Armed men have shot dead a traditional ruler, and kidnapped his wife plus one other person in south-western Nigeria, authorities say. The attackers stormed the palace of Segun Aremu - a retired army general and monarch whose official title is the Olukoro of Koro - on Thursday night. It is not clear who the gunmen were or whether they are demanding a ransom.   This latest killing and abduction comes days after campaigners demanded a state of emergency to deal with the issue. Some 50 civil society groups want President Bola Tinubu to make that declaration, saying more than 1,800 people had been abducted since he took office last May. But the true number of abductions during that time could be more than double that figure, at almost 4,000 people, says Nigerian risk consultancy SBM Intelligence.   No matter how desperate the circumstances, Nigerian law prohibits the payment of ransom money. However, many victims pay up because they do not trust authorities or their track record.   Condemning the killing of the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara state, as "reckless, shocking, and abominable", Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has vowed that the authorities would catch those responsible.   Police say a manhunt is under way. They have also promised the local community they will set up a police outpost. Nigeria is home to hundreds of traditional rulers, who have no constitutional role but are a respected presence in community life. They are often called upon to settle disputes between local people, and lead cultural activities.

The head constable of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police was killed after unknown assailants opened fire at him on Quetta's Jail Road late on Sunday night, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. According to officials, head Constable Saeed Ahmed, posted in the CTD, was sitting with his friends outside a shop in the Jail Road area when armed men riding motorcycles opened fire and fled from the spot, Dawn reported. Police said that the head constable received multiple gunshot wounds, which resulted in his death. Later, Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and police rushed to the site of the incident after receiving information regarding the incident. The FC personnel shifted the body to the civil hospital for medico-legal formalities. On September 9, a soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists in the North Waziristan area of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn reported citing the military wing. On September 6, four soldiers were killed and 12 terrorists were killed in an operation to repulse terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral district, Dawn reported. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in the press release said that the exchange of fire took place in the Mir Ali area. In the statement, ISPR said that Lance Naik Jamshed Khan was killed during his exchange of fire. It further said that the area was being sanitised to eliminate any terrorists found in the region. ISPR said, "Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve." Notably, Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terrorist activities in recent months, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year. Earlier in July, a think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said that 389 people died in terror and suicide attacks in half of the current year, according to Dawn. In the report, the data revealed that a total of 271 attacks had taken place in Pakistan during the period under review, which took 389 lives and injured 656 others, according to Dawn. Last year, in the same period, Pakistan witnessed 151 attacks, causing 293 deaths and 487 injuries. The figures depict a staggering 79 per cent increase in attacks during the first half of 2023 in comparison to the period last year.

Data from Reporters Without Borders shows that 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000. In 2022 alone, 13 members of the press were killed there. Nelson Matus, a Mexican crime journalist, was shot dead in the parking lot of a store on Saturday in the tourist town of Acapulco, regional officials said. The killing marks the second death of a working journalist within a week in what is known to be the most deadly country for members of the press. Luis Martin Sanchez, a journalist for the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, was found dead on July 8 "with signs of violence" after going missing in the state of Nayarit. About the incident Matus, who was the director of a local news outlet called Lo Real de Guerrero, was shot as he was getting into his car in a thrift store parking lot. According to police reports, officers received a call shortly after 3 p.m., informing them of the incident. Paramedics arrived at the scene to find Matus' lifeless body, which was identified with his belongings. The area was then cordoned off. The Attorney General's Office of the coastal state of Guerrero initiated an investigation for aggravated homicide. In a statement, it said that it "reiterates its commitment to exhaust every line of investigation" into Matus' death. In a 15-year-long career, Matus largely covered "red news" — a genre of journalism in Mexico that focuses on crime, violence and disasters, according to Balbina Flores, the Mexico delegate for Reporters Without Borders (RSF). His most recent report, published on Saturday, was about the discovery of "human remains in black bags (...) next to the La Palapa hotel" in the city.   No safe place for journalists The killings of Lo Real de Guerrero's Matus and La Jornada's Sanchez are only the most recent in a long string of violence, kidnappings and threats against members of the press. Data from RSF shows that 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000. Just in 2022, 13 journalists were killed in country, according to government data. Sanchez was one of three journalists who had been abducted in the western state of Nayarit, according to the prosecutor's office. While he was found dead with messages pinned to his chest, another former journalist was abducted from his home in the town of Xalisco earlier this month. The third journalist was found alive. Leftist newspaper La Jornada lost two of its most widely known reporters — Miroslava Breach and Javier Valdez — in a matter of months in 2017. The Federation of Journalists of Acapulco and the Association of Police Information Reporters in Guerrero condemned the murder and demanded a thorough investigation which culminates in punishment. 

Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was wanted in India with National Investigation Agency (NIA) having announced a cash reward on him, was gunned down outside a gurdwara in the parking area in Canada's Surrey, according to a report in Vancouver Sun. Hailing from Bharsinghpur village in Punjab's Jalandhar, Nijjar was based in Surrey and had been declared "absconder" by the NIA. Canada-based Vancouver Sun said Surrey RCMP S. Sgt. Tyner Gillies did not confirm the identity of the murder victim, who was found inside his grey truck in the parking lot. "Upon attendance police found an adult male inside a vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and provided medical assistance until Emergency Health Services arrived on scene. The man died of his injuries at the scene," Gillies said. He said the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team had been called in. "At this early stage of the investigation, any possible motives for the shooting are not yet known. Police are still working to determine possible suspect descriptions from multiple witnesses who were in the area," Gillies said, according to Vancouver Sun. "Surrey RCMP is aware of social media posts that are speculating on the identity of the victim, but are not in a position to confirm the victim's identity at this very early time," the official said, according to the report. It said Nijjar was married with two sons and worked as a plumber. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had in July last year announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on Nirjar in the case of killing of a Hindu priest in Jalandhar. "Hardeep Singh Nijjar is wanted by the National Investigation Agency in NIA case in the conspiracy hatched by Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operating under Nijjar, to kill a Hindu priest at Jalandhar," NIA had said in a release. "Hardeep Singh Nijjar is presently residing in Canada and is the Chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). Nijjar is also promoting the secessionist and violent agenda of Sikhs for Justice in India," it added. NIA was also probing cases against Nijjar including those related to "Punjab Referendum 2020 for Khalistan". 

It has been a while now since India released a list of upcoming G-20 meetings, it will host as this year’s president of the group of top economies. The list states a tourism working group meeting in Srinagar, the summer capital of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, in May. The meeting will mark the first major international event in the region since August 2019. The purpose of hosting the meetings at various locations across India suggests the country aims to showcase its geographical diversity and cultural richness to the world. It also provides an opportunity for different regions to showcase their development and investment potential to attract foreign investment and boost their local economies. It held G-20 tourism meetings in the states of Gujarat and West Bengal earlier this year and has scheduled another in the state of Goa in June. A similar historical event in Jammu and Kashmir also suggests that New Delhi wants to give a clear-cut message that the region is stable, peaceful and ready to engage globally after the revocation of its statehood in 2019. The move is also aimed at improving the image of the region and encouraging tourism and investment in the area. While India’s understanding and narrative of the situation, on its face value is backed by the recent developments suggesting a return to normalcy in Kashmir. The militant violence has subsided to an extent, despite the targeted killings of Hindus. Tourism figures for the region broke records last year, although tourism is mostly domestic and experts relate the rise to the post-Covid phenomenon. Investors are coming, too. In March, an Emirati property company also announced a $60 million project to build a shopping mall and offices in Srinagar. However, on the other front, things changed drastically with improvement in the overall situation in the region. India, by taking Pro-people initiatives, and plans to overhaul the fanatics of narratives spurred before abrogation is on its deathbed. As the situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains complex, and there are ongoing challenges in promoting peaceful dialogue and reconciliation in the region. After taking suitable steps the enemy engaged in Kashmir got a foul. Now the security and safety of the citizens improved resulting in new opportunities of possibilities. All this made people of the region happy and more happiness is expected to come in the shape of G-20. This has immensely reopened the paradise to the world. Further to it, the region is very happy under the governor’s rule, as it has served the best form of governance as was not expected. It comes in bad times with good results. It had left no criticism because it had conducted three tire elections first time in the region to ensure democracy at the gross root level to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The upcoming G-20 meeting to be held in the region is to be seen as an extension of India’s efforts to display its influence on global economies and suggest that the world stands by its side. Purposefully or otherwise, a loud and clear message will be delivered across the border, tremors of which can be felt within recent communications of the country. While Pakistan has failed to gather an audience for its concerns, India remains unchallenged and straightforward with regard to its policy on Jammu and Kashmir. The clear-cut foreign policy of keeping the country’s interests first, accompanied by economic manoeuvring. India has successfully held their viewpoint on Kashmir before the world platform. Holding such meetings make India stronger politically, economically and strategically in the realm of the international forum of leadership. Domestically the rhetoric of attracting foreign investments in the region following the G-20 meeting has picked up the pace. While the meeting has other purposes on the table, India truly aspires to attract foreign investments in the region from the major economies of the world. Taking a positive approach by conducting G-20 meeting in the vale will make the global community acquainted with the peace, and stability in the region claimed by India to the world community so far. This will also be helping India in isolating Pakistan at the international corium with regard to Jammu and Kashmir. So far, so good, people of the region are engaged in welcoming the event of G-20 meetings and are hopeful of a positive outcome for a long time. Source: greaterkashmir.com

