a &quot;heavy&quot; majority in G-B, not for the party&#39;s benefit but for the people, so that together they could fulfill the unfinished vision of his grandfather and mother in the region.

&quot;It is the new generation&#39;s responsibility to secure more rights for G-B,&quot; he said.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari had played a key role in granting G-B its legislative assembly, identity, governor and chief minister, adding that the next phase of progress now depended on both him and the people of the region.

Bilawal particularly stressed the need for a PPP majority, including all three Ghizer seats, in order to pursue the right of sovereignty promised to the people.

&quot;The people that say the PPP does not deliver on their promises - remind them that we have been in politics for three generations,&quot; he stated, adding &quot;And for three generations we have had a record of being true to our word; when we make promises we deliver on them.&quot;

Bilawal said 28,000 square kilometres of land in G-B used to belong to the state. He added that, due to the efforts of the people of the region, the PPP, and its assembly members, a law was passed that declared it &quot;your land, common land&quot;.

&quot;Now what&#39;s left? I want to deliver on this legislation. If I don&#39;t get a government, if I don&#39;t get all three of these seats in Ghizer; if I don&#39;t get the seats in Baltistan, all of Gilgit, all of the Diamer division; if I am stopped from installing my chief minister, then I know that whether it is the PML-N or another party, they will tear up our legislation like a piece of paper. They will not deliver on it and my promise will remain incomplete.&quot;

The Bhutto scion compared the PPP with other parties, saying while PPP lawmakers competed to see who could create the most jobs - &quot;whether in government, the private sector, public-private partnerships, abroad, through technical education or skills&quot; - other political parties instead competed &quot;to see how many people they can make unemployed&quot;.

&quot;After the PPP government left, no provincial government in G-B has given jobs - they have been stolen,&quot; he said.

Bilawal maintained that PPP wanted to grant ownership of arable land to the people of the region.

He also referred to the Sindh People&#39;s Housing for Flood-Affected (SPHF) programme, under which two million homes were being constructed for flood victims, with ownership of both the houses and land being transferred to the beneficiaries.]]>
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			<title>Salary freeze fuels brain drain fears</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611519/salary-freeze-fuels-brain-drain-fears</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611519/salary-freeze-fuels-brain-drain-fears#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:44:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Safdar Rizvi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611519</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pay packages unchanged for five years as Finance Division remains reluctant to approve proposed increases for universi]]>
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				<![CDATA[Scientific researchers working at public universities across Pakistan have seen their salaries remain frozen for the past five years, and the Finance Division is reportedly unwilling to approve salary increases. Sources say that the 2026-27 federal budget is also unlikely to include any enhancement in their pay packages, including PhD and other professional allowances.

The prolonged salary stagnation and the absence of meaningful relief in the upcoming budget have heightened concerns over a growing brain drain, with fears that many of the country&#39;s most talented researchers may seek opportunities abroad.

Researchers struggling with economic pressures say they are increasingly forced to take on externally funded projects to supplement their incomes, often at the expense of their core research activities.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a researcher working under the Tenure Track System (TTS) said, &quot;We now try to secure scientific projects from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and other institutions to make ends meet. Although this affects our primary research work, we have little choice.&quot;

The Tenure Track System was introduced by renowned scientist and former HEC chairman Atta-ur-Rahman to attract highly qualified academics and researchers to universities. Most TTS faculty members hold PhD degrees from foreign institutions. However, due to stagnant salaries, many researchers have already left academia, leaving only about 3,600 TTS researchers in the system.

Sources said that when TTS appointments were first introduced, salaries were roughly double those of the Basic Pay Scale (BPS) system because TTS faculty were subject to significantly stricter performance indicators and their work was reviewed every three years by international experts.

However, after five years without salary adjustments, TTS salaries have fallen well behind those of BPS faculty members. A task force established by the Planning Commission of Pakistan under the leadership of Ahsan Iqbal recommended in March this year that TTS salaries be aligned with those of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics pay structure, along with a 35 per cent premium.

The recommendations were subsequently approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, which directed the Finance Division to implement salary increases, based on the proposed formula. The HEC has also formally written to the Finance Division on the matter.

Despite these developments, sources say the Finance Division remains reluctant to accept the recommendations.

According to available figures, a BPS professor at a university currently earns nearly Rs500,000 per month, while a TTS professor takes home around Rs350,000 after tax deductions. Similarly, a BPS associate professor earns approximately Rs400,000, compared with around Rs250,000 for a TTS associate professor. A BPS assistant professor earns roughly Rs325,000, whereas a TTS assistant professor receives around Rs150,000 after taxes.

Several researchers at the University of Karachi&#39;s Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IBCCS) continue to produce high-quality research under the TTS framework, but their salaries remain frozen despite their academic contributions.]]>
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			<title>New rules to rein in Margalla development</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611535/new-rules-to-rein-in-margalla-development</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611535/new-rules-to-rein-in-margalla-development#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:08:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[iftikhar.chaudhry]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Land acquisition, construction curbs proposed; new sub-zones planned around MHNP]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board has approved in principle a major zoning reform proposal aimed at expanding environmental protection around the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), including the acquisition of privately owned land and a ban on further construction in several adjoining areas.

Under the decision, the unacquired settlements of Shahdara, Talhar and Gokina, located on the periphery of the national park, will be incorporated into the newly proposed Zone-3A.

The CDA has also decided to acquire land in these areas and prohibit any further development or construction pending implementation of the revised zoning framework.

According to official documents available to The Express Tribune, the CDA Board has approved in principle amendments to the ICT Zoning Regulations, 1992, relating to Zone-3, and has constituted a six-member high-level committee to finalise recommendations. The committee&#39;s proposals will subsequently be forwarded to the Federal Cabinet for final approval.

Under the proposed restructuring, the area already notified as the Margalla Hills National Park will continue to be designated as Zone-3.

The documents further reveal the land situated between the Margalla Hills National Park and the residential sectors, extending north of Margalla Avenue up to Sector C-16, will be classified as Zone-1A.

The CDA will acquire private land within this area and develop housing and planning schemes in accordance with Zone-1 regulations, integrating the newly acquired land with areas already owned by the authority.

Existing villages and settlements will be regulated and contained within defined limits, while no further construction will be permitted on privately owned land.

Meanwhile, the area located between the Margalla Hills National Park and Murree Road/Srinagar Highway will be designated as Zone-4E. Under this category, private developers will be allowed to undertake development projects in accordance with CDA zoning regulations, subject to prior approval from the authority.

The CDA will also be authorised to launch development schemes on land within the area that has already been acquired by the authority.

The newly proposed sub-zones and their geographical boundaries have been identified on maps attached to the board&#39;s decision.

The CDA Board has also approved the formation of a committee to prepare draft zoning regulations, including land-use classifications, planning strategies, village details and population data for all newly created sub-zones.

The committee will be headed by the CDA Member Planning and Design and will comprise the Member Estate, renowned architect Nayyar Ali Dada, a CDA Board member, the Director General Environment, the Director Technical to the CDA Chairman and the Director Master Plan. The committee will also have the authority to co-opt additional members as required.

The committee has been directed to submit its recommendations to the CDA Board within 15 days. Following approval by the board, a summary will be forwarded through the Ministry of Interior to the Federal Cabinet for consideration.

After the federal cabinet grants final approval, the CDA Board will formally approve building regulations and development controls for the newly designated zones.

A senior CDA official, when contacted, confirmed that the board had formally taken the decision.]]>
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			<title>Nadia Afgan stirs debate with repost on modesty, male gaze</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611590/nadia-afgan-stirs-debate-with-repost-on-modesty-male-gaze</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611590/nadia-afgan-stirs-debate-with-repost-on-modesty-male-gaze#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 08:56:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Actor shares satirical clip arguing that responsibility for modesty should not fall on women alone]]>
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				<![CDATA[Actor Nadia Afgan shared a controversial take on women&rsquo;s clothing and the concept of the &ldquo;male gaze&quot;, with her response receiving mixed reactions online. She reposted a clip by a content creator on Instagram, adding the caption &ldquo;This&rdquo; with a heart emoji, signalling her agreement with the message.





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The original video uses satire to highlight societal expectations in Pakistan, where the responsibility for modesty is often placed on women rather than on emphasising men&rsquo;s control over their gaze. The sketch depicts a conversation between two men discussing how they would react upon seeing women dressed differently.

The video uses humour to critique societal double standards, suggesting that modesty is not solely women&#39;s responsibility but also involves personal accountability in how individuals conduct themselves.

Following Afgan&rsquo;s repost, several actors and influencers also engaged with the clip, leaving largely supportive comments. One user wrote, &ldquo;I am surprised being a boy you know this,&rdquo; reflecting approval of the perspective shared in the video.



Although many agreed with Afgan and others who supported the message, some users criticised the&nbsp;comedic take, arguing that &ldquo;responsibility is on both genders.&rdquo;&nbsp;

The exchange reflects ongoing conversations on social media about gender expectations, societal norms, and how humour is used to challenge sensitive cultural topics.]]>
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			<title>Behroze Sabzwari's remark regarding wife sparks social media backlash</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611594/behroze-sabzwaris-remark-regarding-wife-sparks-social-media-backlash</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611594/behroze-sabzwaris-remark-regarding-wife-sparks-social-media-backlash#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 09:32:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611594</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Veteran actor's comment during televised appearance draws criticism]]>
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				<![CDATA[Veteran actor Behroze Sabzwari has been trending on social media after a remark about his marriage sparked controversy during a televised appearance.

During an event this week, the actor was invited on stage when the host asked about the absence of his wife, noting that she usually accompanies him. In response, Sabzwari joked, &ldquo;No, the other one is with me today,&rdquo; which drew laughter from the audience.





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However, a clip of the remark surfaced online and quickly drew attention, with many criticising the comment as inappropriate.

Several social media users described the remark&nbsp;as disrespectful toward Sabzwari&#39;s spouse, arguing that public figures should be more mindful of their words, even in jest.



The incident also revived discussion regarding earlier remarks by Sabzwari criticising men who enter second marriages while their first wife is still alive. Some users pointed out perceived inconsistency in the actor&#39;s comments, referencing his son, Shahroz, who has also faced public attention regarding his own marriage.

The veteran actor, who is currently working on a romantic drama Ishq Mein Tere Sadqay, has not issued a response to the backlash.]]>
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			<title>90s actor Sami Sani makes social media comeback</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611584/90s-actor-sami-sani-makes-social-media-comeback</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611584/90s-actor-sami-sani-makes-social-media-comeback#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 07:54:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611584</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Trending for dramatically different appearance, actor shares videos on kindness, perseverance and personal growth]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Popular 90s actor Sami Sani, who appeared in classic dramas Aroosa and Aanch, made a comeback on social media and is trending for his dramatically different appearance. The actor shared a series of videos on Instagram as part of a new trend he calls the &ldquo;One Good Thought&quot; series.

In the videos, Sani discusses meaningful acts of kindness, personal growth, and positive life lessons.

Fans flocked to the comments, expressing their excitement at seeing the actor after a long absence. Many said they still fondly remember his performances in dramas such as Doosra Aasman, Naseeb, Saaya 2, and several others.

Known for his youthful look and signature hairstyle during his acting career, Sani may have lost his hair over the years, but is still winning over fans with his thoughtful messages and positive outlook.



In one of his recent videos, Sani discussed perseverance and choosing one&#39;s own path to success.





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While preparing a meal in his kitchen, he said, &ldquo;My bread might be hard this time, but I am using a knife to cut it. While cutting it, I thought about those people who are very strict with you. They are with you, but you never really know what they think about you behind closed doors.&rdquo;

He added, &ldquo;If I can put up with that harshness, I can also put up with this hard bread and chew on it.&rdquo; Sani concluded by saying, &ldquo;Leave the world behind and follow your own path. If nobody walks beside you, you can walk alone. Stay happy.&rdquo;

In another video, the actor encouraged younger audiences to develop a habit of reading.





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&ldquo;It may no longer be a generation that reads books, but books are your best friends, just like your childhood friends. Take out the books in your home, clean them, read them, and you will be happy,&rdquo; he said.

The actor also told viewers that he plans to launch an official YouTube channel, marking another step in his return to the public eye.

Fans expressed excitement over Sani&#39;s comeback, eager to see more of his content.



The actor is currently based in the United States but continues to return to Pakistan for professional opportunities.]]>
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			<title>Hadiqa Kiani shares Kenya family trip photos with son, niece</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611587/hadiqa-kiani-shares-kenya-family-trip-photos-with-son-niece</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611587/hadiqa-kiani-shares-kenya-family-trip-photos-with-son-niece#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 08:20:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611587</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Singer calls herself 'unbelievably blessed', visits Nairobi's Giraffe Centre to support conservation work]]>
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				<![CDATA[Singer Hadiqa Kiani recently took to Instagram to share family photos from her trip to Kenya, with fans admiring the stunning scenery, wildlife, and captured family moments.

Kiani posted a photo dump captioned, &ldquo;Family trip to Kenya, unbelievably blessed to share these moments with my son and my niece at the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Looking forward to sharing more with you soon.&quot;





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The post received an outpouring of love from fans, with many praising the family getaway.



Kiani also shared another post from the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, where she and her son were feeding a giraffe.





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Reflecting on the experience, the singer wrote, &quot;Grateful for the chance to learn more about these beautiful animals and support the Centre&rsquo;s important work in conservation and education.&quot;

Kiani&#39;s travel updates come shortly after she was honoured with the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz&nbsp;in recognition of her achievements in music.]]>
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			<title>Punjab cinemas get more time</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611500/punjab-cinemas-get-more-time</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611500/punjab-cinemas-get-more-time#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:22:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611500</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Govt eases restrictions after industry concerns over shrinking evening screenings]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Punjab government&#39;s decision to relax operating-hour restrictions for cinemas has been welcomed by Pakistan&#39;s film industry, with actor and producer Fahad Mustafa emerging as one of the most vocal supporters of the move after publicly campaigning for an extension in screening hours.

The revised policy allows cinemas to remain open until 11pm, reversing an earlier arrangement under provincial austerity measures that had effectively limited many theatres to an 8pm closing time.

The change comes days after Mustafa appealed to the government to reconsider the restrictions, arguing that they were harming newly released films and limiting opportunities for audiences to visit cinemas in the evening.

Celebrating the announcement, Mustafa shared the official government notification on Instagram and thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Encouraging people to return to theatres, he urged audiences across the province to watch his latest film, &#39;Zombeid&#39;, which is currently screening nationwide.

&quot;People of Punjab, cinemas are now open for you. Go and enjoy our film,&quot; he wrote in a post that quickly attracted attention from fans, colleagues and political figures. His &#39;Zombeid&#39;&#39; co-star Mehwish Hayat congratulated him in the comments, while members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz appreciated his acknowledgement of the government&#39;s decision.

The development marked a swift turnaround from the concerns Mustafa had raised only days earlier. In an open letter addressed to Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the actor requested a modest relaxation in cinema operating hours. He argued that the restrictions were having an adverse impact on newly released films that depended heavily on evening audiences during their crucial opening weeks.

At the heart of the issue was the fact that many cinemas in Punjab are located inside shopping malls. Under the earlier austerity measures, malls and commercial centres were required to close by 8pm, forcing cinemas to shorten their schedules and reducing the number of screenings that could be offered each day.

Mustafa maintained that the reduced operating window was affecting the commercial prospects of films released during a competitive period for the industry. He noted that evening shows are often the most accessible option for working people and families who are unable to visit cinemas during daytime hours.

In his appeal, the actor stressed that extending cinema hours would not only increase ticket sales but would also support employment throughout the exhibition and hospitality sectors. He argued that a small adjustment could benefit filmmakers, cinema operators and audiences alike while helping sustain momentum for local productions.

The debate emerged at a particularly significant moment for Pakistani cinema. Mustafa is currently promoting &#39;Zombeid&#39;, which has been billed as Pakistan&#39;s first zombie thriller. The film, featuring Mehwish Hayat alongside Mustafa, premiered during the Eidul Azha season and entered cinemas at a time when multiple releases were competing for audiences and available screen time.

Industry concerns were amplified by the fact that &#39;Zombeid&#39; was released alongside two other films during Eid, creating intense competition for screenings. With cinema hours restricted, exhibitors faced additional challenges in scheduling shows and maximising attendance.

While requesting relief from the government, Mustafa also acknowledged provincial efforts to support the creative sector. In his letter, he praised initiatives such as Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz&#39;s proposed Film City project in Lahore, describing them as evidence of official backing for the entertainment industry.

The government&#39;s revised framework has now placed businesses into different categories with varying operating hours. Under the new schedule, shops, markets, shopping malls and bazaars will close at 9pm. Marriage halls, marquees and ceremonial venues will operate until 10pm.

Restaurants, cafes, cinemas, eateries and standalone fruit and vegetable shops have been permitted to remain open until 11pm, giving entertainment venues a significantly longer operating window than before.

Several sectors have been exempted entirely from the restrictions. These include bakeries, tandoors, milk shops, fuel stations, CNG stations, electric vehicle charging facilities, gyms, sports centres, padel courts, IT companies and call centres. Hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pharmacies and medical supply stores have also been exempted because of their essential services.

For the film industry, the revised cinema schedule represents more than a simple adjustment of operating hours. The decision highlights the sector&#39;s continuing efforts to secure conditions that allow local productions to compete for audiences and maintain commercial viability.

For filmmakers and exhibitors who depend heavily on evening screenings, the extra hours could provide valuable breathing space. For audiences, meanwhile, the change restores greater flexibility in choosing when to watch films, particularly during weekends and holiday periods when cinema-going remains a popular form of entertainment.

The episode also demonstrated how quickly concerns raised by industry figures can become part of a broader discussion about the balance between economic measures and support for cultural activity. For Fahad Mustafa and others associated with &#39;Zombeid&#39;, the government&#39;s decision was ultimately a welcome signal that those concerns had been heard.]]>
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			<title>Govt sets Rs290/$ exchange rate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611507/govt-sets-rs290-exchange-rate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611507/govt-sets-rs290-exchange-rate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:31:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahbaz Rana]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611507</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[3.5% depreciation signals comfort with $21b external funding needs]]>
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				<![CDATA[The federal government has set the Rs290 to a dollar exchange rate for the new budget, which shows a nominal depreciation of 3.5% in the next fiscal year and indicates its comfort in meeting external debt repayment obligations.

The exchange rate has been determined for the purpose of calculating disbursements and repayments of foreign loans and grants, as Pakistan officially follows a &#39;flexible exchange rate policy&#39;.

The finance ministry has issued an office memorandum to all concerned ministries and divisions, asking them to consider this rate for budget allocations for the fiscal year 2026-27. The government has now announced June 10 as the date for the budget speech, subject to final endorsement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The Rs290-to-a-dollar average exchange rate indicates Rs10 or 3.5% depreciation over this year, which is not in line with currency market trading in the past year. The rupee has been gradually strengthening over the past couple of years, lately one paisa per day, against the greenback.

The Rs290 rate will also be used for determining the defence budget portion related to foreign procurements and foreign debt servicing. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) has projected the defence budget at Rs2.66 trillion. But there is a possibility that the government may make higher allocation due to hostilities at international borders, according to government sources.

The exchange rate is also the benchmark for allocating budgets to Pakistan&#39;s missions abroad and the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

For the next fiscal year, the federal and four provincial governments have planned to take $3.2 billion or Rs927 billion worth of foreign loans for project financing. This is equal to 22% of the total national development budget of Rs4.3 trillion and indicates significant reliance on foreign creditors.

The federal government has indicated Rs267 billion in foreign project loans, while the four provinces have projected Rs660 billion in foreign loans.

The current budget had also been prepared on the assumption of Rs290 to a dollar, but the rupee largely remained stable. The government has now decided to make the revised budget estimates of the outgoing fiscal year based on Rs280 to a dollar, said the sources. On Thursday, the inter-bank rate for the rupee stood at Rs278.42 to a dollar &ndash; an appreciation of three paisa.

For the next financial year, the IMF has assessed Pakistan&#39;s gross external financing requirements at $21.2 billion and for the year after at $30 billion.

Sources said PM Sharif took a meeting this week to see whether the external financing requirements were adequately reflected and whether the government would be in a comfortable position to arrange $30 billion in fiscal year 2027-28.

The sources said the finance ministry assured the prime minister&#39;s office that the country&#39;s external financing needs are fully covered and the $30 billion requirements for 2027-28 were mere projections by the IMF.

For the next fiscal year 2026-27, the government has projected a current account deficit of around 0.7% of GDP or $3.6 billion. Exporters recently urged the prime minister to liberalise the rupee further, according to sources.

For the next fiscal year, interest payments on external debt are projected to reach approximately Rs1.1 trillion or nearly $4 billion. Overall, the government may allocate around Rs7.8 trillion for debt servicing.

Pakistan&#39;s external debt largely remained under control this fiscal year after the central bank resorted to buying dollars from the local market. The SBP has bought $27 billion since 2023, according to central bank governor Jameel Ahmad.

In its recent staff level report, the IMF has emphasised that exchange rate flexibility should be the main shock absorber for Pakistan, particularly given the need to continue rebuilding reserves. The lender said efforts to deepen the foreign exchange market should continue, including through a carefully sequenced medium-term foreign exchange market liberalisation.

&quot;While the SBP&#39;s proactive approach to reserve accumulation has helped increase foreign exchange buffers, reserve cover remains too low by standard reserve metrics, and certainly inadequate to support any specific exchange rate,&quot; according to the report.

It added that with the economy now facing the largest external shock since 2022-23, exchange rate flexibility remains the first line of defence should exchange pressures emerge, to allow the interbank market to balance supply and demand efficiently.

There is also a view that if the central bank does not buy dollars from the market, the rupee could further appreciate to around Rs260.]]>
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			<title>Oil edges up on US-Iran deal uncertainty, Oman's Mina al Fahal loading suspension</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611571/oil-edges-up-on-us-iran-deal-uncertainty-omans-mina-al-fahal-loading-suspension</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611571/oil-edges-up-on-us-iran-deal-uncertainty-omans-mina-al-fahal-loading-suspension#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:05:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611571</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Brent crude futures rise 33 cents, or 0.35%, to $95.36 a barrel]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Oil prices rose on Friday, paring sharp losses from the previous session, after Hezbollah rejected a new Lebanon ceasefire proposal and Oman&#39;s Mina al Fahal terminal suspended oil loadings following an explosion.

Brent crude futures rose ​33 cents, or 0.35%, to $95.36 a barrel by 0408 GMT after settling down 2.84% ​in the previous session.

US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate crude was at $93.06 a barrel, up ⁠2 cents, or 0.02%, following a 3.1% loss on Thursday.

Both contracts are set to post ​their first weekly gain in three weeks, with WTI up more than 6%, after fighting flared up ​in the Middle East as US-Iran war-peace talks dragged on while traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world&#39;s oil passes, remained limited.

Reuters reported on Friday that Oman&#39;s Mina al Fahal terminal ​has&nbsp;suspended&nbsp;oil loading following an explosion near its single-buoy mooring (SBM) berths due to an alleged drone ​attack.

Analysts have also flagged concerns of falling oil inventories globally that could cause a price spike in the &zwnj;third quarter.

Hezbollah ⁠leader Naim Qassem&nbsp;rejected on Thursday&nbsp;a US-brokered agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government to halt the fighting. Iran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any peace deal with Washington.

Read:&nbsp;Oil falls as Lebanon and Israel agree on a ceasefire

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&nbsp;said on Thursday he believed progress was being made between Israel and ​Lebanon and that Lebanon deserved ​to have peace.

&quot;Any ⁠optimism remains heavily clouded by a tangled web of headlines and counter-headlines,&quot; IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

&quot;From a technical perspective, as ​long as (WTI) crude oil remains above trendline support in the low $80s, the ​risks remain ⁠skewed to the upside&quot;.

OPEC is sticking to its&nbsp;oil demand growth forecast&nbsp;of 1.2 million barrels per day for this year, Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said on Thursday, despite the Middle East conflict and ⁠closure ​of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian oil exports&nbsp;have fallen to ​their lowest level in six years, mainly due to the US&nbsp;naval blockade, according to shipping data, although&nbsp;weak demand in ​China&nbsp;has depressed prices for the oil.]]>
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			<title>Riyadh asked again to set up Gwadar refinery</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611508/riyadh-asked-again-to-set-up-gwadar-refinery</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611508/riyadh-asked-again-to-set-up-gwadar-refinery#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:31:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[ZAFAR BHUTTA]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611508</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Port city emerges as transit trade hub; however, meeting with Saudi team delayed]]>
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				<![CDATA[With increasing trade and business activities at Gwadar, Pakistan has again pushed Saudi Arabia to set up an oil refinery worth $10 billion in the port city.

Activity at Gwadar Port has jumped up to 30% in recent months in the backdrop of US-Israel-Iran war as more and more ships arrive at Pakistani ports for transshipment. Gwadar has emerged as a transit hub and a further rise in activities is expected in the coming months.

