Quetta, May 14 (IANS) Bodies of at least four labourers, hailing from different parts of Pakistan’s Punjab province were found in Balochistan’s Nushki district on Wednesday, raising alarms over the ongoing targetted killings of Punjab origin citizens in different parts of the province. Officials confirmed the targetted killing of four people, stating that gunmen opened fire on the victims killing them on the spot.

Details revealed that the incident happened in Gulangoor area of Nushki district in Balochistan. The bodies of the victims were shifted to Teaching Hospital in Noshki for medico-legal procedures. Investigation revealed the identities of the victims, confirming that they hailed from different parts of the Punjab province.“Two of the men were from Pakpattan – Moeen, son of Ghulam Mustafa, and Huzaifa, son of Muhammad Latif. The remaining two, identified as Imran Ali and Irfan Ali, both sons of Maqsood Ahmed, were from Rahim Yar Khan”, said an official from the Teaching Hospital Noshki.Police authorities have initiated an investigation into the murder. It is suspected that the victims were targetted on the basis of their ethnicity for being from Punjab. The authorities are working to determine if the victims were targetted to broader violence in the region.Labourers, workers, and government officials from the Punjab province have been targetted by separatist Baloch groups in the recent months in major attacks where identities of the citizens were checked before killing them.Baloch separatists have in the past blocked the main highway, stopped a passenger bus and checked the identity cards of the passengers, separated the ones hailing from Punjab and killed them. During the recent terror attack on Jaffar Express train, passengers from Punjab were separated from the others and were reportedly killed by the separatists belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).The latest incident has raised serious concerns over the worsening security situation in Balochistan, with authorities struggling to ensure security of people from the Punjab province, who come to Balochistan for work.“We strongly condemn the killings, and offer our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We want to assure that the Balochistan provincial government is committed to safeguarding the lives and property of its citizens”, said Shahid Rind, spokesperson of Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti.“Those responsible for this act of terrorism would be brought to justice. The government will not tolerate attacks on innocent labourers and will take firm action against the perpetrators”, he added.–IANSint/hamza/as

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Mogadishu, May 14 (IANS) At least 17 people have been killed and more than 84,000 others displaced by flash floods following torrential rains across Somalia since mid-April, the United Nations relief agency said.The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said an assessment conducted by disaster management officials has revealed extensive damage to infrastructure and an urgent need for assistance to affected people.”Partners have stepped up assistance in affected areas, including food, shelter items, hygiene kits, and cash assistance,” OCHA said in its latest flash update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.It said heavy rains in the Banadir Region on May 9 caused devastating flash floods that killed nine people, affected at least 24,600 people, damaged key infrastructure in several districts, and swept away shelters in displacement sites.Light to heavy Gu (April to June) seasonal rains have triggered localised flooding in several parts of the country since mid-April. The UN agency said the Somali government has formed a committee that includes federal ministers and regional officials to respond to the flooding crisis.Somalia, a country where nearly two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, has experienced extreme climate shocks in the past, including prolonged dry seasons causing drought and heavy rains leading to flooding, Xinhua news agency reported.The floodwaters have damaged key infrastructure and paralysed public transport in some parts of the country, the UN agency said.”On a positive note, the rains have significantly improved water and pasture availability in many areas, supporting ongoing agricultural activities and pastoralism, thereby mitigating the effects of recent prolonged dry conditions,” OCHA added.Floodwaters also damaged key infrastructure, halting public transport and temporarily disrupting operations at the main Aden Abdulle airport.The Horn of Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, and extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and intense.–IANSint/jk/rad

