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Separatists launched “coordinated” attacks across Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, killing at least 15 security personnel and 18 civilians, the military said — the latest violence in the insurgency-hit southwestern region.Officials said 92 militants including “three suicide bombers” were also killed.Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, with frequent attacks on security forces, foreign nationals and non-locals in the mineral-rich province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.The military’s media wing said in a statement that attacks had taken place in multiple locations including the provincial capital Quetta and Gwadar. “Eighteen innocent civilians” and 15 security personnel were killed, the military’s media wing (ISPR) said in a statement, putting the death toll among the militants at 92.The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the civilians were not immediately clear. Baloch separatists have previously targeted civilians believed to have collaborated with state agencies.A senior military official in Islamabad said the attacks were “coordinated but poorly executed”, adding that they had “failed due to poor planning and rapid collapse under effective security response”.- ‘Explosions one after another’ -Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for “foiling” the attacks.”We will continue the war against terrorism until its complete eradication,” he said in a statement, in which he accused India of backing the separatists.Police officials in four districts earlier told AFP that the attacks were not yet completely under control.In Quetta, Balochistan’s provincial capital, an AFP journalist heard several explosions as heavy security was deployed across the city, with major roads deserted and businesses shut.”Since morning, there have been explosions one after another,” Abdul Wali, 38, told AFP as he struggled to find blood for his hospitalised mother.”The police point guns at us and say ‘go back’, otherwise they beat us. What should we do?”A senior official in Quetta told AFP that militants had abducted a deputy district commissioner.A senior government official in another district said militants had “freed at least 30 inmates from a district jail, seizing firearms and ammunition. They also attacked a police station and took ammunition with them”.Mobile phone services have been jammed and traffic disrupted in the affected districts, while train services have been suspended across the province.The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active militant separatist group in the province, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement sent to AFP.- Suicide bombings -The group said it had targeted military installations and police and civil administration officials in gun attacks and suicide bombings.It said major highways were blocked to disrupt military operations.Several women were involved in the attacks, according to statements and videos released by the BLA.Saturday’s attacks came a day after the military said it had killed 41 insurgents in two separate operations in the province.”Over the past 12 months, security forces in Balochistan have sent more than 700 terrorists to hell, with around 70 terrorists eliminated in just the last two days alone,” said Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan province.”These attacks cannot weaken our resolve against terrorism.”Balochistan is Pakistan’s poorest province, despite an abundance of untapped natural resources, and lags behind the rest of the country in education, employment and economic development.Baloch separatists have intensified attacks on Pakistanis from other provinces working in the region in recent years, as well as foreign energy firms that they believe are exploiting its riches.The separatists attacked a train with 450 passengers on board last year, sparking a two-day siege during which dozens of people were killed.In August 2024, militants blew up bridges, stormed hotels and targeted security installations in assaults across the province that killed dozens.

Ishan Kishan hit his maiden T20 international century and Arshdeep Singh took five wickets as India thrashed New Zealand by 46 runs to seal the series 4-1 on Saturday.Kishan struck 103 off 43 balls as India posted 271-5 in Thiruvananthapuram after they elected to bat first in their final game ahead of the T20 World Cup starting next weekend.India, who are number one in the T20 rankings, bowled out New Zealand for 225 despite a 38-ball 80 by opener Finn Allen.Left-arm quick Arshdeep picked up his first five-wicket haul in T20 matches for India, taking 5-51. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel took three wickets.Arshdeep went for 40 runs and took one wicket in his first two overs but later gained his revenge.Allen and Rachin Ravindra put on 100 runs for the second wicket before the wheels soon came off for New Zealand as Allen departed.Arshdeep made further inroads with two wickets in an over including Ravindra, for 30, and skipper Mitchell Santner, for a duck.Ish Sodhi hit a valiant 33 off 15 balls before he fell as the last wicket with New Zealand bowled out in 19.4 overs.Earlier, India lost local boy Sanju Samson for six before Kishan took matters into his own hands in a 137-run third-wicket partnership with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who hit 63.Kishan took on leg-spinner Sodhi as he blasted four fours and two sixes in a 29-run 12th over. Suryakumar then reached his third fifty of the series with two successive sixes.Spinner Santner took down his opposite number when he had Suryakumar stumped, but Kishan raised his hundred off 42 balls with a six, jumping for joy as he soaked up the applause from the fans and dressing room.Kishan had been dropped by Glenn Phillips in the deep on 84, and eventually fell to Jacob Duffy — ending a knock featuring six fours and 10 sixes. Hardik Pandya kept up the charge though with a 17-ball 42 as India hammered 169 runs off the last 10 overs.India will begin their T20 World Cup title defence next Saturday when they play the United States in Mumbai.

