Channel News Asia
중도 성향
IT/기술
"OPTIMISM" · 총 96건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.3
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 88,840건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.2(균형)입니다. 긍정 4,410건(5.0%)·중립 82,261건(92.6%)·부정 2,169건(2.4%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 14.7(중도 균형)입니다.
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement with India soon, stating that the previous trade imbalance has now reversed. Both nations have been engaged in constructive negotiations, aiming to finalize an interim trade pact while broader discussions continue. Despite ongoing talks, concerns remain regarding potential US tariffs on imports from several economies, including India.
Wall Street advanced on Thursday as progress toward ending the Iran war buoyed investor sentiment, while disappointing results from Broadcom led a chip selloff that held the Nasdaq's gains in check.The blue-chip Dow surged, hitting a record closing high with a boost from healthcare and financial stocks.The S&P 500 posted more muted gains, while the Nasdaq ended essentially unchanged. Chipmaker Broadcom missed revenue expectations, sending its shares tumbling and casting a pall over the AI frenzy, which has sent chip stocks soaring so far this year."About the only blemish on the market at this point is Broadcom, and I think investors are buying the dip," said Paul Nolte, senior wealth adviser and market strategist at Murphy & Sylvest in Elmhurst, Illinois. "I don't think investors have given up on chips yet, but what they've yet to come to grips with, 'Is this real? Are these valuations legitimate?' I'm not sure yet that investors have really questioned that." The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure on Wednesday that would block President Donald Trump from continuing the war on Iran. Additionally, a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, an essential condition of an Iranian agreement to a peace deal, bolstered optimism of a near-term resolution to the war. But the truce was rejected by the pro-Iran Hezbollah, which said it would not withdraw troops from Lebanon.A drop in front-month crude futures reflected hopes that tanker traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz could shortly resume."How many deals have we had? It's always right around the corner, a corner we've yet to reach," Nolte added. "Things are moving, but are they moving at a pace that's going to allow the world to get back to what passes for normal in a few weeks, a few months, or maybe sometime next year?"On the economic front, initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose 6.1%, and first-quarter labor costs and productivity were revised sharply lower. A report from Challenger, Gray and Christmas showed layoffs announced by U.S. corporations jumped 11% in May to 97,006. Nearly 40% of those layoffs were attributed to AI.According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 31.14 points, or 0.41%, to end at 7,584.82 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 19.72 points, or 0.07%, to 26,834.26. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 875.09 points, or 1.73%, to 51,562.16.Chipmaker Marvell Technology gained, while Advanced Micro Devices, Micron Technology and Qualcomm lost ground on the day.The healthcare sector got a boost from UnitedHealth after Bank of America raised its rating on the healthcare conglomerate's shares to "buy."The financial index's rebound followed a sharp selloff in the previous session due to revived concerns over private credit. Blackstone shares advanced after it became the latest asset manager to cap withdrawals from its flagship private credit fund following a rise in redemption requests. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike slumped after reporting an increase in quarterly operating expenses. An investor roadshow for Elon Musk-led SpaceX began on Thursday ahead of its market debut on June 12. It aims to raise $75 billion in a record IPO that would value it at $1.75 trillion.
Mindless optimism is the only antidote to rational despair.
Snow arrives in time for the start of ski season, but climate change and El Niño mean it may not stick around for long, experts say Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast There was optimism across Australian alpine resorts this week as their social media channels filled with footage of snow flurries that arrived just in time for the opening of the ski season this weekend. “We couldn’t be more excited,” said the Instagram account of Perisher, the southern hemisphere’s biggest ski resort in Kosciuszko national park in New South Wales, as hands swept the fresh snow from outdoor tables. Continue reading...
