Breaking News Live, April 30: London police declare stabbing of Jewish men a ‘terrorist incident’

Toddler dies in hut fire in Meerut, candle suspected as cause

A two-year-old child died after being burnt in a fire that broke out in a hut in the Kankerkhera area here on Thursday evening, police said.

The child, identified as Ibrahim, sustained severe burn injuries in the incident and died, police said.

Circle Officer Daurala Prakash Chandra Agarwal said police received information about a fire in a hut near Jewri drain on Khirwa Road under Kankerkhera police station limits. Police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control.

Preliminary investigation suggests the fire may have been caused by a candle, police said. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further legal proceedings are underway.

The incident triggered panic in the area, while locals expressed grief over the child's death.

Four rescued after bus plunges into Seine near Paris

Four people were rescued from the River Seine near Paris on Thursday after a bus driven by a trainee driver collided with a parked vehicle before plunging into the water, officials said.

The bus was travelling through the town of Juvisy-sur-Orge southeast of the French capital when it veered off the road and fell into the Seine, prosecutors told AFP.

All four people from the bus -- the trainee driver, her supervisor and two passengers -- were pulled from the water.

An investigation has been opened, and a police source said that the driver had been taken into custody.

"The final tally shows four people involved, all safe and sound," the prefecture said.

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rain and cyclonic winds lash Theni, leading to traffic disruption and power outages.

Bengaluru: Woman from Meghalaya in live-in relationship found dead

A 34-year-old woman from Meghalaya has been found dead in her residence in Bengaluru, police said on Thursday.

Police suspect that the victim died by suicide on Thursday night at her rented room in Hebbal, Bengaluru.

They said she was in a live-in relationship with a 28-year-old man from Manipur for the past three years.

At least 17 people killed after a jeep skidded off a road and plunged about 700 metres into a gorge in Rolpa district of Nepal.

Madhya Pradesh: 4 drown after cruise boat with 30 onboard sinks in dam; rescue on

A festive outing turned into a major disaster at Bargi Dam after a cruise carrying approximately 30 tourists capsized in the Narmada River backwaters. According to initial reports, the vessel was navigating the water when it was suddenly struck by powerful winds, causing it to lose balance and sink.

Emergency response teams rushed to the site and managed to rescue 15 people from the water, while four bodies have been recovered so far.

The search and rescue operation remains underway as several passengers are still reported missing. Authorities believe the sudden change in weather and the intensity of the winds played a decisive role in the accident. Rescue divers and local administration are working against time to locate the remaining victims, while those rescued have been shifted for medical attention.

Mumbai police files 1624-page chargesheet against 17 accused in special MCOCA court in filmmaker Rohit Shetty firing case

UP: Three arrested in Badaun for running fake Aadhaar racket, fingerprint scanner seized

The Budaun Police on Thursday busted a gang allegedly involved in preparing fake Aadhaar cards and forged documents, and arrested three of its members, officials said.

The action was carried out in the Hazratpur area, where the accused were found operating an illegal setup to generate fake identity documents.

The accused have been identified as Farman Ali of Munshi Nagla, Anuj Kumar of Uprela, and Brajnandan of Sirsauli.

Police recovered a fingerprint scanner, three laptops, a hard disk, a scanner, a large number of Aadhaar cards and several suspicious documents from their possession. During interrogation, it was revealed that the gang had been preparing fake identity documents for a long time, misleading people and earning money through illegal means.

Station House Officer Pushpendra Singh said the accused have been produced before a court, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest other members of the gang.

Drug trafficker Salim Dola remanded in NCB custody till May 8

A court here on Thursday remanded notorious drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola, a close aide of gangster Dawood Ibrahim, in the custody of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) till May 8 in a 2023 drugs seizure case.

Man killed in firing-stabbing incident in Mumbai's Kurla area; 3 persons arrested

A man died after being shot at and stabbed allegedly by three persons in Kurla area of Mumbai, a police officer said on Thursday.
The incident took place at Pipeline Block Number 3 under VB Nagar police station limits on Wednesday night, he added.

"Baba Pawar was attacked by three persons at around 10pm. One of the accused fired at him, while two others stabbed him. He was rushed to Bhabha Hospital where he died during treatment," the officer said.

A case was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act for murder and other offences, following which the three assailants were arrested, he added.

Out on bail, Delhi man kills person accused in cousin's murder; held from Himachal

The Delhi Police has arrested a 27-year-old man, who allegedly shot dead a person involved in his cousin's murder, from Himachal Pradesh after he remaining on the run for nearly two months, officials said on Thursday.
The accused has been identified as Abhishek alias Bhola alias Karan, a resident of Madangir. He is a declared “bad character” of Ambedkar Nagar police station, and was apprehended from Himachal's Kullu district on April 27.

