Pakistani troops suffer losses in Baloch attacks
QUETTA, April 10: Pakistani forces were attacked in Balochistan’s Turbat district after a Baloch armed group reportedly blocked a road for several hours, seized a nearby police post, and took weapons before ambushing a military convoy. According to local media cited by The Balochistan Post, six military vehicles were targeted near the Mashallah Hotel, triggering a firefight that lasted over 40 minutes. The group also allegedly damaged surveillance infrastructure and disrupted communications in the area. In separate incidents, militants carried out snap checkpoints in Mastung district and reportedly destroyed a gas pipeline near Sibi Teaching Hospital, affecting local gas supply. A military camp in the Spilinji area was also struck in a drone attack, with multiple drones used and reports of casualties among troops, though losses have not been independently confirmed. Another drone strike in Kalat district was previously claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army. The escalation reflects a surge in coordinated militant activity across Balochistan, with ongoing clashes and rising instability reported in the region. (IANS)
Afghanistan storms kill 148, injure 216 in two weeks
KABUL, April 10: At least 148 people have been killed and 216 injured across Afghanistan in the past two weeks due to severe weather, including heavy rains, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes, and lightning, according to disaster authorities cited by local media. Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan is among the worst affected, with 24 deaths and 33 injuries reported in just two days. Authorities say collapsing roofs, floods, and storms caused widespread destruction, including the damage or destruction of over 1,100 homes, roads, and farmland. More than 7,500 families have been impacted, and key transport routes have been disrupted, leaving some residents stranded. The United Nations and other reports indicate over 73,000 people affected nationwide, with thousands of homes and large areas of farmland destroyed, raising concerns about food insecurity. Emergency response efforts, including evacuations, are ongoing as officials warn that further extreme weather could worsen the situation in the coming days. (IANS)
Nepal: Rubi Thakur, 26, elected Deputy Speaker
KATHMANDU, April 10: Rubi Kumari Thakur, 26, has been elected as Nepal’s youngest-ever Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. She won 229 votes in the 275-member House with backing from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and allied parties. Elected through proportional representation from the Shram Sanskriti Party, Thakur meets Nepal’s constitutional requirement that one of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker posts be held by a woman from a different party. Born in Dhanusha district in 2000, she comes from a modest background and previously worked in engineering-related jobs before entering politics, marking a generational shift in Nepal’s leadership. (IANS)
