Pravin Raojibhai Patel, 76, owner of Hillcrest Motel, was fatally shot on February 8 after a dispute over room rental. William Jeremy Moore, 34, was arrested shortly after the incident while attempting to break into an abandoned house on 13th Avenue, according to Sheffield Police Chief Ricky Terry. Investigators stated that Moore shot Patel during the altercation when he tried to rent a room at the motel. “When searching for Moore, the murder weapon was found in his possession,” Terry said. The police chief added that Moore is currently being held in the Sheffield City Jail until a warrant is issued after which he will be transported to the Colbert County Jail. Jemeriz Owens, who works as a barber across the street from Patel’s motel, said that he heard three gunshots go off back-to-back. “He (Patel) was outside. He was just trying to get somebody to leave, and they didn’t want to leave, and they shot him,” Owens said. Patel's body was sent to the Alabama Forensics Lab for autopsy, and a funeral service was held at Morrison Funeral Home in Tuscumbia on February 12, as per his obituary. Describing the incident as a "senseless act of violence," the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) expressed deep sorrow, shock, and outrage on February 14, stating that hotel owners nationwide were profoundly saddened.
Indian-American nominated to NY transport board
Indian-American attorney Meera Joshi has been nominated to serve on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Joshi, the deputy mayor for operations, overseeing New York City’s infrastructure, public realm, and climate portfolio, was nominated alongside NYC Department of City Planning Director and City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick. Joshi, who currently oversees the transportation and infrastructure portfolio, spearheads the administration’s “street safety work.” Joshi is credited with creating “vibrant public spaces” in all five boroughs and preparing the city for “congestion pricing”
Indian national found dead in Queensland flood
An Indian national in Australia was found dead in the floodwaters near Mount Isa in Queensland amid inclement weather in the region, the Indian High Commission in Canberra said. The Indian mission expressed condolence to the family of the victim and said that it is in touch with them for all necessary assistance. The Indian mission has not revealed the name of the victim. Meanwhile, the situation in Queensland remains tense amid severe alerts for rain and thunderstorms. In another incident, the police said that a woman was found dead in her car which was found submerged in floodwaters near Mount Isa.
11 US-bound Indians rescued in Nepal
Nepal Police recently rescued 11 US-bound Indians who were held hostage by a gang in Kathmandu. The police raided a house in Ratopul area where the hostages were kept for about a month. The gang had taken large sums of money from each person, promising to help them reach the US. However, they were brought to Nepal instead. Seven people involved in human trafficking were arrested by the police. Each person had paid around Rs 45,00,000 to the traffickers. The traffickers planned to send the victims to the US via Nepal. Most of the hostages were from Delhi and Haryana, according to officials.
Putin says he prefers Biden to Trump
President Vladimir Putin said Russia would prefer to see President Joe Biden win a second term, calling him more experienced than Donald Trump. In an interview with Russian state television, Putin declared he will work with any US leader who is elected, but noted that he would prefer Biden’s victory when asked who would be better from the point of view of Russia. “Biden, he’s more experienced, more predictable, he’s a politician of the old formation. But we will work with any US leader whom the American people trust,” he said. Putin’s comments were his first about the upcoming US presidential election, likely to pit Biden against Trump, and come as tensions between Republicans and Democrats are high over Biden’s attempts to send more aid to Kyi.
Man guns down 12 relatives in Iran
A 30-year-old man killed 12 relatives, including his father and brother in Iran, official media reported, in a rare mass shooting in the country. They said the man, who was not identified, used a Kalashnikov assault rifle and was later shot and killed by security forces in the south-central province of Kerman. They said the cause of the shooting, in a remote rural village, was a family dispute. They did not elaborate. Mass killings are rare in Iran, where hunting rifles are the only weapons people are allowed to possess.
S Korea opens diplomatic ties with North’s pal Cuba
South Korea’s presidential office claimed that country’s move to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba would deal a “political and psychological blow” to North Korea, whose diplomatic footing is largely dependent on a small number of Cold War allies. South Korea said it has agreed to open ambassador-level ties with Cuba following a meeting between their UN representatives in New York. Seoul and Havana first established diplomatic ties in 1949, but they were ruptured a decade later when Fidel Castro seized power during the Cuban Revolution. Cuba then turned to fellow communist nation North Korea. Cuba has maintained ties with North Korea since 1960s and has an embassy in Pyongyang.
Bulk carrier targeted by projectile off Yemen
A bulk carrier suffered minor damage after being targeted by an explosive projectile some 100 nautical miles east of Yemen's port city of Aden, British maritime security firm Ambrey said. The damage was caused by shrapnel that caused a diesel leak, Ambrey said in its advisory note, making clear the explosion occurred some 100 miles away and did not directly impact the carrier. The crew members were unharmed, it added. Separately the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said it had received a report of an explosion near a vessel some 85 nautical miles east of Aden.
US seizes Iran arms meant for Houthis
The US military said that a Coast Guard cutter had recently seized advanced weapons and other lethal aid from a vessel in the Arabian Sea that had originated in Iran and were bound for Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. A Coast Guard boarding team intercepted the vessel on Jan. 28 and found more than 200 packages that contained medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, naval drone components, anti-tank guided missile launcher parts and communications gear, the military’s Central Command said in a statement.