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Nigerian court sentences policeman to death for killing a lawyer in a rare ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian court sentenced Monday a police officer to death for shooting and killing a lawyer in the commercial hub of Lagos. Many applauded the rare sentence as a punitive measure against rampant cases of police abuse.After nearly a year, Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos High Court found police officer Drambi Vandi guilty of one count of murder of Bolanle Raheem, who was pregnant at the time when she was shot dead Christmas Day last year. Local reports said Raheem was in her early forties.Vandi shot the lawyer after her vehicle in the town of Ajah in Lagos failed to stop at a checkpoint, local media reported at the time.He had denied opening fire at Raheem, but one of his colleagues who testified during the hearing confirmed hearing the gunshot. Vandi has a right to appeal the ruling.“You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead,” the judge told the police officer who had pleaded not guilty.The death sentence was lauded by many in Africa’s most popul...

UN airs concerns for civilians as Israel steps up military response in Gaza to deadly Hamas attacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations on Monday expressed growing concerns about humanitarian needs in Palestinian areas as Israel ratchets up a muscular military riposte and lockdown of Gaza, after the weekend attack by Hamas militants who killed and kidnapped hundreds of civilians in Israel.U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres led the clarion call Monday, putting the focus on civilians in both Israel and Gaza and renewing his condemnation of the fatalities and hostage-takings by Hamas. He also warned of the prospect of more innocent lives lost.Guterres said in a statement that over 137,000 people in Gaza – or about 6% of its population – were now sheltering in sites run by UNRWA, the aid agency for Palestinians. He cited reports of Israeli missile strikes on places like schools, health facilities and high-rise apartment buildings.“I am deeply distressed by today’s announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in –- no electricity, food, o...

North Vancouver RCMP called to amateur film set featuring actors with replica guns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

VANCOUVER — Police in North Vancouver say they were called to the set of a film shoot over the weekend after receiving a report of a group of men in body armour carrying rifles. North Vancouver RCMP say they were called to an underground parking lot on Marine Drive on Saturday evening. Police discovered the men there were part of a shoot for an action film that was without permits. Police say the film crew were given a warning and educated about city protocols around filming in public spaces.Const. Mansoor Sahak says no one was injured.He adds the North Vancouver RCMP takes reports involving firearms “very seriously.”This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2023. The Canadian Press

Man stabbed in downtown Toronto, suspect fled on bike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

Toronto police say a man suffered serious injuries after he was stabbed in the city’s downtown core on Monday.Officers were called to the Queen Street East and Church Street area around 2:15 p.m. for reports of a stabbing.One man was located with stab wounds. He was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.A male suspect fled the area on a bike, police said.Road closures include Church Street and Queen Street East, and Berti Street and Queen Street East.

Mast snaps aboard historic Maine schooner, killing 1 and injuring 3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — The top portion of a mast snapped toppled on a historic excursion vessel, killing one person and injuring others aboard the Grace Bailey schooner off the coast of Maine, officials said Monday. One person died from injuries and three people were transported to hospitals on Monday, the Rockland Fire Department said. A helicopter transported one of the three injured, while the other two were transported via ambulances, fire officials said.Images posted online showed the vessel with its main mast splintered. The Grace Bailey is part of the state’s so-called windjammer fleet, a collection of historic sailing vessels that take people on excursions up and down the coast.The Grace Bailey is 118 feet long (36 meters) and can carry 29 passengers, according to an official website. It was built in Long Island, New York, in 1882.The Associated Press

Vatican defends wartime Pope Pius XII as conference honors Israeli victims of Hamas incursion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

ROME (AP) — The Vatican secretary of state on Monday strongly defended World War II-era Pope Pius XII as a friend of the Jews as he opened an historic conference on newly opened archives that featured even Holy See historians acknowledging that anti-Jewish prejudice informed Pius’ silence in the face of the Holocaust.Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s defensive remarks were delivered before the conference observed a minute of silence to honor victims of the Hamas incursion in Israel. Standing alongside the chief rabbi of Rome, Parolin expressed solidarity with the Israeli victims and “to those who are missing and kidnapped and now in grave danger.”He said the Vatican was following the war with grave concern, and noted that many Palestinians in Gaza were also losing their lives.The conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University was remarkable because of its unprecedented high-level, Catholic-Jewish organizers and sponsors: The Holy See, Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust research institute, the...

