A trial is set to begin on Monday in Minnesota regarding a human smuggling case involving the tragic deaths of an Indian family at the Canada-US border two years ago. Federal prosecutors are set to argue that a criminal network, stretching from India to Canada, profited from smuggling families seeking better opportunities in the United States, which ultimately led to the deaths of a couple and their two young children. Prosecutors have accused 29-year-old Indian national Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel of running the smuggling operation, and 50-year-old Steve Shand of Florida is accused of waiting in a truck for 11 migrants, including a family of four, who died while trying to walk across the US-Canada border in freezing conditions. According to the prosecution, Patel had recruited Shand at a casino near their homes in Deltona, Florida, just north of Orlando. The victims, Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s, and their two children—11-year-old Vihangi and 3-year-old Dharmik—died after trying to cross the border in subzero temperatures. The family, originally from the village of Dingucha in Gujarat, India, reportedly spent hours wandering in blizzard conditions as the wind chill reached -36°F (-38°C). Canadian authorities found the bodies of the family members on the morning of 19 January 2022. Jagdish Patel was holding his son Dharmik, who was wrapped in a blanket. Prosecutors allege that Patel and Shand were part of a smuggling operation that scouted clients in India, arranged student visas for them to enter Canada, and then helped them cross into the US, mostly through Washington state or Minnesota. Federal authorities have arrested over 14,000 Indians attempting to cross the Canadian border in the year leading up to September 2023. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates that over 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the United States, second only to Mexicans and Salvadorans. Harshkumar Patel’s attorney, Thomas Leinenweber, stated that Patel came to the US to escape poverty and build a better life, adding that he is “unjustly accused of participating in this horrible crime” and believes the truth will come out during the trial. Patel had reportedly been refused a US visa at least five times before entering the country illegally. Court documents reveal that Patel and Shand had regular communication during the smuggling runs, often discussing the harsh conditions. In December 2021, Shand messaged Patel saying it was “cold as hell” while waiting for one group, adding, “Are they going to be alive when they get here?” In January, Shand allegedly told Patel, “Make sure everyone is dressed for the blizzard conditions, please.” Shand is said to have been paid about USD 25,000 for the five trips. Satveer Chaudhary, a Minneapolis-based immigration attorney, commented on the tragic case, stating that smugglers often promise migrants the American dream, which does not always materialise. “The promises of the almighty dollar lead many people to take unwarranted risks with their own dignity, and as we’re finding out here, their own lives,” he said. (With inputs from AP)
18 November,2024 12:00 PM IST | Fergus FallsIn a statement shared by the incarcerated former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, it was claimed that he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, faced a mistrial in the Toshakhana case. This comes after the Prosecutor General of Pakistan allegedly admitted to the mistake in a High Court hearing. According to a post from Khan’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party claimed, “After keeping me and my wife in jail for a year, the Prosecutor General has admitted in the High Court that there was a mistrial in the Toshakhana (Gift Repository) case, and that the requirements of justice were not observed." Khan’s message further emphasised that this mistrial was "an admission of political vengeance" and accused Pakistan’s government machinery, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — the country’s anti-corruption body — of being used for political victimisation. He argued that this raised serious questions about the integrity of Pakistan’s judicial system. In his statement, Khan called for the resignations of the Chairman of NAB, the Prosecutor General, the investigation officers, and the relevant judges involved in his case. He demanded disciplinary action against those responsible for what he described as politically motivated cases. “I was sentenced in five frivolous cases in an equally ridiculous manner, and two more bogus trials are being conducted at speed to distract me from the movement for genuine sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law. But I will continue the fight for the genuine freedom of Pakistanis until the very last drop of my blood,” Khan said in his post. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the passage of Pakistan’s 26th Constitutional Amendment, which is seen to curb the power of the judiciary in the country. Khan noted that the High Court and the Supreme Court have now become “kangaroo courts,” with their status reduced to that of any government department. He warned that this would only further stifle an already corrupt judicial system. The former Prime Minister once again called for a nationwide protest on November 24 to demand “genuine freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.” (With inputs from ANI)