Pakistan&#39;s government is currently looking towards Saudi Arabia, which earlier explored the potential of establishing an oil refinery and strategic fuel reserves at Gwadar Port.

Officials from both countries were scheduled to engage in meetings on Thursday but those were cancelled.

The minister for maritime affairs and other officials of the ministry recently offered several projects to the kingdom, particularly the development of an oil refinery at Gwadar, during an online meeting with Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council Chairman Mansour bin Mohammed Al Saud and other participants.

The business council chairman was set to lead a Saudi team for further discussions with Pakistani authorities on Thursday but the meeting was postponed.

The Pakistani side has also sought Saudi investment in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals at Karachi Port. The maritime minister has got vacated 100 acres of land at the port, which he is seeking to offer to industries. Saudi Arabia has also shown interest in setting up a petrochemical complex there.

The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is taking the lead to secure investment from Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Islamabad in 2019, when he announced potential investments of $20 billion. Of the total, Riyadh was to inject $10 billion into setting up an oil refinery.

However, the investment did not arrive. Now, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a defence pact and following the US-Iran war, the two countries have inched closer. Therefore, Pakistan feels it is the right time Saudi Arabia makes the stalled investment.

Saudi investors have two key observations about the investment environment in Pakistan. First is the inconsistency of policies and the second is bureaucratic hurdles that are impeding capital inflows.

Pakistan has already approved an oil refinery policy to pave the way for Saudi investment while the SIFC is striving to dismantle bureaucratic hurdles. According to sources, upcoming discussions between the two countries are expected to unlock the investment potential.

Pakistan has also offered Saudi Arabia to acquire 15% shares in the $100 billion Reko Diq copper and gold mining project in Balochistan. Additionally, an Energy City has been planned for Gwadar Port, where the government has offered oil-producing nations to build strategic reserves.

Saudi Arabia is a major oil producer that could develop strategic reserves in Pakistan. Oil-producing countries could not only maintain the reserves but they could also export to other countries, officials said, adding, however, that the first right of use would remain with Pakistan&#39;s government.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has held meetings with ambassadors of different countries to encourage them to set up strategic oil reserves. According to him, Pakistan will also offer tax holiday to the investors building oil deposits in the country.

Pakistan is the only country in the region that has no strategic reserves. It is just keeping commercial reserves, which are held by oil marketing companies and oil refineries.]]>
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			<title>IMF no excuse to squeeze industry</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611510/imf-no-excuse-to-squeeze-industry</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611510/imf-no-excuse-to-squeeze-industry#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:31:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Usman Hanif]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611510</guid>
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				<![CDATA[PBF laments growth stuck at 3% for 4 years; warns new taxes risk stagnation]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan business community says the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme is no excuse to squeeze businesses and the public through the budget, arguing that the success of the upcoming fiscal plan will depend on the government&#39;s ability to raise revenue from under-taxed sectors rather than placing the bulk of the burden on the already documented business community.

&quot;IMF programme is no excuse to squeeze businesses and the public through the budget,&quot; said Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad, speaking to The Express Tribune. Pakistan&#39;s economic growth has remained stuck at an average of around 3% over the past four years, underscoring the urgent need for policies that encourage investment, industrial production and job creation.

&quot;The decision to enter the IMF programme was the government&#39;s own choice. However, the IMF does not require governments to place an additional burden on the business community and the public every year. If the economy is to move forward, meaningful relief measures must be introduced,&quot; Jawad said.

He argued that revenue mobilisation should not come at the expense of compliant taxpayers and formal-sector businesses, warning that additional taxation in the upcoming budget could further dampen economic activity.

&quot;The need to seek external financial assistance from the IMF reflected underlying governance and fiscal weaknesses,&quot; commented Growth Securities Head of Research Nasheed Malik. However, he acknowledged that IMF-supported programmes help enforce fiscal discipline and prevent excessive spending. The IMF is primarily concerned with recovering its money and ensuring programme targets are met. It does not focus on how policies affect citizens. That responsibility rests with the government, he said.

According to Jawad, Pakistan&#39;s cost of doing business is currently around 34% higher than that of many regional competitors, reducing the competitiveness of local industries in international markets. He cautioned that imposing fresh taxes could slow investment and push the economy closer to stagnation at a time when growth remains fragile.

The PBF official pointed to a written submission by the Ministry of Commerce to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, which acknowledged several structural factors behind the country&#39;s elevated business costs. These include an anti-export bias within the tax regime, limited access to financing, high energy tariffs that undermine industrial competitiveness, and inadequate trade facilitation measures that increase compliance requirements and transaction costs. He said the ministry&#39;s assessment validated concerns repeatedly raised by the business community and highlighted the need for meaningful reforms in the upcoming budget to improve competitiveness, boost exports, attract investment and accelerate economic growth.

Dr Jazib Mumtaz, an expert in public finance and trade at IBA, said the economy had attained a degree of stability over the past four years, but the next challenge was generating sustainable growth.

&quot;The government has an opportunity to accelerate economic activity by providing meaningful support to the industrial sector. Policy priorities should increasingly focus on growth and investment while preserving the gains made in stability,&quot; he said.

Mumtaz argued that revenue generation should not rely solely on additional taxation of compliant sectors. Instead, he recommended broadening the tax base by bringing under-taxed and undocumented segments of the economy, including retail and wholesale trade, real estate and informal businesses, into the tax net.

Among its proposals for the June 10 budget, the PBF has called for the abolition of the petroleum levy and its replacement with an 18% general sales tax on petroleum products, arguing that such a move would create a more transparent taxation framework.

The forum also emphasised the importance of agriculture, particularly cotton, which Jawad described as Pakistan&#39;s &quot;white gold&quot;. He called for targeted incentives and support measures to revive cotton production, strengthen the textile value chain and reduce reliance on imported cotton.

The PBF further urged the government to introduce concrete budgetary initiatives to develop the blue economy and modernise agriculture, arguing that both sectors possess substantial untapped potential to support exports and sustainable economic growth.

&quot;The government must decide whether investment capital should flow towards industry and exports or continue to be diverted into real estate and speculative activities,&quot; Jawad said. The business body also recommended introducing a simplified one-page tax return system in place of the current lengthy filing procedure. According to the forum, a simpler tax regime would encourage compliance and help broaden the tax base.

Addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Jawad said the business community still expected the government to provide a clear direction through policies that support growth, investment and economic stability.

&quot;The upcoming budget should restore confidence by reducing business costs, encouraging productive investment and simplifying taxation,&quot; he said.

To improve export competitiveness and stimulate industrial expansion, Mumtaz suggested restoring the final tax regime for exporters, gradually phasing out the super tax, ensuring timely sales tax refunds and lowering corporate income tax rates.]]>
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			<title>'New industrial power tariff optional'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611512/new-industrial-power-tariff-optional</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611512/new-industrial-power-tariff-optional#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:31:45 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611512</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Power Division says two-part policy offers lower variable rates, higher fixed charges; consumers free to stay on exist]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Power Division said on Thursday that the new two-part tariff policy for industries is optional, and industrial consumers will have the freedom to choose whether to opt for this alternative regime or remain on the existing tariff structure.

In a statement, the division said there will be no compulsion for any consumer to switch to the two-part tariff policy. The division issued the statement after a story published in The Express Tribune that the government had shared a new plan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to link the fixed cost of electricity bills with consumption from the national grid.

The Power Division said the proposed tariff structure is based on a different cost allocation mechanism, featuring relatively higher fixed charges coupled with lower variable energy charges differentiated across various time periods, including solar generation hours and night-time hours. The objective is to provide consumers with an alternative tariff option that may better align with their operational and consumption patterns, according to the division.

It said the proposed tariff design is intended to benefit process industries and other consumers operating on a 24/7 basis with high utilisation factors and stable demand profiles. Such consumers may find the alternative tariff structure more economical and predictable.

Any industrial consumer who determines that the proposed tariff does not suit its operational requirements can simply continue under the existing tariff regime without any adverse consequences, it added.

However, the Power Division did not officially clarify whether, once an industrial consumer opts for the policy, it can immediately switch back to the normal tariff regime if consumption from the national grid falls significantly.

The Power Division said public discourse on energy sector reforms should be guided by accurate facts and technical understanding. It said the optional tariff offering should not be characterised as a punitive measure against solar adoption, as this risks creating unnecessary confusion among consumers and stakeholders.

According to the proposal shared with the IMF, fixed costs will be spread over higher sales, which would also reduce the per unit cost of electricity. The government hopes that an increase in demand of approximately 1,000 MW could materialise within six to 12 months of implementation, although actual outcomes will depend on market response and participation levels. At present, the energy cost for all consumers is much higher than the fixed cost being charged from them, although the government has been constantly increasing fixed prices for quite some time.

The Power Division believes there is no incentive for industrial consumers to increase their consumption to keep electricity bills low.

A spokesman said many industrial consumers maintain a high sanctioned load or maximum demand indicator capacity but consume relatively low amounts of energy. He said the power sector must still maintain generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure standby availability for these consumers. This infrastructure carries fixed costs regardless of actual energy consumption.]]>
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			<title>Israeli army warns residents of 3 Lebanese towns to evacuate despite renewed ceasefire</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611567/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-be-managed-jointly-with-oman-under-international-law</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611567/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-be-managed-jointly-with-oman-under-international-law#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 04:54:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611567</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Israeli army on Friday issued an urgent evacuation warning to residents in the Lebanese towns and villages of Arnaya, also known as Arnaba, Anqoun, and Kfar Fila, despite the renewed ceasefire.

The army told residents to evacuate their homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away from the towns and villages to open areas.

The warning came despite a fragile ceasefire in place since April 17, which Washington extended until early July, and amid continued diplomatic efforts to preserve it and prevent its collapse.

Israel kills 4 in a dozen attacks on southern Lebanon

Israel killed four people and wounded at least 14 others Friday in a dozen attacks on Lebanon, despite efforts to shore up a ceasefire, according to an Anadolu tally based on statements from Lebanon&rsquo;s state-run National News Agency.

The tally covered attacks reported as of 1:12pm PKT.

In the Nabatieh province, one person was killed and another wounded when an Israeli strike targeted a building near a police station in the town of Doueir, destroying it.

Three more people were killed in another Israeli strike on the same town, raising the death toll there to four, the agency reported.

Israeli drones also launched a series of strikes on the towns of Habboush and Abba, as well as on a motorcycle near the Popular Aid junction, wounding one person.

The escalation also included artillery shelling that targeted Kfar Rumman, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and the outskirts of Choukin and Mayfadoun, while an Israeli drone struck the area around the Harouf-Toul roundabout.

In Tyre, 12 people were wounded in a strike near Jabal Amel Hospital that destroyed a building belonging to Bank Audi. Civil defense teams transferred the wounded to the hospital, the agency reported.

The attacks came despite a fragile cease-fire in place since April 17, which Washington extended until early July, and amid continued diplomatic efforts to preserve it and prevent its collapse.

Netanyahu reportedly said &lsquo;no agreement&rsquo; while Hezbollah opposed to Lebanon ceasefire

Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel&rsquo;s government has not yet approved the implementation of a &quot;ceasefire&quot; between Israel and the Lebanese government, according to Al Jazeera.

&ldquo;There is currently no agreement; Hezbollah is opposed, and therefore I am not making a decision. If they agree, I will bring it to your approval,&rdquo; Netanyahu is reported to have said at a security cabinet meeting on Thursday evening.

Israeli army claims Hezbollah commander killed in Lebanon

The Israeli army claimed that it killed Abdul Harb, a commander in Hezbollah&rsquo;s engineering unit, in a strike last week. The Lebanese group has not confirmed the killing, according to Al Jazeera.

In a statement on X, the army claimed Harb was involved in assembling and activating explosives aimed at Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.



‼️پس از تلاش برای هدف قرار دادن نیروهای ما: فرمانده یگان مهندسی حزب&zwnj;الله به هلاکت رسید و سکویی که به سوی نیروهای ما شلیک کرده بود منهدم شد

❌ارتش اسرائیل هفته گذشته حمله کرده و تروریست عبد حرب، فرمانده یگان مهندسی سازمان تروریستی حزب&zwnj;الله را به هلاکت رساند.

⭕️این تروریست&hellip; pic.twitter.com/UymuB14hn6
&mdash; ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) June 5, 2026


It described him as a senior Hezbollah commander who had been involved in attacks on Israeli forces since the 2006 Lebanon war.

The Israeli army also said its air force struck and destroyed a launcher overnight, claiming Hezbollah fighters had used it to fire rockets at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Iran and Oman will jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law.

In remarks carried by Iran&rsquo;s state broadcaster IRIB, citing Lebanon&rsquo;s Al Mayadeen TV, Araghchi said Iran and Oman, as the two countries bordering the strategic waterway, have the &ldquo;natural right&rdquo; to coordinate and make decisions regarding its management.



📍Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi states that the two countries bordering the strategic waterway have the &#39;natural right&#39; to coordinate and make decisions regarding its management&hellip; pic.twitter.com/3oBQROtTa0
&mdash; Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) June 4, 2026


He said Tehran would exchange views with Gulf countries over developments related to the strait but stressed that decisions concerning its administration would ultimately be made by Iran and Oman.



In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that during his tours in the Gulf region, he had already conveyed to all the countries of the region that Iran does not want war, but if war is imposed on it, then Tehran will certainly&hellip; pic.twitter.com/ni93lwmluZ
&mdash; Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 4, 2026


Araghchi said efforts by both sides are aimed at ensuring safe passage for all ships through the strait in accordance with international law.

In the same interview, Araghchi said communication with Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains ongoing and that his directives are received &ldquo;in due time&rdquo; and implemented precisely.

He also said there is broad national consensus around Iran&rsquo;s leadership and that state affairs are proceeding &ldquo;in a very good direction.&rdquo;

Tehran says Germany&rsquo;s UNSC seat loss reflects &lsquo;global outrage&rsquo; over Gaza, war on Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmael Baghaei has said Germany&rsquo;s recent failure to secure a non-permanent seat on the powerful UN Security Council amounts to &ldquo;a stark rebuke from the international community&rdquo; driven by &ldquo;growing global outrage&rdquo; over Berlin&rsquo;s policies on Gaza and Iran, as per Al Jazeera.

Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, writing on X, accused Germany of &ldquo;irresponsible, hypocritical, and complicit&rdquo; behaviour, saying it has &ldquo;consistently justified the genocide of Palestinians&rdquo; and is &ldquo;one of the largest suppliers of lethal weapons to Israel&rdquo;.



Germany&rsquo;s failure to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council &mdash; for the first time in decades &mdash; is a stark rebuke from the international community. It reflects growing global outrage over the German ruling establishment&rsquo;s irresponsible, hypocritical, and complicit&hellip;
&mdash; Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 5, 2026


&ldquo;When the Israeli regime launched its aggression on Iran, Berlin refused to condemn it,&rdquo; Baghaei wrote.

&ldquo;Instead, it shamelessly described it as &lsquo;dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us&rsquo;.&rdquo;

&ldquo;The world is changing,&rdquo; Baghaei stated.

&ldquo;Nations are no longer judging governments by their lofty rhetoric about international law, but by their actual behaviour. Those who choose to ignore this shift will inevitably pay a heavy diplomatic price.&rdquo;

Top Iranian military adviser says missiles were ready after Israeli threats to Beirut&rsquo;s southern suburbs

A top military adviser to Iran&rsquo;s supreme leader said on Thursday that missiles were ready to be launched after Israeli threats to target Beirut&rsquo;s southern suburbs, reaffirming support for Hezbollah.

Read: Kuwait airport attack kills one, injures at least 63, damages terminal building

In an interview with Iranian state television, Mohsen Rezaei said Israel sought to pressure Lebanon in an attempt to influence negotiations with Iran.

He warned Israel to leave Lebanon, saying the country would be &ldquo;an inseparable part of any agreement.&rdquo;

Rezaei said Iran remains committed to supporting its allies, particularly Hezbollah, which &ldquo;sacrificed lives&rdquo; during the recent war.

&ldquo;A state that does not support its allies loses credibility,&rdquo; he added.

The Iranian official also warned that any confrontation would place northern Israel under conditions &ldquo;far more difficult&rdquo; than those seen during the 40-day war.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Rezaei described the strategic waterway as &ldquo;a strong deterrence arm&rdquo; in Iran&rsquo;s hands.

&ldquo;The Strait of Hormuz is open for trade, not for military presence,&rdquo; he said, accusing Washington of maintaining maritime pressure despite the continued movement of commercial shipping.

Rezaei also called for the release of at least $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds to help build trust in negotiations.

US House blocks Lebanon war powers resolution

The US House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a war powers resolution aimed at preventing US military involvement in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, where airstrikes by Israel have killed thousands since early March.

Read more: US House votes to rein in Trump war powers

The &quot;Lebanon War Powers Resolution,&quot; introduced by Representative Rashida Tlaib, failed in a 92-324 vote, with two members voting present. The measure sought to direct the president to remove any US armed forces present in Lebanon out of the country within seven days of adoption.

Following the vote, Tlaib expressed deep regret over the outcome but vowed to press forward with her efforts. In a statement, she said her resolution was a critical step toward ending US participation in &quot;the Israeli apartheid regime&#39;s ongoing brutal invasion, indiscriminate bombing, and ethnic cleansing campaign in Lebanon.&quot;

While Tlaib lamented that &quot;far too many&quot; of her colleagues failed to recognize the severity of the situation in Lebanon, she expressed gratitude to the lawmakers who voted in favor of the measure.

&quot;This fight is not over,&quot; Tlaib said. &quot;The Lebanese people continue to be subjected to violent forced displacement, illegal military occupation, and deadly US-funded bombs.&quot;

She added that she looks forward to House Democratic leadership &quot;swiftly delivering on their promise to support H.Con.Res. 108, a new Lebanon War Powers Resolution, and reassert Congressional authority to put an end to US. participation in this unjust invasion.&quot;

Earlier Thursday, House Democratic leadership had announced that they would vote against Tlaib&rsquo;s initial resolution, opting instead to signal support for another war powers resolution that Tlaib introduced on Wednesday.

&quot;We stand with the Lebanese people, the government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces in their efforts to live peacefully and defeat Hezbollah, a violent terrorist organization that is a sworn enemy of the United States,&quot; Democratic leaders said in a joint statement.

The statement also emphasized that they did not support any effort by the Trump administration to entangle the United States in a war in Lebanon or other parts of the Middle East. It noted that &quot;currently, there are no US service members involved in combat operations or hostilities in Lebanon.&quot;

The vote comes a day after Lebanon and Israel agreed to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish &ldquo;pilot zones&rdquo; placing the Lebanese army in exclusive territorial control, with all non-state actors excluded.

The agreement was announced in a joint statement released following a fourth round of US-mediated talks held at the State Department on Wednesday.

Trump says he does not need deal with Iran to get enriched uranium

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Washington did not need a deal with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country.

Also read: Trump says US to remove Iran&#39;s high-level enriched uranium in &lsquo;near future&rsquo;

&quot;We could get it right now. I don&#39;t think they could stop us if we wanted, but there&#39;s no reason to. It&#39;s entombed,&quot; he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump also said that he did not want to meet with Iran&#39;s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

But he added that if Washington and Tehran reached a deal, it was possible that the two would meet and added: &quot;If it happened ... I&#39;d be respectful&quot;.

MORE MODERATE SHOOTING

Along with Lebanon, residents of Gaza, northern Israel ​and Kuwait have all been under fire this week, despite&nbsp;U.S.-arranged ceasefires&nbsp;that Trump said on Wednesday involved &quot;shooting in a more moderate manner,&quot; rather than a total halt to fighting.

Iranian and U.S. forces traded attacks in the Gulf on Wednesday in one of the most intense bouts of fighting since early April, when a ceasefire halted large-scale hostilities.

Iranian forces struck Kuwait&#39;s airport, killing one ​person and injuring more than 60, authorities said, while the U.S. military launched strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.

In Oman, an alleged drone attack&nbsp;forced the suspension&nbsp;​of oil loading at the Mina al Fahal terminal after an explosion, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

&nbsp;

Item 1 of 6 Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 5, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

[1/6]Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 5, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer&nbsp;Purchase Licensing&nbsp;Rights, opens new tab

&nbsp;

A fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies &zwnj;go through the ⁠strait in normal times, but it has been largely closed since the war began three months ago.

Iranian oil exports have fallen to their lowest in six years, shipping data show, but global&nbsp;oil prices&nbsp;fell about 3% on hopes that the Lebanon ceasefire could help Washington and Iran find a diplomatic off-ramp from their war.

There has been little evidence of diplomatic progress, though Trump has repeatedly declared since late March that a deal is close.

Trump, under pressure at home to bring down fuel ​prices ahead of November&#39;s congressional elections, received ​a rare rebuke from the House ⁠of Representatives on Wednesday, when it voted to&nbsp;block him&nbsp;from continuing the war, a largely symbolic gesture as Trump is unlikely to sign it into law.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran&#39;s enemies had already been defeated on ​the battlefield and were now seeking to sow internal divisions.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since he succeeded ​his father, who was ⁠killed in an airstrike at the start of the war.

Tehran wants access to billions of dollars in oil revenue, waivers on sanctions on crude exports, a lifting of a US&nbsp;blockade on its ports and leverage over the strait.

Trump, who has said his&nbsp;top priority&nbsp;is to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, told reporters Washington did not ⁠need a deal ​with Iran to get enriched uranium from the country.

&quot;I don&#39;t think they could stop us if ​we wanted, but there&#39;s no reason to,&quot; he said in the Oval Office. &quot;It&#39;s entombed.&quot;

Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.

The UN&nbsp;nuclear watchdog said on Thursday it found Iran&#39;s nuclear program&nbsp;largely ​unchanged&nbsp;despite three months of war.]]>
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			<title>Yemen’s Houthi leader says group ready for escalation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611577/yemens-houthi-leader-says-group-ready-for-escalation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611577/yemens-houthi-leader-says-group-ready-for-escalation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:53:31 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Abdul-Malik al-Houthi says region in ‘critical stage,’ calls for greater awareness]]>
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				<![CDATA[The leader of Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi group said on Thursday that it is ready for escalation and remains in &ldquo;full coordination&rdquo; with its regional allies.

In a televised speech broadcast by the group&rsquo;s Al-Masirah TV channel, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the Houthis were prepared for &ldquo;any round of escalation or any developments within the current situation.&rdquo;

He stressed that the group remains in &ldquo;full coordination&rdquo; with its allies in the &lsquo;Axis of Resistance&rsquo; regarding developments in Lebanon and Palestine, as well as what he described as &ldquo;unjust and aggressive&rdquo; US measures in the region.

Al-Houthi also warned regional parties against attempts by Washington to drag them into fighting &ldquo;in service of Israel&rdquo;.

The Houthi leader said the region was passing through a &ldquo;critical stage&rdquo; and called for a high level of awareness and responsibility.

Read: Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law

He accused Israel of committing &ldquo;clear crimes&rdquo; in Palestine and Lebanon and pursuing broader aggressive goals across the region.

Separately, the Foreign Ministry in the Houthis&rsquo; unrecognised government expressed support for Lebanon&rsquo;s Hezbollah group regarding what it described as the appropriate response to the agreement signed between &ldquo;the authority in Beirut and the Israeli enemy entity&rdquo;.

In a statement carried by the group&rsquo;s Saba News Agency, the ministry said &ldquo;resistance&rdquo; remained the most effective option to halt Israeli attacks and end the occupation of Lebanese territory.

Regional tensions have escalated since late February after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, killing more than 3,000 people.

Tehran, in retaliation, has targeted Israel and Gulf countries that host US bases and closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global shipping.

A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire took effect on April 8, and efforts to reach a broader agreement have continued since then.]]>
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			<title>Trump lawyers deny BBC access to financial details in $10b lawsuit, FT says</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611575/trump-lawyers-deny-bbc-access-to-financial-details-in-10-billion-lawsuit-ft-says</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611575/trump-lawyers-deny-bbc-access-to-financial-details-in-10-billion-lawsuit-ft-says#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:36:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[He accuses publicly funded broadcaster of defaming him by splicing together parts of a January 6, 2021]]>
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				<![CDATA[US President Donald Trump&#39;s legal team has refused to hand over financial information sought by BBC lawyers in his $10-billion defamation case against the broadcaster, the Financial Times said on Friday, citing court filings.

Trump has accused the publicly funded broadcaster of defaming him by splicing together parts of a January 6, 2021, speech to make it appear that he directed supporters to storm the US Capitol.

The impetus for Trump&#39;s request to delay &quot;appears to be the flat refusal by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust&thinsp;.&thinsp;.&thinsp;.&thinsp; to provide any financial information under subpoena&quot;, the newspaper cited the BBC as saying in a court filing.

That action came despite Trump&#39;s claims that the BBC injured &quot;the value of his brand, properties, and businesses&quot; and the president&rsquo;s &quot;own refusal, to date, to provide any financial information in discovery&quot;, the paper added.

