Quetta, May 16 (IANS) The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) has strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and activists by the Pakistani authorities which it said reflects the state of lawlessness in the province.Baloch human rights defenders from the BYC have allegedly been arrested by the Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department or forcibly disappeared, the BWF said while demanding their immediate release.”In the span of around two months, several leaders and workers of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee have been arrested, including their Central Organiser Mahrang Baloch. These arrests have further intensified the situation and are fueling the already growing hatred among the Baloch civilians for state institutions. We are of the opinion that the so-called parliamentarians and the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are intentionally worsening the situations here, functioning solely as warlords,” read a statement issued by the BWF.The BWF also revealed a detailed list of several BYC activists illegally detained by the Pakistani forces.”The Central Core Committee member of the BYC, Bebagr Baloch, was abducted on March 20 from his home along with his brother Hammal. They surfaced a day later in Bijligarh Police Station in Quetta. After over a month and some days, Hammal was released but Bebagr is still in illegal detention,” the BWF stated.”The Central Organiser of the BYC Mahrang Baloch was arrested on March 22 after midnight when the police cracked down the protesting sit-in with the dead bodies of three protesters killed by the police earlier. Along with Mahrang Baloch, Baloch activist Beebow Baloch was also detained from Saryab. During her detention, she was threatened and tortured inside the Hudda Jail where she is imprisoned under the black law of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO),” the BWF further stated.Along with these leaders, numerous BYC activists are also facing illegal detention and abuse in Pakistan while many are charged under the draconian MPO law.Highlighting the growing human rights violations, the BWF stated that these two months have been testing months for the Baloch community.”We have observed a rise in the cases of enforced disappearances while several others were martyred in fake encounters and targetted killings. While using acts as PECA and MPO to silence the dissents from shouting out against the injustices, the LEAs have been fully working on enhancing Baloch genocidal policies, including dumping bodies of several already disappeared Baloch. We have continuously alarmed the state and its notorious and concerned institutions to refrain from human-cum-Baloch rights violations, but all in vain,” read the BWF statement.”We, at the Baloch Women Forum, denounce in the harshest words the brutal police crackdown on Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and, what we believe, illegal arrests of its leadership for around two months under a colonial-cum-black-law of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO),” the statement added.The BWF mentioned that, as a stakeholder in Baloch politics, it is severely concerned about the safety and fundamental rights of not only the detained Baloch activists, but collectively for the Baloch as a nation.The BWF called for the immediate release of detained BYC activists and their family members; stop continuous harassment of peaceful political workers and civilians; end to the growing number of target killings and fake encounters in Balochistan; accountability for all those involved in human rights violations of the Baloch; and, to let the Baloch live peacefully.The Baloch Yakjehti Committee is an organisation advocating for the rights of the minority Baloch community in Pakistan.–IANSint/scor/as

Seoul, May 16 (IANS) Heavier-than-expected rainfall hit the greater South Korea’s Seoul area on Friday,…

Seoul, May 16 (IANS) South Korean Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung appealed to voters in North Jeolla Province on Friday, while People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo headed to battleground regions in the Gyeonggi and South Chungcheong provinces.With the official campaigns for the June 3 presidential election entering the fifth day, Lee appeared to solidify his support in the region, a stronghold for the DP, while Kim sought to woo centrist voters in the battleground region.The June 3 presidential vote is being held to pick a successor to former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over his failed martial law bid.So far, the DP’s Lee has kept a solid lead in opinion polls in a three-way race that also includes Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party.A Gallup Korea survey conducted this week showed that the DP’s Lee was leading Kim with 51 per cent support against Kim’s 29 per cent. The minor party’s Lee came third with eight percent.Lee Jae-myung will start the day by visiting Iksan and Gunsan in North Jeolla Province before meeting young traditional musicians in the southwestern city of Jeonju.He will then hold a campaign rally at the back gate of Jeonbuk National University and wrap up his day in the southwestern city of Jeongeup.PPP’s Kim will campaign in the greater Seoul area, which is considered a barometer of public sentiment, and seek to gain support in the key battleground of the central region.Kim started off by greeting commuters at Pangyo in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, and held a campaign rally at a traditional market in Suwon. He will move to Dongtan on the southern outskirts of the capital, where he is set to announce his pledge regarding the Great Train Express (GTX) at Dongtan Station.He will then head to the central cities of Cheonan, Sejong, Cheongju and Daejeon. In Sejong, he plans to visit the site of the planned relocation of the National Assembly building and announce his pledge to develop the administrative capital, Yonhap news agency reported.Meanwhile, Lee of the minor New Reform Party unveiled his pledge to transform Busan into a global data hub by establishing a “data special zone.”He also announced plans to introduce a special law that would require explicit consent from a data subject or approval from an independent committee to view, copy or utilize high-risk sensitive information even if a search and seizure warrant has been issued.–IANSint/jk

