Indian-Americans fight for seats as early voting opens in Texas, Florida
Washington, Oct 19: Voters in Texas and Florida’s Palm Beach County begin casting early ballots on Monday in races where Indian-American candidates are fighting for state and congressional seats ahead of the November 3 midterms. In Texas, Democrat Pooja Sethi is running in House District 47. A win would make her the first Hindu and the first Indian American in the state Legislature. Democrat Sandeep Srivastava faces a steeper climb in House District 66 against Republican Matt Shaheen, who chairs the House Elections Committee and won 61.1 per cent in 2024. Srivastava lost a 2024 congressional race to Republican Keith Self 62.5 to 37.5. In Florida’s 22nd District, Democrat Pia Dandiya’s race against Republican Casey Askar is close to a dead heat. Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate it a Toss-up, while Inside Elections has it at Tilt Republican. (IANS)
Man charged over Sydney firearm incident
Sydney, Oct 19: A man has been charged over a firearm incident that triggered a lockdown and major emergency response in Australia’s southwest Sydney. Police said on Monday that a 32-year-old man was arrested in Sydney’s inner-west around 11:30 pm on Sunday and charged with seven offences, including possessing a shortened firearm without authority and robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon. The arrest followed a three-day search after emergency services were on Friday morning called to reports of a stolen vehicle in Dulwich Hill, six kilometres southwest of central Sydney, Xinhua News Agency reported. Officers were told at the scene that a man was armed with a firearm inside a stolen vehicle before he allegedly set fire to the vehicle and left the area on foot. The incident triggered a major emergency response, with local residents, businesses and schools placed into lockdown for over three hours while police searched for the man. The firearm was not recovered by police during the arrest. (IANS)
Rwandan beheaded in Uganda
Kampala, Oct 19: A Rwandan dissident who fled to Uganda was beheaded and his body found in a district outside the capital, Kampala, police said Monday. The remains of Sergeant Major Robert Kabera, who served in the Rwandan army before he fled in 2020, were discovered on Saturday in a bush in the Kamengo area of the Ugandan district of Mpigi, Superintendent of Police Lydia Tumushabe told The Associated Press on Monday. “The head, up to now, is still missing,” Tumushabe said. After he crossed the border to Uganda, Kabera became an outspoken critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who has been his country’s de facto leader or president since the end of the 1994 genocide. Kabera’s body was identified by residents as well as his brother, Tumushabe said, adding that detectives don’t yet have firm clues on a possible motive. National police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said Kabera’s previous service in the Rwandan military was brought to the attention of detectives. (AP)