Trump&#39;s lawsuit, filed in Florida in December, says the BBC violated a state law that bars deceptive and unfair trade practices. He is seeking damages of at least $5 billion on each of its two counts.

The broadcaster and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Trump&rsquo;s legal team told the newspaper the BBC was liable for &quot;intentionally and maliciously defaming him by distorting and manipulating his speech&quot;.

Read: US House votes for measure that would end Iran war, in blow to Trump

In a statement, the spokesperson added, &quot;President Trump will continue to hold accountable the BBC and all those who traffic in fake news.&quot;

Trust managed by Trump&#39;s eldest son

In its bid to ascertain the documentary&#39;s financial impact, the BBC has subpoenaed the trust, managed by Trump&#39;s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, as the sole trustee, which holds the president&rsquo;s business interests and assets, the paper said.

The BBC legal team has sought financial documents that reflect the trust&#39;s holdings and value, assets, inventories and properties, the paper added, citing court filings from May that it viewed.

The request covers almost 400 entities owned by or associated with the trust, as well as requests for tax returns, the paper said.

The documentary, first broadcast in 2024 shortly before a presidential election Trump won, featured a section in which he told supporters to march on the Capitol and another, from nearly an hour later, where he said, &quot;Fight like hell.&quot;

The BBC apologised to Trump for the edit, but wants his lawsuit thrown out. Trump&#39;s subsequent reelection showed the alleged defamation did not harm his reputation, the broadcaster said in court papers released in March.]]>
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			<title>China's Xi to visit North Korea next week</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611574/chinas-xi-to-visit-north-korea-next-week</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611574/chinas-xi-to-visit-north-korea-next-week#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:27:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Beijing is vital source of political, economic support to North Korea]]>
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				<![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week, state media said Friday, the latest in a series of high-level summits as Beijing asserts its position as a diplomatic superpower on the world stage.

State broadcaster CCTV said that Xi would visit from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his first trip to Pyongyang in seven years.

Beijing is a vital source of political and economic support to North Korea, which is one of the most diplomatically isolated countries in the world and under heavy international sanctions.

The upcoming meeting will be Xi&#39;s first official trip abroad this year, and comes after he hosted back-to-back summits with US President Donald Trump and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin last month.

&quot;China is meeting leaders from around the world, coordinating positions and playing a mediating role,&quot; Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at South Korea&#39;s Kyungnam University, told AFP.

&quot;As China&#39;s international standing rises, Beijing is likely seeking to draw Pyongyang more actively into its diplomatic orbit as a partner in advancing a more multilateral order&quot;.

Pyongyang depends on China for up to 95 per cent of total trade and 85 per cent of its exports, according to 2022 statistics from the National Committee on North Korea, a Washington-based think tank.

Read:&nbsp;North Korea, China to resume passenger train service after six-year gap

But North Korea has drawn closer to Russia in recent years, particularly since Moscow&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Pyongyang sending thousands of troops and weapons to support the war effort.

&#39;In return, analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food and energy, helping it circumvent sanctions over its banned nuclear programmes.
Xi&#39;s choice of Pyongyang for his first overseas trip of 2026 is &quot;a deliberate visual rebuttal to the prevailing read in Western capitals that Pyongyang had quietly migrated into Moscow&#39;s orbit&quot;, said Seong-Hyon Lee from the George HW&nbsp;Bush Foundation for US-China Relations.

Managing the relationship

Xi last met Kim in September, when he invited the North Korean leader and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin as guests of honour to a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over imperial Japan in World War II.

In 2019, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were welcomed to North Korea with great pomp and fanfare to celebrate the two countries&#39; &quot;unbreakable friendship&quot;.

Prior to that trip, no Chinese leader had visited the North since Hu Jintao in 2005.

Beijing&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a visit to Pyongyang in April that China and Korea should &quot;enhance coordination&quot; on international and regional issues and &quot;maintain close communication and interaction&quot;.

China&#39;s interests include keeping an eye on North Korea&#39;s nuclear programme, the advancement of which is &quot;extremely rapid&quot;, Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) told AFP.

&quot;This aspect needs to be managed. If North Korea acts in a provocative and belligerent manner, it could trigger regional conflict, which could run counter to China&#39;s interests,&quot; Hong said.

Kim vowed an &quot;exponential&quot; increase in nuclear military capabilities on Wednesday as he visited a new atomic facility, Pyongyang&#39;s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

Read more:&nbsp;China, North Korea make winning starts

South Korea&#39;s foreign ministry has said it hopes exchanges between North Korea and China contribute to peace and stability, and that China can play a constructive role.

Pyongyang has repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary.

Analysts have viewed Xi&#39;s recent diplomatic flurry as part of attempts to position China as a stable, strategic alternative to an unpredictable United States.

Traditional US allies, including Britain&#39;s Keir Starmer and France&#39;s Emmanuel Macron, have also come to Beijing.

However, Hong, of KINU, judged the chances that Xi might help broker a meeting between Trump and Kim as &quot;very low&quot;.]]>
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			<title>India's 'Cockroach Party' chief flies to New Delhi for protest</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611573/indias-cockroach-party-chief-flies-to-new-delhi-for-protest</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611573/indias-cockroach-party-chief-flies-to-new-delhi-for-protest#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:23:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[India tightly regulates social media content, some of CJP's social media handles are blocked]]>
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				<![CDATA[The founder of India&#39;s satirical online &quot;Cockroach People&#39;s Party&quot; said he was flying back to New Delhi on Friday to take the viral social media campaign to the streets.
Abhijeet Dipke, the 30-year-old Boston University graduate behind the online movement, said he was flying back from the United States to seek police permission for a peaceful protest on Saturday against the education minister.

The parody &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; (CJP) -- echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- has won millions of online followers on social media since its launch last month.

CJP was set up after India&#39;s Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called young people who criticised the government &quot;cockroaches&quot; and &quot;parasites&quot; during a hearing. Kant later said his comments were taken out of context.

Dipke, a political communications strategist who formerly worked with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), created the fictional party online on May 16.
Its popularity has soared, using the slogan &quot;a political front for the youth, by the youth, for the youth&quot;.

&#39;Overwhelming response&#39;

Dipke has called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced criticism over alleged irregularities in several key examinations.
&quot;On my way to India... Leaving my fate in the hands of the Constitution,&quot; Dipke wrote in a post on X on Friday.

Sonam Wangchuk, 59, a prominent activist from India&#39;s Ladakh region, who spent six months in detention after being arrested in September following deadly protests demanding autonomy for the Himalayan territory, has said he will join the protests.

Read:&nbsp;India&#39;s &#39;cockroach&#39; youth party plans street protests

India tightly regulates social media content, and some of the CJP&#39;s social media handles have been blocked.

But its Instagram handle, still online in India, has more than 22 million followers -- more than double the BJP&#39;s nine million followers on the same site, as well as the main opposition Congress Party&#39;s 13 million followers.

Dipke earlier called on followers not to gather at the airport upon his arrival.

&quot;The overwhelming response from those who want the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan to our call to join us at Delhi Airport was beyond our imagination,&quot; he said, in a video message on X, posted on Thursday.

&quot;It is not feasible for so many people to assemble at the airport as it would cause inconvenience to the public and the security forces,&quot; he said.

He said he would go immediately to the police &quot;to seek permission directly for our peaceful protest&quot; on Saturday.

&quot;We are law-abiding citizens and have to act responsibly,&quot; he added. &quot;So, please, be mindful that nobody should create any kind of disturbance&quot;.]]>
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			<title>Wind from Milky Way's supermassive black hole is finally discovered</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611595/wind-from-milky-ways-supermassive-black-hole-is-finally-discovered</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611595/wind-from-milky-ways-supermassive-black-hole-is-finally-discovered#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 09:32:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611595</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Galaxies typically have supermassive black hole at core that pulls in gas and other material in surroundings]]>
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				<![CDATA[After five decades of trying, astronomers have finally discovered the wind emanating from the supermassive black hole at ​the&nbsp;center of our Milky Way galaxy, though it turns out it is more of a gentle breeze than a hurricane.

Using data from the Chile-based &zwnj;ALMA telescope and NASA&#39;s orbiting Chandra X-ray Observatory, the researchers viewed the cosmic neighborhood around the black hole - called Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A* for short.

They spotted a vast conical cavity filled with hot, electrically charged gas adjacent to Sgr A* that they concluded was sculpted by wind blowing from the black hole that swept away or heated up the cold gas that had populated the region. They ​said the energy needed to create such a cavity could be generated only by a supermassive black hole.

Black holes are extraordinarily dense objects with gravity so ​strong that not even light can escape. Galaxies typically have a supermassive black hole at their core that pulls in gas and ⁠other material in its surroundings.

Scientists decades ago posited that any active supermassive black hole, due to its physics, would expel some gas and other material into space - either ​as a wind propagating outward or as a focused jet. They subsequently identified such behavior in numerous supermassive black holes in other galaxies, but until now had been unable to ​demonstrate that Sgr A* also did this.

&quot;This discovery resolves a half-century-old mystery,&quot; said Lena Murchikova, a professor of physics and astronomy at Northwestern University in Illinois and co-leader of the study published this week in the&nbsp;Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Sgr A*&nbsp;possesses about 4 million times the mass of our Sun and is located about 26,000 light-years from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, ​5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). It is not as massive as some of its counterparts in other galaxies, and has been determined to be in a relatively quiescent phase.

Read:&nbsp;Astronomers detect Milky Way&#39;s second-largest known black hole

The ​tip of the cone-shaped cavity arises from the immediate vicinity of Sgr A* and expands outward. While the researchers are not certain of the scale of the cavity because it reaches beyond &zwnj;the field ⁠of view of their observations, Murchikova said it could extend to about 6.5 light-years in length.

&quot;While some gas keeps falling in, other gas is ejected. In fact, more of the gas ​is ejected than falls ⁠into the black hole. This ejected gas is the wind we are talking about,&quot; Murchikova said. &quot;When we look at distant galaxies far-far away, it is much easier to see violent phenomena. We see huge, powerful jets ripping through the galaxy and everything else in their path. We see violent winds ejecting nearly all gas from their galaxies&quot;.

The difference between a jet and ⁠a wind is ​purely geometric.

&quot;Jets are narrow and don&#39;t expand very much as they leave their source, often producing a ​beam of matter. Winds, however, are wider and expand as they leave their source. It&#39;s almost like the difference between a laser pointer and a flashlight,&quot; Gorski said.]]>
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			<title>Broadcom set to shed $300 billion in value as AI results fail to impress</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611596/broadcom-set-to-shed-300-billion-in-value-as-ai-results-fail-to-impress</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611596/broadcom-set-to-shed-300-billion-in-value-as-ai-results-fail-to-impress#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 09:40:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611596</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shares slump over 14% as weak AI chip demand wipes $315b value, chip peers fall]]>
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				<![CDATA[Broadcom shares slumped more than 14% ​on Thursday, dragging chip peers lower, after the company&#39;s results fell short of lofty expectations around demand for its &zwnj;custom AI chips business.

The losses, if sustained, will erase more than $315 billion from the company&#39;s market value of about $2.268 trillion, in one of the biggest one-day wipeouts ever.

Broadcom&#39;s crucial role in helping design in-house processors of firms like Alphabet&nbsp;and Meta that serve as alternatives to Nvidia&#39;s&nbsp;costly chips has made it one ​of the biggest winners of the AI boom.

After years of treading water, its stock has jumped more than eightfold since ​ChatGPT&#39;s 2022 launch.

Shares have climbed 38% this year, as of last close, including a 15% rally in ⁠the two weeks ahead of its earnings after rival Marvell Technology&#39;s strong results.

But Broadcom faces tougher competition and its eye-watering gains ​have left little room for error, analysts said, adding the decision to reiterate, rather than raise, its $100 billion AI revenue forecast for fiscal ​2027 disappointed investors.

Its second-quarter revenue of $22.19 billion also missed expectations, while its current-quarter AI chip sales forecast of $16 billion was slightly below Wall Street estimates.

Read:&nbsp;Meta fixes massive AI assistant vulnerability after hackers seize Instagram accounts

Still, the $16 billion would mark an over three-fold jump from about $5.2 billion a year ago. The $100 billion forecast given in March also shows how quickly the company ​has gained ground in the chip race. AI revenue stood at just $20.2 billion in fiscal 2025.

It is &quot;a classic case of very ​high expectations meeting a market that wanted perfection,&quot; Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said. &quot;Broadcom is one of the more exciting names in &zwnj;the ⁠AI infrastructure buildout, but it also came into results as one of the higher-risk names&quot;.

Sector feels the heat

The results sparked a selloff in chip stocks, with Marvell down nearly 5%, while AMD, Intel, Micron, and Qualcomm fell between 1.6% and 6.5%. The stocks had gained sharply earlier this week thanks to a flurry of positive announcements at Computex.

To be sure, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan said the company ​now expects to ship more than ​10 gigawatts&#39; worth of AI ⁠chips in 2027, a slight increase from previous estimates.

Executives also said the company was &quot;very comfortable&quot; amid the memory chip supply crunch, having secured supply for 2026 and 2027.

Confident of the company&#39;s long-term prospects, ​at least 22 analysts raised their price targets on Broadcom&#39;s stock, pushing the median view to $500, ​according to LSEG ⁠data. That represented a more than 4% upside to the stock&#39;s last close.

The stock trades at 29.90 times its forward earnings estimates, compared with Marvell&#39;s 61.70 multiple and the broader S&amp;P 500 index&#39;s&nbsp;27.94.

&quot;We suspect the shares may take a pause for the next couple of quarters. ⁠But the ​story gets interesting again once we enter 2027,&quot; Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said ​in a note.

&quot;If we have to wait a quarter or two for that story to re-emerge, that&#39;s OK, we&#39;ll wait for it&quot;.]]>
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			<title>Nvidia CEO says robotics is South Korea's next big sector</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611599/nvidia-ceo-says-robotics-is-south-koreas-next-big-sector</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611599/nvidia-ceo-says-robotics-is-south-koreas-next-big-sector#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 09:55:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Country is key Asian manufacturing powerhouse, home to major manufacturers of chips, electronics, cars, ships]]>
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				<![CDATA[Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Friday said robotics will &zwnj;be South Korea&#39;s next major sector, as he arrived for his second visit in seven months, underscoring deepening ties with local firms in not only chips but also robotics and AI factories.

&quot;Because Korea is a manufacturing centre of the world, we can apply the robotics technology, the physical AI ​technology that we invent here for the industry,&quot; he told reporters after landing at Gimpo International Airport on a ​flight from Taiwan.

South Korea is a key Asian manufacturing powerhouse - home to major manufacturers of chips, ⁠electronics, cars and ships.

&quot;The manufacturing of semiconductors will become increasingly robotics and increasingly AI-driven in the future, and so we have ​a great opportunity to partner with the semiconductor companies here as well,&quot; said Huang.

Huang said he had meetings scheduled with Hyundai Motor, ​LG, SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics&nbsp;and Naver during his trip.

&quot;Did I bring any gifts for Korea? I brought a lot of business for Korea,&quot; he said.

&quot;I have some surprises&quot;.

In his first stop, the Nvidia boss visited an internet cafe in Seoul and met with e-sports players, including gaming superstar ​Lee Sang-hyeok, known as &quot;Faker.&quot; His daughter Madison Huang accompanied him during the visit, wearing a uniform of the renowned T1 e-sports ​team.

Read:&nbsp;H200 exports mark reset in US-China chip war

He is also due to have a pork barbecue dinner in the evening at a restaurant in Seoul with LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, &zwnj;SK ⁠Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, a person familiar with the matter said. The source wanted to remain anonymous because the plan is confidential.

&quot;I love Korean barbecue,&quot; he said. &quot;I love Korean fried chicken&quot;.

When asked about potential investments in Korea, he said: &quot;Korea has many sectors to invest in. Robotics is going to be the next major sector here in Korea&quot;.

&quot;Korea is extraordinary at ​manufacturing, mechatronics, and also artificial ​intelligence,&quot; he said. &quot;The fusion of ⁠all of that technology is perfect robotics.&quot;

Baseball and TV talk show

Huang also said he wants to make sure that his Korean suppliers are &quot;aligned,&quot; citing memory chips like traditional DRAM chips and advanced ​HBM chips.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix between them make about 70% of the memory needed for ​artificial intelligence chips ⁠like the ones Nvidia makes. And the country&#39;s manufacturing strength puts it in a good position to be a key player in physical AI, where the technology is embedded in robots, cars and factories, analysts say.

He also said Nvidia had started hiring for its research ⁠and development ​centre in Korea.

&quot;As soon as we have enough people here, then we&#39;ll build ​a site,&quot; he said.

During his trip, Huang is due to throw out the first&nbsp;pitch at a baseball&nbsp;game and appear on a TV talk show.]]>
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			<title>US races to contain flesh-eating parasite screwworm, reports no further cases</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611601/us-races-to-contain-flesh-eating-parasite-screwworm-reports-no-further-cases</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611601/us-races-to-contain-flesh-eating-parasite-screwworm-reports-no-further-cases#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 10:12:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611601</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Federal agency, Texas officials halt animal movement in 20-km area to stop parasite spread]]>
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				<![CDATA[&nbsp;Following the first confirmation of screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, on a US&nbsp;farm in decades, federal and ​state officials have fanned out in South Texas, where a calf was found infested this week.

US&nbsp;Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Thursday no other infestations &zwnj;of cattle or other animals have been detected around the confirmed case.

The federal agency and Texas officials quickly halted the movement of animals in a 20-km (12.4-mile) area around the case ​and took other steps to prevent the parasite from spreading.

Now, every major road out of La Pryor, Texas, is marked with a blinking ⁠orange road sign urging all vehicles carrying livestock to pull over to a checkpoint staffed with sheriffs and state personnel who inspect the animals for signs of screwworm.

&quot;If we all work ​together and follow these treatment and movement restriction guidelines, there is no reason to believe that this incursion will result in any sort of establishment of the pest on our side ​of the border,&quot; Rollins told reporters on a call.

Rollins earlier told US&nbsp;lawmakers that USDA&nbsp;believed it could contain the case, the first in Texas since 1966, and has also said screwworm is not a food safety threat. Traders fear wider infestations could further shrink the US&nbsp;cattle herd, which is the smallest in 75 years, and dampen US consumer demand for beef.

Screwworms are&nbsp;parasitic flies&nbsp;whose females lay eggs in open wounds ​and mucous membranes on any warm-blooded animal. Once the eggs hatch, hundreds of screwworm larvae use their sharp mouths to burrow through living flesh, eventually killing their host if left ​untreated.

&quot;The New World screwworm sounds like something from a horror movie, but it&#39;s real,&quot; said Nate Sheets, a Republican nominee for Texas agriculture commissioner. &quot;It is an agricultural emergency.&quot;

Volatile cattle prices

Feeder cattle futures initially dropped &zwnj;on the Chicago ⁠Mercantile Exchange on Thursday as traders worried the infestation could reduce consumers&#39; appetite for beef. Futures quickly rallied more than 3%.

The detection threatens Texas&#39; livestock industry, which could face up to $1.8 billion in estimated economic losses if screwworm spreads widely, experts said.

Read:&nbsp;US House votes for measure that would end Iran war, in blow to Trump

&quot;We&#39;re going to need to see how fast it spreads and how the consumer reacts,&quot; said Matt Wiegand, commodity broker for FuturesOne. &quot;Until we see a big demand impact from the consumer side, (cattle) numbers are still tight.&quot;

US&nbsp;cattle supplies dwindled after a persistent drought hiked feeding costs and forced ranchers to slash their herds. ​The decline has left meatpackers, such as JBS, ​Cargill and Tyson Foods, struggling to find ⁠enough animals to process in their beef plants.

The Meat Institute, which represents processors, urged USDA to consider allowing &quot;low-risk&quot; shipments of livestock for slaughter after the agency said it had frozen animal movement in an area around the case. Such shipments could include animals moving directly to ​slaughter from a farm that is not infested, the institute said.

USDA spent millions of dollars attempting to keep out the pest and ​has blocked imports of Mexican ⁠livestock for more than a year. US&nbsp;ports of entry will remain closed to Mexican livestock until further notice, Rollins said.

The infestation signals screwworm flies arrived in the US&nbsp;anyway and will expand in wildlife populations, said Lee Haines, an associate research professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

&quot;The burden falls hardest on farmers who must monitor animals scattered across ⁠vast open rangeland, ​often going unobserved for days at a time,&quot; Haines said.

Screwworms were eradicated from the United States in the ​1960s when researchers began releasing massive numbers of sterilized male screwworm flies that mate with wild female screwworms to produce infertile eggs.

US&nbsp;officials said they were releasing sterile flies on the ground near the case and from the ​sky.

&quot;We are really flooding the zone in this impacted area,&quot; said Dudley Hoskins, a USDA undersecretary.]]>
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			<title>Vast astronaut mission kicks off commercial race to replace ISS</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611441/vast-astronaut-mission-kicks-off-commercial-race-to-replace-iss</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611441/vast-astronaut-mission-kicks-off-commercial-race-to-replace-iss#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 13:37:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[After a quarter of a century of continuous habitation, the ISS is scheduled to be deorbited in 2030]]>
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				<![CDATA[The race to replace the ageing International Space Station (ISS) is heating up after US company Vast announced a mission to fly an astronaut to its planned Haven-1 station next year.

If the repeatedly delayed Haven-1 is launched into orbit as scheduled in early 2027, it will become history&rsquo;s first commercial space station, beating out several competitors. It would also mark a post-ISS era for humanity&rsquo;s presence in space, as the West seeks independence from Russian space operations due to the war in Ukraine.

After a quarter of a century of continuous habitation, the ISS is scheduled to be deorbited in 2030. On Tuesday, Vast became the first aerospace company to announce a crewed mission to its future station.

&ldquo;This is an important milestone in a new era in crewed spaceflight that is less expensive &mdash; and less reliant on Russia,&rdquo; Vast CEO Max Haot told AFP in an interview.



A historic partnership dedicated to advancing commercial human spaceflight. Thank you to France, @EmmanuelMacron, @CNES for your leadership, and to @ESA for its support as we work together toward two crewed missions in 2027.

Photo taken at Choose France 2026 event on June 1,&hellip; pic.twitter.com/6OrAgT1FHG
&mdash; Vast (@vast) June 3, 2026


Attractive prices

French astronaut Arnaud Prost is joining us on the crew of the inaugural mission of what will be the world&rsquo;s first operational commercial space station when it launches next year&rdquo;, Haot said.

On board Haven-1, Prost will be tasked with carrying out tests ahead of scientific experiments, which will be similar to those conducted on the ISS, he explained. The privately funded station will have a single module, compared to 16 currently on the ISS.

During its three years in orbit, it will &ldquo;host four two-week missions&rdquo;, Haot said. Vast has bigger plans for its replacement. Haven-2 will eventually have nine modules, but the company plans to deploy them gradually over time.

Read More: Pak astronauts undergoing training in China

This will mean the modules cost &ldquo;five to 10 times lower&rdquo; than those for the ISS, which often exceeded a billion dollars, Haot said.

&ldquo;This will allow us to increase the number of crewed flights and offer more attractive prices to our customers,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We hope to launch three modules per year for our future station &mdash; and that at least one module will be launched by a European rocket.&rdquo;

The company aims to have four modules in space by 2030, which would support six-month missions on board. Other US aerospace companies also have plans to launch commercial space stations, including Axiom Space and Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos&rsquo;s Blue Origin.

The California-based Vast, which was founded in 2021 by cryptocurrency billionaire Jed McCaleb, acknowledges it entered the race late. But the company now claims to be two years ahead of its rivals, citing contracts with NASA.

European HQ

Also on Tuesday, Vast announced a mission to send French astronaut Thomas Pesquet to the ISS next year. The company also plans to open its European headquarters in Paris.

For both new missions, Vast will use SpaceX&rsquo;s Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon 2 capsule to get the astronauts into space. When asked about relying on billionaire Elon Musk&rsquo;s company, Haot said SpaceX&rsquo;s &ldquo;unique&rdquo; approach emphasised &ldquo;speed and rocket reusability&rdquo;.

Also Read: NASA Artemis II astronauts prepare to end moon mission in &#39;fireball&#39; re-entry

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a model for everyone, and it&rsquo;s the future of space,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If SpaceX had not succeeded in creating Dragon, Vast would not exist. And the US and Europe would still be dependent on Russia to send humans into space.&rdquo;

Despite many international cooperation agreements falling apart after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022, the US and other ISS partners have continued working with Russia on the space station.]]>
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			<title>Shadab, Samad rescue Pakistan as hosts seal ODI series against Australia</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611477/shadab-samad-rescue-pakistan-as-hosts-seal-odi-series-against-australia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611477/shadab-samad-rescue-pakistan-as-hosts-seal-odi-series-against-australia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 19:07:14 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan overcame a batting collapse to beat Australia after Shaheen, Abrar and Shadab bowled them out for 157]]>
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				<![CDATA[Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad held their nerve with an unbeaten partnership to rescue Pakistan from a middle-order collapse as the hosts beat Australia by four wickets in the third and final one-day international in Lahore on Thursday to seal the three-match series 2-1.

