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NEW DELHI:&nbsp;India&#39;s state-run oil companies raised petrol and diesel prices by more than 3% on Friday as disruption to energy supplies due to the Iran war mounts pressure on the economy, AFP reported.&nbsp; The increase marks the first hike in automobile fuel prices in India since the start of US-Israel war on Iran in February. India, the world&#39;s third-largest oil buyer, normally sources about half of its crude through the vital waterway. In Delhi, petrol prices rose to 97.77 rupees ($1.02) per liter from 94.77 rupees, while diesel climbed to 90.67 rupees from 87.67, according to data from the Indian Oil Corporation. Rates vary across the country depending on local taxes. Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Indian National Congress (INC) posted on X on Friday that the people of the country must understand that, alongside the current international fuel crisis, the major reason for the economic crisis in India is the leadership crisis in the Modi government, the lack of visionary thinking, and incompetence that is overflowing to the brim. &#39;Modi-Govt-Made crisis&#39; &quot;This crisis is a Modi-Govt-Made crisis. The common people of the country are paying the price for it from their own pockets on petrol, diesel, and LPG,&quot; he further said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2055154388818346299&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f9063bdf792bf1cb150a9b746b12014f1b142a17&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2055154388818346299"></iframe></div></div>Oil companies say they have been incurring losses due to higher global crude oil prices. The government had earlier raised prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a primary cooking fuel for millions of households. &quot;When diesel prices rise, it creates a cascading effect of inflation across the entire country. From industries to household budgets and farmers&mdash;everyone is badly affected,&quot; the INC president said. Further, Mallikarjun said in his post, &#39;When the West Asia War began, the country was told that &ldquo;sab changa si&rdquo; and the Congress party&#39;s questions were dismissed. No concrete steps were taken; instead, due to American &ldquo;Permission&rdquo; and &ldquo;Allow,&rdquo; our Sovereignty was put up as collateral&#39;.&quot;&nbsp; He said, &quot;Now, as the crisis is escalating, Modi ji has started rattling the toy of Work From Home and fuel conservation.&quot; Delhi&#39;s chief minister on Thursday said government offices will have two work-from-home days a week for those able to and urged residents to cut back on private vehicle use. India has ramped up imports of Russian crude to plug gaps in supplies from the Middle East, ship‑tracking and import data show, following a temporary US waiver on sanctions. But with the waiver set to end on Saturday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar criticized &quot;unilateral coercive measures&quot;, without naming any country.

Petrol Station in India - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

India

India raised petrol and diesel prices by over 3% for the first time since the Iran war began, as disrupted oil supplies and sanctions pressure fuel costs and strain the economy.

India hikes fuel prices as Middle East war strains supplies

ISLAMABAD: A recent sealing drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in Uttam Nagar has sparked controversy, with social media users and local voices calling the action a disproportionate targeting of Muslim-owned eateries and shops. According to India&#39;s Indo-Asian News Service, the MCD sealed more than 20 eateries and meat shops in Hastsal&rsquo;s JJ Colony for operating without a valid Health Trade License (HTL). However, the crackdown has drawn criticism online, with claims that the enforcement drive selectively impacted businesses run by members of the Muslim community. Posts circulating on social media platform X allege that several biryani outlets and small hotels, reportedly Muslim-owned, were sealed, while shops belonging to other communities in the same locality continued operations without facing similar action. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2050623413492895953&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=fc635a8504808655ab92ed5a3425d1dde4c21a31&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The action followed inspections conducted on April 17 and 18, during which 30 outlets were found to be in violation of licensing rules. Authorities said all establishments were issued notices, and some owners voluntarily shut down. Activists and users have questioned the apparent disparity, calling for transparency in enforcement and equal application of municipal laws. Some posts also claimed that even vacant shops in residential areas were sealed during the drive.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2050602111948460542&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=fc635a8504808655ab92ed5a3425d1dde4c21a31&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>MCD officials, however, maintain that the action was part of routine enforcement under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act and aimed at ensuring compliance with public health and safety regulations. They have not responded directly to allegations of selective targeting. The development has added to ongoing concerns raised by rights groups and observers over alleged discrimination against minorities in India, particularly in administrative and law enforcement actions. No independent verification of the claims regarding selective targeting has been officially confirmed, but the issue continues to gain traction online, prompting calls for further scrutiny.

