A gang of 16 people that allegedly terrorised Indian and other Asian jewellers has been arrested and charged in connection with a year-long robbery spree across four East Coast US states, according to federal officials. FBI Assistant Director David Sundberg said that the items stolen were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The shops were described in a court document as "South Asian", and at least four could be definitely identified as run by people of Indian origin. The gang allegedly carjacked or stole vehicles to carry out the robberies, according to the chargesheet. Although gang members were hit with a total of 19 charges none of them related to racial bias or hate even though they targeted South Asians.
Pak poll body pledges to hold elections by mid-Feb
Pakistan’s election commission has assured the political parties that the general elections would be held by January end or mid-February, allaying fears about the fate of the polls in the cash-strapped nation. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) gave assurance to the Awami National Party (ANP) when the party leaders met the election body. During a consultative meeting between the ANP representatives and the electoral watchdog to discuss the election roadmap, the ANP requested that if conducting the election within 90 days was not feasible, they be provided with the election date and schedule. The ECP officials assured ANP leaders of squeezing the delimitation timeline and said elections might even be held sooner, probably by the end of January, if the delimitation exercise was completed earlier.
Nepal PM to raise objections over China's new map
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” during his upcoming visit to China will take up the matter pertaining to the country’s newly issued map that shows Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh as Indian territories. CPN-Maoist Centre spokesperson Agni Sapkota said that the matter relating to the map issued by China this week needs to be raised through diplomatic channels during the visit. Prachanda will be leaving on September 15 for a visit to the US and later to China. “Prime Minister and party chairman Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda will discuss the matter with Chinese leadership during his visit to China,” he said.
74 killed in fire at Johannesburg building
At least 74 people were killed and several others injured when fire tore through a five -story structure in Johannesburg where squatters lived in perilous conditions, according to city officials. Authorities were still investigating what started the fire. Officials said many residents, including migrants from other African countries, lit fires for warmth and light, posing a deadly hazard. Mgcini Tshwaku, a Johannesburg city council member who oversees public safety, said when he arrived at the scene of the fire, people were jumping out of windows to escape.
Global leaders urge Bangla PM to release Yunus
Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for developing the use of microcredit to aid the poor, has received support from more than 170 world leaders and Nobel laureates who have urged Bangladesh's prime minister to halt legal action against him. In an open letter, the leaders, including former US President Barack Obama, former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and more than 100 Nobel laureates, said they were deeply concerned by recent threats to democracy and human rights in Bangladesh. PM Sheikh Hasina responded by stating that she would invite foreign specialists and lawyers to visit Bangladesh to evaluate the court cases and look over the documentation pertaining to the charges against Yunus.
Uganda man charged with aggravated homosexuality
Ugandan authorities have charged a man with aggravated homosexuality, which carries a possible death penalty, in the first use of the charge since the enactment in May of an anti-gay law. The law has widespread support in Uganda but has drawn pressure from abroad on Ugandan officials to repeal the measure. The suspect is identified as a 20-year-old “peasant” in Soroti who was charged on August 18 with having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 41-year-old man, according to police. Aggravated homosexuality is defined as cases of same-sex sexual relations involving a minor and other categories of vulnerable people, or when the perpetrator is infected with HIV. The charging document does not clarify the aggravating factor in the case.
Disgraced ANC leader forms new party
Ace Magashule, the former secretary general of the African National Congress, announced the founding of the African Congress for Transformation (ACT), a new political party in South Africa. He was a close friend of former president Jacob Zuma and was only ejected from the ruling party two months ago after being found guilty of breaking its bylaws. At a press briefing in Soweto, he described the party as “a new ship for freedom”. Magashule, who remains popular with parts of the left-leaning electorate, said the ANC was "moving fast towards the right and abandoning its centre-left position. I’m disgruntled because the ANC of Oliver Tambo, the ANC I joined for more than 43 years, is not the ANC we know today," he said.
China county offers reward to couples if bride is under 25
A county in eastern China is offering couples a “reward” of 1,000 yuan ($137) if the bride is aged 25 or younger, the latest measure to incentivise young people to get married amid rising concern over a declining birth rate. The notice, which was published on Changshan county’s official Wechat account last week, said the reward was to promote “age-appropriate marriage and childbearing” for first marriages. It also included a series of childcare, fertility and education subsidies for couples who have children. China’s legal age limit for marriage is 22 for males and 20 for females, but the number of couples getting married has been falling.
Japan eyes record defence budget
Japan’s defence ministry asked for a record 7.7 trillion yen ($52.67 billion) in spending for the 2024 fiscal year, the latest step of PM Fumio Kishida’s plan to boost military spending by 43 trillion yen over five years. The plan, announced last year, seeks to double defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product by 2027 as it faces an increasingly assertive China and an unpredictable North Korea. The request comes as Japan’s relations with China have deteriorated sharply. The request adds a trillion yen to the previous year’s budget of 6.8 trillion yen, an increase of 13%. If approved, the budget will have increased spending by a trillion yen from the previous year for an unprecedented two consecutive years.
Thai king reduces former PM’s jail term
Thailand’s king reduced former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s eight-year prison term to a single year following the divisive politician’s return last week from 15 years of self-imposed exile.Thai media reported that Thaksin can apply for parole after serving one-third of his sentence, or four months. They said the former leader, who was transferred to a hospital after a brief prison stay because of reported frail health, could remain there for that period with permission from the correction department’s chief. The decision by King Maha Vajiralongkorn was published in the Royal Gazette, making it effective immediately.