Blaze News - Pakistan

Rescue teams in Venezuela were losing hope ​on Tuesday of finding more survivors of twin earthquakes that struck the country last week, following hours of exhausting work searching for victims beneath the rubble of collapsed ‌buildings. Rescue teams from Ecuador and the US halted operations early on Tuesday in Macuto, a town in La Guaira state — the area hardest hit by the June 24 earthquakes — after more than 40 hours of work, when they stopped receiving responses from a mother and her three children trapped beneath a nine-story building. "In the end, we believe the days have already passed and that what we will find now is death," said Major Jorge Montanero, leader of the EQ11 team ​from Guayaquil, located on Ecuador's Pacific coast. Read More: 5 days after Venezuela's earthquakes, some communities still await help "Unfortunately, things haven't developed favourably," he said as he stood amid rubble after cutting through four c...

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful he will have Neymar available for more minutes in Monday's World Cup round of 32 fixture against Japan in Houston, and believes his Brazil side are ready for anything in what will be a tough knockout fixture. Neymar has ?been working his way back to fitness from a calf injury and managed a little over 15 minutes in the 3-0 victory over Scotland last time out. "In the last week his progress has been significant," Ancelotti told reporters on Sunday. "Unfortunately he could not play longer than 15 minutes before, but he is now doing well enough to play more." Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly clash in Tokyo in October, and Ancelotti said that game has given him excellent insight into what to expect in Houston, knowing that failure will send his side home early in the tournament. "It was a good experience to know that Japan are one of the best teams in the world," he said. "We have full respect for them and ...

Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored deep in injury time as Brazil beat a stubborn Japan 2-1 on Monday to roll into the World Cup last 16. Arsenal winger Martinelli struck in the 95th minute in Houston to break Japanese hearts in the most dramatic fashion. The five-time champions will face either the Ivory Coast or Norway in New Jersey on Sunday after edging a captivating knockout encounter. Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano scored a classy solo goal after 29 minutes following a Brazil mistake to stun the huge numbers of fans decked out in yellow. Carlo Ancelotti's men hit back 11 minutes after half-time with a header from veteran Casemiro as Brazil dominated the second period. Then up popped Martinelli right at the death to settle it and send the Brazil fans wild. History was against Japan: they had never won a knockout game at the World Cup while Brazil were record five-time champions. But this is not a vintage Brazil side, even with Ancelotti at the helm, while Japan have...

Some areas in Venezuela devastated by twin earthquakes last Wednesday have yet to receive government aid to help with ‌rescue and recovery efforts, residents in some hard-hit towns said on Monday. In El Junquito, a small mountainous region about 33 kilometres west of Caracas, where Venezuelans often vacation on weekends, residents say they have seen few public officials, while farmers and other residents have been providing basic supplies to the community. "We are waiting for answers, for debris to ​be cleaned up, for inspections, for people who have been really affected to be helped," said Keily Ibarra, a 33-year-old manicurist leading citizen ​complaints to authorities. She called on the government to do "what needs to be done." El Junquito's commercial centre was largely ⁠destroyed by the quakes, with collapsed buildings visible during a Reuters visit. Several residents with nowhere else to go have set up tents in an ​open field, despite the risk ...

Iran urged the US on Sunday to set a timetable for Israel’s “unconditional” withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories under a war-ending memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington. “Ending the war and military operations of the Zionist regime against Lebanon, as well as the withdrawal of occupiers from all occupied Lebanese territories, is a necessary condition for reaching a final and sustainable agreement to establish stability in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Bagaei said in a news briefing carried by ISNA News Agency. Bagaei said Tehran considered safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as “the dignity and security of all Lebanese people,” as “essential” for the durability of any agreement related to ending the war with the US. Read More: Iran's Khamenei says US-Israeli war crimes must be pursued vigorously in national, international c...

Austria has proposed that the European Union should consider hosting Anthropic within ​the bloc's borders in order to counter efforts ‌by the United States to block foreigners from using the AI company's most advanced models. In a letter to EU Technology Commissioner Henna ​Virkkunen released by the Austrian government, Austria's State ​Secretary for Digitalisation, Alexander Proell, wrote it was ⁠important that Europe was not cut off from major ​innovations. "Let us jointly explore the strategic establishment and participation of ​Anthropic within the European Union. With legal certainty, market access, capital and a set of values that suit this company," Proell ​said in the letter. Read More: Google limits Meta’s use of its Gemini AI models, FT reports He did not say how the ​step could be taken and acknowledged there would be scepticism about whether ‌it ⁠was possible. "The real question is not whether it is easy," Proell wrot...

