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Dawn - 13:48 Jun 03, 2026
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he had lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the latter’s escalation in Lebanon in a recent expletive-laden phone call. On Monday, American news outlet Axios reported citing sources that Trump called Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of ingratitude during the phone call. The report quoted a US official as saying that Trump told Netanyahu “you’re f****** crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this”. Trump confirmed to New York Post’s Miranda Devine during ‘Pod One Force’ podcast that he called Netanyahu “f****** crazy”, but also insisted that they have “worked very well together”. Asked if the Axios report was true and whether he spoke to Netanyahu in those terms, Trump replied, “I did. I wouldn’t say angry, I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon. “At some point, I said Bibi, we’re gonna stop this. We got to stop it,” he added... -
Dawn - 13:14 Jun 03, 2026
At least 21 people, including 18 foreign nationals, were killed in a fire at a hotel in New Delhi on Wednesday, police and broadcaster CNN-News18 said, in one of the worst such incidents in the national capital since 2022. The dead included people from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique and Liberia, the broadcaster said. Building fires are common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations. The fire broke out in the morning at Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast in a congested neighbourhood in the south of the city, Delhi Police said in a statement. “It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident,” the force said. Reuters could not immediately confirm the nationalities of the victims. Several people had jumped out of the burning building in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar to escape the flames, witnesses said, with residents dragging mattresses from a nearby store to try to break their fall. “People spread mattresses, and a w... -
Dawn - 13:11 Jun 03, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a meeting with the Chinese ambassador on Wednesday, stressed the need to follow up on memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed during a recent visit to China, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. On May 24 in Hangzhou, the premier chaired the opening ceremony of the third Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Conference, which was focused on “charging infrastructure, battery energy storage and solar technologies, and pharmaceuticals”. Agreements and MoUs worth more than $7 billion were signed between the two sides at the conference to promote cooperation and investment in various sectors. The PMO, in the statement, said Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong called on the premier at PM House and congratulated him on Eidul Azha, with PM Shehbaz expressing gratitude for his “efforts to make the visit successful, in every aspect”. “While conveying his firm resolve to ensure the further strengthening of Pakistan-China All Weather Strategic Cooperati... -
Dawn - 13:11 Jun 03, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the government was taking measures to bring the informal economy into the tax net in the upcoming budget, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. The premier made the declaration during a meeting with a delegation of renowned businessmen and industrialists, where he exchanged views with them on the pace of the country’s economic growth and consulted with them over the upcoming budget. “You are the ambassadors of Pakistan,” the premier told the delegation, expressing gratitude for the business community’s support to the government in “difficult economic conditions”. PM Shehbaz noted that a “strong partnership” with the private sector was a “guarantee of economic growth”, and underscored the “utmost importance” of consulting with them over policymaking for the economy. “We are on the path of export-led growth,” the premier remarked, adding that export-led growth was “core” of Pakistan’s economic policy. He told the businessmen that the government was taking a... -
Dawn - 10:38 Jun 03, 2026
LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Wednesday dismissed appeals filed by the two men convicted in the 2020 Sialkot-Lahore Motorway gang rape case against their sentences. An anti-terrorism court had handed down death sentences besides life imprisonment and multiple jail terms to the two convicts, Abid Ali alias Malhi and Shafqat Ali alias Bagga, on March 20, 2021. They challenged their convictions on March 25, 2021. The appeals contended that several infirmities created doubts about the prosecution’s version of the events and the trial court’s judgement was harsh and against the settled principles of law. A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa, issued the verdict on their appeals today after the prosecution concluded its arguments. In his final arguments, the state prosecutor contended that the prosecution had overwhelming evidence against the convicts and requested the court to uphold their sentences. He said there was no flaw in the trial... -
Dawn - 10:05 Jun 03, 2026