Crackdown draws criticism online, with claims that the enforcement drive selectively impacted businesses run by members of the Muslim community.

Delhi administration accused of targeting Muslim-owned businesses

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan strongly rebuffed accusations from the Indian delegation during a high‑level World Water Day event on Thursday, accusing New Delhi of undermining the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and &ldquo;weaponizing&rdquo; shared water resources for political ends. In <a data-fr-linked="true" href="//ends.In" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></a>a right of reply delivered by Pakistan&rsquo;s Second Secretary Aleena Majeed, Pakistan rejected what it called &ldquo;baseless remarks&rdquo; by the Indian representative, insisting that t<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">he unilateral holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty by India last year in April represents a grave departure from this legal and historical legacy.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034806586120491506&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=bdeac2634829093058198481ac2e302d4e64ceb3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>She stated that concluded in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty has withstood the test of times, wars crises, and political tensions, between India and Pakistan, including the longstanding dispute on Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp; Majeed told the assembly that no provision in the treaty permits unilateral suspension or modification, and labelled India&rsquo;s move to place the pact in abeyance last year as a &ldquo;grave departure&rdquo; from its legal and historical legacy. She pointed to recent findings by a Court of Arbitration no party has the legal authority to unilaterally suspend or render it inoperative. India must revert immediately to full and complete implementation of the IWT. She also strongly rejected entirely baseless statement and accusations by the Indian representative on the issue of terrorism.&nbsp; She said that India&rsquo;s attempts to deflect attention through unfounded allegations of terrorism cannot conceal its record of sponsorship of terrorism across its borders, perpetration of state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, global state-backed assassination campaign including in North America, and state patronage of violence against its minorities. There is credible evidence of India&rsquo;s sponsorship of terrorist groups, including the TTP, Fitna Al Khwarij, and BLA, Fitna Hindustan, which have carried out attacks in Pakistan, resulting in loss of lives of thousands of Pakistanis. She added that Pakistan reiterate its firm and unequivocal rejection of all attempts to weaponize water and to use it for political gains. Pakistan remains firmly committed to international law and to the faithful performance of treaty obligations, she said.&nbsp;

Aleena Majeed Second Secretary (Photo: X PakistanUN_NY)

Pakistan’s Second Secretary Aleena Majeed condemned India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty at the UN, accusing it of “weaponizing water” and rejecting its terrorism allegations.

Pakistan condemns India’s ‘weaponization of water’, defends Indus Waters Treaty at UN

ISLAMABAD: The Union government in India has told Lok Sabha (Parliament) that 622 sanitation workers have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks across India since 2017, even as it maintained that sanitation work is an &ldquo;occupation-based&rdquo; activity rather than caste-driven, Indian media reported on Friday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on March 17, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale presented state-wise data on fatalities linked to hazardous sanitation work. The response came to a question raised by Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Choudhary. According to the data, compensation has been fully disbursed to 539 affected families, while 25 families received only half payments. However, 52 families have not received any compensation at all, and six cases were closed without resolution. In Uttar Pradesh alone, 13 families received no compensation and three cases were closed. The highest number of deaths was recorded in Uttar Pradesh (86), followed by Maharashtra (82), Tamil Nadu (77), Haryana (76), Gujarat (73), and Delhi (62). The government did not specify the amount of compensation paid in each case. Athawale also stated that a &ldquo;fresh survey&rdquo; conducted under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 found no manual scavengers in any district of the country. This claim contrasts with earlier surveys in 2013 and 2018, which identified 58,098 manual scavengers nationwide, including 32,473 in Uttar Pradesh. Activist groups have challenged the government&rsquo;s position. In 2025, the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) called for immediate FIR registrations and independent judicial inquiries into such deaths. The organization reported 116 deaths linked to manual scavenging in 2024 and 158 in 2025.&nbsp; The issue has also drawn judicial scrutiny. In January last year, the Supreme Court of India ordered a ban on manual scavenging in six metropolitan cities, criticizing the Union government for ambiguity in its efforts to eradicate the practice. Despite official claims of progress, complaints from workers persist. The government acknowledged receiving 842 complaints from across states and union territories, including 130 from Uttar Pradesh, citing issues such as unpaid wages, lack of safety equipment, and caste-based discrimination. Under the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE), aimed at improving safety and dignity for sanitation workers, 89,248 sewer and septic tank workers and 234,425 waste pickers have been validated as of March 12. This includes 12,424 sanitation workers and 35,641 waste pickers in Uttar Pradesh. The government said earlier rehabilitation programs for manual scavengers have now been integrated into the NAMASTE scheme, which it claims will enhance worker safety and ensure full rehabilitation. &nbsp;However, the continued deaths, compensation gaps, and worker complaints highlight ongoing concerns about the implementation of these measures and the persistence of hazardous sanitation practices in the country, the report said.

