"FINALISE" · 총 100건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.3
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 83,344건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.2(균형)입니다. 긍정 4,400건(5.3%)·중립 76,808건(92.2%)·부정 2,136건(2.6%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 15.3(중도 균형)입니다.
Siddaramaiah stepped down as Karnataka Chief Minister after a key cabinet meeting, with DK Shivakumar poised to replace him as Congress finalises transition.
These 17 projects identified for FY26-27 exclude assets proposed for monetisation through the newly self-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT), which will be a separate monetisation vehicle
WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump told his cabinet and the media during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday that his administration is “not satisfied” with the terms of a deal with Iran yet, “but we will be”. The session, which is open to reporters, is one of the administration’s most closely watched meetings in recent weeks. The president and his cabinet members touched upon a number of domestic and international issues of interest, as well as discussing the ongoing negotiations with Iran. “They just want to make a deal. I dont think they have a choice,” Trump said, referring to Tehran. “Their economy is in free fall, their money has no value, their whole economic system has broken down,” he said. “They thought they were gonna outwait me, like, ‘He’s got a midterm’. I dont care about the midterm.” he said. “It’s very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I am doing this for the whole world not for the US only,” he said. “We’ve had great support from other nations. We need it all.” The US president stressed that the Strait of Hormuz would be open to everyone and not controlled by any country under any deal reached with Iran. “We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it. That’s part of the negotiation that we have,” he said. Some progress made: Rubio US Secretary of State Marco Rubio while briefing the meeting said Washington’s first option is diplomacy. “We’ve continued to work on that. We want an agreement to be made. There has been some progress.” “We’ll see over the next few hours or days if progress can be made. Mr President, you have other options as well if that doesnt work,” he added. “We are negotiating and you are giving it every chance to succeed,” Rubio said, addressing the president. Could go back to finish the job: Hegseth US War Secretary Pete Hegseth told the meeting that shipments had not been able to leave or arrive at Iranian ports. “We can tell from our intel that their economy is hurting big time.” He said the US could either “bring them to the table either through the efforts of negotiators” or “go back to finish the job”. “Americans are excited about what you’re bringing to the defence industrial base,” he claimed. “Defence manufacturers are investing in new defence plants and production lines,” he said, adding that the growth had resulted in 1 million additional jobs for Americans. US-Iran draft MoU tussle The cabinet meeting comes amidst efforts to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran after weeks of indirect negotiations. The proposed agreement is intended to preserve the fragile ceasefire and create conditions for broader talks on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security issues. Diplomats familiar with the negotiations say most of the document had already been agreed upon over the weekend. At the time, there was optimism that an early signing of the MoU could help ease tensions in the Persian Gulf, including around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. However, negotiations heated up today as Iranian state TV reported that Tehran had obtained a draft of the initial, unofficial framework for the MoU. Under the alleged framework, Iran would restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month, while the US would withdraw military forces from Iran’s vicinity and lift a naval blockade. State TV also claimed that the framework, which excludes military vessels and envisages Iran managing ship traffic through the strait in cooperation with Oman, was not yet finalised and that Tehran would take no steps without “tangible verification”. It added that if a final agreement was reached within 60 days, it could be approved as a binding UN Security Council resolution. The White House, however, rubbished Iranian media reports, terming them “not true” and claiming that the MoU being reported on was “a complete fabrication”. Negotiations between the two parties have slowed in recent days. Rubio has said disagreements still remain over the wording of certain parts of the document. Officials say even small changes in language are important because previous agreements between Washington and Tehran have collapsed over disputes about interpretation and implementation. The ceasefire connected to the talks has now entered its eighth week but remains under pressure. Iran has warned it could respond to recent US military actions, while fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah has continued to intensify along the Lebanese border. These developments have increased fears that the conflict could spread across the region. However, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards official today said that renewed war with the US was unlikely but warned that Iran stood ready against any attack. International