PAST ATTACKS
Banned Baloch Liberation Army claims responsibility for attack executed near China-built Confucius Institute Before Russia's invasion, conflict last gripped Toretsk in 2014, when it was captured by proRussian separatists
A burqa-clad woman suicide bomber struck a van inside the premises of the University of Karachi in Pakistan's financial capital, killing three Chinese nationals and their local driver, in what is believed be the latest targeted attack against Chinese citizens.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack that took place near China-built Confucius Institute, a non-profit institute teaching Chinese language to local pupils, in the university.
A spokesperson for the university said that three of the victims were Chinese nationals. They were identified as Confucius Institute Director Huang Guiping, Ding Mupeng, Chen Sa and Khalid, the Pakistani driver.
The spokesperson added that two others, Wang Yuqing and Hamid, were injured in the incident.
Counter-Terrorism Department official Raja Umar Khattab said that the suicide attack was carried out by a woman, adding that ball bearings were found at the site of the blast, Dawn newspaper reported.
He said the van was properly guarded as a Rangers team was escorting it.
Four Rangers who were behind
In July 2021, masked armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on a vehicle carrying two Chinese nationals in Karachi in which one of them was critically wounded.
In the same month, nearly a dozen Chinese engineers were killed when a bus carrying construction workers was "attacked" in northwest Pakistan.
In November 2018, Baloch separatist militants had attacked the Chinese consulate in Karachi but failed to break through the security barrier with three of them killed on the spot.
the van on motorcycles were also injured. However, their condition is stable.
CCTV footage of the attack showed a burqa-clad woman standing outside the entrance of the Confucius Institute. The woman detonated herself just as the van neared the institute's entrance, the paper said.
Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said that it was unfortunate that teachers had been targeted.
The senior officer said that there was "always a threat".
Thousands of Chinese personnel are working in Pakistan on a host of projects being carried out under the aegis of the CPEC.
Nepal deploys copter to douse forest fire KATHMANDU:
A helicopter has been deployed to control the raging forest fire at a section of the conservation area lying on the outskirts of Kathmandu as Nepal continues to witness a rise in forest fire incidents with the onset of the dry season. A forest fire broke out in Shivapuri National Park in Budhanilkantha and has been raging high since Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Gunman kills 2 toddlers in Russia MOSCOW:
A gunman opened fire in a kindergarten in Russia's Ulyanovsk region, killing at least two children and one adult before turning the gun on himself. Regional authorities later confirmed that the shooting had taken place in the village of Veshkayma, reported Moscow Times. Notably, Russia has been rocked by a series of deadly school and university shootings in recent years, prompting the authorities to crack down on online communities they blame for the incidents.
2nd Ebola death reported in DCR: WHO KINSHASA:
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported a second case of Ebola in the northwestern part of the country after declaring a new Ebola outbreak over the weekend, confirmed Tuesday the World Health Organization (WHO). “Health authorities in the DRC confirmed the second case of Ebola in Mbandaka on April 25. The 25-year-old woman, now deceased, began experiencing symptoms 12 days earlier,” tweeted WHO regional office for Africa.
37 students in Imran’s ‘dream varsity’ ISLAMABAD:
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s dream institution, Al Qadir University, which is receiving millions of rupees in donations, has only 37 students enrolled in the so-called college. Constructed and launched with land donated by a real estate giant during Khan's rule in 2019, the University is run by a trust, which includes trustees -- Imran Khan, Bushra Khan, Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and Zaheer ud din Babar Awan, The News International reported.
‘Panchen Lama is normal Chinese citizen’ BEIJING:
China on Tuesday said a Tibetan boy, who disappeared 27 years ago after being incarnated as Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama is leading a "normal life" as a Chinese citizen and dismissed the US' concerns about his whereabouts as "political manipulation" to smear the country. Nyima was recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama, the second highest spiritual authority in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama in 1995. Days later Nyima disappeared and his whereabouts are not known.
Israeli PM’s family gets death threat JERUSALEM:
Israeli police said Tuesday they have launched an investigation into a death threat made against the country's prime minister. The police issued a statement saying that a letter containing a death threat and a live bullet was sent to Naftali Bennett's family. The police said the special crimes department and the Shin Bet internal security agency opened an investigation.
Biden grants first 3 pardons WASHINGTON:
President Joe Biden has granted the first three pardons of his term, providing clemency to a Kennedy-era Secret Service agent convicted of federal bribery charges that he tried to sell a copy of an agency file and to two people who were convicted on drug-related charges but went on to become pillars in their communities. The Democratic president also commuted the sentences of 75 others for nonviolent, drug-related convictions.
Canada police to ban motorcycle protest OTTAWA:
The Ottawa Police said they have developed an enhanced operational approach to manage the Rolling Thunder event, a planned motorcycle convoy protest in the Canadian capital, scheduled for the coming weekend. In a statement, the police said protesters won’t be allowed to drive into the downtown core which includes areas near the Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial, and the policy applies to all demonstrations, rallies and events.
Kenya lifts ban on scrap metal trade NAIROBI:
Kenya Tuesday lifted its ban on the trade of scrap metal that was put in place in January in order to curb vandalism of critical infrastructure. Betty Maina, cabinet secretary of Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development told journalists in Nairobi, Kenya's capital that buying and selling of scrap metal will resume beginning May 1. "All persons dealing with scrap metal must apply for a license," Maina said. According to the ministry, all applicants for dealing in scrap metal will be vetted by a multi-agency team.
Hunger grips Burkina Faso OUAGADOUGOU:
Hunger is soaring across conflict-ridden Burkina Faso, a result of increasing violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, which has killed thousands and displaced millions, preventing people from farming. About 3.5 million people are food insecure, with nearly 6,30,000 expected to be on the brink of starvation, according to the latest food security report by the government and UN agencies. This is an 82% increase from last year of people facing emergency hunger.
War has again drawn near to Toretsk in eastern Ukraine. Even the sudden crackling of a plastic water bottle puts residents on edge.
"Anything that is happening, any noise, if our neighbours bang the door, a metal door, you are shocked," said resident Andriy Cheromushkin. "You feel so helpless."
Half of the more than 32,000 residents have fled. Many who remain lack money and basic resources. Depression is growing, along with anger.
"I collect rainwater. Yes, and I do the dishes with this rainwater. I cook the food for my dog with this water. I clean the floors with this water. I do the washing with this water. Clean the house with it. Is it normal? It is the 21st century. The nuclear power century!" said resident Irina Anatolievna.
She waited in a long line with other exhausted residents on Monday for a water distribution now that running water has disappeared. As people walked away with bottles, they passed monuments to World War I and World
War II.
The explosions sounds of artillery loud, residents said.
But it is not so easy to leave. Some are elderly. Some have small children. Some, like Cheromushkin, have no job.
"You don't know what will happen tomorrow, let alone the next minute," Cheromushkin said. His and are wife, Tatiana, called the situation "constantly depressing."