Chasing a modest target of 158, Pakistan got off to a shaky start when opener Sahibzada Farhan fell in the third over. Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam then steadied the innings, taking the score to 41 before Sadaqat was trapped lbw by Matthew Short after scoring 27.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori was dismissed for eight, while Babar and Salman Ali Agha added valuable runs as Pakistan moved to 93. However, with victory in sight, Agha departed for 15.

Babar, who top-scored with 40, and Arafat Minhas took Pakistan to 112 before Matthew Kuhnemann struck a crucial blow by bowling the former batter. Minhas also departed soon afterwards, leaving Pakistan in trouble at 112-6 and still needing 46 runs for victory.



Pakistan are 71-3 after 16 overs with Babar Azam and Salman Ali Agha at the crease 🏏

➡️ Download #PCBLIVE app now 📲
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Watch Live: https://t.co/M8wsOD8omx#PAKvAUS | #TakraarKaTime |&hellip; pic.twitter.com/FRlVAo60Ji
&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 4, 2026



Shadab, who had scored a fighting half-century in the previous match, once again played a key role, making 29. He found solid support from Abdul Samad, whose unbeaten 18 helped Pakistan cross the line with 43 balls to spare.

The victory gave Pakistan a 2-1 series win after they had claimed the opening ODI in Rawalpindi by five wickets before Australia levelled the series with a 41-run victory in Lahore.

Earlier, Australia were bowled out for 157 after opting to bat first on a slow Gaddafi Stadium surface.



25 overs completed in the chase, Pakistan are 97-4 🏏

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Watch Live: https://t.co/M8wsOD8omx#PAKvAUS | #TakraarKaTime | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/q8Ad4SCrIt
&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 4, 2026



Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan&#39;s bowling effort with figures of 3-30, while Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan claimed two wickets each.

Shaheen struck with the second ball of the innings, dismissing Matthew Short, before Josh Inglis attempted to rebuild the innings with partnerships of 46 and 52 runs alongside Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey, respectively.



Series sealed ✅

An unbeaten 49-run stand from Abdul Samad and Shadab Khan guides Pakistan through a tricky chase as they clinch the ODI series 2️⃣-1️⃣ against Australia 🏏#PAKvAUS | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/3wG4cYwicZ
&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 4, 2026



Inglis top-scored with 65 off 71 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries and a six, while Labuschagne and Carey made 19 runs each.



Pakistan record their third successive ODI series victory over Australia 👏

Winners of the Bank Alfalah Presents KFC Pakistan vs Australia ODI Series 2026 🇵🇰🙌#PAKvAUS | #TakraarKaTime | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/AF4eP3cdNA
&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 4, 2026



However, Australia lost their final seven wickets for just 38 runs as Pakistan&#39;s bowlers tightened their grip on the contest. Two run-outs further dented the tourists&#39; innings as the hosts bounced back from their defeat in the second ODI to clinch the series.]]>
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			<title>'Guardiola quit 100 times before leaving'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611492/guardiola-quit-100-times-before-leaving</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611492/guardiola-quit-100-times-before-leaving#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:19:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[He left Manchester City after 10 successful years]]>
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				<![CDATA[Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has revealed Pep Guardiola was on the verge of quitting &quot;100 times&quot; before finally leaving at the end of this season.

Guardiola stepped down after winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League in his glittering decade at the Etihad Stadium.

While Guardiola enjoyed remarkable success with City, Khaldoon said the emotional Spaniard constantly thought about resigning during low moments in his reign.

&quot;Inevitably over these last 10 years we&#39;ve had a lot of ups and some downs, and in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these 10 years, just so you know, just for the record,&quot; he told City&#39;s media channels on Thursday.

&quot;There&#39;s the story as you all know, The Boy that Cries Wolf. In the case of Pep, when he says &#39;I quit&#39;, it doesn&#39;t mean he&#39;s quitting. You don&#39;t take it that seriously - you have to manage him.

&quot;Whenever he quits or whenever he thinks it&#39;s time, I will always convince him to come back, until the time where I know it&#39;s actually the real time - and we reached that. I knew it and that&#39;s why I didn&#39;t fight it.&quot;

Guardiola won 20 trophies with City, including the FA Cup and League Cup in his farewell season.

But the 55-year-old stepped down after admitting he no longer had the energy required to drive City forward.

&#39;Far from peaked&#39;

City have gone two years without winning the Premier League and finished seven points behind champions Arsenal this term, prompting claims they are no longer the force they once were.

Responding to the criticism, Khaldoon said: &quot;We are far from peaked. We are used to - because it&#39;s in our DNA - winning. This is a club that is designed, built to win.

&quot;Obviously with the additions we&#39;re going to make this summer, I am very confident. I think next year we&#39;re going to come back very strong.&quot;

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to be appointed as Guardiola&#39;s replacement shortly.]]>
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			<title>Brumbies battle the odds in playoff</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611496/brumbies-battle-the-odds-in-playoff</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611496/brumbies-battle-the-odds-in-playoff#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:19:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[That defeat left them set up a do-or-die qualifying final]]>
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				<![CDATA[ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has urged his team to block out the past as they bid to upset the Wellington Hurricanes and snap a damning record in Super Rugby playoffs in New Zealand.

The Canberra-based side face the table-topping Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday, desperate to bounce back after being stunned by bottom-dwellers Moana Pasifika last week.

That defeat left them in sixth-place and set up a do-or-die qualifying final against a team that won 11 of their 14 regular season games.

The weight of history is against the Brumbies -- Australian teams have lost a staggering 21 straight Super Rugby playoff games in New Zealand.

&quot;We don&#39;t talk about the historical events, we just stay in the present,&quot; Larkham said when asked about that statistic.

&quot;This team is not the team that came over here and played the last time we were here.

&quot;We&#39;re also not a (Queensland) Reds team that&#39;s come over, or a (NSW) Waratahs team that&#39;s come over, or a (Western) Force team, or a (Melbourne) Rebels team.

&quot;We are our own team this year.&quot;

The Brumbies have fared well against New Zealand opponents this season.

They stunned the Canterbury Crusaders 50-24 in Christchurch and edged the Otago Highlanders 14-10 in Dunedin, but lost to the Hurricanes 45-12 in Christchurch.

Larkham, who has made two changes to his starting XV with hooker Lachlan Lonergan and flanker Luke Reimer coming in, said the results meant little.

&quot;Confidence doesn&#39;t last very long,&quot; he said.

&quot;(The good recent record) might be in some players&#39; heads, but the most important thing is that they stay connected on the field, and they don&#39;t think about anything that&#39;s happened in the past or anything that&#39;s going to happen in the future.&quot;

Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw has named a near full-strength team after resting many of their Test stars in last weekend&#39;s 47-14 loss to the Crusaders.

&quot;It&#39;s great to have such a strong squad available at this time of the year, with most of the squad fit and available to select from,&quot; said Laidlaw.

Among those returning are co-captains Du&#39;Plessis Kirifi and Jordie Barrett. &quot;We&#39;ve got a huge amount of respect for the Brumbies,&quot; added Laidlaw.]]>
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			<title>Novell joins Leverkusen as coach</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611461/novell-joins-leverkusen-as-coach</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611461/novell-joins-leverkusen-as-coach#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 15:52:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hjulmand stepped down as Toulouse coach at the end of season]]>
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				<![CDATA[Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday announced the appointment of Spaniard&nbsp;Carles&nbsp;Martinez Novell as manager, replacing former coach Kasper&nbsp;Hjulmand&nbsp;with immediate effect.

The 42-year-old Martinez Novell, who stepped down as Toulouse coach at the end of the 2025-26 season, signed a deal running until 2028.

The appointment continues the instability in the club&#39;s coaching ranks since the departure of double-winning manager&nbsp;XabiAlonso at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Leverkusen appointed former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag ahead of last season but the Dutchman lasted just two league games, before he was replaced by&nbsp;Hjulmand.

Hjulmand&nbsp;initially steadied the ship but failed to guide Leverkusen back to the Champions League placings, with German media reporting the club already began looking for a successor during the season.

German sports outlet Kicker had reported Leverkusen were in the final stages of striking a deal with former Bournemouth manager&nbsp;Andoni&nbsp;Iraola, but the Basque has since emerged as the leading candidate to take over the Liverpool job following Arne Slot&#39;s sacking.

Martinez Novell was assistant to Philippe&nbsp;Montanier&nbsp;when Toulouse won the French Cup in 2024, the first major trophy in their history, before taking over in the dugout.

The Spaniard guided Toulouse to ninth in&nbsp;Ligue&nbsp;1 this season along with a run to the semi-finals of the French Cup.

Leverkusen sporting director Simon&nbsp;Rolfes&nbsp;praised Martinez Novell&#39;s work with younger players and said he was the &quot;best suited&quot; coach to the next phase of the club&#39;s development.

&quot;Carles&nbsp;is a coach with clear principles and a modern idea of the game. We are convinced that he can provide the right impetus for our sporting future,&quot; he said in a statement.

Martinez Novell is set to speak at an introductory press conference on Friday.]]>
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			<title>Ferrari tipped to end Antonelli's run</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611460/ferrari-tipped-to-end-antonellis-run</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611460/ferrari-tipped-to-end-antonellis-run#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 15:45:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[They are expected to end Ferrari's long winless streak]]>
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				<![CDATA[Local hero Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are widely expected to end Ferrari&#39;s long winless streak and finish Italian teenager&nbsp;Kimi&nbsp;Antonelli&#39;s&nbsp;record streak in Sunday&#39;s Monaco Grand Prix.

Leclerc, who this week agreed a contract extension with Ferrari, won his home race in 2024 and has claimed pole position three times in the last five years, but he was out-qualified and out-raced by a revived Hamilton, who finished second, in Montreal two weeks ago.

In Canada, Mercedes&#39; precocious championship leader reeled off a fourth consecutive win, including his maiden F1 triumph, to open a 43-point gap ahead of team-mate George Russell.

But,&nbsp;Antonelli&nbsp;admitted, he had enjoyed some luck and&nbsp;recognised&nbsp;too that Ferrari&#39;s&nbsp;more nimble&nbsp;car and power unit were likely to be better suited to the classic Mediterranean street circuit where Mercedes have often struggled.

The Silver Arrows last won on the unforgiving barrier-lined streets of the principality in 2019 when Hamilton was on his way to his sixth title. It was his third Monaco win, the most by any current driver and he is relishing a return to one of his&nbsp;favourite&nbsp;circuits.

&quot;It&#39;s the one track we go to where power is not king,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#39;s definitely about the car performance and our car could be really strong there.&quot;

Antonelli, the boy prodigy mentored by Hamilton in his final days at Mercedes before moving to Ferrari last year, admitted: &quot;I think Ferrari is the team to beat in Monaco. It&#39;s going to be very interesting to see how we do there.&quot;

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has played down their prospects of continued success.

&quot;Monaco is different to all the other circuits and a car that has been competitive elsewhere is not guaranteed anything here,&quot; he said.

&quot;The margins are&nbsp;small,&nbsp;the consequences are high.&rdquo;

Last year, Russell finished 11th and&nbsp;Antonelli&nbsp;18th, a result that Mercedes will seek to avoid repeating as they defend their championship lead after five straight wins.

Qualifying the key&nbsp;

For Ferrari, it represents a chance to claim a first win since Carlos&nbsp;Sainz&nbsp;triumphed in Mexico in 2024 and to confirm their renaissance with a car well-conceived for the new hybrid era.

As always, Saturday&#39;s qualifying session is likely to be a decisive factor, but many observers believe the &quot;yo-yo&quot; characteristic of this year&#39;s racing &ndash; created by the use of a new overtake mode can create more possible overtaking moves in the race.

It gives a driver, who is within a second of another car, an extra 0.5 MJ of electrical energy from the power unit, which has a 50-50 division of traditional engine and battery.

Last year&#39;s race saw world champion&nbsp;Lando&nbsp;Norris dominate with a classic hat-trick of pole position, victory and fastest lap for McLaren, the most successful team in Monaco with 16 wins since their F1 debut there in 1966.

The team hope to celebrate their 60th anniversary and 1000th race start by thwarting Ferrari and Mercedes, with Red Bull likely also to be in contention through not only Max Verstappen, a two-time Monaco winner, but also the talented French driver&nbsp;Isack&nbsp;Hadjar.

He was fifth on the grid last year for Racing Bulls and finished sixth in the race in what was an impressive rookie season.

The race has been shifted to a later date in the calendar, after traditionally occupying the Ascension Day weekend, and is the first of a run of six races in eight weeks with the teams moving on immediately to Barcelona.

The weekend will see Cadillac make their maiden race appearance at the glamorous &quot;jewel in the F1 crown&quot;, delighting their American audience as the sport continues to attract viewers in the United States.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Six terrorists killed in Panjgur IBO: ISPR</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611579/six-terrorists-killed-in-panjgur-ibo-ispr</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611579/six-terrorists-killed-in-panjgur-ibo-ispr#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 07:09:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Panjgur]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611579</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Recover weapons, ammunition, IEDs, vehicles from terrorists, says military media wing]]>
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				<![CDATA[Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on June 3 and 4 in the Panjgur District of Balochistan, killing six Indian sponsored terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Hindustan, the military&#39;s media wing said on Friday.

A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces conducted the IBO &quot;on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan.&quot; It added that during the operation, the security forces &quot;effectively engaged multiple terrorist locations,&quot; killing the six terrorists after intense fire exchanges.

&nbsp;



On 3/4 Jun 2026, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Panjgur District of Balochistan, on reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan.

During the conduct of operation, own forces effectively engaged multiple terrorist&hellip; pic.twitter.com/IzuFuQLBTk
&mdash; DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) June 5, 2026


According to the ISPR, weapons, ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and vehicles were also recovered from the terrorists, &quot;who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.&quot;

Read: Security forces kill 4 terrorists in DI Khan, Mohmand IBOs: ISPR

&quot;Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorist found in the area,&quot; the statement added.

The terrorism campaign, under the vision of Azm e Istehkam (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, will &quot;continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,&quot; the statement concluded.

Read More: Major, 4 soldiers martyred in Balochistan operation

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for successfully carrying out an operation against Indian-backed Fitna-al-Hindustan terrorists in Panjgur, resulting in the killing of six militants.

In separate statements, both leaders said that operations against terrorists under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam would continue until their logical conclusion.

President Zardari reaffirmed the nation&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate terrorism, stating that Fitna-al-Hindustan and its facilitators would never succeed in undermining Pakistan&rsquo;s peace and stability.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for neutralising the terrorists, who, he said, were plotting to harm the lives and property of innocent and unarmed Pakistani citizens.

The prime minister also reiterated the government&rsquo;s commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country and ensuring lasting peace and security.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has praised the security forces for a successful operation in the Panjgur.

He commended the forces for their bravery and professionalism after six Indian-sponsored terrorists were eliminated in a timely action that foiled their nefarious designs.

Naqvi paid tribute to the security forces and said that operations against such elements in Balochistan were highly commendable. He added that the nation stands with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Earlier, security forces killed 17 terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Hindustan during a series of IBOs conducted across multiple districts of Balochistan following the May 24 train incident, the ISPR had stated on Tuesday.

The operations were carried out in Mastung, Nushki, Zehri, Khuzdar, and Ketch districts as part of an intensified counter-terrorism response.

The media wing had also revealed that a large cache of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and prepared IEDs were recovered from the slain terrorists.]]>
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			<title>Naqvi urges enhanced intelligence coordination among SCO member states</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611569/naqvi-iranian-counterpart-momeni-discuss-de-escalation-security-issues-in-bishkek</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611569/naqvi-iranian-counterpart-momeni-discuss-de-escalation-security-issues-in-bishkek#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 05:20:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Earlier, Naqvi and his Iranian counterpart Momeni discuss de-escalation, security issues on the sidelines]]>
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				<![CDATA[Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)&nbsp;member states to strengthen intelligence cooperation and joint efforts against online extremism under the organisation&#39;s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) framework.

The interior minister was attending&nbsp;a gathering of interior and public security ministers from SCO&nbsp;member states in Kyrgyzstan&#39;s capital,&nbsp;Bishkek, which is being held from June 4 to June 6.

Addressing the&nbsp;special meeting, Naqvi said,&nbsp;&quot;Our region faces serious security threats. Terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime and terrorist financing require a collective response.&quot;

He said criminal networks are increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence and digital platforms, making it essential for institutions to modernise and strengthen cooperation to address evolving threats. The minister said Pakistan remains fully committed to the principles of the &ldquo;Shanghai Spirit&rdquo;, including mutual trust, equal partnership and respect for sovereignty.



Speaking at the special meeting of the SCO Interior Ministers and Public Security in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that solid measures were vital, as the SCO platform is crucial for border security. He added that Pakistan respects the sovereignty of&hellip; pic.twitter.com/s98yBnjO7X
&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) June 5, 2026



Highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s counterterrorism efforts, Naqvi said the country had&nbsp;made unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and extremism, while strengthening intelligence coordination, border management and anti-money laundering measures under the National Action Plan.

He stressed the need to enhance intelligence sharing, joint threat assessments and coordinated efforts to counter online extremism under the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) framework.

&quot;Cyber-enabled terrorism includes online recruitment, cyber-financing and attacks on critical infrastructure.&quot; He added, &quot;The SCO must strengthen cooperation on cyber intelligence and digital forensics.&quot;

Naqvi said Pakistan strongly supports workshops and expert exchange programmes aimed at improving regional security cooperation, adding that collaboration in cyber intelligence and digital forensics has become a pressing necessity.

The interior minister also described drug trafficking as a major source of terrorist financing and called for a joint strategy against narcotics smuggling, online criminal networks and illicit cryptocurrency transactions.

The minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s Anti-Narcotics Force is actively contributing to SCO-level counter-narcotics initiatives.

Emphasising the importance of border security, Naqvi said it remains vital for regional peace and stability. He also called for greater cooperation against forged documents, improved watchlist coordination and stronger measures to combat human smuggling.

The minister said disrupting terrorist financing networks remains one of Pakistan&rsquo;s key priorities, noting that the country has introduced significant reforms to strengthen its anti-money laundering framework.

Concluding his address, he said, &quot;Our challenges are shared. Our responses must be connected, coordinated and forward-looking.&quot;

&quot;Let us work together for a peaceful and secure SCO region,&quot; he added, saying Pakistan looked forward to welcoming participants to Islamabad in 2027.

Earlier,&nbsp;Naqvi met with&nbsp;his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, on the sidelines, where they discussed efforts to reduce regional tensions and matters related to internal security, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

In a post on X, the ministry said the two ministers held talks on Pakistan-Iran relations and the latest developments in the region.



وفاقی وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی اور ایرانی وزیر داخلہ سکندر مومنی کے درمیان اہم ملاقات
پاک ایران تعلقات اور خطے کی تازہ ترین صورتحال پر تبادلہ خیال
کشیدگی میں کمی اور داخلی سلامتی کے امور پر تبادلہ خیال pic.twitter.com/9iAXpqvJ6h
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) June 5, 2026


&ldquo;De-escalation efforts and internal security issues were discussed,&rdquo; the ministry said, adding that both sides exchanged views on regional developments during the meeting.



دونوں وزرائے داخلہ نے خطے کے پائیدار امن کے لئے سفارتی کوششیں تسلسل کے ساتھ جاری رکھنے کی ضرورت پر زور دیا
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) June 5, 2026


The ministry further said that both interior ministers emphasised the need to continue diplomatic efforts on a sustained basis to ensure lasting peace in the region.

Naqvi last visited Tehran on May 21, which lasted four days, and was his second visit within days, underscoring a growing sense of urgency, with some sources claiming that President Donald Trump had set a timeline for the negotiations to succeed or risk renewed military escalation.

The interior minister met with Ahmad Vahidi, a senior commander of Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and considered among the country&#39;s most powerful figures after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Naqvi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the second time in less than a week.

Two days after Naqvi&#39;s visit, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran and held meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

According to the military&#39;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), &ldquo;The discussions remained focused upon expediting the consultative process underway to support peace and stability in the region and to reach a conclusive agreement.&rdquo;

Read: CDF Munir drafting peace deal: Vawda

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other Gulf countries hosting US assets.

Pakistan subsequently positioned itself as a key mediator for peace, brokering a two-week ceasefire and hosting the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Although the &quot;Islamabad Talks&quot; ended without agreement, the ceasefire was held and later extended upon Islamabad&#39;s request.

Since then, the two sides have been exchanging proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to reach a middle ground and resume a second round of direct talks aimed at ending the conflict, which has already disrupted global energy supplies and daily life across the region.

While Pakistan remains hopeful for the resumption of direct talks, sources said there was no &ldquo;significant&rdquo; change in Iran&rsquo;s earlier stance on the nuclear issue in its response to US proposals.

According to sources, Tehran&rsquo;s response &mdash; delivered to the United States via Islamabad last week &mdash; primarily focused on an &ldquo;immediate&rdquo; end to hostilities, with &ldquo;little [in it] in terms of Washington&rsquo;s core demand about Iran&rsquo;s nuclear programme&rdquo;.

Iran, the sources added, has proposed &ldquo;broader and separate&rdquo; talks on the nuclear issue, citing its &ldquo;complexity&rdquo;.

However, Tehran has &ldquo;reiterated&rdquo; its willingness to halt uranium enrichment for a period of five years, while rejecting Washington&rsquo;s demand for a 20-year moratorium, according to the sources.]]>
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			<title>Appointments to key offices must be merit-based and transparent, FCC rules</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611580/appointments-to-key-offices-must-be-merit-based-and-transparent-fcc-rules</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611580/appointments-to-key-offices-must-be-merit-based-and-transparent-fcc-rules#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 07:14:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611580</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Order says public appointments not to be made on subjective preference but through a process of merit, accountability]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) ruled on Thursday that the appointments to important public offices must demonstrably conform to constitutional standards of fairness, transparency, institutional integrity, and merit-based governance.

&quot;Public authority cannot be exercised on undisclosed considerations, nor can structured procedures be reduced to empty formalities. The legitimacy of public administration depends not merely on the existence of power, but on the disciplined and transparent exercise of that power in accordance with law&quot;, says the 12-page judgement authored by Justice Rozi Khan Barrech while upholding the Peshwar High Court judgement wherein the appointment of the present petitioner as Chairman, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Bannu (BISE, Bannu) was set aside.

Commenting on the FCC judgment, advocate Abdul Moiz Jaferii says he wholeheartedly agrees that appointments to important public offices, such as those of superior court judges, must demonstrably conform to constitutional standards of fairness, transparency, and institutional integrity, and be merit-based. And that such appointments cannot be exercised on undisclosed considerations, nor can structured procedures such as the judicial commission be reduced to empty formalities.

Jaferii also welcomed the FCC judgment by saying that when the tide turns, it will be a fit precedent for the unwinding of the 26th and 27th amendment courts.

A three-judge panel of the FCC, led by Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, heard the matter.

The order noted that the record shows that after advertisement of the post of Chairman, BISE, Bannu, the government constituted a Search and Scrutiny Committee on February 8, 2021, to evaluate the candidates and recommend three names in accordance with the ToRs. The committee examined the shortlisted candidates and forwarded three names for consideration by the chief minister.

Read: Imran&#39;s plea: Supreme Court to follow case-fixation policy

The original summary, which was duly processed through the administrative hierarchy, was subsequently altered without any fresh deliberation by the committee, without any recorded reasons, and without any lawful justification apparent from the record. The Petitioner, who was not among the candidates recommended by the Committee, was later inserted in the summary dated 28.01.2025 and ultimately appointed by the competent authority through notification dated 13.05.2025, says the order.

The court said that the doctrine of pleasure, in its constitutional and administrative sense, does not confer an unfettered licence upon the executive to act in disregard of self-imposed procedural discipline.

&quot;While the executive may, subject to law, appoint and remove public functionaries, the exercise of such power remains subject to the rule of law and the constitutional
obligation to act fairly and rationally. The doctrine of pleasure cannot be used as a shield for arbitrariness, nor can it override an institutional process already adopted by the competent authority to ensure integrity in selection.&quot;

The court said that where the executive itself has structured the appointment process through a notified procedure and a search and scrutiny committee, the discretionary power under the Act cannot be exercised in disregard of the prescribed mechanism or in a manner that undermines institutional integrity.

Public appointments are not to be made on subjective preference or undisclosed considerations, but through a process that reflects merit, accountability, and due application of mind.

&quot;The principle of &#39;seven instruments&#39; of administrative justice, legality, fairness, transparency, reasoned decision-making, proportionality, nonarbitrariness, and accountability must therefore govern the exercise of the Controlling Authority&rsquo;s powers under the Act of 1990&quot;, says the order.

The court said that it is by now well settled that where public power is exercised through administrative discretion, such discretion must operate within recognisable legal limits.