pressure has been increasing on both the US and Iran to avoid another military escalation. Countries in the Gulf region and global energy markets remain concerned that instability around the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt oil supplies and damage the world economy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday hoped that a peace deal between Iran and the US could be finalised soon. The Prime Minister’s Office in a statement said that President Pezeshkian had telephoned PM Shehbaz to extend Eid greetings in a call that lasted around 30 minutes. During the call, PM Shehbaz hoped that a peace deal which afforded dignity and honour to the Iranian nation could be reached soon. “This would help unlock the true economic potential of Iran and benefit the entire region,” the premier said. The prime minister stated that as a brotherly and neighbouring country, “Pakistan would always stand by Iran and that a great future lay ahead for both countries, once peace was restored in the region.” The two leaders also exchanged Eid greetings and conveyed their best wishes to each other, the people of their two countries, and the Muslim Ummah, the PMO added. “The Iranian president expressed his profound gratitude to the prime minister and Field Marshal Asim Munir for Pakistan’s important role in the efforts to bring peace to the region. “He appreciated the fact that other regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye, were also on board in these peace efforts,” it stated. The prime minister once again expressed solidarity with the Iranian leadership and nation over the loss of precious Iranian lives suffered in the current crisis, the PMO said. “He appreciated the Iranian president’s kind words for him and his team and stated that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had undoubtedly made tireless efforts to bring peace to the region, the PMO said, adding, “The two leaders agreed to remain in close coordination with each other.” ‘Kuwait fully supportive of Pakistan’s mediation efforts’ In a separate telephone call, PM Shehbaz extended Eid greetings to Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Mubarak Al Sabah, highlighting Pakistan’s “humble and sincere efforts” towards regional peace. The PM told the crown prince that Pakistan was making a “humble and sincere effort” to bring peace back to the region. The crown prince appreciated Pakistan’s “important role” in the ongoing regional peace efforts, assuring him that Kuwait was “fully supportive” of Pakistan. PM Shehbaz thanked brotherly countries, including Kuwait and its leadership, for supporting Pakistan’s efforts in this regard, the PMO added. PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s condemnation of the attacks on Kuwait and expressed solidarity with the Kuwaiti leadership on the losses suffered by them during these attacks, the PMO said. The prime minister also acknowledged the untiring diplomatic efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir to ensure that the peace talks continue to move forward, PMO said. The two leaders exchanged heartiest Eidul Azha greetings and conveyed their best wishes to the people of the two countries on this joyous occasion, the PMO said. It added that the prime minister thanked Kuwait’s emir and the crown prince for their kind words and reiterated his warm and cordial invitation to them to undertake official visits to Pakistan, at their kind convenience. ‘Malaysia appreciates Pakistan’s remarkable role in ceasefire’ Moreover, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Anwar Ibrahim appreciated Pakistan’s “remarkable” role in the ceasefire in the Gulf in a telephonic conversation with PM Shehbaz today, the PMO said. During the call, the prime minister stated that progress in the peace efforts could not have been possible without the contribution of brotherly countries, including Malaysia, it added. “He stated that it was due to the untiring diplomatic efforts of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the active role played by FM Dar, that Pakistan had been able to steer the peace process forward.” The Malaysian prime minister “acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s remarkable role in the ceasefire in the Gulf and the ongoing peace efforts to ensure an enduring peace settlement in the region.” PM Shehbaz also thanked his counterpart and briefed him on the latest developments in the peace efforts, the PMO said. “The prime minister stated that progress in the peace efforts could not have been possible without the contribution of brotherly countries, including Malaysia.” According to the PMO, PM Shehbaz expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Lebanon perpetrated by Israeli security forces and deteriorating situation in Gaza in a telephonic conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Anwar Ibrahim, the PMO said. Meanwhile, the PM Shehbaz conveyed heartfelt Eidul Adha greetings to the Malaysian leader as well as the brotherly Malaysian people. In conclusion, the Prime Minister said that he looked forward to the next opportunity to meet the Malaysian prime minister, either in Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur or on the sidelines of any other event. “The two Prime Ministers agreed to keep each other fully informed about developments in the region.”
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The site for the long-awaited Petaling Jaya public hospital has been officially confirmed,...