McCarthy opens door to Speakership comeback amid Israel turmoil

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) kept the door open to a comeback bid for the Speakership on Monday, outlining steps he believes the U.S. should take to respond to the crisis in Israel during a lengthy press conference — a presentation that was reminiscent of when he held the gavel just a week before.The California Republican did not directly answer if he envisions a scenario in which he could be a candidate for Speaker; if he would accept a colleague nominating him for Speaker; or if he thinks he is the right person to lead the House in the current moment, considering his pro-Israel background.“That’s a decision by the conference,” McCarthy said, relaying iterations of that multiple times.He similarly deflected when asked if he would endorse either of the candidates running to replace him: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).But McCarthy, who hours after being ousted as Speaker said he would not run for...

Tunnel of Terror: Haunted car wash returning to Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Scares, soaps and screams: the haunted car wash is returning to Illinois. For the third year, Tommy’s Express Car Wash is bringing its Tunnel of Terror to Orland Park. Unlike years past, the spooks and suds won't be limited to just one location in Illinois. The western Michigan-based company will transform its locations in Lombard and Peoria into a spooky setting while still cleaning your car.SEE ALSO: See the Haunted Houses in the Chicago area in 2023LocationDateTimePriceOrland Park (15819 Wolf Rd.)Oct 27-287-11 p.m.$25Lombard (607 W North Ave.)Oct 27-286-10 p.m.$25Peoria (2145 Knoxville Ave.)Oct 20-21, 27-286-9 p.m.$20Remember! Every Tommy’s location is a unique Tunnel of Terror.READ MORE: Fall Festivals and events coming to Chicagoland this autumnWGN's Larry Hawley recently compiled a list of scary attractions throughout the Chicago area open to the public this Halloween season. See more in the video player above.

Austin music fans, Latin bands rally after barge incident on Lady Bird Lake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Latin band in Austin is gearing up for its first performance back after a barge incident during a Lady Bird Lake performance.The Latin Dukes were performing at the final Latino Moonlight Serenades event Sept. 28. The Texas Rowing Center hosts the seasonal six-show series, featuring local Latin bands performing on Lady Bird Lake on full moon evenings. During the final number of their performance, bassist Chris La Cava told KXAN he saw a rush of water on top of the floating barge as people shuffled off the floating stage. "I looked up — the barge started to list, and then maybe two seconds later, I was in the water," La Cava said. "It happened really fast, probably all said and done in less than five seconds."Amps, instruments, some cell phones and a laptop ended up submerged in the water after the incident. During the initial days that followed, La Cava said bandmates were in a state of shock, trying to take inventory of damaged and l...

Everything the Texas Longhorns want is still in front of them despite Oklahoma loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The main goal for the Texas Longhorns this season has been to play for the Big 12 Conference championship, and even with the hiccup at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, it's still firmly in sight.The No. 9 Longhorns have a chance to heal up some bumps and bruises with a bye week before they head to play Big 12 newcomer Houston on Oct. 21, and in a college football landscape where one loss is mostly treated with panic, the team just has to "handle its business," head coach Steve Sarkisian said. Inches away from scoring at critical moment, Longhorns have plenty to think about during bye week "The overriding message out of this is everything we want out of the season is right in front of us," he said. "This week is as important as any to learn from yesterday, focus on today and prepare for tomorrow. That will help prepare us for the second half of the season."With no divisions in the Big 12 Conference, the top two teams at the end of the regular season advance to the confe...