Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: India&#39;s &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; said Saturday that it has formed a Protest Coordination Committee to oversee a mass gathering scheduled for Sunday at Jantar Mantar, according to a post on their X account.&nbsp; In the post, the party said it was &quot;fully prepared&quot; for the June 28 (Sunday&#39;s) protest and that the newly-formed committee would lead the protest. The party also claimed it had received significant support from farmer and student unions, saying the groups would stand united during the protest.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2070498268610736137&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ecdf9c0fcd1feec3d2cdbb3a7f8052144cc48dd4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The party held its first major street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling for Dharmendra Pradhan&#39;s resignation over major exam irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches. Within weeks, the movement has amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram, making it one of the most prominent youth-driven online campaigns in India.

'Cockroach Party' protest at Jantar Mantar. (Photo: Party's X account)

India

The 'Cockroach Janta Party' has formed a Protest Coordination Committee and says it is fully prepared for Sunday’s Jantar Mantar protest with support from farmer and student unions.

India's 'Cockroach Party' forms committee for Sunday protest against education minister

ISLAMABAD: The United States Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on an Indian explosives manufacturer and its chief executive, accusing them of supplying materials that helped sustain Sudan&#39;s civil war. The US Treasury Department&#39;s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blacklisted India&#39;s Raipur-based SBL Energy Limited and its chief executive officer, Alok Choudhari, as part of an operation targeting eight individuals and entities allegedly involved in supporting networks linked to the war in Sudan. According to the statement, SBL Energy supplied &quot;more than 200 shipments of explosives and explosive-related materiel&quot; to Sudan-based Target Multiactivities Company (TMAC), which it described as a firm that &quot;maintains the Sudanese Armed Forces&#39; (SAF) arsenal.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2070515253754962211&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=50e974fcb5c2f0706a71129360412fad56a5a3c7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&quot;The explosives supplied by SBL were subsequently used in bombs deployed by the SAF,&quot; the Treasury said. Sanctions target eight countries&nbsp; The sanctions target eight entities across just three countries, India, Egypt and Sudan, that Washington says have fuelled Sudan&#39;s civil war. Announcing the sanctions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, &quot;The Trump Administration is committed to advancing a lasting peace in Sudan and bringing an end to the conflict.&quot; &quot;The networks profiting from the conflict in Sudan jeopardize the prospects for the humanitarian truce that the Sudanese people desperately need,&quot; he added. The Sudan civil war began in April 2023 when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which killed tens of thousands and displaced over 14 million people, according to the UN. Humanitarian crisis&nbsp; According to the Treasury, sanctions target networks that provide &quot;weapons, explosives, and foreign fighters&quot; to both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of &ldquo;enabling both sides to expand the scale and intensity of the conflict&rdquo; and worsening what it described as &ldquo;the world&#39;s worst humanitarian crisis&rdquo;. The sanctions freeze any US-based assets belonging to the designated individuals and entities and generally prohibit Americans from conducting transactions with them.&nbsp; &ldquo;Violations of US sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on US and foreign persons&rdquo;, the statement concluded.

FILE: Sudanese army soldiers man a position in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, April 20, 2023. (AFP)

According to the statement, India's Raipur-based SBL Energy supplied 'more than 200 shipments of explosives and explosive-related materiel' to Sudan-based Target Multiactivities Company, which it described as a firm that 'maintains the Sudanese Armed Forces' arsenal.'

US sanctions Indian firm, CEO for 'fueling' Sudan's civil war

BANGKOK: Thai police have arrested an Australian man after the body of a 17-year-old girl was discovered in a suitcase, authorities said Saturday. The suspect, who denies involvement in the teenager&#39;s alleged abduction and murder, was taken into custody after an interrogation, a police official in the resort city of Pattaya told AFP. Investigators were awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination and &quot;other evidence&quot; in the case before filing charges, the official said. The charges could include child abduction, murder, hiding a corpse and &quot;abduction of a minor for sexual purposes&quot;, added the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity. Media reports said the 46-year-old suspect was apprehended on Friday at Bangkok&#39;s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where he was trying to purchase an airline ticket to Perth in Australia. CCTV footage showed the suspect entering a condo in the seaside resort of Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday along with the 17-year-old Thai girl, according to the reports. He emerged from the building several hours later, the reports said, carrying a large black suitcase which he then transported on the back of a motorbike. Police found the suitcase on Friday near a railway track, discovering the victim&#39;s body inside of it bearing signs of violence, local website Pattaya News reported. Thailand drastically cut the length of visa-free stays for tourists last month following a series of high-profile arrests of foreigners over drug offences, sex trafficking and operating unlicensed businesses.

