Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has accused Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s soldiers of humiliating her after she went to represent Opposition Politician Kizza Besigye in a Ugandan court. Addressing the press yesterday, Karua lamented a rigorous search she was subjected to at a Court Martial in Uganda. Karua expressed her frustrations after being searched at several entry points into the courtroom. The former Azimio principal explained that the first search was conducted at the gate, then another search as she gained entry into the courtroom and again inside the court chambers. While expressing her disappointment over the search procedure, Karua termed the move as unethical and inappropriate, especially for someone of her calibre. “I express my dismay at the humiliating mode of search that I was subjected to twice and all the members of the court procession were subjected to. First at the gate, then as we entered the courtroom,” Karua narrated. Speaking after the court session, Karua also lamented being denied audience by the courtroom after being informed that she lacked a practising license from the Ugandan Law Council. Besigye was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya while travelling to attend a book launch ceremony hosted by Martha Karua. He was later arraigned at the Court Martial in Kampala and charged with illegal possession of firearms and allegedly holding meetings to plan President Yoweri Museveni's ouster. The Kenyan DAILY POST

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has boldly declared his intention to run for the presidency one day. In a statement that has left Kenyans with more questions than answers, Mbadi noted that the presidency should not be reserved for a select few and emphasized that nothing would prevent him from pursuing the highest office soon. However, he stated that he will run for presidency in 2032 after President William Ruto’s term concludes. “The Presidency is not for a preserved few. I am also fit and would consider running for the seat after Ruto’s term expires,” he said. Mbadi underscored the opportunity to lead the country is open to all Kenyans, and he would not be deterred by the idea that only ‘certain individuals’ are the only ones destined for the role. This comes even as a section of leaders have watered down Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah’s 2027 presidential bid, arguing he lacks the funds for a serious campaign and that people avoid associating with a "poor man" like him. In the same breath, Mbadi urged the Luo community to unite in support of President Ruto’s leadership. According to Mbadi, the community needs to align with the current government, recognizing the need for unity in moving the country forward. Mbadi stated that Ruto genuinely means well for the Luo community, just as he does for all Kenyans. He emphasized that the community should recognize and appreciate Ruto’s leadership, highlighting that the president has shown commitment to addressing the needs of all ethnic groups, including the Luos.  According to Mbadi, the Luo community owes Ruto a debt of gratitude for his efforts and contributions toward national development, asserting that his leadership has been beneficial for the country as a whole. The Kenyan DAILY POST

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has addressed the challenges facing the Adani Group for the first time after his U.S. indictment for corruption, which led President William Ruto to cancel the group's Kenyan deals. While speaking at an awards ceremony in India on Saturday evening, Adani played down the allegations facing his company, insisting that his conglomerate is committed to “world-class regulatory compliance”. “This is not the first time we have faced such challenges. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger. And every obstacle becomes a stepping stone for a more resilient Adani Group,” the 62-year-old said. While reiterating the challenges his company was facing was “the price of pioneering", Adani added, “In today’s world negativity spreads faster than facts. And as we work through the legal process, I want to reconfirm our absolute commitment to world-class regulatory compliance.” Before Adani's direct response, the group released an official statement in the wake of the explosive allegations by the U.S., terming them as 'baseless'. Damage may already have been done, however, as Adani's interest overseas has taken a massive hit. Adani, who is one of Asia’s richest men, saw his conglomerate gain global attention on November 20 after US prosecutors in New York charged him with conspiracy to commit securities fraud and duping investors. The billionaire, alongside seven other associates, was accused of allegedly paying or planning to pay about $265 million (Ksh35 billion) in bribes to government officials to help attain billion-dollar contracts. The Kenyan DAILY POST

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A South African man, Zitha Kalabase, has mourned his girlfriend who passed away two months after he gushed about her on X. “How is it fair that I'm attending your funeral this weekend my love?,” he wrote on Monday, adding that they were expecting their first child. On September 15, 2024, he posted their photo, writing: “My heart” “Eh man!!! I'm in love. Hhayibo ngaze ngamthanda usisi!,” he added.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - The former New York City model who fatally sh0t her husband in Florida before taking her own life feared he would divorce her after she confessed to cheating on him. Authorities said they received a ShotSpotter alert around 12.30 am last week Wednesday about multiple gunsh0ts fired on South Ocean Drive's 1800 block. At one of the condos at the Beach Club II Hallandale, located at 1830 South Ocean Drive, officers discovered a man and woman who seemed to have been shot. They were both declared deceased at the site. The deceased, according to the police, are Pajtim Krasniqi, 34, and his wife, Sabrina Krasniqi, 27. "It has been established by the inquiry that Sabrina Krasniqi shot her husband many times before k!lling herself. Police stated in a news release on Friday that the event took place in their joint home. Grieving sibling of the husband, Arben “Benny” Krasniqi of Scarsdale told the New York Post that the family saw several red flags about Sabrina Krasniqi, 27, who shot Arben’s younger brother, Pajtim, five times on the oceanfront balcony of their lavish Hallandale Beach home. “We saw plenty of signs, and now everything makes sense,” the Westchester County resident said. “But they were in love, and never in a million years did we think something like this could happen. “There was infidelity on her part,” the 43-year-old man said of his sister-in-law. “She came to a point of guilt or something that she just could not take. My brother wanted a divorce, and she didn’t take that lightly. And she decided to take her own life and, somewhere along the line, she decided to take my brother’s life.” Benny said his brother, who grew up in the Bronx, was a hard-working, white-collar day trader who dabbled in real estate and cryptocurrency — “He was a genius. We’re all just trying to cope.” “My mother’s devastated. We’ve lost someone who is so genuine, who is so loving, who is so intelligent and hardworking, and just irreplaceable — and it has left the entire family devastated. “My brother was full of life. He was full of ambition. He was full of love. And that’s all been taken away from us by a selfish act of one person. One more selfish act from [Sabrina], and [she took] my brother along with her.” In 2021, while still in New York City, Sabrina, who also went by her maiden name Sabrina Dzaferovic, was a model who featured in a TV Inside Edition segment.