18 November,2024 10:44 AM IST | IslamabadAt least 11 people were killed and 48 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon's Tyre region, as per AFP reports quoting the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The strikes in Tyre follow a series of Israeli military operations in Lebanon over recent weeks. Late October airstrikes in the same area caused injuries to 16 people and damage to several heritage sites, according to earlier reports from Al Jazeera. These latest attacks come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with recent strikes targeting key individuals. As per ANI, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) carried out an airstrike in Beirut on Sunday that killed Mohammed Afif, Hezbollah's media relations chief. The IDF, in a post on the social media platform X, confirmed Afif's death, describing him as the “Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah”. The IDF stated that Afif was a senior military operative closely connected to Hezbollah's leadership and actively involved in planning and executing terrorist operations against Israel. In the post, the IDF added, “Afif’s messages to Lebanese media glorified and incited terrorist activities against Israel. He was also responsible for psychological terror operations targeting the Israeli public.” The statement further emphasized that Afif’s contributions had significant influence on Hezbollah’s activities against Israel. The attacks in Tyre and the killing of Afif have unfolded alongside a domestic security incident in Israel. On Sunday, three suspects were arrested for throwing flares at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. Earlier in October, Netanyahu's private home was reportedly targeted by a Hezbollah drone. Israeli media published images showing cracks in a bedroom window caused by the drone’s impact, though it did not penetrate the structure. The escalation has raised concerns about the growing instability in the region. The strikes in Tyre are a stark reminder of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, highlighting the potential for further conflict. As per ANI, the situation remains tense, with no immediate resolution in sight. Lebanon’s Tyre region, rich in historical heritage, has suffered significantly from the ongoing violence, and the civilian toll continues to rise. (With inputs from ANI)
18 November,2024 09:16 AM IST | TyreUS President-elect Donald Trump has no personal relationship with former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, a prominent Pakistani-American businessman and Trump backer has said. Sajid Tarar, who heads the Muslims for Trump organisation, also said that Trump -- who won the US presidential election for a second term in one of the most remarkable comebacks in American electoral history -- would strengthen ties with India and keep a close watch on allegations of human rights violations in Bangladesh. "A perception is being created by a particular party in Pakistan that he (Khan) has a personal relationship with Donald Trump. This is not true. It's a fact that, as president, Trump had invited Khan to the White House as the prime minister of Pakistan," Tarar told PTI in an interview. Trump will "not interfere" in the internal affairs of Pakistan or its judiciary to get Khan out of jail, he asserted. "He (Trump) may have a soft corner (for Khan)," he said. Khan was arrested last year after his conviction in the first Toshakhana corruption case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Since then, he has been in jail in different cases. Tarar also noted that Trump was aware of the developments in South Asia, including Bangladesh. Trump is aware that when he was running for president in 2016, Muhammad Yunus -- the chief advisor to the interim Bangladesh government -- had openly supported Hillary Clinton against him. During his recent US visit, Yunus met President Joe Biden and former president Bill Clinton, he added. "In fact, there is a history here that when Donald Trump was fighting the election against Hillary Clinton, he (Yunus) was supporting Hillary Clinton," Tarar said. Days before the November 5 elections in the US, Trump issued a statement condemning "human rights violations" against Hindus in Bangladesh. The minority Hindu community, which constitutes about 8 per cent of Bangladesh's population, has alleged regular vandalism of their businesses and destruction of temples during and since the protests that resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. "He (Trump) will have a close eye on Bangladesh and will be watching (allegations of) human rights violations' In my opinion, Donald Trump will have a tough word with Bangladesh," Tarar said. Trump's election, he asserted, was good for the US and the world. "Donald Trump has not taken his oath yet but (the world has started) reacting to it. The whole world is nervous, except India. Now, the world has a leader. Over the next four years, he will be cleaning up the extension of Barack Obama's policies in the US that has been going on for 12 years." Among the new Trump administration's top focus areas will be to give priority to the Pentagon, Tarar said. "He will strengthen the Pentagon. He will revisit our foreign policy. Afghanistan is not the threat it was in the past. Pakistan's geographic location is such that it cannot be ignored -- a border with China, borders with Iran, Afghanistan and India. So, in my opinion, he will justify a relationship," he said. "Since 1947, Pakistan and the US have been very close to each other. Defence contracts, its (Pakistan's) top brass are trained and educated here. Most of the war equipment is made in America," Tarar said. Trump 2.0, Tarar claimed, would be completely different from his first stint. "I think they will put a new life in the Republican Party. It was necessary to create a balance in US politics," Tarar said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 08:56 AM IST | Washington | PTIAn Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital Beirut killed Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammed Afif on Sunday, Times of Israel reported. According to the Times of Israel, Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Mohammad Afif. Afif was killed in an IDF strike on the headquarters of the Syrian Ba'ath Party in central Beirut, Times of Israel reported. Israel is yet to confirm