New York: The Pennsylvania’s high court has confirmed the death sentence of an Indian techie for the murders of a 10-month old baby and her grandmother following a botched kidnapping plot to pay for his gambling. Raghunandan Yandamuri was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death in 2015 for the killings of Saanvi Venna and her 61-year-old grandmother Satayrathi Venna. Yandamuri knew the baby’s parents. Though Yandamuri has been sentenced to death, there is a moratorium on executions in Pennsylvania.
Indian killed in crossfire outside US motel
New York: A 56-year-old Indian man has been killed after getting caught in a crossfire outside a motel in the US state of Tennessee, becoming the fifth from the community to be killed in the country since February. Khandu Patel, father of two, worked as a housekeeper at America's Best Value Inn and Suites in Whitehaven. The incident occurred while Patel was walking around the property. He was hit by the bullets fired by someone. He was immediately taken to the hospital, but he died later. In February, Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed when a US Navy veteran opened fire at him. Harnish Patel, a 43-year-old Indian-origin store owner, was found dead of gunshot wounds in the front yard of his home in Lancaster, South Carolina, in early March. On March 23, Sasikala Narra (38) and her son Anish Narra (6) were found dead inside their apartment in New Jersey.
Canada's Indian-origin defence minister urged to quit
Ottawa: Canada's opposition on Monday called for Indian-origin defense minister Harjit Sajjan to resign or be sacked for overstating his military record in Afghanistan during a speech in India. Sajjan, a decorated former military intelligence officer, erroneously claimed last month to have been the "architect" of Canada's largest military operation since the 1950s, known as Operation Medusa.
The 2006 offensive delivered a blow to the Taliban, loosening its grip on Kandahar province, but at a cost - a dozen Canadian and 14 British soldiers died. “It's come to light that the minister of defense has misled Canadians once again and it's a big one," said Rona Ambrose, leader of the opposition Tories, recalling that Sajjan made a similar claim while campaigning in 2015.
Taliban blast aimed at Pak Shias kills 14
Parachinar (Pakistan): At least 14 people, including two women and four children, were killed when a passenger van hit a land mine in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The vehicle was on its way from Godar area to Sadda town when it ran over the landmine planted along the road in Kurram Agency. A splinter group of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaatul Ahrar, has claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesman for the Jamaat-ur-Ahrar said the blast was intended to target the country's Shia minority and workers in the area carrying out a census. “Our target was the Shia community and census team in the area,” a spokesman for the outfit said.
Pak hangs four found guilty by military courts
Islamabad: Pakistan hanged four “hardcore” Taliban militants convicted of terrorism-related offences by the controversial military courts. Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said that they were hanged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Ghafoor further stated that they were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of innocent civilians, attacking armed forces of Pakistan and law enforcement agencies. Military courts were restored last month for another two years after their initial two-year term expired in January.
PIO recommended for `IP czar' post
Washington: PIO Vishal Amin's name has been sent by President Trump to the Senate for confirmation as US's new “IP czar” to coordinate the country's law enforcement strategy around copyright, patents and trademarks. If confirmed, Amin, who is senior counsel on House Judiciary Committee, would succeed Daniel Marti. The Recording Industry Association of America welcomed his nomination.
Saudi to fund 560 mosques in Bangladesh
Dhaka: Bangladesh has approved a project to build hundreds of mosques with almost $1 billion from Saudi Arabia, an official said, worrying minorities who fear they could be used to spread fundamentalist Islam. The government plans to construct 560 mosques - one in every town in Bangladesh - as the secular administration woos Islamist groups before elections. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought the funds from Saudi Arabia, which will provide the lion's share of the $1.07 billion cost, during a visit to the oil-rich state last year, said Bangladesh planning minister Mustofa Kamal.
German parliament backs partial burqa ban
Berlin: Members of Germany's lower house of parliament have approved a law that partially bans the full-face Islamic veil or the burqa. The bill will prevent civil servants, judges and soldiers from wearing burqas at work. After the approval, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the move to ban the burqa showed how far tolerance towards other cultures would go in Germany. Right-wing parties want Germany to emulate France where a total ban on wearing burqas in public places has been in force since 2011. Last December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever legally possible, saying they were not appropriate in her country.
Impeachment motion against Nepal’s 1st woman CJ
Kathmandu: An impeachment motion against Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice Sushila Karki was registered in the Parliament by two major ruling parties, accusing her of “interfering” in the jurisdiction of the executive and issuing “prejudiced” verdicts. A total of 249 lawmakers from the ruling NC and CPN (Maoist Centre) have signed the motion which has accused Justice Karki of “interfering in the jurisdiction of executive and failing to issue verdicts without being prejudiced”.
Swiss climber falls to death near Mount Everest
Kathmandu: A famed Swiss climber has died in Nepal's Everest region after falling 1,000 metres from a ridge during preparations to scale the world's highest mountain. Ueli Steck, 40, died after falling to the foot of Mount Nuptse, a smaller peak in the area, officials said. "He skidded off about 1,000 metres from camp ... Other climbers ascending Everest saw him and asked for his rescue," said Dinesh Bhattarai, director-general at Nepal's Department of Tourism.
Merkel arrives without headscarf in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh: German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Saudi Arabia without a headscarf for talks with the oil-rich kingdom's monarch. Merkel was greeted by King Salman and other top officials upon her arrival at the western city of Jiddah. Like other recent female Western visitors, the German Chancellor did not cover her hair upon arrival in the conservative Islamic kingdom. Prime Minister Theresa May also eschewed the strict dress code for women when she arrived in Riyadh, after saying she hoped to be an inspiration to oppressed women in Saudi Arabia.
