Six killed in school bus bombing in SW Pakistan
A suspected suicide bombing on a school bus in Pakistan left six dead, with Islamabad accusing India of orchestrating the attack.
A general view shows damaged vehicles at the site a day after a bomb blast in Qila Abdullah, in Balochistan province, on May 19, 2025. At least four people were killed while 12 others were wounded in a bomb blast in Pakistan's turbulent southern province of Balochistan, a security official said on May 19. (Photo by Abdul BASIT / AFP)
A suspected suicide bomber targeted a schoolbus in southwestern Pakistan killing at least four children and two adults on Wednesday, in an attack the government accused India of backing.
The bus driver and his assistant were among those killed in the attack in Khuzdar district of Balochistan province, on the way to a school that caters to the children of army personnel and civilians living in the area.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused arch-rival India of backing the militants that carried out the attack, coming almost two weeks after the two sides settled a ceasefire to end their most serious conflict in decades.
'Terrorists operating under Indian patronage attacking innocent children on a school bus is clear evidence of their hostility,' his statement added.
The military also said in a statement that the attack was 'planned and orchestrated' by India.
ALSO READ: Rea Vaya: Saftu calls for govt to protect transport industry
The nuclear-armed neighbours regularly trade accusations that the other supports militant groups operating in their territory.
The four-day conflict earlier this month was sparked by an attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir that India accused Pakistan of backing, for which it took revenge.
Pakistan denied any involvement in the attack.
New Delhi's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement that 'India rejects the baseless allegations', adding that it was 'second nature' for Pakistan to blame India.
'Probe suggests suicide bombing'
No group has yet claimed responsibility for Wednesday's bombing.
ALSO READ: Relief as bus strike in North West ends
Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan province said four children, the bus driver and his assistant were killed.
'A bus carrying children of the APS (Army Public School) was targeted with a bomb, the nature of which is still being determined,' Yasir Iqbal Dashti, a senior local government official in Khuzdar district, told AFP.
'The initial probe suggests it was a suicide bombing,' he added.
A senior police official confirmed the death toll to AFP on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media, adding that more than two dozen people were wounded.
The military earlier put the death toll at five, including three children, in a statement to media.
ALSO READ: 25-vehicle pileup in Thohoyandou leaves one dead, several injured [VIDEO]
Images shared on social media showed the shattered remains of a school bus and a pile of school bags nearby.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is the most active militant group in the region where there has been a sharp rise in attacks, mostly targeting security forces or people from outside the region.
In March, dozens of militants and off-duty security force members died when the BLA took control of a train with hundreds of passengers on board.
In 2014, the Army Public School in Peshawar in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was attacked by Pakistan Taliban gunmen who killed more than 150 people — mostly students.
The horrific attack sparked a massive crackdown against militancy that had thrived for years in the border regions.
ALSO READ: You may struggle to get a Tshwane Bus this morning: here's why
– By: © Agence France-Presse
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Gender gap closes at fastest pace since pandemic, says WEF
A woman holds a placard reading "No gender gap" during a rally for gender equality and against violence towards women to mark the International Women's Day in Rome in this file photo. Image: AFP The global gender gap has closed to 68.8%, marking the strongest annual advancement since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025, released on Thursday. However, the report says full parity remains 123 years away at current rates. 'At a time of heightened global economic uncertainty and a low growth outlook combined with technological and demographic change, advancing gender parity represents a key force for economic renewal," said Saadia Zahidi, the managing director of the World Economic Forum (WEF). "The evidence is clear. Economies that have made decisive progress towards parity are positioning themselves for stronger, more innovative and more resilient economic progress.' WEF logo Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading A key finding of the report was that at the aggregate level, high-income economies have closed 74.3% of their gender gap – slightly higher than the averages observed in lower income groups: 69.6% among upper-middle income, 66.0% among lower-middle-income,and 66.4% among low-income economies. However, the top performers among lower income economies have closed a greater share of their gender gaps than over half of the economies in the high-income group. Iceland leads the rankings, out of 148 nations, for the 16th year running, followed by