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Jocelyne Wildenstein has denied having plastic surgery. The 84-year-old swiss socialite, famously dubbed Catwoman due to her unique looks, has once again denied ever having plastic surgery and expressed her disdain for Botox. Despite numerous speculations and doctors' beliefs that she's had cosmetic procedures, she maintains that the dramatic transformation is entirely natural. She voiced her fears about going under the knife, stating, "I haven't had plastic surgery, I am scared of what can happen and I don't like to have something heavy, sometimes it is a bit heavy and terrible." In an interview with The Sun, she also shared her adverse reaction to Botox claiming she might be allergic to it. She admitted to trying Botox twice but said: "It did not go well with me." She recalled how her face swelled up after the procedure. The mother-of-two also recently stunned her Instagram followers by sharing a throwback photo where she looked almost unrecognisable.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A Russian actress was swept to her death by a wave while exercising on her yoga mat on a popular tourist island in Thailand. Kamilla Belyatskaya, 24, was swept away from the beauty spot on Koh Sumui just moments after filming herself on her yoga mat overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Harrowing footage showed the moment a large wave hit Kamila and washed her into the frothing waters. A bystander reportedly went into the waves to try and save her, but couldn't save her. Later the mat was seen floating in the violent seas off Koh Samui, one of Thailand's most popular islands. The tourist, from Russia's third city, Novosibirsk, had been visiting Thailand's second-largest island with her boyfriend, it is understood. She had gone up to the Lad Ko Viewpoint to watch the waves and exercise in front of the view. She had told her social media followers how she loved this spot and repeatedly returned to the island, which she called 'home' and 'the best place on earth'. Kamila said: 'I love Samui so much. But this place, this rocky beach is the best thing I've ever seen in my life. 'Thank you, universe, for me being here right now. I'm very happy. I'm happy!' Her boyfriend along with eyewitnesses gave statements to local police on the tragedy. 'The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by monsoon conditions, with authorities urging visitors to exercise extreme caution and avoid rocky coastal areas during periods of high waves,' said one Thai report.

Women training as midwives and nurses in Afghanistan have told the BBC they were ordered not to return to classes in the morning – effectively closing off their last route to further education in the country. Five separate institutions across Afghanistan have also confirmed to the BBC that the Taliban had instructed them to close […] The post Afghan women ‘banned from midwife courses’ in latest blow to rights appeared first on KBC.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Bullies who pushed a 12-year-old girl to attempt suic!de, later visited her in the ICU to take photos which they then circulated on social media, a newly filed lawsuit claims. Kelaia Turner was allegedly physically and verbally assaulted by her mates who called her  "roach" and "moustache face" at the Dr Phinnize J Fisher Middle School in Greenville County, her parents claim in a 24-page federal lawsuit against school district officials for ignorance. Her mother, Ty Turner, has said she believes the bullying began when Kelaia started wearing her natural hair to school and escalated over the years. She claimed that instead of providing support and helping reduce incidents, teachers joined in on the torture. The bullying eventually became so bad that Kelaia was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home, and was d£@d for a complete eight minutes before paramedics could revive her. She was in a coma for weeks and ended up staying in the hospital for 101 days. It was during this period that the alleged bullies snuck in and took photos of her. Kelaia then suffered severe brain damage, and has been left with no control over her body - instead relying on a tracheostomy tube to breathe and a feeding tube. The federal lawsuit claims Kelaia started experiencing bullying in August 2021 when her classmates started calling her names and saying she looked "like a man." At one point, even her teacher, Olivia Bennett, allegedly got in on the act. "Ms. Bennett was complicit in the bullying and said nothing to the other students to stop it," the suit says. "One student asked, 'Where's the roach?' and Ms. Bennett pointed to [Kelaia]." Turner then emailed the teacher, as well as the principal of the middle school, to complain about Bennett's actions, noting that "children committed suic!de from this behavior in the past," according to the lawsuit. The next day, it said, the principal acknowledged her complaint and said they were "working tirelessly to repair whatever is damaged." In the aftermath, both Turner and Kelaia's father met with the teacher to address the incident and discussed the need for the student leading the bullying to be separated from their daughter. But when the student found out that Kelaia told her parents, he allegedly "cussed out" the preteen girl on January 26, 2022. He was never disciplined for this, the lawsuit said. It goes on to say that the bullying continued through 2022 "with no actions taken by the defendants," listing other incidents and reports to school officials Turner made - including a fight between her daughter and another student in March. She claimed Kelaia was suspended in the aftermath and "the student who caused the fight was not." Then, on May 23, 2022, one of Kelaia's classmates played a song on YouTube called The Black People Song, which teacher John Teer allegedly allowed to be played without any comments about its offensiveness or any reprimands to or discussions with the student who played it, according to the suit. Turner then complained to the principal and Metris Cain, another teacher, and they were once again told that an investigation would be conducted. But in October, Turner said another student "had been pushing [Kelaia] several times over the past month." She claimed that the offending student was never punished, and the only reaction from school officials was to tell Kelaia to report if it happened again. Still, the bullying continued, and at one point Kelaia's clothes "had water poured on them and were then thrown into the trash". By March 11, 2023, Kelaia confided in a friend about her thoughts of committing su!cide, and five days later, she was found hanging from a belt in her bedroom at home. According to Ty, the 