A Korean student, who allegedly stabbed his Indian-origin roommate to death in their dormitory at Purdue University has been charged with murder, according to US media reports. Ji Min Sha, cybersecurity major from Seoul ruthlessly attacked Varun Manish Chheda on October 5 by stabbing him multiple times in the head and neck before he called authorities to report his roommate was dead, prosecutors argued, according to the Journal & Courier. Sha was formally charged with murder in the killing of Chheda, in what police called an unprovoked attack. Prosecutors allege that Sha “did knowingly or intentionally kill” Chheda, ABC News reported.
Pak likely to exit FATF grey list, claims report
Pakistan is likely to exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this week after it was placed in the infamous category since 2018 for failing to check money laundering and terror financing, a media report said. Pakistan was included in the increased monitoring list in June 2018 for deficiencies in its legal, financial, regulatory, investigations, prosecution, judicial and non-government sector to fight money laundering and terror financing. The watchdog said that the “first FATF plenary will take place on October 20-21”. Pakistan’s continuation on the grey list has made it become difficult for Islamabad to get financial aid from the IMF, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the EU, enhancing problems for the cash-strapped country.
Pak PM, son acquitted in money laundering case
A Pakistani court has acquitted Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his son of corruption and money laundering charges filed in 2020. Judge Ijaz Hassan Awan of the Special Court Central in Lahore city announced the verdict in front of the prime minister’s legal team, who had earlier during the hearing requested a one-day attendance exemption. Sharif and his son Hamza, the former chief minister of Punjab province, were charged during the administration of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. They were accused of laundering millions of dollars in rupees. The Federal Investigation Agency filed corruption and money laundering charges against Sharif and his two sons.
Pak may buy mosquito nets from India
Pakistan’s health ministry has approved the purchase of over 6 million mosquito nets from India, as the country scrambles to contain the spread of malaria and other diseases due to the unprecedented floods, media reported. WHO is using financial resources provided by Global Fund to acquire the nets for Pakistan. WHO officials said they are planning to obtain mosquito nets as early as possible and are hopeful that these would be obtained by next month. Over 1,700 people were killed, 33 million displaced in the worst floods to hit the country. In September, WHO warned that a surge in diseases like malaria can cause a “second disaster”.
Malaysia’s Mahathir, 97, to run in elections
Malaysia’s 97-year-old former leader Mahathir Mohamad announced that he will defend his seat in the general elections expected next month, though he wouldn’t say whether he would be PM a third time if his political alliance wins. PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament for snap polls, caving in to pressure from his United Malays National Organization party, which is hoping for a big win on its own amid feuds with allies in the ruling coalition. The EC is due to fix a date within the week for a vote, which must be held within 60 days of Parliament’s dissolution.
NZ proposes cow, sheep burp tax
The New Zealand government confirmed plans to price agricultural long-lived gases and biogenic methane that mainly comes from cow and sheep burps separately, in a plan that farmers have raised concerns about. The government released its proposed plan on agricultural emissions pricing, which when introduced in 2025 will make New Zealand, the first country to have farmers pay for emissions from livestock. The plan has been criticised by farm groups. New Zealand has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep. Nearly half its total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane.
Pregnant cabin crew can work: Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines flight attendants will no longer be let go after becoming pregnant, the carrier said as it ditched the long-criticised practice. Previously, cabin crew were terminated after they became pregnant and company doctors declared them medically unfit to fly. Those who wanted to return to flying after giving birth had to re-apply for the job. But the airlines said that pregnant cabin crew can now apply to work in a temporary ground position for three to nine months after declaring their pregnancy.
13-month-old gets intestinal transplant
A13-month old baby girl received the world’s first intestinal transplant, Spanish health authorities said. The baby “has already been discharged and is in perfect condition at home with her parents”, said the statement from Madrid’s La Paz hospital. The baby received the organ via asystolic donation - from a donor at the end of their life. This method of donation means “the organ to be transplanted does not deteriorate.” The technique had not previously been used for the intestine because it was not thought to be possible for this organ “despite the fact that 30% of the candidates die on the waiting list”, said the hospital.
Japanese rocket carrying 8 satellites fails
The Japanese space agency said a rocket carrying eight satellites failed just after liftoff and had to be aborted by a self-destruction command, in the country’s first failed rocket launch in nearly 20 years. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said its Epsilon-6 rocket experienced an unidentified “abnormality” and its flight had to be aborted less than seven minutes after takeoff from the Uchinoura Space Center in the southern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima. JAXA officials said the agency sent a self-destruction signal after deciding that the rocket was not able to fly safely and enter a planned orbit.
Florida shooter to get life in jail for killing 17
Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz will be sentenced to life without parole for the 2018 murder of 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, after the jury said that it could not unanimously agree that he should be executed. The jury’s recommendation came after seven hours of deliberations over two days, ending a three-month trial that included videos and photos from the massacre and heart-wrenching testimony from victims’ family members. A death sentence requires a unanimous vote on at least one count. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer will formally issue the life sentences on November 1.
Billionaire gives up Russian citizenship
Billionaire Silicon Valley investor Yuri Milner said he had renounced his Russian citizenship. “My family and I left Russia for good in 2014. And this summer, we officially completed renouncing our Russian citizenship,” the Moscow-born Milner tweeted. Milner, founder of the internet investment firm DST Global and one of the original investors in Facebook, has been an Israeli citizen since 1999.
40 Canadian techies to train Kyiv forces
Canada said it will send 40 more combat engineers to help support Polish efforts to train Ukrainian forces, as part of its commitment to increase military aid for Ukraine. The Canadian Armed Forces have trained over 33,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel since 2015, but have paused aspects of the training effort since February. “In the coming weeks, Canada will deploy 40 combat engineers to help Polish Forces train Ukrainian sappers,” its defence minister Anita Anand said.
Limit electricity use, Kyiv tells citizens
Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal called on Ukrainians to limit their electricity use after Russian strikes left energy facilities across the country badly damaged. “We are asking you to again to limit your electricity consumption. In peak hours - between 5 pm and 11 pm - please do not turn on energy-intensive appliances... as the terrorist state is continuing massive attacks on the energy infrastructures of our country for the second day in a row,” Shmyhal said.
Kenyan police hunt for church thief
Police in the Kenyan capital says they are looking for a church warden suspected of stealing 1.5 million shillings - $12,400/£11,240 - that members had collected to develop the church. Police suspect the thief broke into the ACK All Saints Mountain View church building in Kangemi, on the outskirts of Nairobi. He then took the money from a drawer inside the altar.
