Sabeen Mehmud shot dead for holding seminar on torture in Balochistan
A civil liberties activist in Pakistan was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Karachi on Friday. Sabeen Mahmud and her mother were attacked as they on their way home after the former hosted a talk on allegations of torture in the Balochistan province of the country. Media reports stated that Mahmud, who was shot five times, died on her way to hospital. The reports added that her mother was in a critical condition at the hospital. While no group claimed responsibility for the attack, Mahmud was believed to have received death threats from the Pakistani Taliban. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj ul Haq condemned the attack, calling it “shocking and horrific”.
Armenia holds memorial service to mark centenary of mass killings by Ottoman Empire
Armenia on Friday held a memorial service to mark the centenary of the start of mass killings of the country’s residents by the Turkish Ottoman Empire during World War I. The Presidents of France and Russia were among those who attended the memorial in the country’s capital city of Yerevan. Meanwhile, Turkey also held ceremonies to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli. However, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan accused Turkey of “trying to divert world attention” from the remembrance ceremonies. Armenia has maintained that up to 1.5 million people died in the killings. However, Turkey has disputed the figure, adding that innocent Muslim Turks also died during the war.
551 civilians killed in Yemen last month, says United Nations
The United Nations on Friday said that 551 civilians, including 115 children, had been killed in Yemen since the Saudi Arabia-led coalition began its bombing of the country on March 26. Saudi Arabia later called a meeting with major UN aid agencies to discuss the improvement of the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemen. Meanwhile, clashes between the Houthi rebels and government forces continued in various parts of the country. Tribal officials said that at least 15 people had been killed in the Marib province.
Fourteen migrants killed in Macedonia after being hit by train
Fourteen migrants were killed in Macedonia after being hit a by a train heading for the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Thursday night. Reports stated that the victims had been part of a larger group of around 50 migrants, who were allegedly following the tracks in an attempt to cross through to the European Union. A state prosecutor said that most of the group appeared to be from Somalia and Afghanistan. “The driver saw a large group, dozens of people,” the prosecutor said in a statement. “The train was unable to stop before hitting and running over some of them.”
South African President assures foreign nationals of protection
South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday assured foreign nationals in the country of maximum protection from the government. He stated that his government was doing everything in its power to ensure that xenophobic attacks in the country never happened again. Zuma’s assurances came weeks after a wave of attacks on foreign nationals in the country. He also met the leaders of organisations representing foreigners in South Africa to discuss the issue. “I think all of us have agreed that the majority of people in this country are not xenophobic but there are just a few who use the situation for their own ends,” Zuma said.
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A civil liberties activist in Pakistan was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Karachi on Friday. Sabeen Mahmud and her mother were attacked as they on their way home after the former hosted a talk on allegations of torture in the Balochistan province of the country. Media reports stated that Mahmud, who was shot five times, died on her way to hospital. The reports added that her mother was in a critical condition at the hospital. While no group claimed responsibility for the attack, Mahmud was believed to have received death threats from the Pakistani Taliban. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Siraj ul Haq condemned the attack, calling it “shocking and horrific”.
Armenia holds memorial service to mark centenary of mass killings by Ottoman Empire
Armenia on Friday held a memorial service to mark the centenary of the start of mass killings of the country’s residents by the Turkish Ottoman Empire during World War I. The Presidents of France and Russia were among those who attended the memorial in the country’s capital city of Yerevan. Meanwhile, Turkey also held ceremonies to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli. However, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan accused Turkey of “trying to divert world attention” from the remembrance ceremonies. Armenia has maintained that up to 1.5 million people died in the killings. However, Turkey has disputed the figure, adding that innocent Muslim Turks also died during the war.
551 civilians killed in Yemen last month, says United Nations
The United Nations on Friday said that 551 civilians, including 115 children, had been killed in Yemen since the Saudi Arabia-led coalition began its bombing of the country on March 26. Saudi Arabia later called a meeting with major UN aid agencies to discuss the improvement of the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemen. Meanwhile, clashes between the Houthi rebels and government forces continued in various parts of the country. Tribal officials said that at least 15 people had been killed in the Marib province.
Fourteen migrants killed in Macedonia after being hit by train
Fourteen migrants were killed in Macedonia after being hit a by a train heading for the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Thursday night. Reports stated that the victims had been part of a larger group of around 50 migrants, who were allegedly following the tracks in an attempt to cross through to the European Union. A state prosecutor said that most of the group appeared to be from Somalia and Afghanistan. “The driver saw a large group, dozens of people,” the prosecutor said in a statement. “The train was unable to stop before hitting and running over some of them.”
South African President assures foreign nationals of protection
South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday assured foreign nationals in the country of maximum protection from the government. He stated that his government was doing everything in its power to ensure that xenophobic attacks in the country never happened again. Zuma’s assurances came weeks after a wave of attacks on foreign nationals in the country. He also met the leaders of organisations representing foreigners in South Africa to discuss the issue. “I think all of us have agreed that the majority of people in this country are not xenophobic but there are just a few who use the situation for their own ends,” Zuma said.