US Mass Shooter Was "Hearing Voices, Suffering From Paranoia": Police

Police in Maine said Saturday that the man who gunned down 18 people at a bar and a bowling alley and later committed suicide, suffered serious mental health issues, but was able to buy weapons legally because he had never been forcibly committed to treatment.

The body of Robert Card, a 40-year-old army reservist, was discovered Friday night inside a tractor trailer near a recycling center where he used to work, said Maine public safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck. Card had shot himself.

Investigators are still struggling to determine Card's motive for carrying out Wednesday's massacre in the town of Lewiston.

However, Mike Sauschuck said that Card had reportedly been hearing voices and suffering from paranoia.

"Clearly there's a mental health component to this," Mr Sauschuck told reporters.

Investigators found a "paper-style" note that Card had left to a loved one which contained a password to his phone and bank account information, Mr Sauschuck said, adding that the note had the tone of a suicide letter.

Card was found in possession of three weapons, one of them a long gun, all purchased legally because he had never been forcibly committed to a mental institution.

Despite the apparently clear mental health issues and a reportedly recent psychiatric evaluation undergone by Card, "a background check is not going to ping that this individual was prohibited," Mr Sauschuck added.

A 'coward's way out'

The discovery of Card's body ended a massive two-day manhunt, which had this quiet city of 38,000 people on lockdown with businesses and schools closed and residents terrified.

Sauschuck acknowledged the help Card's family provided to the investigation, saying among the first people to call the police and identify the suspect were his family members. "This family has been incredibly cooperative with us," he said.

Lewiston finally breathed a sigh of relief with businesses beginning to open and people appearing on the streets Saturday.

Guadalupe Hursch, 49, a stay-at-home mother said she was happy that the ordeal was over. "Relieved. Relieved," Hursch told AFP, adding that she also felt sorry for Card's parents.

A local resident by the name of Danica who was buying coffee at a drive-in said she was "very afraid" in the aftermath of the shooting and was now happy Card was dead, but at the same time wished he had first been brought to justice.

"I think he took the coward's way out of doing it by suicide," Danica, who declined to give her last name, told AFP. "I think he should be held accountable for his crimes."

She added: "It's a very terrible thing and it's going to take a long time to get back up to be where we were before."

In a statement issued shortly after Card's body was discovered Friday night, President Joe Biden vowed to renew efforts to curb gun violence in the United States.

"Americans should not have to live like this," Joe Biden said. "I will continue to do everything in my power to end this gun violence epidemic."

President Biden said the shooting brought "a tragic two days -- not just for Lewiston, Maine, but for our entire country."

Authorities on Friday identified the victims, ranging from a husband and wife in their 70s, to a 14-year-old boy killed alongside his father.

This latest shooting is one of the deadliest in the United States since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people

Mass shootings are alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance.

The United States has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed.

Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms.

The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings.

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

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NASA Shares Pic Of Galaxy Trio Located 500 Million Light-Years From Earth

US space agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) often delights space enthusiasts with updates on the latest discoveries related to galaxies, stars, and planets within our solar system. It also shares captivating images captured by its spacecraft. Now, in its most recent post, the space agency dropped a mesmerising photograph of an interacting galaxy pair known as Arp-Madore 2339-661. Located roughly 500 million light-years from Earth, the image was captured using NASA and the European Space Agency's Hubble Space Telescope. 

"A galactic tango! This striking #HubbleFriday image captures the gravitationally-interacting galaxy pair known as Arp-Madore 2339-661," NASA wrote in the caption. 

Take a look below: 

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A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble)

The two galaxies are in the process of merging, according to a statement from the European Space Agency. One galaxy is known as NGC 7733 - the smaller galaxy seen in the lower right - and the other is NGC 7734 - the larger galaxy in the upper left. However, hidden in the star-studded spiral arm of the smaller galaxy is yet another galaxy, referred to as NGC 7733N. 

"The third galaxy is currently referred to as NGC 7733N, and can actually be spotted in this picture if you look carefully at the upper arm of NGC 7733, where there is a visually notable knot-like structure, glowing with a different colour to the arm and obscured by dark dust," the ESA wrote in its blog.