KARACHI: Pakistan plans to boost domestic storage for crude oil and refined products to increase its energy security, according to a government document that was shared with oil producers and some of the world’s leading trading firms. Despite depending on supplies through the Strait of Hormuz for up to 90 per cent of its oil and liquefied natural gas imports, Pakistan has no strategic petroleum reserves. That has left it exposed to supply shocks provoked by the Iran war even as its lending programme with the International Monetary Fund limits room for costly state-owned emergency stocks. According to the document reviewed by Reuters, the energy ministry is proposing to build strategic petroleum reserves as well as commercial storage through bonded terminals, refineries and oil marketing companies. It is also pushing for more oil and gas exploration and production, upgrades to its refineries and a consolidation of its downstream sector. Govt plans to cut reliance on Hormuz imports “Pakistan’s oil security requires both emergency reserves and stronger local supply capacity,” the ministry said in the document. It shared the proposed framework with Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Corp, Kuwait Petroleum Corp, QatarEnergy and PetroChina and oil trading firms Vitol and Trafigura and storage operator Vopak. Trafigura, Vitol and Aramco declined to comment. The other companies and Pakistan’s petroleum ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said last week that building reserves was “easier said than done,” especially for a country in an IMF programme with severe fiscal challenges, but added the government was trying to move quickly from planning to implementation. Energy infrastructure Under the bonded storage plan, international suppliers and traders would be allowed to hold petroleum stocks, creating commercial inventories that could support domestic supply during emergencies. The government could also allow companies to store fuel for re-export. The document did not spell out details such as incentives, pricing, tax, foreign exchange, offtake or ownership terms, or whether companies would be expected to invest in storage infrastructure. The ministry wants the bonded storage framework for suppliers to be finalised by June. In addition to its lack of strategic reserves, the document cited constrained port infrastructure, limited ship-to-ship capacity and insufficient storage among Pakistan’s vulnerabilities. The build-up of the government’s own strategic reserves would be paid for by a ring-fenced fund financed by Rs10 per litre from the existing levy on petroleum, with allocations to start on July 1. The document says that allocation would generate about $700 million a year. Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2026
• Washington says strikes targeted Iranian missile sites, mine-laying boats • Rubio says Iran deal may take ‘a few days’; insists Hormuz will reopen ‘one way or the other’ • Iran says US drone downed, F-35 fired at; tanker damaged by external explosion off Oman • Trump to hold Camp David cabinet meeting on Iran crisis TEHRAN: Iran accused the United States of breaching their ceasefire on Tuesday and warned it was ready to retaliate and “will not leave any evil unanswered” after overnight US strikes targeting Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats threatened a deal to end the war. The Brent benchmark oil price jumped up by more than four per cent after US Central Command announced the new wave of bombings, and China urged both sides to respect the truce and to resolve their dispute peacefully. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said negotiating a deal to halt the conflict could “take a few days”. According to Iranian media, Iran’s negotiators had been pushing for the memorandum to include the release of billions of frozen assets at talks in Qatar. The maritime safety monitor UKMTO said a blast damaged a tanker on the waterline off Oman — although the crew and vessel were reportedly safe after what was described as an “external explosion”. Iranian state media reported overnight blasts in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz, and the country’s Revolutionary Guards said its forces had downed a US drone entering its airspace and had fired at an F-35 fighter jet. “The US terrorist army, continuing its illegal and unjustified actions since the ceasefire … has, in the past 48 hours, committed a gross violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region,” the Iranian foreign ministry said. It added that Tehran “will not leave any evil unanswered and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation”, without elaborating. A senior spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces also warned that any resumption of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran would meet a “heavier” and “stronger” retaliation, Al Jazeera reported. “If the region enters another round of war, Iran’s response will extend beyond regional borders and will be much heavier and stronger,” Abolfazl Shekarchi said in remarks carried by the Fars news agency. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, said: “US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” He gave few details of the attacks and said only that the targets included missile launch sites and boats trying to “emplace mines”. Despite the strikes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal remained within reach. But he remained firm on the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil and gas shipping route which Iran is seeking to control. “There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress. I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days,” Rubio told reporters, during a visit to India. He said the strait was “going to be open one way or the other,” adding: “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.” Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is set to hold a rare cabinet meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat as Iran talks near a critical point, a White House official told AFP. The New York Post reported that Iran was set to dominate the meeting, which was expected to be attended by all cabinet members. Doha talks Iranian and US officials have indicated that recent indirect talks made progress on a memorandum of understanding, or initial deal, that would lead to further negotiations over a final agreement. Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, its foreign minister and its central bank governor were in Doha on Monday for talks with Qatar’s prime minister on a potential deal, an official briefed on the visit said. Qalibaf returned to Iran after seeking agreement on the release of around $24 billion of frozen Iranian funds as part of the memorandum of understanding, Iranian media reported. Iran’s Fars news agency cited a source saying that the unfreezing of the funds was the last serious sticking point for the memorandum of understanding to be finalised. According to Iranian sources, an initial deal would cover ending the war on all fronts, establishing a 30-day framework for restarting movement through the Strait of Hormuz, and possibly providing some financial relief — with more complex issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme to be negotiated in a second phase. Iran has been letting some ships through the strait, giving preference to vessels linked to countries with which it has alliances or close ties, and striking government-to-government agreements, Reuters has reported. Trump has said his key aim in the war is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon with its highly enriched uranium. Tehran denies any such plans. Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2026
• Massive explosion damaged many homes near Chaman railway crossing, making them ‘unsafe’ to live in • Administration forms body to assess damage and formulate compensation measures QUETTA: After a powerful bomb explosion that targeted a shuttle train at the Chaman railway crossing in the provincial capital, residents of the nearby Faqirabad neighbourhood have been forced to relocate due to extensive damage to their homes. Faqirabad is a densely populated area in downtown where working and middle-class families reside. The Sunday bombing left more than 70 per cent of the houses damaged, besides destroying the electricity infrastructure, due to which the area has been without power for the past 48 hours. “We have been without internet, electricity, gas, and water for the last 48 hours,” a resident, Haji Muhammad Nawaz, told Dawn, lamenting that not a single minister or other official visited Faqirabad. Several residents received injuries after the bomb blast shattered their windowpanes and caused the walls and roofs of the houses to collapse. Only two people from the area lost their lives in the incident, including Khalid Javed. Mr Javed lived in an apartment at the top of the building. Due to the blast, the wall of the apartment collapsed on him and his family – he died in the incident while three family members were injured. “The wife and two children are under treatment in the hospital,” a resident, Noman Ali, told Dawn. A housing colony for senior and junior government employees, located in the same area, was also badly affected. The residents were also forced to relocate after their houses were damaged in the blast and declared unsafe. At least 75-80 houses have been damaged in the blast, including 25 houses that were completely destroyed, said Khurram Paracha, a resident of the colony. He said some people were injured in the explosion, but fortunately, no deaths were reported. Meanwhile, railway workers removed the damaged bogies and locomotive from the site and also repaired the damaged railway track; however, the Jaffar Express services remained suspended in the wake of the suicide blast. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also chaired a high-level security meeting in Quetta to review the law and order situation and assess the initial investigation report presented by IG Police Balochistan. Committee formed The Quetta deputy commissioner constituted a damage assessment committee to evaluate losses. The body was directed to submit a comprehensive report on the damages at the earliest, based on which further action and compensation measures would be finalised. Meanwhile, DC Mehrullah Badini met the families affected by the explosion. In the meeting, he assured the victims that their losses would be compensated on a priority basis and directed the relevant departments to address the issues being faced by the affected families without delay. The district administration also announced immediate provision of essential relief items, including water tanks, blankets, mattresses, medicines, water coolers, utensils, tents and other necessities for displaced and affected residents. In protest against the bombing, lawyers across the province boycotted the court proceedings on the call of the Balochistan High Court Bar Association. Lawyers stayed away from proceedings in both superior and subordinate courts, while black flags were hoisted atop barrooms to mourn the loss of lives in the incident. Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Mir Attaullah Langove condemned the blast, describing the attack on the railway track near Chaman Phatak as a direct challenge to the writ of the state. He demanded the immediate arrest of the terrorists involved in the attack. Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2026
The Israeli army intensified strikes in southern Lebanon on Monday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to escalate its offensive in an effort to “crush” Hezbollah. The air strikes come as the United States and Iran seek to finalise the terms of an agreement to end the Middle East conflict, which could include the Lebanon front, where Israel and Hezbollah have waged war since March 2. Despite a ceasefire that came into effect on April 17, Israel and Iran-backed...