Recent reports suggesting that Iraqi militias are preparing to disarm have generated optimism in Washington. If true, it would represent a significant step toward restoring state authority and reducing the influence of armed groups that have operated outside government control for years. The problem is there is little evidence that genuine disarmament is actually taking […]
Traders in Reliance Industries Ltd.’s treasury department are strategizing over where to park the company’s cash in case the Reserve Bank of India starts raising interest rates in the coming months.One proposal involves moving Reliance’s cash holdings from liquid mutual funds into short-dated money market instruments, people aware of the conglomerate’s thinking said. The switch may pay off because the yield spread between money-market papers and the benchmark rate has widened beyond its five-year average and is likely to narrow in the coming months, resulting in capital gains, the people said, asking not to be named as the information is private. Markets are currently expecting about 50 basis points of rate hikes this year, they said.Traders also mulled reducing allocation to longer-dated bonds, which tend to be more sensitive to interest-rate changes, the people said.The strategy discussion cited market expectations and the conglomerate didn’t take an explicit view on interest rates. Treasury departments typically consider a range of market scenarios when evaluating trading strategies.“We categorically deny the information you have provided in your email regarding our opinion on interest rates and the behaviour of the rupee,” a Reliance spokesperson said by email.131502003India's Overnight Swaps Reflect RBI Rate HikesThe view carries weight because Reliance runs one of the largest corporate treasuries in India. The discussion also come ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s rate decision on Friday, where the central bank is expected to announce measures to support the rupee.While most economists — 29 out of 35 — surveyed by Bloomberg News expect the authority to keep the benchmark rate unchanged, they see the RBI adopting a hawkish stance to prepare markets for potential rate hikes later this year amid inflation pressures triggered by an oil price shock.India’s sovereign bond yields have remained broadly stable this quarter even as the rupee has slid to record lows. The currency has recovered in recent days, helped by RBI intervention and optimism that a US and Iran agreement may lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for the country’s energy imports.The rupee is down 6% this year and recently approached a record low of 97 per dollar. It has been hovering around 95-96 levels in recent days.Reliance’s traders expect the rupee to strengthen if a Middle East peace deal is reached and if the RBI takes measures to attract capital inflows, one of the people said. They have proposed that the owner of world’s largest oil-refining complex partly hedge its long-term forward contract positions as well as coupon payments dues in fiscal year starting March 2028, the person said.
Een groep wetenschappers heeft in Angola tientallen diersoorten ontdekt die nog niet wetenschappelijk bekend waren. De groep van organisatie The Wilderness Project deed in februari onderzoek op het Lisima-plateau, een hoogland in het oosten van Angola. Vanwege aanhoudende burgeroorlog, de aanwezigheid van landmijnen en omdat het gebied lastig te bereiken is, werd er nog weinig onderzoek gedaan. Tijdens de expeditie werden onder meer acht nog niet beschreven libellesoorten gevonden, drie nieuwe sprinkhaansoorten en ongeveer zestig motten- en vlindersoorten die tot nu toe nog onbekend waren voor de wetenschap. Verwacht wordt dat nog meer nieuwe soorten worden ontdekt, omdat nog meerdere insecten nader worden onderzocht. Fluorescerend Onder de nieuwe soorten zijn onder meer een gepantserde roofkrekel, een nog niet beschreven koperkleurige rups en de volwassen vlindervorm daarvan en een krabspin die onder ultraviolet licht fluorescerend is (op de foto boven het artikel te zien). Een andere soort die werd ontdekt was een wielwebspin die er met zijn rode tint uitziet als een lieveheersbeestje waardoor andere dieren denken dat deze soort giftig is om te eten. Enkele van de nieuw ontdekte dierensoorten: "De gepantserde krekels zijn erg gaaf. Ze zien er heel stoer uit," zegt expeditieleider Rob Taylor tegen persbureau Reuters. "Als verdedigingsmechanisme kunnen ze zelfs vloeistof spuiten op iedereen die ze probeert aan te vallen." De onderzoekers waken voor te veel optimisme over het voortbestaan van de dieren. Overal ter wereld verdwijnen in rap tempo diersoorten door menselijke activiteiten. Volgens onderzoeker Taylor worden de diersoorten op het Lisima-plateau bedreigd door het kappen van bomen, ontbossing en kleinschalige diamantmijnbouw.