Crowded into "ghettos" surrounded by armed checkpoints, Pakistan's Shiite Hazara minority say they are being slaughtered by sectarian militants in the southwestern city of Quetta, with authorities seemingly unable to halt the killings.
For years, hundreds of thousands of the Shiite community's members have been hemmed into two separate enclaves cordoned off by numerous checkpoints and hundreds of armed guards designed to protect the minority from violent militants.
"It's like a prison here," said Bostan Ali, a Hazara activist, about conditions inside the enclaves.
"The Hazaras are experiencing mental torture," he added, complaining the community has been effectively "cut off from the rest of the city" and "confined" to such areas.
The Shiite community's presence is particularly strong in Quetta -- the uneasy capital of impoverished Balochistan province where sectarian violence, suicide bombings, and banditry are common.
Hazaras are technically free to roam around Quetta at their will, 

Pakistan's Hazaras fear for their lives in besieged 'ghettos'

PTI Automatic

Mauricio Pochettino says winning the Champions League would change the "perception" of Tottenham Hotspur and provide a glorious ending to what he described as the best season in the five years he has been their manager.
The 47-year-old Argentinian -- who has said he may walk away if the club fail to deliver a blueprint for keeping them competitive with the top teams -- has been praised for the style his team plays and his ability to develop young talent. But he has yet to win a trophy.
This missing element in his CV could be filled by beating Liverpool in the June 1 final in Madrid. Overcoming last year's losing Champions League finalists and Premier League runners-up is a tall order.
But history is beckoning, says Pochettino "I think we can make history," he said after Sunday's 2-2 draw with Everton which confirmed Spurs spot in next season's Champions League by finishing fourth.
"We are creating history because we are making it, but if we can win we will write history and change the 

Champions League glory would transform Spurs: Pochettino

In an ancient ceremony that occurs only once every imperial era, Japanese palace courtiers in traditional robes and hats decided on Monday where best to grow royal rice -- using shells from endangered turtles.
Two thin plates made from turtle shells were heated over a flame to produce cracks then used to determine where rice should be grown for a key autumn ceremony presided over by new emperor Naruhito.
The cracks "told" officials to grow the rice in the ancient capital of Kyoto and north of Tokyo in Tochigi prefecture.
For the ceremony -- which Naruhito did not attend -- officials clad in long black robes and ornate black hats were seen walking slowly into a striped tent.
The rare ritual is conducted only after a new emperor takes the throne. It was last seen in 1990 about a year after Naruhito's father, Akihito, ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne.
While the shells are harvested from rare green sea turtles, they are procured as part of a conservation scheme, officials said.
The ...

Give 'em shell: turtles stick neck out for Japan rice forecast

Iran on Monday called attacks on ships in the Gulf "alarming", after the UAE and Saudi Arabia said several vessels including oil tankers were damaged in acts of sabotage off the Emirati coast.
"The incidents in the Sea of Oman are alarming and regrettable," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in an English-language statement on the ministry's website, calling for a probe into the attacks and warning of "adventurism" by foreign players to disrupt maritime security.

Iran calls UAE ship attacks 'alarming', urges probe

Vietnamese police have seized half a tonne of ketamine worth $21 million in Ho Chi Minh City, a key transit hub that has seen record busts of synthetic drugs in recent weeks as narcotics gangs use its ports and air links to shuttle drugs across the region.
Three Taiwanese citizens and one Chinese man were arrested in the weekend bust at a warehouse in the southern city according to state-run Thanh Nien newspaper on Monday.
More than 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of ketamine was found stashed in industrial-grade machinery, in an operation carried out after months of surveillance.
The ketamine was brought in overland to Vietnam and was destined for Taiwan, Thanh Nien reported.
State media said the cartel leader had received overland shipments from China, but the police would not confirm where the ketamine originated.
"The luxury drug is five times more expensive than other synthetics and is often consumed by the rich," major general Pham Van Cac was quoted as saying.
The bust follows ...