12-year-old was d£@d for a complete eight minutes before paramedics could revive her. "She was cool to the touch, blood was coming out of her nose, and she had already urinated on herself. She had fully committed to what it was that she was attempting to do, and she was gone for eight whole minutes. "Paramedics couldn't find a pulse, and they couldn't find her heartbeat. There were grown men in the room crying,' Ty recalled. But the religious mother kept praying and after a few minutes, a paramedic found a faint pulse. "He said, 'I found a pulse. It's very, very faint, but I found one. I don't know what you're out here doing but I would say he should keep doing it'. Kelaia is a miracle." Once brought back to life, Kelaia was in a coma for weeks, ultimately staying in the hospital for 101 days and suffered severe brain damage. The family now says nine individual teachers and faculty members failed in their duties to "provide a culture of safety and an environment free from assault." The suit also cites violations of both the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title IX protections against gender discrimination. The family is now seeking actual and punitive damages to cover medical bills, psychiatric expenses, special education, lost wages, life care expenses, disability care, injuries to her psyche and emotional state and loss of enjoyment of life.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade is facing mounting pressure from local officials to clarify his connections to Derrick Bernard, who has been indicted for staging a hate crime during Mobolade’s mayoral campaign. Bernard was accused of scrawling a racial slur on a campaign sign and setting a cross on fire in what prosecutors allege was a hoax intended to garner sympathy and boost Mobolade’s candidacy. According to the indictment, Bernard communicated with Mobolade about the hoax, including sending a message on the day of the incident promising his victory. While Mobolade initially denied contact with Bernard in two FBI interviews, he later claimed he could not recall specifics. The Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to prosecute Mobolade, citing political and racial considerations. In a statement to the Colorado Springs Gazette, Mobolade rejected the allegations, framing his family as victims of a hate crime but stopped short of directly refuting details of the indictment. “My family and I are victims of a hate crime… I had no knowledge, warning, or involvement in this reprehensible act,” he said, adding that politically motivated websites were spreading misinformation. City Councilman Dave Donelson and County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. have called for greater transparency. Donelson questioned, “Did he lie to the FBI in those two interviews?” Mobolade’s office dismissed the allegations as “unfounded,” urging respect for the ongoing investigation. Former prosecutor George Brauchler sharply criticized Mobolade in an op-ed for the Gazette, arguing that the mayor’s failure to provide a clear denial fuels suspicion. “Lying to the FBI is a serious, go-to-prison crime,” Brauchler wrote, while also questioning the DOJ’s decision not to prosecute. He suggested the case’s handling undermines public trust in law enforcement and the judiciary. The controversy escalated when reports emerged that Bernard messaged Mobolade on election night to take credit for the win and later sought favors in return. These revelations have intensified calls from local leaders and residents for the mayor to address the allegations fully and directly. As demands for accountability grow, the issue has cast a shadow over Mobolade’s administration, with officials and citizens alike awaiting further clarification and resolution.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Popular American comedy sit-com, “Saturday Night Live” is enlisting some of the show’s biggest alums to host the last few shows of the year. On Monday, the long-running sketch show announced that comedian Chris Rock will return to Studio 8H to host the December 14 episode, marking his fourth time hosting. Rock was a cast member between 1990 and 1993. They also announced that Pop singer Gracie Abrams will make her “SNL” debut in the same episode as the musical guest while Martin Short is set to host for the sixth time on the December 21 episode, with Hozier returning as the musical guest. Short has previously hosted “SNL” five times, three as an individual. In 2022, he co-hosted an episode with his “Only Murders in the Building” co-star Steve Martin, and in 1986, he hosted alongside Martin and Chevy Chase. Short was had a one-year stint as a cast member between 1984 and 1985, according to NBC. ‘‘SNL” kicked off its 50th season on Sept. 28 with host Jean Smart and musical guest Jelly Roll. That episode drew 5.3 million viewers in the Nielsen live+same day ratings, marking the most viewers for an “SNL” season premiere since 2020 

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A missing woman feared to have died after she vanished in the US has now been spotted on CCTV entering a country about 145 miles away. Hannah Kobayashi, 30, mysteriously vanished three weeks ago (in November) during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport, where she was meant to board a connecting flight to New York. She is said to have sent concerning texts to loved ones, who feared the worst. And since then, her father, Ryan Kobayashi, took his own life after tirelessly searching for the woman. However, now investigators claim security footage from the US-Mexico border near Tijuana, about 145 miles from Los Angeles, shows her between November 12 and 13, about a day after she disappeared and about 11 days before her dad ended his life. Her family has yet to comment on the information indicating Hannah could have fled south for the Mexican border. Sources, though, have said they do not suspect any foul play. One even made a bold suggestion: "She's an adult and she can choose to be missing." But concerns grew when Hannah didn't arrive in New York last month. The Hawaii native disappeared from the streets of downtown Los Angeles and her relatives suspected something sinister as they said at the time Hannah would never miss her flight intentionally. She had earlier sent a friend a text message saying she had a "spiritual awakening" and was later seen in the company of a mystery man on November 11, days before the CCTV purportedly caught her in Mexico. Tijuana, home to around 1.2 million people, is a bustling coastal city, some 145 miles south from Los Angeles. Speaking to Mail Online today, Hannah's worried sister Sydni told reporters of the latest development - but stressed this gives the family renewed hope. She said: "We do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah.... Intuitively knowing her and being so close to her my entire life, I just know this is absolutely not like her." Speaking on November 26, police in LA stressed they were sure Hannah intended to miss her connection. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said "the investigation determined that Hannah's missed connection was intentional." "On November 15, our missing persons unit assumed investigative responsibility. Detectives have been diligently reviewing video surveillance and employing various investigative techniques to locate Hannah, while her family has continued their personal search efforts, he added.