New York, May 16 (IANS) The New York State Senate adopted a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, introduced by Senator Jeremy Cooney celebrating India’s democratic values and its shared commitment to liberty, justice, and equality with the United States. The resolution was adopted on Thursday, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution.The Indian origin New York State Senator took to his social media and expressed pride in celebrating the Indian heritage.“Today, I had the privilege of introducing a Senate resolution to recognise the 75th Anniversary of the Indian Constitution. As an orphan from Kolkata, India, I’m incredibly proud to celebrate our Indian heritage and this important landmark with my colleagues and all New Yorkers,” Senator Cooney posted on X.The Consul General of India in New York, Binaya Pradhan, joined the ceremony along with members of the Indian-American community, marking a celebration of shared democratic ideals and cultural ties.“I am introducing this resolution in honour of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, a time to celebrate Indian independence and the many brave Indians who risked their lives for the betterment of their fellow countrymen,’ Cooney said during his address.“This is a day to be celebrated not just in India but worldwide. Across the globe, Indians are making lasting impacts in their communities. This is an opportunity to join together to celebrate and reflect on our shared history, culture and heritage,” he added.The Senator highlighted that for nearly 200 years, India was controlled by the British Empire, and due to the perseverance of Indian people and the leadership of figures like Gandhi, a decade-long struggle for independence finally culminated in Indian independence and the adoption of the constitution on November 26, 1949.“This story of resiliency and the fight for self-determination is one of the bonds that ties our two great nations together. It was that desire for civil and political rights that fueled independence movements both in the US and in India, making our countries kindred spirits in the fight for independence and sovereignty,” he said.Asserting his strong connection with India, Cooney stated that this anniversary also holds special importance for him personally.“As many of my colleagues know in the Senate, I was adopted from an orphanage in Calcutta and throughout my life, I have worked very hard to maintain a strong connection with India and Indians in my community. That connection continues today as we honour the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution,” he stated.–IANSint/scor/rs

Sanaa/Jerusalem, May 16 (IANS) Yemen’s Houthi group has said that it had launched a new ballistic missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel, which was reportedly intercepted by Israeli defence systems.

“We carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport, using a hypersonic ballistic missile,” Houthi’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on Thursday night in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.The spokesperson said the Houthis’ operations “to impose a ban on air navigation at Ben Gurion Airport” will continue until Israel ends its offensive and blockade against the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported.Earlier in the night, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.Following the launch, the IDF issued a smartphone application alert to residents in areas of central Israel. About two minutes later, sirens were activated in those areas, sending residents to take shelter.Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom, reported that there were no casualties, except for several cases of panic and people bruised while rushing to shelter.Israel’s state-owned Kan TV News published footage of parts of the missile falling in the Israeli settlement of Alon Shvut in the West Bank.The Houthis have intensified their attacks against Israel since the Houthi group struck a ceasefire deal with Washington last week, in which the Houthis pledged not to target US warships in the Red Sea in return for the US military halting airstrikes against the Houthi targets in Yemen.The Israeli army early Wednesday ordered Yemeni residents to immediately evacuate the seaports of Ras Isa, Al-Hudaydah, and Salif ahead of potential airstrikes.The Houthis have targeted ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where more than 52,900 people have been killed in a brutal Israeli assault for more than 19 months, most of them women and children.The group halted attacks when a Gaza ceasefire was declared in January between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas but resumed them after Israel’s renewed airstrikes on Gaza in March.Last week, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced a ceasefire between the Houthi group and the US administration. It came shortly after President Donald Trump said the Houthi group agreed to halt attacks on commercial ships.The Houthi group confirmed the ceasefire with Washington, but said that it has no relation with its confrontation with Israel in support of the Palestinian people.–IANSint/khz