"This could easily pass as part of NGC 7733, but analysis of the velocities (speed, but also considering direction) involved in the galaxy shows that this knot has a considerable additional redshift, meaning that it is very likely its own entity and not part of NGC 7733," it added. 

Also Read | Mysterious Force Suppressing Growth of Cosmic Structures, Study Finds

Further, according to the European Space Agency, the three galaxies lie relatively close to each other in the constellation Tucana and are interacting gravitationally with one another. In fact, some science literature refers to them as a 'merging group,' which means they will ultimately become a single entity, ESA said. 

Meanwhile, since being posted, the picture has collected nearly 7 lakh likes on Instagram. 

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Priyanka's Look For The MAMI Event Prompts This Reaction From Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra, who landed early this morning in Mumbai to attend the opening ceremony of the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2023, revealed her look for the night. Priyanka Chopra is the chairperson for this year's edition. The former Miss World chose a white bodycon gown for the occasion. Needless to say, she looked stunning as ever. Priyanka shared a few images on Instagram in which she can be seen posing against a piano. Priyanka Chopra opted for a halter neck gown and minimal accessory look. She kept her hair tied in a top bun. She also completed her look with an embellished coat. Priyanka's gown was from the shelves of designer Tony Ward. Priyanka wrote in the caption, "Opening night. Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival @mumbaifilmfestival." Priyanka's husband Nick Jonas was absolutely bowled over by her look. He commented, "Damn" and dropped a few fire emojis. The Internet was also impressed by Priyanka's sartorial choice. A user commented, "So pretty." Another user wrote, "Omggg The Diva." Take a look at Priyanka Chopra's pictures here:

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A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

This is how Priyanka owned the red carpet. Take a look:

In the morning, Priyanka was seen in a crop top and shrug. The actress greeted the paparazzi stationed at the Mumbai airport with a bright smile and folded hands. Speaking of the MAMI Film Festival, it will be held at the Jio World Centre  in the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. See Priyanka Chopra's photos from the Mumbai airport here:

Priyanka Chopra was spotted attending husband Nick Jonas' many of the concerts in the US in the last couple of months. Priyanka also took daughter Malti Marie to a recent concert. An Instagram fan page shared several clips, showing Nick holding Malti Maries's hands from the stage while the toddler was seated on Priyanka's lap. All this was during Nick's performance on stage. The viral clip also showed Malti Marie grooving and clapping with her father, while the actress was smiling her heart out after watching it all. Take a look:

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A post shared by Jerry x Mimi 😍 (@jerryxmimi)

Priyanka Chopra was last seen in Love Again. The actress shared screen space with Celine Dion and Sam Heughan. She will next be seen in Heads Of State, alongside John Cena and Idris Elba.

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Video: Terrifying Moment When Australian Surfer Collides With Whale

An Australian surfer found himself in a terrifying situation when a whale collided with him, sending him plunging into the sea --and he managed to capture the entire harrowing experience on camera.

Jason Breen was wing foiling at a Sydney beach on Wednesday. While the 55-year-old was cruising along the water at Mona Vale beach, a humpback whale leapt out of the water and landed on top of him, dragging him about 20 to 30 feet below the surface, the Guardian reported. 

Mr Breen can be heard saying in the video, "Shit, I just got hit by a whale."

"I thought I was gone, to be honest," he said later. "I thought for a few seconds, 'This is what it's like to die.'"

See the video here:

🔥 Guy surfs into breaching whale pic.twitter.com/uKtmttcXJI

— NatureIsAmazing (@OurNatureRocks) October 25, 2023

Mr Breen told local media that he feared for his life when the animal dragged him deeper into the sea. 

"Luckily, I felt the leash break and from there I got released from under the whale's body and was able to come to the surface," he said.

"I thank my lucky stars that something that's not supposed to break broke and ringed the webbing out."

Mr Breen swam to the shore and discovered that the incident was recorded on his GoPro camera. 

He added: "The whole thing was unusual, one in a million - it's a massive ocean and there was a guy on a headland who just happened to be filming by coincidence and my GoPro... I wasn't pointing or filming so to get the footage was amazing."

