Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch has sharply criticised the Balochistan Chief Minister over what she called efforts to intimidate PhD scholars and members of the province’s intellectual community. In a statement posted on X, Sammi Deen Baloch alleged that the provincial government was fostering an atmosphere of fear for those raising critical voices, including journalists, writers, activists, poets, linguists, and academics. She said the remarks reportedly made by Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti reflected an alarming pattern aimed at silencing dissent in Balochistan.
“I am deeply concerned by the behaviour of Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti toward PhD scholars and the wider intellectual community of Balochistan,” she wrote. Sammi Deen Baloch stressed that questioning government policies and evaluating official performance are fundamental democratic rights protected under freedom of expression and academic freedom. She argued that scholars and researchers should not be subjected to threats or pressure for sharing opinions or presenting critical analysis.
According to the activist, attempts to suppress intellectual voices undermine democratic principles and further limit space for open debate in the province. She added that no elected representative has the right to intimidate citizens for exercising their constitutional freedoms. She also urged the leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to intervene and ensure that Balochistan’s intellectual community is not silenced.
Pakistan has long faced allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. International human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly expressed concern over reports of activists, students, and political workers allegedly being detained by security agencies without due legal process.
Families of missing persons frequently organise protests seeking information about their relatives. Rights groups claim that some of the missing individuals are later found dead, while authorities continue to deny involvement. The issue has drawn international attention, with repeated calls for transparent investigations, accountability, and stronger protection of human rights in the affected areas.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@SammiBaluch.
Four members of a family, including a former sarpanch and a former district council member, were found dead under suspicious circumstances inside a burnt vehicle in Shrirampura village of Rajasthan’s Ajmer district early on Thursday, police officials said. The deceased were identified as former sarpanch Ram Singh Chaudhary, his 79-year-old mother, his 30-year-old cousin sister, and his wife Suryagyan, who had earlier served as a district council member. The shocking incident has created panic in the village and prompted an extensive police investigation.
According to Ajmer Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwal, the incident is believed to have occurred between 4 am and 5 am. The burnt car carrying the bodies was discovered around 500 metres away from the family’s house near the main road. Speaking about the condition of the victims, the SP said three bodies were completely charred, while the fourth body was only partially burnt and had visible injury marks, raising suspicion about the nature of the deaths.
Police teams, including experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the Mobile Forensic Unit (MOB), were rushed to the scene to gather evidence and examine the vehicle and surrounding area. Investigators are currently probing the case from two possible angles. One possibility is that a short circuit in the vehicle may have triggered the fire, while the second angle is that the victims may have been murdered before the car was deliberately set ablaze.
The SP said forensic teams have collected important evidence from multiple locations and authorities are working to piece together the sequence of events. Police have also detained a few family members for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation into the suspicious deaths.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
According to Dawn, Zubair Ghangra has criticised the Federal Board of Revenue’s withholding and advance tax policies, saying they are severely affecting Pakistan’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, particularly the food sector. He argued that the existing tax structure has become a significant barrier to industrial expansion and long-term business viability.
Ghangra explained that the current tax collection system is creating disruptions across the supply chain, slowing business operations and placing a heavier burden on formal enterprises. He noted that manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors are bearing most of the tax pressure because a large segment of Pakistan’s retail market remains undocumented. With thousands of retailers operating outside the formal economy, compliant businesses are carrying the majority of the tax responsibility, leading to rising operating costs while undocumented traders continue functioning with little oversight.
He further stated that the imbalance is increasing financial stress on registered companies already dealing with inflation and weak consumer demand. Excessive documentation and compliance requirements, he said, have added to the difficulties faced by FMCG and food businesses by complicating cash flow management and increasing administrative burdens, especially for companies working with slim profit margins.
Ghangra warned that these added costs are eventually transferred to consumers, contributing to higher prices and broader economic instability. He also criticised the taxation framework for discouraging formal business activity while indirectly enabling the growth of the undocumented economy. According to him, registered businesses continue to face mounting regulatory and financial pressure, whereas many unregistered traders remain outside the tax net. He urged authorities to address these structural issues by expanding the tax base and reforming the current system instead of repeatedly imposing additional burdens on documented sectors.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the informal Gymnich meeting alongside European Union Foreign Ministers, where he discussed opportunities for cooperation and strengthening ties with the EU. In a post on X, Jaishankar said the discussions focused on practical collaborations and shared interests in an increasingly multipolar world order.
He wrote, “Great to be in Limassol to join the informal #Gymnich meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. Our partnership with the EU and the region continues to deepen across a wide range of domains. Discussed opportunities, practical collaborations and our shared interests in the emerging multipolar order.”
During his visit to Cyprus, Jaishankar held meetings with the Foreign Ministers of France, Poland, Romania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Estonia, as well as the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Jaishankar attended the Informal Meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers at the invitation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. The Gymnich meeting, organised under Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was co-chaired by Kombos and Kallas, with discussions centred on current regional and global developments.
Earlier, Jaishankar met Kaja Kallas and reviewed bilateral relations while also exchanging views on the evolving situation in West Asia. EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin highlighted the meeting on X, saying it reflected the strong and growing relationship between India and the European Union.
The External Affairs Minister also met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, with whom he discussed the ongoing Ukraine conflict and bilateral cooperation. Sharing details on X, Jaishankar described the interaction as useful and said both sides exchanged perspectives on the conflict. He met Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss developments in West Asia. Jaishankar appreciated the Saudi minister’s insights and assessment of the changing regional situation.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@DrSJaishankar.
The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill despite protests from the opposition, which had demanded that it be referred to a select committee. The Bill aims to introduce a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships across religions. With this, Assam became the third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to pass a UCC Bill, while Goa already follows a common civil law system. The legislation also seeks to ban polygamy and make registration of live-in relationships mandatory, though Scheduled Tribes in Assam have been exempted from its provisions.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has kept its GDP growth forecast at 2–4%, supported by stronger-than-anticipated economic performance in the first quarter. At the same time, core inflation eased more than expected in April. Economists caution that geopolitical uncertainties and weaker external demand continue to pose risks. Susan Ng and Hairianto Diman discuss the strength of Singapore’s economy and its outlook for the coming months with Jeff Ng from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey respond to reader questions on whether Andy Burnham could outperform Keir Starmer, whether Makerfield matters more for Reform UK than for Labour, and whether the UK could realistically rejoin the EU.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
One method used to support wildlife conservation is to permit wealthy hunters to legally kill a small number of animals in exchange for very high fees. Supporters say the money helps protect habitats and fund conservation work. However, critics argue that this practice is ethically questionable and resembles neocolonial exploitation of African wildlife resources.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
A prolonged and heated courtroom dispute between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman has ended in a win for OpenAI’s CEO. Musk says he plans to challenge the decision. The case has raised wider questions about Big Tech influence and the worldwide competition in artificial intelligence. Lucy Hough discusses the outcome with Guardian US tech and power reporter Nick Robins-Early in a YouTube interview.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.
