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 Police have yet to trace two missing children, five-year-old Aliyan and six-year-old Ali Raza, who disappeared from Karachi’s Garden area on January 14. Despite deploying specialised sniffer dogs, conducting forensic analysis, and utilising geofencing, authorities have made no significant progress in locating the boys. The disappearance came to light when Aliyan’s mother, Zainab, returned home from work and found her son missing. Upon inquiry, she learned that Aliyan had been playing outside with Ali Raza, but neither had returned. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered, and investigations began. CCTV footage revealed two suspects, a man and a woman, taking the children towards Lyari on a motorcycle. However, the footage’s poor quality has hindered clear identification. A five-member committee led by SSP City Arif Aziz was formed to expedite the investigation. Efforts included geofencing the area and conducting multiple search operations in Garden and Lyari. Despite these measures, no significant leads have emerged. According to Aziz, police mobilised various resources to aid the search. Given the limitations of Karachi’s sniffer dogs, trained only to detect explosives and narcotics, authorities specially brought in human-tracking sniffers from Hyderabad. However, despite searching the area to follow scent trails based on the children’s clothing, police failed to secure any leads. In addition to this, police have been working closely with local residents, who identified several suspicious individuals seen in the area around the time of the disappearance. Based on these reports, police have begun preparing sketches of potential suspects. Meanwhile, divers were deployed to search the Lyari River near Rexer Line, an area known for past incidents where people, including children, have accidentally fallen into the water. Despite extensive searches, no evidence related to the missing children has been found. The children’s parents remain deeply distressed. While some individuals were detained and interrogated based on information provided by the family, police cleared them of involvement after questioning. At this stage, police have yet to determine whether the case involves a kidnapping for ransom or if there is another motive behind the disappearance. Sarim case investigation also at standstill Authorities are also struggling to make progress in the separate case of Sarim, another child victim. Seven-year-old Mohammed Sarim was found dead in his apartment’s underground water tank in North Karachi after being reported missing on January 7. An autopsy confirmed that Sarim was subjected to assault before being strangled. Police confirm they received an initial report showing that Sarim was subjected to sexual assault, but they are awaiting final forensic findings. Several suspects have been detained and their DNA samples have been sent for analysis. However, until results arrive, police have no conclusive evidence to identify the perpetrator. Officials say that all investigations are proceeding on the basis of suspicion alone as no concrete evidence has been found yet. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1277040-karachi-police-struggle-to-trace-missing-children

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/29/live-more-than-370000-palestinians-return-to-north-gaza-unrwa-ban-looms

Here are the key developments on the 1,068th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Here is the situation on Monday, January 27: Fighting Politics & Diplomacy Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/27/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1068

Another body recovered from rubble; police say site of explosion identified as illegal LPG refilling warehouse At least six people were killed and 31 others were injured when a gas-filled tanker exploded at the Industrial Estate in Multan, rescue authorities said on Monday.  A massive fire erupted as a result of the explosion in the LPG tanker, with debris from the shattered vehicle landing on nearby residential areas, causing significant destruction.  Rescue officials said that the fire was extinguished after hours of effort, involving over ten firefighting vehicles and foam-based fire suppression. A total of five people were initially reported to have lost their lives in the deadly blast. However, the death toll rose to six after rescue officials recovered another body from a house damaged by the explosion. The deceased include a minor girl and two women. Multan FirePauseUnmute The police reported that at least 20 houses surrounding the explosion site were completely reduced to rubble, while 70 were partially damaged. Multan’s City Police Officer (CPO) Sadiq Ali told Geo News that several houses were destroyed, and livestock perished in the blaze. He revealed that gas had been leaking from one of the valves of the tanker truck parked in the Industrial Estate. Some of the people present in the area had already evacuated after smelling the gas before the tanker exploded, he added. CPO Ali further stated that gas leakage from the tanker persists, prompting authorities to evacuate the area. Among the injured, 13 are reported to be in critical condition. Multan gas explosionPauseUnmute The District Emergency Officer confirmed that an emergency has been declared at Nishtar Hospital, where the injured are receiving treatment. Search operations are ongoing in the adjacent localities to ensure safety. Electricity and gas supply in the area has been suspended as a precautionary measure, though Multan-Muzaffargarh Road has now been reopened for traffic. Meanwhile, locals have been advised to stay away from the site of blast as the gas from the exploded tanker is in the air. Later, the police revealed that the location of the incident was identified as an illegal LPG refilling warehouse and the explosion occurred during refilling operations. They said the LPG was being transferred from a large gas bowser to smaller bowsers and commercial cylinders at the site. The police further stated that the large gas bowser allegedly carried smuggled LPG. Five small and large gas bowsers present in the warehouse were destroyed in the explosion, they added. Further updates will follow as rescue and recovery operations progress. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1276650-gas-tanker-explosion-kills-5-injures-31-in-multan

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/27/live-israel-set-to-let-palestinians-return-to-north-gaza

