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  • England: Man sentenced to 10 years for death of woman in his ‘slap therapy’ workshop 

    Man handed 10 years in prison for the death of a woman in his 'slap therapy' workshop in the UK
    Man gets 10 years in jail for the death of a woman in his ‘slap therapy’ workshop in the UK. Photo Courtesy: Wiltshire Police website

    A man, who advocated ‘slap therapy, has been jailed for 10 years after he was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence over the death of a diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin at his alternative therapy workshop in England.

    “Hongxhi Xiao, 61, of Cloudbreak, California, was found guilty of the manslaughter of 71-year-old Danielle Carr-Gomm following a four-week trial at Winchester Crown Court earlier this year,” Wiltshire Police said in a statement.

    Appearing before Winchester Crown Court on Saturday Xiao was sentenced to 10 years in prison, plus a five-year extended licence period.        

    He led an alternative therapies workshop in Cleeve House, Seend, in October 2016, where the attendees, including 71-year-old Danielle, took part in ‘Paida Lajin’ – an ancient Chinese method for self-healing, which involves slapping and stretching techniques combined with other activities.

    Police said Xiao had no medical qualifications or experience but promoted Paida Lajin as an effective cure for many conditions including diabetes.

    “Danielle was a type 1 diabetic and had stopped taking her insulin at the workshop whilst taking part in a three day fast, organised by Xiao,” police said.

    However, her health deteriorated whilst in the care of Xiao and she was found dead in her room in the early hours of October 20, 2016.

    A major investigation was launched by officers and Xiao was arrested the following morning.

    Further tests were subsequently carried out and Danielle was found to have died as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis which develops after a person with type 1 diabetes stops their insulin treatment.

    Sentencing, Justice Bright KC said: “You failed to summon emergency medical care when you of all people knew she was likely to die without insulin.”

    He added that Carr-Gomm’s death “was a tragedy for her and all who loved her.”

  • We did not play well enough to win the game, says Rohit Sharma after defeat in Pink Ball Test against Australia 

    Rohit Sharma accepts India's poor performance against Australia in Pink Ball Test
    Rohit Sharma speaks on Pink Ball Test defeat. Photo Courtesy: BCCI X page

    Indian skipper Rohit Sharma on Sunday said his team did not play well to win the second Test match against Australia and acknowledged that the opponents played better than them.

    Speaking after the match, Sharma was quoted as saying by media: “Disappointing week for us. We didn’t play well enough to win the game. Australia played better than us.”

    He said the Indian team failed to grab the opportunity in the match when they got opportunity.

    “There were times when we could have grabbed the opportunity but failed, which cost us the game. What we did in Perth was great but every game throws a new challenge,” Sharma said.

    Despite beginning the series with a defeat, Australia bounced back to beat India by 10 wickets in the second Test match to level 1-1 on Sunday.

    In the Pink Ball Test, India were bowled out for 175 runs, once again struggling against the potent Australian attack.

    In their first innings, India, coming to play the Day-Night a=match after winning the first clash, posted 180 runs, while Travis Head’s magnificent 140 runs off 141 balls in the first innings helped Australia responded with a dominant 337.

    India took a significant 152-run lead.

    In the second innings, Indian batsmen failed to shine with only Nitish Reddy top-scoring with 42.

    Pat Cummins led from the front and picked up five wickets to destroy the Indian batting. Mitchell Starc scalped two while Scott Boland showed three Indian batsmen the road to the pavilion.

  • World leaders ‘monitoring’ situation in Syria after fall of Bashar al-Assad

    Donald Trump and other world leaders react to the toppling of Bashar al-Assad-led regiment in Syria.
    World leaders react to the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad-led regime in Syria.Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

    Several top world leaders, including US President-elect Donald Trump, reacted on social media platforms after the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime following the entry of rebel forces in Damascus city.

    Giving an update on Joe Biden’s reaction to the developing scenario in the country, White House National Security Council Spokesperson Sean Savett wrote on X: “President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners.”

    Calling Russia the protector of Assad and his regime, Trump said Moscow lost interest in protecting him which led to his downfall.

    Writing on Truth Social, Trump said: “Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer.”

    “There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever. Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success,” Trump said.

    Speaking on the current situation in Ukraine, he said: “Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians.”

    “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!” he said.

    Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he is following the situation in Syria and even called for an emergency meeting on Sunday.

    “I am following with concerned attention the evolution of the situation in Syria. In constant contact with our embassy in Damascus and with Palazzo Chigi. At 10:30 I have called an emergency meeting at the Farnesina,” Tajani told X.

    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus and left for an unknown destination as rebels announced to storm the capital, media reports said.

    Quoting two senior army officers, news agency Reuters reported that President al-Assad boarded a plane and left for an unknown destination.

    Citing a war monitor, AFP reported that the Army and security forces had abandoned Damascus International Airport.

  • Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime topples as rebels enter Damascus

    Syria witnesses fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime
    Rebels take control over Damascus. Photo Courtesy:  Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons & videograb from X

    Toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s tenure, rebels have said they entered the capital Damascus following their swift advancement in the past few days, ending an ‘era’ in the country’s political history.

    According to reports, Assad has escaped Damascus.

    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is nowhere to be found in Damascus, a source told CNN.

    Assad’s Presidential Guard is no longer deployed at his usual place of residence, as they would have been if he had been there, the source told the American channel, fueling speculation that he may have escaped Damascus.

    Syrian rebels comprise Islamist and moderate factions.  They are united to fight against the Assad regime, ISIS and Iran-backed militias.

    The rebels reportedly took control of the Saydnaya Military Prison north of Damascus.

    “We broke the news to the Syrian people of liberating our prisoners and unchaining them, and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Saydnaya Prison,” the statement was quoted as saying by CNN.

    Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said his regime is ready to cooperate with any leadership people choose.

    “We are ready to cooperate with any leadership the people choose, offering all possible support to ensure a smooth and systematic transition of government functions, preserving state facilities,” he was quoted as saying by the news channel.

    National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said US President Joe Biden is currently monitoring the situation in Syria.

    “President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” he wrote on X.

    Before Damascus, the rebel group had said they had captured the strategic city of Homs and were proceeding to the capital.

  • US H-1B visa cap for 2025 reached. What should applicants do now?

    H-1B visa cap for 2025 reached.
    H-1B visa cap for 2025 reached. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

    The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said they have reached the limit on H 1B visa petitions for the upcoming 2025 financial year.

    This includes 65,000 visas for regular applicants and an additional 20,000 reserved for US advanced degree holders.

    “We will send non-selection notices to registrants through their online accounts over the next few days,” USCIS said in a statement.

    “When we finish sending these non-selection notifications, the status for properly submitted registrations that we did not select for the FY 2025 H-1B numerical allocations will show: Not Selected: Not selected – not eligible to file an H-1B cap petition based on this registration,” the statement said.

    The USCIS said it will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap.

    “Petitions filed for current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap, and who still retain their cap number, are exempt from the FY 2025 H-1B cap,” the statement said.

    The USCIS said it will continue to accept and process petitions filed to:

    Extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the United States;

    Change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;

    Allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and

    Allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in additional H-1B positions.

    What is H-1B visa?

    The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability, as per the US Department of Labor website. 

    A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.

  • Singapore MRT commuters to get up to 80 per cent fare discounts for avoiding morning rush hour from 2025

    Singapore MRT train
    Singapore MRT, lifeline of the island nation. Photo courtesy: smrt.com.sg

    From next year, commuters in Singapore will get a hefty discount on their public transport fares if they avoid the morning rush hour, as the government is ready with a plan to ease crowding on buses and trains.

    Quoting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on this, a report by The Straits Times said that commuters “who shift their travel schedules”, so that they do not join the rush-hour crowd, would get a strong incentive — fare discounts up to 80 per cent. This was meant to “better manage peak-hour crowding on buses and trains, especially in north-east Singapore”, reported the publication.

    ST said that this financial incentive to nudge some people towards revising their commute schedule was “part of a planned refresh of the Travel Smart Journeys scheme”.

    This scheme already covered buses and now that coverage would be expanded; in addition, the scheme would cover trains in Singapore from 2025.

    Singapore MRT bus fleet
    Singapore MRT bus services are being buffed up to take some more passenger load off the MRT trains, especially on the North East Line. Photo courtesy: smrt.com.sg

    During his interview with the media, the transport minister also said that four new City Direct bus services — 675, 676, 677, and 678 — would start from January 2, 2025, and north-east residents could use these new services to reach the Central Business District during peak hours.