The &ldquo;seven instruments of power&rdquo; in administrative governance, namely legality, fairness, transparency, reasoned decision-making, proportionality, non-arbitrariness, and accountability, are not mere aspirational ideals but enforceable standards which lend legitimacy to state action.

&quot;In the field of public appointments, these principles assume heightened significance because the process concerns not private preference but public trust. The present matter is a classic illustration of why structured procedures must be respected, particularly where the State has itself chosen to institutionalise the selection process through a formal committee mechanism&quot;, says the order.]]>
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			<title>Lahore court grants interim bail to PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar in Momina Iqbal harassment case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611593/lahore-court-grants-interim-bail-to-pml-n-mpa-saqib-chadhar-in-momina-iqbal-harassment-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611593/lahore-court-grants-interim-bail-to-pml-n-mpa-saqib-chadhar-in-momina-iqbal-harassment-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 09:19:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[muhammad.haroon]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611593</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court bars Chadhar's arrest until June 24 as FIR alleges cyber harassment, blackmail and intimidation]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A sessions court in Lahore on Friday granted interim pre-arrest bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Saqib Chadhar in a harassment case involving actor Momina Iqbal and restrained authorities from arresting him until June 24.

Additional Sessions Judge Irfan Ahmed Sheikh approved the interim bail after hearing arguments from both sides. Chadhar was represented by Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq.

The case was registered on Thursday by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on a complaint filed by Iqbal. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Chadhar and his wife were accused of engaging in a sustained campaign of cyber harassment, stalking, intimidation and blackmail against the actor.

The FIR alleged that after Iqbal rejected a marriage proposal from Chadhar, she was subjected to repeated threats, attempts to access her private data and blackmail involving alleged private videos. It further claimed that the accused sought to damage her personal and professional reputation and interfere with her marriage plans.

According to the complaint, the accused and their associates carried out a coordinated campaign of cyber harassment, criminal intimidation, unlawful surveillance and defamation targeting both Iqbal and her family.

The FIR also alleged that an explicit video of the complainant was shared without her consent and was later recovered during the investigation. As part of the inquiry, investigators seized digital devices and storage media for forensic examination.

Read: Punjab CM Maryam warns against harassment, misuse of influence in actor&ndash;MPA case

Authorities said a technical analysis of the complainant&#39;s mobile phone uncovered threatening and derogatory messages. The FIR further alleged that messages containing threats and abusive language were sent from devices linked to the accused.

Investigators also alleged that the accused obtained the complainant&#39;s call data records (CDRs) without authorisation and used the information to harass and intimidate her. The FIR stated that devices submitted by the accused showed signs of data deletion prior to forensic examination, although investigators said communications and other evidence were later recovered from seized digital media.

The FIR concluded that the accused had prima facie committed offences by unlawfully accessing, copying and sharing digital data, distributing explicit content without consent, issuing life threats and attempting to destroy or conceal digital evidence. It added that the role of other alleged associates would be determined during the course of the investigation.

The case was registered under multiple provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, as amended in 2025, as well as several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Under Sections 3 and 4 of PECA, the allegations related to unauthorised access to information systems and interference with data or information systems. Sections 21(b) and 21(c) pertained to offences against the dignity of a natural person and the dissemination of false or obscene information intended to harm or intimidate the victim.

Section 24(d) related to cyberstalking and repeated electronic harassment, while Section 506 of the PPC covered allegations of criminal intimidation and death threats. Section 201 PPC pertained to allegations of destroying evidence or providing false information to shield offenders, including the alleged deletion of digital data before forensic analysis.

The FIR also invoked Sections 34 and 109 of the PPC, which relate to common intention and abetment, alleging the coordinated involvement of multiple individuals in the commission of the alleged offences.

The case

Iqbal, on May 20,&nbsp;took to social media, claiming that she had been facing online harassment, cyberbullying, and death threats for a long time. She alleged that she and her family had endured severe mental stress and trauma due to the individual involved.

In a message shared on her Instagram story, Momina, without naming anyone, alleged that an MPA associated with the PML-N had been issuing threats to her for an extended period. She added that she had repeatedly reported the matter to the NCCIA and the Federal Investigation Agency, but no action was taken.

The actor appealed to CM Maryam, saying she believed the chief minister &quot;will take unbiased and lawful action against anyone found involved in abuse of power or obstruction of justice.&quot;

Three days later, the actor filed a formal complaint with the Lahore police, accusing Chadhar and his alleged accomplices of cyber harassment, criminal intimidation, blackmail, defamatory campaigns and interference in her marriage.

According to a copy of the complaint submitted to police on May 22, the actor alleged that Chadhar had subjected her to &ldquo;continuous harassment, death threats, and psychological torture&rdquo; after she rejected his marriage proposal and ended ties with him in 2022.

The application, filed at the Chung Police Station, states that the suspect allegedly used threatening calls, WhatsApp messages, fake social media activity, and AI-generated images to intimidate the actor and damage her reputation ahead of her upcoming marriage.

The complaint further alleged that the suspect repeatedly threatened to kill her if she refused to marry him. One of the alleged messages cited in the application stated: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t force me &hellip; even your dead body will not be found.&rdquo;

The actor also alleged that during a meeting at Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore in December 2024, the suspect again threatened her, warning that she would be killed if she married someone else.

According to the complaint, the situation escalated earlier this month after the actor&rsquo;s engagement was finalised. The application claimed that explicit and AI-edited photographs were sent to her WhatsApp number from unknown contacts in an attempt to blackmail her and sabotage the marriage.

The complaint stated that similar material was also sent to her sister, while threatening calls were allegedly made to members of her fianc&eacute;&rsquo;s family. Momina further alleged that her fianc&eacute;, currently residing in Karachi, also received repeated calls and threatening messages from unidentified numbers and social media accounts linked to the accused.

The application accused the lawmaker of using political influence and connections within the ruling party to pressure the actor and obstruct action on previous complaints. She requested the police to register a criminal case against the lawmaker, his wife and other alleged facilitators, provide security to her family, and initiate immediate legal proceedings.

Responding to Iqbal&#39;s previous call for help, Maryam Nawaz said the matter involving a PML-N Member of the Provincial Assembly and a prominent media personality was &ldquo;a personal issue&rdquo; and would be addressed strictly on merit and in accordance with the law.

The chief minister further warned against any attempt to exert pressure or misuse influence through threats of releasing personal content, saying any such action would be met with firm and uncompromising action.]]>
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			<title>PIA to resume Islamabad-Beijing flights from July 3</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611582/pia-to-resume-islamabad-beijing-flights-from-july-3</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611582/pia-to-resume-islamabad-beijing-flights-from-july-3#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 07:30:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611582</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Revival of route comes amid growing demand from students, business professionals, tourists]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday announced the resumption of its direct flight service between Islamabad and Beijing, effective July 3, restoring a key air link between Pakistan and China and further reinforcing the longstanding ties between the two countries.

The revival of the Islamabad-Beijing-Islamabad route comes amid growing demand from students, business professionals, tourists, and families seeking efficient and convenient travel options between the two nations.

The direct service is expected to significantly enhance connectivity while offering passengers competitive fares, generous baggage allowances, and a more comfortable travel experience.

The restored route is particularly welcomed by the large number of Pakistani and Chinese students pursuing higher education in each other&rsquo;s countries.

Educational institutions, student groups, and travel industry stakeholders have described the development as timely, especially with the upcoming academic sessions and peak travel season approaching.

Industry observers believe the direct flights will facilitate smoother mobility for students, academics, and researchers, while also promoting stronger educational exchanges between Pakistan and China.

The service is also expected to benefit tourists and families planning summer travel, providing greater flexibility and reducing journey times compared to indirect routes.

Read: PIA&#39;s first post-Hajj flight lands in Karachi

Travel agencies and tourism operators have reported strong interest from passengers since the announcement, reflecting the importance of direct air connectivity between the capitals of the two friendly nations. Many prospective travelers have welcomed the move, noting that the restored service will make travel more convenient and cost-effective.

In a statement, PIA management reaffirmed the national carrier&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral connectivity and supporting cooperation in tourism, trade, education, and cultural exchanges.

The airline emphasised that the resumption of direct flights aligns with efforts to further deepen people-to-people contacts and foster closer relations between Pakistan and China.

The restoration of the Islamabad-Beijing route marks another positive step in enhancing transportation links between the two countries, underscoring PIA&rsquo;s role in facilitating travel and contributing to the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.]]>
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			<title>AJK general elections to be held on July 27, Election Commission announces</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611570/ajk-general-elections-to-be-held-on-july-27-election-commission-announces</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611570/ajk-general-elections-to-be-held-on-july-27-election-commission-announces#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 05:58:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Waqas Ahmad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category><category><![CDATA[Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611570</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Elections will be conducted in all constituencies of AJK Legislative Assembly as approved by Delimitation Commission]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission on Friday announced that general elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly will be held on July 27 from 8am to 5pm., according to a notification issued today.

According to the notification, elections will be conducted in all constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly as approved by the Delimitation Commission.

As per the schedule, nomination papers will be submitted from June 9 to June 19 until 4pm. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 20.

Candidates aggrieved by the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers may file appeals before the Election Commission between June 21 and June 24.

Hearings on the appeals will be conducted on June 26 and June 27, while decisions on appeals will be announced by June 28.

Candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination papers by June 30, while the final list of candidates will be published on July 1. Election symbols will be allotted on July 2, after which the official campaign process will move into its final phase.

According to the notification, polling will be held on July 27 from 8am to 5pm.

The Election Commission said the election schedule has been issued, while all necessary arrangements for the polls are being finalised in consultation with relevant institutions.

With the issuance of the schedule, the process of appointing returning officers (ROs) will begin, officials said.



The commission added that preparations are underway to ensure transparent, orderly, and impartial elections under judicial supervision.

Read: Campaigning peaks as G-B polls near

Security arrangements are also being finalised, with the deployment of additional personnel from the armed forces, Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies expected to maintain law and order during the polls.

More than 3.4 million voters in AJK are expected to exercise their right to vote, while over 500,000 new voters have been added to the electoral rolls, Election Commission sources said.]]>
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			<title>Campaigning peaks as G-B polls near</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611563/campaigning-peaks-as-g-b-polls-near</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611563/campaigning-peaks-as-g-b-polls-near#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:35:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Waqas Ahmed]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611563</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[All eyes are now fixed on the polling day on June 7]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[With the election clock ticking down and political temperatures rising sharply across Gilgit-Baltistan, the contest has entered its most charged phase, where campaigning was in full swing, rival parties locked in intense mobilisation, and every corner of the region - from remote valleys to busy town centres echoing with slogans, rallies, and last-ditch efforts to sway an increasingly attentive electorate.

Party flags flutter across roadsides, election banners line narrow streets, and workers&#39; slogans echo through bustling neighbourhoods, reflecting an atmosphere where corner meetings, rallies and public gatherings have become a daily feature of political life. In many constituencies, candidates are seen exerting maximum effort to secure voter trust as polling day draws closer.

Against the scenic backdrop of G-B&#39;s mountains and green valleys, political activity has taken on a vibrant intensity. Observers say the campaign has entered its final and most critical phase, where narrative-building and voter engagement are now central to party strategies.

Some parties are projecting pledges of development and infrastructure uplift, while others are framing visions of a more stable and prosperous future. Yet, local sentiment appears increasingly discerning, with many voters showing greater caution and reluctance to be swayed by rhetoric alone.

All eyes are now fixed on the polling day on June 7, when the decisive power of the ballot will determine which political force gains ascendancy in G-B&#39;s evolving political landscape.

Meanwhile, in a parallel development amid the heightened election environment, senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) held high-level consultations in Gilgit, focusing on the evolving electoral situation and potential avenues of cooperation.

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira met Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain and PML-Q Secretary General Tariq Hassan, where detailed discussions were held on the electoral landscape, possible joint strategies, and broader political alignments.

The PPP delegation included G-B Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider, and central leader Chaudhry Manzoor, while the PML-Q side was represented by central spokesperson Ghulam Mustafa Malik. Other participants included Anila Ayaz Chaudhry, Rizwan Sadiq, and PPP G-B President Dilfaraz Khan.

Sources said both sides reviewed the overall political situation, explored possibilities of post-election cooperation and government formation scenarios, and discussed coordination in the context of the ongoing electoral contest. Both parties agreed to continue consultations and maintain contact in the coming days.

The participants expressed satisfaction over constructive progress. Shah noted that mutual respect between PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would be further strengthened, adding that coordinated strategies could yield stronger electoral outcomes in G-B.

According to PML-Q spokesperson Ghulam Mustafa Malik, the meeting was convened on the direction of party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. He added that the delegation had also briefed senior leadership, including Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, Dr Muhammad Amjad and Punjab President Malik Muhammad Sameen, and reaffirmed that all decisions would remain subject to party leadership approval.]]>
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			<title>ECC to meet ahead of budget</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611545/ecc-to-meet-ahead-of-budget</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611545/ecc-to-meet-ahead-of-budget#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611545</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Meeting to focus on approving substantial grants, additional funds across multiple sectors]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has been summoned for an important meeting on the weekend ahead of the federal budget, where a wide range of financial and development-related proposals involving billions of rupees are expected to come under review, sources said on Thursday.

Officials said the meeting will focus on approving substantial grants and additional funds across multiple sectors, with decisions likely to shape key fiscal and development priorities before the announcement of the new budget.

Among the major proposals on the agenda is a grant exceeding Rs7 billion under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme, which is set to be discussed in detail during the session. Sources indicated that Rs528 million for the Pakistan Land Ports Authority is also under consideration.

The approval of Rs150 million in additional funds for the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) is expected. Security-related funding will also feature prominently, with over Rs410 million proposed for payments linked to the Reko Diq project.

In addition, Rs690 million has been requested for security arrangements connected to the Islamabad peace talks.

The agenda also includes the transfer of development funds under the Karachi and Hyderabad package, as well as deliberations on the redistribution of special programme funds for K-P.

A proposal worth Rs 1.3 billion for the upgradation of the Pakistan Mint is also part of the agenda, alongside consideration of a syndicated financing facility for Pakistan State Oil (PSO). Sources said that an agreement related to an oil refinery upgrade project will also be reviewed during the session.

In addition, supplementary grants and additional allocations for various ministries are expected to be approved, as the government moves to finalise key fiscal and development decisions ahead of the upcoming budget announcement.]]>
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			<title>PM sees new era in relations with US</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611561/pm-sees-new-era-in-relations-with-us</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611561/pm-sees-new-era-in-relations-with-us#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:35:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611561</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Lauds American support in advancing the Green Revolution]]>
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				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan and the United States were moving beyond a traditional diplomatic partnership towards a broader relationship rooted in people-to-people links, education, investment and shared economic opportunity, as both countries look to deepen cooperation in the years ahead.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 250th Independence Anniversary of the United States, the prime minister said the foundation of Pakistan-US relations had expanded over decades and now rested not only on security cooperation, but increasingly on trade, innovation and human connectivity between the two societies.

He said Pakistan and the United States had built a strong relationship based on cooperation in diverse fields including security, counterterrorism, trade, investment, agriculture, science, education, health, energy and people-to-people exchanges.

The prime minister noted that the United States was among the first countries to recognise Pakistan after its independence, recalling that then US President Harry Truman had sent a congratulatory message to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah welcoming Pakistan into the community of nations.

Highlighting the contributions of the United States to Pakistan&#39;s development, he said American support had played an important role in advancing the Green Revolution, constructing Tarbela Dam, establishing educational institutions and financing critical infrastructure projects across the country.

Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the role of thousands of Pakistani graduates of American universities and professionals trained in the United States who were contributing to Pakistan&#39;s economy, academia, public service and entrepreneurship.

He said nearly one million Pakistani-Americans served as a strong bridge between the two nations, while around 80 leading American companies had invested in Pakistan, reflecting growing economic cooperation.

The prime minister said Pakistan was well-positioned to expand its information technology exports, with the United States remaining one of its most important markets.

Referring to cooperation on regional and global issues, he said the two countries had worked together during significant periods of history, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the global campaign against terrorism.

He also acknowledged President Trump&#39;s role in promoting peace and stability in South Asia, saying his efforts had contributed to easing tensions in the region.

&quot;We shall forever remain grateful to President Trump for restoring peace in South Asia and saving millions of people. In this context, he will always be remembered as a man of peace,&quot; the prime minister remarked.

The prime minister said Pakistan was currently playing a sincere role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran and appreciated the trust placed in Pakistan by both countries. He also commended the efforts of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in advancing regional peace and stability.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised US Charge d&#39;Affaires Natalie Baker and the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan for their efforts in strengthening bilateral relations and expressed the hope that friendship between Pakistan and the United States would continue to flourish for the benefit of both peoples.

He said last week, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had an excellent meeting in Washington where they discussed bilateral as well as regional cooperation.

Earlier in her welcome address Charg&eacute; d&#39;Affaires Natalie A Baker reflected on the profound significance of the Declaration of Independence &ndash; and on the remarkable transformation of the US-Pakistan relationship over the past two years.

Baker credited the bold and results-oriented leadership of President Donald Trump with elevating the US-Pakistan relationship to a genuine strategic partnership &ndash; one grounded in mutual respect, aligned interests, and a shared vision for security and prosperity.

She highlighted President Trump&#39;s personal engagement with Pakistani leadership that reflects &quot;a testament to the genuine personal bonds that exist at the highest levels of our two governments.&quot;

Baker also paid tribute to Islamabad&#39;s serving as the venue for the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 revolution, saying, &quot;Pakistan &ndash; by having good ties with both Tehran and Washington &ndash; was uniquely positioned to bring two adversaries together It was Pakistan&#39;s moment, and Pakistan rose to it.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Imran's plea: Supreme Court to follow case-fixation policy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611552/imrans-plea-supreme-court-to-follow-case-fixation-policy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611552/imrans-plea-supreme-court-to-follow-case-fixation-policy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611552</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Lawyers believe that cases involving civil liberties not being prioritised during CJP Yahya Afridi's tenure]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court will fix contempt matter related to the non-implementation of a judicial order permitting meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan in line with the court&#39;s new case-fixation policy.

A senior Supreme Court official told The Express Tribune that the contempt petition over the denial of meetings with Khan, despite an Islamabad High Court order allowing them, would be listed under the court&#39;s new policy.

Earlier, on May 20, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, a senior advocate, called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and urged the court to expedite the listing of cases involving Imran Khan.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Raja said the chief justice had assured him that cases related to Khan would be scheduled for hearing soon after Eid.

In November last year, Raja filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court&#39;s dismissal of his contempt petition over the non-implementation of its March 24 order directing jail authorities to allow meetings between Khan and his family members and lawyers.

It is learnt that the contempt matter is listed at number 60 on the Supreme Court&#39;s cause list, with the chief justice strictly following the court&#39;s fixation policy, under which contempt cases are taken up in turn.

However, senior lawyers have raised concerns, noting that the matter is of considerable significance as it pertains to the former prime minister, whose meetings with family members and lawyers have been almost completely restricted since December.

The government on the other hand is claiming that Imran Khan is frequently holding meetings with his wife Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail.

Lawyers are of the view that cases involving civil liberties are not being prioritised during the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.

Since the passage of the 26th Amendment, the PTI has struggled securing relief in the superior courts, with key petitions involving its jailed founder and senior leadership remaining in limbo, deepening its legal and political uncertainty.

The party, whose founder and chief Imran Khan remains incarcerated, continues to approach the judiciary for hearings of his cases, but progress has been slow, with petitions stuck in limbo across multiple forums.

Despite filing several petitions, the party could not get any relief from the Islamabad High Court.

Interestingly, despite pendency of dozens of important constitution petitions, the PTI is reluctant to approach the FCC.

After the meeting between Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Salman Akram Raja, PTI had renewed hopes in the Supreme Court, but those expectations have since faded.

Political analysts suggest that meetings with Imran Khan may only be restored if he avoids criticising the security establishment during interactions with family members in custody.]]>
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			<title>Senate panel flags Dasu discrepancies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611547/senate-panel-flags-dasu-discrepancies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611547/senate-panel-flags-dasu-discrepancies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 21:17:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611547</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Expresses concern over errors in economic affairs ministry documents]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has expressed strong displeasure over discrepancies and inaccuracies in documents submitted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, while also reviewing the progress of the Dasu and Mohmand hydropower projects.

The committee met on Thursday under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro and conducted a detailed examination of both strategic energy projects.

The committee voiced serious concerns over errors in documents provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Abro pointed out that ministry documents listed the signing date of the Dasu project as 2023, whereas officials had informed the committee during the briefing that the project had commenced in 2017.

The Wapda officials informed the committee that Dasu Hydropower project&#39;s approved cost under PC-I stands at Rs1.737 trillion. Once completed, it is expected to generate a total of 5,400 megawatts of electricity, making it the country&#39;s largest power-generating unit.

According to Wapda officials, the first phase includes the installation of 12 generating units with a combined capacity of 4,300 megawatts. An additional three units will be installed in the second phase, with each unit producing 360 megawatts of electricity. Work on the associated 765-kv transmission line is also underway.

The officials stated that external financing had been secured for the project and that all required funding is currently available. The committee was informed that physical progress on the project has reached 30 per cent, while completion is targeted for November 2028 under the approved PC-I schedule.

Senator Waqar Mehdi, however, expressed skepticism over the timeline, saying it did not appear likely that the project would be completed within the stipulated period. In response, Wapda officials acknowledged that the project had suffered delays due to two unfortunate incidents.

Senator Rubina Khalid criticised what she stated as poor coordination among government departments, remarking that every officer appeared to be operating independently.

&quot;In my own institution, officers sitting in adjacent rooms prefer sending emails rather than speaking directly to one another,&quot; she said.

She proposed the establishment of clear timelines for official work and recommended that officers who fail to complete assignments on time should face suspension.]]>
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			<title>Salary freeze fuels brain drain fears</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611519/salary-freeze-fuels-brain-drain-fears</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611519/salary-freeze-fuels-brain-drain-fears#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:44:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Safdar Rizvi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611519</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pay packages unchanged for five years as Finance Division remains reluctant to approve proposed increases for universi]]>
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				<![CDATA[Scientific researchers working at public universities across Pakistan have seen their salaries remain frozen for the past five years, and the Finance Division is reportedly unwilling to approve salary increases. Sources say that the 2026-27 federal budget is also unlikely to include any enhancement in their pay packages, including PhD and other professional allowances.

The prolonged salary stagnation and the absence of meaningful relief in the upcoming budget have heightened concerns over a growing brain drain, with fears that many of the country&#39;s most talented researchers may seek opportunities abroad.

Researchers struggling with economic pressures say they are increasingly forced to take on externally funded projects to supplement their incomes, often at the expense of their core research activities.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a researcher working under the Tenure Track System (TTS) said, &quot;We now try to secure scientific projects from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and other institutions to make ends meet. Although this affects our primary research work, we have little choice.&quot;

The Tenure Track System was introduced by renowned scientist and former HEC chairman Atta-ur-Rahman to attract highly qualified academics and researchers to universities. Most TTS faculty members hold PhD degrees from foreign institutions. However, due to stagnant salaries, many researchers have already left academia, leaving only about 3,600 TTS researchers in the system.

Sources said that when TTS appointments were first introduced, salaries were roughly double those of the Basic Pay Scale (BPS) system because TTS faculty were subject to significantly stricter performance indicators and their work was reviewed every three years by international experts.

However, after five years without salary adjustments, TTS salaries have fallen well behind those of BPS faculty members. A task force established by the Planning Commission of Pakistan under the leadership of Ahsan Iqbal recommended in March this year that TTS salaries be aligned with those of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics pay structure, along with a 35 per cent premium.

The recommendations were subsequently approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, which directed the Finance Division to implement salary increases, based on the proposed formula. The HEC has also formally written to the Finance Division on the matter.

Despite these developments, sources say the Finance Division remains reluctant to accept the recommendations.

According to available figures, a BPS professor at a university currently earns nearly Rs500,000 per month, while a TTS professor takes home around Rs350,000 after tax deductions. Similarly, a BPS associate professor earns approximately Rs400,000, compared with around Rs250,000 for a TTS associate professor. A BPS assistant professor earns roughly Rs325,000, whereas a TTS assistant professor receives around Rs150,000 after taxes.

Several researchers at the University of Karachi&#39;s Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IBCCS) continue to produce high-quality research under the TTS framework, but their salaries remain frozen despite their academic contributions.]]>
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			<title>Blow to Trump</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611482/blow-to-trump</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611482/blow-to-trump#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:10:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611482</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The US Congress has castigated Donald Trump for his war-mongering in the Middle East]]>
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				<![CDATA[The US Congress has castigated Donald Trump for his war-mongering in the Middle East &ndash; in what amounts of a serious political setback. The vote in favour of blocking the American president&#39;s executive powers to go to war is a strategic blow too. Washington, nonetheless, is desperate for a deal with Tehran, but the Islamic republic seems unmoved and is rather dictating terms to the world&#39;s sole superpower. Tehran&#39;s preconditions for a deal include peace in Lebanon and closure of US bases in the Gulf. That is an upfront position which has literally undermined the understanding reached between the two arch foes at the time of ceasefire. The fact that Republicans are also getting bizarre with the brinkmanship in vogue and are distancing themselves just a couple of months before the mid-term vote in the US is fraught with serious consequences for the White House incumbent.