Montevideo, May 14 (IANS) Former Uruguayan President Jose “Pepe” Mujica, who was an icon and known as the “world’s poorest President” died at the age of 89 in Montevideo, President Yamandu Orsi confirmed.Mujica announced in January that his esophageal cancer, first diagnosed in April 2024, had spread to his liver. He said he would not pursue further treatment.”With deep sorrow we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica – President, activist, leader, and guide. We’ll miss you dearly, old friend. Thank you for everything you gave us and for your deep love for your people,” Orsi wrote on social media on Tuesday.In an interview with local weekly Busqueda, Mujica had said, “This is the end of the road for me,” adding, “my cycle is over.” He asked to be left in peace and expressed his wish to be buried at his farm on the outskirts of Montevideo, Xinhua news agency reported.Mujica, widely known as the “world’s poorest President” for donating most of his salary to charitable causes during his 2010–2015 term, had been diagnosed with advanced cancer.In May 2024, doctors discovered cancer of the esophagus, which then spread to his liver. His wife, former senator and Vice President Lucía Topolansky, confirmed this week that he was under palliative care.A symbol of progressive politics in Latin America, Mujica helped transform Uruguay through landmark reforms, including the legalisation of abortion, same-sex marriage, and recreational cannabis. Even after his presidency, he continued to campaign for Leftist causes until his health declined.Mujica’s political journey began in the 1960s when he co-founded the Tupamaros, a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group. Initially known for robbing the rich to aid the poor, the movement later escalated to kidnappings, bombings, and assassinations. Mujica lived a life marked by daring exploits, surviving multiple gunshot wounds and participating in a dramatic mass prison escape.After the Tupamaros collapsed in 1972, he was recaptured and spent the entirety of Uruguay’s military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985 in prison. During his incarceration, Mujica endured torture and long periods of solitary confinement.Upon his release, he turned to democratic politics, founding the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP) in 1989, which became the largest faction within the Broad Front, Uruguay’s Left-wing coalition.He was elected to parliament in 1995 and became a senator in 2000. In 2005, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture in the country’s first leftist government. In 2010, he was elected President and served a single five-year term, in accordance with Uruguay’s constitutional limits.Mujica, who had no children, is survived by his wife and lifelong political partner, Lucía Topolansky.–IANSint/jk/rad

Seoul, May 14 (IANS) South Korean Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung called on the People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday to immediately expel former President Yoon Suk Yeol from the party, criticising him as a “military coup leader.”Lee’s call came a day after the PPP’s candidate Kim Moon-soo said he was not considering expelling Yoon who was ousted over his short-lived martial law imposition in December and now faces criminal charges of leading an insurrection.”The People Power Party must immediately expel military coup leader Yoon Suk Yeol now,” Lee said during a campaign rally in Busan, about 320 kilometres southeast of Seoul.”If the People Power Party respects the basic liberal democratic order from the Constitution, it must apologise a hundredfold over the military coup.”Is the People Power Party a conservative party as it is called? Is it a democratic party?” Lee questioned. “That party has to now choose between the two choices of changing or being kicked out.”Meanwhile, Lee told reporters that he expected the election to be determined by a slim margin despite rosy forecasts for the DP candidate who has been leading in the polls by a wide margin, Yonhap news agency reported.”Our goal is a certain victory not an overwhelming victory,” he said.Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation’s second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.Before taking the nation’s highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Park’s corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment.In 2019, he was appointed as the nation’s top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party.Yoon’s term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly.Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the country’s top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall.–IANSint/jk/rad

