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Newsdesk

Meera reacts angrily after being called ‘Psycho’ in viral interview clip

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Meera reacts

LAHORE: Actress Meera expressed anger after being repeatedly referred to as “psycho” during a viral social media interview related to her film Psycho.

In the video, an interviewer suggested that Meera had previously played “psycho” roles and had not moved beyond such characters in her career. The remarks prompted a visibly upset response from the actor.

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Meera reacted strongly, saying that if she was not shown respect, she received greater recognition in India, according to the viral clip.

She said the interviewer’s comments were disrespectful and emphasized that the role in Psycho was one of the most challenging of her career.

Meera added that she expected appreciation and encouragement for working in a difficult film, saying she believed both she and co-star Shaan Shahid would be praised for producing a challenging project in Pakistan.

She further said the film carried a message about depression and that audiences could learn from her character if they chose to do so.

The film Psycho, released on Eid-ul-Adha under the Geo Films banner, features Shaan Shahid, Sonia Hussain, Meera, and Shabbir Jan in key roles.

Trump signals progress toward strong deal with Iran

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Trump signals

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said the United States is close to reaching a “strong and effective” agreement with Iran, adding that diplomatic pressure, including restrictions on Iranian ports, has placed greater strain on Tehran than military action.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said Washington and Tehran were approaching a “very good, strong and powerful deal,” suggesting that negotiations were in their final stages.

He claimed the United States could continue military strikes on Iran for another two to three weeks if it chose to do so, but said such action would result in significant casualties, which he wants to avoid.

Trump said diplomatic engagement would be more effective than military operations and expressed hope that both sides could reach an agreement “stronger than war.”

The president also said that economic pressure and earlier U.S. measures had significantly weakened Iran’s economy, potentially pushing Tehran toward accepting a deal.

He added that wider bombing could have led to a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with serious consequences for global energy supplies and the international economy.

Trump further expressed optimism about broader peace efforts in the Middle East, saying the parties involved were in the “final stages” of discussions.

When asked about the timeline, he suggested a potential breakthrough could emerge within the next two to three days.

His remarks come at a time of heightened regional tensions, with ongoing diplomatic efforts and ceasefire discussions between Iran and Israel drawing global attention.

Iranian media says Khamenei funeral to be held after Ashura

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Iranian media

TEHRAN: An Iranian news agency reported that the funeral and burial of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who it says was martyred in an Israeli and US attack, will take place after the observance of Ashura during Muharram.

According to the report, the exact timing of the funeral and burial has not yet been finalized, and relevant authorities will announce further details at a later stage.

The Iranian outlet claimed that Khamenei was killed during a heavy bombing of his compound in Tehran on February 28, 2026, in an attack it attributed to the United States and Israel. The report said state media confirmed his death a day later.

However, there has been no independent confirmation of these claims, and no official verification from international or neutral sources regarding the alleged incident.

The report also claimed that Khamenei’s son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named as his successor.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying in an interview that he was present at the leader’s office on the day of the alleged bombing.

COAS Asim Munir, Lebanese military chief hold talks on regional security

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COAS Asim Munir

RAWALPINDI: Lebanese Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief General Rodolphe Haykal met Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen. Haykal was presented a guard of honor upon arrival at GHQ by a smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Army.

During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, regional security developments and ways to enhance bilateral defense cooperation.

The ISPR said both military leaders agreed to strengthen professional ties and expand training collaboration between the armed forces of Pakistan and Lebanon.

Field Marshal Munir underscored the importance of Pakistan’s long-standing and cordial relations with Lebanon and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to broadening defense cooperation.

Gen. Haykal appreciated the professionalism and operational capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces and praised Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and stability.

He also acknowledged Pakistan’s role in international peacekeeping missions.

Both sides expressed a shared resolve to further strengthen institutional linkages and deepen military-to-military engagement.

Federal budget 2026-27 likely to be presented on June 12

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Federal budget

ISLAMABAD: Federal government is considering a change in the announced date for the 2026–27 budget, with consultations underway to present it on June 12 instead of June 10, according to sources.

Officials said a final decision on the revised budget date is expected within a day or two.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed in informal talks with journalists in Parliament that several budget matters are still under discussion and have not yet been finalized.

He said discussions were ongoing due to limited time and the upcoming month of Muharram, adding that adjustments in scheduling may be required.

Iqbal said talks between the government and coalition partner Pakistan Peoples Party over the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) had been completed, and an understanding had been reached on development funding matters.

He added that under the proposed allocations, the federal government will prioritize development spending in smaller provinces.

According to him, Balochistan would receive the highest share of development funds, followed by Sindh, then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Punjab would receive the lowest allocation.

He said billions of rupees have been allocated for key projects, including motorways and water infrastructure initiatives, with further details to be announced in the upcoming budget.

Punjab ready to offer financial relief to federal government

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Punjab ready

LAHORE: The Punjab provincial government is prepared to extend financial relief to the federal government, according to sources in the provincial assembly.

Officials said the Punjab government may provide up to 570 billion rupees in financial relief to help Islamabad reduce its fiscal deficit and meet International Monetary Fund targets.

They added that under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, Punjab is expected to receive more than 3.793 trillion rupees from the divisible pool of revenues.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has finalized the outline of its budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, with the total volume set at 5.131 trillion rupees, sources said.

No official statement has yet been issued by the Punjab government confirming the reported financial arrangement.

On the other hand, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said the province will not compromise on its share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award and will strongly defend its constitutional rights if any reduction is made.

