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Thursday, March 13, 2025

How Pakistani forces raided a hijacked train and saved passengers in Balochistan

   





How Pakistani forces raided a hijacked train and saved passengers in Balochistan 

The Baloch Liberation Army, which took credit for the assault, detonated the railway track and launched rockets at the Jaffar Express on Tuesday. 

The tense atmosphere inside the Jaffar Express was shattered by a series of gunshots as Pakistani security troops stormed the seized train on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all 33 separatist fighters and the rescue of numerous passengers. 

The prolonged standoff, filled with explosions and threats to hostages, started when Baloch militants targeted the train in Balochistan, demanding the release of inmates. 

As elite forces advanced, militants with suicide vests were mingled among frightened travelers. In a final coordinated attack, commandos took out the assailants. However, this incident resulted in the deaths of 21 passengers and four members of the security forces. 


"Today, we rescued a significant number of individuals, including women and children... The concluding operation was executed with utmost caution," military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry was quoted by Reuters as saying. He also mentioned that there were no civilian casualties in the final phase of the operation. 


The Baloch Liberation Army, which took credit for the assault, detonated the railway track and launched rockets at the Jaffar Express on Tuesday. 

The train, with 440 passengers on board, was en route from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it became a target. 


Prior to the announcement from the army, the Baloch Liberation Army asserted that it had killed 50 passengers on Wednesday evening. On Tuesday, it claimed to have taken 214 individuals hostage, primarily security personnel.


NASA and SpaceX Delay Mission to Retrieve Stranded Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore

                                       

 

NASA and SpaceX Delay Mission to Retrieve Stranded Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore


Just under an hour before the scheduled launch, SpaceX postponed the Falcon 9 rocket launch from Florida, which was meant to carry four astronauts replacing the stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.


As stated by NASA and SpaceX, today's Crew-10 mission launch to the International Space Station has been cancelled due to a problem with the hydraulic system of a ground support clamp arm associated with the Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A in NASA's Kennedy Space Center. 


NASA is now targeting a launch no sooner than 7:03 PM EDT (4:33 AM IST) on Friday, March 14. “Mission managers convened this evening and opted to cancel the launch attempt on Thursday, March 13, owing to predicted strong winds and rain in the flight path of the Dragon,” the agency announced.


NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, have exited the Dragon spacecraft safely. The rocket remains unharmed as well.


The plan was for the SpaceX Crew Dragon to transport Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back if everything had proceeded smoothly by March 19. NASA had planned for a faster turnaround for the SpaceX Crew Dragon to reduce the consumption of resources at the International Space Station.



Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Russia neutralizes 337 Ukrainian drones in a large-scale strike as U.S. officials advocate for peace negotiations

 



Russia neutralizes 337 Ukrainian drones in a large-scale strike as U.S. officials advocate for peace negotiations 

Russia neutralizes 337 Ukrainian drones in a large-scale strike as U.S. officials advocate for peace negotiations 

According to military authorities on Tuesday, Russian air defense systems intercepted 337 Ukrainian drones across ten different regions in Russia overnight, marking what seems to be the largest Ukrainian drone assault on Russia during the three-year conflict. 

This offensive occurred just hours before critical discussions between Ukraine and the U.S. began in Saudi Arabia aimed at resolving Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II. Officials reported that two individuals lost their lives and 18 were wounded, with three of them being children. 

Simultaneously, a high-ranking Ukrainian delegation was scheduled to engage with the U.S. Secretary of State in Saudi Arabia regarding the conclusion of the three-year-long war with Russia. No immediate responses were provided by Ukrainian or American officials concerning the strike. 


The conversations taking place in Saudi Arabia signify a renewed diplomatic effort following an extraordinary dispute that arose during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House on February 28. On Monday, Ukrainian officials informed The Associated Press that a ceasefire covering the Black Sea would be proposed, which would enhance security for shipping, along with long-range missile attacks that have affected civilians in Ukraine and discussions on releasing prisoners. 

The Kremlin has not made any public concessions. Russia has stated its willingness to halt hostilities if Ukraine abandons its NATO aspirations and acknowledges the regions that Moscow currently controls as part of Russia. 


For over a year, Russian forces have maintained an advantage in battlefield momentum, advancing at selective locations along the 1,000-kilometer front line, particularly in the eastern Donetsk area.

US Vice President JD Vance to visit India with Usha Vance this month: Report

 



US Vice President JD Vance to visit India with Usha Vance this month: Report 

US Vice President JD Vance to visit India with Usha Vance this month: Report 

According to a report from Politico on Wednesday, US Vice President JD Vance will travel to India this month with Second Lady Usha Vance. 

This trip marks Vance's second overseas journey as vice president, following his recent trips to Germany and France. 

During his inaugural international visit, Vice President JD Vance made waves at the Munich Security Conference with a pointed critique of European nations regarding illegal immigration, religious liberties, and the integrity of elections. 


His address took allies by surprise, as they were expecting discussions concerning a possible peace resolution between Russia and Ukraine. 


Usha Vance, whose family emigrated from India to the US, will be visiting her heritage country for the first time in her role as second lady. 


On January 21, 2025, Usha Vance became the first Indian-American Hindu to hold the position of Second Lady after her husband, JD Vance, was inaugurated as the 50th Vice President of the United States. 


