Violence In Mexican Cartel Bastion Claims 150 Lives In A Month

A wave of violence in a Mexican cartel stronghold shaken by gang infighting has left around 150 people dead over the past month, according to the state prosecutor's office.

They include five men whose bodies were found with gunshot wounds Thursday night on a main avenue in Culiacan, authorities said.

A turf war broke out on September 9 between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico's most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations.

Some local police suspected of involvement have been disarmed by the military.

The clashes follow the dramatic July 25 arrest on US soil of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who claimed he had been kidnapped in Mexico and delivered into US custody against his will.

Zambada, 76, was detained along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of El Chapo, who is serving a life sentence in the United States.

The violence is believed to pit gang members loyal to El Chapo and his sons against others aligned with Zambada, who pleaded not guilty to a raft of charges in a New York court last month.

Former Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said before leaving office this week that the United States shared blame for the infighting because of Zambada's arrest -- a claim rejected by US ambassador Ken Salazar.

Washington denies having planned his capture.

Spiraling criminal violence, much of it linked to drug trafficking and gangs, has seen more than 450,000 people murdered in Mexico since 2006.

Claudia Sheinbaum, who was sworn in Tuesday as Mexico's first woman president, has pledged to stick to Lopez Obrador's "hugs not bullets" strategy of using social policy to tackle crime at its roots.

The former Mexico City mayor and key ruling party figure is due to unveil her security plan next week.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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21-Year-Old Gang Raped By 3 Men In Maharashtra's Pune

A 21-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by three men in Maharashtra's Pune last night. The incident took place around 11 pm, when the woman was out with her friend at a deserted and poorly lit area.

According to the police, the woman had gone to the Bopdev Ghat area with a male friend. The police were alerted at 5 am. A case has been registered and the crime branch of Pune Police is searching for the accused.

The woman is being treated at the Sassoon General Hospital and an FIR is being registered.  

Another police officer from Kondhwa police station said that the incident took place at an isolated place and the trio also assaulted the woman's friend, as reported by PTI.

The incident has triggered a political blame-game in Maharashtra, where elections are due later this year.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Anand Dubey condemned the incident and slammed the Eknath Shinde government in the state, accusing it of failing to protect women. Criminals know that the state government is “indifferent and careless”, he said adding, “The law-and-order situation in Maharashtra has collapsed. What does the state government want? While the state government is running the Ladli Behan Yojana, it is unable to safeguard the dignity of its Ladli Behan (sisters).”

NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule wrote "Very infuriating!" In a social media post, she added, "Incidents of violence against women are continuously increasing in Pune and across the state. The home department does not seem to be doing anything to stop these incidents. Unfortunately, it has to be said that Maharashtra is not safe for women. The government should arrest the accused in the said incident and take strict action against them."

अतिशय संतापजनक!
पुण्यात हे काय सुरू आहे?
बोपदेव घाटात एका मुलीवर सामूहिक अत्याचार झाल्याची घटना उजेडात आली आहे. पुणे आणि राज्यभरात सातत्याने महिलांवरील अत्याचारांच्या घटना वाढतच आहेत.या घटनांना पायबंद घालण्यासाठी गृहखाते काहीही करताना दिसत नाही. दुर्दैवाने महाराष्ट्र महिलांसाठी…

— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) October 4, 2024

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A Special Guest At Trump Rally In Pennsylvania, Where He Was Shot

Elon Musk said he would attend a rally that Donald Trump is holding on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, the setting of the first assassination attempt on the former president.

In a post late Thursday New York time on his social platform X, the billionaire wrote, "I will be there to support!" in response to the Republican presidential nominee's post about his return to the site.

I will be there to support! https://t.co/nokR0g3dn1

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2024

Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, has already committed millions to Trump's third White House bid, with a super political action committee he started spending $71 million mostly on canvassing and field operations to get out the vote.

Trump's rally at fairgrounds in Butler, Pennsylvania, comes exactly one month before Election Day. At a rally there in July, a gunman's bullet grazed his ear. The gunman killed Corey Comperatore, a firefighter, as he shielded his family, and gravely wounding two others. 

The image of a bloodied Trump standing up after the shooting, fist pumped and mouthing "Fight!" has become one of the most iconic images of the campaign, emblazoned upon T-shirts, vehicles and splashed across social media.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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LIVE: Israel Strikes Beirut, Yemen Carries Out Drone Strikes On Tel Aviv

The crisis in the Middle East has turned into a larger regional conflict with Israel fighting on multiple fronts. It is conducting ground raids in Gaza on its southern front and in Lebanon on its north. It also faced a wave of missile attacks from Iran, which backs the Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. A retaliation is expected anytime. Israel has also been conducting airstrikes in Yemen and Syria.

Here are the LIVE updates on Israeli strike:

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Couple Injured In Uber Accident Can't Sue Company Due To Uber Eats Order

A New Jersey couple, severely injured in a car accident during an Uber ride, has been prevented from suing the company after a court ruled they were bound by an arbitration agreement signed while ordering from Uber Eats.

