LONDON: The latest list of Indian inclusions in the Oxford English Dictionary show 70 words from Telugu, Urdu, Tamil, Hindi, and Gujarati languages. OED revealed a statement saying the most-commonly used words in India are jugaad, dadagiri, achcha, bapu, and surya namaskar- all of which are now part of the dictionary. OED World English Editor, Danica Salazar said, “Indian speech etiquette features a complex system of kinship terms and terms of address, in which age, gender, status, and family relationships are marked by a highly specific vocabulary with no direct equivalents in English.” The words were added as Indians have “a highly specific vocabulary with no direct equivalents in English” OED said.
Community wants proper burial for dead Indian girl
HOUSTON: Dallas County medical examiners office released the body of three year old Indian girl who disappeared from her Indian-American foster parents home in Richardson. Sherin Mathews who went missing on October 7, was found dead in a culvert under a road, about a half-mile from her home on October 22. The Richardson community mourned the tragic loss and have asked to handle her funeral. The girl's death became an international subject and realised several questions on the process of the adoption. The site where her body was found has become a memorial site. People have been visiting the places, and putting stuffed toys and flowers. An online petition has also been created by 23 year old Omair Siddiqi, requesting authorities to allow the people to give her a proper burial that she deserves.
Taliban say their US hostage in Afghanistan in poor health
KABUL: The Taliban said conditions of one of their captives in Afghanistan has deteriorated and the man is in poor health. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid released a statement that US national Kevin King suffers from heart and kidney problems and often loses consciousness. He stated that the group will hold the US government responsible if anything happens to him. King, along with an Australian identified as Timothy Weekes were abducted outside the American University of Afghanistan, in Kabul, where they worked as teachers. Two videos of the captives have been released since then, with the first one showing the captives asking President Donald Trump to offer a prisoner exchange to secure their freedom.
China blocks assassination plot against Kim Jong-un's nephew
BEIJING: Two members of a North Korean assassination team have reportedly been arrested in Beijing while plotting to kill Kim Han-sol, son of Kim Jong-nam, who was poisoned in a Malaysia airport. A source said, “Special operatives belonging to the North's reconnaissance team penetrated (China) to remove Kim Han-sol, but some of them were arrested last week by the Chinese Ministry of National Security and are currently under investigation at facilities outside Beijing.” The plot was reportedly detected during heightened security measures introduced around the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party, which went on for seven days. Jong-nam died in Kuala Lumpur airport in February after two women smeared VX nerve gas on his face.
Arrest warrant issued against Nawaz Sharif
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court has issued an arrest warrant against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in two cases of corruption spiralling from the Panama Papers leak. “The accountability court issued bailable warrants for the former Prime Minister in two cases of alleged corruption and adjourned hearing until November 3,” Zafir Khan, one of his defence lawyers said. Sharif who is currently in London with wife Kalsum, has not returned to the country ever since he was indicted in corruption allegations earlier this month. The Pakistan Supreme Court sacked Sharif in late July, following an investigation into corruption allegations against his family.
In bid to kill husband, Pak bride accidentally kills 13 family members
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani woman has been arrested after a plot to kill her husband by poisoning him with a glass of milk failed. Asiya, who wanted her husband to drink the milk, was prepared for what was to happen next. The beverage ended up in 27 family members' systems, 13 of who fatally affected. The drastic step was taken by the woman as he was forced to marry Amjad by her parents. She had even tried to flee from her parent's home earlier, but had failed to do so. Though it was initially claimed that a lizard had fallen into the drink, Muzaffargarh police later confirmed that Asiya had confessed to the crime. The poison was said to have allegedly given by her lover.
Nine headless bodies found in Tokyo home
TOKYO: Japanese police found nine mutilated bodies hidden in containers in a suburban Tokyo flat. Authorities have arrested 27 year old Takahiro Shiraishi who reportedly confessed to hacking the flesh off the bodies and throwing it out with the trash, later sprinkling cat litter over the remains to cover up the evidence. The suspect reportedly told investigators that he had “dumped cut flesh and organs in the trash” prompting fears he was a serial killer. A neighbour said, “It's really cruel. He used a saw to dismember the bodies or something. He must be abnormal to have done such things.” Another said he had smelled an odour he had “never smelled before”.
Robot 'Sophia' granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced that it has granted citizenship to a humanoid robot, in a groundbreaking decision that has garnered mixed reviews. Sophia, a robot developed by Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong-based corporation is the kingdom's newest citizen. The update came out during the Future Investment Initiative held in the capital this week. Brainchild of David Hanson, who built her in 2015, she has been instilled with artificial intelligence, and can recognise faces and copy 62 facial expressions. On receiving the citizenship, she thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the historic distinction and said she was honoured to be recognised. She also gave some interesting answers to questions about consciousness, self-awareness and her long-term goals.
Blast rocks Kabul's diplomatic zone, multiple casualties
KABUL: A suicide attacker riding a motorcycle blew himself up inside Kabul's heavily fortified diplomatic zone on Tuesday, killing at least three people and wounding 15. Defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said, “Our initial information shows the suicide attacker was on a motorcycle. He made it through the first checkpoint but was stopped at the second checkpoint and detonated. We don't know the target but it happened a few metres from the defence ministry's foreign relations office. No casualties to our personnel.” The attack is the first targeting Afghanistan's “Green Zone” since a massive truck bomb ripped through the area on May 31, killing and wounding hundreds.