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has returned to official duties after her cancer treatment. She greeted the Emir of Qatar today as she carried out her most significant public engagement since starting cancer treatment. Kate and her husband Prince William welcomed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, on behalf of King Charles III. The Princess wore a coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and a hat by Sahar Millinery, with jewellery previously belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II. On returning to royal duties, Kate will also take part in the official ceremony welcome on Horse Guards Parade and a carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace. The Princess will later join the royal party for a private lunch at the palace and stay to view a display of priceless Qatari artefacts from the Royal Collection. The only aspect of the day she will miss will be tonight’s glittering State Banquet. A royal source described the announcement of Kate’s attendance as ‘good news’ as the Princess continues with her a slow and measured return to public life after the completion of her preventative chemotherapy treatment. The Princess announced in March that she had embarked on a course of treatment after doctors found evidence of the disease after major abdominal surgery in January. In September she revealed that this had now been completed but warned that it would take time and patience for her to return to full-time royal duties. Now, today’s events mark the start of a busier week for Kate, who will be hosting her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The Princess is expected to be joined at that event by her husband Prince William and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. But Camilla has pulled out of today’s welcome at Horse Guards Parade on doctor’s advice because she is still suffering from the ‘lingering’ side-effects of a ‘nasty viral chest infection’. The 77-year-old royal, who fell ill a month ago, is said to be feeling particularly ‘fatigued’ but she will attend the lunch at Buckingham Palace and most elements of the State Banquet this evening. 

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - An eight-year-old schoolgirl has d!ed after trying to protect her mum from a late-night knife attack, it is believed. Malikika Al Katib, 8, was reportedly stabbed when she rushed downstairs to intervene after realising her mother was being attacked with a knife at their home in New Ross, Co Wexford, Ireland, late on Sunday night, Dec. 1, The Irish Mirror reports. The attacker then turned the weapon on the little girl and stabbed her at least twice. A source said: “She realised her mum was being attacked and went to try to help her as much as a young child can." Malikika sustained serious injuries at the family home on William Street before paramedics raced to the scene and fought to save her life. The girl was then rushed to University Hospital Waterford – where she tragically d!ed on Monday morning, Dec. 2. Sources told how the horror attack broke out at around 11.45pm on Sunday night. Gardai from the Armed Support Unit rushed to the scene and found Malikika, her mother, Alisha Al Katib, 31, and the man injured. All three were taken to University Hospital Waterford, where Malikika later d!ed. Sources say her mum is expected to make a full recovery. New Ross Educate Together National School, where Malikika attended, declared a critical incident with help from health experts. Principal Theresa White said: “We learned this morning of the death of a student who attends our school. This is a terrible tragedy for the family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by these events. Our sympathy and thoughts are with family and friends. “The school has implemented our Critical Incident Management Plan and we are in receipt of support from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). They have been with us all day supporting and advising teachers in their efforts to assist students at this time. “Our teachers are helping students to deal with this tragic event. We will be sharing information with parents today around how they can support their children at this difficult time. We would ask you to respect our privacy at this difficult time.” Detectives from the Garda Technical Bureau were on scene into Monday evening where a cordon remains in place. A spokesperson said: “Gardaí are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a girl following a fatal assault at a domestic residence in New Ross, Co. Wexford on Sunday, 1st December, 2024. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene at approximately 11.45pm. “The girl was taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment. She passed away from her injuries in the early hours of this morning. A woman and man (30s) are receiving treatment at University Hospital Wexford. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. “The scene remains preserved for forensic examination. “The Coroner has been notified and the Garda Technical Bureau and Office of the State Pathologist have been requested to assist in the investigation. A post-mortem examination will be scheduled. A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at New Ross Garda Station."

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A toddler tragically drowned in a garden bin after her mum was forced to leave her with a stranger to visit her sick baby in hospital. Nigerian Mum-of-two, Balikis Adeoye has come out to speak of her heartbreak after losing her "beautiful and happy" two-year-old daughter Mazeedat. The devastated parent told an inquest she "didn't know or trust well enough" the people looking after her daughter when the horror unfolded on January 29, 2022. But, she felt forced to leave Mazeedat with them, in order to be with her three-month-old baby who was having heart surgery in hospital. The little girl was tragically discovered at the property in Dagenham a few hours after an alarm was raised. She was found in a bin which contained nine centimetres of water. Balikis told an inquest at East London Coroner's Court she asked for help from social services at Newham Council but claimed no one had tried to find a foster parent for her daughter. She said: "I struggle to find the words to describe the heartbreak I feel over Mazeedat's death. "She was the most beautiful and happy little girl who brought sunshine to my life. "Before her birth, I only knew how to love myself. When she was born Mazeedat was the best thing that had happened in my life. "I'll always keep Mazeedat close to my heart and will forever cherish the short but precious years we had together. "I just hope that by speaking out other families facing the same situation don't have to experience the same pain I will always live with." The inquest heard how Balikis moved to the UK from Nigeria in March 2021 and on September, her baby son, who is British, had been diagnosed with a hole in his heart. Balikis had first been referred to Newham Council four months before Mazeedat's death because she was living on