the killing of the Hezbollah spokesman, as per the Times of Israel. According to Al Jazeera, Afif hosted several press conferences for Hezbollah, providing information regarding the Israeli bombardment. Afif managed Hezbollah's Al-Manar television station for several years before taking over as the top media relations officer for the armed group. Afif in his recent statements to reporters had said that Hezbollah had enough weapons to fight a "long war" against Israel, Al Jazeera reported. Afif assassination is another step towards Israel's aim to eliminate Hezbollah leadership. Earlier Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah after Lebanon-based group named Hashem Safieddine as its head. On Sunday, three suspects were arrested for throwing flares at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home. Two flares were thrown at Netanyahu's private home in Caesarea on Saturday night, which landed in the house's courtyard. The Prime Minister and his family were not home at the time. Netanyahu's private residence was attacked by a Hezbollah drone earlier in October this year. Images published in Israeli media showed cracks in a bedroom window where the drone struck but failed to penetrate. The window was presumably made of reinforced glass and is believed to have other protections. Netanyahu and his family were not there at the time. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 08:51 AM IST | Tel Avis | ANIAn earthquake of magnitude 4.5 on the Richter scale jolted Afghanistan on Monday, according to the National Centre of Seismology (NCS). The NCS said that the earthquake hit at 2:15 am (IST), at a depth of 15 kilometres. The epicentre of the earthquake was recorded at Latitude 33.13 N and Longitude 68.84 E. EQ of M: 4.5, On: 18/11/2024 02:15:06 IST, Lat: 32.13 N, Long: 68.84 E, Depth: 15 Km, Location: Afghanistan. For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/oG5hOinAhB — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) November 17, 2024 "EQ of M: 4.5, On: 18/11/2024 02:15:06 IST, Lat: 32.13 N, Long: 68.84 E, Depth: 15 Km, Location: Afghanistan," the National Centre for Seismology said on social media platform X. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 08:47 AM IST | Kabul | ANIA Russian strike on a nine-storey building in the city of Sumy in northern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded dozens, an official said on Sunday, as Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack described by officials as the largest in recent months. Among the eight killed in Sumy, 40 kilometres from the border with Russia, were two children, said Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. More than 400 people were evacuated from the building. The rescuers were checking every apartment looking for people who might be still in the damaged building. "Every life destroyed by Russia is a big tragedy," said Klymenko. The drone and missile attack, which targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure, came as fears are mounting about Moscow's intentions to devastate Ukraine's power generation capacity ahead of the winter. Also on Sunday, President Joe Biden authorised for the first time the use of US-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine to strike inside Russia, after extensive lobbying by Ukrainian officials. The weapons are likely to be used in response to North Korea's decision to send thousands of troops to support Russia in the Kursk region where Ukraine mounted a military incursion over the summer. It is the second time the US has permitted the use of Western weapons inside Russian territory within limits after permitting the use of HIMARS systems, a shorter-range weapon, to stem Russia's advance in the Kharkiv region in May. The first reaction from Ukraine to the long-awaited decision from the US was notably restrained. "Today, much is being said in the media about us receiving permission for the relevant actions. But strikes are not made with words. Such things are not announced. The missiles will speak for themselves," said Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his nightly video address. Earlier, Zelenskyy said Russia had launched a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones in a large-scale attack across Ukraine. Various types of drones were deployed, he said, including Iranian-made Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic and aircraft-launched ballistic missiles. Ukrainian defences shot down 144 out of a total of 210 air targets, Ukraine's air force reported later on Sunday. "The enemy's target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from hits and falling debris. In Mykolaiv, as a result of a drone attack, two people were killed and six others were injured, including two children," Zelenskyy said. Two more people were killed in the Odesa region, where the attack damaged energy infrastructure and disrupted power and water supplies, said local Governor Oleh Kiper. Both victims were employees of Ukraine's state-owned power grid operator, Ukrenergo, the company said hours later. The combined drone and missile attack was the most powerful in three months, according to the head of Kyiv's City Military Administration, Serhii Popko. One person was injured after the roof of a five-storey residential building caught fire in Kyiv's historic centre, according to Popko. A thermal power plant operated by private energy company DTEK was "seriously damaged", the company said. Russian strikes have hammered Ukraine's power infrastructure since Moscow's all-out invasion of its neighbour in February 2022, prompting repeated emergency power shutdowns and nationwide rolling blackouts. Ukrainian officials have routinely urged Western allies to bolster the country's air defences to counter assaults and allow for repairs. Explosions were heard across Ukraine on Sunday, including in the capital, Kyiv, the key southern port of Odesa, as well as the country's west and central regions, according to local reports. The operational command of Poland's armed forces wrote on X that Polish and allied aircraft, including fighter jets, have been mobilised in Polish airspace because of the "massive" Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine. The steps were aimed to provide safety in Poland's border areas, it said. Russia's Defence Ministry on Sunday acknowledged carrying out a "mass" missile and drone attack on "critical energy infrastructure" in Ukraine, but claimed all targeted facilities were tied to Kyiv's military industry. Although Ukraine's nuclear plants were not directly impacted, several electrical substations on which they depend suffered further damage, the UN's nuclear energy watchdog said in a statement on Sunday. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, only two of Ukraine's nine operational reactors continue to generate power at full capacity. A local journalist also died on Sunday as Ukrainian drones struck Russia's embattled Kursk region, its Governor Aleksei Smirnov reported. Moscow's forces have for months strained to dislodge Ukrainian troops from the southern province after a bold incursion in August that constituted the largest attack on Russia since World War II and saw battle-hardened Ukrainian units swiftly take hundreds of square kilometres of territory. In Russia's Belgorod province, near Ukraine, a man died on the spot after a Ukrainian drone dropped explosives on his car, local Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Another Ukrainian drone on Sunday targeted a drone factory in Izhevsk, deep inside Russia, according to anti-Kremlin Russian news channels on the Telegram messaging app. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 08:38 AM IST | Kyiv | APA powerful typhoon wrecked houses, caused towering tidal surges and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee to emergency shelters as it cut across the northern Philippines on Sunday in the sixth major storm to hit the country in less than a month. Typhoon Man-yi slammed into the eastern island province of Catanduanes on Saturday night with sustained winds of up to 195 kmph and gusts of up to 240 kmph. The country’s weather agency warned of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation” in provinces along its path. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the typhoon, which was forecast to blow northwestward on Sunday across northern Luzon, the archipelago’s most populous region. The capital region of metropolitan Manila would likely be spared from a direct hit but was placed, along with outlying regions, under storm alerts and warned of dangerous coastal storm surges. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 08:01 AM IST | Manila | AgenciesIn a major development, over 40 American lawmakers have called upon US President Joe Biden to advocate for the immediate release of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with all other political prisoners in the country and ensure their safety in line with the findings of the UN Working Group report, Geo TV reported. In a letter to outgoing President Biden, as many as 46 members of Congress urged Biden to take steps and act for the release of the incarcerated PM. The details were shared by Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI), American Wing, on the social media platform, X. It noted that “46 members of the US House of Representatives, including members from both the Republican and Democratic parties, have written a letter to President Joe Biden calling for urgent action for the release of Imran Khan”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 07:46 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesIsraeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed 12 people, according to Palestinian medical officials. Police in Israel, meanwhile, arrested three suspects after flares were fired at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in the coastal city of Caesarea. Authorities said Netanyahu and his family were not at the residence when two flares were fired at it overnight, and there were no injuries. A drone launched by Hezbollah struck the residence last month, also when Netanyahu and his family were away. The police did not provide details about the suspects, but officials pointed to domestic political critics of Netanyahu. Israel’s largely ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, condemned the incident and warned against “an escalation of the violence in the public sphere”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 07:40 AM IST | Tel Aviv | AgenciesRussia on Sunday launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, described by officials as the largest over the past months, targeting energy infrastructure and killing civilians. The attack came as fears are mounting about Moscow’s intentions to devastate Ukraine’s power generation capacity ahead of the cold winter. Ukraie’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia had launched a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones in a large-scale attack across Ukraine. Various types of drones were deployed, he said, including Iranian-made Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic and aircraft-launched ballistic missiles. Ukrainian defense forces shot down 140 air targets, Zelensky said in a statement on Telegram. “The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from hits and falling debris. In Mykolaiv, as a result of a drone attack, two people were killed and six others were injured, including two children,” Zelensky said. The combined drone and missile attack was the most powerful in three months, according to the head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration Serhii Popko. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 November,2024 07:37 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