Vietnam seizes half tonne of ketamine in crackdown on synthetic drugs

Indigenous residents of low-lying islands off northern Australia will submit a landmark complaint with the United Nations on Monday accusing the government of violating their human rights by failing to tackle climate change.
The Torres Strait Islanders will tell the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva that rising seas caused by global warming are threatening their homelands and culture, lawyers representing the group said.
The lawyers, from the non-profit ClientEarth, said the case was the first of its kind to be lodged with the UN equating government inaction on climate change to a human rights violation.
In their complaint, the islanders ask the UN to find that international human rights law requires Australia to reduce its emissions to at least 65 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
The country should become carbon neutral by 2050, phasing out its use and export of coal completely, they say.
The complaint also demands the government allocate Aus$20 million (USD14 million) for ...

Indigenous Australians take government to UN over climate change

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to visit Brussels on Monday to discuss "pressing matters" including Iran, a State Department official said Sunday.
As a result, the top US diplomat is scrapping a stop expected on Monday in Moscow.
But he will still head to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday to meet President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the official added just before Pompeo left Washington.
An EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting is scheduled in Brussels on Monday, but the State Department did not offer specific details of Pompeo's revised agenda.
It simply said talks would be held with officials from France, the UK and Germany -- the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Iran announced on May 8, one year after the US withdrew from the deal, that it was suspending some of its commitments under the agreement.
President Hassan Rouhani issued an ultimatum to the Europeans, threatening that Iran would go further if they fail to ...

Pompeo to visit Brussels Monday to discuss Iran: official

Eden Hazard has told Chelsea he has made his mind up over his future but has yet to publicly announce if he will stay at Stamford Bridge after persistent speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
The Belgium forward has just a year left on his contract after joining the Premier League club from Lille for ?32 million ($42 million) in 2012.
And after a substitute outing in Sunday's 0-0 draw at Leicester the Belgium international revealed he had made the club aware of his decision.
"Yes. A couple of weeks ago. Yes I have made my decision but it is not just about me," said Hazard, who blew kisses to the travelling fans, who called for him to stay.
"I have made my decision, that's it."
When asked if his future will become clear after the Europa League final against Arsenal on May 29 he added: "I think so. We have a final to play and then I will see." The Blues are understood to be holding out for ?100 million.
The 28-year-old also admitted he had wanted his future resolved ...

Hazard says Chelsea know where his future will be

Novak Djokovic said his impressive burst of form which won him a third Madrid Open title and 33rd Masters could prove decisive in his assault on the French Open.
The world number one joined Rafael Nadal on top of the all-time Masters list when he swept to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's final in the Spanish capital.
"At this very important time for me in the season, the win gives me a lot of confidence prior to Rome and, of course, Roland Garros where I definitely want to play my best," said the 15-time major winner.
Djokovic dominated a clearly exhausted Tsitsipas less than 24 hours after the 20-year-old Greek had stunned five-time champion Nadal in a semi-final which ended around midnight on Saturday.
Djokovic and Nadal will now attempt to claim a 34th Masters title in Rome this week in a key indicator ahead of Roland Garros which gets under way on May 26.
Djokovic credits a keys wins in Madrid with helping him to his first final since winning the Australian Open .

Djokovic sees Madrid triumph as perfect Roland Garros platform

England spearhead James Anderson could be in for a "painful few days" according to Lancashire coach Glen Chapple after suffering a knee injury while on county duty.
Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, was hit on the inside of his knee by a drive from James Fuller during Lancashire's four-wicket defeat by champions Hampshire in a One-Day Cup semi-final on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Anderson left the field at Southampton and will now require further medical assessment on Monday.
"It is a nasty blow in a painful area," said Chapple.
"We don't know but we think that it will be a nasty bruise that will settle down in the next few days.
"The physio will see him in the morning and he walked off there."
Chapple, himself a former Lancashire paceman, added: "It is a difficult area. As soon as there is any swelling in there it will restrict your movement and limit your strength. I imagine it will be painful for a few days."
Anderson's tally of 575 Test wickets is the most by any 

England spearhead Anderson suffers knee injury

Jos Buttler refused to put a limit on his rapid run-scoring as hosts England go in search of a first men's World Cup title.
Despite appearing in every World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1975, England have never lifted the trophy, with the last of their three losing appearances in the final back in 1992.
But hopes are high that 2019 may finally be their year, with key batsman Buttler coming into form ahead of England's tournament opener against South Africa at The Oval on May 30 courtesy of a stunning century in a 12-run win over Pakistan in the second one-day international at Southampton on Saturday.
The 28-year-old went to three figures in just 50 balls, celebrating the landmark with a baby-rocking gesture as wife Louise and new daughter Georgia looked on from the stands.
Only Buttler himself, with a 46-ball effort against Pakistan in November 2015, has scored a quicker ODI hundred for England.  But the 28-year-old, who has five of England quickest 10 ODI hundreds to his ...