sofas with no permanent home. She told the inquest she requested a foster placement for her daughter, while she stayed with her son who was having heart surgery in hospital. At the time Balikis was referred to social services, she was classified as an overstayer because she had separated from her UK partner and therefore couldn’t access public funds. But the inquest heard social workers did not arrange a placement and advised the mum-of-two, who had no support network, to ask friends for help instead. This meant Balikis was forced to leave Mazeedat with a carer she "didn't know or trust well enough" in order to be with her son on January 25, 2022. Balikis said: "At the time she died, Mazeedat was staying with people I didn't know or trust well enough. "However, I felt that I had no choice but to leave her in their care. "Faced with the alternative of leaving my other child, a three-month-old baby alone in hospital to recover from heart surgery, this was no choice at all." The mum-of-two said she "consistently" pleaded for help but "none was arranged". The toddler was reported missing on January 29 and discovered in the garden a few hours later. The inquest concluded that two-year-old Mazeedat died due to "gross failure" due to inadequate supervision in the garden, failures by those caring for Mazeedat and the council. A post-mortem examination found her cause of death was drowning. Coroner Graeme Irvine added: “Local authority child services failed to support Mazeedat's family and put in place appropriate support for Mazeedat's care.” The coroner found if the "missed opportunity" to secure the two-year-old a foster placement had been taken, her death probably could have been avoided. He told the inquest he now plans to write a prevention of future deaths report. A spokesperson for Newham Council said: "We were devastated by Mazeedat's tragic death. Our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones. "After the terrible accident which led to her death in January 2022 we undertook an investigation into our role and since that time our social work practice and approach has been overhauled - a change, which has since been recognised by Ofsted who now rate our services as 'Good'.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A Florida woman was sentenced to life in prison Monday, Dec. 2, for the 2020 murder of her boyfriend, who she sealed in a suitcase overnight until he suffocated and died while she taunted him. Sarah Boone, 47, smiled in an Orlando courtroom after Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick sentenced the convicted killer who was found guilty of second-degree murd*r in October for the de@th of her boyfriend Jorge Torres Jr. Boone had trapped Torres, 42, in a suitcase overnight and recorded a video of herself taunting him before leaving him to die. A jury took only 90 minutes to find her guilty after a 10-day trial in which Boone claimed her boyfriend abused her. Torres’ family packed the courtroom Monday and several relatives spoke about the impact of his de@th before the sentencing, pouring out their grief over his torturous demise. “Sometimes when I look out the window, I’m waiting for him to come and say, ‘Mom, I love you,’” his mother Blanca Torres said. One of Torres Jr.’s daughters, Anna Victoria Torres, detailed the mental health issues she has suffered since her father’s de@th, including chronic depression and anxiety. She said that for the first year, she would wake up screaming and “wishing I was having a nightmare, only to wake up and remember all over again that my father is gone.” Boone took the stand before her sentencing in a last-ditch effort to sway favor her way. She had proven to be a difficult client throughout her trial and cycled through a whopping nine attorneys, as reported by WESH. Boone and her defense team had spent the trial arguing that Torres had been abusive and that she only killed him because she was suffering “battered spouse syndrome,” WESH reported. “I forgive myself for falling in love with a monster. And no matter how grotesque he may become, I still loved him, hoped and forgave,” Boone said. She alleged that Torres Jr. had “kicked, punched, spit on, r@ped, stabbed, [and] ch0ked” her throughout their relationship. Despite her accusations against him, she asked for forgiveness for his death. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. Forgive me Jorge,” she pleaded. “Forgive me Torres family.” The February 2020 m*rder started during a night of drinking and a game of hide-and-seek, according to a news release from State Attorney Andrew Bain. Torres Jr. had hidden in the suitcase as part of the game. Boone then zipped the suitcase up, recorded herself taunting him as he pleaded to be released, and went to bed. “In the videos she recorded, the victim could be heard telling the defendant he could not breathe and asking to be let out of the suitcase. Boone responded with, ‘That’s what you get,’ ‘That’s what I feel like when you cheat on me’ and other taunts,” the news release read. Torres was de@d by the following morning, having suffocated at some point in the night. Boone claimed she thought he would be able to get himself out because two of his fingers were poking out of the suitcase, according to an arrest affidavit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. She originally pleaded not guilty to the charges and later rejected a plea offer of a 15-year sentence.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A lawyer, Theo Hartzenberg, has been sentenced to eight years in prison by the Wynberg regional court, South Africa, for statutory r@pe and the s3xual exploitation of homeless children whom he paid for s3x. The sentencing took place on Monday, December 2, after Hartzenberg faced over 20 charges, to which he pleaded not guilty during the trial. The court heard testimony from a 21-year-old homeless male victim, who knew Hartzenberg as a lawyer living in a block of flats in Muizenberg, Cape Town. The victim revealed that he and other boys were exploited by Hartzenberg, who paid them for s3x. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila provided details of the case, explaining that the victim and his friend observed Hartzenberg leaving his flat, heading to the beach, and engaging in s3xual acts with other boys behind a wall. The victim was paid R100 for acting as a lookout during the incident. The following day, the victim, his friend, and another boy were paid R100 each after engaging in s3x with Hartzenberg. This exploitation occurred repeatedly, with the victim using the money to buy food and drugs. The trial also included testimony from a 16-year-old boy, who confirmed the accounts of the previous victims. He described how he initially struggled to engage in s3x with Hartzenberg but was still paid. On subsequent occasions, he and other boys engaged in s3xual acts with Hartzenberg in exchange for R100. Hartzenberg attempted to have the charges dropped, but the state opposed his request, arguing that Hartzenberg deliberately exploited vulnerable homeless children. In closing arguments, prosecutor Jacqueline Hefele emphasized that the victims were not contradicting themselves during their testimony and that Hartzenberg was fully aware of their vulnerable circumstances. Prosecutor Jacqueline Hefele said in closing arguments that Hartzenberg knew the victims were vulnerable street children who were easy to exploit. She emphasised they did not contradict themselves while testifying. “The accused knew the victims as he admitted to giving them money and food and the witnesses had no reason to fabricate evidence against their benefactor. The court found the evidence against the accused overwhelming.  