Dawn raid on busy Shevchenkivskyi district also damaged water pipeline and forced closure of metro station. At least four people have been killed in a Russian drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital. Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said the attack at dawn on Saturday took place in the city’s centrally located Shevchenkivskyi district. “Stay in shelters,” said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, in a post on Telegram on Saturday morning. He had warned of a “ballistic missile threat” against the capital hours earlier and said air defences were in operation around the city. Windows were shattered in Shevchenkivskyi district, including those at the entrance of the Lukianivska metro station, which was closed down, according to the mayor. Shevchenkivskyi area is a busy part of Kyiv with universities, bars and restaurants. Also on Saturday, Russian forces “attacked the centre” of Zaporizhzhia, injuring two people, according to local governor Ivan Fedorov. An administrative building of an industrial facility was partially damaged, he said. Reporting from Kyiv, Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull said explosions were heard at about 6am (04:00 GMT), “reverberating amid a volley of anti-aircraft fire, with air alerts suggesting both ballistic missile and drone threats”. He said that smoke was seen coming out of a residential building. Later that morning, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had destroyed 24 drones and two ballistic missiles that were launched as part of the same attack. Ukrainian counterattacks The rare strike on the heart of the Ukrainian capital comes in the middle of intensified Ukrainian aerial attacks on Russian energy and military facilities in recent months. Ukraine’s army has hit several Russian oil depots recently, including two major strikes on a facility near a military airfield in Russia’s Saratov region that triggered days-long blazes. Late on Friday, a Ukrainian drone attack on Lyudinovo in Russia’s Kaluga region sparked a fire at an industrial site, according to regional governor Vladislav Shapsha. Video posted on unofficial Russian social media sites showed firefighting vehicles speeding off in the direction of a large blaze at what they said was an oil storage depot in the city. No casualties were reported. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/18/russian-attacks-on-centre-of-kyiv-leave-four-dead

The body of seven-year-old Mohammed Sarim was found in the underground water tank of his apartment complex, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central. Speaking to the media on Saturday, the top police officer said that the child’s body had been sent for postmortem; however, it seemed that Sarim had fallen in the tank accidentally. The unfortunate development comes as Sarim went missing 11 days ago on January 7 from North Karachi Sector 5 within the limits of the Bilal Colony police station. A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged under 364-A (kidnapping or abducting a person under the age of 14) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Meanwhile, the seven-year-old’s parents had previously claimed to have received a message from an international number demanding ransom from them. “For the past two days, my wife has been receiving messages stating that if we want the child back, we have to pay Rs500,000,” said Sarim’s father, The News reported. The number, as per the father’s statement on Tuesday, was from a Middle Eastern country. Speaking to the media, SSP Investigation Central Kunwar Asif said that a search was carried out of the building’s four water tanks previously. However, they were informed of a body in the tank by the wallman today, said the police officer, adding that he had not been arrested. Kunwar also said that the incident seemed accidental. Commenting on the seven-year-old’s parents’ claim of receiving a message from an international number demanding ransom, Asif said that the message concerned was a fake one which the parents had mistakenly interpreted. Contrasting to the police officials’ claim of the incident being an accident, a resident, while speaking to Geo News said that Sarim did not fall in the tank accidentally. The tank from where the body has been found, he added, was searched by him, rescue workers, and the flat’s union members previously. “It seems that the child’s body was ‘placed’ inside the tank. Whoever did this knew exactly about the 30-min electricity outage window,” he remarked. Sarim’s disappearance was followed by another kidnapping incident involving five-year-old Aliyan and six-year-old Ali Raza from the city’s Garden area. Incidents of children going missing raised alarm bells among the city’s residents with Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi constituting a special unit for missing children. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also took notice of the incident directing the Karachi Police to immediately recover the children and submit a report. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1273544-7-year-old-boy-missing-for-days-found-dead-in-water-tank-police

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/18/live-israeli-cabinet-agrees-on-gaza-ceasefire-as-military-pounds-enclave