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was seeking to arrange a visit to India by President Donald Trump early next year as the two countries work toward a bilateral trade deal, Indian news agency IANS reported on Saturday. Rubio told IANS he was likely to travel to India later this year to prepare for the president's visit, saying, "We're working towards sometime early next year to have the president come." Read More: Indian tech hub names road for Trump, drawing criticism from Modi's BJP Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Trump last week on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France, where Trump said they had a "very good" conversation. India has been pressing the US for months for a Trump visit, potentially as part of a meeting involving Japan and Australia. India-US ties have been strained over the past year after Washington imposed high tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil and i...

John Bolton, a ​former national security adviser for US President Donald Trump who has since become one of his fiercest critics, pleaded ‌guilty in federal court on Friday to mishandling classified information and faces up to five years in prison. “I’m sorry for it,” Bolton told US District Judge Theodore D. Chuang during the hearing. Reuters previously reported that Bolton would plead guilty under a deal with prosecutors that included a sentencing range from no prison time ​to as many as five years behind bars, with the final sentence to be determined by a judge. Read: Bolton to pay $2.25m in classified documents settlement As part of ​the agreement, Bolton agreed to pay a $2.25 million fine. Bolton, 77, must make half that payment within five ⁠days of sentencing and the full payment within 90 days of sentencing. He also committed to up to 100 hours of community service ​and to meet with intelligence and Justice Department officials for a debriefin...

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on Friday stressed the need to protect maritime corridors ​and ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait ‌of Hormuz in a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi. The exchange, reported by state news agency WAM, marks a rare ​public contact between Abu Dhabi and Tehran following ​tensions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. It ⁠was the first announced conversation between the two ministers ​since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which ​were followed by Iranian attacks across the Gulf, including in the United Arab Emirates, where the US has military bases. عبدالله بن زايد يتلقى اتصالا هاتفيا من معالي عباس عراقجي، وزير خارجية الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية جرى خلاله بحث التطورات الإقليمية، وذلك في أعقاب التوصل إلى اتفاق حول مذكرة التفاهم بين الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وإيران وتوقيع البلدين عليها، وشدد سموه على أهمية الالتزام الكامل… pic.twitter.com/8jetiba0MG — OFM (@OFMUAE) June 26, 2026 Sheikh ...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a Diaspora Doctor Locum Programme (DDLP) under which overseas Pakistani and foreign specialist doctors will perform advanced surgeries and provide medical services in 12 public sector hospitals across the province. Chairing a meeting of the Punjab Specialised Healthcare Department, the chief minister approved the launch of the programme aimed at bringing highly qualified international medical professionals to the province. A dashboard and operational web portal will also be established for the programme. The participants were informed that the inauguration of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology, Sargodha, was expected on July 15, the NS Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research on July 31 and the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore on August 15. The chief minister received detailed briefings regarding the progress on the institutes besides healthcare service delivery in the province. Under the locum programme, ...

European Union antitrust regulators said Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud computing services should be designated as “gatekeepers” under landmark tech rules, ​a step that would subject them to strict obligations aimed at curbing market ‌power. The designation under the Digital Markets Act would impose a set of obligations and bans on the world's two largest cloud providers, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, including limits on self-preferencing and ​requirements to ensure interoperability and data portability. So far, EU regulators have targeted core ​platform services such as search, social media and app stores to rein ⁠in Big Tech. Extending the DMA to cloud infrastructure would mark a significant expansion ​into a sector seen as critical to AI. The preliminary findings follow a seven-month-long investigation. "Cloud ​services have become a cornerstone of Europe’s economy — and a prerequisite for AI — with over half of...

A committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the controversial Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has proposed sweeping changes to the legislation, ruling out any access to or use of private property without the owner's consent and calling for clearer wording in several provisions to remove ambiguity. The development comes a week after the prime minister formed the committee following strong criticism from both government allies and opposition lawmakers, who demanded thorough scrutiny of the bill and amendments to its contentious clauses. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Wednesday, the committee reviewing the bill's Right of Way provisions submitted its interim report after conducting a detailed review of the proposed amendments and the existing legal framework governing Right of Way. Read More: PM forms committee to review contested telecom bill; directs proposals submission o...