The court accepted the accused solicited the services of the complainants to provide him with sexual services in return for monetary payments. It found the state proved its case against the accused,” said Ntabazalila. Hartzenberg was sentenced to eight years' direct imprisonment for statutory rape with three years suspended for five years on condition he is not convicted on a similar charge during the period of suspension.  The court also sentenced him to eight years' direct imprisonment for sexual exploitation of a child and three months' direct imprisonment for engaging in sexual services with a person older than 18 years, suspended for five years on condition he is not convicted for committing a similar offence during the period of suspension. He was declared unfit to possess a firearm. His name will be added to the National Child Protection Register and National Register for Sex Offenders.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - American actor and film producer, Danny Pintauro has revealed that he underwent emergency surgery after he was injured in an accident while riding on a scooter. The “Who’s the Boss?” star said that the accident happened on Thanksgiving night but his symptoms escalated the next day, according to a post on his Instagram page, where he shared photos and video clips of himself hooked up to IVs and breathing tubes in a hospital room. Pintauro revealed that he initially suspected that he’d broken his arm but when he began having significant chest, stomach and shoulder pains that caused him to have trouble breathing, his husband took him to the hospital. It was then that they discovered he had developed an infection in his bloodstream due to a tear in his stomach. “It was the worst moment of my life,” Pintauro wrote. “It’s been the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt in my whole life.” He shared that he underwent emergency surgery overnight, which “went well” and has eased his pain. Pintauro also said that the nurses and doctors extubated him after the procedure. “They always say this but it’s very true, if I had waited any longer, I could’ve died,” he wrote. “My body was the one who told me something was absolutely wrong. My wonderful husband Wil drove me here and has been by my side for the whole thing.” Pintauro went on to thank the doctors, nurses and the surgeon who performed his surgery, who he wrote have all “been wonderful.” “This is my first major surgery, first emergency surgery EVER but I kept it together. It was absolutely terrifying,” he wrote. Pintauro added that his arm wasn’t broken after all. As a child, the actor played Jonathan Bower from 1984 - 1992 in the television sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” with Tony Danza, Judith Light and Alyssa Milano. More recently, Pintauro appeared in “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and the TV movie “A Country Christmas Harmony.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A man has been jailed for life for attacking his partner who died with severe burns two years after he poured petrol on her and set her on fire. Leigh Pateman, 45, was previously sentenced to 17 years and 10 months in prison for grievous bodily harm with intent but admitted the murder of Ellen Marshall in November after she died from her injuries on March 11, 2023. Emergency services were called to their property in Firbeck Avenue, Skegness, on the evening of April 22 2021 where Pateman had poured petrol into Ms Marshall’s lap and set fire to her during an argument. The defendant, who appeared by video link from HMP Garth wearing a grey T-shirt, was handed a minimum term of 23 years and 145 days by Judge Simon Hirst at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday. The court heard that Pateman told police that he was “messing about” by flicking his lighter to “scare her” before she caught on fire and he fled the scene on his bike. A fire crew entered the property and were met with “black smoke” before they heard Ms Marshall making a “gurgling” sound on the floor, the court was told. Prosecutor Sarah Knight said the mother-of-four was left with “little hair on her head” and her face was so badly burned her appearance had been “radically altered”. She told the court that Ms Marshall, who was aged 43 when she d!ed, sustained “profoundly serious, life-altering injuries”, including 80% full-thickness burns to her torso, face, and limbs, which required skin grafts. Ms Marshall, whose chance of survival was given at less than 50%, also lost fingers and had limited movement in the years following the attack. Her cause of death was recorded as pneumonia and the long-term consequence of burns. Ms Knight told the court: “The cause of death is a direct consequence of the burns she sustained.” The court heard that Pateman had traits of a mixed personality disorder, suffered alcohol dependence for more than 30 years starting when he was aged nine or 10, and regularly used drugs. A witness who shared the multiple occupancy property with the couple heard Pateman say he was “going to set Ellen alight and pour petrol all over her” a few days before the attack, but she thought it was a “joke”, the court heard. Ms Marshall’s daughter, Paige Clarke, wrote a victim impact statement that was read to the court which said her mother had never got to meet her first grandchild. Ms Clarke wrote: “My mum deserved better. She became weaker and weaker as the days went by and even then she was so strong. “She would always take the time to focus on how other people were, showing love and appreciation, and she never let anything or anyone drag her down. “She lost all her independence. Her physical appearance changed so much she was unrecognisable. Eventually, her body just could not take it anymore.” Katherine Goddard KC, defending Pateman, said: “I have been instructed on the remorse Mr Pateman feels for his actions and the consequences to Ms Marshall and her family. “They were far beyond what he intended and he has had many years to accept the enormity of his actions and the consequences.” Judge Hirst said to the defendant: “You threatened to set her alight and pour petrol over her. On other occasions you threatened to kill Ms Marshall. “This is not a sudden outburst of temper in an otherwise healthy relationship. “Whenever a person over the age of 21 is convicted of mu&der, the court is required to sentence the defendant to imprisonment for life. That is the position for you.” Detective Inspector Andy McWatt of Lincolnshire Police said: “This was a truly shocking and barbaric attack. I cannot begin to imagine how much fear she must have felt, and how painful the rest of Ellen’s life was. “Her family had to watch someone they love suffer from terrible injuries for almost two years. I hope that they can feel some measure of closure that her killer has been sentenced for that crime.”

