Two Indian students were killed in a hit-and-run incident in the US state of Tennessee, with the accused surrendering himself to the police, media reports said. The accident took place on Thanksgiving Day on November 28 and the victims were identified as Vybhav Gospisetty, 26, and Judy Stanley Pinheiro, 23, who were both Indian graduate students at the Tennessee State University. The accused David Torres' GMC truck reportedly collided with the 2015 Nissan Sentra, which Gospisetty was driving with Pinheiro sitting in the front seat. The Sentra reportedly attempted to cross Nolensville Pile from the parking lot of the US Bank to Walmart. Police said the truck hit the passenger side of the car as it was driving north. The car was sent off the east side of the road, through a fence and into a tree on Walmart property, according to the report. Witnesses told police that the GMC was speeding and ran the red light at the intersection.
Musharraf treason case verdict on Dec 17
The verdict in the high treason case against former Pakistan dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf would be pronounced on December 17, a special court said. Last week, the special court ordered 76-year-old Musharraf to record statement by December 5 in the treason case after the Islamabad High Court, after hearing the petitions filed by Dubai-based Musharraf and the Pakistan government, stopped the special court from issuing the verdict on November 28. The statement was made by a three-member bench of the special court, headed by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth, which was conducting a hearing of the case against the former president, Geo News reported. The new prosecution team's lawyers informed the court that they needed more time to prepare for the case.
Cash-strapped Pak gets $1.3bn loan from ADB
Cash-strapped Pakistan received a $1.3-billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support the country’s public finances and shore up the slowing economy. The ADB loan comes just days after financial service company Moody’s changed Pakistan’s outlook from negative to stable. Pakistan is facing a serious economic crisis with short supplies of foreign currency reserves and stagnating growth in recent years. Since assuming power in August 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan has been appealing to close allies like China and Saudi Arabia to provide concessional loans to reduce the size of the bailout package that Pakistan may need from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The ADB’s quick dispersing special policy-based loan is part of a multi-donor economic reform programme led by the IMF to stabilise Pakistan's economy after a major deterioration in its fiscal position in 2018, according to a statement by the Manila-based regional lender.
Hafiz Saeed’s indictment in terror financing case delayed
Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, could not be indicted by the Lahore-based anti-terrorism court (ATC) as authorities failed to produce the other co-accused for the hearing of the money laundering and terror financing case. The absence of Malik Zafar Iqbal, the co-accused, prompted the court to adjourn the proceedings. Last week, the ATC had fixed December 7 for framing charges against Saeed and others. On July 3, Saeed and 12 other members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) were booked in 23 terror financing and money laundering cases . The counter-terrorism department (CTD) said JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) - the charities that work for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) - were financing terror from the funds collected through non-profit organisations. The CTD had banned these organisations in April.
Australia to end all bilateral aid to Pakistan
Australia would cease all aid to Pakistan, including support to programmes helping women, as the funds were being redirected to meet new commitments in the Pacific, according to the latest department of foreign affairs and trade report. The report said Pakistan aid programme will be reduced to 19 million Australian dollars in 2019-20, and will fully phase out during 2020-21. The report said Australia’s development priorities had changed and that the aid funding was being redirected to meet new commitments in the Pacific. The report described the security situation in Pakistan as “volatile” and said tension between Pakistan and India over Kashmir culminating in military exchanges in February 2019 were high. “There was an increase in terrorist activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan where a number of Australian funded aid programmes operate,” it said.
Nepal makes first menstruation hut-related arrest
Nepali police have detained the brother-in-law of a woman who died in a ‘menstruation hut’ in what is believed to be the first arrest over the outlawed tradition. Many communities in Nepal view menstruating women as impure and in some remote areas they are forced to sleep in a hut away from the home, following a centuries-old tradition known as “chhaupadi”. The practice leads to the death of women every year due to smoke inhalation, snake bites and even attack by animals. Parbati Buda Rawat, 21, was found dead in a smoke-filled hut. “We arrested the brother-in law after suspecting his involvement,” a police official said, adding, it was the first such arrest.
Bangla bank criticised for ‘sexist’ job circular
The Bangladesh Bank was criticised for a “sexist” job circular, where it asked married female applicants to mention their husbands permanent address as their own, media reported. The bank’s HR department had issued the circular signed by general manager Noor-Un-Nahar. A bank spokesperson said that it follows rules set by the government.
Victoria Falls is just a trickle now
For decades Victoria Falls, where southern Africa’s Zambezi river cascade down 100 metres into a gash in the earth, has drawn millions of holidaymakers to Zimbabwe and Zambia for its stunning views. But the worst drought in a century has slowed the waterfalls to a trickle, fuelling fears that climate change could kill one of the region’s biggest tourist attractions. While it typically slows down during the dry season, officials said this year had brought an unprecedented decline in water level. Data from the Zambezi River Authority shows water flow at its lowest since 1995
5-year-old invites his entire class
A young boy invited his entire kindergarten class to celebrate with him on the occasion of his adoption. December 5 marked the 23rd annual Adoption Day at Kent county courthouse, Michigan, during which 37 children were welcomed into their forever homes. One of those children was five-year-old Michael Orlando Clark Jr. Kent County revealed on Facebook that Michael brought his school class with him to witness his adoption proceedings, in a post that has been shared more than 100,000 times. In a video, Michael and his classmates can be seen posing with hearts. Each child in attendance took it in turns to say something about Michael during the hearing. Michael and his adoptive parents, David Eaton and Andrea Melvin, hit the gavel together to mark the 5-year-old’s adoption. “Family doesn’t have to be DNA, because family is support and love,” Michael’s teacher said.