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday vowed to address resettlement concerns of those affected by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam on an “immediate basis” if his party emerges victorious in the June 7 polls. Bilawal made the declaration while addressing a rally in Diamer, as the PPP and other political parties have, over the past few days, ramped up efforts to garner support ahead of the polls. Addressing the rally, the Bhutto scion asserted that the project saw “great progress” during the PPP’s tenure. He added that had President Asif Ali Zardari’s government not been removed in 2013, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam would have been built by now. The PPP chairman lamented that it was “unfortunate” that affected citizens of the region had not had their resettlement issues addressed. “I would like to promise you that after June 7 — when PPP forms government in GB — we will ensure that the work is [completed] and as far as resettlement is concerned, we will address it on an immediate basis,” Bilawal said. He urged the Centre to prioritise the construction of the dam. “This is not only the right of the people of Diamer, but it is a necessity for Pakistan,” the PPP chairman said. “No project is more important for Pakistan at the moment than the Diamer-Bhasha Dam,” Bilawal emphasised, calling on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to expedite work on the project. “We have heard of your ‘Shehbaz speed’ in Lahore [..] please show your ‘Shehbaz speed’ to the people of Diamer as well and ensure that the project is completed,” Bilawal quipped. In April, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam land-affected committee, under the ‘Huqooq Do, Dam Banao’ (ensure rights, build the dam) movement, staged a sit-in in the Chilas and Thore areas of Diamer that lasted several days, over the non-implementation of a 2025 agreement on compensation for those affected by the construction of the dam, among other demands. Bilawal calls on GB to elect jiyala CM Bilawal claimed that PPP was the “sole political party which was looking out for the interest of the people of GB and had the people’s faith”. “On June 7, the people of GB will demonstrate their power and elect a jiyala chief minister,” Bilawal said. Outlining PPP’s contributions towards the region, Bilawal recalled that it was his father, President Zardari, who “gave GB its current identity as the region was referred to as Northern Areas before”. Taking note of the regional crisis, Bilawal stressed that Pakistan needed a government “like PPP who can look the world in the eye”, adding that they were only able to do so as the party was the “true representative of the Pakistani people”. He called on the people of GB to “struggle against these difficult times and ensure the formation of a PPP government in the region”. At this, Bilawal also voiced optimism that the country will see similar results in the next general elections. The PPP chairman reiterated his support for “securing GB’s constitutional rights,” stressing that Islamabad must understand that “Pakistan can only prosper if the people of GB prosper”. He vowed that with the party’s public-private partnership initiatives, “not only will you fulfil your own energy requirements but also sell it to the rest of the country”. “I am not here to air any grievances; it is not in our nature. Why was the Quaid-i-Awam (former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) hanged or why my mother (former prime minister Benazir Bhutto) was martyred [..] have you ever heard me complain? or why was my father was imprisoned for 14 years [..] we are not the kind to complain; we only know how to take back our rights. So support me, and I will not disappoint you,” Bilawal told the rally. The PPP chairman also took a jibe at the ruling ally PML-N, wondering why the “rest of the political parties campaigning in GB looked so worried”. “Throwing money at things might work in Lahore, but not in GB; the people here are honourable and cannot be bought,” he quipped. “Many political parties make claims that they have carried out considerable development work in their provinces; I would like to tell you that whatever you have been able to do was because of President Zardari”. He recalled that President Zardari was responsible for the 18th Amendment, which enabled greater provincial development. “If they were able to build metros or run trains in any city, it was because of the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award, which enabled provinces to secure the resources needed for such development projects,” Bilawal said. First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari also addressed an election rally in the region, calling on people to support the PPP and stressing that the party’s electoral symbol, the arrow, was “a symbol of rights, betterment, power and hope for the poor, and the identity of democracy”. Expressing support for her brother’s vision, Aseefa said a PPP-led government would create opportunities for the youth, including quality educational institutions, IT parks, improved internet connectivity and employment. “We want every youth of GB to see a bright future, for everyone to have access to healthcare, and for every child to be educated,” she said.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa voiced strong optimism that stricter enforcement of natural resource export ...
