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BUDGET 2026-27: Govt slammed over provincial freeze as budget debate opens

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PKMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai speaks at the National Assembly’s budget session.—White Star • Opening day dominated by political speeches in NA • Achakzai says freezing funds will hit provinces’ health, social sectors • PM defends govt’s approach, highlights Balochistan projects • Supports border fencing for national security; renews offer for talks with opposition • MQM calls for strong local govt system, approval of 28th Amendment ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Saturday formally began a general debate on the federal budget for the next financial year, with lawmakers delivering lengthy speeches and mostly raising political and local issues rather than discussing the budgetary proposals presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb amid noisy opposition protest on Friday. The highlight of the opening day of the budget debate was a more than hour-long speech by Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and an immediate response from Prime Minister...
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US-Venezuela joint operation kills leader of Tren de Aragua gang

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The leader of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua has been killed in southern Venezuela as part of a joint operation with the United States, in what a top Pentagon official on Saturday described as a warning to “narco-terrorists” in Latin America. Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Nino Guerrero, was “neutralised” in southeastern Bolivar state, Venezuela’s Ministry of Communications said in a statement on Friday. US President Donald Trump said Guerrero was killed in “a swift and lethal kinetic strike” by US forces, in an attack “coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela”. “As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Friday night. On Saturday, a senior aide to Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth said the killing was meant to serve as a stark warning. “The death of Nino Guerrero sends a clear message to Latin America. There is no ref...
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'Peace has never been this close': PM Shehbaz says text of 'final' US-Iran peace deal agreed upon

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday confirmed that a “final agreed-upon” text of the peace deal between Iran and the United States had been reached. A day prior, US President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend, which, if finalised, would be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet to end the months-old war. “We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe,” he said. In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said Islamabad was working “closely” with both sides to finalise the next steps of the process. “Peace has never been this close as it is now.” The premier also cautioned against an “incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal”. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghc...
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Bilawal welcomes invitation to form PPP govt in GB, expresses gratitude to PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement regarding the formation of a government in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and expressed his gratitude. The PPP is all set to form a government in the region after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the GB Legi­slative Assembly, according to the unofficial results (Form-47) of the June 7 elections . According to Radio Pakistan , the prime minister assured full support from the PML-N to the PPP on government formation. The prime minister said the PML-N has decided to sit on the opposition benches in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, but its elected members will vote in favour of the PPP to form the government. In a statement , Bilawal said that recognising the PPP’s majority in GB is the continuation of a democratic tradition and added that the party views the premier’s invitation to form the government as a “positive step”. “As a result of a consensus agreement, the positions o...
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ECONOMIC SURVEY 2026-27: Record provincial surplus masks deeper fault lines

ISLAMABAD: Provincial fiscal operations provided significant support to the federal government in improving the ove­rall fiscal situation in the outgoing year. “The dedicated efforts at the provincial level for effective resource mobilisation and prudent expenditure management triggered higher growth in provincial revenues relative to expenditures,” the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2025-26 acknowledged. All four provinces collectively achieved the highest-ever surplus of Rs1,636.1 billion in July-March, compared to Rs1 trillion last year. Provincial revenue incr­eased by 12.9pc during the same period. Sajid Amin Javed, Deputy Executive Director at SDPI, said the Centre was “fair” to urge provinces to share fiscal responsibility, but should lead by example by broadening its own tax net. He noted that since the federal government cannot constitutionally compel provinces to relinquish their NFC share, it has resorted to a “moral language of shared responsibility.” ...
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Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 to kick off 2026 FIFA World Cup

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Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday as the biggest ever edition of the global footballing showpiece kicked off at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca. Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament, and veteran striker Raul Jimenez added a second as the co-hosts’ bid for qualification from Group A got off to a smooth start. South Africa, meanwhile, never looked like they were spoiling the opening day fiesta, and finished with only nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off. The Mexican-colored red, green and white smoke from pre-game fireworks had barely dissipated before Quinones fired the hosts into the lead on nine minutes, drilling a low shot through the legs of South Africa’s goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams. Mexico’s Raul Jimenez scores a goal during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca stad...
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Pricey football World Cup keeps fans away, hits US hotels, airlines

Hours before the World Cup kickoff, the boost to travel and tourism expected from this year’s biggest sporting event has yet to materialise. For years, the tournament was expected to deliver a windfall for America’s travel industry, now grappling with declining international visitors amid what rights groups describe as a climate of fear. The swarms of fans that hotels had counted on have yet to arrive, forcing many to cut rates. Flight bookings have slumped as ticket prices have skyrocketed. Expensive match tickets have further stymied demand, and industry analysts say excitement has been muted compared with past World Cups. The weak start suggests the traditional World Cup travel playbook — typically dependent on international fans willing to travel long distances and spend heavily to follow their teams — is faltering. Instead, the costs, visa hurdles and the logistics of attending matches across 16 host cities in three countries have proved a deterrent. US travellers, in a countr...
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