An Indian-origin man whose 11-year-old son was branded with a hot iron rod as part of a religious ceremony in 2023 has sued a Hindu temple in the US state of Texas and its parent company seeking more than USD 1 million in damages. Vijay Cheruvu, a Fort Bend County resident, said his son was branded with a hot iron rod during a religious ceremony at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Hindu temple in Sugarland, Texas in August last year. According to a lawsuit filed this week in Fort Bend County, the boy suffered extreme pain and permanent disfigurement. Cheruvu is seeking more than USD 1 million in damages in the lawsuit against the temple and its parent organisation, Jeeyar Educational Trust (JET) USA, Inc.
Indian origin engineer among 5 killed in Sharjah fire
An Indian-origin sound engineer is among the five who were killed in a deadly apartment fire at a high-rise in Sharjah's Al Nahda last week. Michael Sathyadass worked as a senior sound engineer with DXB Live, DXB Live, the experiential agency of the Dubai World Trade Centre. "He chose to be backstage and behind the scenes, literally and figuratively to ensure that others shine and sound better," his brother Danny Sathyadass said in a Facebook post. He has worked for several artists, including AR Rahman, Colonial Cousins, Deep Purple, and Iron Maiden.
Quake rattles New York, New Jersey
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake recorded in New Jersey that shook residents in surrounding states and New York City on Friday morning was one of the strongest in state history. The temblor was reported about 5 miles north of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, at about 10:23 am, according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicenter was about 45 miles from New York City, where residents reported shaking furniture and floors. “Earthquakes in this region are uncommon but not unexpected. It’s likely people near the epicenter are going to feel aftershocks for this earthquake in the magnitude 2-3 range, and there’s a small chance there can be an earthquake as large or larger, following an earthquake like this,” Paul Earle, a seismologist at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program said.
Imran claims bid to poison his wife
Pakistan’s jailed former PM Imran Khan said that an attempt to kill his wife Bushra Bibi through poisoning was made at his Islamabad residence, which has been turned into a sub-jail. He alleged army chief General Asim Munir should be held responsible if she is harmed. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, during a hearing of the Toshakhana graft case, told the judge that the former first lady had marks on her skin and tongue as side-effects of the “poisoning”. “I know who is behind it,” Express Tribune quoted the 71-year-old as saying when he blamed Munir. Imran also said that members of an intelligence agency were controlling everything at his Bani Gala residence and at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
US patient with pig kidney leaves hospital
The first patient to receive a kidney transplanted from a genetically modified pig has fared so well that he has been discharged from the hospital, just two weeks after the groundbreaking surgery. The transplant and its encouraging outcome represent are markable moment in medicine, scientists say, possibly heralding an era of cross-species organ transplantation. Two previous organ transplants from genetically modified pigs failed. Both patients received hearts, and both died a few weeks later. In one patient, there were signs that the immune system had rejected the organ. But the kidney transplanted into Richard Slayman, 62, is producing urine, removing waste products from the blood, balancing the body’s fluids and carrying out other key functions, according to his doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Indian child sex offender arrested
In Indian national convicted of child sex offenses, but given light sentences, has been arrested after he was released from a Maryland detention center without any warning to federal immigration authorities, official said. The 32-year-old man, who has not been identified, was arrested on March 20 near his home in Ellicott City. He was arrested by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (CBP) said. “This predator’s presence in our area constituted a significant threat to the children of our Maryland neighbourhoods,” said Matthew Elliston, the acting field office director for Baltimore’s ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. “We cannot allow non-citizen sex offenders to roam the streets of our community. ERO Baltimore will continue to prioritise public safety by arresting the most egregious noncitizen offenders,” he said. Without releasing the name, the ERO Baltimore said the Indian national entered the US on December 12, 2019, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, as a non-immigrant visitor.
‘Missing’ Indian student found dead in Ohio
The Indian embassy in New York has confirmed the tragic news that Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old student from Hyderabad who had enrolled for a Master’s program at Cleveland State University in 2023, is found dead in Ohio. Abdul had been missing for almost three weeks. The Indian embassy had previously communicated that they were coordinating the search efforts with Abdul’s family and local authorities. Today, they announced his passing. The embassy expressed their sorrow with the following statement: “Anguished to learn that Mohammed Abdul Arfath, for whom search operation was underway, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio. Our deepest condolences to Mohammed Arfath’s family.” This is the eleventh Indian to die in the US this year.
Indian origin builder shot dead in Canada
Prominent builder and head of the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Canada’s Edmonton, Boota Singh Gill, was killed after he was shot multiple times. The incident took place at a construction site linked to Gill’s business near the Millwood Rec Center in the Alberta province. Maninder Singh Gill, managing director of Radio India, said that Sarabjeet Singh, a civil engineer who was also shot in the incident, is reportedly fighting for his life. Gill said that as per preliminary reports, three individuals were present at the construction site when an altercation ensued, resulting in an Indian-origin construction worker allegedly shooting both Gill and Singh before taking his own life. While the cause of the altercation remains unclear, investigations are ongoing.
19-year-old is world's youngest billionaire
Livia Voigt, a 19-year-old Brazilian student, has claimed the title of the world's youngest billionaire, according to the 2024 Forbes Billionaires List. Voigt has surpassed Clement Del Vecchio, heir to Essilor Luxottica, who is only two months older than her. Voigt's wealth comes from being one of the largest individual shareholders of WEG, the largest manufacturer of electrical motors in Latin America. The company was co-founded by her grandfather Werner Ricardo Voigt, alongside late billionaires Eggon Joao da Silva and Geraldo Werninghaus. Voigt is currently attending university in Brazil and does not hold a seat on the board or executive position at WEG yet.
