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<p>Columbia University retreated its midnight deadline which was given to pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon&nbsp;encampments on the campus, even as several other campuses saw new protests erupt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned," said the office of Columbia University president Minouche Shafik on Thursday (Apr 25). "We have our demands; they have theirs," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the statement, the university also denied inviting the New York City police. "This rumour is false," it stated.</p>

<p>The news comes as massive pro-Palestinian protests embroiled more universities in the US on Thursday, forcing the police to adopt more severe measures to bring things under control.</p>

<p>Security concerns have forced the University of Southern California to cancel&nbsp;its main graduation ceremony scheduled for May 10.</p>

<p>At one of the universities, the riot officers had to resort to tasers and chemical irritants to control the protesters as some of the most prestigious institutions&nbsp;were forced&nbsp;to battle it out to prevent occupations from taking hold.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Violent police crackdown at Emory University</strong></h2>

<p>Multiple violent arrests were made by the police officials at Emory University in Decatur, Georgia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This&nbsp;was the first such police crackdown on protesters in recent days&nbsp;which&nbsp;involved the firing of teargas and rubber bullets after multiple encampments were established by the students to express their solidarity with Palestine and against Cop City.</p>

<p>Police&nbsp;were seen&nbsp;wielding tasers and wrestling with protesters at Emory University.</p>

<p>Zip-ties&nbsp;were used&nbsp;by officers wearing gas masks to detain people, reported the college's Emory Wheel news website.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-protest-in-us-universities-faculty-members-walk-out-after-police-arrest-pro-palestinian-protesters-714014">Pro-Palestine protests rock US schools, teachers stage walkout over mass arrests on campus</a></p>

<p>Emory&nbsp;University released a statement saying that outside protesters had&nbsp;been joined&nbsp;by "members of the Emory community" and that the group was "disrupting the university as our students finish classes and prepare for finals".</p>

<p>The university confirmed that Atlanta Police arrested several dozens and refuted using rubber bullets against protesters.</p>

<p>The Atlanta Police Department (APD) further confirmed that the college had asked for help in "securing the campus".</p>

<h2><strong>Protests spread across US campuses as activists call for&nbsp;ceasefire&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Demonstrations and new sit-ins were organised&nbsp;across college campuses in the US as activists appealed for a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas and continued demanding colleges sever ties with the country and with companies which have been profiting from the conflict.</p>

<p>"For 201 days, the world has watched in silence as Israel has murdered over 30,000 Palestinians," read a message, which&nbsp;was shared&nbsp;by organisers of a new protest at the University of California, Los Angeles.</p>

<p>The police arrested more than 200 protesters on Wednesday and early Thursday at universities in Boston and Austin, Texas and Los Angeles.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: Anti-war protests grip American Universities</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-anti-war-protests-grip-american-universities-714878/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The protests erupted at Columbia University in New&nbsp;York&nbsp;where a midnight deadline was reaching for students to pull out their encampment, which has been the&nbsp;epicentre of the movement.</p>

<h2><meta name="uuid" content="uuidaiAUgRIymiPY" /><strong>USC faces backlash after cancelling main stage commencement ceremony</strong></h2>

<p>The&nbsp;University of Southern California (USC)&nbsp;cancelled its main stage commencement ceremony for the 2024 graduates as the campus was shut down by the anti-Israel protests. After this, the university faced&nbsp;backlash for the decision.</p>

<p>"With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially.&nbsp;As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 am&nbsp;to 10 am," stated USC&nbsp;on its website.</p>

<h2><strong>More 'hate' at student protests than Charlottesville: Trump</strong></h2>

<p>Condemning the pro-Palestinian protests across US colleges, former president Donald Trump on Thursday said that the level of "hate" on display is much worse in comparison to the deadly rally by right-wing extremists in Charlottesville in 2017.</p>

<p>"We're having protests all over. Charlottesville was a little peanut, and it was nothing compared -- and the hate wasn't the kind of hate that you have here, this&nbsp;is tremendous hate," Trump said.</p>

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<h2><strong>India calls for "right balance" amid pro-Palestine protests&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking about the protests, India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the government has been in touch with the Indian students who are studying in US universities.</p>

<p>"We have seen reports on the matter and have been following related events. In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, a sense of responsibility and public safety and order. Democracies in particular should display this understanding&nbsp;in regard to&nbsp;other fellow democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad," said Jaiswal.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Columbia University retreated its midnight deadline which was given to pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon encampments on the campus, even as several other campuses saw new protests erupt.

