A 28-year-old Indian-origin man died under mysterious circumstances in Dunedin, New Zealand. According to the New Zealand Herald, Gurjit Singh, who lived in New Zealand since 2015, was found dead covered in blood and glass outside his home. His body was discovered by a friend, who had been concerned over his welfare. Initially, police were treating his death as "unexplained", but following a post-mortem, which revealed multiple stab wounds by a sharp instrument, cops confirmed his death was a homicide investigation. Gurjit Singh was a Chorus technician who was renting a brick house in Hillary St, in Liberton. He got married six months ago, and his wife was about to join him as her flight was scheduled for February 6, the outlet reported.
Propane tanks burst after fire at US gurdwara site
Multiple propane tanks exploded after a fire broke out at a building site inside the complex of California’s largest Sikh temple. Flames damaged a room that holds religious classes, but no injuries were reported in the incident that took place at the Gurdwara Sacramento Sikh Society.
Emergency crew was called and worshipers were immediately evacuated, said Metro fire battalion chief Parker Wilbourn. The building’s attic burned down, leaving behind a gutted frame and causing a partial roof collapse, a local newspaper reported. At least two vehicles got destroyed.
64 killed in Chile forest fire
Firefighters wrestled with massive forest fires that broke out in central Chile two days earlier, as officials extended curfews in cities most heavily affected by the blazes and said at least 64 people were killed. The fires have been burning with the highest intensity around the city of Vina del Mar, where a famous botanical garden founded in 1931 was destroyed by the flames on Sunday. At least 1,600 people were left without homes. Several neighbourhoods on the eastern edge of Vina del Mar have been devoured by flames and smoke, trapping some people in their homes. Officials said 200 people have been reported missing in Vina del Mar and the surrounding area. The city of 300,000 is a popular beach resort and also hosts a famous music festival during summer.
3 killed, 300 injured in Kenya gas explosion
A huge gas blast in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has killed at least three people and injured nearly 300. A lorry carrying gas cylinders exploded in Embakasi district, "igniting a huge ball of fire", an official said. Housing, businesses and cars were damaged, with video showing a huge blaze raging close to blocks of flats. An investigation has started and Kenya's deputy president has said those responsible will be held accountable. A child was among those who died, according Embakasi police chief Wesley Kimeto, who added that the death toll could rise. Some 271 people were taken to hospital, according to the authorities, including at least 25 children. Another 27 people were treated on site for non-life-threatening injuries
Cult declared an ‘organised criminal group’
Kenyan authorities proscribed the church of a religious leader who ordered his followers to starve themselves and their children to death so that they could go to heaven, as an organised criminal group. Paul Mackenzie, head of the Good News International Church, is currently facing charges of murder, child torture, and “terrorism” after last April’s discovery of hundreds of bodies of his followers who had starved to death on his instructions. In an official gazette document, the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared the church an “organised criminal group”, paving the way for further investigation and possible prosecution of members deemed to have aided Mackenzie.
Cosmonaut sets record for most time in space
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko set a world record for total time spent in space, surpassing his compatriot Gennady Padalka who logged over 878 days in orbit, Russia’s space corporation said. Kononenko is expected to reach a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5 and by Sept he will have clocked 1,110 days. “I fly into space to do my favourite thing, not to set records,” Kononenko said inside International Space Station (ISS). “I am proud of all my achievements, but I am more proud that the record for the total duration of human stay in space is still held by a Russian cosmonaut.” He took the top spot from Padalka, who accumulated a total of 878 days, 11 hours, 29 minutes and 48 seconds.
Malaysia's new king owns fleet of jets, private army
Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar was sworn in as Malaysia's new king. He took the oath of office in a ceremony held at the national palace in the country's capital Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony was witnessed by other royal families, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim and cabinet members. Malaysia has a unique system of monarchy under which the heads of Malaysia's nine royal families take turns to be the king, every five years. Ibrahim has succeeded Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is returning to lead his home state of Pahang having completed his five-year tenure as the king. The
65-year-old Ibrahim is a billionaire who has an extensive business empire ranging from real estate to telecoms and power plants. Ibrahim has a fleet of jets. He has also a private army.
One arrested for threatening Biden, Musk
A Tesla employee from Minnesota was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill US President Joe Biden and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, confirmed Tesla Police. Justin McCauley, 31, who had tweeted that he was "planning to kill" Biden, Musk, X, and Tesla, was charged with felony terroristic threats. According to a report, court documents state that McCauley's wife called Police when he declared that he was leaving for Texas and would never return. She informed authorities he had left his cell phone unattended so it couldn't be tracked. When McCauley was approached by police, they say he told them he only wanted to speak with the president.
Man attacks 3 in Paris train station
A man armed with a knife and a hammer wounded three people in an early morning attack at the bustling Gare de Lyon train station in Paris, another nerve-rattling security incident in the Olympics host city before the Summer Games open in six months. The 31-year-old man, carrying residency papers from Italy and medicines suggesting he was undergoing treatment, was quickly taken into police custody following the attack. Millions of passengers ride the hub’s high-speed and commuter trains. “This individual appears to suffer from psychiatric troubles,” said Laurent Nunez, the Paris police chief who is also in charge of the massive security operation for the July 26-August 11 Olympic Games. While stressing that the police investigation was still in early stages, Nunez said: “There are no elements that lead us to think that this could be a terrorist act.”
Austin apologises for concealing hospitalisation
US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin apologised for concealing his prostate cancer diagnosis and hospitalisation from President Biden and the rest of the government. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis,” he said. “I have apologised directly to President Biden.” Austin effectively vanished from the public eye in late Dec and early Jan after suffering complications from treatment for minor prostate surgery on Dec 22. Even the White House was not informed about the hospitalisation until Jan 4, while Congress was not told until the following day, and Biden did not learn of the cancer diagnosis until Jan 9. Austin said that he did not direct his “staff to conceal my hospitalisation” and that he had not considered resigning.