Mr Breen said that the whale had smooth skin, leading him to believe that it was a calf. Mr Breen was unhurt. 

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"Expect Government To...": Congress On Death Penalty To 8 Indians In Qatar

With eight former Indian Navy personnel being handed death penalty in Qatar, the Congress on Thursday said it expects that the Centre will use its diplomatic and political leverage with the Qatar government to ensure that the Indians have full recourse to appeals and also do the utmost to get them released.

The Indian nationals, all employees of Al Dahra company, were taken into custody in August last year in an alleged case of espionage. The charges against the Indian nationals were not made public by Qatari authorities.

In its reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the verdict as "deeply" shocking and said that it is attaching "high importance" to this case as well as exploring all legal options.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "The Indian National Congress has noted with the greatest anguish, distress and shock the most disturbing developments in Qatar regarding 8 former officers of the Indian Navy." "It (the Congress) hopes and expects that the Govt of India will use its diplomatic and political leverage with the Qatar government to the maximum to ensure that the officers have full recourse to appeals and also do the utmost to get them released at the earliest," Jairam Ramesh said.

The MEA has said it will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance to the Indians.

"We attach high importance to this case, and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities," it said in a statement.

"Due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture," it added.

India's ambassador to Qatar met the men in prison on October 1 after being granted consular access. 

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

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"Manipur Crisis Not Religious Conflict": Indian-American In Congressional Hearing

The Manipur crisis is a complex web of internecine conflict marked by violence, mistrust, socio-political tensions and a deadly trifecta of insurgency, narcotics and illegal infiltration, which pose significant threats to India's national security, but is not a religious conflict between two communities, an Indian-American scholar told a US Congressional hearing.

Rajshree Keisham, an Indian-American scholar, said the projection of the Meitei-Kuki ethnic clash as a religious conflict by some sections "not only ignores the complex social fabric of Manipur, but also heightens tensions."

"... Efforts have been made to portray this communal conflict in reductionist terms, projected to the world as the Hindu majority prosecuting the Christian minorities. This oversimplification not only ignores the complex social fabric of Manipur, but also heightens tensions," Ms Rajshree said in the Congressional hearing, adding the attempts to project the Manipur ethnic violence as a religious one is a "classic case of Hinduphobia".

"The majority-minority debate should be examined in terms of the intersectionality of time, space, and context. For example, Christians are a minority in India, but they are a majority in the northeastern region," said the Indian-American scholar, who holds a PhD in Sociology specialising in Gender Studies and Socio Anthropology.

Over 180 people have died and thousands internally displaced after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 following a protest by the Kuki tribes over the Meiteis' demand to be included under the affirmative action Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

Ms Rajshree said Manipur's diversity is its strength, as within the Hindu community in the state, there are other ethnicities including people from Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Nepal and more. Similarly, the Christian community includes Nagas, Kuki and also Meiteis. "This diversity is not a source of division, but a testament to the harmonious coexistence that has characterised Manipur for generations," she said.

She pointed out some social activists and religious leaders of the Christian community have strongly denied the Manipur violence was based on religious lines.

"Mizoram activist Alinery Lian-Luwang told the UN that 'the narratives peddled by international media that the Manipur conflict is of religious nature, holds no ground'," Ms Rajshree said, referring to the speech by the activist at a general debate at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"... The Archbishop of Mumbai categorically mentioned, and I quote, 'It is given a religious twist, but it is not a religious conflict between two religions, it's between two tribes, and we must now not do anything that will worsen the situation'," Ms Rajshree said at the Congressional hearing organised by HinduACTion, and Namaste Shalom Multi-Faith Alliance to address rising antisemitism and Hinduphobia in both the US and Canada.

"In recent times, there has been an alarming surge in attempts to exploit the Manipur conflict as a platform for propagating Hindu hate. This disturbing trend has found traction among certain factions... in the United States, who have strategically exploited religious sentiments to further their divisive agenda. What is even more concerning is the convergence of some radical Islamist groups in the United States, who have appropriated and aligned themselves with this cause. They perceive this situation as a prime opportunity to tarnish the image of Hindus on a global scale," Ms Rajshree said.

