
Over 100 injured in fire after gas pipeline explosion in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia]: More than 100 people were injured in a fire that broke out following a gas pipeline leak on the outskirts of Myanmar's capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported.
The fire erupted after an explosion and fireball at 8:10 am (local time) on Tuesday in the suburb of Putra Heights, central Selangor state. The gas pipeline belonging to Malaysia's state-run energy firm Petronas.
Selangor's Chief Minister said that the blaze quickly spread, threatening nearby villages during a public holiday for Eid celebration, Al Jazeera reported, citing state news agency Bernama.
As many as 112 people were injured, with 63 of them taken to the hospital for burn injuries, breathing difficulties and other injuries, according to Selangor Deputy Police Chief Mohamad Zaini Abu Hassan, as reported by Al Jazeera. At least 49 houses were also damaged in the fire, Hassan added. No deaths have been reported in the incident.
In a statement, the state's disaster management unit said that efforts were underway to rescue trapped residents, with several people receiving treatment for burns, Al Jazeera reported.
Selangor's Chief Minister said 82 people had been rescued so far. The chief minister further said that residents will be temporarily moved to a nearby mosque until the situation is under control.

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Times of Oman
01-04-2025
- Times of Oman
Over 100 injured in fire after gas pipeline explosion in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia]: More than 100 people were injured in a fire that broke out following a gas pipeline leak on the outskirts of Myanmar's capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday, Al Jazeera reported. The fire erupted after an explosion and fireball at 8:10 am (local time) on Tuesday in the suburb of Putra Heights, central Selangor state. The gas pipeline belonging to Malaysia's state-run energy firm Petronas. Selangor's Chief Minister said that the blaze quickly spread, threatening nearby villages during a public holiday for Eid celebration, Al Jazeera reported, citing state news agency Bernama. As many as 112 people were injured, with 63 of them taken to the hospital for burn injuries, breathing difficulties and other injuries, according to Selangor Deputy Police Chief Mohamad Zaini Abu Hassan, as reported by Al Jazeera. At least 49 houses were also damaged in the fire, Hassan added. No deaths have been reported in the incident. In a statement, the state's disaster management unit said that efforts were underway to rescue trapped residents, with several people receiving treatment for burns, Al Jazeera reported. Selangor's Chief Minister said 82 people had been rescued so far. The chief minister further said that residents will be temporarily moved to a nearby mosque until the situation is under control.


Observer
29-03-2025
- Observer
Hidden trade persists in Salalah as shops shun e-payments
SALALAH, MARCH 29 As Eid approaches, shoppers in the Wilayat of Salalah are increasingly being asked to transfer payments to personal bank accounts rather than using approved electronic systems—an alarming trend that may point to widespread violations of Oman's commercial regulations. In one incident observed by the Oman Observer, a customer at a clothing store was informed that card payments were not accepted. 'Just transfer the money to my bank account,' the shop assistant instructed. Such transactions are becoming more frequent across Salalah's retail sector, according to field visits conducted by the Observer. Many of these outlets appear to be operated by expatriate workers, although they are officially registered under the names of Omani citizens. The lack of electronic payment systems and official invoices has raised serious concerns about potential breaches of Oman's anti-commercial concealment (hidden trade) laws. UNFAIR COMPETITION Ahmed Salim, a small business owner in the Wilayat of Salalah, said that unlicensed operations are undermining legitimate enterprises. 'We issue receipts, comply with tax laws, and use electronic payments. Others sidestep all of that and sell at lower prices. It's not a level playing field,' he said. He added that the situation is discouraging young Omanis from entering the retail sector. 'This kind of environment kills motivation,' he noted. In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion has intensified enforcement. In a recent inspection campaign, the ministry reviewed 1,528 commercial outlets within shopping centres in the governorates of Muscat and Al Batinah South. The campaign led to more than 40 violations against shops that failed to comply with Ministerial Decision No (386/2022), which mandates that retailers must offer electronic payment options to customers. Ahead of Eid, the Ministry also issued a public advisory urging consumers to report any retailer that refuses e-payments or requests money transfers via personal phone-linked accounts. Complaints can be submitted through the Tajawob platform at Regulatory framework In July 2023, the ministry introduced new regulations aimed at combating commercial concealment—defined as enabling unlicensed individuals to operate a business, either independently or in partnership. Under these regulations, offenders face fines ranging from RO 5,000 to RO 15,000, with the potential for permanent licence revocation in cases of repeated violations. Authorities have been granted broad powers to conduct unannounced inspections. Red flags include income transfers to personal accounts, false registration data, unauthorised managerial roles held by foreign workers, and the use of non-commercial bank accounts. Both citizens and residents are required to report suspected violations, while self-reporting may result in reduced penalties. Economists caution that concealed commercial practices reduce public tax revenues and hinder the government's efforts to regulate the market and create employment opportunities for Omanis. 'These shadow transactions create an informal economy that competes with the formal sector and undermines national economic policy,' one analyst observed. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS To effectively curb commercial concealment and promote fair competition, experts and business owners advocate for a comprehensive approach. This includes mandating digital payment systems across all retail outlets to ensure transactional transparency and reduce informal cash-based dealings. Authorities should also impose immediate penalties on shops that fail to issue official receipts, as the absence of documentation often signals regulatory evasion. Public awareness campaigns are essential to educate consumers on their rights and encourage them to report violations. Furthermore, establishing more direct communication channels between consumers, municipal authorities, and regulators will enable faster identification and resolution of non-compliant practices. Collectively, these measures can foster accountability, strengthen regulatory oversight and restore confidence in the retail sector.