Western Europe was in the grip of a heatwave on Wednesday that claimed ​dozens of lives, disrupted power supplies, shut schools and cultural landmarks, as forecasters warned the extreme temperatures could persist until the end of the week. Smashing previous records, Britain logged its ‌highest temperature for June, reaching 35.8 degrees Celsius (96.26 degrees Fahrenheit) in southern England as a heat dome hovered over much of Western Europe. Western Europe was in the grip of a heatwave on Wednesday that claimed ​dozens of lives, disrupted power supplies, shut schools and cultural landmarks, as forecasters warned the extreme temperatures could persist until the end of the week. A sign outside a pharmacy displays the 37-degree temperature in west London during a heatwave, in central London on June 24, 2026. Photo: AFP Smashing previous records, Britain logged its ‌highest temperature for June, reaching 35.8 degrees Celsius (96.26 degrees Fahrenheit...

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Tuesday vowed to proceed in accordance with the law if leaders of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) surrendered to authorities, while holding the group responsible for a series of violent attacks against law enforcement officials as well as public assets to destabilise law and order in the valley. For the last couple of years, the local administration and the JAAC have been at loggerheads over the abolishment of 12 reserved seats in the AJK Assembly allocated for the refugees hailing from the Indian-occupied Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947. Addressing a joint press conference, AJK Chief Secretary Flight Lieutenant (Retd) Khushal Khan and Inspector General of Police (IG) Captain (Retd) Liaqat Ali Malik outlined the government's stance on the law and order crisis in the valley that led to the negotiation deadlock. Appealing to the public, Khan urged citizens to avoid what he termed "misleading pro...

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington would negotiate and deal with Beirut directly, and that Lebanon-Israel negotiations were separate from the deal. “Well, that process is separate. It's separate because Lebanon is a sovereign country. It has a government, and when it comes to Lebanon … we're going to negotiate and deal directly with the Lebanese government,” Rubio told reporters after landing in Abu Dhabi. Rubio is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from June 23 to 25 to discuss regional security, following a memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran. “I spoke to President [Joseph)] Aoun, along with the vice president, a few moments ago, spoke to him on Friday. Their people are there now on the ground directly,” Rubio said. He said the “Iranian issue with regards to Lebanon” was “the support and sponsorship of Hezbollah”, w...

A United States F-15 pilot rescued after being shot down above Iran in April reported seeing an unusual “jellyfish” formation of Iranian drones before ejecting, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing sources. During a post-mission debrief, the pilot reportedly told intelligence officials he observed several drones moving together in a pattern resembling a “jellyfish”, sparking debate within the US intelligence community. If accurate, the sighting could indicate a significant advancement in Iran’s drone technology, said the report. One source familiar with the account described it as “multiple drones interconnected and moving as one with smaller drones below the bigger drones like legs.” The source added, “Real alien (expletive).” Read More: Iran says technical talks with US concluded in Switzerland Another source said the pilot saw a “minefield of drones” in the sky, according to the report. Investigators are still de...

Despite escalating hostilities across the Gulf region, more than 300,000 Pakistanis sought employment in Middle Eastern countries during the first five months of 2026 alone. Saudi Arabia absorbed over 143,000 workers, even as reports emerged of Iranian strikes targeting American facilities on its territory. Thousands more continued to queue outside the Dubai consulate in Karachi. For many, the danger was simply less frightening than the economic reality at home. On the other hand, the state takes comfort in these numbers. Remittances reached a record $4.2 billion in May, and total inflows for FY26 are expected to exceed $40 billion. These figures are routinely celebrated as signs of economic resilience. Yet behind them are millions of workers who only left because they had few alternatives. Their families live with constant uncertainty, their children spend months or years separated from them, and their safety in foreign lands can never be taken for granted. For decades, Pakista...

