Pak’s Punjab police kills 10 ‘suspects’
LAHORE, May 6: Pakistan’s Punjab police have reportedly killed 10 suspects in separate “encounters” over two days, bringing the alleged death toll to more than 1,100 in the past year, according to rights groups. The Crime Control Department (CCD), formed under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, said the individuals were wanted criminals involved in serious offences including murder, robbery, extortion, and attacks on citizens.
The CCD stated that the suspects were killed during confrontations in which they allegedly opened fire on police. However, human rights organisations, including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, have raised concerns, alleging a pattern of staged encounters and extrajudicial killings. The HRCP claims over 1,100 suspects have been killed in such incidents over the past year, describing it as an “institutionalised practice” and calling for a judicial inquiry.
Opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, led by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, has also condemned the killings, alleging political misuse of the force and demanding accountability.
The CCD denies these accusations, insisting its operations target armed criminals and involve necessary use of force. (PTI)
Hantavirus outbreak: Three evacuated to Europe
CAPE VERDE, May 6: Three passengers with suspected hantavirus infections are being evacuated from a cruise ship to the Netherlands as health authorities respond to an outbreak on board. The vessel, carrying nearly 150 people off Cape Verde and heading toward Spain’s Canary Islands, has reported three deaths and eight infections, including three confirmed cases. The World Health Organization said contact tracing is underway across Europe and Africa as passengers from 23 nationalities were on board. Most remaining passengers are asymptomatic and isolating. The outbreak is believed to involve the Andes strain of hantavirus, typically linked to rodent exposure, with rare human-to-human transmission. Officials suspect infections began before boarding in South America. WHO experts say public risk is low, though severe cases can require intensive care. The ship continues toward the Canary Islands under monitoring. (AP)
CNN founder Ted Turner dies at 87
NEW YORK, May 6: Ted Turner, founder of CNN and a trailblazing media entrepreneur, has died at age 87, CNN reported. Turner reshaped global journalism by launching CNN in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour news channel, fundamentally changing how news is delivered and consumed. Known for his outspoken and risk-taking personality, he built a vast media empire that included cable networks, sports teams, and film studios before selling Turner Broadcasting to Time Warner in 1996. He later devoted much of his life to philanthropy, donating about $1 billion to United Nations causes and investing heavily in land conservation, including large wildlife holdings. In his later years, he suffered from Lewy Body Dementia. (AP)