The resumption of skirmishes in the Middle East with Iranian drones and missiles making their way into the US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and other neighbouring states is a point of concern. The reported attack over Kuwait airport is bound to cause escalation, as it has apparently come as a tit-for-tat to the US strikes on Iranian energy and nuclear installations over the last few days. Moreover, the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz is leading to a nail-biter as hopes for withdrawal of US naval vessels have taken a backseat. Last but not least, Iran&#39;s supreme leader Syed Mojtaba Khamenei has raised the stakes by stating that the US domination in the region has outlived its utility, and it&#39;s high time a new regional and global order was ushered in.

The saving grace, nevertheless, is that Islamabad&#39;s mediation moves still find a solid constituency in both Tehran and Washington. This is where synergies must be multiplied in order to strike a convenient equation of serenity. The least that is desired is to give a shut-up call to Israel to desist from any misadventure over Lebanon and Gaza. At the same time, the US should also retreat from its maximalist position.]]>
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			<title>Prioritising climate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611483/prioritising-climate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611483/prioritising-climate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:10:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611483</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5, arrives this year with a message that is both timely and urgent]]>
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				<![CDATA[World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5, arrives this year with a message that is both timely and urgent. Under the theme, &quot;Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future&quot; and the global campaign slogan #NowForClimate, the international community is being reminded that the window for meaningful climate action is narrowing rapidly. Hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, the World Environment Day 2026 is a call to action at a moment when the consequences of climate inaction are becoming impossible to ignore.

The planet is sending unmistakable signals. Record-breaking temperatures, devastating floods, prolonged droughts, shrinking glaciers and increasingly frequent heatwaves are becoming the new normal. The significance of this year&#39;s theme lies in its recognition that nature itself is one of humanity&#39;s strongest allies in the fight against climate change. Healthy forests absorb carbon dioxide, wetlands reduce flood risks, mangroves protect coastlines and biodiversity strengthens ecosystem resilience. Nature is not a luxury but the foundation upon which climate security and human prosperity depend. Encouragingly, there are signs that the world is beginning to respond and countries are increasingly recognising the economic opportunities presented by a green transition. But much more needs to be done. Yet the world remains trapped in contradiction. On one hand, renewable energy deployment is accelerating at unprecedented rates. On the other hand, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and fossil fuels still dominate the world&#39;s energy mix, with many countries approving new oil and gas projects even while pledging carbon neutrality. Such is the hypocrisy.

Amid this unfolding crisis, the challenge for Pakistan is twofold. First, it must continue pressing developed nations to honour commitments on climate finance and loss-and-damage funding. Second, Pakistan must confront its own environmental failures. The irony is that many climate solutions would also address Pakistan&#39;s economic problems.]]>
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			<title>No end in sight</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611484/no-end-in-sight</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611484/no-end-in-sight#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:10:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611484</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Keeping track of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV Project) feels a bit like Groundhog Day]]>
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				<![CDATA[Keeping track of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV Project) feels a bit like Groundhog Day, where every morning starts with the possibility of completion and every night ends with the news of delay. This time, the KWSC has attempted to manage public expectations before time, stating that WAPDA-proposed 2026 deadline is unrealistic - marking perhaps the first time a consensus has been reached between public and government regarding this project.

Earlier this year, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal proudly stated that meeting Karachi&#39;s essential needs is a &quot;priority&quot; for the federal government. The extent of the Centre&#39;s &#39;priority&#39; was illustrated last year when WAPDA received only eight per cent of the required Rs40 billion from the federal budget for 2025-26. &#39;Anonymous&#39; officials had already revealed back then that the shortchange would possibly cost them a 10-year delay. In context of these numbers, it&#39;s almost as if a random deadline was chosen on a whim to appease citizens.

But KWSC&#39;s revised deadline &ndash; 2029 &ndash; also seems entirely fictitious. Part of the provincial government&#39;s process includes laying down 96-inch and 72-inch pipelines in a 2.7km stretch of land from NIPA to Hassan Square. The blind optimism that is aiming for 2029 was similarly exercised last year when University Road was closed for 50 days to complete construction. And 200 days later, it is still unfinished. What&#39;s more, the worse is yet to come because work on three distribution corridors spread out across the city&#39;s busiest urban areas hasn&#39;t even started yet.

All eyes are on this project. World Bank, a partial sponsor, also recently held a meeting with the CM Sindh regarding Karachi&#39;s delicate situation and was adequately reassured about &quot;ongoing progress&quot;. But the question remains - who will reassure the citizens who are walking towards a mirage, expecting to find water soon?]]>
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			<title>Iran's moment</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611486/irans-moment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611486/irans-moment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:10:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahzad Chaudhry]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611486</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[From a pariah to an equal partner in a dialogue for peace]]>
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				<![CDATA[From a pariah to an equal partner in a dialogue for peace is a huge transformation for a nation that had once been termed part of the Axis of Evil. This axis included Syria, Iran, Iraq and North Korea; clubbed by George Bush in 2002. That he went ahead and invented reasons to sanitise, nay occupy and reengineer Iraq in 2003 has stood out as a major gaff in American foreign policy. The neo-conservatives of then were as hardheaded as the ultra-Right that leads the US and its policy today. Iraq was neutralised, sort of, and Syria reengineered over time. But Iran stood the test of such impunity and has only gained renewed respect and a certain reverence from its peer nations. Standing up to external coercion has Iran exemplifying the resident capacity of middle-power countries to stand up to global or regional hegemons. The balance of power in the world is shaping anew.

Dial back a bit. It was only in January of this year, and part of February, that the Iranian people came out onto the streets to protest what they felt was a highly regulated, controlled society living on crumbs. The usually prosperous people had suffered long and had been relegated to a meagre and subsisted existence. They were now in the pits, with the riyal heavily devalued to record levels and a quality of life that had nosedived. The regime had to crush the people&#39;s rebellion against it with force, leaving behind many a tale of blood and gore. The regime, in all earnestness, committed itself to finding ways to break the shackles of its constraints and to pacify an increasingly agitated sentiment. But then the US and Israel attacked Iran. The people and the society, which was on the verge of fragmentation, coalesced under the threat of an external attack and became one to face off the enemy that it had so viciously despised. They survived and persevered through Iran&#39;s most difficult test in the last forty-seven years. Fragmentation isn&#39;t a threat anymore &ndash; for now. The regime has another chance to deliver peace and prosperity to people. It is for the regime not to lose it.

To break the shackles of constraint and sanctions, the regime was in deep negotiations with the US towards another agreement that would prohibit Iran from taking the nuclear route, satisfying a major US concern. As in the JCPOA-1 of 2015, Iran had agreed to the most bedevilling restrictions on itself to reassure the US of its commitment to desist from the nuclear path. Following the latest war in Iran, now paused, the US is desperate to eke out a JCPOA-plus that was already in its reach in the negotiations in February 2026, that she foolishly dismissed. Sun Tzu would be turning in his grave for someone thwarting a clear victory without firing a shot to choose war over a victory it already had. Iran is back to renegotiating the deal. This time on its terms. Foolishness has no limits when common sense takes leave. Or, when misperceived visions of glory are bought into &ndash; Israel is largely considered to have misled Donald Trump into an unnecessary war with Iran.

These gains, strategic in nature with the making of a longer-term foundation for a better future than what Iran has been denied over time, have come at great price. The cumulative loss of both human life and treasure in the war with the US/Israel must find recompense in sagacious redemption with policy choices that have opened before Iran. As the famous one-page Memorandum of Understanding outlining the framework of negotiations is touted, both sides are in a race to test the limits of their respective plays. More so Iran because it has perceptively gained an upper hand from US missteps. Such an opportunity arises rarely and slips away equally fast. Seizing the moment is thus the optimal and critical strategic step that a nation seeking to preserve and add value to its gains must take. Having delayed the acceptance of the terms that can only vary in shades for the pursuit of the optimal, Iran is in the zone of missing out on what is a once-in-a-civilisational opportunity.

Another round of intense hostility will only bring greater loss to Iran, resulting in social instability, cultural and economic degradation, and political intractability difficult to resolve. A change of order then may inevitably follow. Iran should be conscious of how easily things can slide out of hand. How the next order may settle, or not at all, is difficult to comprehend. The flip side is fortuitous. Sanctions will be dispensed, even if incrementally, breaking the chains and setting Iran free to realise its potential. It will be mainstreamed over time in the international system where once it was a pariah. That will help kick in trade, selling oil at a time when most energy strategists think oil may be in its last decades as black gold, considering how fast the energy landscape is changing. It will bring Iran unmatched wealth and prosperity that it had missed for being out of the international system. The world sits on the anvil of another economic revolution with the advent of AI. This is the time to be on board and be seen to be counted, bringing the richness of Iranian intellect to the benefit of the world.

Trump is at the receiving end, literally, when it hopes Iran will let him save face. Trump&#39;s repeated regurgitation of the terms for the agreement before signatures is playing &#39;cool&#39; before his home constituency. His filtered-down final demand is that Iran agree not to pursue nuclear weapons as an ambition. Period. The rest is embellishment. And that includes Hormuz and its clause of opening without tolls. In the meantime, the prolonged closure of Hormuz keeps oil prices elevated, benefiting all the rest selling oil at this opportune time, with Gulf and Iranian oil out of contention. That may please Trump and his cronies. Nuclear agreement, though, is what will make his day.

On it, Iran needs to be prudent and pragmatic. Rubbing the US in the mud can bring immense pleasure to many, not least to the Iranians, but saving the long-term interest of Iran as a state and as people must come foremost. Building on the favour time has brought before it and unshackling itself from unnecessary constraints should be its utmost priority. A break has come. To convert it into good times, Iran will need to be sagacious. For them to last long, Iran will need to exercise immense foresight. Gloating in others&#39; misfortune is the antithesis of securing your own interest and building on those.

Iran has found leverage, legitimacy and credibility. Such alignments are rare in international politics. It is for Iran to make the most of it now and not lose the moment in pursuit of fleeting aspirations.]]>
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			<title>Being and Becoming</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611487/being-and-becoming-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611487/being-and-becoming-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:10:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Aneela Shahzad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Modern cosmology often presents itself as the most triumphant extension of physics]]>
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				<![CDATA[Modern cosmology often presents itself as the most triumphant extension of physics. It has traced the history of the universe from fractions of a second after the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, stars and planets. Yet beneath this empirical success lies a persistent and unavoidable metaphysical tension - one that no accumulation of data has dissolved.

This is the tension between understanding the universe as a timeless structure governed by invariant laws and a universe understood as an unfolding process shaped by time, change and history. Is the universe a &#39;complete being&#39; or is it still &#39;becoming&#39;?

If the universe is a &#39;complete being&#39;, unchanging and stable, there can be certainty regarding the laws of physics upon which everything operates. But if it is in the process of &#39;becoming&#39;, its shape, mechanism and the very firmament of its structure may be undergoing change, which would, render all discovered laws of physics temporary and revisable.

At first glance, equations of physics that describe spacetime curvature, models that explain cosmic expansion, and simulations that reproduce large-scale structure assures us of the triumphal success of physical cosmology. However, this confidence dissolves once we ask more fundamental questions &ndash; What is time in cosmology? What does it mean for the universe to &quot;begin&quot;? Are laws there prior to the universe, or emergent within it? These are the questions that question the very conceptual framework through which physics itself becomes intelligible; these are the questions of metaphysics.

This tension between Being and Becoming was recorded in early Greek philosophy. Parmenides presented reality as timeless, unified and changeless - the true Being admits no coming-to-being or passing-away. Heraclitus, by contrast, insisted that reality is flux, that change is fundamental, and that stability is an illusion born of limited perception.

Modern cosmology is forced to reside in this faultline. On one side, cosmology relies on Being-like commitments. The laws of physics are treated as timeless, universal and mathematically exact. Einstein&#39;s field equations do not evolve in time; they are valid everywhere and always. Symmetry principles, conservation laws and invariances reflect a metaphysics of Being. Rather, Einstein&#39;s relativity replaces time with spacetime, where past, present and future all exist as different dimensions of the same reality. It&#39;s like three dimensions of space and one of time, together making a 4D spacetime, wherein not objects but events are located at different coordinates in spacetime. The metaphysics of Being holds the universe as a four-dimensional spacetime block, where events don&#39;t &#39;come into existence&#39;, they are simply located in different dimensions of spacetime. The universe is something stable, where past, present and future coexist equally in 4D spacetime and where time does not flow; it simply is. Change is not something that &#39;happens&#39;; it is something that is &#39;described&#39;.

On the other side, cosmology is equally committed to Becoming. The universe has a history. It expanded, cooled, formed structure and excessively generated novelty. Even, as of now, spacetime is not static, galaxies condense, stars ignite, elements are forged, and complexity is accumulating. Inflationary scenarios, phase transitions and structure formation are all narratives of transformation. Cosmology is, at its core, a historical science. It reconstructs what happened billions of years ago to prove its &#39;now&#39;.

A star begins as a gas cloud; becomes a main-sequence star; and ends as a white dwarf. These are three different realities, not three ways to look at a single static reality. One reality has ended or completed its course to give way to the next reality. Cosmology is not just description then, it is process. The universe is doing something, not just existing. In a Becoming universe, time is dynamic and the universe is constantly generating the present. In this view, the past is fixed, the future is not yet real and is open to possibilities, and the present is where reality is unceasingly happening.

Quantum Theory that intended to find the most elementary grounds of reality has complicated the matter even more. It has added the feature of &#39;indeterminacy&#39; in reality. Reality is now a set of probabilities, not certainties. And the outcomes of these probabilities are not fixed in advance, rather they will turn into realities only after their measurement. For example, a radioactive atom does not have a predetermined decay time, and it chooses its decay time from a set of probabilities. In this realm, reality is historic, the past is fixed, but the active present and the future are a set of unascertained choices. The arrow of time that has travelled a defined path in its past is &#39;now&#39; at a juncture that is opened to many choices. The line can change its path in an unpredictable new direction at every &#39;now&#39;.

&#39;Time&#39; may be just one dimension of reality, but reimaging and redefining it changes the entire picture of reality as we understand it; a new picture that may require a complete new set of physical laws to explain it. Add to that the way we understand other universals like space, gravity, light, electromagnetism. If science gives further clues that force us to reimagine these universals too, how different reality would seem to us then.

Rather, we must ask, are the so many universal entities that together form the reality we experience all different dimensions of a same single reality? Is there a fundamental fixed reality that mirrors itself in different transformations, each giving a completely different experience to the observer, and each having a certain range of possibilities within its bounded infinity?

Perhaps the universe is a fundamental fixed bounded infinity, within which each of its elemental properties act within a bounded range of choices, so that looking from outside we find a complete being, static and unchanging, yet when we experience it from inside, we experience it as a dynamic, ever-changing system that generates novelty, history and the arrow of time, as it interact within its elements. Perhaps the Being of the universe is a fundamental that allows within it the Becoming of so many interacting and even emerging realities.

So, is reality a true Being that admits no coming-to-being or passing-away, or is flux and change its fundamental nature? Is one static, unchanging reality reflects different images upon human experience, or is every experience proof of a separate, independent reality? Is &#39;Time&#39; static and unchanging, and strangling us too, in its determined singular path? Or, is it a flux that allows possibilities, generates bounded infinities &ndash; and creates for every particle of the Universe, a space to breath, a choice to make?]]>
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			<title>Is the world ready for another pandemic?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611481/is-the-world-ready-for-another-pandemic</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611481/is-the-world-ready-for-another-pandemic#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 26 20:10:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Mohammad Ali.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[New Ebola outbreak in Central Africa exposes how little has changed in the global approach to pandemic preparedness]]>
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				<![CDATA[While much of the world has moved on from Covid-19, a new Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is exposing just how little has changed in the global approach to pandemic preparedness. This emergent crisis proves that the threat of another major infectious disease outbreak is neither distant nor hypothetical. It is already unfolding.

The World Health Organization recently declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern after infections crossed borders and spread into urban areas. Officials have also warned that the true scale of the outbreak may be considerably larger than current figures suggest, particularly in conflict affected regions where access to healthcare services remains limited.

This new Ebola outbreak is especially concerning because the Bundibugyo strain currently circulating has no approved vaccine. International agencies are now struggling to put froth experimental vaccines and treatments and to mobilise emergency supplies and personnel. Once again, the global response is focused on managing a crisis after it has already emerged rather than preventing it from escalating in the first place, which is precisely the lesson that the world was supposed to learn from Covid-19.

The current Ebola outbreak is unfolding at a particularly difficult moment. Reductions in foreign assistance from the United States and other traditional donors have eroded already fragile public health systems across much of the developing world. Simultaneously, multilateral institutions, including the United Nations system, are confronting mounting financial pressures that constrain their capacity to compensate for these shortfalls.

The consequences extend far beyond any single outbreak. Researchers have long warned that weak surveillance systems, limited testing capacity and fragmented funding can delay detection and response, allowing outbreaks to spread unchecked. Infectious diseases thrive on precisely these vulnerabilities.

Global pandemic preparedness also remains highly unequal. During Covid-19, wealthier countries secured vaccines and medical supplies while many poorer nations were forced to wait. Although international partnerships helped expand access over time, the pandemic exposed the extent to which manufacturing capacity, research infrastructure and pharmaceutical production remain concentrated in a small number of countries.

Many lower- and even middle-income states remain dependent on external suppliers for critical medical products. Pakistan also continues to rely heavily on international partnerships for responding to health crisis such as a pandemic.

During Covid-19, Pakistan avoided some of the worst outcomes many observers initially feared. A relatively young population may have helped reduce mortality, while vaccines eventually became available through a combination of international cooperation, bilateral partnerships and domestic procurement. Yet, the pandemic also exposed significant weaknesses. Disease surveillance remains uneven, laboratory capacity requires further strengthening and the entire healthcare system continues to face serious resource constraints.

There is no guarantee that the next pandemic will resemble the last one. A future pathogen could spread more rapidly, prove more lethal, or be far more difficult to contain and vaccinate against, with potentially devastating consequences.

The risk of zoonotic disease spillovers continues to grow, driven by climate change, environmental degradation and increasing human encroachment into wildlife habitats. Many emerging pathogens may have no existing vaccines or effective treatments, making robust surveillance, scientific research and rapid response capabilities the first and most important line of defence.

For countries like Pakistan, preparedness should be viewed not simply as a public health issue but as a matter of national resilience and strategic autonomy.]]>
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			<title>Five dead in South Korea aerospace plant blast</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611013/five-dead-in-south-korea-aerospace-plant-blast</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611013/five-dead-in-south-korea-aerospace-plant-blast#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 26 22:32:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Five people have died and two others were injured on Monday after an explosion and fire on a South Korean production line for rocket propellant at a factory operated by Hanwha Aerospace in the city of Daejeon, officials said.

The two survivors, including one who was badly burned, had escaped from the facility themselves, a fire official told a briefing.

&quot;Authorities have yet to identify the victims because their bodies were severely damaged,&quot; a health official told the same briefing.

A fire official said that an explosion had triggered the blaze, though the cause of the blast was still being investigated. The blast appeared to have occurred while water was being used to clean explosive material from tools making rocket propellant, a Hanwha official told a company briefing.

&quot;We bow our heads in apology to the victims and their bereaved families,&quot; said Chief Executive Officer Son Jae-il, pledging to cooperate fully with authorities to determine the cause of the accident.

The five dead included two temporary workers in their 20s and all were employed by Hanwha, the company said.]]>
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			<title>Israeli strikes kill seven in Gaza</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610261/israeli-strikes-kill-seven-in-gaza</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610261/israeli-strikes-kill-seven-in-gaza#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 26 18:45:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Israeli strikes killed at least seven Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday including five in a refugee camp and two in a car, health officials said.

Medics and residents said an Israeli drone fired a missile at people who came out of their homes when an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia tried to storm an area east of Maghazi camp.

As well as at least five fatalities, several people were injured.

The Israeli military, which has been fighting Hamas in the Palestinian territory since October 2023, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on that incident.

Incursions by Israeli-backed armed gangs, whom Hamas brands &quot;Israeli collaborators&quot;, have escalated in past weeks.

Leaders of those groups, who operate in areas under Israeli control, say they aim to topple Hamas rule.

Later on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike struck a vehicle in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing two people and wounding several others, medics said.

The Israeli military told Reuters it was a &quot;targeted strike&quot; and provided no further details.]]>
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			<title>US, Armenia sign partnership agreement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610262/us-armenia-sign-partnership-agreement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610262/us-armenia-sign-partnership-agreement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 26 18:45:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed a strategic partnership agreement in Yerevan on Tuesday, less than two weeks before parliamentary elections in the South Caucasus country.

Rubio&#39;s visit comes as Russia has threatened to exert economic pressure on Yerevan for its growing ties to the West by raising prices Armenia pays for Russian gas if the country turns away from integration with Moscow

On June 7, Armenia votes in an election pitting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan&#39;s Civil Contract party against an array of opposition parties, many of which are pro-Russian.

Rubio and Mirzoyan

also signed a framework agreement on critical minerals and another on cooperation on a proposed 43-km (27-mile) transit corridor across southern Armenia

that would give Azerbaijan a direct route to its

exclave of Nakhchivan

and into Turkey, Baku&#39;s closest ally.

Dubbed the &quot;Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)&quot;, the corridor is a key part of a peace agreement reached last August between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which have been at war on-and-off since the late 1980s. No formal peace deal has been signed.

The route would better connect Asia to Europe - bypassing Russia and Iran - at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in critical minerals deals with resource-rich Central Asian countries to the east of the South Caucasus region. The mining of iron, copper and zinc and other minerals is also a major sector of Armenia&#39;s economy.

&quot;We are going to be able to work together to make sure that both of our

countries, both of our economies, are going to have reliable access

to these critical minerals,&quot; Rubio said at the

signing ceremony on Tuesday.]]>
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			<title>Medical check up went 'perfectly' says Trump</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610265/medical-check-up-went-perfectly-says-trump</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610265/medical-check-up-went-perfectly-says-trump#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 26 18:45:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Donald Trump said an annual medical check-up had gone &quot;perfectly&quot; Tuesday, as the health of the oldest US president ever to take the oath faces growing scrutiny with the approach of his 80th birthday.

It was Trump&#39;s third medical examination since returning to office last year and follows mounting speculation about issues including bruising on his hands and apparent sleepiness during meetings.

&quot;Everything checked out PERFECTLY,&quot; Trump posted on his Truth Social network as he drove back to the White House from the Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington.

But Trump has long been accused of a lack of transparency about his health -- and the chronology of his various check-ups during his second term has added to the confusion.

He referred to Tuesday&#39;s check up as a &quot;six-month physical,&quot; despite the White House billing it as an annual dental and medical examination when it announced it earlier this month.

Trump&#39;s last scheduled annual check up was in April 2025. But it was followed by an unannounced hospital visit that October, which the White House then also described as an annual physical.]]>
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			<title>Trump envoy arrives for Greenland visit</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608753/trump-envoy-arrives-for-greenland-visit</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608753/trump-envoy-arrives-for-greenland-visit#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 26 02:04:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[US President Donald Trump&#39;s special envoy to Greenland landed in Nuuk on Sunday for a visit of several days to the autonomous Danish territory, local media reported.

Governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry arrived for his first visit in the role and is due to take part in an economic forum in the Greenlandic capital on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Organised by the employers organisation Gronlands Erhverv, the Future Greenland event will bring together investors, political and business leaders to try to encourage investment there.

Landry&#39;s visit comes after international tension over Trump&#39;s repeated claims to the territory, which sparked alarm not just in Greenland and Denmark but across western Europe.

Landry arrived accompanied by around 10 other people and drove off in a convoy of five cars, the local daily Sermitsiaq reported.

The US ambassador to Denmark is due to fly in to Greenland on Monday.

&quot;Together, they will meet with a wide range of Greenlanders to listen and learn with a goal of expanding economic opportunities, building people-to-people ties, and increasing understanding between the United States and Greenland,&quot; said a US embassy statement sent to AFP.

Trump appointed Landry to the post on December 22.

In January, Trump backed down from his repeated threats to seize Greenland, after which Copenhagen and Nuuk held a first meeting in Washington.

Trump has repeatedly argued the US needs to control Greenland because of national security concerns, claiming that if the US does not take the Arctic island then it would fall into the hands of China or Russia.

