Blaze News - Pakistan

Journalists and media personnel on Saturday warned that threats to journalism were increasingly shifting from physical violence to legal, regulatory and economic pressures. At an event hosted by the Institute of Business Administration Karachi’s Centre for Excellence in Journalism (IBA-CEJ) ahead of World Press Freedom Day, speakers said that in an era marked by misinformation and self-censorship, public interest journalism was more vital than ever to promote accountability and ensure an informed society. Opening the event, IBA-CEJ Director Shahzeb Jillani said the gathering was taking place at a "critical moment for press freedom globally", a concern also highlighted by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in its Press Freedom Index, which described 2026 as the worst year since records began. Read: Pakistan media freedoms face sharp decline “We are holding this event at a critical time, when press freedom is at its lowest around the world. Yet, we are here to ...

The three-day Karachi International Books and Technology Fair (KIBTF) kicked off at the Karachi Expo Centre on Friday. Educational technologies, STEM competitions and thought-provoking talk sessions are also part of the festival. Authors, publishers, innovators, startup founders and other experts are participating during the three-day festival. “Haprow”, a cute little robot, grabbed attention as it was fabricated in Pakistan with the efforts of the National Incubation Centre, Karachi. The AI-enabled robot helps children in learning and is designed to be a virtual friend for children with autism. Its different version is a disinfection robot that kills germs and pathogens with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Students in a competition at KIBTF. PHOTO: KIBTF Various new startups also showcased their digital products, offering 100% online classes with an effective learning feedback mechanism. An Islamabad-based company presented its school books with STEM learning t...

The Israeli army demolished a monastery and a school run by the Sisters of the Holy Saviour in the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun, the state National News Agency reported on Friday. 🔴 Israeli army demolished a monastery and a school run by the Sisters of the Holy Savior in the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun, local media reports https://t.co/RJqxiN6dwW pic.twitter.com/2T58ie8I6r — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) May 1, 2026 The school “was considered one of the most prominent educational institutions in the region”, having educated thousands of students over the years from various towns in the Bint Jbeil district, said the agency. Its targeting represents “a major loss at both the educational and social levels", it added. Israel has waged an offensive in Lebanon since March 2, killing more than 2,600 people and displacing over a million. A 10-day ceasefire that began on April 17 was later extended until May 17, but Israel continue...

United States President ​Donald Trump on Friday ‌said he would be increasing tariffs on cars and trucks ​from the European Union ​to 25%, saying the bloc had ⁠not complied with its ​trade deal. "Based on the ​fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed ​to trade deal, next ​week I will be increasing tariffs ‌charged ⁠to the European Union for cars and trucks coming into the United States," he ​wrote ​in ⁠a social media post. "It is fully understood ​and agreed that, if ​they ⁠produce cars and trucks in USA plants, there will ⁠be ​no tariff," Trump ​added. Read More: Trump's attacks on Europe's leaders worsen transatlantic frost In his post, Trump also emphasised manufacturing automobiles in the US. https://ift.tt/1tYZDcX “Many automobiles and truck plants are currently under construction, with over 100b dollars being invested," he added. Trump told reporters at the White House that the higher tariff woul...

Ever since the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out on February 28, Pakistan's efforts to advance mediation have been difficult to ignore. The federal government has shuttled multiple peace proposals between both capitals, stretched its diplomatic bandwidth to get conflicting parties to the negotiating table, and, despite limited success in early April talks in Islamabad, it continues to acquire considerable support from both Iran and the United States in brokering a consensus on the path to de-escalation. The value of having no skin in the game These dynamics merit a deeper understanding of what constitutes Pakistan's role as a pivotal mediator in the conflict and the drivers that propel it to that status. First, Islamabad does not carry some of the constraints associated with Gulf countries and traditional US-focused mediators. For instance, Islamabad does not host any US military bases, making it a critical player in earning the trust of Tehran, which has attacked Middle Eastern...

Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday announced that the federal cabinet approved Pakistan’s first-ever National Vaccine Policy, paving the way for local vaccine production in the country. The approval was granted during a meeting of the federal cabinet held in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. Speaking on the occasion, the minister termed the development a major milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system. He noted that the country had, until now, lacked a comprehensive national policy on vaccines, adding that the newly approved framework was developed through extensive consultations with key stakeholders to ensure a robust and sustainable approach. Kamal highlighted the role of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) in shaping the policy...