A family of four Indian nationals reportedly frozen to death near the Canada/US border has been identified, with Canadian officials stating the family travelled across the country for some time before being transferred to the border by someone in a case described as human smuggling.
On January 19, Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police discovered the bodies of Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 37, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, 11, and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, 3, all from the same family, near Emerson, Manitoba, just 12 metres from the Canadian/US border.
According to investigators, the family comprised of an adult man, an adult female, a teen boy, and a baby. However, it has now been revealed that among the victims was a small girl.
The names of the victims were confirmed by Canadian police, and autopsy were performed on January 26.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Manitoba has confirmed that the cause of death was exposure, according to a statement made by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Thursday.
The next of kin of the four victims have been informed, according to India’s High Commission in Ottawa, which also identified the four victims in a news release.
The family of the deceased has been contacted by the Indian Consulate General in Toronto, which is giving all consular assistance.
“The High Commission expresses its heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and friends,” it said.
According to a news release issued by the Indian High Commission, Canadian officials have also stated that, based on the circumstances, all of the victims’ deaths have been determined to be compatible with exposure to the elements.
The Patel family arrived in Toronto on January 12, 2022, according to the RCMP, and then travelled to Emerson around January 18.
“On the Canadian side of the border, there was no abandoned vehicle.” This suggests that someone drove the family to the border and then fled, according to the RCMP, who are looking into their journey from Toronto to Emerson.
“Based on what we know so far about their operations in Canada and their imprisonment in the United States, we believe this is a case of human smuggling,” it said.
The Patel family reportedly moved around Canada for a while, and “we are looking for anyone who may have had encounters with them,” according to the RCMP.
Steve Shand, a 47-year-old US citizen accused of people smuggling, was charged with the crime last Monday in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
Apple Inc. overcame a pandemic to set new holiday and annual sales records in 2020, and is anticipated to do it again in 2021 despite a supply-chain problem.
Albeit the fact that Apple AAPL, -0.29% was not exempt from a worldwide supply crisis in the December quarter, executives stated three months ago that they anticipated sales to climb from last year’s record, despite not releasing a formal prediction.
Analysts are also mostly unconcerned with the production troubles that contributed to Apple’s first revenue shortfall in 12 quarters during the September quarter.
Analysts anticipate Apple’s operational prowess and buying power as the largest U.S. firm to help it set new sales records for the Christmas season and calendar year when the company publishes fiscal first-quarter earnings on Thursday afternoon.
According to FactSet, Apple is expected to earn $118.9 billion in the December quarter, up from $111.4 billion a year ago, resulting in a record $373.3 billion in sales for the calendar year, up from $294.1 billion in 2020.
Investors will be searching for evidence that Apple officials expect to see some respite in 2022, but few anticipate a formal projection.
According to expert, Apple stock is a’safe haven’ in a chaotic market.
However, it remains to be seen how much positive earnings news would support Apple’s shares. Analyst Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley believes the company’s production challenges were less severe than expected, which might allow it to report positive results and provide guidance for a “pretty in-line March quarter,” but she feels that likelihood is already baked into Apple’s stock price.
Apple is still missing a market-capitalization milestone as it seeks its quarterly sales record. Its stock briefly touched the $3 trillion valuation threshold in intraday trading earlier this month, but it failed to close at the required level and has since been trending in the wrong direction.
Apple’s stock finished at $161.62 on Monday; if it closes over $182.86, it would become the first U.S. business to conclude with a $3 trillion valuation. After the earnings report, when Apple will reveal an updated share count reflecting recent repurchase activity, that barrier is expected to rise.
The iPhone narrative is about a lot more than Apple’s supply-chain woes. Analysts are curious about demand for the iPhone 13, which was released just a few months ago, especially at higher price points and in China.
One reason Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives is optimistic about the current product cycle is because average selling prices for the iPhone are still “quite good.”
Angelo Zino of CFRA Research is particularly enthusiastic about China’s dynamics. He believes the firm has been gaining market share at the top end of the industry as a result of sanctions imposed on rival Huawei. Apple may also gain in China as smaller companies struggle to deal with their own supply shortages.