A manual scavenger looks on as he cleans a manhole in the old quarters of New Delhi. | Chandan Khanna/AFP

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on March 17, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale presented state-wise data on fatalities linked to hazardous sanitation work; the response came to a question raised by Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Choudhary.

India reports 622 sewer cleaning deaths since 2017 amid safety concerns

NEW DELHI: Bill Gates has cancelled a scheduled keynote address at a major artificial intelligence summit in India, his foundation confirmed on Wednesday, after the Microsoft co-founder was named in newly released documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement, the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation said the decision was made to ensure the focus of the event remained on its central themes. &ldquo;After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit&#39;s key priorities, Mr&nbsp;Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,&rdquo; the foundation said. It added that the president of its Africa and India offices would speak in his place. The cancellation comes after the US Justice Department released a new tranche of documents linked to investigations into Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Among the documents is a draft email in which Epstein allegedly claimed that Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs. The email, which was not sent, included unverified allegations about Gates&rsquo; personal conduct. Gates has strongly denied the claims. &ldquo;Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize,&rdquo; Gates told 9News Australia in a recent interview, referring to his past meetings with Epstein. &ldquo;That email was never sent. The email is false. I don&#39;t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?&rdquo; A spokesperson for Gates also rejected the allegations following the document release, saying the files demonstrate Epstein&rsquo;s &ldquo;frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.&rdquo; Gates&rsquo; former wife, Melinda French Gates, told US National Public Radio that the release of the documents revived painful memories from their marriage. &ldquo;Whatever questions remain there &mdash; I can&#39;t even begin to know all of it &mdash; those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;They need to answer to those things, not me.&rdquo; The couple divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. The Gates Foundation reiterated its commitment to its work in India, particularly in health and development initiatives, despite the controversy surrounding the document release.

'After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit's key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,' the foundation said; it added that the president of its Africa and India offices would speak in his place.

Bill Gates cancels India summit speech to 'ensure focus' on AI

COLOMBO: Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said Saturday his team had been &quot;always ready&quot; to face India on Sunday at the T20 World Cup, despite only being given the green light a few days ago.&nbsp;The biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket has <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indiapakistan-hottest-ticket-in-cricket-sparks-t20-world-cup-fever" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">sold out</a> the 35,000-capacity R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo with hundreds of millions more expected to watch on television.&nbsp;&quot;This is a very big game and the magnitude is huge,&quot; Agha said ahead of the team&#39;s practice at the stadium on Saturday.&nbsp;&quot;We were always ready for the game, whatever be the decision.&quot;&nbsp;Pakistan had a scrappy last over three-wicket win in their first match against the Netherlands before beating the United States by 32 runs. India have also won both their matches so far.&nbsp;&quot;We are in good momentum and I hope that being in Colombo since the start will help us in terms of conditions,&quot; said Agha.&nbsp;But he warned: &quot;We have to play good cricket to win the match.&quot;&nbsp;The hugely-anticipated match could be hit by bad weather, with rain forecast for Sunday evening.&nbsp;Agha believed spin would dominate, calling Tariq Usman his trump card against India&#39;s powerful batting line-up.&nbsp;&quot;Tariq has been bowling well and I am sure the mystery element will make him our trump card,&quot; Agha said, brushing aside doubts over the legality of Tariq&#39;s unique sling-arm action and the exaggerated pause in his delivery stride.&nbsp;&quot;He has been cleared twice so there are no worries.&quot;&nbsp;Agha hoped the players would shake hands, unlike during their three Asia Cup matches in Dubai last year.&nbsp;&quot;The game should be played in the true spirit of the game,&quot; said Agha.&nbsp;&quot;It has been the norm in cricket for years but whatever way they want, we will only know tomorrow.&quot;&nbsp;The winner will be guaranteed of their berth in the next Super Eights round.