Bangkok- Thailand (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Asia

Thai authorities have arrested an Australian man after a 17-year-old girl’s body was found inside a suitcase, sparking a murder investigation.

Thailand arrests Australian after teen's body found in suitcase

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban detained a woman journalist and her colleagues in Kabul while they were covering Ashura ceremonies, according to Afghanistan International, in what it described as another example of mounting restrictions on press freedom in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) said the journalists were arrested on Thursday while reporting on Ashura commemorations, one of the most significant religious observances for the country&#39;s Shiite Muslim community. &#39;Stranger male cameraman&#39; According to AMSO, the woman journalist was detained for working alongside a male cameraman who was not a relative, with Taliban authorities accusing her of being accompanied by a &quot;stranger male cameraman.&quot;&nbsp; The journalists were taken to a police district in Kabul, where they remained in custody until later that evening. The journalists were released following mediation by media officials and family members, the AMSO said. The organization withheld the identities of the woman journalist, the cameraman and the media outlet involved, citing security concerns. Violation of press freedom&nbsp; In a statement, AMSO condemned the detention as a violation of freedom of expression and the public&#39;s right to access information.&nbsp; It also accused the Taliban of deliberately preventing media coverage of Ashura ceremonies. &quot;Covering religious and cultural events is part of the professional responsibilities of the media,&quot; the organization said.

Kabul Afghanistan - (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan

A woman journalist and her colleagues were detained by the Taliban in Kabul while covering Ashura ceremonies, sparking renewed concerns over press freedom and media restrictions in Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban detain woman journalist for working alongside male cameraman

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces, on 25 and 26 June, conducted two high-tempo intelligence driven operations in Kharan and Mastung districts of Balochistan, as part of relentless counterterrorism campaign aimed at eliminating Indian proxies, Fitna Al Hindustan and eliminated eight terrorists. &ldquo;On 25 June 2026, on intelligence leads movement of a group of terrorists was picked up by the security forces in Kharan District of Balochistan,&rdquo; said a press release issued by Pakistan military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. &ldquo;As a result of precise and skillful engagement, three terrorist belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna Al Hindustan were sent to hell while several were injured,&rdquo; the press release said.&nbsp;Operation in MastungIt added, &ldquo;In another engagement on 26 June 2026, a pre-emptive intelligence-based operation was conducted in Mastung District of Balochistan against the possible presence of suicide bomber.&rdquo; &ldquo;During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorist location and after an intense fire exchange, five terrorists including a suicide bomber were successfully neutralized.&rdquo; The statement said, &ldquo;Weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices and motorbikes used by these terrorists were also recovered.&rdquo; &ldquo;Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorist found in the area.&rdquo; &ldquo;Relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision &ldquo;Azm e Istehkam&rdquo; (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,&rdquo; the ISPR statement said. PM lauds security forces&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for successful operations against terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan in the Kharan and Mastung areas of Balochistan, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office on Saturday. By killing eight terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan, the brave security forces foiled their malicious terrorist designs, the prime minister said. He said operations against terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan will continue to their logical conclusion. &quot;Our struggle will continue until the complete eradication from Pakistan of all forms of terrorism, including Fitna al-Hindustan,&quot; Sharif said. &quot;The sacrifices of security forces in the war against terrorism are unforgettable; the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them,&quot; he said. &quot;Enemies of peace in Pakistan will be given a humiliating defeat on every front,&quot; Sharif added. President pays tribute&nbsp;Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to security forces for successful operations against Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists in Balochistan, said a statement posed on President of Pakistan&#39;s X account. &quot;Killing eight Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists in Khuzdar and Mastung is a manifestation of the professional expertise and resolve of the security forces,&quot; Zardari said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2070740826003755120&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7957e955007f95c37410aa8b01611ba27892ddd1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2070740826003755120"></iframe></div></div>&quot;The bravery, professional competence, and sacrifices of the officers and personnel involved in the operations are commendable,&quot; he said. &quot;Operations should continue until the complete eradication of externally sponsored terrorism in the country,&quot; Zardari said.