Columbia University retreated its midnight deadline which was given to pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon encampments on the campus, even as several other campuses saw new protests erupt. "The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned," said the office of Columbia University president Minouche Shafik on Thursday (Apr 25). "We have our demands; they have theirs," he added. In the statement, the university also denied inviting the New York City police. "This rumour is false," it stated. The news comes as massive pro-Palestinian protests embroiled more universities in the US on Thursday, forcing the police to adopt more severe measures to bring things under control. Security concerns have forced the University of Southern California to cancel its main graduation ceremony scheduled for May 10. At one of the universities, the riot officers had to resort to tasers and chemical irritants to control the protesters as some of the most prestigious institutions were forced to battle it out to prevent occupations from taking hold. Violent police crackdown at Emory University Multiple violent arrests were made by the police officials at Emory University in Decatur, Georgia. This was the first such police crackdown on protesters in recent days which involved the firing of teargas and rubber bullets after multiple encampments were established by the students to express their solidarity with Palestine and against Cop City. Police were seen wielding tasers and wrestling with protesters at Emory University. Zip-ties were used by officers wearing gas masks to detain people, reported the college's Emory Wheel news website. Also Read: Pro-Palestine protests rock US schools, teachers stage walkout over mass arrests on campus Emory University released a statement saying that outside protesters had been joined by "members of the Emory community" and that the group was "disrupting the university as our students finish classes and prepare for finals". The university confirmed that Atlanta Police arrested several dozens and refuted using rubber bullets against protesters. The Atlanta Police Department (APD) further confirmed that the college had asked for help in "securing the campus". Protests spread across US campuses as activists call for ceasefire Demonstrations and new sit-ins were organised across college campuses in the US as activists appealed for a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas and continued demanding colleges sever ties with the country and with companies which have been profiting from the conflict. "For 201 days, the world has watched in silence as Israel has murdered over 30,000 Palestinians," read a message, which was shared by organisers of a new protest at the University of California, Los Angeles. The police arrested more than 200 protesters on Wednesday and early Thursday at universities in Boston and Austin, Texas and Los Angeles. Watch: Israel-Hamas war: Anti-war protests grip American Universities The protests erupted at Columbia University in New York where a midnight deadline was reaching for students to pull out their encampment, which has been the epicentre of the movement. USC faces backlash after cancelling main stage commencement ceremony The University of Southern California (USC) cancelled its main stage commencement ceremony for the 2024 graduates as the campus was shut down by the anti-Israel protests. After this, the university faced backlash for the decision. "With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially. As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 am to 10 am," stated USC on its website. More 'hate' at student protests than Charlottesville: Trump Condemning the pro-Palestinian protests across US colleges, former president Donald Trump on Thursday said that the level of "hate" on display is much worse in comparison to the deadly rally by right-wing extremists in Charlottesville in 2017. "We're having protests all over. Charlottesville was a little peanut, and it was nothing compared -- and the hate wasn't the kind of hate that you have here, this is tremendous hate," Trump said. India calls for "right balance" amid pro-Palestine protests Speaking about the protests, India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the government has been in touch with the Indian students who are studying in US universities. "We have seen reports on the matter and have been following related events. In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, a sense of responsibility and public safety and order. Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies. After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad," said Jaiswal. (With inputs from agencies)

US pro-Palestine protest updates: Columbia University drops deadline to remove encampments

<p>A chemical leak at a Houston-area water park left dozens suffering from minor skin irritation and respiratory issues, authorities said.</p>