Severe tropical storm Jangmi ripped across Japan on Wednesday, with fierce winds and torrential rain disrupting transport and businesses, and knocking out power for tens of thousands of homes. The storm’s centre lay about 150 kilometres south of Tokyo as of early Wednesday afternoon, moving northeast with maximum sustained winds of up to 25 metres per second, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said. The storm is set to pass very close to the Pacific side of eastern Japan and heightened vigilance is needed, the agency added. At least 15 people have sustained minor injuries, according to authorities. The storm, with a central pressure of 985 hectopascals, has cut power to nearly 60,000 households so far, and authorities have been receiving reports of flooding, fallen trees and debris, and landslides across a wide stretch of regions, government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said during a regular press briefing. “If you sense any danger, please do not hesitate to take early action to protect your lives,” Kihara said. Eva... -
Dawn - 09:58 Jun 03, 2026
The US Trade Representative has proposed new duties targeting 60 economies, including Pakistan and India, for alleged failures to act against forced labour, as the Trump administration seeks to rebuild its tariff agenda following legal setbacks. The proposed tariffs range from 10 per cent to 12.5pc, according to a government filing, and they will undergo a public comment period before a final decision is made. The move comes months after Washington launched investigations into trading partners, including China, the European Union (EU) and Japan. The probes looked into whether they took action against the import of goods made with forced labour, and if this impacted US commerce. On Tuesday, the USTR said that 54 of the economies “failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition”. This group includes China, Vietnam, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and India. Six other economies — Canada, Ecuador, the EU, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan — were deemed not to have effectively enforced such pro... -
Dawn - 09:51 Jun 03, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission to meet former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan ahead of the provincial budget for the next fiscal year. Speaking to reporters at the IHC alongside KP Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam, the chief minister said a meeting with the PTI founder was essential as the provincial budget had been prepared and required his final approval. He maintained that the people of KP had given their mandate to the PTI founder, adding that consultation with him on the budget was necessary. CM Afridi said the province was being deprived of its due share of resources and alleged that KP was being punished for supporting the PTI founder. He criticised the federal government’s development allocations, claiming the province had been ignored in the previous federal budget and development programme. The chief minister also expressed concern over the country’s economic situation, saying pri... -
Dawn - 09:27 Jun 03, 2026
KARACHI: A Karachi court on Wednesday directed authorities to produce alleged drug baroness Anmol alias Pinky in court when required, adding that she did not need to appear in person at the current stage in proceedings. The order was issued in cases registered against Anmol at Karachi’s Garden police station and on an application seeking the appearance of the suspected cocaine dealer before the court via video link due to security concerns. The application was filed by the senior superintendent of the Central Prison for Women on Monday, when Anmol was scheduled to appear in person before the court in two cases, including those relating to the possession of drugs and an illegal weapon. “Since there is no need [for the] physical appearance of the accused at the challan stage due to security risk[s], […] the jail superintendent shall be directed to produce custody whenever the court requires,” Judicial Magistrate (South) Sitara Kainat stated in the order, seen by Dawn. In the application filed on Monday, the jai... -
Dawn - 08:56 Jun 03, 2026
RAWALPINDI: In addition to 6,000 Punjab police personnel, 150 police personnel from the security division of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police have been assigned for Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) election duty, with a total of 2,000 personnel expected to be dispatched to the region. General elections in GB are scheduled for Sunday, with election campaigns already underway by major political parties. The 150 police personnel selected from the security division for GB election duty had been guarding high-profile buildings and installations in the federal capital, as well as performing sensitive security duties, such as escorting foreign delegations. They will leave for GB on Thursday amid tight security and will be back in Islamabad on June 9 (Tuesday). Of the 150 ICT police personnel, 30 personnel have been selected from the Special Protection Unit (SPU), five from the President’s House, 20 from the Prime Minister’s House, six from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), 10 from the Foreign Office (FO) guard duty an... -