England's Buttler has no plans to wait around

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned his side's rivals that the English champions will only get stronger after holding off Liverpool to become the first side in a decade to retain the Premier League.
City came from behind to beat Brighton 4-1 on Sunday and take the title by just one point from Liverpool, despite the Reds amassing a club record 97 points.
Indeed, Liverpool's points tally is the third highest in Premier League history, behind only City this season and when they racked up 100 points in storming to the title for the first time under Guardiola last year.
City could become the first side to ever win a domestic treble in England should they beat Watford in the FA Cup final next weekend.
But Guardiola is already looking ahead to next season and strengthening his squad to repeat the feats he achieved in winning three titles in a row at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
"Winning is so addictive and of course in a few days we have the FA Cup," said Guardiola, who has now .

Dominant Man City will only get better, Guardiola warns rivals

- Roma captain Alessandro Florenzi hit back at a jibe by Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo about his height by going on to score the opener in a 2-0 win over the Serie A champions on Sunday.
The pair clashed on the hour mark in the Stadio Olimpico in a row after the Portuguese star played the ball while Edin Dzeko was down and needed treatment.
Ronaldo made a gesture with his hand with the former Real Madrid star heard saying: "You're too small to talk." The Portuguese player than seemed to apologise and to hug Florenzi.
Dzeko set up Florenzi for the first goal after 79 minutes with the Bosnian then slotting in the second two minutes into injury time as Juventus fell to just their third defeat this season.
The win keeps Roma's Champions League hopes alive with Claudio Ranieri's side sixth, but just one point off Inter Milan who are fourth, before they play Chievo on Monday.
The defeat came on the day that Juventus displayed their new strip which no longer features the club's iconic ...

Florenzi hits back at Ronaldo's 'you're too small' jibe as Roma beat Juventus

Jurgen Klopp has challenged Liverpool to use the pain of their failed Premier League title bid as fuel to finish a remarkable season with Champions League glory.
Liverpool fell one point short of winning their first league title since 1990 as Manchester City pipped Klopp's side on the final day of the season.
Liverpool's 2-0 win over Wolves was rendered irrelevant by City's 4-1 victory at Brighton, leaving the Anfield faithful frustrated after it briefly appeared they might witness two football miracles in the space of a week.
Tuesday's astonishing 4-0 win against Barcelona, which overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit and sent Liverpool to their second successive Champions League final, was one of the greatest nights in the club's history.
And when Sadio Mane put Liverpool ahead early on against Wolves and City fell behind to Glenn Murray's goal, another unthinkable dream was about to become reality.
That tantalising moment lasted only a matter of seconds, however, as Sergio Aguero ...

'We will go again': Klopp eyes Champions League glory after title pain

Barcelona's Champions League recovery has begun and Getafe's hopes of qualifying for the tournament could be over after they were beaten 2-0 at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Arturo Vidal's finish and a Djene Dakonam own-goal saw Barca bounce back from their capitulation against Liverpool, even if their fans had not forgotten judging by the swathes of empty seats and scattering of whistles before kick-off.
"It has been a difficult game for all of us," said Sergio Busquets.
"We are trying to heal a wound that isn't small." Getafe might have hoped for their opponents to suffer a longer European hangover but instead they drop out of the top four, with one match left to play, after Valencia eased to a 3-1 victory over Alaves.
"We lost but I'm proud," said Getafe coach Jose Bordalas.
"We have to win our last game and then we'll see." Valencia now sit fourth, level on points with Getafe, but in front due to their superior head-to-head. They finish the season away at struggling Real Valladolid while ...

Barcelona bounce back from Champions League nightmare with win over Getafe

The death toll from a May 6 tanker truck explosion near the international airport in Niger's capital has risen to 76, state television reported late Sunday.
An earlier official report Tuesday gave 60 dead, including 55 who died at the time of the explosion a few hundred metres (yards) from the airport in Niamey.
Most of the victims were trying to collect spilt fuel flowing from the overturned truck when the blast occurred. About 40 people were injured.
Security official Hamani Adamou Abdoul-Aziz had earlier warned that the toll was likely to rise as several people had sustained severe, life-threatening burns.
The driver of the truck has told investigators that an electrical failure caused him to lose control of the vehicle and its brakes. The truck overturned by the railway track as he was trying to stop it and people then rushed to collect petrol spilling from the vehicle.
According to witnesses, a motorcyclist who had filled his cans tried to restart his bike, which caused a spark ..

