At least 27 people died when a boat capsized on the Niger River in central Nigeria, say authorities. The boat was carrying about 200 passengers from the state of Kogi to a food market in the neighbouring state of Niger when it capsized late on Thursday, with more than half reportedly missing, according to Ibrahim Audu, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. By Friday evening, rescuers had managed to pull 27 bodies from the river while local divers were still searching for the missing passengers, according to Sandra Musa, spokeswoman for the Kogi State emergency services. “It’s not clear what caused the accident,” Musa said. Among possible causes, she listed turbulence on the waterway and the age of the boat, attributing the death toll to the absence of life jackets. None of the bodies recovered had life jackets on, she said. Rescuers had trouble finding the location of the accident for hours, according to Justin Uwazuruonye, who is in charge of Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency operations in the state. Advertisement Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said in a statement that most of the victims were women, traders and artisans “involved in legitimate business activities to earn a living and contribute to the economy of the state”. Villagers and volunteers downstream of the accident were urged to be on the lookout for bodies. Mass drownings The accident was the latest in a series of mass drownings on the country’s busy waterways, as authorities struggle to enforce safety measures and regulations for water transportation. Last month, some 100 people were feared dead after a boat carrying 300 passengers, many of them women and children, to a Muslim festival in Niger State flipped over in the river. In September, an overloaded boat sank while carrying more than 50 farmers across the Gummi River in Zamfara State, killing more than 40. In June 2023, more than 100 people died when a riverboat carrying about 250 passengers capsized in the north-central state of Kwara. Most of the accidents have been attributed to overcrowding and a lack of maintenance of the boats, often built locally to carry as many passengers as possible in defiance of safety measures. Also, authorities have not been able to enforce the use of life jackets on such trips, often because of lack of availability or cost. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/30/several-dead-after-boat-capsizes-in-nigeria

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to senior journalist Matiullah Jan on Saturday in a case involving terrorism and narcotics charges. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, who presided over the hearing, approved the bail against a bond worth Rs10,000. The development comes two days after the journalist was arrested by the Islamabad Police at the E-9 checkpoint for allegedly assaulting the police, forcibly snatching their weaponry, and issuing threats along with being under the influence of drugs with the substance “ice” reportedly recovered from his vehicle as well. The FIR registered against him includes CrPC’s Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 506 (criminal intimidation) along with 7ATA (terrorism-related section) and a narcotics-related section. An ATC then approved a two-day physical remand of the journalist. However, on Friday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Jan’s physical remand granted to police by the trial court. The journalist’s arrest had not only warranted condemnations from media and human rights organisations but also from within the incumbent government as well. Speaking on Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk” on Thursday, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah termed the case “fabricated”. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) veteran and former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani urged the government to release Jan, while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui said: “I do not support what happened to [Matiullah] Jan at all”. “What happened to Jan is very sad regardless at whose behest it was done,” remarked the lawmaker. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1256651-matiullah-jans-bail-in-terrorism-case-approved

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/11/30/live-israeli-attacks-kill-nearly-100-in-gaza-as-hunger-grips-enclave

At least 15 people have died and 113 others are still missing after landslides buried homes in six villages in eastern Uganda, police said. Another 15 injured people have been rescued and admitted to Buluganya Health Center. The Uganda Red Cross Society said Thursday that 13 bodies had been recovered after landslides buried 40 homes and the rescue effort was continuing. Local media reported that authorities expect the death toll could rise to 30. The landslides happened after heavy rains on Wednesday night in the mountainous district of Bulambuli, where landslides are common. The district is about 280 kilometers (173miles) east of the capital, Kampala. More than a hundred people were missing on Thursday, after the landslides buried homes across six villages. Jean Watala/AP A journalist in the area told The Associated Press that local officials said an excavator would be brought to assist in the rescue efforts, but the roads were covered in mud and the rain was still falling. The affected area is about 50 acres (20ha) with homesteads and farmlands spread downhill. Photos and videos of people digging through mud in search of victims were shared on social media platforms. Some of the houses were completed covered by mud while others only had a roof showing above the ground. The Daily Monitor newspaper reported that most of the bodies recovered so far were those of children. The prime minister’s office issued a disaster alert on Wednesday stating that heavy rains across the country had cut off major roads. Two rescue boats capsized on Wednesday during a rescue mission on River Nile where Pakwach bridge was submerged. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/28/africa/eastern-uganda-landslides-intl/index.html