Dawn - 08:35 Jun 03, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved the extension in closing timings for businesses with immediate effect. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division and shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on X, the decision was taken in light of “longer daylight hours and rising temperatures in summer”. The notification stated that markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery shops, general stores and kiryana shops will close at 9m throughout the week. Marriage halls, marquees and all other commercial venues where festive events are held will close at 10pm throughout the week. Meanwhile, restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets, and standalone fruit and vegetable shops will close at 11pm; takeaway and home delivery will be exempt. In addition, pharmacies, medical supply stores, laboratories, clinics, hospitals, bakeries, tandoors, milk and dairy shops, fuel pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, gyms, sports facilities, information technology... -
Dawn - 08:27 Jun 03, 2026
Gulf hostilities flared again on Wednesday, with a missile attack damaging Kuwait’s airport and the US military carrying out strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomacy between Washington and Tehran showed little progress. The latest flare-up, which sent oil prices up more than 1 per cent, comes with the conflict stalemated in a shaky ceasefire and the Strait of Hormuz largely closed, more than three months after initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Flights at Kuwait International Airport were suspended and diverted elsewhere until further notice, the state news agency said, citing aviation authorities, after an Iranian drone and missile attack on its T1 building. The attack caused injuries and severely damaged some airport facilities, it added, but gave no further details. Ministry of defence spokesman Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan described the attack as “criminal Iranian aggression which resulted in significant material damage to the building and injuries”. Earlier, the US Central Comman... -
Dawn - 06:10 Jun 03, 2026
The presentation of the federal budget for the next fiscal year (FY2026-27) has been pushed to June 10, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. His remarks come after several media outlets reported on Tuesday that the budget would not be presented on June 5, for which sessions of both houses of Parliament were summoned. Asked about the reason for postponing the budget presentation during Samaa TV’s ‘Nadeem Malik Live’ programme on Tuesday night, Chaudhry said, “The initial proposal for the budget was June 5, [but] now, the budget will be released on June 10, God willing.” Asked for a confirmation, the minister reiterated that the new date for the budget announcement was June 10 (Wednesday). Elaborating on the reason for the delay, Chaudhry stressed that one of the two main steps in the budget process was “convincing the allies” in the ruling coalition. However, he played down the impression of any rifts between the PML-N and the PPP, terming the latter’s chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Za... -
Dawn - 03:48 Jun 03, 2026
LAHORE: An 18-year-old alleged gang rape victim girl died during a critical procedure carried out at a government hospital following multiple abortion-related complications. The girl (a domestic helper) was allegedly subjected to gang rape by the son and driver of her employer in Model Town. As per the FIR and the video statement of the girl, she was sexually assaulted multiple times by the two suspects some months back and her employer kept the matter hushed up to avoid police action. However, the issue came to the limelight when the girl died of multiple abortion complications. According to police, the victim had accused the married son of the house owner and her driver of gang rape. Murder sections invoked in FIR filed against two suspects and domestic help’s employer The girl said she was initially taken to a private clinic in Raiwind due to the complications caused by the pills. During the illegal abortion procedure, the doctors diagnosed her with a 4 to 5 months foetal death (miscarriage), declaring it ... -
Dawn - 02:16 Jun 03, 2026
• Nepra holds public hearing after CPPA asks for additional fuel cost adjustment due to Iran war disruptions • Regulator seeks report from K-Electric over ‘excessive loadshedding’ in Karachi ISLAMABAD: The price of electricity is likely to be increased by Rs1.74 per unit in next month’s bills due to the higher fuel cost adjustment, in light of an official demand for over Rs16 billion in additional recoveries from power consumers. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) held a public hearing on the Central Power Purchasing Agency’s (CPPA) request for an additional fuel cost recovery of Rs1.73 per unit from consumers for the June billing month. CPPA Chief Executive Officer Rehan Akhtar told the hearing that the reference fuel cost for April had been set at Rs8.25 per unit, but the actual cost turned out to be Rs9.975 per unit, mainly because of the US-Iran war and the resultant disruption in LNG supplies, thus necessitating an additional charge of Rs1.73 per unit on consumers in the billing mon... -
