Blaze News - Pakistan

At least 139 migrants, including 15 children, have died and more than 116 are missing after a boat carrying ​about 305 people capsized while sailing from Djibouti to Yemen, the ‌United Nations International Organisation for Migration said on Sunday. The boat capsized near Guhere, north of Obock — a port town in Djibouti — during the night of 8–9 October, the IOM said, ​citing survivor accounts. More than 80 people survived the shipwreck, all Ethiopian nationals, ​the statement said. A spokesperson for the Ethiopian government did not ⁠immediately respond to requests for comment. Among the 139 bodies recovered after the ​boat capsized, 52 are men, 42 women and 15 children including nine girls and ​six boys, the IOM said. The death toll from the #Djibouti shipwreck has risen to 139, with 84 people still missing. As search and recovery efforts continue, IOM is providing emergency assistance to survivors. Every life lost is one too many. Read the latest ...

Pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in London on Saturday to mark the third anniversary of the start of Israel’s genocidal attacks on Gaza, demanding that the government impose a total sanctions regime on Israel. Gathering at Embankment, hundreds of thousands of people marched towards Downing Street, where the prime minister's office is located, to call for an end to the genocide and a full arms embargo on Israel. Carrying Palestinian flags, the crowd held several signs in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Some read: "Israel targets children", "Free Palestine" and "Stop the genocide". They also shouted pro-Palestine slogans, including "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." In a post on X, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said: "We demand our government sanction the whole state of Israel and implement a full arms embargo." Now: Tens of thousands on the streets of London for Pale...

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police on Saturday warned citizens against participating in unlawful gatherings, saying those involved in vandalism, violence and disrupting law and order would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. The guidelines came as the threat of governor's rule looms over the province amid intense friction between the Centre and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on the issue of terrorism in the province and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's long march to Islamabad. The police issued written operational guidelines for dealing with riots and protests, stating that damage to government installations, buildings and property would not be permitted during any demonstration. Read: PM Shehbaz, President Zardari discuss overall situation amid intense tensions between Centre, K-P The guidelines warned that those participating in unlawful gatherings, violent activities or acts of provocation would face strict legal action. Action would also be taken in acc...

On the International Day of the Girl, coming up on October 11 (tomorrow), we are reminded of a simple but often overlooked truth: girls' rights cannot be separated from their right to childhood. This year's theme, "End Child Marriage. Invest in Girls' Rights", asks us to look beyond the progress we celebrate and confront the gaps that still shape millions of girls' lives. It ends with leaving school, being married too young or becoming a mother before the age of 18. We often tell girls they can become whatever they aspire to be, but what about those who are never given the space to aspire at all? Before we ask what a girl can become, we must first ask whether she has been given the freedom to imagine what she could be. According to UNICEF, around 650 million girls globally are living with the consequences of being married before the age of 18, while Pakistan is home to an estimated 19 million child brides. Child marriage remains one of the most painful m...

The federal government on Friday decreased the price of petrol by 66 paisas per litre, while increasing the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by 52 paisas per litre till October 12. According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, the price of petrol was fixed at Rs398.3 per litre, while HSD would cost Rs396.24 per litre from October 10 to October 12. The latest revision comes a day after the government increased the price of petrol and HSD by Rs2.31 and 78 paisas per litre, respectively, for October 9.  On July 17, the government announced a new pricing mechanism under which petroleum product prices would be reviewed and notified daily, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continued to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies. On September 13, PM Shehbaz announced a special relief scheme offering Rs100 per litre off petrol ...

Shamoon Abbasi has questioned veteran actor Shaan Shahid’s stance on social media personalities entering the film industry, arguing that it is too early to determine whether TikTokers can build lasting careers in cinema. The comments came after Shaan questioned whether social media fame could translate into a sustainable career in acting and filmmaking. He argued that online popularity could be temporary and that digital creators entering showbiz would need to learn the craft if they wanted to remain relevant in the long term. Shamoon questioned whether established figures should dismiss newcomers before audiences have had the chance to see what they can bring to the industry. In a video shared on Instagram, Abbasi addressed Shaan respectfully, making it clear that his comments were directed at the subject of the debate rather than the veteran actor personally. Referring to Shaan’s argument that TikTokers making films could prevent the industry from progressing, Sha...