    The ST report said that with regard to the Singapore rail network, the Travel Smart Journeys scheme would start by focusing on railway rides “beginning from the Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok and Hougang MRT stations on the North East Line (NEL), and the Punggol and Sengkang LRT stations”.

    Singapore Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat
    Singapore Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat. Photo courtesy: pmo.gov.sg

    Under this scheme, NEL passengers would get incentives for shifting their commute to a time period before or after peak hours. At present, fare discount is given for train rides starting before 7.45am.

    In its refreshed version, the Travel Smart Journeys scheme would offer “more impactful fare discounts, at up to 80 per cent” for commuters, said ST. Earlier, commuters received points worth SGD 1.50 per trip, if they chose to use any of the seven eligible express bus services between 7am and 9am, thus taking some passenger load off the NEL. Points thus accumulated could be redeemed for travel credits.

    Giving some details of the refreshed scheme to reporters, the Singapore minister said in his recent interview that these fare discounts would be complemented by other measures to reduce the NEL passenger load — the line had an average daily ridership of 588,000 in the first half of 2024, only slightly less than the 601,000 daily trips in 2019.

    Alongside introducing four new City Direct bus services, the Singapore Transport Ministry has also revamped five existing City Direct services. The existing services have got additional capacity or route extension so that they can serve more commuters from Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok, and Hougang to the city.

    As per the ST report, the minister said that it was important for the government to ensure that “adequate capacity, through both the MRT and buses” was created for commuters in the north-east of Singapore, because of the new developments coming up in the area.

  • Indian student stabbed to death by housemate in Canada

    Indian-origin student stabbed to death in Canada
     Indian-origin student stabbed to death in Canada. Photo Courtesy:Gagandeep Singh X page

    An Indian-origin man has been stabbed to death by his housemate in Canada’s Ontario city, police said on Saturday.

    The Indian national was identified as 22-year-old Gurasis Singh.

    He was an International student studying business at Lambton College in Sarnia.  

    The accused, who was identified as 36-year-old Crossley Hunter, stabbed the Indian-origin student multiple times which led to his death on Sunday.

    “Members of the Sarnia Police Criminal Investigations Division continue to investigate this stabbing and have determined that during the early morning hours, two residents of a rooming house at 194 Queen Street in Sarnia were involved in a physical altercation while in the kitchen.  During the altercation, one resident accessed a knife and stabbed the other multiple times, killing him,” police said in a statement.

    Police chief Derek Davis said in a statement: “Despite an arrest having been made, this complex investigation is ongoing. The Sarnia Police Criminal Investigations Division continues to gather all available evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding this criminal act and what, if any, motive may have existed that led to the murder of this young man.”  

    “At this time, we do not believe this crime to be racially motivated. The SPS, in partnership and coordination with Lambton College, will continue our efforts to support Gurasis’ family and friends as they seek to navigate these tragic circumstances,” he said.

    Condoling the death of Singh, Lambton College said: “Lambton College has been in touch with the student’s family, and are working with them on funeral arrangements and repatriation.”

    Expressing sadness over the loss of life in the stabbing attack, the Indian Consulate in Toronto said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian national Shri Gurasis Singh in Sarnia, ON, due to stabbing. A suspect has been arrested. We will remain in close contact with the authorities and provide all required assistance to the bereaved family.”

  • Bangladesh: ISKCON claims its Dhaka centre burned down by miscreants 

    ISKCON claims its Dhaka centre burned down by miscreants.
    ISKCON Dhaka centre burned down. Photo Courtesy: Radharamn Das X page

    The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Saturday claimed that its centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has been burned down.

    ISKCON’s Kolkata vice president, Radharamn Das, confirmed the development on X by posting: “Another ISKCON Namhatta Centre burned down in Bangladesh. The Deities of Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan and all items inside the temple, were burned down completely.”

    He shared an image of the damaged centre on the social media site.

    “The center is located in Dhaka. Early morning today, between 2-3 AM, miscreants set fire to the Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple and the Shri Shri Mahabhagya Lakshmi Narayan Temple, which fall under the Hare Krishna Namhatta Sangha, located in Dhour village, under then jurisdiction of Turag Police Station, Dhaka district,” Das said.