Skipper Salman Agha hit his highest score in the shortest format before Pakistan’s spinners routed Australia by 90 runs in the second Twenty20 international in Lahore on Saturday.Agha hit a 40-ball 76 and Usman Khan smashed a 36-ball 53 as Pakistan made 198-5, their highest-ever T20I total against Australia. This was enough for Pakistan’s spin quintet who shared all ten wickets between them with Abrar Ahmed returning the best figures of 3-14 and Shadab Khan finishing with 3-26.Australia were routed for 108 in 15.4 overs, giving Pakistan their biggest T20I victory over Australia eclipsing the 66-run win in Abu Dhabi in 2018.The victory gives Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead after they won the first match by 22 runs, also in Lahore, on Friday.This is Pakistan’s first T20I series win over Australia since 2018. The final match is on Sunday, also in Lahore.Despite skipper Mitchell Marsh coming back after resting on Friday, the visiting batters had little answer to Pakistan’s spin assault.Ahmed dismissed Marsh for 18, Josh Inglis for five and Matthew Short for 27.Cameroon Green top scored with a 20-ball 35 before spinner Usman Tariq dismissed him on his way to figures of 2-16.Earlier, Agha and Usman led Pakistan to a fighting total after they won the toss and batted.Agha built the innings with Saim Ayub (11-ball 23) during a second wicket stand of 55 as Pakistan scored 72 runs in the power-paly.Agha’s previous highest in all T20 cricket was 68 not out.After Babar Azam failed with a five-ball two, Usman helped Agha add another quickfire 49 for the fourth wicket before Sean Abbott broke the stand.Agha smashed four sixes and eight fours in his sixth Twenty20 half century.Pakistan added a good 61 runs in the last five overs with Usman knocking two sixes and four fours in his second T20I half century while Shadab’s knock had two sixes and a four.The Usman-Shadab fifth-wicket stand yielded 63 runs off just 39 balls.Shadab finished with an unbeaten 20-ball 28. Pacer Xavier Bartlett and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann were expensive, conceding 92 runs between them in their eight overs.

Separatists launched “coordinated” attacks across Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, killing at least 10 security personnel and 11 civilians, an official said, the latest violence in the insurgency-hit southwestern region.Officials said dozens of militants were also killed in clashes triggered by the attacks, a day after the military said its forces had killed dozens of ethnic Baloch insurgents.Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, with frequent attacks on security forces, foreign nationals and non-locals in the mineral-rich province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.The senior security official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said “terrorists… launched coordinated attacks this morning at more than 12 locations”.”Ten security personnel were martyred while a few others were injured,” the official said, adding that 67 militants were killed in clashes.He said 11 Baloch civilians, including three women and three children, were also killed by militants.The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the civilians were not immediately clear. Baloch separatists have previously targeted civilians believed to have collaborated with state agencies.A senior military official in Islamabad said the attacks were “coordinated but poorly executed”, adding that they had “failed due to poor planning and rapid collapse under effective security response”.- ‘Explosions one after another’ -Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for “foiling” the attacks.”We will continue the war against terrorism until its complete eradication,” he said in a statement in which he accused India of backing the separatists.Police officials in four districts told AFP that the attacks were not yet completely under control.In Quetta, Balochistan’s provincial capital, an AFP journalist heard several explosions as heavy security was deployed across the city, with major roads deserted and businesses shut.”Since morning, there have been explosions one after another,” Abdul Wali, a 38-year-old private employee, told AFP as he struggled to find blood for his hospitalised mother.”The police point guns at us and say ‘go back’, otherwise they beat us. What should we do?”A senior official in Quetta told AFP that militants had abducted a deputy district commissioner.A senior government official in another district said militants had “freed at least 30 inmates from a district jail, seizing firearms and ammunition. They also attacked a police station and took ammunition with them”.Mobile phone services have been jammed and traffic disrupted in the affected districts, while train services have been suspended across the province.The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active militant separatist group in the province, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement sent to AFP.- Suicide bombings -The group said it had targeted military installations and police and civil administration officials in gun attacks and suicide bombings.It said major highways were blocked to disrupt military operations.Several women were involved in the attacks, according to statements and videos released by the BLA.Saturday’s attacks came a day after the military said it had killed 41 insurgents in two separate operations in the province.”Over the past 12 months, security forces in Balochistan have sent more than 700 terrorists to hell, with around 70 terrorists eliminated in just the last two days alone,” said Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan province.”These attacks cannot weaken our resolve against terrorism.”Balochistan is Pakistan’s poorest province, despite an abundance of untapped natural resources, and lags behind the rest of the country in education, employment and economic development.Baloch separatists have intensified attacks on Pakistanis from other provinces working in the region in recent years, as well as foreign energy firms that they believe are exploiting its riches.The separatists attacked a train with 450 passengers on board last year, sparking a two-day siege during which dozens of people were killed.In August 2024, militants blew up bridges, stormed hotels and targeted security installations in assaults across the province that killed dozens.