LAHORE: In an unprecedented development in Pakistan’s history, local textile mills have begun massive cotton imports from the United States even before the start of the new cotton ginning season, as the country has virtually run out of cotton stocks, triggering a sharp surge in domestic cotton and phutti prices. Reports suggest that local textile mills have purchased an extraordinary 206,100 bales – around 95pc– of the total 216,000 bales of the US 2026-27 cotton crop sold during the past week. The millers are also importing cotton on a large scale from Brazil. During fiscal year 2026-27, the country may spend billions of dollars in foreign exchange on the import of cotton and edible oil, potentially the highest import bill in the country’s history for these commodities. Despite repeated announcements regarding cotton revival, the approval of another sugar mill in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan’s largest cotton-producing zone, is undermining efforts to restore cotton cultivation. Sugar mills in cotton belt, other anti-cotton policies among the causes of production decline The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA), one of the two major institutions representing Pakistan’s cotton sector globally, is sealed since Dec 12, 2025 due to an alleged ownership dispute, leaving the country without representation in international cotton markets. Another worrying development is the construction of a gymkhana club at the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) lands, once renowned for developing the subcontinent’s first virus-free cotton variety. Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq says the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has proposed abolition of sales tax on cotton, cottonseed, cottonseed oil, oil cake and oil dirt in the upcoming federal budget. Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has sought the withdrawal of super tax and other levies, alongside reductions in energy tariffs and markup rates. The textile industry also wants implementation of the cotton revival programme finalised under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to increase cotton production and eliminate undocumented business practices in the cotton sector. The new cotton year has started with record-high prices across the cotton value chain. Cotton prices have climbed to Rs23,000 per maund, phutti to Rs12,500 per 40kg, cottonseed to Rs5,200 per maund and oil cake to Rs4,800 per maund – all historic highs in Pakistan. However, market observers believe prices may begin easing after Eidul Azha holidays as a large number of ginning factories in Punjab and Sindh are expected to become operational. The partial arrivals of imported cotton have resumed after prolonged disruption caused by the Gulf conflict. Reports of improving Iran-US relations and Chinese mediation in easing Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions could reopen the Afghan border, potentially allowing around 300,000 cotton bales from Afghanistan into Pakistan. Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026
• Pezeshkian says supreme leader will make final decision, insists no plan for nuclear bomb • Rubio expects ‘good news’ soon; Trump says ‘time is on their side’, tells his team ‘not to rush into deal’ • Iranian media reports suggest disagreements persist on ‘two to three’ clauses TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Amid reports that both sides are close to reaching an agreement to end the war, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a final decision to sign an agreement with the US will be made by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump insisted that time was on their side and that the negotiations with Tehran were underway in an “orderly and constructive manner”. The remarks by both men came as global leaders hailed progress made towards reaching a peace deal in light of reports that an agreement between the two was “largely negotiated”. On Sunday, President Pezeshkian said that no decision will be made without the permission of Mr Khamenei, who was injured at the start of the war and has remained underground since then. “No decision in the country will be made outside the framework of the Supreme National Security Council and without the permission of the Supreme Leader. The administration of the country requires a single decision and collective obedience,” he was quoted as saying by the Iranian media. A senior Iranian source earlier told Reuters that if Iran’s Supreme National Security Council approved the memorandum, it would be sent to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei for final approval. The US president, meanwhile, said that he had informed his team “not to rush into a deal” as time remained on their side. “The blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” He said that the relationship between Iran and the US was becoming “professional and productive” but Tehran could not acquire nuclear weapons at any cost. He also claimed that his deal would yield better results than the 2015 deal the Obama administration had signed with Iran. Mr Pezeshkian reiterated that Tehran was not seeking nuclear weapons. “We are ready to reassure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons,” he said, adding that Tehran would not compromise on its honour and dignity in the talks with the US. Delay in signing As delays mar the signing of an agreement, Iranian media reported that disagreement on “two or three clauses” still persisted. A source in Iran with knowledge of the deal told Iran’s Tasnim news agency that if the US continues creating obstacles, there will be “no possibility of finalising the memorandum of understanding”. Reuters also reported that Tehran had not agreed to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile, saying it was not part of the initial agreement. “The nuclear issue will be addressed in negotiations for a final agreement and is therefore not part of the current deal. There has been no agreement over Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile to be shipped out of the country,” it reported. Axios, an American news website, quoting a senior US official, claimed that the Iran deal could take days to finalise. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared hopeful for the announcement of a deal on Sunday, but by the time this paper went to press, such an agreement eluded the negotiators. “I do think perhaps there is the possibility that in the next few hours the world will get some good news,” he told reporters in New Delhi. The agreement would also start a “process that can ultimately leave us where the president wants us to be, and that is a world that no longer has to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon”, he added. “Some progress has been made in the past 48 hours on an outline that could resolve the Strait of Hormuz situation,” he said, adding that more work was needed. Later, he told The New York Times that an agreement with Iran had garnered regional support, but a nuclear deal couldn’t be achieved “in 72 hours on the back of a napkin”. A day earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Saturday that “the trend this week has been towards a reduction in disputes, but there are still issues that need to be discussed through mediators”. Mr Baghaei said the issue of the US blockade on Iran’s shipping was important, but that its priority was ending the threat of new US attacks and the parallel conflict in Lebanon. A potential MoU between Iran and the United States includes an end of the war on all fronts, with Washington waiving sanctions on Iran oil during negotiations, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Iran has not yet accepted any actions on its nuclear programme, Tasnim added, saying the potential agreement allocates a 30-day period for procedures related to the Strait of Hormuz and a 60-day period for nuclear talks. Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026
The United States and Iran appear closer than ever to a deal that would end a war that has engulfed the Middle East and disrupted the global oil market. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the world might “get some good news” soon after President Donald Trump announced an agreement had been “largely negotiated” and would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Before Trump’s announcement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei spoke of “a trend towards rapprochement” with Washington, but warned that “it does not necessarily mean that we and the United States will reach an agreement on the important issues.” He said on state television that Iran’s “intention was first to draft a memorandum of understanding, a kind of framework agreement,” before a final deal is reached within 30 to 60 days. What do we know about the possible agreement? Nuclear question Baqaei said that the nuclear issue was not be part of an initial framework. It will rather be “subject to separate discussions” at a later stage. But the New York Times, citing two unnamed American officials, said a key element of the proposed agreement was an apparent commitment by Tehran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.” The question of how Iran would do so would be discussed in “later round of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme,” according to the paper. But Iran’s Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported that Iran made no commitments regarding its nuclear programme. “Iran has made no commitment in this agreement to hand over nuclear stockpiles, remove equipment, shut down facilities, or even commit not to build a nuclear bomb,” Fars said. Both agencies said that nuclear-related issues would be negotiated within 60 days of the understanding being signed. How will Hormuz reopen? A key sticking point in the talks is traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global conduit for oil shipments that has come under Iranian control since the outbreak of the war. Iran has insisted that vessels must obtain permission from its armed forces. Trump said on Saturday that “in addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened,” a development that would bring relief to global energy markets. But, Fars news agency said that, if finalised, the potential agreement would preserve Iran’s management over the strategic waterway. Tasnim reported that “the status of the Strait of Hormuz would not revert to its pre-war situation.” It added that “the naval blockade, according to the reported framework, would also need to be fully lifted within 30 days,” referring to the US blockade of Iranian ports. Funds and sanctions Iran has long demanded the release of its frozen assets held under longstanding US sanctions. According to Tasnim, “Iran has insisted that any initial understanding must be conditional on at least partial access to the assets.” It quoted an informed source as saying that Iran “has stressed that there will be no agreement unless a specified portion of Iran’s frozen assets is released at the very first stage”. A clear mechanism must also be “established to guarantee the continued release of all blocked funds”. Tasnim’s source warned that “disagreements over this matter are among the reasons why no final understanding has yet been reached”. According to Fars, a potential understanding would also see the US temporarily lifting sanctions on oil, gas, and petrochemicals during the negotiation period. Is Lebanon included? Israel has been carrying out daily strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, saying it is targeting the group Hezbollah. Iran has previously said that any ceasefire must apply to all fronts of the regional war, including Lebanon, and Hezbollah has said it is confident that its ally will not abandon it. Tasnim reported that “a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would first be announced, stressing an end to fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” “Under the arrangement, Israel, as a US ally, would also be expected to halt the war in Lebanon,” it added. Baqaei told state television that “at this stage, we will not discuss the details of the nuclear issue … we have decided to prioritise an urgent issue for all of us: ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon”.