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A barrister accused of forging his mother’s signature to cut his younger brother out of his inheritance has lost a court fight over the £1.2 million fortune in the UK. Robert Grierson, 56, who specialises in tax and will disputes, was sued by his 55-year-old brother Duncan, who was left with just £10,000. Robert was given the rest of the estate. The High Court heard that Elise Grierson, their mother, dramatically changed her will 16 days after their father’s death in 2022, having previously treated the brothers equally. Robert claimed she had already signed a declaration of trust in 2013, handing him a half share of her £1 million home in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. But he was sued by his brother at the High Court, with Judge Joanne Wicks KC ruling that both the gift of half the house and the will were invalid. The judge said there was “compelling evidence” that Elise had not signed the trust document herself, while the will was not properly witnessed and was made at a time when Robert could not prove she was of sound mind. The judge made no findings as to whether Robert was responsible for forgery because he had not been in court to defend himself. During the trial, Judge Wicks heard that Elise and her husband, also named Robert, had enjoyed a 60-year marriage, with their son Robert living with them from 1999 and later operating his legal practice from their home on an exclusive private estate. Constance McDonnell KC, Duncan’s barrister, said the parents treated their sons equally and had “worked extremely hard” to support them, with both going on to study law at the University of Cambridge. After her husband’s death in January 2022, Grierson suffered an “acute grief reaction”, the barrister said. She also suffered depression and a decline in her physical health, and died in hospital in March aged 84. Duncan went to court to challenge the 2013 document on the basis of forgery and the will on the basis that his mother was mentally unsound, did not understand and properly approve of it, and that it was not witnessed properly. He said a previous will from 2020, dividing her estate equally, was her last true will and that there was no reason for her to have changed her mind in the two intervening years. Ms. McDonnell said an expert had assessed the declaration of trust and said the signature and initials of Elise on it were probably “simulations”. There was also evidence that an “indented tracing guideline” had been followed to produce it, making it “highly probable” that it was not signed by her. Robert’s defence to the action was struck out following his failure to disclose evidence earlier this year, with the judge then left to decide the case on Duncan’s evidence alone. Giving judgment, Judge Wicks said the expert evidence provided “compelling evidence that Elise did not herself sign” the document handing Robert half of the house. “Duncan’s case is that Robert is the only person who could, and would, have placed such simulated signatures on that document, and that he did so in order to acquire by fraud an asset worth about £500,000,” said Ms McDonnell.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Oxford University Press (OUP), the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary, has selected “brain rot” as its Word of the Year for 2024, beating other contenders, including the viral social media term “demure.” The latter was named Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year. OUP’s decision followed a public vote in which over 37,000 people participated, while language experts created a shortlist of six words reflecting the moods and conversations that have defined the past year. "After two weeks of public voting and widespread conversation, our experts came together to consider the public’s input, voting results, and our language data before declaring ‘brain rot’ as the definitive Word of the Year for 2024," the organization said on Tuesday, December 3. Other words in the running included “dynamic pricing,” “lore,” “romantasy,” and “slop.” “Brain rot” is defined as the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, primarily due to overconsumption of trivial or unchallenging material, especially online content. The term first appeared in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden (1854), where it described the mental toll of trivial pursuits. However, in 2024, it gained fresh relevance as social media platforms like TikTok popularized it among younger generations such as Gen Z and Gen Alpha. OUP reported a 230 percent surge in the usage of “brain rot” between 2023 and 2024, reflecting growing concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-value online content, particularly among the youth. Initially a term in online subcultures, it has since entered mainstream discussions, including journalism and debates about the mental health effects of technology. During the announcement, the President of Oxford Languages, Casper Grathwohl, explained the selection of “brain rot” for 2024. “Looking back at the Oxford Word of the Year over the past two decades, you can see society’s growing preoccupation with how our virtual lives are evolving, the way internet culture is permeating so much of who we are and what we talk about. Last year’s winning word, ‘rizz,’ was an interesting example of how online communities increasingly form, shape, and share language. ‘Brain rot’ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life and how we are using our free time. It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology.” Grathwohl noted the term’s widespread adoption, particularly on TikTok, adding, “It demonstrates a somewhat cheeky self-awareness in these communities about the harmful impact of social media that they’ve inherited.” Other publications have also named their Words of the Year for 2024. Collins Dictionary selected “brat,” redefined as someone characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude. Cambridge Dictionary chose “manifest,” which refers to imagining achieving something you want in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen. Macquarie Dictionary in Australia picked “enshittification,” describing the gradual deterioration of a service or product, especially online platforms, due to profit-seeking. The Economist selected “kakistocracy,” meaning “rule of the worst.”