Berlin, May 16 (IANS) German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and visiting British Defence Secretary John Healey have agreed to start working on a new “Deep Precision Strike Capability” system aimed at a range of more than 2,000 km.
Given the current threat situation, there is an urgent need for such long-range weapons and to close the “Deep Precision Strike” capability gap, said a statement issued by the German Defence Ministry on Thursday after their meeting.British Ministry of Defence said that the new 2,000-km precision deep strike capability will be among the most advanced systems ever designed by Britain, to safeguard the British public and reinforce NATO deterrence, while boosting British and European defence sectors.Germany’s Boris Pistorius said work on the missiles had begun and would be critical for European security.”The current threat situation makes it absolutely clear that we need to close all capability gaps,” Pistorius said.”And we need to do that as quickly as possible.”Europe’s governments have looked to establish more independence from US military technology amid doubts about Washington’s future commitment to Europe’s security.Both Germany and Britain also agreed to strengthen cooperation in terms of equipment systems, countering undersea threats, and developing further connectivity between their air forces.The two Ministers also discussed support for Ukraine as well as the upcoming NATO summit in June, where discussions are expected to focus on defence budget sharing among NATO member countries.The new German federal government has promised to step up its spending on national defence and build a strong army.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in February that Europe would have to work to achieve “real independence” from the US, whose leadership now seemed “largely indifferent” to the fate of Europe.The Defence Ministers also pointed to other projects their countries were working on, including joint procurement of torpedoes and the establishment of a new forum bringing together defence firms from each nation.”European nations in NATO must do more and step up to strengthen European security,” Healey said.”The best way to do that is for leading nations like Germany and the UK to do more together.”Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said earlier on Thursday that the country backs proposal to increase defence spending to five per cent of GDP.–IANSint/khz

Ankara/Istanbul, May 16 (IANS) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a Ukrainian delegation would attend the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul with a commitment to ending the conflict with Russia, though he would not personally show up at the negotiating table.

At the Ukrainian embassy in Ankara following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Zelensky told reporters that Ukraine would send a delegation to Istanbul.Zelensky said Ukraine remained committed to dialogue but expressed doubts about Moscow’s intentions, Xinhua news agency reported. He told reporters that Ukraine did not see “any decision-makers” from the Russian delegation who will be present at the talks.The delegation will be led by Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, alongside professionals, including military and intelligence officers, Zelensky remarked, noting that Ukraine is awaiting confirmation from both Washington and Moscow on the exact schedule for the talks, which are expected to take place either Thursday or Friday.On top of that, Zelensky stressed that he is ready for discussions if an unconditional ceasefire will be discussed at the level of leaders.Meanwhile, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation and senior aide to President Vladimir Putin, said that his team has the necessary competencies to conduct negotiations and will focus on “finding possible solutions” and common ground through a constructive approach.Speaking outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul, the diplomat said that Russia views the fresh negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul as a “continuation” of the peace process disrupted in 2022, claiming that his team’s objective is to secure a lasting peace by “addressing the underlying causes of the conflict”.Addressing reporters separately after a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Turkey’s Antalya, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that both Russia and Ukraine have, in principle, expressed their willingness for a ceasefire. However, each has its own considerations: Ukraine favours an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, while Russia maintains that certain modalities must first be understood and agreed upon.Fidan said the Ukraine-Russia negotiations have now reached a certain stage, urging both parties to make concessions and take steps towards establishing a common peace.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also attending the NATO meeting, said Washington supports a negotiated settlement. “We will see what happens over the next couple of days in that regard, but we want to see progress,” he said.The Istanbul talks follow a proposal by Putin on Sunday to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine. Zelensky has previously said he is open to a face-to-face meeting with Putin. However, the Kremlin said Putin would not attend the talks.The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul in March 2022, where the two sides failed to agree to halt the fighting.–IANSint/khz

Tehran, May 16 (IANS) Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has stressed that none of the country’s uranium enrichment facilities would be dismantled, media reported.