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Boston, May 14 (IANS) An Indian-origin student from the US died after falling from a balcony in the Bahamas, just a few days before graduating. Gaurav Jaisingh, a student of Bentley University, Massachusetts, was on an annual senior class trip.Reports suggested that Jaisingh, a native of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity and the South Asian Students Association of the University.Bentley University took to social media on Wednesday, grieving the tragic loss of the student.”It’s been a difficult few days, and our community is feeling the emotional toll of the tragic loss of Gaurav Jaisingh ’25. Our hearts go out to Gaurav’s family and friends. We plan to honour Gaurav at the undergraduate commencement ceremony,” the university said in a post on X.The Royal Bahamas Police Force earlier confirmed the incident, stating that Jaisingh fell from an upper-level balcony while inside his hotel room with other roommates.”On Sunday, the police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an adult male of the United States on Paradise Island. According to initial reports, sometime around 10:00 p.m., the victim was inside his hotel room with other roommates when it is reported that he accidentally fell from an upper-level balcony. He was later found unresponsive on a lower floor,” said the police in a press releaseThe police stated that emergency medical services responded and transported the student to the hospital; however, he succumbed while enroute, and investigations are ongoing into this incident.”We share our deepest condolences with Gaurav’s family, friends and loved ones. While local authorities are investigating, it appears Gaurav accidentally fell from a balcony. We will share more information when available while respecting his family’s privacy,” Bentley University said in a statement to the American television network, ABC News.”This is an enormous tragedy for our community. Bentley is providing resources for those who are impacted and encourages anyone who needs support to reach out to the university’s counselling centre,” it added.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Moscow, May 14 (IANS) The Kremlin has rejected the ruling of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, which placed the responsibility for the 2014 Malaysia Airlines crash on Russia.The UN body, ICAO, recently alleged that Russia was responsible for the July 17, 2014, downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board.”Russia will not recognise the Council’s ruling. It is illegitimate and violates the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and its own rule of procedure. Unlike the biased majority on the Council, Russia remains committed to UN Security Council resolution 2166 (2014) and the cause of identifying the real causes of the air crash,” the country’s foreign ministry said.The ministry denied any involvement of Russia in the Malaysia Airlines crash.”Last year, on June 17, 2024, Russia halted its participation in this investigation because it was impossible to ensure the unbiasedness of the probe amid numerous procedural violations by the ICAO Council and Secretariat. Moscow’s principles position, however, remains unchanged — Russia has nothing to do with the MH17 crash and all allegations otherwise by Australia and the Netherlands are in opposition to the facts,” it said.”Prior to this, Russia presented to the Council convincing factual and legal evidence of its noninvolvement in the crash and shared this data with all member countries of the Council. It was Kyiv that refused to close the airspace over the combat operations zone and used civilian passenger aircraft, such as MH17, as a shield for its bombers,” the ministry asserted.Earlier on Tuesday, addressing a press briefing, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia sees the findings of an investigation into the MH17 crash as biased and does not accept them.”I am not going to comment on this. Our position is well known. Russia was not among the parties that took part in investigating the accident. This is why we don’t accept any of the prejudiced conclusions,” the Russian presidential spokesman noted.Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry stressed that Moscow had several times suggested that the Council conduct a thorough and independent international investigation of the MH17 crash in line with UNSC resolution.”But being guided by political motives and in violation of the established procedure, the Council refused to conduct such an investigation and instead took for granted Australia’s and the Netherlands’ allegations and the findings of the joint investigative team, which includes Australia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine, or countries that are directly interested in demonising Russia,” the ministry noted.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Quetta, May 14 (IANS) Pakistan’s Kashish Chaudhary has created history by becoming the first Hindu woman appointed as an Assistant Commissioner of Balochistan. Her remarkable achievement after successfully passing the highly competitive Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination at a notably young age is celebrated as a powerful symbol of inclusion, diversity, and meritocracy in the province.She belongs to a remote town of Noshki in the district of Chagai in Balochistan.Recognising her accomplishment, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti met Kashish along with her father, Girdhari Lal.During the meeting matters of women’s representation, minority community empowerment, and the overall development of Balochistan were discussed, local media reported.CM lauded her achievement and called her “a symbol of pride for not just Balochistan, but the entire nation.””Kashish has proven that the daughters of Balochistan are second to none. Her success sends a strong message that talent and perseverance can emerge from even the most remote corners of our province,” he said.In her remarks, Chaudhary emphasised her desire to advocate for youth, women, and marginalised communities as she expressed her commitment in serving the people of Balochistan.”I’m grateful to the Government of Balochistan for placing its trust in a young woman from a minority background. My journey is just beginning, and I intend to be a strong voice for those who are often unheard. I aim to become the voice of youth, women, and minority communities,” she stated.”Where you come from doesn’t define how far you can go. It’s your dedication and commitment that matter,” she said, calling on young girls across remote areas of Pakistan to pursue their dreams without any fear or hesitation.Despite the persistent problem of young Hindu girls being abducted and converted by Muslims, the Hindu community, with continuous struggle, tries to counter such menaces.Hindus make up the largest minority community in Pakistan. Official estimates indicate that 7.5 million Hindus are living in the country. However, the community claims that the number exceeds 9 million.Atrocities in Balochistan, however, affect both Hindus and Muslims equally. Numerous Baloch activists have accused the Pakistan government of implementing a “hard-state” approach in Balochistan, characterised by widespread enforced disappearances, custodial torture, and extrajudicial killings.Activists highlight that the ongoing campaign of fear and repression tries to silence dissent and punish families seeking justice.As the federal government continues with its brutality on the people in Balochistan, people from the province living across the world are currently fighting for their independence from Pakistan.–IANSint/scor/sd/