John McGinty and Georgia McGinty were involved in the crash in March 2022, when their Uber driver ran a red light and was struck by another vehicle. The collision left both with significant injuries, including multiple fractures for Georgia and lasting impairment for John.

According to court filings, they suffered “serious physical, psychological, and financial damages.”

Despite their injuries, the couple's attempt to take Uber to court for a jury trial was not allowed. The ruling cited the terms and conditions, including a mandatory arbitration clause, of Uber's services. This clause was accepted when the couple's daughter placed a separate order on Uber Eats using Georgia's phone. The court upheld the company's argument that by agreeing to Uber's terms during that transaction, the family waived their right to pursue claims in court.

The couple argued that it was their minor daughter, using Georgia's phone, who accepted the terms of service for Uber Eats by clicking a button that falsely confirmed she was over 18. However, the court concluded the arbitration agreement, which covers auto accidents and personal injuries, was “valid and enforceable.”

In response, Uber told CNN that Georgia “agreed to Uber's terms of use, including the arbitration agreement, on multiple occasions,” and even took rides after agreeing.

“While the plaintiffs continue to tell the press that it was their daughter who ordered Uber Eats and accepted the terms of use, it's worth noting that in court they could only ‘surmise' that that was the case but could not recall whether ‘their daughter ordered food independently or if Georgia assisted," CNN quoted a spokesperson as saying.

The couple expressed disappointment in a statement, saying they were “surprised and heartbroken” by the ruling. “We are horrified at what the court's decision suggests: A large corporation like Uber can avoid being sued in a court of law by injured consumers because of contractual language buried in a dozen-page-long user agreement concerning services unrelated to the one that caused the consumers' injuries,” CNN quoted the McGintys as saying.

Previously, a lower court said that Uber's arbitration clause was not enforceable, arguing the terms of service pop-up did not inform Georgia that she was waiving her right to a judicial trial. However, following an appeal from Uber, the appellate court reversed that decision, siding with the company.

The McGintys' legal team is considering further action, with their lawyers telling CNN that they will “likely” petition the New Jersey Supreme Court.

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"Iran Destabilizing Force In Middle East": Kamala Harris On Missile Attacks

US Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, said on Tuesday that Iran was a "dangerous" and "destabilizing" force in the Middle East and Washington was committed to Israel's security.

Why It's Important

The comments from Harris, who faces Republican former President Donald Trump in the November 5 US election, came hours after Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, drawing vows of a sharp response from Israel and the US.

No injuries were reported in Israel and Washington called Iran's attack ineffective.

Key Quotes

"I'm clear-eyed Iran is a destabilizing, dangerous force in the Middle East," Harris said. "I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist militias."

"I fully support President (Joe) Biden's order for the U.S. military to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting Israel," Harris said. "Initial indications are that Israel, with our assistance, was able to defeat this attack."

Harris added that Washington will work with its allies to disrupt what she called Iran's "aggressive behavior."

Context

Israel has escalated its military campaign in Lebanon in recent days, killing hundreds and displacing more than a million due to operations that Israel says are targeting Lebanese Iran-backed Hezbollah operatives.

Israel's military campaign in Lebanon is in addition to its war in Gaza that followed a deadly October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas operatives. Israeli's military assault on Gaza has killed tens of thousands according to Palestinian health authorities, displaced nearly everyone there, caused a hunger crisis and prompted genocide allegations that Israel denies.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Pakistan Rolls Out Red Carpet For Fugitive Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik

Wanted for alleged money laundering charges, controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has arrived in Pakistan on Monday morning at the invitation of the Government of Pakistan, amid tight security for his lecture series at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

According to the Express Tribune, he is set to have public interactions across the country. He is accompanied by his son, Fariq Naik, who is an Islamic scholar and will tour the country with him for the lectures.

Upon his arrival at the New Islamabad Airport, he was received by leaders from the top echelons of the Pakistan government, which included the Chairman of the Pakistan Prime Minister's Youth Program, Rana Mashhood and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Syed Atta-ur-Rehman, as reported by the Tribune.

Official sources note that his month-long tour will include meetings with senior government officials and involve participation in various public events.

In a post on X, Zakir Naik's team announced," On the invitation of the Government of Pakistan Dr Zakir Naik & Shaikh Fariq Naik's Pakistan Tour 2024 Public Talks: Karachi - 5th & 6th Oct Lahore - 12th & 13th Oct Islamabad - 19th & 20th Oct."

Earlier on August 20, while on a visit to India, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that if sufficient evidence is presented in the case related to fugitive preacher Zakir Naik then the country will 'not condone terrorism'.

Addressing the 50th Sapru House Lecture the Malaysian Prime Minister said, "I am talking about sentiment of extremism, of compelling case, evidence that suggest that atrocities committed by an individual, group or factions or parties. These are of concern to us."

Zakir Naik is known for his inflammatory speeches and is currently wanted by the National Investigation Agency of the Government of India under a 2016 money laundering case. He is also alleged to have incited people by his hate speech.

Naik runs a channel by the name PeaceTV, which is banned across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka due to its controversial nature and he has also been denied entry into Canada and the United Kingdom because of it.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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