Addressing a pre-budget roundtable conference in Lahore, he said Punjab is currently running more than 100 major development programs and requires adequate financial resources to sustain them.

He warned that if Punjab’s share in the NFC award is reduced, the province would “defend its rights,” adding that Punjab cannot transfer or surrender its financial resources under any circumstances.

The finance minister said the provincial government is working on establishing a unified tax collection system under one roof to improve efficiency and revenue collection. He added that efforts are also underway to promote agriculture and industry, along with the preparation of a major industrial package expected to involve billions of rupees over the next three years.

He said the government aims to reduce taxes rather than introduce new ones.

Maryam Nawaz, he said, is overseeing governance reforms and has resumed work after health improvement.

Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said Punjab has already presented two budgets and will now present its third budget on June 16.

‘Dostana 2’ faces fresh setback as director exits project

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‘Dostana 2’

MUMBAI: The long-delayed Bollywood film Dostana 2 has suffered another setback after director Advait Chandan reportedly exited the project following months of pre-production work.

According to Indian media reports, the film had already faced uncertainty after actor Kartik Aaryan parted ways with the project, leading to a temporary halt in development. Reports later suggested that actress Janhvi Kapoor was also no longer associated with the film.

Fresh reports indicate that Advait Chandan stepped away from the project after nearly seven months of preparation, citing personal and creative differences.

Sources quoted by entertainment media said there was no major dispute behind the decision, but differing creative visions ultimately led to the director’s departure.

Reports further claim that Sini Shetty has been finalized for a lead role and is expected to make her Bollywood debut through the film. Shetty won the Miss India World title in 2022.

The film is reportedly centered on two siblings who fall in love with the same person, creating a storyline filled with romance, comedy and misunderstandings.

Actor Vikrant Massey previously confirmed his involvement in the project, describing it as his first collaboration with filmmaker Karan Johar and his production banner.

Meanwhile, some reports have suggested that actor Lakshya may no longer be part of the cast, although the production team has yet to officially announce the complete lineup.

Since its announcement, Dostana 2 has undergone multiple changes in cast and crew, leaving its future uncertain while fans continue to await an official update on the film’s release plans.

Rakesh Roshan dismisses reports of budget dispute over ‘Krrish 4’

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Rakesh Roshan

MUMBAI: Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan has rejected reports of a disagreement over the budget of the upcoming superhero film Krrish 4, calling the claims baseless.

Recent Indian media reports suggested that actor Hrithik Roshan, who is set to make his directorial debut with the film, had sought a budget of 5 billion Indian rupees ($60 million), while producer Aditya Chopra preferred to keep costs closer to 3.5 billion rupees, allegedly leading to differences over the project.

However, Rakesh Roshan denied the reports, saying there was no dispute regarding the film’s budget or production plans.

In an interview, he said claims that Hrithik had demanded a massive budget for world-class visual effects and action sequences were entirely incorrect and that no conflict existed between the actor and the production team.

Roshan noted that large-scale films require significant time and planning to meet audience expectations. He added that every installment of the Krrish franchise had been developed carefully rather than rushed into production.

Addressing speculation about delays, he said there were no disagreements among the team members and that work on the project was progressing smoothly.

“Krrish is in a world of its own, and we are all waiting for the right dates,” Roshan said, indicating that scheduling considerations were part of the planning process.

He added that the film was moving forward through the combined efforts of Aditya Chopra, Hrithik Roshan and the broader creative team.

The Krrish franchise began with Koi… Mil Gaya and continued with Krrish and Krrish 3. The series follows the adventures of Krishna Mehra, a superhero portrayed by Hrithik Roshan.

Alizeh Shah accuses Singer Falak Shabir of pressuring her during video shoot

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Alizeh Shah

KARACHI: Pakistani actress Alizeh Shah has made allegations against singer Falak Shabir following his recent remarks calling for regulations on revealing clothing in public places.

The controversy emerged after Falak Shabir appealed to Maryam Nawaz to introduce laws addressing what he described as inappropriate attire in public spaces.

Responding to the statement, Alizeh Shah shared details about her experience while working with the singer on the music video for the song Yaadan.

According to the actress, Falak personally selected her for the project and allegedly insisted that she wear short outfits despite her discomfort and reservations.

Alizeh further claimed that the outfits worn during the music video were designed and styled by Falak Shabir’s wife, Sarah Khan.

The actress also alleged that she repeatedly requested a reduction in romantic scenes during filming, but her concerns were ignored and she was pressured to perform the scenes.

Falak Shabir has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of writing.

Government, PPP agree on most budget proposals

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Government

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday to discuss national security, the economic outlook, the upcoming federal budget and key political developments.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah.

Participants reviewed the national security situation, internal and regional developments, economic conditions, the next fiscal year’s budget, the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and matters related to law and order.

Discussing budget proposals and public relief measures, President Zardari emphasized the need to prioritize public welfare, provincial rights and economic stability in the upcoming federal budget. He also directed that efforts be made to align economic growth objectives with welfare-oriented initiatives.

Sources said technical committees from both sides would continue consultations on a number of practical and implementable points that still require further deliberation.

During a meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President Asif Ali Zardari on the PPP’s performance in the recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to sources, Sharif remarked with a smile that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had run a better election campaign than his rivals.

Sources said Raja Faisal Rathore also attended the meeting, where participants discussed the latest developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other matters of national importance.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed the president on his recent visit to Iran and regional diplomatic engagements.