Cricket

Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed strong confidence ahead of the sold-out T20 World Cup clash against India at R. Premadasa Stadium, highlighting team momentum, spin strength, and readiness despite rain.

Pakistan 'always ready' for India despite late green light: Agha

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun launched a fierce attack on the Indian government, accusing it of orchestrating a global campaign of assassinations and intimidation against Sikh activists on Western soil. His remarks come on the heels of a dramatic development in New York, where an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy charges tied to a plot to assassinate Pannun in Manhattan. US prosecutors alleged that Gupta coordinated with an Indian government employee in arranging the attempted hit. US Attorney Jay Clayton said following the plea, in what observers view as a pointed warning to New Delhi, &ldquo;Our message to nefarious foreign actors should be clear: steer clear of the United States and our people.&rdquo; According to court filings and statements by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the plot involved direction from an Indian official, raising serious concerns in Washington about foreign-sponsored violence targeting US citizens and residents. &ldquo;A state-sponsored killing machine&rdquo;In a blistering exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Pannun alleged that the evidence presented in US federal court &ldquo;speaks loudly&rdquo; and directly implicates the office of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in authorising and funding assassination plots abroad. &ldquo;After making Punjab a killing field in the 1980s and 1990s, India is now exporting violence,&rdquo; Pannun said. &ldquo;They are sending hitmen to America, Canada, and the UK to silence the Khalistan referendum movement.&rdquo; He linked the New York plot to the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, describing it as part of what he called a coordinated campaign to eliminate prominent voices advocating Sikh self-determination. Canadian officials have previously acknowledged investigating credible allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar&rsquo;s death. Pannun further alleged that Khalistan activists in the United Kingdom, including Paramjit Singh Pamma, have also been targeted. Diplomatic backlash mountsThe guilty plea in New York has intensified scrutiny of India&rsquo;s actions abroad and fueled diplomatic unease across Western capitals. The idea that a foreign government could attempt to carry out assassinations in the United States has sparked bipartisan concern in Washington. Security analysts describe the alleged plot as part of a broader pattern of &ldquo;transnational repression,&rdquo; in which governments pursue critics beyond their borders. For Pannun, the case represents what he calls a turning point. &ldquo;They tried to label us terrorists. When we turned to ballots instead of bullets, they answered with bullets again,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But the world is watching now.&rdquo;

In a blistering exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Gurpatwant Singh points to Modi government’s direct involvement in targeting activists in the US, Canada and UK

Pro-Khalistan leader says India running global assassination campaign to kill Sikh activists on Western soil

MUMBAI: At least 18 people died Thursday after an explosion ripped through an illegal coal mine in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya, officials said.&nbsp;&quot;During the course of the rescue operation, a total of 18 dead bodies have been recovered from the site of the explosion,&quot; local police said in a statement.&nbsp;Eight other people were injured, said Manish Kumar, top official in East Jaintia Hills district where the explosion happened.&nbsp;Rescuers were digging through the rubble at the site to find out if more miners were trapped inside but the operations halted at sundown.&nbsp;Kumar said it was an &quot;illegal rat-hole mine&quot; and that authorities were awaiting personnel from state and federal disaster management agencies to resume the search on Friday morning.&nbsp;Rat-hole mines are deep vertical shafts dug mostly into hillsides that branch out into narrow tunnels to reach and retrieve coal and other minerals.&nbsp;A federal environment court banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014 after local communities complained it was polluting water sources and putting lives at risk.&nbsp;But it&#39;s still widely practised across the state, especially in the East Jaintia Hills.&nbsp;District police chief Vikash Kumar told AFP that the explosion was likely due to a dynamite blast but added that further forensic investigation was underway.&nbsp;&quot;After the explosion, a fire happened. Lots of toxic gas has accumulated,&quot; Vikash Kumar said.&nbsp;Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma said a &quot;comprehensive inquiry&quot; had been ordered into the incident and promised accountability.&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was &quot;pained by the mishap&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,&quot; he said in a statement on social media.&nbsp;The families of the deceased would receive 200,000 rupees ($2,216) compensation, the statement said.

