US President Joe Biden plans to propose Indian-American Nisha Desai Biswal for a key leadership post in the US International Development Finance Commission. In the Obama administration, Nisha held the position of assistant secretary of state for south Asia. Shr has more than 30 years of experience working on US foreign policy and international development initiatives. She is currently senior vice-president for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the US Chamber of Commerce, overseeing the US India Business Council. She served as assistant secretary for south and central Asian affairs at the state department in 2013 to 2017, where she oversaw the US-India partnership during a period of unprecedented cooperation, the White House said.
Man jailed for 100 years in causing death of Indian origin girl
A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to 100 years of hard labour for causing the death of a 5-year-old Indian-origin girl in the US state of Louisiana in 2021, according to reports. Joseph Lee Smith from Shreveport was sentenced following his conviction in January of the killing of Mya Patel. Maya was playing in a hotel room when a bullet entered her room and struck her in the head. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she battled for three days and was later died. During Smith’s trial, it was revealed that Smith got into an altercation with another man in the parking lot. During the altercation, Smith struck the other man with a 9-mm handgun, which discharged. The bullet missed the other man but went into the hotel room and struck Maya in the head before grazing her mother.
13 killed as quake hits Afghanistan & Pakistan
A powerful earthquake that was felt thousands of km away in Afghanistan and Pakistan claimed the lives of at least 13 people, but it appeared that the area avoided suffering a large number of casualties. The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude 6. 5 quake was centred near Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan, but the depth of 187 km mitigated extensive damage. The quake whih lasted more than 30 seconds, was felt from central Asia to New Delhi in India. “It was a powerful earthquake and we feared maximum damage due to the intensity,” Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Pakistan’s emergency service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said. “But fortunately our fears proved wrong. . . the damage was minimal. ”
Pak man gets death for blasphemy
After being charged with sharing blasphemous material in a WhatsApp group, a Muslim man was found guilty and given the death penalty by an anti-terrorism court in northwest Pakistan. In Pakistan, which has a majority of Muslims, blasphemy is a very sensitive topic; even unverified accusations can incite mobs and violence. Syed Muhammad Zeeshan was convicted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Anti-Terrorist Act by the court in Peshawar. “Accused Syed Muhammad Zeeshan, son of Syed Zakaullah in custody has been convicted and sentenced after being found guilty”, the court order said.
SHO suspended for assaulting Hindus
A police officer in Pakistan’s Sindh was suspended after he tortured, harassed, manhandled and arrested Hindu shopkeepers for allegedly “violating the Ramadan Ordinance” by eating, Pakistan media reported. In a viral video , SHO Kabil Bhayo is seen roaming the Ghotki district with a stick in his hand, using it to hit shopkeepers, including Hindu men.