At least 10 security officials and 37 militants were killed as ethnic Baloch separatists launched “coordinated” attacks across Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, an official said, the latest violence in the insurgency-hit southwest region.Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces, foreign nationals and non-locals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.”The terrorists … launched coordinated attacks this morning at more than 12 locations”, a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.”Thirty-seven terrorists have been eliminated… Ten security personnel were martyred while a few others were injured,” the official added.A senior security official based in the provincial capital of Quetta told AFP at least four policemen were killed in Quetta, although it was not clear whether they were included in the 10 officials killed.A senior military official based in Islamabad confirmed the attacks, adding they were “coordinated but poorly executed”.The attacks “failed due to poor planning and rapid collapse under effective security response,” the official added.Separatists had also abucted the deputy commissioner of Nushki district, a senior official in Quetta told AFP.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for “foiling coordinated attacks” in 12 locations.”I, along with the entire nation, am proud of our martyrs,” Sharif said in a statement accusing India of backing the separatists.”We will continue the war against terrorism until its complete eradication from the country,” he said.At least four police officials in as many districts confirmed to AFP that the situation was not completely under control yet.Mobile phone services have been jammed and traffic disrupted in the affected districts, while train services have been suspended across the province.The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active militant separatist group in the province, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement sent to AFP.The group claimed to target military installations and police and civil administration officials during gun attacks and suicide bombings, adding that major highways were also blocked to disrupt the military’s operation.- ‘Explosions one after another’ -In Quetta, an AFP journalist heard several explosions as heavy security was deployed across the city, with major roads deserted and business activity shut down.”Since morning, there have been explosions one after another,” Abdul Wali, a 38-year-old private employee, told AFP as he struggled to find blood for his hospitalised mother.”The police point guns at us and say go back otherwise they beat us. What should we do?” he added.Saturday’s attacks come a day after the military said it had killed 41 insurgents in two separate operations in the province.Balochistan is Pakistan’s poorest province, despite an abundance of untapped natural resources, and lags behind the rest of the country in education, employment and economic development.Baloch separatists have intensified attacks on Pakistanis from neighbouring provinces working in the region in recent years, as well as foreign energy firms, which they believe are exploiting the province’s riches.Pakistan routinely accuses neighbouring India and Afghanistan of fomenting militancy.”Throughout the operation, the terrorists were reportedly in continuous contact with their handlers in Afghanistan,” the security official said.Last year, ethnic Baloch separatists attacked a train with 450 passengers on board, sparking a two-day siege during which dozens of people were killed.

Ali Akbar Akbar has been homeless, experienced extreme poverty and had been attacked. On Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron made Pakistan-born Akbar, believed to be the last newspaper hawker in Paris, a knight in the national order of merit in recognition of his service to France. The French president praised Akbar’s “incredible destiny”, thanking the septuagenarian for arriving from Pakistan decades ago, selling newspapers for 50 years and carrying France in his heart.”Dear Ali, thank you for bringing political news to our terraces at the top of your lungs, for warming the hearts of the Flore, the Deux Magots, the Lipp brasserie,” Macron said in his speech at the Elysee Palace, referring to some of the French capital’s iconic cafes.”You are the accent of the 6th arrondissement. The voice of the French press,” Macron told Akbar, who was surrounded by his family.Akbar, who is known for inventing sensational headlines, sells his wares round the upmarket streets of Saint-German-des-Pres where he has become a neighbourhood legend.French has “become your language”, Macron told the slim, sharply dressed man. “You have learned to play with it, making it your own.””You have carried, if I may say so, the world in your arms and France in your heart,” Macron added. He praised Akbar as an example of integration which “makes our country stronger and prouder.””He is a magnificent example at a time when we so often hear bad news,” Macron said.”There are also many stories like Ali’s, of women and men who fled poverty to choose a country of freedom.”Akbar said he was “deeply moved” and already knew what he would shout on the streets of Paris in the coming days.”That’s it, I’m a knight! I’ve made it!” he said at the Elysee.Akbar arrived in France, hoping to escape poverty and send back money to his family in Pakistan. He worked as a sailor then a dishwasher in a restaurant in the northern city of Rouen.Then in Paris he bumped into French humourist Georges Bernier who gave him the chance to sell his satirical newspapers Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo.Akbar said last year he could not believe Macron wanted to give him France’s top honour. “We often crossed paths when he was a student,” he said at the time.Akbar, who receives a pension of 1,000 euros ($1,175) a month, still works each day. On average, he sells about 30 newspapers every day, compared to between 150 and 200 when he started.He says he has no plans to give up “entertaining people with my jokes” any time soon.”I’m going to continue selling newspapers,” he said.