Atiq Ahmed, imprisoned since 2019, was being taken to the hospital by police when gunmen posing as journalists opened fire at close range. The TV footage showed the assailants chanting Hindu slogans after the attack. A former Indian member of parliament and his brother were shot dead on live TV late Saturday while police brought them to a medical examination, authorities said. Atiq Ahmed, 61, who had been jailed since 2019 and was convicted of kidnapping, was being taken to hospital by police when gunmen posing as journalists opened fire at close range. "According to preliminary information, three persons posing as journalists approached them and opened fire...The attackers have been held and are being questioned," police official Prashant Kumar said. In anticipation of potential violent unrest following the murders, the Uttar Pradesh government prohibited gatherings of more than four people throughout the state. Killers shout slogans The attack took place in the northern city of Prayagraj. TV footage of the shooting showed the assailants chanting Hindu slogans after the attack. The slogan has become a rallying call for Hindu nationalists in their campaign against Muslims. Although both victims were from India's Muslim minority, authorities have not confirmed whether the attack was motivated by sectarianism. Ahmed and his brother had extensive involvement in India's criminal underworld, with Ahmed facing over 100 different cases. The gunmen were believed to be small-time criminals. Extra-judicial killings The incident comes just days after police in the same state of Uttar Pradesh shot dead Ahmed's 19-year-old son and another person in a shootout. Both were wanted in a case of murder. Scores of people facing charges have been killed in the state in recent years in similar so-called "police encounters", which rights groups say are often extra-judicial executions. Ahmed, who was facing charges of murder and assault, had claimed in a petition to India's top court that his life was under threat. Politicians face criminal charges The shooting prompted a ban on gatherings of more than four people in the northern state of 200 million people ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was also condemned by opposition parties who accused the BJP of ruling by fear. Numerous politicians from all political parties throughout India are facing criminal charges, with Uttar Pradesh being a particular hub for such cases. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, nearly half of the state's government ministers — including the state premier — face criminal charges.

Once popular with filmakers for its scenic locations and pristine landscape, Jammu and Kashmir fell behind in the pecking order of shooting destinations as militancy peaked. However, with the revival of cinema, Jammu and Kashmir has been the centre of attraction for filmmakers over the last couple of years. Following the implementation of the new Jammu and Kashmir Film Policy in 2021, the Union Territory has been emerging as a preferred shooting location for the film industry and more than 150 films and web series have been shot in the UT in less than 2 years. After recording a sharp upturn in the number of tourists and air traffic in 2022, the UT is being promoted at all global fora to further explore the tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir. Owing to the efforts of the Department of Tourism and other stakeholders over the past two years, Jammu and Kashmir is now opening up for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and tourism (MICE). Over the past couple of months, many corporate delegations have visited Kashmir and many more visits are lined up for the coming season. Executives of travel companies visit the valley with their clients, helping Kashmir emerge as a corporate tourism destination as well. According to the administration, the UT has all the infrastructure, services and tourism packages required for MICE tourism. In addition to introducing adventure activities, it is working in a holistic manner to attract tourists across all segments through promotions, roadshows, and events. A senior official told local media that the administration was also working on a regular basis to maintain the interest of tourists. According to the official, for the first time in the history of the UT, a record 1.88 million tourists visited Kashmir last year. The Jammu and Kashmir administration is also focused on exploring the full potential of pilgrim tourism by developing various religious tourism circuits in the Centrally-Administered Territories. The facilities and infrastructure are being strengthened to keep in view the increasing number of devotees. According to official data, the construction work of the Mantlai Wellness Center has been completed at a cost of Rs 80 crore and the design of the Katra Multi-modal Station has been finalised. Work on the Tawi Riverfront is also underway full swing while Mansar and Surinsar have carved their place on the country's tourism map. The government, according to the administration, is working tirelessly to open the Sanasar Tulip Garden for locals as well as tourists this year. Conservation and renovation of 18 historical heritage sites in Jammu, Kathua, Ramban, Reasi, Samba and Udhampur will start soon. Jumbo Zoo will be opened to the public in April this year. Source: ANI