"I am not the most optimistic person," Dr. Deepika Chopra told Fortune. But that's different from understanding how optimism works.
ISLAMABAD: Only two in 10 Pakistanis surveyed believe the country is on the right track, with optimism higher among some groups, a survey conducted by market research company Ipsos shows. Men are more optimistic than women, while rural residents show more optimism than those in urban areas. Of the four provinces, respondents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the most optimistic about Pakistan’s economy. The survey also found that confidence in the country’s direction has fallen to 22pc, following a 40pc peak earlier this year amid US–Iran tensions. The drop indicates a sharp reversal of recent gains, returning to levels broadly comparable with the Covid-19 period. The survey, conducted last month, included interviews with more than 1,000 people from all four provinces of Pakistan, as well as Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The most pressing issues mentioned in the survey include economic anxiety, unemployment and inflation. When asked about the current state of the economy, only one in five respondents said the economy was strong. Among respondents, men were more optimistic than women, and young people were more optimistic than older people. Furthermore, residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan were more optimistic than those in Punjab. Respondents identifying as lower-middle-income also showed more optimism than those in other income groups. As many as 7pc of respondents said they feel comfortable making household purchases, with comfort higher among young people, the upper-middle class, urban residents and respondents in Sindh. The level of comfort with household purchases has returned to Covid-era levels after a period of stabilisation amid global economic pressures. The survey shows that only two in 10 respondents expect the economy to strengthen, with optimism concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, affluent areas, rural areas and among older respondents. “Expectations for the economy have declined as rising economic pressures drive a gradual return of pessimism. Personal financial optimism has fallen to 31pc amid weaker sentiment and continued sensitivity to geopolitical shocks such as US–Iran tensions,” it stated. It also found that confidence in personal financial situations has fallen to 31pc, with relatively higher optimism among youth, men, rural residents, respondents in Punjab and Balochistan, and upper-income groups. “Confidence in investment remains low at 14pc after a period of stabilisation, with higher optimism among the upper-middle class, respondents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and among men. Comfort in making major purchases remains low at 5pc, stabilising after earlier gains during and after the Pakistan–India conflict,” it said. The findings show that only one in five Pakistanis feel secure in their jobs, with higher confidence among men, young people, mid-career cohorts and rural residents. Job security confidence, which had nearly doubled over the past two years, has now fallen to 17pc amid US–Iran tensions.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday vowed to address resettlement concerns of those affected by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam on an “immediate basis” if his party emerges victorious in the June 7 polls. Bilawal made the declaration while addressing a rally in Diamer, as the PPP and other political parties have, over the past few days, ramped up efforts to garner support ahead of the polls. Addressing the rally, the Bhutto scion asserted that the project saw “great progress” during the PPP’s tenure. He added that had President Asif Ali Zardari’s government not been removed in 2013, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam would have been built by now. The PPP chairman lamented that it was “unfortunate” that affected citizens of the region had not had their resettlement issues addressed. “I would like to promise you that after June 7 — when PPP forms government in GB — we will ensure that the work is [completed] and as far as resettlement is concerned, we will address it on an immediate basis,” Bilawal said. He urged the Centre to prioritise the construction of the dam. “This is not only the right of the people of Diamer, but it is a necessity for Pakistan,” the PPP chairman said. “No project is more important for Pakistan at the moment than the Diamer-Bhasha Dam,” Bilawal emphasised, calling on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to expedite work on the project. “We have heard of your ‘Shehbaz speed’ in Lahore [..] please show your ‘Shehbaz speed’ to the people of Diamer as well and ensure that the project is completed,” Bilawal quipped. In April, the Diamer-Bhasha Dam land-affected committee, under the ‘Huqooq Do, Dam Banao’ (ensure rights, build the dam) movement, staged a sit-in in the Chilas and Thore areas of Diamer that lasted several days, over the non-implementation of a 2025 agreement on compensation for those affected by the construction of the dam, among other demands. Bilawal calls on GB to elect jiyala CM