“We believe there were around 15 million iPhone 13 upgrades in China alone in the December quarter,” Ives continued.
On Thursday, the majority of coronavirus restrictions in England were withdrawn, including required face masks, after the British government announced that its vaccination booster deployment had successfully decreased serious illness and COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Face coverings are no longer necessary by law in England as of Thursday, January 27, 2022, and a legal requirement for COVID passes for access into nightclubs and other major venues has been eliminated.
Last Monday, the government revised its recommendation to people who work from home, as well as its policy on face coverings in classrooms.
The so-called “Plan B” procedures were put in place in early December to prevent the Omicron variety from wreaking havoc on health services and to give the public enough time to get their booster immunisation shot.
The government’s vaccination rollout, testing, and development of antiviral therapies, according to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, provide “some of the strongest defences in Europe,” allowing for a “cautious return” to routine.
“As we learn to live with COVID, we must be clear-eyed that this virus is not going away,” he continued. While the number of infections is decreasing, health experts say Omicron is still prevalent across the country, particularly among children and the elderly.
Officials claim that nearly 84 percent of adults over the age of 12 in the UK have received their second vaccine dosage, and that 81 percent of those who are eligible have had their booster shot.
Admissions to hospitals and the number of persons in intensive care units have levelled out or decreased, and daily cases have dropped from over 200,000 around New Year’s Day to under 100,000 in recent days.
The spike of Omicron infections “has finally peaked countrywide,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated last week.
Some retailers and public transportation companies said they will continue to ask customers to wear face masks despite the government’s move away from mandatory restrictions. Face coverings will still be required on London buses and subway trains, according to Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The legal requirement that infected people self-isolate for five days is still in place, but Johnson says it will be phased out soon and replaced with something else.
COVID-19 will be treated more like the flu, according to health officials, in a longer-term post-pandemic strategy.
Virus limits have also been reduced in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all of which have their own public health standards.
Justice Stephen Breyer of the United States Supreme Court is retiring after more than two decades on the nation’s highest court, according to Supreme Court and Biden administration officials. On Thursday, Breyer is set to make the announcement at the White House.
Professorial, practical, and somewhat liberal, Breyer penned many of the court’s less-famous but legally significant opinions and worked behind the scenes to develop consensus for centrist rulings on a conservative court.
With Breyer’s retirement, President Biden will have his first opportunity to appoint a new Supreme Court justice. During the 2020 campaign, he promised that if he was elected, he would name a Black woman to the presidency. Federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was on President Barack Obama’s shortlist for the court in 2016, and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, who worked as an assistant and then deputy solicitor general in both Democratic and Republican administrations before being nominated to the state’s highest court, are said to be the two leading contenders.
In terms of Supreme Court appointments, both women are in their early twenties. Jackson is 51 years old, while Kruger is 45. And they both have impressive legal backgrounds.
The abandoned town of Bhangarh, located in the Alwar region, is one of the most terrifying places imaginable and is universally regarded as one of India’s most haunted locales.The Archaeological Survey of India has made it unlawful for anyone to visit the Bhangarh Fort after dark since it is considered so dangerous.
According to mythology, a tantric named Singhia fell in love with Ratnavati, the lovely princess of Bhangarh, in the 16th century.And, knowing it was a doomed relationship, he decided to use his powers to entice her. On the other hand, the princess discovered his schemes and sentenced him to death.. He cursed the palace to doom and the village to be roofless and lonely forever, angry by the course of events. Locals think that anyone who enters the fort after dark will not return, so go at your own risk.
2. Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan
Rajasthan offers the widest range of abandoned ghost towns and villages ! The Paliwal Brahmins originally lived in Kuldhara town, which is located near Jaisalmer. According to legend, all of the people of Kuldhara, as well as 83 other nearby villages, vanished into thin air in 1825, leaving no evidence of their locations.