Asia

At least 18 people were killed after an explosion at an illegal coal mine in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya. Police said all bodies were recovered during rescue operations at the site on Thursday.

Explosion in illegal Indian coal mine kills 18: police

ISLAMABAD: Three sisters aged 12, 14, and 16 died after jumping from their apartment balcony in Ghaziabad district of India&#39;s&nbsp;Uttar Pradesh state in the early hours of Wednesday, in what police say is likely linked to an online Korean task-based game, Indian media reported.&nbsp;The girls, Pakhi (12), Prachi (14), and Vishika (16), had locked themselves inside their room at Bharat City, a residential township in Loni city, before jumping one by one from the balcony around 2:15 a.m., police said.&nbsp; The loud thud alerted residents and security staff, who rushed to the spot. By the time family members broke into the room, all three had already jumped, according to NDTV.&nbsp;They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead. According to the report, police recovered a handwritten note and a diary from the room. In a message, the girls urged their parents to read the diary fully, stressing that it contained the truth. &nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really sorry. Sorry, Papa,&rdquo; the note read, followed by a crying emoji. Investigators also found a message written on the wall of the room stating, &ldquo;I am very, very alone, my life is very very alone.&rdquo; According to the police and the girls&rsquo; father, the siblings were reportedly addicted to an online Korean task-based game, an obsession that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. They had allegedly adopted Korean names for themselves and followed tasks assigned through the game. The note also reportedly mentioned: &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t leave Korea. Korea is our life. You can&rsquo;t free us. We are ending our lives.&rdquo; Police say they are examining the&nbsp;girls&#39; diaries, digital devices, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-state-mulls-social-media-ban-for-children" target="_blank">online activity</a>&nbsp;to determine the exact nature of the game and whether any external involvement was involved. Further investigation is ongoing.

Police recover a handwritten note and a diary from the room. In a message, the girls urged their parents to read the diary fully, stressing that it contained the truth.

Three Indian sisters die after roof jump following online gaming restrictions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan and calling for an immediate, aggressive, and coordinated national response. The resolution was tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and passed in response to coordinated terrorist attacks across the south-western province. The country&rsquo;s lower house condemned the attacks&nbsp;&ldquo;in the strongest terms&rdquo; in which innocent civilians were targeted, and women were used as weapons through &ldquo;heinous and inhumane&rdquo; tactics. Lawmakers expressed deep sorrow that terrorist networks were exploiting women through coercion, mental pressure, and blackmail, adding that such actions were contrary to Islamic, Pakistani, and Baloch values. The resolution praised timely and effective measures by security forces, law enforcement agencies, the provincial government of Balochistan, and the civil administration. expressing full solidarity with the families of martyrs and the injured. It clarified that attacks on civilians, women, and children are unforgivable crimes, and the state will act with zero tolerance. The resolution stated that available evidence points to external sponsorship, raising serious concerns about India&rsquo;s role. It noted that some neighboring countries provide logistical and operational facilitation, financial assistance, training, treatment, transport, and propaganda support to terrorist networks. It stated that an effective national response be ensured on an immediate, aggressive, coordinated, and emergency basis against foreign sponsors and internal facilitators. This includes funding networks, smuggling routes, and propaganda hubs, with political, diplomatic, military, intelligence, legal, and rhetorical fronts united. The lower house declared that the fight against terrorism is the fight of the entire nation. Lawmakers called for national unity across political lines and said that the state will ensure the protection and security of its people in every way.

Security

Lower house declares fight against terrorism is the fight of the entire nation; Lawmakers call for national unity across political lines, say state will ensure the protection and security of its people in every way.

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