India demands U.S. drop case against envoy
NEW DELHI – India’s foreign minister demanded Thursday that the United States drop the case against a diplomat who was arrested and strip-searched in New York City, saying she was the victim of a blackmail attempt by her housekeeper.
The case has sparked a diplomatic furor between the United States and India, which is incensed over what its officials describe as degrading treatment of Devyani Khobragade, India’s deputy consul general in New York.
Khobragade, 39, is accused of submitting false documents to obtain a work visa for her Manhattan housekeeper, an Indian national. According to prosecutors, Khobragade claimed she paid the woman $4,500 a month, but actually paid her around $3 per hour.
London theater’s roof collapses, injuring 88
LONDON – British officials said more than 80 people have been injured – seven of them seriously – by a roof collapse at a packed London theater.
London Ambulance Services said it had treated 81 “walking wounded” and seven more seriously injured patients after the collapse Thursday evening at the Apollo Theatre.
Police say they aren’t aware of any fatalities “at this early stage.”
The fire department said several trapped people had been rescued.
It said a section of the theater’s ceiling had collapsed and took parts of the balconies down with it, sending plaster and debris crashing onto the audience watching a performance of “The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime.”
Associated Press