Security

Pakistan’s security forces, on 25 and 26 June, conducted two high-tempo intelligence driven operations in Kharan and Mastung districts of Balochistan, as part of relentless counterterrorism campaign aimed at eliminating Indian proxies, Fitna Al Hindustan and eliminated eight terrorists.

Pakistan’s security forces kill eight terrorists in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan has strongly condemned attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Sudan, warning of the imminent risk of mass atrocities and calling for an immediate halt to violence, unimpeded humanitarian access and renewed efforts toward a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political process, according to a press release by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN.&nbsp; Delivering Pakistan&rsquo;s national statement at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Sudan, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, expressed deep concern over the worsening security and humanitarian situation, noting that after more than three years of conflict, civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2070709761885057460&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=eaf939cdda5c369f071d5c55ed66523b15a07d91&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2070709761885057460"></iframe></div></div>He condemned attacks on schools, hospitals, markets, places of worship and other facilities indispensable to civilian life, describing the situation around El Obeid as particularly alarming. Citing reports of substantial RSF military reinforcements, he warned of the risk of a ground offensive and referred to the group&rsquo;s record of grave abuses in Darfur and other parts of Sudan, including indiscriminate killings, ethnic violence, sexual violence and forced displacement. The ambassador urged the RSF to immediately halt its assault on El Obeid, refrain from further escalation, fully comply with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians. He also expressed concern over the increasing use of drones and advanced weaponry, saying it was causing greater civilian casualties, disrupting humanitarian operations and heightening the risk of wider escalation. Calling for safe, rapid, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan, Ahmad said attacks on humanitarian personnel, convoys, warehouses and relief assets are indefensible and must cease immediately. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s principled position, he said Sudan&rsquo;s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and national institutions must be preserved. He cautioned the Security Council and the international community against actions or approaches that could weaken Sudan&rsquo;s national institutions or create space for parallel military or political structures, warning that such measures would embolden armed groups, prolong the conflict and undermine Sudan&rsquo;s sovereignty and unity. Emphasizing that there can be no military solution to the conflict, Ahmad said Sudan&rsquo;s peace and stability are closely linked to the security of the wider African and Arab regions, adding that restoring stability in Sudan should be regarded as a collective international responsibility. He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s continued support for efforts by the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States, the QUAD and regional partners to end the conflict, protect civilians, preserve Sudan&rsquo;s unity and help the country return to peace, stability and constitutional order. The ambassador also welcomed the efforts of the UN secretary-general&rsquo;s personal envoy and encouraged continued engagement to reduce tensions, facilitate humanitarian arrangements and support an inclusive political process led and owned by the Sudanese people.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, at the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly on the Situation in Palestine (17 June 2025). 

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan urged an immediate end to RSF attacks in Sudan, calling for civilian protection, unhindered humanitarian access, and a Sudanese-led political solution to the conflict.

Pakistan condemns attacks on civilians in Sudan, calls for immediate halt to violence

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: While, Pakistan&rsquo;s industrial powerhouse, Sialkot, dominates global headlines for manufacturing top-tier, technologically advanced match balls like the Trionda and the last World Cup&rsquo;s Al Rihla, as well as other state-of-the-art footballs used in major tournaments, a quieter, smaller football industry is also operating in the streets of Peshawar and many other cities around Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the floodlights of dedicated football grounds and green turfed courts dominate the headlines, the heart of the sport also beats on concrete and dirt patches.&nbsp;&nbsp;Street kids and budget-conscious youth, especially residents of the Old City, where narrow streets form a cramped but boisterous playing ground, play the game with whatever they can find.&nbsp;&nbsp;When the hard concrete ground or the repeated kicks prompts their equipment to tear, they don&#39;t buy new ones, they turn to local craftsmen like Muhammad Huzaifa to give their football dreams a new lease on life.&nbsp;He sits in a crowded sports warehouse in a narrow street, next to Ghanta Ghar in the old city. He has leased the place from a sports goods seller and says his father taught him how to meticulously stitch footballs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;During this World Cup, everyone is crazy about playing football. Even in this heat, they play in the streets, on the grounds&hellip; Anywhere they find a place to play,&rdquo; says Huzaifa while threading the needle for another stitch. &ldquo;On very busy days, I can get up to 40 balls to repair&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;For many young players in local neighborhoods, purchasing a new football is a luxury they cannot afford. When a ball bursts or splits along the seams from rough play on harsh gravel, the game doesn&#39;t have to stop.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dedicated repair artisans like Huzaifa offer an accessible service, restoring severely damaged equipment to field-ready perfection for a fraction of the cost of a replacement. A new football can cost up to Rs5,000 ($18), not an easy purchase for many kids in Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;This manual restoration is a time-intensive, delicate, and highly skilled work. Passing a thick, heavy needle through multiple layers of rigid synthetic leather requires immense physical strength, while ensuring the stitches are flawlessly airtight demands absolute precision.&nbsp;&nbsp;Using specialized, heavy-duty thread, these craftsmen must perfectly align the internal bladder and multi-ply layers by hand. This requires a lot of skill, dedication, and experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;A football with a good bladder and quality two-ply material&hellip; such a ball is the best kind.&rdquo; says Huzaifa as he puts another stitch in the football he is working on. &ldquo;Whether it has a computer chip inside it or not, the best footballs are the ones made by hand.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;On one side, massive, automated factories roll out thousands of flawless footballs for the international stage. On the other side, highly skilled individuals sit in small street shops, meticulously sewing the same sport together by hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;By persevering in this craft, local repairers do far more than just patch up torn leather; they remove the financial barriers to play, ensuring that every kid in the community has the chance to kick a ball and keep their passion for the game alive.

