At least 16 people were killed when Pakistani Army and Rangers opened fire on protesters in Rawalakot in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), while more than 37 people are said to be injured. The incident took place when thousands of people were protesting against inflation, increase in electricity tariffs and demanding basic political-economic rights. According to local sources, a large number of people had gathered at the Idgah ground in Rawalakot. Meanwhile, the security forces opened fire on the crowd. After the firing, there was chaos on the spot and the injured were taken to the hospital. For the last several days, a movement has been going on in POK demanding cheap electricity, subsidized wheat-rice and more rights. Recently, tensions increased further after the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) was banned. The administration has made several arrests and has also shut down internet services in some areas. After the Rawalakot incident, protests intensified in many areas including Khai Gala. Markets remained closed and people marched against the action of security forces. Women, children and elderly also participated in the demonstration. According to local claims, 53 civilians have died so far during the ongoing agitation since June 5. Protest leaders have said that they will continue their agitation demanding economic relief and democratic rights. India condemned the incident as a “genocide” and said it reflected the repression of people’s rights in areas under Pakistan’s control. India has appealed to the international community to take cognizance of the matter and to Pakistan to respect the rights of the people. Other big news related to international affairs… Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who was in coma for more than 3 years, passes away. Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha passed away at the age of 47. She was in coma since December 2022. The Thai royal family announced on Friday that despite continued medical efforts, his condition continued to deteriorate and he died at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok on Thursday evening. Princess Bajrakitiyabha was exercising with her dogs in December 2022 when she suddenly fainted. Doctors later revealed that she had a mycoplasma infection in her heart, which caused severe irregular heartbeats and left her in a coma. Bajrakitiyabha, born on 7 December 1978, was the eldest child of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn. He studied law and obtained two master’s degrees from Cornell University, USA. After working with the Thai Mission to the United Nations, he served in the Attorney General’s Office in Thailand. From 2012 to 2014, she was Thailand’s Ambassador to Austria. During this period, she played an active role on the issue of prison reforms and rights of women prisoners. Later she was also the ‘Rule of Law’ Ambassador of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In 2021, King Vajiralongkorn appointed him Chief of Staff of his personal security unit and gave him the rank of general. Due to his administrative abilities and public image, he was also seen as a potential successor to the Thai monarchy. The king has not yet declared his official successor. In such a situation, the death of Princess Bajrakitiyabha has created new uncertainty regarding succession in the Thai royal family. Many royalists considered her a possible candidate to assume the role of queen or regent in the future. A. On sending drones to Korea. South Korea’s Seoul District Court has sentenced former President of Korea Yun Suk Yeol to an additional 30 years in prison for provoking tension by sending drones to North Korea. The court held that the purpose of this campaign was to create an emergency situation by provoking North Korea and later to create an environment for imposing martial law. The court convicted Yoon Suk Yeol, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command Yoo In-hyung and former head of the Drone Operations Command Kim Yong-dae of treason and abuse of power. The court said that these officials provoked North Korea under the guise of military operations, which increased the risk of military conflict between the two countries. The verdict said the drones were sent to drop propaganda material on Pyongyang in October 2024. According to the court, this action was taken on the instructions of Yun Suk Yeol and he expected North Korea to retaliate. The prosecution claimed that the operation was part of preparations to impose martial law in December 2024. Yun imposed martial law on December 3, saying the country needed to be protected from “anti-national forces”, but he had to withdraw the decision after massive public protests. Yoon Suk Yeol is already serving a life sentence in a rebellion case. Apart from this, he has also been given a separate punishment of five years in the case of misuse of power and obstructing arrest. The defense said in court that the drone campaign was a response to North Korea’s actions of sending balloons filled with garbage. However, the court rejected this argument and accepted the allegations of the prosecution as true. This case deepened the political crisis in South Korea. In subsequent elections, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, came to power and the political leadership in the country changed. America will reduce fighter aircraft and warships for NATO operations in Europe America is preparing a major cut in the number of fighter aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and warships made available for NATO operations in Europe. According to media reports, this step may affect NATO’s long-range attack and surveillance capabilities. According to reports, the US is planning to reduce the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter aircraft available for NATO operations from about 150 to 100. There is also a proposal to reduce the number of aircraft used in maritime surveillance from 26 to 15. Under the plan all eight aerial refueling tanker aircraft provided for Europe could be removed. Apart from this, a missile-capable submarine, an aircraft carrier and several associated warships are likely to be redeployed to other areas. Dozens of fighter planes taking part in the operation can also be removed along with the aircraft carrier. The report also said that one of the two bomber groups assigned to protect Europe could be sent to another area. This is likely to affect NATO’s strategic and surveillance capabilities. However, there was no immediate official comment from NATO and the US Defense Department in this regard. US Eastern Command recently indicated that it would “rightsize” its contribution to the NATO force model. The administration of US President Donald Trump has been pressurizing European countries to increase defense spending for a long time. Washington says European allies are too dependent on the US for their security and should increase their defense budget to 3.5% of GDP. China warns of ‘extreme floods’ in desert areas China has issued a warning of ‘extreme floods’ in the northwestern region of Xinjiang and surrounding areas this summer. According to officials, the risk of floods has increased even in desert areas due to higher than normal temperatures, heavy rains and rapidly melting glaciers. The Taklamakan Desert, China’s largest, recorded its first floods this year in early June, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Usually such situations are seen in August, but this time due to unusual changes in the weather the flood came earlier than expected. On June 12, the temperature in Xinjiang was recorded 7.3 degrees Celsius above normal and the mercury reached 38 degrees Celsius in many areas. In addition, western and southern Xinjiang have recorded two to three times more rainfall than the normal average in recent days. The China Meteorological Administration has warned that flooding could cause serious damage to roads, railways and oil and gas infrastructure.
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वर्ल्ड अपडेट्स: POK के रावलकोट में प्रदर्शनकारियों पर पाकिस्तानी सेना और रेंजर्स की गोलीबारी से 16 की मौत