Last Tuesday, Greenland&#39;s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said talks between the territory, Denmark, and the United States had yet to produce an agreement, even if there had been progress.]]>
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			<title>Mysterious world beyond Pluto may have an atmosphere</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606428/mysterious-world-beyond-pluto-may-have-an-atmosphere</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606428/mysterious-world-beyond-pluto-may-have-an-atmosphere#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 26 21:48:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2606428</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Formerly classified as a planet, Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006]]>
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				<![CDATA[A tiny, little-known world beyond Pluto appears to have an atmosphere, Japanese astronomers said Monday, defying what had been thought possible for icy objects in our cosmic backyard.

If confirmed, the roughly 500-kilometre-wide (310-mile) rock would become just the second world past Neptune in our Solar System to host an atmosphere -- after only Pluto itself.

Formerly classified as a planet, Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006, in part because astronomers were discovering other similar objects in a distant region called the Kuiper Belt.

While NASA under US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of restoring Pluto&#39;s planet status, the discovery of another atmosphere nearby could undermine the argument for its reinstatement.

For the new discovery, Japanese researchers and an amateur astronomer pointed their telescopes at an object with the unwieldy name of (612533) 2002 XV93.

The icy world is nearly 40 times further from the Sun than Earth -- or roughly six billion kilometres away.

These dark objects can only be seen when they pass in front of a distant star.

When this happened in January 2024, the astronomers observed that the starlight did not immediately reappear, suggesting a thin atmosphere was filtering some of the light.

They estimate that the world has an atmosphere five to 10 million times thinner than Earth&#39;s, according to a new study in Nature Astronomy.

&quot;This is important because, until now, Pluto was the only trans-Neptunian object with a confirmed atmosphere,&quot; lead study author Ko Arimatsu of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan told AFP.

Such small worlds had not been thought capable of hosting an atmosphere.

&quot;This discovery therefore challenges the conventional view that small icy worlds in the outer Solar System are mostly inactive and unchanging,&quot; he added.

The researchers could not say for sure what created the atmosphere, which is nowhere near thick enough to support life.]]>
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			<title>Trump rules out any deal except ‘unconditional surrender’ as Iran vows to defend its ‘dignity and sovereignty’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596085/trump-says-not-currently-considering-us-ground-forces-in-iran</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596085/trump-says-not-currently-considering-us-ground-forces-in-iran#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 26 05:23:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Iran says some countries have begun mediation efforts amid retaliatory strikes]]>
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				<![CDATA[United States President &zwnj;Donald Trump demanded Iran&#39;s &quot;unconditional surrender&quot; on Friday and ruled out any deal, a dramatic escalation of his demands a week into the war he launched alongside Israel.

Trump made the remarks on social media just hours after Iran&#39;s president announced that unspecified countries had ​begun mediation efforts in one of the first signals of any diplomatic initiative to end ​the conflict.

&quot;After ⁠that, and the selection of a great and acceptable leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful ​and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of ​destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.&quot;



https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116182551337254643



On Thursday, Trump had told Reuters in a telephone interview that he was demanding the right to help select Iran&#39;s new supreme leader, to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed ​in the war&#39;s first day.

Israel pounded the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday after ordering an unprecedented evacuation ​of the entire southern suburbs of the city, in a major expansion of the war.

It carried out heavy air strikes on Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut and started a &quot;broad-scale&quot; wave of attacks against infrastructure in Tehran, while Iran said it targeted the heart of Tel Aviv with missiles.

Explosions and flashes lit up the night sky over Beirut&#39;s southern suburbs. The Israeli military said it had carried out 26 waves of strikes overnight in the southern suburbs, saying targets included Iran-backed Hezbollah militia command centres and weapons storage facilities.

It also launched a new &zwnj;wave ⁠of attacks on Iran, saying 50 of its warplanes had struck a bunker beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of Khamenei, still being used by Iran&#39;s leadership after he was killed.

Iran says some countries have begun mediation efforts amid retaliatory strikes

Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian revealed that some countries had begun mediation efforts as the Islamic Republic continued its retaliatory strikes against Israel and US military bases in the Gulf region.

&ldquo;Some countries have begun efforts at mediation,&rdquo; Pezeshkian wrote in a post on his official X handle.

&ldquo;Our response to them is clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region, but we have not the slightest doubt in defending the dignity and sovereignty of our country,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The intended audience for mediation should be those who, by underestimating the Iranian people, have stoked the flames.&rdquo;



Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let&#39;s be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation&#39;s dignity &amp; sovereignty. Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict https://t.co/MxWCuNYOYR
&mdash; Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 6, 2026


Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Kheibar missiles were fired towards Tel Aviv as part of the 21st wave of its &ldquo;Operation True Promise 4&quot;. In a statement, the IRGC said the wave began with a combined missile and drone operation targeting sites in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Overnight, Iranian drones attacked the US Al Udied airbase in Qatar, the biggest US base in the Middle East, Qatari officials said. There were no reported casualties.

The IRGC said Iranian forces had targeted the Ramat David air base and a radar site in Israel, the Al-Adiri camp in Kuwait where US forces are stationed, and a drone attack on a base hosting US troops in Erbil, Iraq.

A Guards spokesperson said new initiatives and weapons would soon be deployed to confront Israeli and U.S. aggression, without giving details.

&quot;This was an &#39;existential war&#39; for Iran, leaving us with no choice but to respond wherever American attacks originate from,&rdquo; Iran&rsquo;s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said at the Raisina Dialogues conference in New Delhi on Friday.

Hezbollah, in a message published in Hebrew on its Telegram channel early on Friday, warned Israelis to leave towns within five kilometres of the border.

&quot;Your military&#39;s aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and safe citizens, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the expulsion campaign it is carrying out will not go unchallenged,&quot; Hezbollah said.

At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the fighting began a week ago, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The Lebanese health ministry has reported 123 people have been killed and another 683 wounded as a result of Israeli attacks this week. Its figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. There have been no reported fatalities in Israel as a result of Hezbollah attacks.

Azerbaijan was preparing unspecified retaliatory measures on Thursday after it said four Iranian drones crossed its border and injured four &zwnj;people in the Nakhchivan exclave. Iran, which has a significant Azeri minority, denied it targeted its neighbour.

Ground troops in Iran

Trump said on Thursday it would be a &quot;waste of time&quot; currently to consider sending US ground troops into Iran, NBC News reported, dismissing the Iranian foreign minister&#39;s warning that such a move would spell disaster for invaders.

&quot;It&#39;s a waste of time. They&#39;ve lost everything. They&#39;ve lost their navy. They&#39;ve lost everything they can lose,&quot; he told NBC by telephone, adding that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi&#39;s earlier remark that Iran was ready for a US or Israeli ground invasion was a &quot;wasted comment&quot;.



US President Trump said Iran is being demolished &ldquo;ahead of schedule and at levels people have never seen before&rdquo;, claiming the country now has &ldquo;no air force, no air defence&rdquo; and the air force is &ldquo;gone&rdquo;.

🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: https://t.co/q1Q18tbGFl pic.twitter.com/ILTEFBYY5m
&mdash; Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 6, 2026


Trump also indicated he is keen to see Iran&#39;s leadership structure removed and that &quot;we want to go in and clean out everything&quot; quickly.

&quot;We don&#39;t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period,&quot; he said. He added that he had ideas for a new leader but declined to name anyone.

Trump said earlier he would &quot;have to be involved&quot; in the appointment of Iran&#39;s next leader after US-Israeli strikes killed Khamenei when the conflict began on Saturday. He rejected the possibility that Khamenei&#39;s son Mojtaba could succeed his slain father, dismissing him as a &quot;lightweight&quot;.

Heavy attacks were reported in Tehran after Israel said it was hitting &quot;regime infrastructure&quot; in a &quot;new phase&quot; of the war it launched with the US against Iran.

Read: Middle East war spreads to Lebanon, Iraq as Israel attacks Tehran

The conflict, now in its seventh day, has seen Iran target Israel, the Gulf states, Cyprus, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. The violence has also spread to the Indian Ocean, where a US submarine sank an Iranian naval ship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The Iranian ship was invited to take part in the International Fleet Review 2026 in India. The strike killed around 87 sailors.



Welcome! | خوش آمدید!

🇮🇳🤝🇮🇷 Indian Navy welcomes IRIS Dena, of the Iranian Navy, on her arrival at #Visakhapatnam to participate in #IFR2026_India and #MILAN2026, reflecting long-standing cultural links between the two nations.@India_in_Iran #BridgesOfFriendship&hellip; pic.twitter.com/O77v2qNJHJ
&mdash; Eastern Naval Command 🇮🇳 (@IN_HQENC) February 17, 2026


According to former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, he wrote in a post on X that, &quot;I am told that as per protocol for this exercise, ships cannot carry any ammunition. It was defenceless.&quot;



The Iranian ship will not be where it was if we had not invited it to talk part in our Milan exercise.

We were the hosts.

I am told that as per protocol for this exercise ships cannot carry any ammunition. It was defenceless.

The Iranian naval personnel had paraded before&hellip; https://t.co/3r8bWFJn8d
&mdash; Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) March 5, 2026


Araghchi has rejected calls for a ceasefire and stated there was no reason to negotiate with the US. Despite the challenges, Iranian forces continue to retaliate against Israel and its allies. According to Drop Site News, Iran warns that it has not begun using their &quot;new&quot; weapons.

IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini said, according to Mehr News Agency, &ldquo;The enemy should expect painful blows in every operational wave,&rdquo; he said, adding that Iran&rsquo;s &ldquo;new innovations and weapons&rdquo; have not yet been used on a large scale.



⭕️ Iran warns new weapons have not yet been used

Iran is prepared for a prolonged war and has not yet deployed many of its newest weapons systems, IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini said, according to Mehr News Agency.

➤ &ldquo;The enemy should expect painful blows in&hellip; https://t.co/54Lc5YXOFe
&mdash; Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 6, 2026


US-Israeli escalation

On Friday morning, Iranian media reported heavy strikes in Tehran shortly after Israel&rsquo;s announcement that it was targeting Iran&rsquo;s &quot;regime infrastructure&quot;.

Israel&rsquo;s military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, warned that the US-Israeli campaign had entered the next phase and would &ldquo;further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities&rdquo;.

Zamir also hinted at &quot;additional surprises&quot; to come, but declined to disclose further details. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that &ldquo;firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically&quot;.



🚨Important: IDF Chief of Staff outlines next phase of war against Iran and Lebanon

▪️On Iran, Israel will escalate strikes aimed at weakening the Iranian state:

&ldquo;We will intensify the blow to the foundations of the regime and its military capabilities. We still have additional&hellip; pic.twitter.com/rJdN0O3UmB
&mdash; Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 5, 2026


Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Guards responded by launching missiles toward Tel Aviv after an earlier explosion in central Israel caused a fire at a residential building. AFP journalists reported hearing simultaneous explosions in Tel Aviv, while rocket trails lit up the sky in Netanya, further north.

Trump backs Kurds

In the midst of the escalating conflict, Trump expressed support for Iranian Kurdish militias in Iraq, encouraging them to intensify their attacks against Iran.

Speaking to Reuters, Trump stated, &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s wonderful that they want to do that, I&#39;d be all for it.&rdquo;

These militias, based along the Iran-Iraq border in Iraqi Kurdistan, have been in consultations with the US on launching attacks on Iran&rsquo;s western security forces.

Read more: Iran hits CIA site in Riyadh as US seeks to arm Kurdish forces against Tehran

Security sources reported two Iranian drone strikes on an opposition camp in Iraqi Kurdistan on Thursday, underscoring the rising violence. Iranian Kurdish forces have been preparing for such operations to weaken Iran&rsquo;s military while US and Israeli airstrikes target Iranian installations.

Iran&rsquo;s future leadership

Meanwhile, Hegseth sought to clarify that, despite Trump&rsquo;s comments, there were no changes in the US military&rsquo;s objectives in Iran. &quot;There&rsquo;s no expansion in our objectives. We know exactly what we&rsquo;re trying to achieve,&quot; Hegseth said.

Also read: US investigation points to likely US responsibility in Iran school strike, sources say

Azerbaijan prepares retaliation

Azerbaijan has vowed to retaliate after &quot;Iranian&quot; drones crossed its border and injured four people in the Nakhchivan exclave. President Ilham Aliyev condemned the attacks as an &ldquo;unprovoked act of terror and aggression&rdquo; and vowed to take action.

Hezbollah responds

Hezbollah, an armed force fighting against Israeli aggression in Lebanon, launched missiles in retaliation for the war.

Displaced families are seeking shelter on a beach, facing dire conditions.

Attacks across region

US forces sank an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka that had travelled to India to take part in a parade, while Azerbaijan threatened retaliation after a drone attack on an airport. Iran also targeted US bases inside Gulf countries, including Qatar, which intercepted a drone targeting a US base in Al-Udeid. Bahrain reported an alleged attack on a hotel and residential buildings, while Saudi Arabia intercepted three ballistic missiles.

Casualties mount in Iran, Lebanon

In Lebanon, 77 have died. Thousands have fled southern Beirut, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Additionally, two paramedics have been killed in Shiraz, Iran, according to Al Jazeera.



UPDATE: Two paramedics killed in Shiraz, Iran: Report

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/C3iSVX4pRP pic.twitter.com/CXHJVw5D20
&mdash; Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 6, 2026


More than 3,000 homes in Iran were damaged by US-Israeli attacks, according to the Red Crescent.

Pir Hossein Kolivand, president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, says the US-Israeli attacks have damaged 3,643 civilian sites, including 3,090 homes. Also damaged are 528 commercial and service centres, 14 medical or pharmaceutical facilities and nine Red Crescent facilities, he said.

Most of the targets, he added, were in &ldquo;densely populated residential areas&rdquo;.

Drop Site News reports that 20 more Iranian civilians were killed and 30 injured after US&ndash;Israel strikes hit the Zibashahr residential area of Shiraz, a major city in southwestern Iran about 420 miles south of Tehran, the acting head of the political deputy office of the Fars Province governorate said, according to Islamic State News Agencies.



🚨 New: 20 Iranian civilians killed in U.S.&ndash;Israel strikes on residential area in Shiraz

At least 20 civilians were killed and 30 injured after U.S.&ndash;Israel strikes hit the Zibashahr residential area of Shiraz &ndash; a major city in southwestern Iran about 420 miles south of Tehran &ndash;&hellip; https://t.co/TRKWPIvfDd
&mdash; Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 6, 2026


Prolonged conflict preparation

US officials, including Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, confirmed that strikes from Iran have significantly diminished, with ballistic missile attacks decreasing by 90% and drone attacks down by 83%. However, Pentagon officials reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing campaign, emphasising the availability of sufficient munitions for a sustained effort.

Global disruptions

The conflict has disrupted global markets, energy supplies, and travel. While oil prices have surged, global logistics and air transport have been heavily affected. Iran claims control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint, but the US has signalled it may escort ships through the area if necessary.]]>
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			<title>Lahore court grants interim bail to PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar in Momina Iqbal harassment case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611593/lahore-court-grants-interim-bail-to-pml-n-mpa-saqib-chadhar-in-momina-iqbal-harassment-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611593/lahore-court-grants-interim-bail-to-pml-n-mpa-saqib-chadhar-in-momina-iqbal-harassment-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 09:19:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[muhammad.haroon]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611593</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court bars Chadhar's arrest until June 24 as FIR alleges cyber harassment, blackmail and intimidation]]>
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				<![CDATA[A sessions court in Lahore on Friday granted interim pre-arrest bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Saqib Chadhar in a harassment case involving actor Momina Iqbal and restrained authorities from arresting him until June 24.

Additional Sessions Judge Irfan Ahmed Sheikh approved the interim bail after hearing arguments from both sides. Chadhar was represented by Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq.

The case was registered on Thursday by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on a complaint filed by Iqbal. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Chadhar and his wife were accused of engaging in a sustained campaign of cyber harassment, stalking, intimidation and blackmail against the actor.

The FIR alleged that after Iqbal rejected a marriage proposal from Chadhar, she was subjected to repeated threats, attempts to access her private data and blackmail involving alleged private videos. It further claimed that the accused sought to damage her personal and professional reputation and interfere with her marriage plans.

According to the complaint, the accused and their associates carried out a coordinated campaign of cyber harassment, criminal intimidation, unlawful surveillance and defamation targeting both Iqbal and her family.

The FIR also alleged that an explicit video of the complainant was shared without her consent and was later recovered during the investigation. As part of the inquiry, investigators seized digital devices and storage media for forensic examination.

Read: Punjab CM Maryam warns against harassment, misuse of influence in actor&ndash;MPA case

Authorities said a technical analysis of the complainant&#39;s mobile phone uncovered threatening and derogatory messages. The FIR further alleged that messages containing threats and abusive language were sent from devices linked to the accused.

Investigators also alleged that the accused obtained the complainant&#39;s call data records (CDRs) without authorisation and used the information to harass and intimidate her. The FIR stated that devices submitted by the accused showed signs of data deletion prior to forensic examination, although investigators said communications and other evidence were later recovered from seized digital media.

The FIR concluded that the accused had prima facie committed offences by unlawfully accessing, copying and sharing digital data, distributing explicit content without consent, issuing life threats and attempting to destroy or conceal digital evidence. It added that the role of other alleged associates would be determined during the course of the investigation.

The case was registered under multiple provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, as amended in 2025, as well as several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Under Sections 3 and 4 of PECA, the allegations related to unauthorised access to information systems and interference with data or information systems. Sections 21(b) and 21(c) pertained to offences against the dignity of a natural person and the dissemination of false or obscene information intended to harm or intimidate the victim.

Section 24(d) related to cyberstalking and repeated electronic harassment, while Section 506 of the PPC covered allegations of criminal intimidation and death threats. Section 201 PPC pertained to allegations of destroying evidence or providing false information to shield offenders, including the alleged deletion of digital data before forensic analysis.

The FIR also invoked Sections 34 and 109 of the PPC, which relate to common intention and abetment, alleging the coordinated involvement of multiple individuals in the commission of the alleged offences.

The case

Iqbal, on May 20,&nbsp;took to social media, claiming that she had been facing online harassment, cyberbullying, and death threats for a long time. She alleged that she and her family had endured severe mental stress and trauma due to the individual involved.

In a message shared on her Instagram story, Momina, without naming anyone, alleged that an MPA associated with the PML-N had been issuing threats to her for an extended period. She added that she had repeatedly reported the matter to the NCCIA and the Federal Investigation Agency, but no action was taken.

The actor appealed to CM Maryam, saying she believed the chief minister &quot;will take unbiased and lawful action against anyone found involved in abuse of power or obstruction of justice.&quot;

Three days later, the actor filed a formal complaint with the Lahore police, accusing Chadhar and his alleged accomplices of cyber harassment, criminal intimidation, blackmail, defamatory campaigns and interference in her marriage.

According to a copy of the complaint submitted to police on May 22, the actor alleged that Chadhar had subjected her to &ldquo;continuous harassment, death threats, and psychological torture&rdquo; after she rejected his marriage proposal and ended ties with him in 2022.

The application, filed at the Chung Police Station, states that the suspect allegedly used threatening calls, WhatsApp messages, fake social media activity, and AI-generated images to intimidate the actor and damage her reputation ahead of her upcoming marriage.

The complaint further alleged that the suspect repeatedly threatened to kill her if she refused to marry him. One of the alleged messages cited in the application stated: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t force me &hellip; even your dead body will not be found.&rdquo;

The actor also alleged that during a meeting at Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore in December 2024, the suspect again threatened her, warning that she would be killed if she married someone else.

According to the complaint, the situation escalated earlier this month after the actor&rsquo;s engagement was finalised. The application claimed that explicit and AI-edited photographs were sent to her WhatsApp number from unknown contacts in an attempt to blackmail her and sabotage the marriage.

The complaint stated that similar material was also sent to her sister, while threatening calls were allegedly made to members of her fianc&eacute;&rsquo;s family. Momina further alleged that her fianc&eacute;, currently residing in Karachi, also received repeated calls and threatening messages from unidentified numbers and social media accounts linked to the accused.

The application accused the lawmaker of using political influence and connections within the ruling party to pressure the actor and obstruct action on previous complaints. She requested the police to register a criminal case against the lawmaker, his wife and other alleged facilitators, provide security to her family, and initiate immediate legal proceedings.

Responding to Iqbal&#39;s previous call for help, Maryam Nawaz said the matter involving a PML-N Member of the Provincial Assembly and a prominent media personality was &ldquo;a personal issue&rdquo; and would be addressed strictly on merit and in accordance with the law.

The chief minister further warned against any attempt to exert pressure or misuse influence through threats of releasing personal content, saying any such action would be met with firm and uncompromising action.]]>
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			<title>PIA to resume Islamabad-Beijing flights from July 3</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611582/pia-to-resume-islamabad-beijing-flights-from-july-3</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611582/pia-to-resume-islamabad-beijing-flights-from-july-3#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 07:30:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611582</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Revival of route comes amid growing demand from students, business professionals, tourists]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday announced the resumption of its direct flight service between Islamabad and Beijing, effective July 3, restoring a key air link between Pakistan and China and further reinforcing the longstanding ties between the two countries.

The revival of the Islamabad-Beijing-Islamabad route comes amid growing demand from students, business professionals, tourists, and families seeking efficient and convenient travel options between the two nations.

The direct service is expected to significantly enhance connectivity while offering passengers competitive fares, generous baggage allowances, and a more comfortable travel experience.

The restored route is particularly welcomed by the large number of Pakistani and Chinese students pursuing higher education in each other&rsquo;s countries.

Educational institutions, student groups, and travel industry stakeholders have described the development as timely, especially with the upcoming academic sessions and peak travel season approaching.

Industry observers believe the direct flights will facilitate smoother mobility for students, academics, and researchers, while also promoting stronger educational exchanges between Pakistan and China.

The service is also expected to benefit tourists and families planning summer travel, providing greater flexibility and reducing journey times compared to indirect routes.

Read: PIA&#39;s first post-Hajj flight lands in Karachi

Travel agencies and tourism operators have reported strong interest from passengers since the announcement, reflecting the importance of direct air connectivity between the capitals of the two friendly nations. Many prospective travelers have welcomed the move, noting that the restored service will make travel more convenient and cost-effective.

In a statement, PIA management reaffirmed the national carrier&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral connectivity and supporting cooperation in tourism, trade, education, and cultural exchanges.

The airline emphasised that the resumption of direct flights aligns with efforts to further deepen people-to-people contacts and foster closer relations between Pakistan and China.

The restoration of the Islamabad-Beijing route marks another positive step in enhancing transportation links between the two countries, underscoring PIA&rsquo;s role in facilitating travel and contributing to the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.]]>
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			<title>AJK general elections to be held on July 27, Election Commission announces</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611570/ajk-general-elections-to-be-held-on-july-27-election-commission-announces</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611570/ajk-general-elections-to-be-held-on-july-27-election-commission-announces#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 05:58:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Waqas Ahmad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category><category><![CDATA[Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611570</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Elections will be conducted in all constituencies of AJK Legislative Assembly as approved by Delimitation Commission]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission on Friday announced that general elections for the AJK Legislative Assembly will be held on July 27 from 8am to 5pm., according to a notification issued today.

According to the notification, elections will be conducted in all constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly as approved by the Delimitation Commission.

As per the schedule, nomination papers will be submitted from June 9 to June 19 until 4pm. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 20.

Candidates aggrieved by the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers may file appeals before the Election Commission between June 21 and June 24.

Hearings on the appeals will be conducted on June 26 and June 27, while decisions on appeals will be announced by June 28.

Candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination papers by June 30, while the final list of candidates will be published on July 1. Election symbols will be allotted on July 2, after which the official campaign process will move into its final phase.

According to the notification, polling will be held on July 27 from 8am to 5pm.

The Election Commission said the election schedule has been issued, while all necessary arrangements for the polls are being finalised in consultation with relevant institutions.

With the issuance of the schedule, the process of appointing returning officers (ROs) will begin, officials said.



The commission added that preparations are underway to ensure transparent, orderly, and impartial elections under judicial supervision.

Read: Campaigning peaks as G-B polls near

Security arrangements are also being finalised, with the deployment of additional personnel from the armed forces, Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies expected to maintain law and order during the polls.

More than 3.4 million voters in AJK are expected to exercise their right to vote, while over 500,000 new voters have been added to the electoral rolls, Election Commission sources said.]]>
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			<title>Fact-check: Viral video of snow avalanche in Gilgit-Baltistan is from March 2026</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611589/fact-check-viral-video-of-snow-avalanche-in-gilgit-baltistan-is-from-march-2026</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611589/fact-check-viral-video-of-snow-avalanche-in-gilgit-baltistan-is-from-march-2026#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 08:45:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611589</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Video shows an avalanche blocking a road in G-B as people in the background can be heard screaming in panic]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan is experiencing an intense heatwave this year, with the mercury crossing 50&deg;C in some parts of the country. In its weather outlook for May 26-31, the National Disaster Management Authority warned that rising temperatures, heatwave conditions, flash floods, and landslides could impact several parts of the country, especially the northern and southern regions.

