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Serious efforts underway to finalize Iran-US draft agreement, Arab media reports

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Serious efforts

ISLAMABAD: Intensive diplomatic efforts are underway to finalize a draft agreement between Iran and the United States, with an announcement on the completion of the final text possible in the coming days, according to Arab media reports.

The reports said a senior Pakistani official could travel to Iran on Thursday, and the visit may coincide with an announcement that the draft agreement has been completed.

Arab media also reported that the next round of negotiations is expected to be held in Islamabad after the Hajj season.

The developments come as Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made his second trip to Tehran within 24 hours, where he held meetings with Iranian leaders on the ongoing Iran-U.S. dialogue.

During a previous visit to Tehran, Naqvi met President Masoud Pezeshkian, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss bilateral ties and regional diplomacy.

After returning from Iran, Naqvi traveled directly to Balochistan, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir were also present.

Neither Tehran nor Washington has officially confirmed the reported timeline for finalizing the agreement.

Mohsin Naqvi makes second Tehran visit within 24 Hours

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Mohsin Naqvi

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has arrived in Tehran for a second visit within 24 hours, according to official sources, as discussions continue on regional diplomacy and Iran–U.S. negotiations.

Sources said Naqvi is expected to hold meetings with senior Iranian leadership regarding ongoing diplomatic efforts related to Iran–US talks.

The visit comes just days after Naqvi’s previous trip to Iran, during which he met President Masoud Pezeshkian, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

During earlier meetings, officials discussed bilateral relations and the evolving situation in the Middle East, diplomatic sources added.

After his previous Tehran visit, Naqvi reportedly traveled directly to Balochistan, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir were also present.

Salman Khan expresses anger at paparazzi outside Mumbai Hospital

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Salman Khan

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Salman Khan expressed anger at paparazzi after being photographed outside a hospital in Mumbai, according to Indian media reports and widely circulated social media videos.

The actor was seen leaving the hospital under tight security when photographers reportedly gathered outside and attempted to take pictures while calling out to him.

A video shared online shows paparazzi surrounding Khan and continuing to take photos despite security presence, prompting the actor to gesture in frustration.

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A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan)

Following the incident, Khan also posted messages on social media criticizing sections of the press, saying that media outlets should not “take pleasure in someone’s pain” and questioning whether “a picture is more important than life.”

In another post, he questioned how reporters would react if similar situations involved their own families in hospitals.

Khan further wrote that although he is 60 years old, he has not forgotten how to fight, in a series of posts that quickly went viral online.

Xi Jinping warns of global slide toward ‘Law of the Jungle’ amid high-level talks

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Xi Jinping warns

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that the world faces the risk of sliding back into a “law of the jungle,” urging stronger opposition to unilateral actions and attempts to rewrite history, during high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

Xi said China and Russia should oppose “unilateral bullying” and work together to promote a fair and reasonable global governance system, according to remarks shared by Chinese state media.

Putin said relations between Russia and China were at an “extraordinary level” and stressed that both countries should support each other’s development. He added that economic ties between the two nations were advancing steadily and described Russia as a reliable energy supplier amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Both leaders said their cooperation contributes to global stability and emphasized the need to strengthen economic and strategic coordination.

Xi said the success of China-Russia relations is based on mutual political trust and strategic cooperation, while reiterating concerns about rising global instability.

On the Middle East, Xi stressed the importance of negotiations, calling for an end to fighting, and warned that continued escalation would be “unwise” and could disrupt global energy supplies and trade.

During the meeting, Putin also invited Xi to visit Russia next year, further highlighting deepening diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Pakistan suffer major blow ahead of Australia ODI series

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Pakistan suffer

LAHORE: Pakistan will be without opening batters Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub for the upcoming three-match one-day international series against Australia because of injuries, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Wednesday.

The PCB said both players are continuing their rehabilitation under the supervision of the board’s medical staff and have not yet fully recovered.

To allow them to regain complete fitness, the board has excluded both batters from selection for the ODI series, which begins on May 30.

The PCB wished the two players a speedy recovery and said further updates on the squad and player fitness would be provided in due course.

Australia is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on May 23.

The ODI series will be played from May 30 to June 4, with matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Shan Masood may offer to step down as Pakistan Test captain after whitewash

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Shan Masood

LAHORE: Pakistan test captain Shan Masood may offer to step down following his team’s 2-0 series whitewash against Bangladesh, according to media reports.

Sources said Masood is expected to meet Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi after returning home and could present his resignation from the captaincy. A final decision on his future will rest with the PCB chairman.

Masood was appointed test captain in 2023. Under his leadership, Pakistan has lost 12 of its 16 test matches, increasing pressure on the 36-year-old batter.

After Pakistan’s 78-run defeat in the second test in Sylhet, Masood apologized to fans and acknowledged the team’s disappointing performances.

“We are deeply disappointed by these results and apologize to the nation for not meeting expectations,” Masood said.

He said Pakistan needed to focus on improving its overall test cricket structure rather than blaming individual players.