<p>Twenty-nine people were taken to local hospitals following the incident at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown in Spring on Saturday, the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">HCFMO HAZMAT has been requested to assist <a href="https://twitter.com/Springfdtx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Springfdtx</a> with a chemical incident at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown. 29 people are going through decon. HCFMO hazmat is on scene working to identify the cause of the incident. More info as soon as availabl. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hounews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hounews</a> <a href="https://t.co/a7v8T3DXwc">pic.twitter.com/a7v8T3DXwc</a></p>
— @hcfmo (@hcfmo) <a href="https://twitter.com/hcfmo/status/1416495142400299009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Thirty-nine others declined to be taken to a hospital after undergoing decontamination procedures.&nbsp;KPRC-TV reports that some of those who became sick were children, including a three-year-old, who was hospitalised in stable condition.</p>

<p>The chemicals involved included hypochlorite solution and 35 per cent sulfuric acid, officials said. "The safety of our guests and team member is always our highest priority and the park was immediately cleared as we try to determine a cause," Hurricane Harbor Splashtown spokesperson Rosie Shepard said in a statement, according to news outlets. "Out of an abundance of caution, the park has been closed for the day."</p>

<p>Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, which they said was contained to one attraction at the park.<br />
"Grateful for the swift action from first responders today at Splashtown," Houston's chief elected official, Lina Hidalgo, tweeted.</p>

<p>"We've issued a closure order to investigate and ensure the park meets all requirements before reopening again."&nbsp;</p>


A chemical leak at a Houston-area water park left dozens suffering from minor skin irritation and respiratory issues, authorities said. Twenty-nine people were taken to local hospitals following the incident at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown in Spring on Saturday, the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office tweeted.

A chemical leak at a Houston-area water park left dozens suffering from minor skin irritation and respiratory issues, authorities said. Twenty-nine people were taken to local hospitals following the incident at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown in Spring on Saturday, the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office tweeted. HCFMO HAZMAT has been requested to assist @Springfdtx with a chemical incident at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown. 29 people are going through decon. HCFMO hazmat is on scene working to identify the cause of the incident. More info as soon as availabl. #hounews pic.twitter.com/a7v8T3DXwc — @hcfmo (@hcfmo) July 17, 2021 × Thirty-nine others declined to be taken to a hospital after undergoing decontamination procedures. KPRC-TV reports that some of those who became sick were children, including a three-year-old, who was hospitalised in stable condition. The chemicals involved included hypochlorite solution and 35 per cent sulfuric acid, officials said. "The safety of our guests and team member is always our highest priority and the park was immediately cleared as we try to determine a cause," Hurricane Harbor Splashtown spokesperson Rosie Shepard said in a statement, according to news outlets. "Out of an abundance of caution, the park has been closed for the day." Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, which they said was contained to one attraction at the park. "Grateful for the swift action from first responders today at Splashtown," Houston's chief elected official, Lina Hidalgo, tweeted. "We've issued a closure order to investigate and ensure the park meets all requirements before reopening again."

US: Dozens treated after chemical leak at Texas water park

In Pics | Rescuers struggle to locate dozens in landslide-hit Japan town

<p>The death toll in the Siberian shopping mall fire has risen to 64.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The toll had earlier been pegged at 37 after a fire ripped through a busy shopping centre in an industrial city in western Siberia, with scores more reported missing, including children.</p>

<p>"At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 37 people in the fire at the Kemerovo shopping centre", Russia's Investigative Committee said earlier, according to TASS news agency.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="ru">Просто ад <a href="https://t.co/AHoSSluBbL">pic.twitter.com/AHoSSluBbL</a></p>
— Dasha (@DashaOy) <a href="https://twitter.com/DashaOy/status/977861048001851393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">25 March 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Images on Russian television showed thick black smoke pouring out of the Winter Cherry shopping centre in the city of Kemerovo, which also boasts a sauna, a multiplex cinema and a bowling alley that was packed with people on a Sunday afternoon.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There is a fire in a mall in Kemerovo, Siberia and people jumping from the windows :( <a href="https://t.co/a4DMqdPQNS">pic.twitter.com/a4DMqdPQNS</a></p>
— English Russia (@EnglishRussia1) <a href="https://twitter.com/EnglishRussia1/status/977874020480765953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">25 March 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Investigators had initially reported five people dead including a child and another 30 people injured and taken to the hospital.</p>

<p>As the new death toll was announced, a source in the local rescue services said 69 people including 40 children were reported missing, the RIA Novosti agency reported, while the Investigative Committee said it was "verifying information that 35 people could be missing".</p>