He made the remarks on Thursday during a visit to the 36th Tehran International Book Fair in the Iranian capital, where he elaborated on Iran’s positions in the ongoing Oman-mediated indirect nuclear talks with the US.”We may be building trust and offering transparency regarding the nuclear issue, but we will not forgo our (uranium) enrichment. None of our enrichment facilities will be dismantled, and this is our principled position,” Araghchi said.He stressed that in addition to upholding its nuclear rights, Iran sought sanctions relief through indirect negotiations with the US, Xinhua news agency reported.”We are ready to build trust and offer transparency to the other side in return for the sanctions’ removal,” the Minister said.Araghchi underscored that defending the Iranian people’s nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment, was among the country’s principles and fundamental positions in the negotiations.His remarks came as Iranian and US delegations on Sunday held the fourth round of indirect talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and the removal of Washington’s sanctions in the Omani capital Muscat.”I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this,” Trump said, referring to military action against Iran.He made the comments on Thursday in Qatar, the second leg of his Gulf tour.”You probably read the story that Iran has sort of agreed to the terms,” he said.Trump has repeatedly said Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.While Iran has always denied that it is seeking to do so, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said that it has enriched enough uranium close to weapons-grade quality to make six nuclear bombs.The US and Iran have been holding talks over Tehran’s nuclear program for weeks, with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, calling the last round in Muscat, the capital of Oman, “encouraging”.Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, meanwhile, called the negotiations “difficult but useful”.”Enrichment is an issue that Iran will not give up, and there is no room for compromise on it,” he said.”However, its dimensions, levels or amounts might change for a period to allow confidence-building.”–IANSint/khz

London, May 16 (IANS) A 21-year-old man has been charged with arson with intent to…

Abu Dhabi, May 16 (IANS) President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks with visiting US President Donald Trump at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, reaffirming the commitment of both countries to deepening their strategic partnership, media reported.

The two leaders on Thursday discussed ways to strengthen cooperation across a range of sectors, including investment, energy, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and industry, according to UAE’s state news agency WAM.Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the depth of UAE-US relations, which he said span over five decades.He reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to global peace, stability, and prosperity through multilateral cooperation and close coordination with international partners, especially the US.The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual concern, with particular attention to maintaining security and de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.Trump praised Sheikh Mohamed’s leadership and noted that bilateral relations have continued to grow stronger under his guidance.Also on Thursday, the two Presidents jointly unveiled an artificial intelligence campus in Abu Dhabi, the largest AI campus outside the US.Sheikh Mohamed underscored the UAE’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the US in light of their longstanding efforts to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world. This, he noted, is in line with the UAE’s unwavering support for global stability, peace, and development through multilateral international cooperation.During the meeting, both leaders affirmed their joint aim to further enhance the UAE-US strategic partnership.Sheikh Mohamed also emphasised that over the years, the UAE has remained a reliable partner of the US in addressing common challenges.The UAE, President Sheikh Mohamed said, is determined to continue strengthening this friendship for the benefit of both nations and their peoples while working together in support of peace and stability regionally and globally.Sheikh Mohamed pointed to the future-focused partnership between the UAE and US that has been further strengthened by President Trump’s support, particularly in the fields of the new economy, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence.For his part, the US President praised the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed, affirming that relations between the UAE and US have reached new heights and continue to grow stronger.To mark the state visit, Sheikh Mohamed hosted a dinner banquet in honour of President Trump and his accompanying delegation.President Trump also signed the guestbook at Qasr Al Watan, expressing his pleasure at visiting the UAE and meeting with Sheikh Mohamed. He affirmed the enduring and strategic nature of US-UAE relations and the continued efforts of both nations to reinforce these ties in support of shared development, wishing the UAE and its people continued progress and prosperity.–IANSint/khz