Dawn - 23:29 Jun 02, 2026
The federal government on Tuesday, amid deliberations over its ongoing austerity measures, decided to extend the operating hours of shops, markets, restaurants and other commercial outlets citing longer daylight hours and rising summer temperatures. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee for Monitoring and Implementation of Austerity Measures, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The government had announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9 in the wake of the Middle East war to deal with the global energy crisis, which had arisen due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As per the revised schedule, the closing timings are as follows: Shops, markets, malls, and general retail: 9pm Restaurants, cafes and eateries: 11pm (takeaway and delivery services exempt) Marriage halls and event venues: 10pm (no change in timings) Essential services (pharmacies, hospitals, fuel stations, IT & telecom-related services) are exempted. “The Committee also directed provinci... -
Dawn - 21:21 Jun 02, 2026
Fast bowler Nathan Ellis took a career best four-wicket haul as an understrength Australia shocked Pakistan by 41 runs in the second one-day international in Lahore on Tuesday, levelling the three-match series 1-1. Australia’s total of 231-9 in 50 overs had fighting half centuries from Josh Inglis and Cameron Green before Ellis grabbed 4-33 to leave Pakistan 190 all out in 44 overs. Pakistan won the first match by five wickets in Rawalpindi which now sets up a series-deciding match, also in Lahore on Thursday. With a host of top ODI players including skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s second string staged a remarkable comeback, countering Pakistan’s spin and batting with confidence. All rounder Shadab Khan played a lone hand for the home team with a resolute 104-ball 71 and was the last man out, stumped off a spinner Tanveer Sangha’s wide ball for Australian victory. Ghazi Ghori made 37 with five boundaries. Shadab hit three sixes and a boundary and repaired Pakistan’s falteri... -
Dawn - 19:06 Jun 02, 2026
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday told lawmakers that Iran had agreed to begin limited negotiations over its nuclear programme, marking what he described as a tentative but meaningful shift in Tehran’s posture as the United States-led conflict continues to destabilise the Middle East. Rubio said that Iran had also indicated interest in discussing parts of its nuclear programme that it had previously refused to engage on, but he cautioned that this did not ensure the negotiations would produce a deal to end the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. “They have agreed to negotiate aspects of their nuclear programme that just a month ago, just a year ago, they were refusing to even mention,” Rubio said. But he added that it’s “not a guarantee that ultimately it will lead to a deal that’s acceptable” by Congress. He said these negotiations had been made difficult by the instability of Iran’s leadership. He also stated that the Trump administration had not proposed sanctions relief in exchange for I... -
Dawn - 18:39 Jun 02, 2026
BANNU: At least 20 people, including women and children, were injured after powerful winds and a severe storm swept across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Tuesday, causing the roofs and walls of houses, shops and other structures to collapse. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had earlier said in an advisory that dust storms and thunderstorms were expected in the upper parts of the country from June 2 to June 5. According to Rescue 1122 Bannu, multiple reports emerged of structures collapsing in different parts of the district as strong winds battered residential and commercial areas. The injured were trapped under debris and were immediately rescued by emergency teams. Rescue 1122 personnel promptly launched relief operations, evacuating victims from the affected sites and shifting them to District Headquarters Hospital Bannu for medical treatment. Emergency responders also provided first aid at the scene before transporting the injured to the hospital. Officials said Rescue 1122 teams remai... -
Dawn - 18:37 Jun 02, 2026
UNITED NATIONS: Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for its 81st session (2026–2027) on Tuesday, defeating Cyprus’s candidate Andreas S. Kakouris in a tightly fought vote that underscores the continuing importance of regional consensus-building within the global body. Rahman secured 99 votes in the 193-member UNGA, while Kakouris received 91 votes. There were no abstentions. The required majority for the election was 96 votes. How the election works The president of the UNGA is elected annually by the 193 member states, with each country holding one equal vote. According to the UN’s Rules of Procedure, the election is conducted by secret ballot unless members agree otherwise, and a candidate must obtain a simple majority of those present and voting to win. While the process is formally competitive, it is shaped in practice by a long-standing principle of geographical rotation, under which the presidency alternates among regional gro...
10391 items