Kenyan climber found dead on Mount Everest
Kathmandu, May 23: A climber from Kenya attempting to scale the world’s highest mountain has been found dead near the summit, officials said Thursday. The body of Cheruiyot Kirui was found on Mount Everest, said Khim Lal Gautam, a government official based at the base camp of the mountain. It was unclear when the body would be recovered because the oxygen level is low at that altitude and it’s difficult for Sherpas to carry it down. Officials said more than 450 climbers have scaled Mount Everest from the Nepali side of the peak in the south this season. Three climbers were reported killed and four are still missing on Mount Everest this season, which ends in a few days. (AP)
Indian dies from inhaling poisonous gas in Singapore
Singapore, May 23: A 40-year-old Indian national died on Thursday after inhaling a poisonous gas while carrying out routine tank cleaning at a waterwork site here. The Indian national, who has not been named, was one of three men aged between 24 and 40 who had collapsed and were found unconscious at the waterworks agency reported The Straits Times. All three were taken to the hospital unconscious, where the worker died. The Indian national was employed as a cleaning operations manager by Supersonic Maintenance Services, according to a report. (PTI)
Journalists get jail for criticising govt
Tunis, May 23: A Tunisian court on Wednesday sentenced two TV and radio journalists to one year in prison for criticising the government on their programmes and on social networks. Borhane Bsaïs and Mourad Zeghidi were each given six months’ imprisonment for disseminating “fake news” and an additional six months for “making false statements with the aim of defaming others”, in reference to Tunisian President Kaïs Saied, court spokesperson Mohamed Zitouna said. The sentences come less than two weeks after both were arrested. They are among a broader group of journalists, activists and lawyers charged under Decree 54, a law criminalising the dissemination of “fake news” aimed at harming public safety or national defence. (PTI)
Sunita Williams set to fly into space again
Houston, May 23: Boeing’s Starliner first crewed spacecraft to be piloted by Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is expected to be launched between June 1 and June 5 after the flight was postponed earlier this month due to a technical snag. Williams, 58, will fly into space for the third time aboard the test flight. A statement from NASA said: “Mission managers from NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) continue to evaluate a path forward toward launching the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The teams are now working toward a launch opportunity at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, with additional opportunities on Sunday, June 2, Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.” (PTI)