Niger tanker truck blast toll rises to 76

Seven foreign women and girls murdered, some dumped in a toxic lake -- the "first serial killings" in Cyprus have provoked horror and sparked accusations of police racism.
Since mid-April, the Mediterranean island's press has slammed official failings over the murders, which 35-year-old army officer Nicos Metaxas has allegedly confessed to carrying out.
Andreas Kapardis, a criminologist and emeritus professor at the University of Cyprus, said the killings were first such case since the island won its independence in 1960.
"For Cypriots, discovering a serial murderer in their own society is... unique," he said.
The victims were four Filipinas, including a mother and her six-year-old daughter, a Romanian woman and her eight-year-old daughter, and a woman reported to be Nepalese.
All the women had been reported missing, but police failed to follow up the cases, allowing the alleged killer to carry on for nearly three years.
"The more the investigation advanced, the more it became clear ..

Cyprus 'serial killings' spark horror, anger at police

A judicial inquiry into whether New Zealand's police and intelligence services could have prevented the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 51 worshippers died began taking evidence on Monday.
The royal commission -- the most powerful judicial probe available under New Zealand law -- will examine events leading up to the March 15 attack in which a lone gunman opened fire on two mosques in a mass shooting that shocked the world.
"This is a critical part of our ongoing response to the attack -- the commission's findings will help to ensure such an attack never happens here again," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
New Zealand's spy agencies have faced criticism in the wake of the attack for concentrating on the threat from Islamic militants while underestimating the danger posed by right-wing extremism.
The Christchurch victims were all Muslims and the massacre was allegedly carried out by a white supremacist fixated on the belief that there was an Islamist plot to "invade" Western ..

Judicial probe opens into Christchurch mosque shootings

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Panama on Sunday, injuring at least five people and causing damage to businesses and homes, officials said.
The strong quake struck at a depth of 37 kilometres in the far west of the country near the Costa Rican border, according to the US Geological Survey.
The National Civil Protection System, or Sinaproc, said five people were hurt and four homes were damaged in the quake, which hit 22 km from the town of Puerto Armuelles.
President Juan Carlos Varela said on Twitter earlier that just one person was hurt, in Puerto Armuelles.
He reported damage to homes and businesses in the Central American nation.
Two of the damaged homes collapsed, Sinaproc added.
There was no tsunami alert issued from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
In November 2017, a 6.5-magnitude quake on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica left buildings swaying in the capital San Jose and contributed to the deaths of two people who had heart attacks.
Further north, two months earlier in ...

Earthquake in Panama leaves five injured, minor damage

An economist and political novice, Gitanas Nauseda, took the lead in the first round of Lithuania's presidential election on Sunday and will face Ingrida Simonyte, a conservative ex-finance minister, in a May 26 runoff set to focus on inequality and poverty in the Baltic eurozone state.
Centre-left Premier Saulius Skvernelis vowed to quit in July after he was eliminated from the runoff.
Conceding that "the failure to get into the second round is an assessment of me as a politician", Skvernelis told public broadcaster LRT that he would tender his resignation.
Nauseda, promising to seek the political middle-ground and build a welfare state, scored 31.07 per cent of the vote, according to near complete official results.
"I want to thank all the people who took to their hearts our message that we want a welfare state in Lithuania and we want more political peace," Nauseda told reporters in Vilnius.
The 54-year-old is seeking to bridge the growing rich-poor divide in the former Soviet ...

Lithuania presidential runoff pits novice against ex-minister as PM quits

Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis on Sunday said he would quit in July after he was eliminated from a presidential runoff that will see an independent economist square off against a conservative on May 26.
"The failure to get into the second round is an assessment of me as a politician," Skvernelis told public broadcaster LRT, adding that he would tender his resignation in July.
Gitanas Nauseda, an economist and political novice topped the first round, partial official results showed, and will face runner-up Ingrida Simonyte, a conservative ex-finance minister, in the second round set to focus on inequality and poverty.

AFP

AFP

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