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The National Assembly and Senate budget sessions for the fiscal year 2026-27 have been officially summoned, setting the stage for the presentation of Pakistan’s next federal budget amid growing pressure from government employees seeking substantial pay and pension increases. President-approved sessions of both houses of parliament will be held on June 5. The National Assembly budget session has been summoned for 5pm, while the Senate session will begin at 6pm on the same day. A special meeting of the federal cabinet is also scheduled for June 5 ahead of the budget presentation. Before the budget, the National Economic Survey 2025-26 will…

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued important guidelines for the FIA on offloading passengers travelling abroad, ruling that a citizen cannot be stopped from leaving the country on mere suspicion or vague reasons. Justice Raheel Kamran issued a nine-page written judgement on the petition filed by citizen Muhammad Abbas. The court declared the FIA’s decision to stop Abbas from travelling to Nigeria null and void. The petitioner had challenged his offloading despite having a valid visa, ticket and travel documents. According to the petitioner, he had already been issued immigration clearance and a boarding card when he was suddenly…

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Washington and Tehran have made “a lot of progress” toward an agreement, but several sticking points remain before President Donald Trump can approve a potential memorandum of understanding. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Vance said the United States was “not there yet” with Iran, although both sides were close to a possible agreement. “We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points. We’ve made a lot of progress here,” Vance said. He added that it was “hard to say exactly when or if” President Trump would sign the memorandum of…

Iran has denied reports that a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States has been finalised, saying negotiations are still underway and differences remain over some clauses. A source close to Iran’s negotiating team told the semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Thursday that the text of a possible MoU between Iran and the United States has not yet been formally agreed upon. The source rejected reports claiming the document had been completed and was only awaiting official announcement by both sides. According to Tasnim, the source said such reports are “not consistent with the facts” and that the…

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the United States and Iran may be close to an agreement to wind down the war, but any deal depends on President Donald Trump’s approval and several key conditions, including free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the White House, Bessent said the US and Iranian negotiating teams remain in continuous communication and consultations. “We perhaps have the makings of a deal here,” he told reporters, adding that both sides have been swapping proposals. However, Bessent stressed that no agreement would be finalized unless it meets President Trump’s red lines. “Everything depends…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has raised serious questions over the world’s unilateral system and announced Pakistan’s full support for China’s stance on a multilateral global order based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Addressing the Global Governance Forum in New York, Dar said Pakistan and China stood together in support of a fair and inclusive international system founded on collective responsibility and cooperation. He said growing unilateralism and the selective application of international law were weakening global stability and eroding confidence in collective action. Dar said the world urgently required renewed unity and…

Pakistan’s most celebrated cricket supporter Abdul Jalil, popularly known as Chacha Cricket, has decided to retire from cheering for the national side later this year. According to ESPNcricinfo, the third and final one-day international between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore next week will mark his final appearance supporting Pakistan at home. The 77-year-old said he still hopes to travel to England during Pakistan’s Test tour this summer to support the side from the stands for one final overseas assignment. Abdul Jalil said he had achieved his long-standing target of supporting Pakistan in 500 matches. “I have done everything for the love…

The player draft for the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held in Colombo on June 1. A total of 421 cricketers, including 242 overseas players, will take part in the draft. The list also includes 179 Sri Lankan players from national, domestic and emerging categories. The draft will feature Platinum, Gold, Classic, Emerging and Associate Stars categories. In the Platinum category, 17 local and 31 overseas players have been listed for selection. The draft ceremony will begin at 1:30pm and will be attended by franchise owners and team officials. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs…

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina named their 26-man squad for the World Cup on Thursday, with Lionel Messi set to lead the defending champions ​at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The ‌38-year-old Inter Miami forward will play in his sixth World Cup, extending his national record, while Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, ​Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are among 17 players returning ​from the squad that lifted the trophy in Qatar in ⁠2022. Coach Lionel Scaloni retained the core of the side that won Argentina’s ​third world title, although veteran winger Angel Di…

President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the budget session for fiscal year 2026-27 of the Senate and National Assembly on June 5 (Friday), the President’s House said on Wednesday. The NA session will be held at 5pm on Friday, while the Senate session will be held at 6pm on June 5. The session has been convened under Article 54(1) of the Constitution. Last week, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue directed the Tax Policy Unit of the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) that the federal budget (2026–27) must move beyond short-term stabilisation measures and…