The minister of state is claimed to have fallen in love with a rural girl and threatened to collect massive fees on the entire village unless they wedded her to him. The leaders of Kulhara and the neighbouring regions abandoned their settlements to protect the girl’s honour, and cursed the country to stay deserted perpetually.
3. Dow Hill of Kurseong, West Bengal
A small hill station near Darjeeling, Kurseong is a beautiful place famous for its world-class residential schools. However, this gorgeous hamlet has a dark side, with several murder and terror stories. The Victoria Boys’ School in Kurseong is said to be haunted by a slew of ghosts. Even when the school is closed, residents claim to hear footsteps, whispering, and other noises coming from the building.
The legend of the headless kid, on the other hand, is set in the Kurseong woodland area. A little headless youngster has been spotted by woodcutters who venture into the forest on the job. They also say that after a while, the spirit vanishes into the forest.
4. Dumas Beach, Gujarat
Over the years, the black sands of Gujarat’s Dumas Beach on the Arabian Sea coast have been associated to a variety of mysteries. Many people believe that the restless spirits call out to visitors taking nighttime strolls and strolling towards the sea to return to the coast because the beach used to be a Hindu burial cemetery.
Those who refuse to listen to the dead’s voices are said to drown forever in the waves. Clearly, this isn’t a beach for the faint of heart.
5. Jatinga, Assam
The periodic mass bird suicides in this tiny community of 2500 people is one of the world’s most mysterious events. Local and migratory birds have been falling to the earth in significant numbers on moonless evenings in September and October just on a certain region for ages.
This has puzzled experts, who have been unable to come up with a plausible explanation for birds dropping dead from the sky in such a predictable fashion.
6. Lambi Dehar Mines, Mussoorie
This has puzzled experts, who have been unable to come up with a plausible explanation for birds dropping dead from the sky in such a predictable fashion. Countless miners perished in the mines as a result of hazardous working conditions, a lack of safety rules, and accidents, and are now supposed to haunt the tunnels.
Strange voices and screams can be heard coming from the mines on a daily basis.
7. Agrasen ki Baoli, New Delhi
The ASI has safeguarded this finely crafted old location in Delhi as an architectural treasure. Locals, on the other hand, believe it is haunted by ghosts and devilish demons who follow people around in the shadows.
Tourists have talked about feeling a strange sense of dread as they enter.
8. Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad
You might not know that one of India’s most famous film cities was built on the graves of Sultanate soldiers, whose restless ghosts are still haunting movie sets today. Stuntmen are routinely hurt in strange accidents, lights go out unexpectedly, mirrors are shattered, and equipment is wrecked.
Women appear to be particularly vulnerable, since they have had their garments torn and imprisoned in rooms by unseen powers.
9. D’Souza Chawl, Mumbai
Despite the fact that this chawl is located in a densely populated district of Mahim, Mumbai, people have claimed seeing a lady who creeps around the area at night and departs without a trace once the morning rises.
Locals believe she was an elderly woman who fell into a well while drawing water and drowned since her shrieks for aid were not heard.
10. Bombay High Court, Mumbai
Lawyers at the Bombay high court say that one of the courtrooms is haunted by a vindictive tortured spirit who prevents the accused from entering the courtroom during every murder trial. This has reportedly been going on for about three decades, and it is also known as historical spots in Mumbai.
These are just a few of India’s scariest and most haunted locations, each with terrible and spine-chilling tales to tell. They’ve grown in popularity among those who are interested in ghosts and spirits. You know where to go if you’re one of them! Take all essential care in this regard, however.
BA.2 numbers around the world are rising, with at least 40 countries reporting cases to a global variant tracking database
While the omicron COVID-19 variety continues to spread over the world, scientists are also keeping an eye on a new omicron mutation known as BA.2.
BA.2 is not a “variant of concern,” according to the World Health Organization, which means there is no current evidence that it may impair COVID-19 transmission, disease severity, vaccination effectiveness, or public health interventions like masking and social distancing.