Football

Keeping the game alive: The hand-stitched football craftsmen of Peshawar

Shizza Jasmin

ISLAMABAD: Umar Saleem has moved from viral content creation to roles in Pakistani television serials by establishing himself in the country&#39;s growing creator economy. The content creator discussed his career trajectory in an appearance on &quot;The Chatroom with Shizza,&quot; explaining how he built credibility through freelance work and online content in an industry marked by rapidly shifting trends. Growing up in a traditional Sheikh family, Saleem said the path toward content creation was unconventional for his background. He navigated cultural expectations while establishing himself in a space his upbringing had not prepared him for. On Pakistan&#39;s stand-up comedy scene, Saleem stated that talent exists but audience receptiveness remains limited. He noted that comedy as a live art form requires crowds willing to engage with experimental and potentially controversial material. Saleem outlined his progression from smaller freelance projects to becoming a fixture in Pakistan&#39;s viral content landscape. He addressed both his failures and successes throughout the journey.

Entertainment

Umar Saleem discusses audience receptiveness in Pakistan's stand-up comedy scene and traces his progression from freelance projects to viral content creation, addressing both successes and failures in his unconventional career path.

Chatroom with Shizza: Umar Saleem’s path from viral content to television

LOS ANGELES: Cape Verde wrote another chapter in their fairytale debut World Cup campaign on Friday, battling into the knockout rounds for the first time to set up a dream showdown with Lionel Messi&#39;s Argentina. The tiny Atlantic archipelago drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to clinch second place in Group H and advance to the last 32 where they will face defending champions Argentina at Miami&#39;s Hard Rock Stadium on July 3. Cape Verde&#39;s third consecutive draw saw them finish the group with three points, behind European champions Spain who made sure of top spot with a 1-0 defeat of Uruguay. Two-time World Cup-winners Uruguay, who were stunned by Cape Verde in a 2-2 draw last Sunday in their second game, were eliminated from the competition with just two points. The Group H results brought further clarity to the knockout rounds, ensuring that England, Portugal, Ghana, Egypt and Paraguay would also advance. Earlier Friday, France lit up the tournament with another dazzling attacking performance, swatting aside Norway 4-1 to clinch top spot in Group I. France&#39;s reigning Ballon d&#39;Or winner Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat-trick as Les Bleus maintained their 100% start to the tournament at the Gillette Stadium. The pre-match hype had focused on a duel between France striker Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian counterpart Erling Haaland. But that much-anticipated showdown never materialized after Norway opted to leave Manchester City star Haaland on the bench. Instead, it was left to Dembele to grab center-stage from team-mate Mbappe, scoring three times in the opening 32 minutes to set up the win. Dembele&#39;s PSG team-mate Desire Doue bagged France&#39;s fourth in stoppage time to complete the scoring. &#39;Important moment&#39;&nbsp;Dembele later played down the significance of his quick-fire hat-trick, turning his attention to the bigger challenges awaiting in the knockout rounds. &quot;It&#39;s a unique and important moment for me but I preferred my performances against Senegal or Iraq,&quot; Dembele said. &quot;I think I was much more influential in those games. I believe we need to stay focused because there are important things ahead.&quot; Friday&#39;s game had gone ahead against a troubled backdrop for France, with coach Didier Deschamps leaving the team earlier this week following the death of his mother. Both teams meanwhile paid tribute to the victims of the devastating Venezuela earthquake just before kick-off, lining up for a moment of silence. France will now face Sweden in the last 32, while Norway take on Ivory Coast in Dallas on June 30 for a place in the last 16. Senegal meanwhile gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the last 32 with a 5-0 drubbing of Iraq in their final group game, boosting their goal difference to win their first points of the tournament. The west Africans, who have three points, must now wait for the remaining group games elsewhere to play out before learning if they have done enough to squeeze into the knockouts. &quot;Our future is no longer in our own hands,&quot; Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. &quot;We will have to wait and see. But we got the job done.&quot; Later Friday in Group G, Egypt are aiming to clinch top spot with victory over Iran in Seattle in a game that has been laced with controversy. Friday&#39;s game is part of city-wide events to celebrate Pride in Seattle, and was designated as the &quot;Pride Match&quot; by local officials before the identities of the teams involved was known. Iranian and Egyptian officials have both raised objections to the Seattle Pride celebrations around their fixture. Homosexuality is illegal in Iran under Islamic law and can be punishable by death. In Egypt, homosexuality is often penalized under vaguely worded laws prohibiting &quot;debauchery.&quot; In the other Group G game, Belgium&#39;s ageing squad featuring Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku will attempt to reach the knockout rounds with a victory over New Zealand.