Earlier in February, during a meeting in Paris, JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about shared interests, which included US backing for India's energy diversification with clean and “dependable” nuclear technologies.

Ukraine Consents to Ceasefire Initiative, US Declares "Responsibility Lies with Russia"

 


 


Ukraine Consents to Ceasefire Initiative, US Declares "Responsibility Lies with Russia"


Ukraine has accepted a United States-led initiative for a month-long ceasefire and has committed to prompt discussions with Russia during pivotal meetings in Jeddah on Tuesday, following three years of relentless conflict.


This encouraging reaction from Ukraine led President Donald Trump’s administration to lift a hold on military support and to foresee a resolution to the three years of warfare.


With Trump surprisingly pressuring allies while engaging with Moscow, Ukrainian representatives arrived in Saudi Arabia looking to mend relations and suggested a limited ceasefire for both aerial and maritime confrontations.


Trump’s advisors advocated for further measures, stating that Ukraine acquiesced to their request for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire in a conflict that has resulted in countless fatalities.


"Today we presented an offer which the Ukrainians have approved, allowing them to engage in a ceasefire and to begin immediate negotiations," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed journalists after nearly nine hours of discussions in a lavish hotel in Jeddah.


"We will present this offer to the Russians, and we anticipate they will endorse peace. The decision is now theirs to make."


"If they decline, we will regrettably identify what stands in the way of peace here," Rubio remarked regarding Russia, which commenced a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.


Rubio noted that the United States would promptly reinstate military assistance and intelligence collaboration, which had been suspended to exert pressure on its wartime ally after a troubling meeting on February 28 involving Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.


In Washington, Trump expressed his willingness to receive Zelensky back at the White House and mentioned the possibility of speaking with President Vladimir Putin later this week.


In response to a question about the likelihood of an overall ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump replied, "Well, I am hopeful that it will come within the next few days; I would like to see that."

Pakistan train hijacking: Security personnel eliminate 16 militants, save 104 hostages in ongoing mission

 



Pakistan train hijacking: Security personnel eliminate 16 militants, save 104 hostages in ongoing mission


The Jaffar Express, which had 400 individuals on board, was en route to Peshawar when BLA insurgents halted its progress in a tunnel located near the Gudalar and Piru Kunri hills. 

On Tuesday, following a hijacking incident in Balochistan province by militants, the nation's security forces have killed at least 16 hijackers and successfully rescued 104 travelers. 

The Jaffar Express, which features nine carriages and was moving from Quetta to Peshawar, was intercepted by armed members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in a tunnel close to the rugged landscape of Gudalar and Piru Kunri on Tuesday afternoon. 


During an ongoing clash with the militants, security personnel succeeded in freeing 104 individuals, including women and children, as reported by PTI based on insider information. 


The report specified that the operation will persist until every passenger is safely extracted from the train. 


It has been reported that some of the abducted individuals were taken into the nearby mountains, where security forces are actively tracking them through the darkness. 


As per the information provided by sources in the PTI report, the freed passengers, which include 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children, were transported to Mach (a town located in the Kachhi district of Balochistan province in Pakistan) via another train.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

"Retract Words If Offensive": M Kharge Amidst Intense Dispute Over Remarks

"Retract Words If Offensive": M Kharge Amidst Intense Dispute Over Remarks
"Retract Words If Offensive": M Kharge Amidst Intense Dispute Over Remarks
"Retract Words If Offensive": M Kharge Amidst Intense Dispute Over Remarks


 "Retract Words If Offensive": M Kharge Amidst Intense Dispute Over Remarks


On Tuesday afternoon in the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's statement about his party being ready to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party sparked a heated controversy after BJP MPs raised objections to what they described as a "derogatory" word aimed at the Chair.


The comments made by the Congress leader were criticized by BJP chief and Leader of the House JP Nadda, labeling them as "inexcusable." He stated, "...he must apologize and the term needs to be removed."


In response, Mr. Kharge quickly expressed regret and voluntarily retracted his statement—which loosely translates as 'targeting' someone in Hindi. "I apologize. I wasn't referring to you (the Chair)... It pertained to governmental policies. I regret if my words offended you. I am sorry," he explained.


The altercation arose from Monday's turmoil—an intense conflict between the central government and Tamil Nadu concerning delimitation and the supposed 'imposition' of Hindi through the new education policy's three-language system. Afterward, the BJP faced criticism for its use of inappropriate language.


The ruling party in Tamil Nadu, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, took offense to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's harsh statements regarding Tamil Nadu, which included labeling the state as "dishonest." Chief Minister MK Stalin criticized Mr. Pradhan for being "arrogant" and "acting like a king."


Mr. Pradhan's comments led to demonstrations from DMK MPs both within the Parliament and outside it, and senior DMK leader K Kanimozhi subsequently submitted a privilege motion against the Education Minister.


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March 11, 2025 at 03:55PM
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March 11, 2025 at 04:13PM
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March 11, 2025 at 05:13PM

US Intelligence Chief's Statement on the Crisis in Bangladesh

US Intelligence Chief's Statement on the Crisis in Bangladesh   US Intelligence Chief's Statement on the Crisis in Bangladesh T...