Dad takes over daughter’s social media, goes viral
When 15-year-old Madelynn was caught helping sneak boys into a sleepover party, her parents decided she needed to be punished. Tawnya Ford and Larry Sumpter let their daughter decided her own fate: one month without a phone or a reduced sentence of two weeks without a phone but her parents would be given the freedom of her social media. Picking the latter, the high school student from Texas has seen her dad post selfies on Instagram with the caption ‘felt cute, might delete later’ and dance on TikTok wearing a crop top and jean shorts - leaving her begging to change her choice. But it's not all bad news for Madelynn, who has seen her social media accounts surge in popularity with fans desperate to keep up with Larry's antics. "Let me tell you sir, you are a genius. Love the idea," said one.
Woman gets jail for lying on CV
A woman who faked her credentials and posed as her own referee to land a £141,000-a-year government job has been jailed. Veronica Hilda Theriault, from Australia, pleaded guilty to deception and dishonesty charges over her fabricated CV that secured her a top position in the department of premier and cabinet (DPC) in 2017. The 46-year-old had worked in the position for just over one month and had pocketed £17,000 of her annual salary of $270,000 before she was found out. Judge Boylan from Adelaide Supreme Court said: “You fraudulently obtained employment for which you were paid a large salary and in the course of which you may have had access to sensitive material.” The district court jailed Theriault for over two years with a non-parole period of one year.
Mag’s ‘you sound like Socrates’ dating tip to women ridiculed
A Japanese magazine that advised women to compliment men on their intelligence by saying “You sound like Socrates” has been ridiculed in the country ranked one of the world’s worst for gender parity. “JJ”, a major fashion magazine targeted at young women, encouraged readers to compare men to the classical Greek philosopher when they say something complicated. A picture of the page sparked mirth when it was shared on Twitter - with some users noting that Socrates did not live happily ever after, as he was sentenced to death by drinking poison. Users of both genders poured scorn on the technique to attract men, with one saying: “If a woman told me I sound like Socrates, I would wonder if she’s sane.” The tips were based on a comic book by a manga artist, the magazine said, playing on a popular trope where women compliment men and feign stupidity.
Indonesia to fire airline CEO over smuggling Harley
Indonesia’s state-owned enterprises minister said he will fire and seek the prosecution of the head of the national airline after he was implicated in the smuggling of a Harley Davidson motorcycle into the country on a new jet. The minister, Erick Thohir, said at a news conference in Jakarta that a government investigation found Garuda Indonesia president and CEO Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra was involved in the attempt to import the motorcycle on a new Airbus A330neo being delivered from France without declaring it. Danadiputra, his wife and other airline executives were on the November 16 flight, according to the manifest. A Garuda spokesman did not answer calls seeking comment on the accusations.
Man burnt to death in freak accident at church
A man was burnt to death after a pastor mistook petrol for water during a healing service in Lagos, the emergency services said. “The pastor picked a keg believing it contained water not knowing it was filled with petrol,” said Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency. “In the process of emptying the contents on the man, a lit candle nearby sparked fire that engulfed both of them,” Farinloye said.
Diplomat jokes with Trump: Where’s ‘secret’ Russia room?
One of Moscow’s top diplomats joked with President Donald Trump after touring the White House that he was disappointed not to have seen the “secret” Russia room. “Thank you for the tour of the White House,” Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian ambassador to the UN, told Trump at a lunch for the members of the UN Security Council. “We saw the China room, but we didn’t see the Russia room,” Nebenzya said to laughter from around the table, adding that he wondered if such a room existed but was “top secret”. Nebenzya’s quip followed remarks by China’s UN ambassador, Zhang Jun, who thanked Trump for his hospitality, saying, “We have made a tour around this number of rooms: the green one, the red one and also the China room.” The White House does have a China Room, but this refers to a collection of porcelain housed there.
Amazon sorry for delivering condoms, toothbrushes
Retail giant Amazon has apologised after at least a dozen buyers received condoms and items such as toothbrushes and tambourines, instead of Nintendo switches worth £300. The firm has promised to refund buyers, some of whom are furious that they ordered during Black Friday discounts but will now have to pay full price.
Weak Arctic ice sees 56 polar bears descend on village
More than 50 polar bears have gathered on the edge of a village in Russia’s far north, environmentalists and residents said, as weak Arctic ice leaves them unable to roam. WWF said 56 polar bears had gathered in a one sqkm area near a village in Chukotka. There were concerns they could enter the village, home to about 1,000 people, and patrols had been set up to monitor their movements.
Vegan YouTuber switches to meat diet, draws ire
A former vegan YouTuber is facing a backlash from fans after announcing that she participated in a 30-day challenge where she only ate animal products. This week, Alyse Parker uploaded a video to YouTube, where she has more than 727,000 subscribers, where she said attempted a carnivore diet because she wanted to relate to others. Parker is facing criticism from former fans, who have accused her of hypocrisy regarding animal cruelty, the planet, and her own business.
Aladdin spin-off plan with white character sparks row
Disney is under fire after announcing a spin-off movie for a minor white character introduced in their live-action Aladdin reboot. Billy Magnussen’s Prince Anders, a ditzy potential suitor for Princess Jasmine, will serve as the star of his own spin-off project for the streaming platform. Fans have since highlighted the fact that the project was announced in the same week that Mena Massoud, the Canadian actor who portrayed Aladdin, revealed he has struggled to find auditions for follow-up roles in the wake of the film’s release.
Flyer stung by scorpion during flight
A woman was stung by a scorpion which climbed up her trouser leg during a United Airlines flight. The passenger was attacked by the arachnid while travelling from San Francisco to Atlanta. She said that she started to feel a stinging sensation on her leg after the plane took off. When she went to the toilet to investigate the pain, a scorpion fell out of her trousers. The passenger was taken to hospital after landing but is expected to make a full recovery. The arachnid, meanwhile, was captured by flight attendants and put in a box.