On March 9, a firing incident happened near Bhumiya Chowk in G-Block, Madangir, where Nikhil Nagar sustained gunshot injuries and died on the spot.

Investigations revealed that Abhishek, along with co-accused -- Rahul alias Ishu -- had allegedly opened fire at Nikhil near a public toilet. Rahul was arrested earlier, while Abhishek had been absconding since the incident.

The police said that Nikhil's murder was the result of a long-standing feud between two groups dating back to 2016. The rivalry escalated in 2021 after the killing Abhisekh's cousin Kunal, in which Nikhil was allegedly involved.

“The accused had planned the killing to avenge his cousin’s death and had also received financial assistance from an associate,” a senior officer said.

Police tracked his movement to Himachal Pradesh and laid a trap near the New Manali bus stand, where he was apprehended, police said.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he had obtained bail earlier with the intention of targeting rivals and was planning further attacks.

According to police records, Abhishek is involved in at least 18 criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, robbery, assault on public servants and violations under the Arms Act across multiple police stations in Delhi. He was also absconding during trial in several cases and had been declared a proclaimed offender in one case.

Further investigation is underway to identify other associates and examine his role in additional criminal activities, the police said.

Uttar Pradesh: A dumper hit several police personnel on duty from behind, killing one constable, leaving an inspector and two other constables seriously injured.

Madhya Pradesh: 'Illegal' warehouse storing animal remains from slaughterhouses razed in Khandwa

The administration in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district on Thursday demolished a warehouse storing animal remains from slaughterhouses, calling the structure "illegal", officials said.
The action was taken at the same location in Khandwa city where a large quantity of animal fat, hides, bones, and other materials was recovered during a raid six days ago, they said.

A joint team of the Revenue Department, Khandwa Municipal Corporation, and police arrived at the scene in the morning and began demolishing the warehouse, said the officials.

Municipal commissioner Priyanka Rajawat told PTI, "Animal remains from slaughterhouses were being illegally stored in this warehouse. Investigations have revealed the warehouse was constructed without permission from authorities and the landowner did not have the property documents." She said the municipal corporation, with the help of other agencies, demolished the "illegal" structure, which spanned approximately 5,000 square feet.

According to the officials, during the April 24 raid, a large quantity of cattle fat, hides, bones, furnaces, and other processing equipment was recovered from the site and one person was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Israel arrests 175 activists from Gaza flotilla far from its waters

Israel’s military has detained around 175 activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters off Greece, according to the Israeli foreign ministry and the flotilla’s organisers.

“Approximately 175 activists from more than 20 boats of the condom flotilla are now making their way peacefully to Israel,” the ministry said in a statement, using the term to mock the convoy after prophylactics were found in a previous mission.

The statement also included video footage showing the activists aboard an Israeli navy vessel, as cited by AFP.

Organisers of the pro-Palestinian flotilla, which aimed to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, said earlier that their boats had been surrounded by Israeli military ships near the Greek island of Crete.

2 killed, 5 injured after car collides with bus in Jharkhand

Two people were killed and five others injured after a car collided head-on with a bus in Giridih district on Thursday morning, police said.

The accident occurred in the Lal Bazar area under the jurisdiction of the Dhanwar Police Station, a senior officer said.

“A car with seven people on board collided head-on with a bus. Two people died on the spot, while five others were injured. All seven people were returning from a wedding ceremony by car when the accident took place,” Dhanwar police station in-charge Brajesh Kumar said, as cited by PTI.

The deceased were identified as Bangali Hadi, 70, and Kumkum Kumari, 24.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine seeking details on Russia's Victory Day ceasefire offer

Bangladesh to sign $3.7 bn deal with Boeing: state media

Bangladesh is set to sign a $3.7 billion deal with Boeing on Thursday to acquire 14 aircraft over the next decade for its national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, according to state media.

Dhaka’s state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha described the agreement as the “biggest modern fleet expansion” for the airline, noting that it was finalised last year as part of a tariff deal with the United States.

“Under the proposed agreement, Biman will procure 14 new aircraft, including eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and four Boeing 737-8 MAX jets,” BSS reported, as cited by AFP.

17 killed, seven rescued off Libya after week at sea: Red Crescent

The Libyan Red Crescent said on Wednesday that a patrol boat recovered 17 bodies and rescued seven people during an operation to assist a stranded vessel off the North African country, as cited by AFP.