Violence has left 151 individuals injured, as tensions in region show no signs of abating Clashes in District Kurram continue, with three more fatalities reported, bringing the death toll to 110 over the last eight days despite a recently brokered ceasefire. The violence has also left 151 individuals injured, as tensions in the region show no signs of abating. The district administration confirmed that the Peshawar-Parachinar highway has been shut for the eighth day in a row, severely affecting daily life and halting trade activities. The Deputy Commissioner of Kurram, Javedullah Mehsud, confirmed that the road closure has also halted trade at the Kharlachi border with Afghanistan, further exacerbating the economic impact on the region. Additionally, due to the tense situation, internet and mobile phone services have been suspended, causing severe difficulties for residents, limiting their access to communication and essential services. On Thursday, the death toll in the clashes had reached 107, with five additional fatalities and nine injuries reported despite claims of a ceasefire deal. A 10-day truce was brokered earlier in the week, but intermittent violence has rendered it ineffective. The recent episode of clashes began eight days ago with ambushes on two separate convoys under police escort, resulting in 52 deaths on November 21. Since then, violence between the warring factions has escalated, with police struggling to maintain control. The main highway closure has not only disrupted local transportation but also caused a complete suspension of trade with Afghanistan, particularly at the Kharlachi border. Meanwhile, the district administration is working to enforce the ceasefire. Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud reported that efforts are underway, with a jirga of elders from Hangu, Orakzai, and Kohat engaging both sides to secure a truce. “The parties have agreed to the ceasefire, and steps are being taken to stop clashes,” he said. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded 79 deaths in the region between July and October this year, highlighting the persistent instability. Previous efforts to mediate peace, including a seven-day truce brokered by provincial officials earlier this month, have failed to hold. A high-powered delegation, including KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and IGP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, had also negotiated a ceasefire last weekend, but violence resumed shortly afterward.   Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1256242-three-more-perish-in-clashes-in-kurram-bringing-death-toll-to-110

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/11/29/live-israel-kills-42-across-gaza-accused-of-truce-violations-in-lebanon

Cairo, EgyptReuters —  Four bodies were recovered on Tuesday from a tourist boat which capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast, and rescue teams were still searching for seven missing people, the Red Sea Governorate said in a statement. Provincial governor Amr Hanafi said rescue teams had found five people alive, two Belgian tourists, one Swiss, one Finn and an Egyptian, bringing the total number of survivors to 33. The boat, the Sea Story, capsized on Monday near the Sataya Reef while carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a multi-day diving trip. It was struck by high waves and sank in five to seven minutes. Twenty-eight people were rescued with minor injuries. They are staying in a hotel in Marsa Alam, where authorities are working with embassies to provide assistance and documentation. Hanafi said the boat had passed its last safety inspection in March with no technical issues reported. Owned by an Egyptian national, the vessel was 34 meters long and had received a one-year safety certificate from the Maritime Safety Authority. The incident occurred during rough weather conditions. The Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reported wave heights of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic. The Sea Story was the second boat to sink in the area this year. A vessel suffered severe damage from strong waves in June, though no casualties were reported. The Red Sea, renowned for its coral reefs and marine life, is a major hub for Egypt’s tourism industry, which plays a critical role in the country’s economy. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/26/africa/red-sea-tourist-boat-bodies-found-intl/index.html

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership announced on Wednesday that it ended the ongoing protest which was launched in Islamabad three days ago in view of the federal government’s ‘plan to shed the blood of innocent citizens’. The announcement comes after the party’s protesters were dispersed from the Red Zone in Islamabad following a crackdown by law enforcers with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi taking to their heels, fleeing the protest site. The PTI’s central media cell issued a press release on Wednesday, saying, “In light of the government’s brutality and plans to turn the federal capital into a “slaughterhouse” for unarmed citizens, we are announcing the temporary suspension of our peaceful protest.” The former ruling party said that it would announce the future course of action in the light of guidance from party founder Imran Khan. It said that the party’s political and core committees would analyse the details of the government’s brutality toward the citizens during the protest and later, the findings would be shared with the PTI founder. So far, the party has received the details of eight martyrs, said the PTI spokesperson. The martyrs include Anis Shehzad Satti, Malik Mubeen Aurangzeb, Abdul Qadir, Malik Safdar Ali, Ahmed Wali, Muhammad Ilyas, and Abdul Rashid, per the PTI spokesperson.,” the statement added. Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif claimed that the PTI founder had agreed to move the ongoing protest to outskirts of Islamabad, but his spouse Bushra Bibi refused to do so. PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat told Geo News that he and Gandapur were not in favour of the PTI march to enter D-Chowk as the KP chief minister wanted the workers do not exceed the limits of Kulsoom Hospital. After the PTI march entered the red zone, the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) started operation and pushed back the marching protesters from Islamabad’s D-Chowk — the venue of the party’s much-touted power show. The PTI protesters retreated from the site following the heavy teargas shelling and action by the authorities with Bushra Bibi and KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur fleeing the protest venue on board a vehicle. Sources said the personnel of the Islamabad police chased them and reportedly captured their guards. Later, sources privy to the chief minister’s family said that the two safely arrived in KP.  Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1255446-pti-claims-govt-planned-violence-suspends-peaceful-protest

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/11/27/live-countdown-to-lebanon-ceasefire-as-israel-reaches-deal-with-hezbollah