A 16-year-old Indian-origin boy was ambushed and stabbed on his birthday along with two of his friends in an unprovoked attack while they were playing basketball in Melbourne. The incident happened in Tarneit City. The trio was attacked by a group of seven to eight people who demanded that they hand over their cell phones as well as a brand-new Nike Air Jordan sneakers, which the birthday boy received as a present. The boy was stabbed in his ribs, arms, hand and back, and was hit in the back of his head, the report said. One of his friends was also stabbed, according to Victoria Police. The victim was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery to save the fingers on his left hand. He is expected to remain in hospital for a few more days as he recovers, the report said, adding that his two friends are also recovering in hospital.
Pak police avert terror attack on foreigners
Ten extremists who were preparing to disrupt the Muharram celebrations in the Punjab region and plotting a terror attack on foreigners, particularly Chinese people, were detained by Pakistani police. The arrests were made by the Punjab police's counter-terrorism unit during intelligence-based operations in the Punjabi districts of Lahore, Attock, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Multan, and DG Khan. In the past, terrorists have targeted Chinese people who are employed in Pakistan. The suspected terrorists belong to the banned organisations of TTP, IS, Sepah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar Jhangvi, the statement said. Four hand grenades, one IED bomb, 893gm of explosives, 7 detonators, a safety fuse, two pistols, scores of bullets and literature of banned organisations have been recovered, it said
Macron promises Lanka help in debt resetting
Emmanuel Macron, the first-ever French president to visit Sri Lanka, has reaffirmed his full support for the country's continuing debt restructuring process, which would aid in its recovery from its worst-ever financial crisis. As part of his wider visit to the South Pacific region, Macron arrived in Colombo following which he held talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe. “President Macron reaffirmed France’s willingness and commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in its economic recovery. As the fourth-largest creditor to Sri Lanka, France pledged its assistance in the debt restructuring process, aiming for a positive outcome for the country,” the President's Media Division (PMD) said in a statement.
Taliban shut Af beauty salons despite protests
The Taliban announced that all beauty salons in Afghanistan must now close as a one-month deadline ended, despite rare public opposition to the edict. Sadiq Akif Mahjer, spokesman for the Taliban-run virtue and vice ministry, did not say whether it would use force against salons that do not comply. The ruling is the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment. The Taliban said it decided to ban beauty salons because they offered services forbidden by Islam and caused economic hardship for the families of grooms during wedding festivities. Its earlier announcement of a one-month deadline for salons to wind down their businesses led to a rare public protest in which dozens of beauticians and makeup artists gathered in Kabul, the capital. Security forces used fire hoses and tasers and shot their guns into the air to break up the protest.
Russian delegation to join China on N Korea visit
A Russian delegation led by defence minister Sergei Shoigu will visit North Korea along with a Chinese group as the first such public visit to the country since the start of the pandemic. The delegations will visit to celebrate the 70th anniversary of “Victory Day” in Pyongyang, state media agency KCNA reported, with Chinese Communist Party politburo member Li Hongzhong leading the group from his country. Russia’s defence ministry said it had been invited by its North Korean counterpart. “This visit will contribute to strengthening Russian-North Korean military ties and will be an important stage in the development of co-operation between the two countries,” the ministry said in a statement.
Narrow escape for DeSantis after car accident
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was involved in a multi-car accident as he travelled in a motorcade to campaign events in Tennessee for his 2024 presidential bid but was uninjured. Traffic slowed down and caused four cars in the motorcade to hit each other, police said. One staff member suffered a minor injury. The Republican White House hopeful and his team “are uninjured,” his campaign press secretary said. DeSantis was continuing on to his event. The Florida governor, who has trailed front runner Donald Trump in the GOP presidential contest, was expected to be at fundraiser at a private home in Chattanooga. DeSantis has been attending a string of fundraisers lately as his campaign has faced some surprising financial pressures.
Suu Kyi may be moved to house arrest
Myanmar’s military-controlled government plans to transfer the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi from a prison in the capital, Naypyitaw, to home confinement. The move is part of an act of clemency to prisoners in connection with a religious ceremony, a security official said. There has been no official confirmation of the plans, though journalists working for outlets friendly to the military government said they had heard the same information. News about Suu Kyi is tightly controlled by the military government, and even her lawyers are banned by a gag order from talking to the media about her cases. Suu Kyi, who was arrested on February 1, 2021 when the army seized power from her elected government, has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison after being convicted on a range of charges brought by the military government.
US govt sues Texas over floating border barriers
The US justice department sued Texas over floating barriers installed by the state in the Rio Grande river to block migrants crossing from Mexico. Texas authorities began installing the string of buoys in the middle of the river near Eagle Pass, Texas as part of Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s initiative dubbed Operation Lone Star to deter migrants. Mexico has also complained about the barrier, saying it violates a water treaty and may encroach on Mexican territory. In recent months, troops have strung up razor wire to block migrants from crossing the Rio Grande.
Gen Tiani becomes head of state in Niger after coup
Niger military officers declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state, saying they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all former institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. Tiani was the head of the presidential guard that shut Bazoum in his palace last week and then declared it had ousted him because of bad governance and worsening security. The general appeared on state television, with a banner on the screen that described him as the president of a newly formed military council, the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland (CNSP). “The President of the CNSP is the head of state. He represents the state of Niger in international relations,” an officer said.
About 7 in 10 US adults believe in angels
About 7 in 10 US adults say they believe in angels, according to a new poll by AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “For a lot of people, angels are a lot safer to worship,” Jack Grogger, a chaplain for the Los Angeles Angels, said. American’s belief in angels (69%) is about on par with belief in heaven and the power of prayer, but bested by belief in God or a higher power (79%). Fewer US adults believe in the devil or Satan (56%), astrology (34%), reincarnation (34%), and that physical things can have spiritual energies, such as plants, rivers or crystals (42%). Angels mean different things to different people, and the idea of loved ones becoming heavenly angels after death is neither an unusual belief nor a universally held one.