An Indian-origin couple and their two children were found dead in their home in the US state of New Jersey and police are investigating the matter as a homicide. Tej Pratap Singh, 43, and Sonal Parihar, 42, were found dead alongside their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter in their Plainsboro home, the Plainsboro police said. On the evening of October 4, authorities received a call requesting a welfare check at a residence in Plainsboro. Upon their arrival police discovered four deceased victims in the house," they said in a joint statement. "This tragedy remains under investigation and autopsies are being performed," they said, adding an initial investigation determined that there is no threat to the public.
Sharif submits medical reports in court for bail
Pakistan’s former PM Nawaz Sharif who has been living in the UK for the last four years in self-imposed exile submitted his medical reports to a top court in Lahore in anticipation of seeking protective bail ahead of his scheduled return to the country on October 21. Sharif has “some residual angina (chest pain) symptoms” that will require “frequent follow-up investigations in London and Pakistan”, according to a medical report submitted to the Lahore HC. Nawaz had left for the UK in 2019 on medical grounds while serving a seven-year jail term for graft. He never returned and was declared a proclaimed offender in corruption cases.
Lanka prez rejects international probe into Easter blasts
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ruled out having an international-aided independent probe into the 2019 Easter bombings by a local Islamist extremist group as he slammed the Western media for its double standards. Nine suicide bombers belonging to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat linked to ISIS carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three Catholic churches and as many luxury hotels on April 21, 2019, killing nearly 270 people, including 11 Indians, and injuring over 500.
Jailed Iranian activist wins Nobel Peace Prize
Imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her tireless campaigning for women's rights and democracy and against the death penalty. Mohammadi, 51, has kept up her activism despite numerous arrests by Iranian authorities and spending years behind bars. “This prize is first and foremost a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran with its undisputed leader, Narges Mohammadi," said Berit Reiss Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee who announced the prize in Oslo. She said the committee hopes the prize "is an encouragement to continue the work in whichever form this movement finds to be fitting.” She also urged Iran to release Mohammadi in time for the prize ceremony on December 10.
Two killed in Tibet’s Shishapangma avalanches
Avalanches struck high on the slopes of the Tibetan mountain Shishapangma as over 50 climbers were making a push for the summit, killing an American and Nepalese, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported. A guide was seriously injured while two others are missing. Shishapangma, just over 8,000 metres, is the world’s 14th tallest peak. It is regarded as one of the easier mountains of that height, known as the “eight-thousanders”. Two avalanches hit its slopes at elevations of 7,600 metres and 8,000 metres last week, killing American climber Anna Gutu and Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa. Another American, Gina Marie Rzucidlo, and her Nepalese guide, Tenjen Sherpa, are missing.
Trainee pilots die in Canada plane crash
Two trainee pilots from Mumbai were among three killed in a plane crash in British Columbia, Canada, an official from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed. The pilots, Abhay Gadroo was a resident of Vasai and Yash Vijay Ramugade was an Andheri resident. The twin-engined light aircraft crashed into trees and bushes behind a motel in the city of Chilliwack, about 200 km east of Vancouver, Canadian police officials said. Apart from Indian nationals, another pilot was also killed in the incident. Meanwhile, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it is sending investigators for further probe.“The scene is contained and there were no other reported injuries or risks to the public in the area,” RCMP said in a news release.
21 tourists die in Venice bus crash
Italian authorities were investigating the cause of the horrific crash of a bus carrying foreign tourists on the outskirts of Venice which killed 21 people including several children and injured 15 others. The electric vehicle crashed through the guardrail and off an overpass in the Mestre district, slamming into the ground more than 10 metres below and catching fire. Five Ukrainians, a German and the Italian bus driver, identified as Alberto Rizzotto, were among those killed. Another four Ukrainians, two Spaniards, two Austrians, a German, a Croatian and a French person were among those hurt. The bus had been ferrying them back to a campsite in nearby Marghera after a day out in Venice.
Mexican-Indian student crowned Miss Teen USA
A Mexican-Indian high school girl named UmaSofia Srivastava was named Miss Teen USA 2023 after competing against more than 50 other young ladies from across the nation in a live-streamed pageant held in the state of Nevada. The 16-year-old high school Junior at the Academy of St Elizabeth had become the first Mexican-Indian Miss New Jersey Teen USA earlier this year. Srivastava, who is fluent in Hindi, French, English, and Spanish, wants to be a UN ambassador. She assists poor children in India acquire a well-rounded education, wholesome nourishment, and medical treatment through the Lotus Petal Foundation.