BA.2 instances are increasing over the world, with at least 40 nations reporting cases to a worldwide variation monitoring database, but the subvariant has expanded quickly in Denmark and the United Kingdom, with BA.2 accounting for nearly half of recent cases in Denmark.
The subvariant has already been found in numerous places in the United States, with two instances confirmed in Washington State on Monday.
Since November 2021, about 8,000 BA.2 cases have been reported, however it is unknown where BA.2 originated. Despite the fact that the first sequences were presented from the Philippines, instances have been found all across the world, from Europe to South Asia.
Given the increased numbers, health-care groups such as the World Health Organization (WHO) are urging scientists to keep an eye on the new subvariant and see if it acts differently than omicron.
The genetic sequencing of the virus is a more precise but less widely utilised approach for tracking variations. This enables for the precise detection of this sub-existence. variant’s However, in France, only a small percentage of laboratory tests are randomly submitted to this more in-depth and costly scrutiny. Sequencing also has the disadvantage of being slow, making it ineffective for tracking a fast spreading variation.
Despite the pandemic’s setbacks, President Ram Nath Kovind stated on Tuesday that the economy was “on the march again” and destined to develop as a result of prompt measures by the central and state governments and “relentless focus on every sector.”
In a speech to the country on the eve of Republic Day, Kovind said the economy was “projected to grow at an exceptional clip this year, after going through contraction last year,” a testament to India’s courage in the face of adversity. He went on to say that the improvement in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors had enabled the performance. Kovind praised the medical community for boldly rising to the challenge during the pandemic, recalling the “collective trauma” and “harrowing” experience countless families went through.
“Others have managed supply chains and utilities to keep the country going.” At the federal and state levels, leaders, policymakers, administrators, and others have taken timely interventions. The economy is moving again as a result of such efforts,” stated President Kovind.
This demonstrates the success of the previous year’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. “The administration has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to modernising every economic sector and assisting where needed,” he said.
The National Education Policy, according to Kovind, is a critical step in building the ideal atmosphere for reaping the demographic dividend.
The importance of Fundamental Duties was emphasised by Kovind. “The two sides of the same coin are rights and responsibilities. Citizens’ fulfilment of the Constitution’s Fundamental Duties creates the appropriate atmosphere for the enjoyment of Fundamental Rights ” said President Ram Nath Kovind .
Kovind also conveyed his sorrow over the death of General Bipin Rawat.
On Monday, a New York State Supreme Court judge overturned the state’s public mask mandate, ruling that the governor and top health official are unable to enforce such laws without the state legislature’s assent.
Due to the outbreak of the omicron strain of the coronavirus, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) reenacted the mask requirement in December, forcing people to wear facial coverings in all public locations that do not need vaccination for access. Despite an increase in cases and a stressed medical system, it was slated to expire on Feb. 1 and sparked a heated outcry from politicians and businesspeople.
Nassau County Supreme Court Judge Thomas Rademaker argued in a Monday opinion that the governor and health commissioner did not have the additional authority to order the mask mandate because New York was no longer in a state of emergency at the time it was announced, and that the mandate is now unenforceable.
New York’s state legislature enacted a bill in March 2021 that limited the governor’s capacity to issue emergency orders.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul imposed a temporary mask mandate in December, requiring New Yorkers to wear a mask in all indoor public venues until companies enact a vaccination requirement. Dr. Mary Bassett, the state’s health commissioner, issued an order confirming the need.
Despite some local authorities’ complaints, the measure was prolonged for additional two weeks past the original deadline of January 15. Anyone who disobeyed the mask requirement might face fines of up to $1,000, as well as civil and criminal consequences.
“To be clear, this Court does not intend its decision to cast doubt on the efficacy, need, or requirement of masks as a method or weapon in dealing with terrorism.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who took office earlier this month, issued an executive order that allows school boards in the highly populated Long Island county to decide whether or not to mandate students to wear masks.
In a tweet in response to the verdict, Blakeman remarked, “This is a tremendous win for kids and parents.”
