Two climate protesters paint Stonehenge orange, arrested
London, June 19: Two climate protesters were arrested Wednesday for spraying orange paint on the ancient Stonehenge monument in southern England, police said. The latest act by Just Stop Oil was quickly condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a “disgraceful act of vandalism.” The incident came just a day before thousands are expected to gather at the 4,500-year-old stone circle to celebrate the summer solstice – the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. English Heritage, which manages the site, said it was “extremely upsetting” and said curators were investigating the damage. Just Stop Oil said on the social media platform X that the paint was made of cornstarch and would dissolve in the rain. Wiltshire Police said the pair were arrested on suspicion of damaging one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (AP)
Kuwait to compensate kin of Mangaf fire victims
Dubai/Kuwait City, June 19: The Kuwaiti government will give USD 15,000 each as compensation to the families of the victims of the devastating fire that killed 50 people, including 46 Indians, in the southern Ahmadi Governorate, according to a media report. The massive fire which occurred at a seven-storey building in the city of Mangaf on July 12 was caused by an electrical short circuit in the guard’s room on the structure’s ground floor, according to Kuwaiti authorities. The building was home to 196 migrant workers, mostly Indians. On the orders of the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the victims’ families will receive compensation amounting to USD 15,000 each (Rs 12.5 lakh), the Arab Times newspaper reported on Tuesday. Citing government sources, the newspaper said the compensation payments will be processed and delivered to the victims’ embassies. Three other deceased were Filipinos, and the identity of one of the victims has not been established. (PTI)
Indian-American wins Democratic Congressional primary
Washington, June 19: Indian-American Suhas Subramanyam has won the Democratic primary for a Congressional seat in Virginia, defeating 11 other candidates including another fellow Indian-American Krystle Kaul. The first Indian-American, South Asian and Hindu to be elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2019 and to the Virginia State Senate in 2023, Subramanyam is running for the US House of Representatives from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia, which has a sizable Indian-American population. Its current occupant, Democrat Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, had announced last year that she would not be running for the seat. Subramanyam, 37, was born in Houston to Indian-American parents who migrated to the US from Bengaluru. In 2015, he was appointed by the then President Barack Obama to serve as a White House technology policy advisor. Wexton had endorsed Subramanyam, who now faces Mike Clancy from the Republican Party. (PTI)