In August, three months after the Manipur violence began, a speech by the leader of a Canada-based Kuki-Zo tribes group from Manipur over the ethnic violence back home had sparked a massive controversy. The event was held at the same gurdwara in Canada's Surrey, whose chief and Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified people in June.

Lien Gangte, the Canada chapter chief of the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), in his address condemned what he called "attacks on minorities in India" and asked Canada for "all possible help".

NAMTA had posted a video of the event on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) on August 7. It deleted the videos much later when the row between India and Canada surfaced following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that "Indian government agents" were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar.

India's anti-terror body the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 30 said it is investigating a transnational conspiracy case involving terrorist leaders in Bangladesh and Myanmar. The NIA statement came after a terror accused, Seiminlun Gangte, was arrested and charged with conspiring with Myanmar- and Bangladesh-based leadership of terror outfits to wage war against India by exploiting the ethnic unrest in Manipur.

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"Whatever My Boys Could Do, Daughter Could Too": Nita Ambani On Succession

For girls to learn that they are equal to boys, they have to see that at their homes, says Nita Ambani, wife of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, on how they never differentiated among their three children who in the succession planning have got equal share of the Reliance empire.

Mukesh and Nita Ambani have three children -- twins Isha and Akash, 32, and Anant, 28.

The three have recently been inducted on the board of India's most valuable company and are being groomed to take over its three almost equal verticals.

Isha, who is married to Anand Piramal, son of Piramal Group's Ajay and Swati Piramal, is being groomed for retail, Akash for digital/telecom and Anant for new energy business.

In an interview with CNBC International, Nita Ambani spoke about her family life, including the relationship with husband Mukesh.

"We have learnt so much from each other. Mukesh, as I say, has the floodlights in life... he thinks far ahead of his times. While I get into the meticulous details, he calls it the spotlights," she said.

Stating that she always tells her children that the single-most important decision is choosing the right life partner, she said, "I am so blessed to have Mukesh, who's my best friend and my life partner." "And, you know, we've enjoyed the journey of life, raising our children and our grandchildren," she said.

She says the couple still loves doing the same thing that they used to when they were young.

"So he takes me for a drive, we love listening to Hindi music, eating street food, I love my 'bhel' on the road and he loves his 'dosa idli'.

"So, we still love doing what we used to love doing. So these are the values that we kind of really live every day of loving our family, respecting our elders, being honest, humble, I think not much has changed," she said.

On children, she said Isha, who too is a mother of twins, was hands on for the launch of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) -- a first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary cultural space in the sphere of arts in Mumbai.

"And now she's leading our retail (business)," she said.

"But I think for girls to learn that they are equal, they have to see that (at) their homes they have mentors who know that they're not anything less than boys. I have never differentiated between Isha and Akash and Anant. Whatever my boys could do, my daughter could do too." And this has been reflected in the succession at Reliance. Though Isha is married into Parimals, she is getting an equal share in the business as her brothers.

"Akash, Isha and Anant and a whole lot of the young generation is going to be the next leadership for Reliance and for India.

"In all three of them, I see different qualities. In Anant, my youngest, I see a compassionate young man who believes in conservation, in making the world a better place," she said.

"Akash is leading the digital revolution through Jio. Isha is leading retail besides taking active interest in Reliance Foundation. All three of them are very, very committed to working in Reliance. They have their own strengths," she said.

She tells her children to concentrate on their strengths and make them stronger. "Nobody's born perfect or nobody can be perfect. And it is okay to make mistakes. You learn much more from your mistakes than you do from your successes. Be humble, Be compassionate. Treat people with respect. And I'm very happy for the new young generation that is growing at Reliance," she added.

A Bharatnatyam dancer, Nita said the inspiration to set up NMACC came when she visited Australia for the Cricket World Cup and saw the Sydney Opera House.

"At that time, I thought, why can't India have something like this of its own? So the idea really sparked off at that time in Australia. And it's taken us now a decade to bring this to life." Nita, who is a member of the International Olympics Committee, said India is absolutely ready to host the Olympics. "Just like we would love to have the Olympics in India, the Olympics also cannot ignore the 1.4 billion people of India." She also heads Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Ltd.

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

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