Owing to a sharp decline in global fuel prices, the government on Monday decided to discontinue fuel subsidies provided to motorcyclists, small farmers and public transport. The development comes after recent reductions in petroleum prices, under which petrol was cut by Rs74 per litre and diesel by Rs67 per litre, bringing them down to Rs299 per litre and Rs311 per litre respectively, following a decline in the international market after the US and Iran reached an agreement to end a conflict that had lasted over three months. The decision was taken during the seventh meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired the 7th meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy. The Committee reviewed the rollout of fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, small farmers, public transport & goods transport in...

From Shakira's timeless dancing to Messi's mesmerising dribbling to Ronaldo's mercurial habit of goal-scoring – all the world's eyes in June and July will be fixed on the 'football' – the ones made in Sialkot, Pakistan! Yes, the official ball of the 2026 World Cup, named "Trionda", designed by Adidas, is manufactured by a company named Forward Sports of Sialkot. And yes, the biggest ever global sporting event is projected to attract an eye-popping 60 million on the ground and a staggering over 5 billion global TV and digital viewers. It's hard for Pakistanis to get their heads around the fact that the world's most technologically advanced match ball ever made – featuring cutting-edge AI-powered chip, enabling real-time match data to support umpiring decisions – is stitched by Pakistani craftsmen and in one of our own cities with broken streets and crumbling roads. Sialkot, often hailed as the global capital for fo...

A great power rests on three pillars: military, diplomacy and economy. Pakistan has achieved many milestones on the military and diplomatic fronts. Two recent events further reinforced our strength. First, the decisive victory in Operation Bunyan Marsoos strengthened Pakistan's credentials as a formidable military power. It elevated Pakistan's global profile. Countries began to show keen interest in establishing military linkages with Pakistan. Our military leadership was invited around the world to share our experiences and expertise. It also opened the door to the sale of military equipment, weapons and fighter jets. The Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact is also derived from this victory. Many countries have shown interest in strengthening security and military cooperation with Pakistan. Simultaneously, Pakistan was blessed with another major trump: mediation between Iran and the US. Pakistan brokered a ceasefire at a time when the world was counting down to the outbr...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), being the lender of last resort for countries in balance-of-payments crisis or in danger of default, almost always ties its bailouts to excessive austerity measures. Its loans are tied, to use IMF jargon, to "structural adjustment programmes" and "conditionality". These programmes centre on raising taxes and/or spurring tax rate reductions, balancing the budget at all costs, devaluing the currency and increasing interest rates. Such anti-growth policies, delivered in line with IMF diktat, have been shown in the majority of cases to have actually increased the country's dependence on the IMF over time. Just think of what has happened in Argentina, Pakistan, Ecuador, Egypt or Ghana. Since 1980, the conditionality-induced structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) have become a major part of the standard crisis-management and post-crisis economic reform toolkit. According to the IMF, these reforms aim at restoring or mainta...

The Punjab government’s body camera initiative in public hospitals, aimed at improving healthcare services, strengthening staff accountability, and ensuring faster complaint resolution, is being projected as a major reform in the province’s health system. However, months after its launch, the project continues to face scrutiny over its cost, contract details, data security measures, and protection of patient privacy, while full-scale implementation remains incomplete. On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the government decided this year to introduce body-worn cameras in public hospitals. The pilot phase began in Lahore’s major teaching hospitals, including Mayo Hospital, Services Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore General Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and Children's Hospital Lahore. Initially, pharmacists, security personnel, storekeepers, and some paramedical staff were provided with cameras, with plans to expand the program to other...

The Pakistan Peoples Party announced on Saturday that it and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had come to an agreement on forming the next government in Gilgit-Baltistan together.  In a post on X, the PPP said: "Following detailed consultations, mutual trust and consensus between the local leadership and organisations of the PPP and PML-N in Gilgit-Baltistan, a decision has been made to form a government under political collaboration. Both parties have expressed their resolve to move forward together, prioritising political stability, public welfare and well-being, and the promotion of democratic values." گلگت بلتستان میں پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی اور مسلم لیگ (ن) کی مقامی قیادت اور تنظیموں کے درمیان تفصیلی مشاورت، باہمی اعتماد اور اتفاقِ رائے کے بعد سیاسی اشتراک کے تحت حکومت کے قیام کا فیصلہ کیا گیا ہے، دونوں جماعتوں نے سیاسی استحکام، عوامی فلاح و بہبود اور جمہوری اقدار کے فروغ کو… pic.twitter.com/w9JRfdCk62 — Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_...