Finland, Norway, the UK and New Zealand. South Africa places 33 with a gender parity score of 76.7% Sub-Saharan Africa ranks sixth among regions in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index, with an overall gender parity score of 68.0%. The WEF report said that since 2006, the region has improved its parity score by 5.6 percentage points. Comprising 36 economies, the region displays significant heterogeneity in parity outcomes. The highest-ranked country, Namibia (81.1%), places 8th globally and is the only Sub-Saharan African economy in the global top 10 in 2025. Historically, Namibia has featured in the top 10 six times. . At the other end of the spectrum, Chad ranks 146th with a score of 57.1%, resulting in a 24-percentage-point gap between the top and bottom economies in the region place in the global top 100. In Economic Participation and Opportunity, Sub-Saharan Africa ranks fifth, with a score of 67.5%, marking a 4.8 percentage-point improvement since 2006. The report found the region presents diverse performance profiles in this dimension: Chad records the lowest score (44.4%), while Botswana leads globally (87.3%). Female labour-force participation ranges from 39.2% in Senegal to 80.7% in Nigeria. Representation of women in senior economic leadership varies widely, from 11.6% in Chad to 69.9% in Burkina region has achieved a 35.1 percentage-point improvement in parity for senior officials, managers and legislators, and a 12-point gain in labour-force participation parity. Sub-Saharan Africa ranks eighth in Educational Attainment, with a score of 85.6%, up 5.2 percentage points since 2006. "This improvement is largely driven by gains in educational enrolment parity,though challenges remain, the report said. However, female literacy parity has declined by 1.5 percentage points over time, and in 2025, female literacy rates remain below 50% in 13 economies. Female enrolment in primary education remains below 80% in nearly one-third of the region's economies. Further, at the tertiary level, only Mauritius has enrolment rates above 30% for both men and women. In line with other regions, women surpass men in tertiary enrolment rates, the report said. Looking at Political Empowerment, the report found that Sub-Saharan Africa ranks fifth, with a score of 22.2% – a 12.4 percentage point improvement since 2006. At the launch ofthe index, the region scored zero for years with female head of state; by 2025, parity in this indicator has reached 3.2%.
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Protests spread across US despite Trump threats
California seeks to block Trump's use of military in immigration raids, warning of creeping militarization and political escalation. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies fire a nonlethal weapon toward a man after he threw a can at them following a protest against federal immigration operations near Los Angeles City Hall in Los Angeles on June 11, 2025. Protests against Donald Trump's harsh immigration policies spread on June 11 across the United States despite a military-backed crackdown in Los Angeles and threats by the hard-right Republican president to use 'heavy force.' In Los Angeles, where the unrest began on June 6, an overnight curfew intended to keep people out of the downtown area was largely effective, with police arresting around 25 people who had refused to leave. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) Protests over hardline immigration tactics ignited across the United States after days of demonstrations in Los Angeles, as California prepared Thursday for a legal showdown over President Donald Trump's deployment of the military. More than 1,000 people massed Wednesday in America's second biggest city, for a sixth day of protests, with the crowd peaceful as they marched through the streets. A second night of curfew was in place as city leaders try to get a handle on the after-dark vandalism and looting that scarred a few city blocks in the 500-square-mile (1,300 square kilometers) metropolis. 'I would say for the most part everything is hunky dory right here at Ground Zero,' protester Lynn Sturgis, 66, a retired school teacher, told AFP. 'Our city is not at all on fire, it's not burning down, as our terrible leader is trying to tell you.' The mostly peaceful protests ignited over a sudden escalation in efforts to apprehend migrants in the country illegally. ALSO READ: Hopes rise as US and China continue trade talks Pockets of violence — including the burning of self-driving taxis and hurling stones at police — were nothing the 8,500 officers of the Los Angeles Police Department had not dealt with before. In Spokane, Washington, a night curfew was declared after police arrested more than 30 protesters and fired pepper balls to disperse crowds, police chief Kevin Hall told a news conference. Trump won the election last year partly on promises to combat what he claims is an 'invasion' by undocumented migrants. He is now seizing the opportunity to make political capital, ordering the California National Guard to deploy despite Governor Gavin Newsom's objections, the first time a US president has taken such action in decades. 'We're going to have a safe country,' he told reporters on his way into a performance of 'Les Miserables' in Washington. 