    Das said: “The fire was initiated by lifting the tin roof at the back of the temple and using petrol or octane. Address: H-02, R-05, Ward-54, DNCC, Dhaka 1230.”

    Bangladesh has witnessed a rise in attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, ever since former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government collapsed and the interim government took charge of the South Asian country in August.

    ISKCON properties have been attacked across Bangladesh in the past couple of months since Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government.

    The Hindus have been protesting against the arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das over sedition charges.

  • Indian-origin comic Kabir Singh dies at 39; Americas Got Talent mourns loss

    Kabir ‘Kabeezy’ Singh, the 39-year-old Indian-origin comedian known for his sharp wit and captivating stage presence, passed away. Kabir appeared on Comedy Central and Family Guy, and had gained widespread recognition as a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent Season 16.

    Indian-origin comic Kabir Singh. Photo courtesy: www.instagram.com/kabeezycomic
    Indian-origin comic Kabir Singh. Photo courtesy: www.instagram.com/kabeezycomic

    According to several media reports, Kabir died in San Francisco on December 4, where local authorities have launched an investigation into his sudden passing.

    While natural causes have not been ruled out, insiders have reportedly revealed he had been grappling with ongoing health complications. A toxicology report is pending to determine the exact cause.

    His death was mourned by AGT. The official X page of the popular show said it is “deeply saddened to hear” of the passing of the comic.

    Who was Kabir Singh?

    Kabir was a comedian known for his sharp wit and relatable humour. A semifinalist on America’s Got Talent Season 16, Kabir captured the audience’s hearts with his confident stage presence and hilariously self-deprecating jokes.

    Born to Indian immigrant parents, Kabir’s comedy often drew on his multicultural upbringing, blending anecdotes about family, relationships, and cultural clashes with impeccable comedic timing.

    Before his breakthrough on AGT, Kabir had already established himself as a prominent figure in the comedy circuit, performing across the USA and earning accolades for his performances at major comedy festivals. His ability to connect with diverse audiences made him a sought-after performer, known for leaving his fans in stitches.

    Kabir discovered his love for comedy at the age of nine when his family relocated to Mumbai. Teased for being the ‘American kid’, he learned to navigate social dynamics by mastering three languages to communicate and entertain. At 13, Kabir returned to the USA.

    One of the highlights of his career is sharing the stage with comedy giants like Dave Chappelle, Jo Koy, and Russell Peters. He regularly toured with stars such as Anjelah Johnson and Aries Spears.

    (The article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Free Press Journal and Connected to India)

  • Syrian rebels now control over 80 percent of Daraa city: Reports 

    Syrian rebels now control over 80 percent of Daraa city amid escalating tension
    People flee into Syria from the bombardments in Lebanon.  Photo Courtesy:   UNHCR/Houssam Hariri
     

    Escalating tension in Syria, rebel forces took control over 80 percent of Daraa province, days after Aleppo and Hama fell to the hands of an Islamist-led rebel alliance.

    “Local factions took control over 80% of Daraa province, where the factions advanced in dozens of towns, villages and cities including Base Al-Harir Town, Nawa City, Inkhil City and Mahja Town after the regime forces withdrew from the checkpoints and military headquarters and the regime forces were sieged in Daraa Al-Balad and Ezrae’ and Al-Sanmin Cities,” reported Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

    “Regime forces targeted Da’ael City in middle Daraa countryside with artillery shells. However, no casualties were reported,” the observatory said.

    Deraa is a strategically crucial region in the country. It is located close to the main crossings on the Jordanian border. It is the region where the pro-democracy protests erupted in 2011 and triggered the civil war.

    More than 280,000 people have been displaced in northwest Syria in a matter of days following the sudden and massive offensive into Government-controlled areas led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is sanctioned by the Security Council as a terrorist group.

    Aid has continued to flow from Türkiye across three border crossings into the embattled northwest and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that it had opened community kitchens in Aleppo and Hama – cities now reportedly occupied by HTS fighters.

    In neighbouring Lebanon, senior UN aid official Edem Wosornu expressed deep concerns for the safety of more than 600,000 people who have begun to return to their devastated homes, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah kicked in on 27 November. “I’m sure they are settling back, the problem is what they would find when they go back home,” she told journalists in Geneva, highlighting the potential dangers from unexploded ordnance.