Observer
25-03-2025
- Observer
Israel presses Gaza attack with new evacuation calls
GAZA: An Israeli air strike killed a journalist working with Al Jazeera and the military issued fresh calls to evacuate parts of Gaza's north, as Israel pressed its renewed bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory. Israel resumed intense air strikes across Gaza last Tuesday, followed by ground operations, after talks on extending a ceasefire with the Palestinian group Hamas reached an impasse. On Monday evening, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued "an early warning before a strike" in the northern area of Jabalia. "...organisations are once again returning to and firing rockets from populated areas... For your safety, head south toward the known shelters immediately," Adraee said on X, after issuing similar warnings for the northern towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun. Earlier, Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli drone strike on Monday afternoon killed Hussam Shabat, who was working with Al Jazeera, near a petrol station in Beit Lahia. Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the agency, said air strikes had targeted more than 10 cars, including Shabat's, in various parts of Gaza. "Hussam Shabat, a journalist collaborating with Al Jazeera Mubasher, was martyred in an Israeli strike targeting his car in the northern Gaza Strip," an alert from the broadcaster said, referring to its live Arabic channel. Footage from the scene in Beit Lahia showed Palestinians gathering around the car, which had an Al Jazeera sticker on its windscreen. A body could be seen on the ground nearby. According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel's military in October accused Shabat and five other Palestinian journalists of being militants, which he denied. Hundreds of people attended Shabat's funeral held at Beit Lahia's Indonesian Hospital, praying over his body, which still wore a press flak jacket. The civil defence agency said a media worker from Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestine Today TV, Muhammad Mansour, was killed in a separate air strike in Gaza's south. In a statement, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called the deaths of Shabat and Mansour "a crime added to the record of Israeli terrorism". It said that more than 206 journalists and media workers had been killed since the start of the war, which was triggered by attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 50,082 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. The health ministry said on Monday that 730 people had been killed since Israel resumed bombardments on March 18, including 57 in the past 24 hours. Militants also seized 251 hostages on October 7, 58 of whom are still in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Hamas's armed wing released a video on Monday showing two Israeli hostages — identified as Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Haim Ohana — describing the danger they have faced since the resumption of intense Israeli strikes. Bohbot's family reacted to the video with a statement appealing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to secure the remaining hostages' release. "Imagine this is your son, the father of your grandchild, waiting to see daylight, hearing (Israeli army) bombs, and living in constant fear for his life," the statement said. Israel's military said it intercepted a total of three "projectiles" launched from the Gaza Strip on Monday evening. The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it had launched rockets towards Israel. The military also said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, the sixth since the resumption of Gaza hostilities. — Reuters