<p>The preliminary findings of the inquiry said the fire started around 1100 GMT in one of the cinema halls and destroyed more than 1,000 square metres of the centre, news agencies reported.</p>

<p>"The roof collapsed in two theatres in the cinema," the Investigative Committee said.</p>

<p>Around 120 people had been evacuated from the burning centre, rescuers said.</p>

<p>"This shopping centre on several floors was packed with people mid-day Sunday. No one knows exactly how many people there were inside when the fire broke out," Alexandre Eremeyev, an official with the local Russian emergency services ministry, said in a statement.</p>

<p>"Where to look for people? How many are there? That has greatly complicated the work of the firefighters," he said, adding that the thick smoke was also hindering their task.</p>

<p>Some 300 firefighters and rescue personnel were rushed to the scene and the fire was brought under control around 1730 GMT, local emergency officials said.</p>

<p>Russia`s minister of emergency services, Vladimir Putchkov has gone to Kemerovo, RIA Novosti said.</p>


Images on Russian television showed thick black smoke pouring out of the Winter Cherry shopping centre in the city of Kemerovo

The death toll in the Siberian shopping mall fire has risen to 64. The toll had earlier been pegged at 37 after a fire ripped through a busy shopping centre in an industrial city in western Siberia, with scores more reported missing, including children. "At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 37 people in the fire at the Kemerovo shopping centre", Russia's Investigative Committee said earlier, according to TASS news agency. Просто ад pic.twitter.com/AHoSSluBbL — Dasha (@DashaOy) 25 March 2018 × Images on Russian television showed thick black smoke pouring out of the Winter Cherry shopping centre in the city of Kemerovo, which also boasts a sauna, a multiplex cinema and a bowling alley that was packed with people on a Sunday afternoon. There is a fire in a mall in Kemerovo, Siberia and people jumping from the windows :( pic.twitter.com/a4DMqdPQNS — English Russia (@EnglishRussia1) 25 March 2018 × Investigators had initially reported five people dead including a child and another 30 people injured and taken to the hospital. As the new death toll was announced, a source in the local rescue services said 69 people including 40 children were reported missing, the RIA Novosti agency reported, while the Investigative Committee said it was "verifying information that 35 people could be missing". The preliminary findings of the inquiry said the fire started around 1100 GMT in one of the cinema halls and destroyed more than 1,000 square metres of the centre, news agencies reported. "The roof collapsed in two theatres in the cinema," the Investigative Committee said. Around 120 people had been evacuated from the burning centre, rescuers said. "This shopping centre on several floors was packed with people mid-day Sunday. No one knows exactly how many people there were inside when the fire broke out," Alexandre Eremeyev, an official with the local Russian emergency services ministry, said in a statement. "Where to look for people? How many are there? That has greatly complicated the work of the firefighters," he said, adding that the thick smoke was also hindering their task. Some 300 firefighters and rescue personnel were rushed to the scene and the fire was brought under control around 1730 GMT, local emergency officials said. Russia`s minister of emergency services, Vladimir Putchkov has gone to Kemerovo, RIA Novosti said.