A half-century by Tim Seifert and skipper Mitchell Santner’s three wickets steered New Zealand to a 50-run consolation win over India in the fourth T20 international on Wednesday.New Zealand posted 215-7 after being put in to bat thanks to a century stand between openers Seifert, who hit 62 off 36 balls, and Devon Conway, who struck 44, in Visakhapatnam.Santner led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 26 as New Zealand dismissed India for 165, pulling one back after the hosts had sealed the five‑match series in the third game.The two teams now head into the fifth match on Saturday, the final tune-up ahead of the T20 World Cup starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.”There’s no better prep than playing India in India for a World Cup,” said Santner. “So we’ve got a couple of guys back for the next game, which is nice. But again, it’s about getting our plans right, getting the roles sorted for what we’ve got coming up in the Cup.”New Zealand started strongly with Seifert taking on Arshdeep Singh in the opening over with three successive fours and keeping up the attack in the next over off Harshit Rana.Conway joined the charge as New Zealand raced to 100 in 8.1 overs and Seifert reached his fifty in 25 balls.Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav broke through as he removed Conway with Rinku Singh taking his first of four catches in the innings.Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra, caught and bowled for two, in the next over and soon Arshdeep cut short Seifert’s knock with his left-arm pace.Kuldeep had Glenn Phillips out for 24 off 16 balls and suddenly New Zealand seemed to lose their way before Daryl Mitchell stepped in.Mitchell struck an unbeaten 18-ball 39 and hit two fours and three sixes to boost the Kiwi total.In reply, India lost swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma on the first ball with Matt Henry drawing a top edge to third man. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell in the next over, caught and bowled for eight off Jacob Duffy.Santner’s left-arm spin then accounted for Sanju Samson (24) and Hardik Pandya as India slipped to 63-4.Shivam Dube hit back in his 23-ball 65, clubbing seven sixes and three fours as he reached his fifty in just 15 deliveries.But he was run out in an unlucky manner when a shot from Rana grazed Henry’s hand and deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end.Wickets kept tumbling and the Indian innings folded in 18.4 overs, but Suryakumar said they would learn from the defeat.”Hopefully if we get an opportunity again, we might chase again,” said Suryakumar. “But at the end of the day, good learning.”

Nepal’s Election Commission said Wednesday it is ready to hold elections as planned, despite concerns over weather conditions in high-altitude Himalayan regions when the vote takes place on March 5.The poll follows deadly anti-corruption protests in September that toppled the previous government, prompting an accelerated election schedule and an unusual early-year date for voting.”As of today, we are prepared to conduct the election in all locations,” the commission’s assistant spokesman, Prakash Nyaupane, told AFP, saying logistical, administrative and security arrangements were progressing as planned.The elections were called after an interim government was formed to guide the nation of 30 million people following the resignation of veteran leader KP Sharma Oli.Former chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, is serving as interim prime minister until the vote.Nyaupane said the commission had consulted with political parties about the date, and “there is no alternative to this.””If we do not hold the elections on March 5, it will invite more trouble.”Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks including Mount Everest, faces particular challenges as many high-altitude areas may be snowbound that early in the year.Previous elections have typically been held in November, when the weather is milder.”We are moving ahead with preparations to hold the elections in all districts,” Nyaupane said, adding that helicopters will be used in five high-altitude districts for voting logistics.”It is a challenge for us if the climate is not favourable in Himalayan districts.”There are about 18.9 million eligible voters, including more than 800,000 first-time voters, who could cast ballots in 10,967 polling booths.The elections will determine the makeup of the 275-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with 165 members chosen in a direct vote and 110 through party lists.A total of 3,406 candidates have registered their names for the direct seats, according to the commission.

