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At least one person died and six others were wounded in a gas cylinder blast in Karachi’s New Challi area on Tuesday. The incident occurred when a cylinder exploded in a shop located in the generator market after a which a fire broke out as well. The sheer force of the blast caused the goods inside the shop to scatter out on the street. Rescue teams have reached the incident site and have confirmed shifting six people, wounded in the blast, to the hospital. The incident comes as gas cylinders, whether used for commercial purposes or for domestic use, are quite prone to explosions for various reasons such as low quality cylinders, failure to adhere to necessary standard operating procedures (SOPs) while refilling etc. In December 2023, at least three people were killed and 17 others were wounded after a two-storey building collapsed due to a gas cylinder blast in Karachi’s Machar Colony. The blast took place in a gas cylinder shop during transfer of gas in the shop as a vehicle loaded with gas cylinders came to supply gas. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1183918-karachi-cylinder-blast-kills-one-wounds-six-others

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/30/israels-war-on-gaza-live-34-killed-in-gaza-amid-ceasefire-negotiations

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) shared on Monday that armed forces have gunned down four terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Tank district. The military’s media wing said the security forces conducted the IBO last night in Tank on a tip-off about presence of terrorists. The ISPR said, “Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location as a result of which four terrorists were sent to hell.” It said the security forces recovered weapons and ammunition as well from the terrorists who were involved in numerous terrorist activities in the district. The media wing said residents of the area appreciated the operation by the security forces, who remained determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country. A day ago, the ISPR had reported that two terrorists involved in target killing and extortion were shot dead during an intense exchange of fire between militants and security forces in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As per the military’s media wing, the security forces had conducted an IBO in Dera Ismail Khan on reported presence of terrorists on April 28. “During conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists, and resultantly two terrorists; terrorist Faheem Nawaz alias Gandapuri and terrorist Mohsin Nawaz were successfully neutralised and sent to hell,” the ISPR had stated. The brief statement issued by the military’s media wing had stated that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the slain terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces and innocent civilians via target killings and extortion. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1183557-security-forces-shoot-four-terrorists-dead-in-tank-gunfight-ispr

Hundreds of students have been arrested across universities in the United States, with scuffles reported between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA, as rallies for a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from companies linked to Israel spread across US campuses. The pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California at Los Angeles has expanded in recent days, but counter-protesters have also become increasingly vocal and visible. On Sunday, the mood turned ugly when some demonstrators broke through a barrier that had been set up to separate the two factions, according to Mary Osako, UCLA’s vice chancellor for strategic communications. People from both sides then pushed and shoved each other, shouting slogans and insults and in some cases trading punches. Campus police armed with batons eventually separated the sparring groups. Osako said the university was “heartbroken” about the violence and had introduced additional security measures. “As an institution of higher education, we stand firmly for the idea that even when we disagree, we must still engage respectfully and recognize one another’s humanity,” she said in a statement. “We are dismayed that certain individuals instead chose to jeopardize the physical safety of the community.” While the Los Angeles police were not called in at UCLA and no arrests were made, officers in other parts of the country were deployed to campuses on Saturday, with some using chemical irritants and Tasers to disperse the students, as the protests spread. In Boston, police detained about 100 people while clearing a protest camp at Northeastern University, with social media posts showing security forces in riot gear and officers loading tents onto the back of a truck. In a statement on X, Northeastern said the area on campus where the protests were held was now “fully secured” and “all campus operations have returned to normal”. The university said its move came after “what began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organisers with no affiliation to Northeastern”. It added that detained individuals who produced a valid student ID were released and will face disciplinary proceedings, not legal action. Northeastern said that “Kill the Jews” had been heard at the protests, and that such chants “crossed the line”, making it necessary to clear waht it said was an “unauthorized encampment” that had been “infiltrated” by professional organisers with no affiliation to the university. However, members of the pro-Palestinian protest movement at the university rejected those claims. In Bloomington in the Midwest, the Indiana University Police Department arrested 23 people as they cleared a campus protest camp, the Indiana Daily Student newspaper reported. On the opposite side of the country, the Arizona State University Police Department arrested 69 people for trespassing after the group set up an “unauthorised encampment” on campus. Arizona state officials said a protest group, “most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff”, set up a camp on Friday and ignored repeated orders to disperse. Meanwhile, at Washington University in St Louis, at least 80 people were arrested, including US presidential candidate Jill Stein and her campaign manager. Across the US, university leaders have tried, and largely failed, to quell the demonstrations, which have often seen the police intervening violently, with videos emerging from different states showing hundreds of students – and even faculty members – being forcefully arrested. The protesters have demanded amnesty for students and faculty members disciplined or fired for protesting. About a week ago at Columbia University in New York, more than 100 pro-Palestinian activists were arrested. What started at the Columbia campus has turned into a nationwide showdown between students and administrators over pro-Palestine protests and the restrictions on free speech. In the past 10 days, hundreds of students have been arrested, suspended, put on probation and, in rare cases, expelled from colleges, including Yale University, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University and the University of Minnesota. A few universities have had to cancel graduation ceremonies, while others have seen their buildings occupied by the protesters. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/28/hundreds-of-university-students-arrested-in-us-as-gaza-war-protests-spread

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-news-hamas-officials-to-visit-cairo-for-talks