Bilawal claimed that PPP was the “sole political party which was looking out for the interest of the people of GB and had the people’s faith”. “On June 7, the people of GB will demonstrate their power and elect a jiyala chief minister,” Bilawal said. Outlining PPP’s contributions towards the region, Bilawal recalled that it was his father, President Zardari, who “gave GB its current identity as the region was referred to as Northern Areas before”. Taking note of the regional crisis, Bilawal stressed that Pakistan needed a government “like PPP who can look the world in the eye”, adding that they were only able to do so as the party was the “true representative of the Pakistani people”. He called on the people of GB to “struggle against these difficult times and ensure the formation of a PPP government in the region”. At this, Bilawal also voiced optimism that the country will see similar results in the next general elections. The PPP chairman reiterated his support for “securing GB’s constitutional rights,” stressing that Islamabad must understand that “Pakistan can only prosper if the people of GB prosper”. He vowed that with the party’s public-private partnership initiatives, “not only will you fulfil your own energy requirements but also sell it to the rest of the country”. “I am not here to air any grievances; it is not in our nature. Why was the Quaid-i-Awam (former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) hanged or why my mother (former prime minister Benazir Bhutto) was martyred [..] have you ever heard me complain? or why was my father was imprisoned for 14 years [..] we are not the kind to complain; we only know how to take back our rights. So support me, and I will not disappoint you,” Bilawal told the rally. The PPP chairman also took a jibe at the ruling ally PML-N, wondering why the “rest of the political parties campaigning in GB looked so worried”. “Throwing money at things might work in Lahore, but not in GB; the people here are honourable and cannot be bought,” he quipped. “Many political parties make claims that they have carried out considerable development work in their provinces; I would like to tell you that whatever you have been able to do was because of President Zardari”. He recalled that President Zardari was responsible for the 18th Amendment, which enabled greater provincial development. “If they were able to build metros or run trains in any city, it was because of the 18th Amendment and the NFC Award, which enabled provinces to secure the resources needed for such development projects,” Bilawal said. First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari also addressed an election rally in the region, calling on people to support the PPP and stressing that the party’s electoral symbol, the arrow, was “a symbol of rights, betterment, power and hope for the poor, and the identity of democracy”. Expressing support for her brother’s vision, Aseefa said a PPP-led government would create opportunities for the youth, including quality educational institutions, IT parks, improved internet connectivity and employment. “We want every youth of GB to see a bright future, for everyone to have access to healthcare, and for every child to be educated,” she said.
Foreign investors and major Wall Street banks exited their positions ahead of the 2025 election cycle – now they’re returning amid rumours of reclassification and market optimism. Leer más
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he had lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the latter’s escalation in Lebanon in a recent expletive-laden phone call. On Monday, American news outlet Axios reported citing sources that Trump called Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of ingratitude during the phone call. The report quoted a US official as saying that Trump told Netanyahu “you’re f****** crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this”. Trump confirmed to New York Post’s Miranda Devine during ‘Pod One Force’ podcast that he called Netanyahu “f****** crazy”, but also insisted that they have “worked very well together”. Asked if the Axios report was true and whether he spoke to Netanyahu in those terms, Trump replied, “I did. I wouldn’t say angry, I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon. “At some point, I said Bibi, we’re gonna stop this. We got to stop it,” he added. At the same time, Trump said, “But I have a very good relationship. […] We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” Trump insisted after confirming his expletive-laden outburst demanding that Netanyahu cease attacks. “I’m a wartime president,” the commander in chief said. “He’s a wartime prime minister.” Trump further said that although he was frustrated by the possibility of Lebanon-Israel conflict derailing a larger peace, he remained optimistic about having a deal with Iran “fairly quickly”. The delicate diplomatic process keeping hopes for peace between Iran and the US seemed to teeter on Monday after Tehran and Washington offered diverging assessments of the status of negotiations, with Israel’s expanding front in Lebanon proving to be the main spoiler. The US-Iran conflict is currently stalemated in a shaky