It added that there was also a risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, the NDMA also issued an advisory, warning of an increase in potential GLOF events from March to September 2026 due to an anticipated rise in temperatures, changing weather patterns, and possible early heatwave conditions in northern Pakistan.

Since Tuesday, a video has been circulating on X showing an avalanche blocking a road in Gilgit-Baltistan as people in the background can be heard screaming in panic, with some even chanting &lsquo;Allahu Akbar&rsquo;.

Many social media users shared the video claiming that the visuals were recent and raising alarm over Pakistan&rsquo;s weakening glaciers. Some also used the clip to warn tourists heading up north for vacations.

The video was also shared by local digital news outlets on YouTube and Instagram, as seen here, here, here, and here.

It must be noted that none of these posts mentioned when the incident occurred.

A keyword search conducted to corroborate whether any national or local media outlets had reported on recent avalanches in G-B did not yield any results.

Conducting a Google reverse image search yielded a Facebook video shared by state media outlet Pakistan TV, dated March 13, with the caption, &ldquo;An avalanche blocked a river in the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan amid snowfall ahead of the spring season.&rdquo;

The caption concluded with the hashtags #GilgitBaltistan #AvalancheAlert #NorthernPakistan #SnowfallImpact.



https://www.facebook.com/PakistanTVGlobal/videos/an-avalanche-blocked-a-river-in-the-mountains-of-gilgit-baltistan-in-northern-pa/2054644285085913/



The video was also shared by Bol Hunza, a regional media network and page that covers news in the G-B region, on their Instagram account. It was dated March 13. According to the caption of the post, the incident occurred in the upper Hunza.





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The same video was also shared by multiple users on X and Facebook at different periods of time during April and May.

Jamil Nagri, Dawn correspondent in G-B, also confirmed to iVerify Pakistan that no such event had taken place in the region recently and that the video dated back to March.

During an avalanche, a mass of snow, rock, ice, soil, and other material slides swiftly down a mountainside.

In a report released in March, the NDMA said that the incidence of avalanches is highest in Pakistan from February to April when heavy snowfall events are followed by temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and additional snow loading.

It further stated that expanding infrastructure, including the Karakoram Highway, hydropower installations, and settlements located in narrow valleys, increases exposure to avalanche hazards. Districts such as Chitral, Upper Dir, Ghizer, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum, and Haveli remain particularly vulnerable.

Research shows the frequency of avalanches in the Himalayan mountains has increased in recent years in what is called an &ldquo;expected consequence&rdquo; of climate change.

Conclusion 

The claim that a viral video shows a recent snow avalanche in G-B is misleading.

The video is from March 2026. Moreover, according to the NDMA, the highest incidence of avalanches in Pakistan is from February to April.

This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan &mdash; a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.]]>
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			<title>Yemen’s Houthi leader says group ready for escalation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611577/yemens-houthi-leader-says-group-ready-for-escalation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611577/yemens-houthi-leader-says-group-ready-for-escalation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:53:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611577</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Abdul-Malik al-Houthi says region in ‘critical stage,’ calls for greater awareness]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The leader of Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi group said on Thursday that it is ready for escalation and remains in &ldquo;full coordination&rdquo; with its regional allies.

In a televised speech broadcast by the group&rsquo;s Al-Masirah TV channel, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the Houthis were prepared for &ldquo;any round of escalation or any developments within the current situation.&rdquo;

He stressed that the group remains in &ldquo;full coordination&rdquo; with its allies in the &lsquo;Axis of Resistance&rsquo; regarding developments in Lebanon and Palestine, as well as what he described as &ldquo;unjust and aggressive&rdquo; US measures in the region.

Al-Houthi also warned regional parties against attempts by Washington to drag them into fighting &ldquo;in service of Israel&rdquo;.

The Houthi leader said the region was passing through a &ldquo;critical stage&rdquo; and called for a high level of awareness and responsibility.

Read: Iran says Strait of Hormuz to be managed jointly with Oman under international law

He accused Israel of committing &ldquo;clear crimes&rdquo; in Palestine and Lebanon and pursuing broader aggressive goals across the region.

Separately, the Foreign Ministry in the Houthis&rsquo; unrecognised government expressed support for Lebanon&rsquo;s Hezbollah group regarding what it described as the appropriate response to the agreement signed between &ldquo;the authority in Beirut and the Israeli enemy entity&rdquo;.

In a statement carried by the group&rsquo;s Saba News Agency, the ministry said &ldquo;resistance&rdquo; remained the most effective option to halt Israeli attacks and end the occupation of Lebanese territory.

Regional tensions have escalated since late February after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, killing more than 3,000 people.

Tehran, in retaliation, has targeted Israel and Gulf countries that host US bases and closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global shipping.

A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire took effect on April 8, and efforts to reach a broader agreement have continued since then.]]>
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			<title>Trump lawyers deny BBC access to financial details in $10b lawsuit, FT says</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611575/trump-lawyers-deny-bbc-access-to-financial-details-in-10-billion-lawsuit-ft-says</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611575/trump-lawyers-deny-bbc-access-to-financial-details-in-10-billion-lawsuit-ft-says#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:36:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611575</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He accuses publicly funded broadcaster of defaming him by splicing together parts of a January 6, 2021]]>
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				<![CDATA[US President Donald Trump&#39;s legal team has refused to hand over financial information sought by BBC lawyers in his $10-billion defamation case against the broadcaster, the Financial Times said on Friday, citing court filings.

Trump has accused the publicly funded broadcaster of defaming him by splicing together parts of a January 6, 2021, speech to make it appear that he directed supporters to storm the US Capitol.

The impetus for Trump&#39;s request to delay &quot;appears to be the flat refusal by the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust&thinsp;.&thinsp;.&thinsp;.&thinsp; to provide any financial information under subpoena&quot;, the newspaper cited the BBC as saying in a court filing.

That action came despite Trump&#39;s claims that the BBC injured &quot;the value of his brand, properties, and businesses&quot; and the president&rsquo;s &quot;own refusal, to date, to provide any financial information in discovery&quot;, the paper added.

Trump&#39;s lawsuit, filed in Florida in December, says the BBC violated a state law that bars deceptive and unfair trade practices. He is seeking damages of at least $5 billion on each of its two counts.

The broadcaster and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Trump&rsquo;s legal team told the newspaper the BBC was liable for &quot;intentionally and maliciously defaming him by distorting and manipulating his speech&quot;.

Read: US House votes for measure that would end Iran war, in blow to Trump

In a statement, the spokesperson added, &quot;President Trump will continue to hold accountable the BBC and all those who traffic in fake news.&quot;

Trust managed by Trump&#39;s eldest son

In its bid to ascertain the documentary&#39;s financial impact, the BBC has subpoenaed the trust, managed by Trump&#39;s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, as the sole trustee, which holds the president&rsquo;s business interests and assets, the paper said.

The BBC legal team has sought financial documents that reflect the trust&#39;s holdings and value, assets, inventories and properties, the paper added, citing court filings from May that it viewed.

The request covers almost 400 entities owned by or associated with the trust, as well as requests for tax returns, the paper said.

The documentary, first broadcast in 2024 shortly before a presidential election Trump won, featured a section in which he told supporters to march on the Capitol and another, from nearly an hour later, where he said, &quot;Fight like hell.&quot;

The BBC apologised to Trump for the edit, but wants his lawsuit thrown out. Trump&#39;s subsequent reelection showed the alleged defamation did not harm his reputation, the broadcaster said in court papers released in March.]]>
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			<title>China's Xi to visit North Korea next week</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611574/chinas-xi-to-visit-north-korea-next-week</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611574/chinas-xi-to-visit-north-korea-next-week#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:27:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611574</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Beijing is vital source of political, economic support to North Korea]]>
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				<![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week, state media said Friday, the latest in a series of high-level summits as Beijing asserts its position as a diplomatic superpower on the world stage.

State broadcaster CCTV said that Xi would visit from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his first trip to Pyongyang in seven years.

Beijing is a vital source of political and economic support to North Korea, which is one of the most diplomatically isolated countries in the world and under heavy international sanctions.

The upcoming meeting will be Xi&#39;s first official trip abroad this year, and comes after he hosted back-to-back summits with US President Donald Trump and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin last month.

&quot;China is meeting leaders from around the world, coordinating positions and playing a mediating role,&quot; Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at South Korea&#39;s Kyungnam University, told AFP.

&quot;As China&#39;s international standing rises, Beijing is likely seeking to draw Pyongyang more actively into its diplomatic orbit as a partner in advancing a more multilateral order&quot;.

Pyongyang depends on China for up to 95 per cent of total trade and 85 per cent of its exports, according to 2022 statistics from the National Committee on North Korea, a Washington-based think tank.

Read:&nbsp;North Korea, China to resume passenger train service after six-year gap

But North Korea has drawn closer to Russia in recent years, particularly since Moscow&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Pyongyang sending thousands of troops and weapons to support the war effort.

&#39;In return, analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food and energy, helping it circumvent sanctions over its banned nuclear programmes.
Xi&#39;s choice of Pyongyang for his first overseas trip of 2026 is &quot;a deliberate visual rebuttal to the prevailing read in Western capitals that Pyongyang had quietly migrated into Moscow&#39;s orbit&quot;, said Seong-Hyon Lee from the George HW&nbsp;Bush Foundation for US-China Relations.

Managing the relationship

Xi last met Kim in September, when he invited the North Korean leader and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin as guests of honour to a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over imperial Japan in World War II.

In 2019, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were welcomed to North Korea with great pomp and fanfare to celebrate the two countries&#39; &quot;unbreakable friendship&quot;.

Prior to that trip, no Chinese leader had visited the North since Hu Jintao in 2005.

Beijing&#39;s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a visit to Pyongyang in April that China and Korea should &quot;enhance coordination&quot; on international and regional issues and &quot;maintain close communication and interaction&quot;.

China&#39;s interests include keeping an eye on North Korea&#39;s nuclear programme, the advancement of which is &quot;extremely rapid&quot;, Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) told AFP.

&quot;This aspect needs to be managed. If North Korea acts in a provocative and belligerent manner, it could trigger regional conflict, which could run counter to China&#39;s interests,&quot; Hong said.

Kim vowed an &quot;exponential&quot; increase in nuclear military capabilities on Wednesday as he visited a new atomic facility, Pyongyang&#39;s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

Read more:&nbsp;China, North Korea make winning starts

South Korea&#39;s foreign ministry has said it hopes exchanges between North Korea and China contribute to peace and stability, and that China can play a constructive role.

Pyongyang has repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary.

Analysts have viewed Xi&#39;s recent diplomatic flurry as part of attempts to position China as a stable, strategic alternative to an unpredictable United States.

Traditional US allies, including Britain&#39;s Keir Starmer and France&#39;s Emmanuel Macron, have also come to Beijing.

However, Hong, of KINU, judged the chances that Xi might help broker a meeting between Trump and Kim as &quot;very low&quot;.]]>
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			<title>India's 'Cockroach Party' chief flies to New Delhi for protest</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611573/indias-cockroach-party-chief-flies-to-new-delhi-for-protest</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611573/indias-cockroach-party-chief-flies-to-new-delhi-for-protest#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 26 06:23:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2611573</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[India tightly regulates social media content, some of CJP's social media handles are blocked]]>
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				<![CDATA[The founder of India&#39;s satirical online &quot;Cockroach People&#39;s Party&quot; said he was flying back to New Delhi on Friday to take the viral social media campaign to the streets.
Abhijeet Dipke, the 30-year-old Boston University graduate behind the online movement, said he was flying back from the United States to seek police permission for a peaceful protest on Saturday against the education minister.

The parody &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; (CJP) -- echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- has won millions of online followers on social media since its launch last month.

CJP was set up after India&#39;s Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called young people who criticised the government &quot;cockroaches&quot; and &quot;parasites&quot; during a hearing. Kant later said his comments were taken out of context.

Dipke, a political communications strategist who formerly worked with the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), created the fictional party online on May 16.
Its popularity has soared, using the slogan &quot;a political front for the youth, by the youth, for the youth&quot;.

&#39;Overwhelming response&#39;

Dipke has called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced criticism over alleged irregularities in several key examinations.
&quot;On my way to India... Leaving my fate in the hands of the Constitution,&quot; Dipke wrote in a post on X on Friday.

Sonam Wangchuk, 59, a prominent activist from India&#39;s Ladakh region, who spent six months in detention after being arrested in September following deadly protests demanding autonomy for the Himalayan territory, has said he will join the protests.

Read:&nbsp;India&#39;s &#39;cockroach&#39; youth party plans street protests

India tightly regulates social media content, and some of the CJP&#39;s social media handles have been blocked.

But its Instagram handle, still online in India, has more than 22 million followers -- more than double the BJP&#39;s nine million followers on the same site, as well as the main opposition Congress Party&#39;s 13 million followers.

Dipke earlier called on followers not to gather at the airport upon his arrival.

&quot;The overwhelming response from those who want the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan to our call to join us at Delhi Airport was beyond our imagination,&quot; he said, in a video message on X, posted on Thursday.

&quot;It is not feasible for so many people to assemble at the airport as it would cause inconvenience to the public and the security forces,&quot; he said.

He said he would go immediately to the police &quot;to seek permission directly for our peaceful protest&quot; on Saturday.

&quot;We are law-abiding citizens and have to act responsibly,&quot; he added. &quot;So, please, be mindful that nobody should create any kind of disturbance&quot;.]]>
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			<title>PMD predicts rain, thunderstorms in parts of Sindh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610526/pmd-predicts-rain-thunderstorms-in-parts-of-sindh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610526/pmd-predicts-rain-thunderstorms-in-parts-of-sindh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 26 07:51:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Aftab Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610526</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says Karachi is likely to remain hot and humid over the next three days]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday predicted light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and dust storms at isolated locations in parts of Sindh on June 1, offering relief after days of intense heat across the province.

The department said weather conditions driven by severe heat and westerly winds affecting northern parts of the country could trigger thunderstorms in Qambar Shahdadkot, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, and Tharparkar districts.

&quot;Despite the rain forecast, heatwave conditions were expected to persist across most districts of Sindh until Saturday,&quot; it said.

PMD said that Maximum temperatures in Kashmore, Khairpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad and Naushahro Feroze were forecast to range between 47&deg;C and 50&deg;C.

&quot;In Tharparkar, Badin, Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro and Sanghar, temperatures are expected to reach between 44&deg;C and 47&deg;C,&quot; it added.

Read: Severe heat persists in Sindh as Karachi records humid conditions

Meanwhile, Karachi is likely to remain hot and humid over the next three days, with daytime temperatures forecast between 35&deg;C and 37 &deg;C.

It said that Humidity levels in the city could reach around 80 per cent during the morning and 70 per cent in the evening, while south-westerly sea breezes were expected to remain fully active in the coming days, the PMD said.

On Thursday, Dadu set a new heat record, breaking the area&rsquo;s 10-year temperature record amid intense heat.

According to the PMD, a maximum temperature of 51.4&deg;C was recorded in Dadu on May 18, 2016. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 51.5&deg;C on Thursday.

The recorded temperature was 4.5&deg;C above the May average. Larkana and Jacobabad also recorded temperatures of 50.5&deg;C on the same day.]]>
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			<title>Govt declares May 26-28 public holidays for Eidul Azha</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609125/govt-declares-may-26-28-public-holidays-for-eidul-azha</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609125/govt-declares-may-26-28-public-holidays-for-eidul-azha#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 26 06:36:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609125</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Notification says all offices, educational institutions, and businesses will remain closed on notified dates]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved a three-day public holiday on the occasion of Eidul Azha from May 26-28 (Tuesday to Thursday).

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the Prime Minister approved the three-day public holiday in continuation of the division&rsquo;s earlier circular No.10-01/2025-Min-II dated January 19, regarding public and optional holidays for the year 2026.

&ldquo;All offices, educational institutions, and businesses observing public holidays will remain closed on the notified dates,&rdquo; the notification said.

{{pdf}}

On May 17, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that the moon of Zilhajj 1447 AH had been sighted in the country, and Eidul Azha would be observed on May 27.

He said testimonies of moon sighting were received from Karachi and other parts of Sindh, as well as Mardan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and several other regions. &ldquo;Therefore, it has been decided that the first Zilhajj 1447 AH will be on May 18, while Eidul Azha will fall on May 27,&rdquo; he said.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee for 29 Zilhajj, held on May 17 (today), took place at the Meteorological Department in Karachi.

Read: Zilhaj moon sighted, Pakistan to celebrate Eidul Azha on May 27

On May 12, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO issued its forecast for the sighting of the Zilhajj 1447 AH moon, stating that Eidul Azha was expected to be observed on May 27.

Inflation bites ahead of Eid

The Punjab, closely followed by the Sindh and federal government, announced last week that they were temporarily lifting early closing timings ahead of Eidul Azha, sparking hopes among traders for a much-needed business revival after weeks of uncertainty caused by rising fuel prices, regional tensions, and restricted market timings.

Petrol prices and expensive transportation have affected not only traders but also ordinary consumers planning for Eidul Azha. From clothing to groceries and sacrificial animals, prices this year have risen sharply compared to last year.

In cattle markets across Punjab and Sindh, buyers are facing sticker shock. A healthy goat that was available for Rs100,000 to Rs125,000 last year is now being sold for nearly Rs180,000 to Rs220,000 in many urban markets.

Read More: Eid rush returns, inflation bites

&quot;This year, even middle-income families are struggling to arrange money for sacrificial animals,&quot; said Shayan Baig, who was looking for an animal for Eid. &quot;No matter whether it&#39;s a goat, lamb, or a cow, at least Rs100,000 has been added, if we compare prices with the previous year&#39;s rates, which were also higher. I now have to adopt a wait-and-see policy, and will try again close to the Eid in the hope of getting an animal at a lower price.&quot;

Livestock traders argue that their own costs have also surged significantly. Transportation charges, fodder prices and inter-city movement expenses have all increased over recent months. Many sellers say bringing animals from rural areas to major cities has become far more expensive than in previous years.

The livestock sector remains a major part of Pakistan&#39;s rural economy during Eidul Azha. Thousands of seasonal workers, transporters, fodder suppliers and temporary market operators depend on Eid-related activity for income. Economists believe the festival generates billions of rupees in temporary economic activity every year.

At the same time, inflation continues to shape consumer behaviour. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, inflationary pressures remained significant during the first quarter of 2026 despite some easing in headline figures. Food items, transport costs and energy-related expenses continue to weigh heavily on household budgets.

In shopping centres, many retailers say consumers are visiting markets but spending carefully. Instead of bulk purchases, families are focusing on essential Eid buying only.]]>
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			<title>Over 164,000 Pakistanis deported from Gulf in 5 years</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608912/over-164000-pakistanis-deported-from-gulf-in-5-years</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608912/over-164000-pakistanis-deported-from-gulf-in-5-years#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 26 00:50:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Waqas Ahmed]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608912</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the government had failed to respond to opposition demands regarding access to PTI founder]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[More than 164,000 Pakistanis were deported from various Gulf countries over the past five years, according to official data presented in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Ministry of Interior informed the House that Saudi Arabia led the list with 108,029 deportations, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 40,497, Oman with 9,814, Qatar with 2,971 and Bahrain with 2,779 cases.

The data was tabled during a stormy sitting that simultaneously saw opposition members escalate their protest over the denial of meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan and alleged restrictions on medical access.

The House, presided over by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, witnessed repeated sloganeering, a sit-in in front of the speaker&#39;s dais, and an unusual symbolic &quot;parallel assembly&quot; staged by opposition lawmakers led by Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

Speaking on the floor, Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the government had failed to respond to opposition demands regarding access to the PTI founder and healthcare concerns.

He warned that the opposition would not allow the House to function or participate in the budget process. The opposition later staged a walkout and also pointed out the lack of a quorum.

Meanwhile, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency also submitted its report in the House, revealing that more than 531,000 complaints were received between 2023 and the present.

The report stated that over 5,700 cases were registered during this period, while 7,600 individuals were arrested over the past four years in connection with cybercrime-related offences.

Separately, the rising cost of private healthcare in Islamabad was also taken up in the House.]]>
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			<title>Somali pirates demand $3m ransom to release hostages, including 10 Pakistanis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608822/somali-pirates-demand-3m-ransom-to-release-hostages-including-10-pakistanis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608822/somali-pirates-demand-3m-ransom-to-release-hostages-including-10-pakistanis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 26 16:23:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608822</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pirates reject any third-party negotiations, ask government to speak with them directly]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Somali pirates have demanded a ransom of three million dollars for the release of seventeen hostages, including ten Pakistanis.

During ongoing communication between the pirates and the Ansar Burney Trust, the pirate leader sent a WhatsApp message on Monday stating for the first time that the release of all hostages, the ship, and its cargo would only be possible if they were paid three million dollars. The pirates refused any reduction in the amount or any negotiations.

Qurrat-ul-Ain Advocate, director of the Ansar Burney Trust, said that the contact took place on Monday.

The pirates denied recent reports claiming they had demanded ten million dollars. They also distanced themselves from a man named Usman, who had been presented in the media as the ship&rsquo;s owner and allegedly linked to the ten-million-dollar demand. According to Qurrat-ul-Ain Advocate, the pirates rejected any third-party negotiations and asked the Pakistani government to speak with them directly.

Read More: Hostage crew&#39;s video surfaces after 26 days in pirate captivity

The oil tanker Honour 25, sailing under the Somali flag from Oman to Somalia, was hijacked by pirates on the 21st of last month. There were 17 crew members aboard, 10&nbsp;of whom were Pakistani nationals. The families of the Pakistani hostages have continuously appealed to the government for the safe release of their loved ones.



Families of the Pakistani hostage crew members of the Oil Products Tanker the HONOUR 25 that was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, hold placards during a protest, calling the government to take immediate action for the safe return of their loved ones, in Karachi, Pakistan May 13, 2026. REUTERS

According to the pirates, countries including Sri Lanka and India are in contact with them regarding their seven hostages, but they did not confirm any communication from Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities say they are in contact with both the pirates and the Somali government to secure the release of the Pakistani hostages.



صومالی بحری قزاقوں نے پاکستانیوں سمیت 17 یرغمالیوں کی نئی ویڈیو جاری کردی
یرغمالی پاکستانی شہری یوسف حسین کی حکومت پاکستان سے اپیل
یہ لوگ ابلے چاول اور ٹینک کا گندہ پانی پینے کے لیے دے رہے ہیں،بہت مشکل میں جلد سے جلد قزاقوں سے مزاکرات کریں ،ویڈیو میں بھاری اسلحے سے لیس قزاق بھی&hellip; pic.twitter.com/1IcDJ2jPCV
&mdash; Shahid Hussain (@ShahidHussainJM) May 15, 2026


In video and audio messages, the Pakistani hostages reported that food supplies and medicines on the ship had run out. They said they were being given only one serving of boiled rice per day.

Clean drinking water has also run out, forcing the hostages to drink contaminated water, which is causing illnesses among them.]]>
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			<title>PTCL warns of internet disruption during evenings from May 11-18</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607318/ptcl-warns-of-internet-disruption-during-evenings-from-may-11-18</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607318/ptcl-warns-of-internet-disruption-during-evenings-from-may-11-18#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 26 11:06:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2607318</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Company says maintenance activity is planned on one of its submarine cables to repair fault]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) announced on Sunday that customers may face internet service degradation during the evenings from May 11-18.

In a post on X, the company said that maintenance activity was planned on one of its submarine cables to repair a fault by the International Cable Consortium.

&quot;Due to this maintenance, which will begin from tomorrow (Monday) and which can last for seven days, customers may have to face disruption in their internet service,&quot; it stated.



Important Notice 📢 pic.twitter.com/gPJBEI9toH
&mdash; PTCL (@PTCLOfficial) May 10, 2026


Last month, the telecommunications company posted a similar notice to X, stating that maintenance activity was planned on one of its submarine cables to repair a fault by the consortium.

This activity, which was to start on April 14, 2026, was to potentially last until April 20, 2026. Saying that customers may face internet service disruptions during the period, PTCL had expressed its regret for the inconvenience.



Important Notice 📢 pic.twitter.com/KHvBfrbQfe
&mdash; PTCL (@PTCLOfficial) April 13, 2026


PTCL had posted a net loss of over Rs10.46 billion in FY2025 despite earning revenue of Rs168.80 billion, while its total assets stood at Rs485.23 billion, the finance ministry reported in February this year.

Read: Five PTCL employees abducted in Bannu

According to the finance ministry&#39;s Central Monitoring Unit, the telecommunications company reported losses of Rs6.63 billion in FY2023-24, while a year earlier, in 2022-23, the company incurred a loss of Rs15.54 billion.

The company, which had recorded a profit of Rs28 billion in 2005-05, the year in which management control had been sold to United Arab Emirates-based telecom operator Etisalat, the profitability of the company continued to decline in subsequent years, eventually turning negative.

However, last month, it was reported that PTCL returned to profit following the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan. The company had also announced that it would formally launch Fifth Generation (5G) telecom services in May.]]>
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