Russian mall fire: Death toll rises to 64

<p style="text-align: justify;">Tearful residents laid flowers to their local MP, Jo Cox, on Thursday in the normally quiet Yorkshire village where the 41-year-old mother of two was gunned down, as armed police patrolled the area.<br />
<br />
As Britain struggled to comprehend a murder that has cast a shadow over next week&#39;s EU vote, investigators sealed off the home of the suspect -- named in the media as Thomas Mair -- and carried out a forensic search of his garden.<br />
<br />
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Cox&#39;s Labour Party, was expected in Birstall later on Friday after paying tribute to Cox at a vigil outside Parliament on Thursday.<br />
<br />
&quot;She grew up in this community, she lived for this community, she served this community, and in the end she gave her life for this community,&quot; Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Huddersfield, told residents.<br />
<br />
Dozens of floral tributes could be seen at the foot of a statue in Birstall, a large village in a district of around 16,000 inhabitants.<br />
<br />
&quot;My heart breaks for your children. So many of your constituents are proud to have called you their MP. Our whole country is hurting right now,&quot; read one handwritten note left with the flowers.<br />
<br />
&quot;Jo, what a vile and tragic day,&quot; read another.<br />
<br />
Hichem Ben Abdallah, an eyewitness to the shooting who had campaigned in the last election alongside Cox, told AFP he was still in shock at the killing, the first murder of a serving British MP since the Irish Republican Army killed Ian Gow with a car bomb in 1990.<br />
<br />
&quot;She stood for peace and transparency, fighting corruption, wanted justice for all. I think her flame will carry on,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
&quot;I hope we learn lessons from this,&quot; he added.<br />
<br />
Cox, a former charity worker who was only elected to Parliament last year, was best known for her campaigning in favour of refugee rights and for Britain staying in the European Union (EU).<br />
<br />
She grew up in the area and made an impassioned maiden speech in parliament about the ethnic diversity of her local community, which saw an influx of migrants from Ireland and the Indian subcontinent when it was a hub for the English textile industry.<br />
<br />
Sitting outside a local sports and social club, Stephen Lees said of the attack: &quot;It&#39;s atrocious. It&#39;s not something you expect around here.<br />
<br />
&quot;It&#39;s not sunk in properly yet.&quot;<br />
<br />
In London, mourners laid flowers on the roof of the house boat where Cox lived with her husband and two young children, next to Tower Bridge.<br />
<br />
Anne Wainwright, who lived alongside, told mourners: &quot;We have lost a dear, dear friend in the most tragic and outrageous circumstances.&quot;<br />
<br />
&quot;We pay tribute to our amazing, wonderful and spirited member of this community -- a beacon of hope who believed in love, friendship and values that we all so much need at this time.<br />
<br />
&quot;The community will continue to be inspired by her relentless energy and her commitment to all that is good.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
(AFP)</p>


'Jo, what a vile and tragic day,' was one of the messages left for Jo cox at the foot of a statue in Birstall where she was killed

Tearful residents laid flowers to their local MP, Jo Cox, on Thursday in the normally quiet Yorkshire village where the 41-year-old mother of two was gunned down, as armed police patrolled the area. As Britain struggled to comprehend a murder that has cast a shadow over next week's EU vote, investigators sealed off the home of the suspect -- named in the media as Thomas Mair -- and carried out a forensic search of his garden. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Cox's Labour Party, was expected in Birstall later on Friday after paying tribute to Cox at a vigil outside Parliament on Thursday. "She grew up in this community, she lived for this community, she served this community, and in the end she gave her life for this community," Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Huddersfield, told residents. Dozens of floral tributes could be seen at the foot of a statue in Birstall, a large village in a district of around 16,000 inhabitants. "My heart breaks for your children. So many of your constituents are proud to have called you their MP. Our whole country is hurting right now," read one handwritten note left with the flowers. "Jo, what a vile and tragic day," read another. Hichem Ben Abdallah, an eyewitness to the shooting who had campaigned in the last election alongside Cox, told AFP he was still in shock at the killing, the first murder of a serving British MP since the Irish Republican Army killed Ian Gow with a car bomb in 1990. "She stood for peace and transparency, fighting corruption, wanted justice for all. I think her flame will carry on," he said. "I hope we learn lessons from this," he added. Cox, a former charity worker who was only elected to Parliament last year, was best known for her campaigning in favour of refugee rights and for Britain staying in the European Union (EU). She grew up in the area and made an impassioned maiden speech in parliament about the ethnic diversity of her local community, which saw an influx of migrants from Ireland and the Indian subcontinent when it was a hub for the English textile industry. Sitting outside a local sports and social club, Stephen Lees said of the attack: "It's atrocious. It's not something you expect around here. "It's not sunk in properly yet." In London, mourners laid flowers on the roof of the house boat where Cox lived with her husband and two young children, next to Tower Bridge. Anne Wainwright, who lived alongside, told mourners: "We have lost a dear, dear friend in the most tragic and outrageous circumstances." "We pay tribute to our amazing, wonderful and spirited member of this community -- a beacon of hope who believed in love, friendship and values that we all so much need at this time. "The community will continue to be inspired by her relentless energy and her commitment to all that is good." (AFP)

English village in shock after British MP's murder

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