ceasefire more than three months after initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran. After Netanyahu ordered attacks on Beirut on Monday, Tehran said it considered the ceasefire violated “on all fronts” and accused the US of violating the truce. Iran also said it had suspended indirect negotiations with the US. The announcement was initially shrugged off by Trump, but he alter moved to allay Iranian concerns over Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Not only did he speak to his ally Netanyahu, but he also claimed to have exchanged views with Hezbollah through intermediaries — a first for a US president — to stop the fighting. “There will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way have already been turned back”, he posted on Truth Social, adding that Hezbollah had also agreed to stop attacking Israel. Trump voiced optimism regarding talks with Iran during his interview with The Post, saying that they were “rapidly evolving”. He also insisted that Iran was not going to have a nuclear weapon and “lots of other good things are going to happen”. Since mid-March, Trump has repeatedly said he is close to a deal to end the fighting and allow negotiators to tackle thorny issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has said his top priority is to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran denies it is developing a nuclear bomb and says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes. Trump also said during the interview that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was “involved, absolutely” on decisions to end the war. “I’d like to meet him,” he said, adding that the two would “probably meet at some point, depending on how it all works out”. Moreover, he said that gas prices in the United States would come down when the Iran conflict ends and that inflation at the moment is not “very much”. “We don’t have very much inflation. Look, if you take away just the price of gasoline, the energy, we have very little inflation,” Trump said.
In ihrem neuesten Wirtschaftsausblick geht die OECD von einer Abschwächung der Konjunktur aus - auch in Deutschland. Sie kritisiert den Tankrabatt, sieht aber auch Anlass zum Optimismus.
Was, wenn kein Besserer kommt? Was, wenn Kevin wirklich der Beste war, der dir jemals über den Weg laufen wird? Nach einer schmerzhaften Trennung gibt es etwas, was nachhaltiger wirkt als Optimismus.
US CMS administrator Mehmet Oz expressed optimism for the Kenya Ebola facility despite court delays and highlighted the need for proximity to healthcare.
Protesting employees participate in a meeting at the University of Karachi.—Dawn KARACHI: Despite intervention by the provincial authorities, strong opposition from teachers to signing any agreement that does not include a firm commitment to immediate financial relief compelled the Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) to continue its protest, including the boycott of semester examinations on the campus. The unanimous decision was taken at the Kuts general body meeting held on Tuesday. Sources said the meeting was held against the backdrop of a recently released notification from the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC), following a meeting of the education commission’s head with the representatives of Kuts, Officers Welfare Association (OWA) and Employees Welfare Association (EWA) on June 1. The notification said that a six-member committee, led by the chairperson of the SHEC and comprising the secretary of the universities and boards department, secretary of SHEC, president Kuts, presidents EWA and OWA, had been set up to look into the issues being faced by KU employees. SHEC forms six-member body to look into issues being faced by varsity employees The notification also said that the representatives of Kuts, EWA and OWA had decided “that the ongoing boycott of exams shall be withdrawn with immediate effect. The university administration shall make necessary arrangements for rescheduling the affected examinations and notify the revised examination schedule accordingly.” The committees’ terms of reference included the responsibilities to examine the issues and grievances of the teaching and non-teaching staff, review the relevant rules, policies, financial implications and administrative matters pertaining to the issues under consideration and hold consultations with all stakeholders. “The committee will finalise its recommendations within 40 days,” the notification said. However, at the Kuts general body meeting, the majority of the teachers rejected the notification and questioned the SHEC’s leadership on the matter. Explaining Kuts’ position in the June 1 meeting and the notification, its president Dr Syed Ghufran Alam said that while they appreciated the steps taken by the SHEC and that the employees were always available for further dialogue, the decision for a boycott was made by the general body and that’s the only relevant forum to call it off. “During the meeting, we did express optimism that the general body might consider the proposal. The general body, however, didn’t approve it due to the (negative) environment created by the KU administration,” he said, adding that teachers were unwilling to show any flexibility unless their dues were paid. Sources also said that the employees’ frustration and resentment against the KU vice chancellor could be gauged from the fact that they didn’t agree with the SHEC’s proposal to let the KU vice chancellor participate in the June 1 meeting. It might be recalled that the KU teachers have been boycotting the semester exams since May 5 over non-payment of their dues for evening classes, copy checking, exam supervision, paper setting, exam vigilance, house ceiling and leave encashment among other things. Now joined by the non-teaching staff, they have called for an investigation into the financial crisis at the campus and refused to end the strike until the fulfilment of their demands. Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday told lawmakers that Iran had agreed to begin limited negotiations over its nuclear programme, marking what he described as a tentative but meaningful shift in Tehran’s posture as the United States-led conflict continues to destabilise the Middle East. Rubio said that Iran had also indicated interest in discussing parts of its nuclear programme that it had previously refused to engage on, but he cautioned that this did not ensure the negotiations would produce a deal to end the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. “They have agreed to negotiate aspects of their nuclear programme that just a month ago, just a year ago, they were refusing to even mention,” Rubio said. But he added that it’s “not a guarantee that ultimately it will lead to a deal that’s acceptable” by Congress. He said these negotiations had been made difficult by the instability of Iran’s leadership. He also stated that the Trump administration had not proposed sanctions relief in exchange for Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz, adding that any easing of sanctions would depend on Tehran meeting conditions tied to its nuclear programme. US officials have also indicated that discussions remain preliminary and highly conditional, with major unresolved issues tied to sanctions relief, nuclear enrichment limits, and regional security guarantees. Despite the fragile diplomatic opening, lawmakers remain sceptical that any durable agreement is within reach as fighting continues and ceasefire arrangements remain under strain. Rubio’s comments came as he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the first time since the outbreak of the Iran war, in a hearing dominated by questions over military escalation, diplomatic breakdowns, and the administration’s broader Middle East strategy. At the hearing, lawmakers questioned the administration for the first time since the start of the conflict, amid a faltering ceasefire and renewed uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This was a tense hearing on the State Department’s $36 billion budget request, as negotiations to end the three-month war in Iran continue to stall. The optimism projected last week by US President Donald Trump regarding a potential deal with Tehran has faded rapidly, after Iran suspended talks on Monday in protest over Israel’s continuing strikes in Lebanon, further complicating already fragile negotiations. Rubio is also scheduled to testify before the House of Representatives later on Tuesday, as the administration faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of the crisis and its broader Middle East strategy. As committee members indicated in their opening remarks, Iran dominated the proceedings, with lawmakers pressing the administration on military objectives, ceasefire enforcement, and the risk of wider regional escalation involving Lebanon, Israel, and Gulf shipping routes. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sharply criticised Rubio in her opening remarks, saying the administration had failed to provide Congress with requested information on changes to US troop posture in Europe, ongoing operations involving Iran, and American support for Ukraine. “When you do notify Congress, it’s to inform us of decisions you have already made,” she said. Shaheen also expressed concern about the depletion of US military stockpiles, particularly advanced weapons used in the Iran conflict. Committee Chair James E. Risch, a Republican, opened Tuesday’s hearing by noting that it was the first appearance by the secretary of state since the Iran war began. His remarks reflected growing unease among some Republican lawmakers over the administration’s practice of limiting congressional oversight of war-related decisions. Secretary Rubio entered the Senate briefing room as protesters shouted slogans urging him to “stop killing Cubans”. Rubio, who is of Cuban origin, was met with brief disruption as security removed the demonstrators from the room. The protesters also chanted “Let Cuba live!” and “Repent Marco Rubio. God will forgive you for your sins. Stop killing Cubans.” A small group of protesters gathered outside the briefing room was detained after continuing similar chants, including “Rubio lies. People with AIDS die” and “One child dies every 30 minutes”. Another small group of demonstrators, who were not arrested, later took seats at the back of the room.