With 87 percent of its population at least partially vaccinated, New York placed seventh among states in terms of the number of persons who received at least one shot. According to CDC data analysed by USA TODAY, the national percentage is 75.5 percent. The most widely used vaccinations in the United States are Pfizer and Moderna, which need two doses separated by a few weeks.
New York reported providing another 581,185 vaccination doses in the week ending Sunday, including 173,715 initial doses. The state had sent out 523,202 vaccination doses in the previous week, including 144,133 initial doses. New York said that it had given out 36,261,653 total doses.
Bronx County, with 1,526 cases per 100,000 per week, had the worst weekly outbreaks in New York; Onondaga County had the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis.
Maurissa Gunn and Riley Christian, who became engaged on the seventh season of ABC dating show Bachelor in Paradise last summer, have broken up. In a joint statement to People on Jan. 24, the former couple acknowledged their breakup.
The statement stated, “We have chosen to go our own ways.” “Never in a million years did we think we’d be here, but we’ve reached a place where we both need to work on ourselves.”
“We’ve loved everyone’s love and support thus far on our journey, and all we ask is that you please respect our privacy while we navigate through this,” they wrote.
“We’ve loved everyone’s love and support thus far on our journey, and all we ask is that you please respect our privacy while we navigate through this,” they wrote.
When they initially met as participants on BIP, they fell hard and fast in love. Although Maurissa had started a romance with Conner Brennan, a suitor from Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette, the reality stars became close after Riley arrived at the tropical set in Mexico.
The attorney proposed to the 25-year-old Atlanta native on the show’s season finale, and the two became the first Black couple in BIP franchise history to get engaged. Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt, as well as Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin, were also engaged. After the conclusion of the season
Riley and Maurissa, who met on season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise in summer 2022, appeared to be embarking on an incredible love tale. Maurissa accepted Riley’s proposal on the beach in Mexico, making them one of three couples to get engaged at the end of the programme. Maurissa and the rest of the cast were shocked when the season finale aired in October.
In the months that followed, the two were all over each other’s social media profiles, and they even uploaded images of themselves in identical Christmas pyjamas. However, there were signs of problems just after the holidays.
Riley was essentially removed from Maurissa’s primary Instagram account. She also started posting mysterious comments on her Instagram Story, prompting many to fear she and Riley were no longer together. Riley and Maurissa haven’t been seen on each other’s social media profiles since the holidays.
Australia – On Monday, Australia saw another spike in COVID-19 deaths as an outbreak of the highly contagious Omicron variety peaked, and officials warned that numbers could rise much more when schools reopen next week after the end-of-year break.
The world’s 13th largest economy is attempting to strike a balance between reopening after two years of travel restrictions and dealing with the pandemic’s highest number of deaths and cases.
Authorities claim a vaccine booster deployment will minimize deaths, and they point to a stabilisation in hospitalisation numbers as evidence that the flare-up has hit its peak.
On Monday, the country reported 58 deaths, the majority of which occurred in the country’s three most populated states, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, which was in line with the previous day’s tally but remained among the pandemic’s highest.
The total number of new cases, at 40,681, was significantly below earlier this month’s highs of roughly three times that number.
“Our assessment indicates that the spread of COVID virus is slowing, our situation is stabilising, and while we expect to see an increase in transmissions associated with schools going back, this could be mitigated by your individual actions,” NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said at a press conference.
“Getting those boosters will help us,” she added.
More than nine out of ten Australians over the age of 12 have received two doses of coronavirus vaccination, which health experts say has helped keep the country’s death rate low, but considerably fewer have received a third dose, which is thought to protect against Omicron.
Despite the fact that all Australian states are rejecting a return to lockdown, the majority have implemented social distancing measures and enforced mask-wearing to prevent the spread of the virus. They disagree, however, about whether and how to handle a return to school after long periods of distance learning.
When students in NSW and Victoria return to in-person classes next week, they will be required to wear masks and undergo regular quick antigen tests. Queensland, on the other hand, has postponed the start of classes until February 7 in order to avoid a surge in transmission.
“The peak does not mean the end,” Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said, warning of a “possible extension of the peak” when schools return.
