Four members of a family from Pathanamthitta in Kerala died in a fire that broke out at their residence in Kuwait. The victims have been identified as Mathew Muzhakkal, his wife Lini Abraham and their children Isaac and Erin. The family left for Kuwait after their vacation in Kerala only last week. "Mathew has been working there for the past 15 years. His wife is a nurse. The children are studying there. Mathew is survived by mother and three siblings. According to preliminary information, the fire was caused by a short circuit in the AC in the room.
Two Andhra students drown in Australia waterfall
Two students from Andhra Pradesh pursuing higher studies in Australia accidentally drowned while swimming at Millaa Millaa Falls near Cairns in Queensland. The deceased were identified as Chaitanya Mupparaju from Bapatla district and Surya Teja Bobba from Prakasam district. No other details were known about the students, but both were said to be in their 20s. According to Queensland Police, when one of the two friends seemed to be struggling in the water, the other tried to help but both drowned. Another person was said to have been accompanying the duo when the accident took place. Police have not identified him, but said he appeared to be in a state of shock. An online appeal to raise funds for their families to bear funeral expenses has been met.
Sikh Republican criticized for praying to ‘foreign God’
Republican Harmeet Dhillon delivered a prayer at the Republican National Convention, drawing from her Sikh faith tradition. Dhillon, who shared her family’s immigrant background, recited a prayer that translates to, “This body and soul are yours. You are our mother and father, and we are your children. In your grace and through your benevolence, we experience peace and happiness!” While Dhillon’s prayer was well-received by many, some conservative Christians on X criticized her for praying to what they termed a “foreign god.” In response, Dhillon took to X, stating she was “blocking quite a few people” but noted that the majority of responses to her prayer were positive. “We believe that there is one God,” she stated, underscoring her inclusive approach to faith and spirituality within the Republican Party.
Bihar firm supplying shoes to Russian army
Bihar’s Hajipur-based Competence Exports, is producing high-quality safety shoes for the Russian military. “Currently, we export all our safety shoes to Russia, but we are also exploring opportunities in Europe and aim to launch in the domestic market soon,” said Shib Kumar Roy, general manager, Competence Exports. The company employs 300 individuals, 70 per cent of whom are women. Last year the company exported 1.5 million pairs of shoes worth £10 mn. The company said the boots supplied to the Russian Army are made from a special material, which keeps them lightweight and resistant to extreme cold. These shoes also have a good grip, which provides great convenience to the army in the mountains and forests.
Pak slams attack on its consulate in Germany
Pakistan condemned an attack on its Frankfurt consulate a day earlier by what it described as a “gang of extremists” and urged German authorities to arrest those involved in the incident. Footage shared on social media showed a large angry crowd, some holding Afghanistan flags, and scaling the fence to enter the Pakistani consulate and removing its flag. Pakistani authorities claimed the people were allegedly Afghan nationals who pelted the consulate with stones. This is not the first time Afghans have exhibited hostility towards Pakistan at a neutral venue. In 2019, Pakistan’s victory over Afghanistan at the Asia Cup in Sharjah was marred by clashes between cricket fans of the two countries.
Protests continue against Bannu firing
Thousands of protesters continued their sit-in protest in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Bannu against a shooting incident allegedly by the Pakistan army which led to stampede resulting in the death of at least two people and injuries to more than 20 others last week. Following the attack, thousands have been demanding an end to further military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, currently governed by Imran Khan-led PTI. The federal govt accused the PTI govt of politicising the incident, and alleging that PTI workers were involved in the incident.
12-year-old US girl smothers cousin over an iPhone
A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder, accused of smothering her 8-year-old cousin as the younger girl slept. A relative said they had been arguing over an iPhone after coming from out of town to stay with their grandmother. A security camera recorded the killing, inside the bedroom they shared in Humboldt. The recording shows the older child using bedding to suffocate her cousin, Gibson district attorney Frederick Agee said. After the child died, “the juvenile cleaned up the victim and repositioned her body”, Agee said. The girl was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Agee said he would seek to prosecute the girl in adult court, which would allow for lengthier sentence.
Kenyan man accused of killing 42 women
In Kenya, a judge has decided that a man who allegedly admitted to killing and dismembering 42 women between 2022 and 2024, beginning with his wife, must remain in custody for 30 days as the investigation continues. Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, 33, was described by police as a "vampire and a psychopath" and was arrested after the discovery of mutilated bodies in a Nairobi garbage dump. He appeared in court in the Kenyan capital, where the magistrate approved the police request for his detention. The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) in Kenya announced that it is investigating potential police involvement or failure to prevent the killings.
Russia jails US reporter for ‘spying’
A Russian court found US reporter Evan Gershkovich guilty of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony in what his employer, the Wall Street Journal, called “a sham conviction”. Gershkovich, a 32-year-old American who denied any wrongdoing, went on trial in the city of Yekaterinburg last month after being accused of trying to gather sensitive information about a tank factory. He was the first US journalist accused of spying in Russia since the Cold War, and his arrest in March 2023 prompted many Western correspondents to leave Moscow. US Prez Joe Biden said Gershkovich did not commit any crime and has been wrongfully detained.
Landslide victory for Rwanda president
Rwanda's president Paul Kagame has been re-elected with 99.18% of the vote, the National Electoral Commission said, extending his near quarter-century in office. The two men standing against him - Frank Habineza from the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana - both conceded defeat, which rights groups say was marred by a crack-down on journalists, the opposition and civil society groups. A government spokesperson repeatedly rejected such criticism during the election period.
