December 25, 2023

At least 12 people were killed and 39 were injured on Sunday in an explosion at a Chinese-funded nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia, an industrial park official said. According to a statement by Dedy Kurniawan, a spokesperson for the complex, the accident took place around 5:30am at a plant owned by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel in the Morowali Industrial Park located in Central Sulawesi province. “The current number of victims is 51 people. 12 people died in the incident. There are 39 people with minor and serious injuries who are currently receiving medical treatment,” he said. The statement added that seven Indonesians and five foreign workers were killed. Later, Kurniawan told AFP all five foreign workers were Chinese nationals. The official, citing an initial investigation, revealed that the explosion occurred during repair work on a furnace when a flammable liquid ignited and the subsequent blast caused nearby oxygen tanks to explode as well. However, the fire was successfully extinguished on Sunday morning, according to the statement. The firm that runs the industrial park said it was “deeply saddened” by the disaster and said the remains of several identified victims had been flown home, AFP reported. The island is a hub for the mineral-rich country’s production of nickel, which is a base metal used for electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel. Additionally, Beijing’s growing investment has stoked unrest over working conditions at its facilities. Previously, in January, two workers including a Chinese national were killed at a nickel smelting plant in the same industrial park after a riot broke out during a protest over safety conditions and pay. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1141351-12-killed-39-injured-in-explosion-at-nickel-processing-plant-in-indonesia

RAWALPINDI: A huge fire engulfed a house in Rawalpindi’s Dhamial area after a pipeline of an oil refinery exploded in the residential area on Monday, Geo News reported. No death or injury has been reported so far as the area’s residents were safely evacuated from their homes. Thick smoke could be seen billowing from the affected house. Rescue officials said six emergency vehicles including three fire tenders arrived to douse the fire. More fire tenders were dispatched to the site of the incident, they said. The rescue officials said more than 12 rescue officials were busy in the firefighting operation. They were trying to contain the fire, they maintained. “The fire could not be controlled yet. Rescue and fire brigade personnel are present at the spot. Oil spilled due to a burst in the supply line, efforts to control the fire are underway,” rescue officials said. The officials said the firefighters had contained the fire, however, it re-erupted after it was doused. They said the relevant organisations were told to shut down the oil supply in the pipeline. The pipeline’s bursting has spilled oil in the area’s street spreading malodorous. An additional contingent of police has also been called in the area. Source:https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1141647-fire-engulfs-house-in-rawalpindi-village-after-oil-pipeline-explodes

At least 70 Palestinians have been killed in an air attack on the Maghazi refugee camp, which a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson describes as a “massacre”. Israeli army admits it is fighting a “complex and complicated war” with many soldiers killed. It says at least five dead captives’ bodies retrieved from a tunnel in northern Gaza. More than 20,400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. The revised death toll from Hamas’s attack on Israel stands at 1,139. Many people under the rubble following central Gaza attacks Khalil al-Degran, a spokesman from al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, has spoken to Al Jazeera about the situation at the hospital following Israeli air attacks on central Gaza overnight, which also targeted al-Maghazi and al-Bureij refugee camps. Here are his translated comments: A large number of people, both killed and injured, are still under the rubble. The massacres come within the framework of a policy of genocide against our people. Several wounded people lost their lives because there were no supplies to treat them with. We appeal to the world to stop the aggression and send medical and food supplies. Click Recap of the latest developments It’s past 10am (08:00 GMT) in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel. If you’re just joining us, here are the latest developments in the past few hours: Some 100 people have been killed in the last 12 hours in Gaza, with the vast majority of them women and children. Israeli forces have bombed Aita al-Shaab and its surroundings in southern Lebanon. At least 20 people arrested after Israeli forces storm the village of Burqa, northwest of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. Israel’s war cabinet is discussing Egypt’s proposed formula for a truce. Mourners react next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes at a hospital in the central Gaza Strip [Doaa Ruqaa/Reuters] Click Homes raided in Jenin refugee camp Imran Khan Reporting from Jenin refugee camp, occupied West Bank The Israeli army came down here and raided at least 10 houses. They said they were looking for Palestinians to arrest but interestingly enough, they didn’t make any arrests. Israeli forces did call for Palestinian fighters to come out and give themselves up but that didn’t happen either. Residents are telling us that this is simply a campaign of harassment. Jenin refugee camp is now the most raided camp in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces are destroying any symbol of resistance or nationalism in the camp. Israeli soldiers during a raid in Jenin, West Bank [File: Majdi Mohammed/AP Photo] Click Israel’s war cabinet to discuss Egypt’s truce proposal today Bernard Smith Reporting from Tel Aviv Egypt is reported to have proposed a formula for a truce. They’re proposing seven to 10 days where all civilians would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. There are a couple of extra elements that might be more challenging for the Israeli government to agree to. There’s another stage that suggests the release of all female soldiers in exchange for Palestinian prisoners – that would get another seven-day ceasefire. And then a month of negotiations to discuss the release of all military personnel held by Hamas in exchange for a lot more prisoners and Israel pulling back to Gaza’s borders. Israel’s war cabinet will continue to discuss that today. But there are a lot of political considerations here in Israel. The cabinet is not particularly united. There’s one minister criticising the government for having a large ground operation instead of air strikes, resulting in the deaths of 17 soldiers since Friday. Click Israeli forces raid town near Nablus, make arrests Israeli forces have stormed the village of Burqa, northwest of the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. At least 20 people have been arrested, including senior citizens. Earlier, we reported that Israeli forces carried out several overnight raids, including in the city of Jenin and the Balata refugee camp. Israeli forces have detained more than 4,600 people in the occupied West Bank since October 7. Click ICC slammed for blocking Australian cricketer’s show of support for Gaza The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been slammed for showing a “lack of moral standing” after it refused to allow an Australian cricketer to show on-field support for Gaza where more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks. Australia’s Usman Khawaja had “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” written on his boots in the colours of the Palestinian flag in a training session ahead of the first match against Pakistan earlier this month. He was not allowed to wear those during the match. “If it had been most other organisations that showed some semblance of consistency with their attitude and behaviour on issues I could claim surprise, but not them. Once again, they show their hypocrisy and lack of moral standing as an organisation,” said former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding. Usman Khawaja [Rui Vieira/AP Photo] Click here to share on social media Israeli air raids hit Aita al-Shaab, Lebanon Videos posted by Lebanese accounts on X show Israeli bombardment on the town of Aita al-Shaab and its surroundings in southern Lebanon a short while ago. Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army targeted several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon. Translation: “Raids on Aita al-Shaab … Markaba … Mays al-Jabal.” Translation: “This is what the morning looks like in Aita al-Shaab.” Click Women, children among victims of Israeli attacks on central Gaza Hani Mahmoud Reporting from Rafah, southern Gaza There was more death and destruction in the central Gaza Strip overnight concentrated in the Maghazi and Bureij refugee camps. Some 100 people have been killed in the last 12 hours, with the vast majority of them women and children. The bombs fell on homes and buildings … destroying neighbourhoods and infrastructure, such as roads leading in and out of the refugee camps. Since the UN Security Council resolution passed on Friday (boosting aid to Gaza), the scale of air raids has only