A 40-year-old Indian-origin man has been arrested in the United States for allegedly kidnapping and viciously beating a man suspected of shoplifting from his convenience store in Kentucky. According to the New York Post, Kaushalkumar Patel was arrested on Thursday after he and several others allegedly carried out a deranged plot in October 2024, after spotting the customer stealing a box of vape pens from his E-Z Super Food Mart. 

Police said that the accused shoplifter ran away on foot following which Patel and several others chased him down in a van and pepper sprayed him in the face. The man crawled into a yard where he was then allegedly “stomped in the back” by another individual, the outlet reported. 

According to the cops, Patel allegedly “pulled up the victim’s shorts and sprayed his anus with pepper spray” before pulling him into the van. The group then reportedly took the man to a garage near Patel’s convenience store, where they allegedly punched, kicked and struck him with a piece of wood. 

The accused shoplifter, whose identity hasn’t been revealed, was put back into the van and driven to Lee Street where he was dropped off. The victim then called his mother to pick him up. 

The man suffered contusions and bruising, and required stitches in his right shin, as per the Post. 

Patel has been charged with complicity in kidnapping, second-degree assault and wanton endangerment – a legal term that refers to reckless behaviour that creates a substantial risk of serious injury or death to others. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently being held at Louisville Metro Detention Center. 

Patel’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 24.

Also Read | Chinese Employee Who Won Rs 7 Crore Lottery At Company Event Asked To Return Prize

Notably, the recent incident is just one example of store owners or employees turning to violent methods to combat suspected shoplifters. According to Newsweek, last month, a convenience store owner in North Carolina was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for killing a man who allegedly stole a bottle of Gatorade.

The same month, a New Orleans store clerk shot and killed 16-year-old Cecil Batiz, who allegedly tried to rob the store at gunpoint. 

Counting has begun for the US elections and, according to early leads, Donald Trump is ahead in the Red states of Indiana and Kentucky. Both states have usually voted in favour of Republican candidates. 

In Indiana, which has 11 electoral college votes, 6% of votes have been counted and, of those, Republican nominee Donald Trump has received 63.1% of the votes while Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has polled 35.8%. In 2020, Trump got 57% of the votes while then Democratic candidate Joe Biden got 41%.

Kentucky has eight electoral college votes and of the 3% of ballots counted as of 5.23 am (IST) former president Trump has polled 66.8% while Vice President Harris has received 32.1%. The state had voted in favour of Trump in 2020, with 62.1% of votes going to him and 36.2% being polled by Biden. 

In the next few hours, polls are set to close in the seven swing or battleground states of Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin, which will effectively decide who will be the 47th President of the United States. The contest between Trump and Harris has been a fiercely fought one and both sides appeared to be in a dead heat even on Tuesday, which was the day of voting. 

Exit polls showed that the state of democracy and the economy, and abortion, were the most important issues for American voters heading into the election. Exit polls conducted by CBS News revealed that almost six in 10 people ranked the state of democracy as their number one issue, followed by abortion, which was picked by five per cent of voters as an important issue. Economy was picked as a priority issue by one in ten. 

Hundreds of schools across the United States are set to close on April 8th due to a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will plunge several states into darkness as the moon covers the sun completely, according to Newsweek.

The path of totality will start in Mexico and move across parts of the United States, casting a complete shadow. This comes just a few months after the “ring of fire” eclipse in October 2023. Millions are expected to witness this astronomical event, with astronomy enthusiasts traveling to states in the path of totality, as per the news report.

However, safety concerns are emerging amid the excitement. Authorities warn that looking directly at the sun can cause permanent eye damage. There are also concerns about traffic disruptions and strain on local resources due to the large crowds expected.

The eclipse will be visible in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience totality. The eclipse will then move to Canada before exiting North America on the Atlantic coast.

Many schools in affected states have already announced closures. Parents are advised to check with their schools and stay updated with local news reports.

Texas has been proactive, with several counties issuing disaster declarations and advising residents to stock up on supplies. Some school districts, which initially planned eclipse-related activities, have reversed course due to safety concerns. Students will be given special eclipse glasses to take home and use for independent activities.

Schools in Indiana are also closing or switching to e-learning on the day of the eclipse.

A 59-year-old man died in southeastern Kentucky, United States, this week after he was attacked by a swarm of bees, according to a county coroner. The man was stung while moving an old bag of potting soil from his porch in Harlan County, which is near the Virginia state line and about 160 miles southeast of Lexington.

In a statement, the Harlan County Coroner’s Office said that on the evening of September 19, 2023, the Coroner’s Office was notified of the tragic death of a 59-year-old male who was stung by a swarm of bees after moving an old bag of potting soil from his porch. Deputy Coroner John W. Jones responded to the scene and pronounced the gentleman dead at 5:50 p.m. in the Harlan ARH Emergency Room. CPR was started by family and continued by Lifeguard Ambulance and the Emergency Department, but attempts to revive the man were unsuccessful.

“The immediate family has been notified, but the coroner’s office will withhold the name of the dead person until all family members can be reached. The investigation still continues by Deputy Coroner Jones, and our heartfelt prayers go out to the entire family and friends,” the department said.

According to Fox News, earlier this year, an 83-year-old Arizona man died after authorities say bees swarmed and stung him at his home in Peoria. During that incident in June, first responders received a medical call and found the man in full cardiac arrest after suffering numerous bee stings.