Indian national found dead in Nepal
Kathmandu, Jan 24: An Indian national was found dead in a waiting shelter in Nepal’s Bara district, a police official said on Friday. Rudra Giri, 42, from Maharashtra, was found dead in the public waiting shelter located on a hill near the Churiyamai Temple in Simara sub-metropolitan city on Thursday, the official said. However, the cause of the death was yet to be ascertained, the official said. The official said the police have initiated an investigation into the matter. (PTI)
US arrests 538 illegal immigrant criminals
Washington, Jan 24: The US has arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals, including a suspected terrorist, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors, the White House has said. In a series of posts on X on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft. “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept,” she said. (AP)
Indonesia to repatriate ailing French natl serving death row
Jakarta, Jan 24: Indonesia signed a deal on Friday to repatriate an ailing French national who has been on death row since 2007 for alleged drug offenses. In 2015 Serge Atlaoui won a last-minute reprieve from being executed by a 13-member firing squad. The transfer agreement was signed remotely by Indonesia’s senior minister of law Yusril Ihza Mahendra and France’s Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin, and was witnessed by delegations from both countries in Jakarta and Paris. It came after Atlaoui, 61, made a last-ditch plea to be returned home last month. The father of four, who is reportedly suffering from cancer, wrote to the Indonesian government requesting to serve the rest of his sentence in France. The deal will allow him to return home on February 4, Mahendra said. (AP)
Lanka slashes ministerial privileges
Colombo, Jan 24: The Sri Lankan government has announced stringent new regulations limiting the benefits afforded to its ministers, a move aimed at addressing public concerns over political privilege and accountability. A circular issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday restricted Cabinet and deputy ministers to two official vehicles. New caps have been placed on their fuel allowances and monthly payments for office, residential, and mobile phone expenses. The support staff for a Cabinet minister is limited to 15 and a deputy minister is limited to 12. Family members or close relatives cannot be appointed as Private Secretary, Coordinating Secretary, Media Secretary, or Public Relations Secretary. The regulations come amidst the ongoing debate over the pressure put on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to leave his official residence and forego personal security. Rajapaksa’s security was slashed from 300 plus personnel to just 60 in December. Dissanayake at a public rally held early this week blamed Rajapaksa, the two-time president, for occupying a costly state mansion. (PTI)