The object was downed over Lake Huron following two other such incidents in Alaska and Canada in recent days. Earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said investigators were hunting for wreckage in north-west Canada. US President Joe Biden ordered the military to shoot down another unidentified flying object above Lake Huron, near the border with Canada, on Sunday. "We did not assess it to be a kinetic military threat to anything on the ground, but assess it was a safety flight hazard and a threat due to its potential surveillance capabilities," the Department of Defense said. The object, which had an octagonal shape with no discernible payload, was shot down out of an "abundance of caution," a senior US official added. It is the third unidentified object to be shot down by American fighter jets in as many days, after similar incidents in Alaska and Canada. "We need the facts about where they are originating from, what their purpose is, and why their frequency is increasing," said US Representative Debbie Dingell from the state of Michigan, which lies south of the lake. Tension over what the US sees as attempted spying peaked after a massive Chinese balloon was sighted above the US in late January. China insisted the balloon was a "civilian airship used for research," while the US described it as a "spy balloon" and shot it down Downed UFOs 'much smaller' than Chinese balloon — White House Earlier on Sunday, a White House spokesperson said the flying objects which the US shot down over Alaska and Canada in the last few days were much smaller than the Chinese balloon which was downed a week ago. On Saturday, US fighter jets shot down an object flying over Yukon near the US border with Canada, after shooting down another flying object a day before near Deadhorse, Alaska. "These objects did not closely resemble and were much smaller than the PRC balloon and we will not definitively characterize them until we can recover the debris, which we are working on," the Reuters news agency quoted the spokesperson as saying. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said one of the objects had violated Canadian airspace. He added in a tweet late on Saturday that Canadian forces will recover and analyze the wreckage. What do we know about the flying objects? The Canadian Prime Minister said the unidentified object was brought down by a US F-22, as per his orders. "Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object," Trudeau said, adding that he was in touch with US President Joe Biden. Earlier on Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told the ABC broadcaster that the shot down objects were balloons, though smaller than the Chinese "spy balloon." Schumer said he had been briefed the night before by Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan. He added that the two objects also flew at a lower altitude of about 40,000 feet (around 12,200 meters). The surveillance balloon had flown at about 60,000 feet. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said on Sunday they had temporarily restricted flights over the Lake Michigan area.  The restriction was carried out to "ensure the safety of air traffic in the area during NORAD operations," it said, without giving details on the nature of the operations. The measure has since been lifted. The sight of the Chinese balloon drifting over the US prompted to a political uproar in Washington, bringing into focus the challenges China posed to the US and its allies.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the wreckage of the unidentified object shot down over northern Canada would be recovered and analyzed by experts. An unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace was shot down by the US military over northern Canada on Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. "Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled, and a US F-22 successfully fired at the object," Trudeau said in a tweet. The incident comes a day after US jets shot down an unknown object off the coast of Alaska on Friday afternoon. Shortly before Trudeau's tweet, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it detected an object flying at high altitude over Canada, but gave no further details. In a second tweet, Trudeau added that he had spoken with US President Biden and that Canadian forces would recover and "analyze the wreckage of the object." The unknown object was the third such known violation in North American airspace over the last two weeks. What to know about unknown objects detected so far John Kirby, the spokesman for the US National Security Council, said on Friday at a news conference that an unknown object was downed because it posed a "reasonable threat" to safety of civilian flights. Kirby said they did not have any information on whether the object, which he described as roughly the size of a small car, was a spying device. Friday's incident marked a second time that a US fighter aircraft brought down a balloon in less than a week. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters on February 4 that a balloon, which was shot down that day, was being used "in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States." Biden also broke his silence on February 4, telling reporters that he ordered the surveillance device be taken out but that the US military had to wait till it was safe for them to do so. China's Foreign Ministry said that week that the suspected surveillance device was an airship used for scientific research including meteorology, a claim that has been dismisssed by US officials. Last week, the Republican-led House, in a rare display of bipartisanship, passed a resolution condemning China's use of the surveillance balloon.

Prominent attorney Abdul Latif Afridi was slain by a gunman dressed in full judicial robes while lounging with coworkers in a break room at Peshawar High Court. A prominent Pakistani lawyer was shot and killed by a colleague in the Peshawar High Court on Monday. Abdul Latif Afridi, a former president of Pakistan's lawyers union and a human rights activist, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, according to police. "The killer, a junior lawyer who was wearing his gown, opened fire at close range and then handed himself over to the police," said Ijaz Khan, a senior police official. A legal assistant, Muhammad Rizwan, who witnessed the shooting, said the attacker told police: "don't shoot, I had a feud with him and I have taken my revenge," before being arrested. The attacker had reportedly previously accused Afridi of orchestrating the killing of his father. Pakistan prime minister pays tribute Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing. In a statement he described Afridi, who also served in the national assembly in the 1990s, as "a seasoned jurist and a brave politician who was known for his righteousness." Sharif also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is the capital.