With Italy about 300 kilometres away, Libya has become a major departure point for tens of thousands of migrants who attempt the dangerous sea crossing to Europe each year.

The organisation shared images on its Facebook page showing aid workers retrieving black body bags from a boat. It described the rescue effort as "one of the most arduous field missions to date".

24 persons hospitalised after chlorine gas leakage in Pune's Kondhwa area

Hammer-wielding man attacks Tokyo teenagers: reports

A 44-year-old man armed with a hammer injured five people, including a teenager who was allegedly struck in the face, in Tokyo, local media reported on Thursday. The suspect remains at large, with police searching for him following the attack in the Fussa area on Wednesday.

According to reports by NHK and Kyodo News, the man targeted two teenage boys near his residence. One suffered severe facial injuries, while the other sustained a minor shoulder injury.

Earthquake of magnitude 4.1 hits Leh, Ladakh

‘Terrorist incident’: Police on stabbing of two Jewish men in London

The stabbing Wednesday of two Jewish men has been formally declared "a terrorist incident", London police said, with officers investigating "whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community."

"Our highly specialised teams of officers are working... to progress this investigation quickly and establish exactly what has happened," said Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of counter-terrorism policing.

"We're also working with our partners in the security services to ensure we have a full intelligence picture," he added, noting "one of the lines of inquiry is whether this attack was deliberately targeting the Jewish community in London.” (AFP)

‘Tactical error’: Colombia’s FARC rebels claim responsibility for bomb attack that killed 21

Dissident guerrillas from Colombia's defunct FARC rebel army took responsibility for a bomb attack that killed 21 people, claiming a "tactical error" during an electoral campaign marked by a surge in violence.

"With profound sorrow, we must assume political responsibility for this tactical error, which has no justification whatsoever," the statement read.

The devastating explosion on a highway in the southwestern Cauca department injured another 56 people and was the biggest single loss of life since FARC blew up a Bogota nightclub in 2003, killing 36 people.

Coming a month before presidential elections on May 31, the attack fueled fears that violence is on the rise once again, 10 years after the FARC agreed to disarm after a half-century of conflict with the state. (AFP)

In tit-for-tat move, UK expels Russian diplomat

The UK on Wednesday expelled a Russian diplomat in retaliation for Moscow’s recent expulsion of a British official and the smear campaign that followed.

Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it summoned the Russian ambassador to its offices in London to inform him of the “reciprocal action.” The tit-for tat moves reflect spiraling tensions between Moscow and the West.

“This behavior is wholly unacceptable, and we will not tolerate harassment or intimidation of our diplomatic staff,’’ the Foreign Office said in a statement.
The move came after Russia last month expelled a British diplomat over spying allegations that the U.K. rejected as “complete nonsense.”

Russia’s top domestic security and counterintelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, said the British diplomat had sought to gather “sensitive information” about the Russian economy in “unofficial meetings” with Russian experts. The diplomat was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks. (AP)

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to attend BRICS foreign ministers meet in India in May

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to India next month to attend the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, the foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

During his visit on May 14-15, Lavrov will also hold a bilateral meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing.

"On May 14-15, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will attend a full-format meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi," Zakharova said.

The meeting, chaired by India, will provide a valuable platform for substantive discussions on current international issues and prospects for strengthening global governance, particularly regarding countries representing the global majority, she was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency.

"Special attention will be given to enhancing strategic partnerships in preparation for the 18th BRICS summit, which is also scheduled to take place in New Delhi this September,” she added. (PTI)

Sweden to fine social media sites over 'murder adverts'

Sweden's government said Wednesday it planned to introduce legislation requiring social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat to take down criminal gangs' 'murder adverts' within an hour or face hefty fines.

Criminal gangs active in Sweden increasingly use social media to recruit people to commit murders and other violent acts amid a surge in "crime as a service."

The recruits are often children under the age of 15, Sweden's age of criminal responsibility -- meaning the kids cannot be prosecuted and fall under the responsibility of social services, making them valuable assets to the gangs.

"We will be first (in the European Union) with this kind of legislation targeting organised crime's recruiting of children and youths," Swedish justice minister Gunnar Strommer told a press conference.

The minority right-wing government, propped up by the far-right Sweden Democrats, has been pushing through a rash of proposals cracking down on crime and immigration in the run-up to Sweden's general election on September 13.

If the proposal is adopted by the Swedish Parliament, social media sites would as of July 15 face fines of up to five million kronor ($537,000) if they fail to take down the adverts in time. (AFP)


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