Firefighters progressed due to a temporary easing of winds, but officials caution that hazardous conditions could return. Although the hazardous fire weather conditions that have stoked Los Angeles’s devastating fires have subsided, forecasters caution that another round of Santa Ana Winds is expected early next week. The death toll has risen to 27, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said on Thursday evening. Authorities warn that the number could climb further as search and rescue efforts continue. According to local media reports, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has received more than 150 tips on what may have started the Palisades Fire. Here is what we know: What’s the latest on the ground? Death toll and missing people Active fires No growth has been reported over the last 72 hours. The city of Pasadena has declared a local public health emergency in response to the ongoing effect of the Eaton Fire. “Ash and debris pose a significant potential current and future risk to health, safety, and the environment,” the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) said in a press release. “PPHD is declaring a local health emergency to ensure residents take appropriate measures to protect themselves from toxic ash and debris.” According to Cal Fire, more than 5,000 firefighters are fighting the fires, including reinforcements from Israel who arrived on Thursday and crews from Canada and Mexico. Recently contained fires What’s expected on Friday? The Los Angeles area is experiencing improved weather conditions, which are aiding firefighting efforts against the ongoing wildfires. The National Weather Service has indicated that the strong Santa Ana winds, which have significantly contributed to the fires’ rapid spread, are expected to subside by the weekend. This shift is anticipated to bring increased moisture from the Pacific Ocean, creating more favourable conditions for containment. Firefighters are using this window of calmer weather to strengthen containment lines around major fires. However, authorities caution that while progress is being made, the situation remains dynamic, and residents should stay alert for any changes. Looking ahead, meteorologists warn of the potential return of strong winds early next week, which could exacerbate fire conditions. “There’s definitely a high likelihood of critical fire conditions developing sometime next week,” Rich Thompson, an incident meteorologist for the Palisades Fire, said at a news conference on Wednesday evening. Good news: We are expecting a much-needed break from the fire weather concerns to close this week. Bad News: Next week is a concern. While confident that we will NOT see a repeat of last week, dangerous fire weather conditions are expected. #cawx #PalisadesFire #EatonFire pic.twitter.com/zhXmHUWtgp — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 15, 2025 What do we know about the investigation of what started the fires? Utility equipment under scrutiny Southern California Edison (SCE), Los Angeles’s electrical utility, is under investigation for its potential role in igniting the Eaton Fire. At least four lawsuits have been filed alleging that SCE’s equipment may have sparked the blaze. Among the petitioners is Jeremy Gursey, whose home in Altadena, according to CNN, was destroyed by the Eaton Fire. He filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, saying SCE was responsible. Gursey referenced photographs taken by Altadena residents Jennifer Errico and Marcus Errico as evidence. They captured images of a small fire beneath transmission lines in Eaton Canyon. However, Marcus Errico said he wasn’t sure if SCE was responsible for the blaze. “I saw a glow in the hillside right above our house,” Errico told CNN. “And as I got closer, I could see right across from us on the hillside in Eaton Canyon, there are a series of transformer towers with power lines stretching up into the mountains. And at the base of one, there was just a small ring of flames around the whole base,” he added. The company has defended its decision to keep transmission lines operational, stating that wind speeds were just below the threshold required for shutdown. However, safety auditors have raised concerns about SCE’s fire risk modelling, suggesting that their assessments may not adequately account for severe wind events. A fire on New Year’s Day Some Pacific Palisades residents have expressed concerns that the devastating Palisades Fire may be linked to a smaller blaze that occurred on New Year’s Day, potentially ignited by fireworks, in the same area. According to authorities, the earlier fire broke out six days prior in the same vicinity and was reported to have been contained within hours by local firefighters. The close timing and location of the two fires have raised questions about whether strong winds could have rekindled smouldering debris from New Year’s Eve fireworks, possibly triggering the Palisades Fire. However, earlier this week, Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stated there is currently no evidence linking the two incidents. “We do not have any information suggesting there’s a connection, but that’s the benefit of bringing in outside resources to examine every detail,” she added. According to Cal Fire officials, about 95 percent of wildfires in California are caused by human activity, whether through intentional arson, downed power lines, or accidents such as back yard barbecues or fireworks celebrations gone wrong. Formation of investigative task force In response to the complex nature of these investigations, the leaders of federal and local law enforcement agencies have joined to create a Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force. This multi-agency team will investigate the origins of the fires, while also handling case leads, developing and sharing crime intelligence, and supporting the efficient prosecution of crimes linked to the Los Angeles County wildfires. The task force will focus on four key areas: looting, burglary, and impersonation offences; arson-related crimes; illegal drone activity; and financial fraud aimed at disaster victims and individuals seeking to make charitable donations. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/17/la-wildfires-day-11-what-is-the-latest-and-what-do-investigations-show

Another security personnel succumbed to his injuries from yesterday’s (Thursday) deadly attack on an aid convoy in Kurram, bringing the death toll in this latest incident of terrorist violence to two, officials confirmed on Friday. According to police, the attack — on the convoy transporting essential supplies to the crisis-hit district — also claimed the lives of three drivers, while five drivers remain missing, and five personnel sustained injuries. Trader representatives said that after the attack, the trucks were looted and set ablaze. It is worth noting that one personnel had been martyred during the attack yesterday, while retaliatory action by security forces resulted in the killing of six assailants. Kurram Additional Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ali said that the attack damaged three vehicles in the convoy. In the first phase of the third convoy’s journey, 35 goods-laden vehicles, carrying medicines, vegetables, fruits, and other essential supplies, had been dispatched, A substantial security detail, including police, Frontier Corps (FC), and other security forces, had been deployed for protection. Following the terrorism incident, the convoy transporting goods to Kurram was halted and sent back for safety. It was a major setback to the peace agreement that finally allowed aid to be sent to the restive region which remained in the spotlight for months following a wave of tribal violence that claimed over 130 lives and resulted in the closure of routes for over 100 days. So far, only two consignments of aid for Kurram could be dispatched during the last two weeks, with the latest one to reach the tribal region on January 14. The residents complain that the aid that had been delivered goods were “not good enough”, while the helicopter service for patient transfers from Kurram also remains suspended for the past 10 days. Despite a peace deal reached between the warring tribes under the negotiations facilitated by the Grand Jirga, the Kurram Peace Committee, and local peace groups, the situation remains precarious in the district. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1273176-death-toll-of-security-personnel-in-kurram-convoy-attack-rises-to-two