A Sri Lankan court handed the British owner of a Premier League team a four-year suspended sentence on Wednesday over match-fixing in the domestic T20 cricket tournament, a judicial official told AFP.Bangladesh-born Tamim Rahman, owner of Dambulla Thunders, admitted to allegations that he had attempted to influence a player and organise betting.Following his guilty plea, Rahman was convicted and handed a four-year jail term which was suspended for five years, the court official said, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.The Colombo High Court also fined the owner 24 million rupees ($80,000).The conviction was in line with a strict 2019 act aimed at preventing corruption in sports in Sri Lanka.Rahman’s arrest in 2024, which came after the player involved had alerted the authorities, was the first such detention of a Premier League official since it was established six years ago.He was apprehended at the airport in Colombo before boarding a flight to Dubai, and spent a few weeks in detention before being granted bail.The court official said a warrant was out for the arrest of team manager Mujeeb Ur Rehman, a Pakistani national, who was also implicated in the case.

Presiding over the signing of a major trade deal alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen broke into a large smile.A diplomatic and economic coup, the EU-India pact comes as a welcome piece of good news for Brussels after a tumultuous few weeks dominated by US threats over Greenland.Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, von der Leyen described it as a tale of “two giants who choose partnership” and “the best answer to global challenges”.In spite of its eye-tickling pollution, the Indian capital must have felt like a breath of fresh air for von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa, who co-led the EU delegation.As they flew away from Brussels over the weekend, the pair left behind a just-defused crisis in transatlantic relations and internal squabbling over another trade deal with South American nations.In New Delhi, authorities rolled out the red carpet for the pair, who were feted as guests of honour at India’s Republic Day parade.Posters emblazoned with their faces adorned lampposts across the city.Costa, whose family hails from Goa, proudly flashed his Indian identity card at a press conference where Modi celebrated him as “the Gandhi of Lisbon”.Meanwhile local media praised von der Leyen’s burgundy and gold brocade outfit — a nod to Indian fashion.It was a far cry from the scorn and threats reserved for Europe by its traditional ally the United States at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week.European officials had been hoping to make progress on Ukraine at the Swiss ski resort — a goal drowned out by US President Donald Trump’s push to wrest control of Greenland from EU member Denmark.- ‘Difficult job’ -Trump made an about-turn after talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte — a change of heart EU officials were keen to credit to Europe’s firm response — and the climbdown took the sting out of an emergency summit called on the Greenland issue.One year into Trump’s second term, Costa said the European Union has “learned how to manage” the ups and downs, and not to “react to each message”.”We need to keep calm and continue to have a polite, respectful relationship,” the council chief told AFP. “At the same time, we need to diversify our relationships”.But few in Europe believe the Greenland crisis was a one-off bump in the road, with the unpredictable US leader at the helm.Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s trade chief, told AFP he scours through newspaper headlines each morning in anticipation of “what else might happen”.”It’s indeed a difficult job,” he quipped.Yet he said the same was true for most other countries, which in turn found renewed appeal in what Europe has to offer: partnership, predictability and stability.India, for one, was left bruised by tariffs slapped on it by the White House over its purchase of Russian oil as New Delhi and Washington were negotiating a — so-far-elusive — trade deal.”The last year has turbocharged the European trade policy,” Sefcovic said.Pushing to reduce its dependencies on the United States and China and lower the cost of US tariffs, the EU was negotiating or looking to open talks with an array of nations including the Philippines, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia, he said.- ‘New opportunities’ -By cutting or eliminating tariffs on almost 97 percent of European exports, the deal struck in New Delhi will help ease access to India’s 1.4-billion-people-strong market for cars, wine, pasta and other EU products.But the signing also allowed Brussels to turn the page after a just-sealed pact with South American bloc Mercosur was cast into limbo by a legal challenge in the European parliament.That setback added to rancorous divisions among member states over the deal’s impact on European farmers, who remained deaf to the EU’s arguments and staged months of tractor-mounted protests against the accord.European officials hope the new India deal will also help bring the South Asian giant diplomatically closer to Europe.Neutral on Ukraine, New Delhi has relied on Moscow for key military hardware for decades, but has tried to cut its dependence by diversifying imports and pushing its own domestic manufacturing base.Modi said a security partnership struck alongside the trade deal would provide “new opportunities” for defence companies.While denying a pivot away from Russia, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said India was interested in hosting the joint production of European military kit.Monday’s Republic Day parade featured Russian helicopters and planes, alongside dancers and motorcycle daredevils.But, in perhaps a hint of things to come, it ended with a squad of French-made Rafale fighter jets zooming overhead.