Banned outfit Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) “most wanted” terrorist was arrested by the police from Karachi’s Lyari area, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) South Asad Raza said Sunday. Identified as Mairaj alias Mama, the arrested terrorist used to provide information to BLA commander Jalal, said DIG South Raza.  According to the details provided by the DIG, Mairaj was involved in several terror activities including the 2017 attack on security forces in Balochistan.  The militant spied on an army vehicle which was travelling from Turbat to Gwadar after which the militants attacked and martyred the Pakistan Army soldiers. DIG South Raza said that the terrorist also spied on a military camp inside a school in Balochistan’s Naseerabad after which soldiers were martyred in an attack. The arrested militant was helped in the killing of four people, who were cousins of an officer working at an intelligence agency, by spying on them, said the DIG. Moreover, the terrorist also helped in attacking the Gwadar Port in the holy month of Ramadan, said the DIG, adding that the terrorist attack killed several soldiers. DIG Raza said that the arrested militant also attacked army soldiers in Nushki in which many were martyred.  Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1183179-most-wanted-bla-militant-arrested-from-karachis-lyari

Hundreds of students have been arrested across universities in the United States as protesters continue to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from companies enabling Israel’s nearly seven-month war on the Palestinian enclave. Police were out in full force on college campuses on Saturday, some using chemical irritants and Tasers to disperse the students, as more universities witnessed protests against the continued bombing of the Gaza Strip and seeking an end to US military assistance for Israel. In Boston, police detained about 100 people while clearing a protest camp at Northeastern University, with social media posts showing security forces in riot gear and officers loading tents onto the back of a truck. In a statement on X, Northeastern said the area on campus where the protests were held was now “fully secured” and “all campus operations have returned to normal”. The school said its move came after “what began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organisers with no affiliation to Northeastern”. It added that detained individuals who produced a valid school ID were released and will face disciplinary proceedings, not legal action. In Bloomington in the Midwest, the Indiana University Police Department arrested 23 people as they cleared a campus protest camp, the Indiana Daily Student newspaper reported. On the opposite side of the country, the Arizona State University Police Department arrested 69 people for trespassing after the group set up an “unauthorised encampment” on campus. Arizona state officials said a protest group, “most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff”, set up a camp on Friday and ignored repeated orders to disperse. Meanwhile, at Washington University in St Louis, at least 80 people were arrested, including US presidential candidate Jill Stein and her campaign manager. Across the US, university leaders have tried, and largely failed, to quell the demonstrations, which often saw the police intervening violently, with videos emerging from different states showing hundreds of students – and even faculty members – being forcefully arrested. The protesters have demanded amnesty for students and faculty members disciplined or fired for protesting. About a week ago at Columbia University in New York, more than 100 pro-Palestinian activists were arrested. What started at the Columbia campus has turned into a nationwide showdown between students and administrators over pro-Palestine protests and the restrictions on free speech. In the past 10 days, hundreds of students have been arrested, suspended, put on probation and, in rare cases, expelled from colleges, including Yale University, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University and the University of Minnesota. A few universities had to cancel graduation ceremonies, while others have seen their buildings occupied by the protesters. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/28/hundreds-of-university-students-arrested-in-us-as-gaza-war-protests-spread

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-says-rafah-invasion-on-negotiation-table

Sindh government has removed the barricades placed outside the CM House on the orders of the top court KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the federal and provincial governments to clear public roads and pavements of all encroachments within three days. The development comes after the top court, on Thursday, directed the authorities in Karachi to remove barricades placed outside various buildings including Sindh Rangers headquarters, CM House and Governor House. A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, hearing a set of petitions regarding encroachment issued the written order today. In its order, the apex court said that the encroachments on public roads and pavements are made by those paid out of the public exchequer “Occupants of properties also assume that the pavement running in front of their property is theirs, to do with it as they please. Generators are also installed thereon. Pavements are for the use of the public; access thereto and use thereof cannot be prevented or restricted,” said the order.  It added that everyone, including the provincial and federal governments, and all those under them must abide by the law and cannot encroach upon public roads and pavements nor can block them which may stop or restrict public use thereof. Speaking about barriers that are placed to protect the buildings from terrorist attacks, the court stated that security can be ensured by placing the barriers within the premises. “Therefore, all are directed […] to clear public roads and pavements of all encroachments within three days, failing which the same should be demolished/removed by the relevant authority and the cost incurred thereon shall be recovered from those who encroached thereon,” the order added. The SC also said that this order to remove encroachments is applicable across Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Sindh government has removed the barricades placed outside the CM House on the orders of the top court. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1182831-sc-orders-federal-provincial-govts-to-remove-encroachments-within-3-days

At least 70 people have died from countrywide flooding in Kenya, a government spokesperson said Friday as authorities ordered more evacuations of people from at-risk areas due to ongoing heavy rainfall. “The official tally of fellow Kenyans who regrettably have lost their lives due to the flooding situation now stands at 70,” Isaac Maigua Mwaura wrote on X, adding this is “contrary to other figures.” Earlier Friday, a truck carrying people in Makueni County, southern Kenya, “was swept away by raging waters,” according to the Kenyan Red Cross, which described it as “a distressing incident.” More than 13,300 households have been displaced in the flooding, which has destroyed 22 roads, and affected 26 schools. The Red Cross says it has rescued 302 people since the onset of the heavy rain in March. This comes as Kenyan President William Ruto announced Thursday that he has authorized emergency crews to evacuate people living along riverbanks and other affected areas forcibly. “Unfortunately, we will have to move some of them even without them agreeing, because otherwise, they put themselves in danger,” Ruto said. The president said that he is working with multi-agency teams to “provide adequate support to all those in need and to move citizens who are in dangerous areas, that may be susceptible to floods, away from those areas.” According to the Red Cross, 26 of Kenya’s 47 counties have been affected by the flooding. On Thursday, the Kenya Meteorological Department issued an advisory, explaining that heavy rainfall will continue in several parts of Kenya, including Nairobi, although the intensity is likely to reduce on April 28. The flooding in East Africa has also affected Tanzania and Burundi. The Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday that at least 155 people have been killed by flooding in the country. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/26/africa/kenya-flooding-intl/index.html