The tiny Atlantic archipelago drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia to clinch second place in Group H and advance to the last 32 where they will face defending champions Argentina at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on July 3.



Cape Verde extend World Cup fairytale, France roll on

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed the Finance Bill 2026 into law, formally enacting the federal budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 after it was approved by parliament earlier this week. The National Assembly passed the legislation on Tuesday, giving effect to the government&#39;s Rs18.771 trillion ($67.5 billion) budget, which targets economic growth of 4% and inflation of 8.2% in fiscal year 2026-27. &ldquo;President Asif Ali Zardari has assented to the Finance Bill, 2026, relating to the Federal Budget for fiscal year 2026-27,&rdquo; the president&#39;s office said in a post on X. The government has projected a fiscal deficit of 3.6% of gross domestic product and set a revenue collection target of Rs15.26 trillion ($54.8 billion) as it seeks to strengthen public finances and maintain macroeconomic stability. Net federal revenues are estimated at Rs11.75 trillion, while total expenditures are projected at Rs18.77 trillion. Debt servicing and interest payments will account for about Rs8.05 trillion of spending. The budget allocates Rs1 trillion to the Federal Public Sector Development Programme, while the broader national development program is estimated at Rs3.68 trillion. Defense spending has been set at Rs3 trillion. The government also increased allocations for social protection, raising funding for the Benazir Income Support Programme to Rs838 billion from the previous year to expand coverage for low-income households. Public-sector employees and pensioners will receive a 7% increase in salaries and pensions, respectively. The government has also announced tax relief measures for salaried individuals across four income brackets. Under the new auto policy, imported vehicles with engine capacities between 2,000cc and 3,000cc will face an 86% duty from July 1, while vehicles above 3,000cc will be subject to a 92% duty. Imported electric vehicles valued between $75,000 and $110,000 will attract a 30% customs duty, rising to 40% for those priced above $110,000. Parliament also approved amendments to Section 182 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. Under the revised framework, taxpayers will be liable for either the tax imposed on taxable income or the highest tax paid during the previous three years, whichever is greater. The government has further tightened regulations governing tax filers and non-filers. Individuals who fail to comply with notices issued by the Federal Board of Revenue will face fines of Rs1 million for a first violation and up to Rs2 million for repeat offenses.

Economy

The National Assembly passed the legislation on Tuesday, giving effect to the government's Rs18.771 trillion ($67.5 billion) budget, which targets economic growth of 4% and inflation of 8.2% in fiscal year 2026-27.

India's 'Cockroach Party' forms committee for Sunday protest against education minister

Related Articles

India's 'Cockroach Party' launches 'Diaper Drive' seeking education minister’s resignation

Indian government summons 'Cockroach Party' leader for hearing on X account block

Latest News

US sanctions Indian firm, CEO for 'fueling' Sudan's civil war

Thailand arrests Australian after teen's body found in suitcase

Afghan Taliban detain woman journalist for working alongside male cameraman

India's 'Cockroach Party' forms committee for Sunday protest against education minister

Pakistan’s security forces kill eight terrorists in Balochistan