Israel declares national emergency as massive wildfires rage near Jerusalem
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Jerusalem: Israel is grappling with its worst wildfires in decades as massive blazes spread rapidly in areas surrounding Jerusalem. Responding to the situation Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a national emergency. The fires, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds, have triggered large-scale evacuations and road closures, with authorities warning that the flames could reach the capital.
According to reports, smoke was seen billowing over major highways near Jerusalem on Wednesday, as firefighters rushed to control the situation. Several individuals have been injured, and hundreds of civilians are believed to be at risk, said Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue agency, as reported by The Guardian.
The wildfires have engulfed forested regions west of Jerusalem, with authorities evacuating towns and deploying police personnel along the Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway. Citizens have been advised to avoid the affected routes and stay away from national parks, many of which have been closed due to the danger.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who visited the affected sites, suggested that arson may be a possible cause behind the fires. He added that an investigation is underway.
Israel has reached out to neighboring countries, including Greece, Bulgaria, and Italy, seeking assistance. Italy and Croatia have reportedly agreed to send three aircraft to support firefighting operations on the ground.
Social media footage shows the fires approaching several illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. Emergency services are working around the clock to prevent further spread and minimize damage.
With temperatures expected to remain high, authorities continue to monitor the fire’s progress and have not ruled out additional evacuations if conditions worsen.
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Second PUC results: Life convict clears exam with distinction, DGP lauds effort
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Bengaluru: A life convict lodged in Ballari Central Prison has successfully cleared the second PUC examination.
Ashok Kumar S, who appeared for the examination under prison escort, secured 481 marks out of 600, registering 80.1 percent.
Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services), Alok Kumar (IPS), shared the development on his official ‘X’ handle, commending the inmate’s achievement.
In his post, he stated that it was heartening to see a life convict score over 80 percent in the examination, adding that the inmate had appeared from Ballari Central Prison under escort.
It’s heartening to see that one of our life convict prisoners Ashok has obtained 80.1% marks in PUC exam. He appeared under Prison escort from Ballari Central Prison for his exams.
— alok kumar (@alokkumar6994) April 9, 2026
Glad to see that Walls of the prison has not subdued his hopes for a better future. pic.twitter.com/Nzlcy076SR
He further noted that the achievement reflected that the “walls of the prison have not subdued his hopes for a better future.”
Alok Kumar in his post also shared the result sheet of Ashok.
The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) declared the second PUC results for 2026 on April 9.
A total of 6,32,200 students appeared for the examination across all streams, of whom 5,46,698 passed, recording an overall pass percentage of 86.48 per cent.