'We're not going to have what would have happened in Los Angeles. Remember, if I wasn't there… Los Angeles would have been burning to the ground.' ALSO READ: Trump says Musk has 'lost his mind' as feud fallout mounts Around 1,000 of the 4,700 troops Trump deployed were actively guarding facilities and working alongside ICE agents, said Scott Sherman, Deputy Commanding General Army North, who is leading operations. The rest — including 700 active duty Marines — were mustering or undergoing training to deal with civil disturbances, he said. The Pentagon has said the deployment will cost taxpayers $134 million. Governor Newsom, a Democrat widely viewed as eying a 2028 presidential run, has charged that Trump is seeking to escalate the confrontation for political gain. He warned Tuesday that the unprecedented militarization would creep beyond his state's borders, claiming 'democracy is under assault right before our eyes.' Lawyers for California were expected in court on Thursday to seek an order blocking troops from accompanying immigration officers as they arrest migrants. ALSO READ: Accusations and threats fly as Trump and Musk alliance melts down in blazing public row Trump administration lawyers called the application a 'crass political stunt.' Nationwide protests growing Despite Trump's threats to deploy the National Guard to other Democratic-run states, protesters appeared undeterred. Demonstrations were reported in St Louis, Raleigh, Manhattan, Indianapolis and Denver. In San Antonio, hundreds marched and chanted near city hall, reports said, where Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed the state's National Guard. A nationwide 'No Kings' movement was expected on Saturday, when Trump will attend a highly unusual military parade in the US capital. The parade, featuring warplanes and tanks, has been organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army but also happens to be the day of Trump's 79th birthday. ALSO READ: US level 2 travel alert for SA 'nothing new', Presidency says 'Inflamed' situation The Trump administration is painting the protests as a violent threat to the nation, requiring military force to support regular immigration agents and police. But Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the crisis had been manufactured in Washington. 'A week ago, everything was peaceful in the city of Los Angeles,' she told reporters. 'Things began to be difficult on Friday when raids took place… that is the cause of the problems. 'This was provoked by the White House.' Arrests by masked and armed men continued Wednesday. ALSO READ: Magwenya: Ramaphosa optimistic after Trump meeting boosts US-SA ties A pastor in the LA suburb of Downey said five armed men driving out-of-state cars grabbed a Spanish-speaking man in the church's parking lot. When she challenged the men and asked for their badge numbers and names, they refused. 'They did point their rifle at me and said, 'You need to get back,'' Lopez told broadcaster KTLA. – By: © Agence France-Presse
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Macron threatens social media ban for minors
French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for a ban on social media for teenagers under 15 Image: Ludovic MARIN / AFP France will block social media access for children under 15 'within a few months' if the EU does not take coordinated action, French President Emmanuel Macron stated following a deadly knife attack at a local school. 'We must ban social media for those under 15,' Macron told the broadcaster France 2 on Tuesday. Hours earlier, a 14-year-old student attacked a 31-year-old teaching assistant during a school bag check for weapons in Nogent in eastern France. He then injured a police officer with the same knife and was arrested at the scene, according to the National Gendarmerie. 'I'm giving us a few months to get the European mobilization going. Otherwise... we'll start doing it in France. We can't wait,' Macron said. The student, described as well-behaved and with no prior issues, had participated in anti-bullying activities and came from a stable family. The victim, a mother of two, had reportedly worked at the school since September. Macron said social media was one of the factors to blame for violence among young people as the incident was not an isolated case. In April, a high school student in western France fatally stabbed a girl and injured three boys before being arrested. Writing on X after the interview, Macron said such regulation was backed by experts. 'Platforms have the ability to verify age. Do it,' he wrote. Earlier this year, 200 schools in France began piloting a 'digital break,' barring students under 15 from using smartphones during school hours. The Education Ministry also stepped up school security, with random bag checks leading to 186 knife seizures in two months this spring. Spain and Greece are also backing a plan to require age verification technology on all internet-connected devices. The proposal would make such verification mandatory for platforms such as Facebook and X. The European Commission and several EU states are developing pilot programs to test age checks and parental controls. However, progress is being slowed by differing regulations across EU countries and the ease with which users can access social media platforms from outside the bloc. In Russia, restrictions introduced in September ban students from using mobile phones in schools, allowing exceptions only in emergencies. RT News
