India-born doctor, family die in New York plane crash
New York, April 14: An India-born doctor and members of her family died in a plane crash in upstate New York over the weekend while heading to the Catskills Mountains for a birthday celebration. Dr Joy Saini, a renowned urogynecologist, her husband Dr Michael Groff, a neuroscientist, their daughter Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer player and the 2022 NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) woman of the year, and son Jared Groff, a paralegal, died when the twin-engine plane crashed, according to media reports. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a statement that on April 12 about 12:06 pm, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, N635TA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Craryville, New York. (PTI)
Pak expels over 850 Afghan families
Kabul, April 14: Pakistan continues to expel Afghan families through the Torkham border crossing in eastern Nangarhar and the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province. On Sunday, the Pakistani agencies expelled a total of 852 Afghan families with 4,567 members, Afghanistan’s High Commission for Addressing Returnees Problems said in a statement on Monday. On Saturday, Pakistan had expelled a total of 6,500 Afghan refugees, the commission detailed. At the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the commission provided temporary shelters, nourishment, water, medical care, and transportation services to their respective provinces for the returnees. (PTI)
Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events
Budapest, April 14: Hungary’s parliament has passed an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities. Legal scholars and critics call Monday’s decision another step toward authoritarianism as the populist government continues to restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ communities. The amendment passed along party lines, with 140 votes for and 21 against. It was proposed by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition led by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom critics have accused of employing increasingly autocratic tactics during his 15-year rule. Ahead of the vote, opposition politicians and other protesters attempted to blockade the entrance to a parliament parking garage to prevent ruling party lawmakers from entering. Police physically removed the demonstrators who had used zip ties to bind themselves together. (AP)