Masood declined to comment directly on repeated questions about his captaincy but said he remained committed to helping Pakistan test cricket improve in any role.

Pakistan’s next test assignment is a three-match series in England in July.

UEFA imposes lifetime ban on ex-coach over secret filming of women players

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UEFA imposes

NYON: UEFA has imposed a lifetime ban on former coach Petr Vlachovský after finding that he secretly recorded women footballers in dressing rooms and showers.

European football’s governing body said its disciplinary investigation concluded that the 42-year-old coach engaged in unethical conduct and actions that damaged the reputation of the sport.

A court in the Czech Republic last year handed Vlachovský a one-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year coaching ban after convicting him of secretly filming 14 female players.

Police launched an investigation in September 2023 after the hidden recordings surfaced online. Authorities said the coach concealed a camera inside a bag to film players in locker rooms and shower areas. Some of the victims were minors.

UEFA has asked FIFA to extend the ban worldwide to prevent Vlachovský from working in football in any country.

The Football Association of the Czech Republic has also been instructed to revoke his coaching license.

Bangladesh complete historic whitewash of Pakistan with 78-run win

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Bangladesh complete

SYLHET: Bangladesh completed a historic 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan after securing a 78-run victory in the second and final test in Sylhet on Wednesday.

Pakistan resumed the fifth and final day needing 121 more runs to chase a target of 437, with three wickets in hand.

The visitors were bowled out for 359, handing Bangladesh victory by 78 runs and sealing its first-ever clean sweep over Pakistan in a two-match test series.

Bangladesh had already taken a 1-0 lead by winning the opening test in Dhaka by 104 runs.

The series result marks a significant milestone for Bangladesh cricket, which produced back-to-back victories against Pakistan in the home series.

Talking to the media, Pakistan captain Shan Masood said his team failed to perform well in both batting and bowling after Bangladesh completed a 2-0 test series sweep.

“We tried our best to win the match, but we did not play well during the first three days,” Masood said after Pakistan’s 78-run defeat in the second and final test in Sylhet.

He said Pakistan worked hard over the last two days but could not capitalize on its efforts, adding that the team was unable to dismiss Bangladesh’s last four batters quickly enough.

“In test cricket, there is no room for mistakes,” Masood said. “We did not perform well in batting and bowling.”

Masood said test cricket requires teams to maintain a high standard over all five days of a match.

After historical won, Bangladesh moved up to fifth place in the ICC World Test Championship standings after completing a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan.

The series victory lifted Bangladesh above both England and India in the latest standings.

Pakistan remained in eighth place with four points following back-to-back defeats in the two-match series.

Pakistan’s next assignment in the World Test Championship will be a three-test series against England in England.

The series will provide Pakistan with an opportunity to recover ground in the standings after a disappointing tour of Bangladesh.

Efforts continue for family access to Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail

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Efforts continue

ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, sources say that the daughter of Bushra Bibi may soon be allowed to meet her mother at Adiala Jail, amid behind-the-scenes efforts aimed at easing tensions over family visitation arrangements.

According to local media , the move is reportedly the result of discreet negotiations and backchannel contacts intended to reduce friction surrounding family meetings.

The sources said there is a strong possibility that, following informal engagement with relevant authorities, the meeting could be facilitated under certain conditions.

They added that the daughter had previously been allowed to meet Bushra Bibi, but subsequent disclosure of meeting details — reportedly shared with Bushra Bibi’s sister and later circulated on social media led to restrictions on further visits.

Officials allegedly viewed the disclosure as a breach of understanding that such interactions would remain private and not be publicly discussed.

Sources further said efforts were also underway to arrange meetings between former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his sisters, though any progress may depend on written assurances that family members will avoid public statements regarding such meetings.

In a separate development, concerns have reportedly been conveyed within official circles regarding recent statements attributed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

Sources claimed that certain remarks allegedly critical of the military had caused unease in official quarters and were subsequently communicated to the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reportedly declined to comment when approached regarding the matter.

North Waziristan student becomes one of World’s youngest ACCA qualifiers

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North Waziristan student

MIRANSHAH: A student from Pakistan’s tribal district of North Waziristan has achieved a rare academic milestone by completing the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at just 16 years and 11 months of age.

Abdul Rehman Khan Dawar, who hails from Miranshah, said he accomplished the feat despite limited educational facilities and challenging conditions in the region.

He is being recognized as one of the youngest ACCA qualifiers in Pakistan, surpassing a previous record held by Karachi student Sameera, who completed the qualification at 17 years and 8 months.

According to Abdul Rehman, he also completed a bachelor’s degree from Oxford Brookes University in London at an early age, highlighting his academic progress alongside the professional certification.

He said his achievement was not only a personal milestone but also a message for students in underdeveloped regions that determination and hard work can overcome limited resources.

Abdul Rehman added that youth in tribal districts have strong potential but need better opportunities and guidance to succeed in higher education and professional fields.

He expressed hope that his success would inspire students across Pakistan’s remote areas to pursue advanced education and aim for international qualifications.