Iran, too, said they are working with the US to finalise MoU on ending the war.
«Un accord a été largement négocié et reste à finaliser entre les États-Unis d’Amérique, la République islamique d’Iran et les différents autres pays mentionnés», a écrit sur Truth Social le président des États-Unis.
Munir met senior Iranian officials on Saturday as Islamabad and Doha push to finalise a memorandum to end the war.
Framed under Section 33 and other relevant provisions of the Act, the draft rules have been placed in the public domain to facilitate wider stakeholder consultation before they are finalised
LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered imposition of a Rs50,000 fine for throwing animal waste and offal in streets, on roads, into drains and canals during Eid days. The CM directed the administrative and police officers across Punjab on Friday to remain in the field during Eidul Azha days, as the provincial government finalised extensive arrangements for security, cleanliness and public facilitation during the holidays. Chairing a video-link meeting on Eidul Azha arrangements here, the chief minister issued guidelines to all deputy commissioners and district police officers, warning that negligence or poor implementation of orders would not be tolerated. She also directed strict enforcement of the restriction on sale of sacrificial animals at non-designated places instead of cattle markets and action against illegal livestock trading in unauthorised areas. The meeting was informed that digital monitoring and vigilance operations would be carried out at cattle markets, while strict security arrangements would be ensured to prevent incidents of cattle theft and robbery. She directed the authorities to ensure enforcement of the bans on hide collection by the banned organisations and loudspeakers use at hide-collection camps. Special security measures and continuous combing operations have been ordered in sensitive areas, while instructions also issued to strictly enforce the ban on display of weapons and aerial firing. The chief minister further directed the authorities to spray Eidgahs and mosques with rose water and ensure cleanliness in railway colonies, cantonment areas and private housing societies. She also ordered uninterrupted water supply during Eid holidays, display of fare lists at bus stands and inside buses, and covering of dumping sites near airports. The meeting decided to ban temporary swings across the province, while authorities were instructed to conduct safety and security checks of amusement rides installed in parks. Directions were also issued for cyber patrolling to curb hate material on social media. All DCs and DPOs participating in the meeting were instructed to ensure strict implementation of Eid SOPs, with warning of action in case of non-compliance. BIODIVERSITY DAY: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Friday the protection of forests and wildlife was essential for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring the survival of life on the Earth. In her message on International Day for Biological Diversity, the chief minister says biodiversity forms the basis of life on the planet and preserving the natural environment is a shared national responsibility. She says effective and sustainable measures are being taken in the province for the protection of endangered species and conservation of the ecosystem. Ms Nawaz says a special force and helpline have been made operational to prevent illegal hunting. She adds that for the first time in Punjab, women have also been inducted into the regular wildlife force. The chief minister says the wildlife helpline 1107 has been activated for complaints and assistance, adding that modern systems and GPS trackers have also been introduced for wildlife monitoring and census operations. She stresses that creating public awareness about the importance of natural resources and preventing environmental degradation is imperative. Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026
The European Union has struck a provisional agreement on legislation to remove import duties on US goods, a key part of the trade deal reached with Washington last July, in a move likely to avert higher US tariffs on EU products.
The Bank of England and Prudential Regulation Authority have finalised a package of changes to firms’ resolution reporting and disclosure requirements which reduces the burden of regulation while maintaining a robust and credible regime that supports growth and competition.
Green notices cover significant and/or significant proposals for Bank of England reporting. If any of these proposals are finalised and are to be implemented, they will appear in a statistical notice.