Entertainment critic Bongo Ideas has stirred conversations with his recent remarks about Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale. In an interview, Bongo said it is disrespectful to compare him to Shatta Wale, claiming he is smarter than the musician. Bongo also shared his thoughts on Shatta Wale’s career, suggesting that his lack of higher education might ... Read more The post Comparing Me To Shatta Wale Is Insulting, I’m Far Above Him – Bongo Ideas appeared first on GhanaCelebrities.Com.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - The United Nations has stated that food and water in the besieged region of Gaza are at an all-time low and urgent action must be taken to avert further crisis. On Monday, December 2, the UN agency, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) joined the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and humanitarian partners in calling for unrestricted and safe access to deliver at-scale emergency agricultural aid to prevent the spread of famine and further loss of lives in the region. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol speaking at the Cairo Ministerial Conference said; “Today, food availability is at an all-time low across the entire Gaza Strip, and food supply has sharply deteriorated,” ‘The window of opportunity to deliver assistance is now, today, not tomorrow. Food, medicine and fuel are self-evident priorities, but we must also prioritize the ability to grow food locally where it is needed most to ensure survival.” The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), issued in October, warned of a famine risk for the entire Gaza Strip from November 2024 through April 2025. Around 133,000 people or 6 percent of the population are already experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 5, Catastrophe) – meaning that people have almost no food and cannot meet their basic needs. This number is expected to nearly triple in the coming months. Moreover, in early November, the independent Famine Review Committee found a strong likelihood that famine is already occurring or imminent in parts of northern Gaza. Bechdol reiterated FAO’s commitment to scale up its response to mitigate famine and prevent its spread across the Gaza Strip and beyond while emphasizing that this cannot be achieved without access. To this end, the Deputy Director-General called on Member States to put more pressure to lift the ban on private food imports in place since early October in southern Gaza and mobilize resources to fund FAO’s appeal for $53 million which is part of the 2025 UN Humanitarian Flash Appeal. These funds will support around 80,000 farmers, herders and fishermen and women with time-critical agriculture inputs to restore local food production. “In Gaza, ensuring the right to food is not just about meeting immediate needs—it is about safeguarding human dignity, preventing famine from spreading, and laying the groundwork for rebuilding a resilient agrifood system,” she concluded. Before October 7, Gaza was largely self-sufficient in vegetables, eggs, fresh milk, poultry and fish, and produced much of its red meat, olive oil and fruits. More than one year into the war, agrifood systems have collapsed, and local food production – the primary source of nutrition and sometimes people’s only source for food – has been decimated across the whole of Gaza, the FAO said. According to the FAO-UNOSAT most recent geospatial analysis in Gaza, nearly 70 percent of croplands – which contributed up to one-third of daily food consumption – have been damaged or destroyed since the escalation of hostilities. The same is true for orchards, greenhouses, water wells and other agricultural infrastructure. Moreover, almost 95 percent of cattle and more than half of sheep and goat herds, have died. These animal losses have both removed access to critical and nutritious sources of protein and milk and devastated people’s livelihoods.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Vietnamese property tycoon, Truong My Lan, has lost her appeal against her death sentence for masterminding the world’s biggest bank fraud. The 68-year-old is now in a race for her life because the law in Vietnam states that if she can pay back 75% of what she took, her sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment. In April, the trial court found that Truong My Lan had secretly controlled Saigon Commercial Bank, the country’s fifth biggest lender, and had taken out loans and cash over more than 10 years through a web of shell companies, amounting to a total of $44bn (£34.5bn). Of that prosecutors say $27bn was misappropriated, and $12bn was judged to have been embezzled, the most serious financial crime for which she was sentenced to death. It was a rare and shocking verdict as she is one of very few women in Vietnam to be sentenced to d£ath for a white collar crime. On Tuesday, December 3, the court said there was no basis to reduce Truong My Lan's death sentence. However, she could still avoid execution if she returns $9bn of the $12bn she embezzled. During her trial Truong My Lan was sometimes defiant, but in the recent hearings for her appeal against the sentence she was more contrite. She said she was embarrassed to have been such a drain on the state, and that her only thought was to pay back what she had taken. Truong My Lan started as a market stall vendor, selling cosmetics with her mother. She began buying land and property after the Communist Party introduced economic reform in 1986. By the 1990s, she owned a large portfolio of hotels and restaurants. When she was convicted and sentenced in April, she was the chairwoman of a prominent real estate firm, Van Thinh Phat Group. It was a dramatic moment in the "Blazing Furnaces" anti-corruption campaign led by then-Communist Party Secretary-General, Nguyen Phu Trong. All of the remaining 85 defendants were convicted. Four were sentenced to life in jail, while the rest -including Truong My Lan's husband and niece were given prison terms ranging from 20 years to three years suspended. Truong My Lan’s lawyers said she was working as fast as she could to find the $9bn needed. But cashing in her assets has proven difficult. Some are luxury properties in Ho Chi Minh City which could, in theory, be sold quite quickly. Others are in the form of shares or stakes in other businesses or property projects. In all the state has identified more than a thousand different assets linked to the fraud. These have been frozen by the authorities for now. The BBC understands the tycoon has also reached out to friends to raise loans for her to help reach the target. Her lawyers have argued for leniency from the judges on financial grounds. They said that while she is under sentence of death it would be hard for her to negotiate the best price for selling her assets and investments, and so harder for her to raise $9bn. She could do much better if under a life sentence instead, they say. “The total value of her holdings actually exceeds the required compensation amount,” lawyer Nguyen Huy Thiep told the BBC before her appeal was rejected. “However, these require time and effort to sell, as many of the assets are real estate and take time to liquidate. Truong My Lan hopes the court can create the most favourable conditions for her to continue making compensation.”

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - A U.S. judge has reaffirmed her rejection of Elon Musk’s $55.8 billion compensation package at Tesla, dismissing the company’s bid to reinstate the deal through a shareholder vote. Chancellor Kathleen McCormick of Delaware’s Court of Chancery ruled against Tesla’s attempt to ratify the package via a June shareholder vote, stating it could not override her January decision deeming the package excessive and unfair to shareholders. In her ruling, McCormick cited “material misstatements” in documents provided to shareholders about the implications of their vote and denied Tesla’s motion to revise her decision. She criticized the defense's legal arguments as unprecedented and contrary to established law. Tesla announced plans to appeal, while Musk, in a post on his social media platform X, argued that shareholders, not judges, should control company decisions. The court awarded $345 million in attorney fees, a fraction of the $5.6 billion requested by lawyers for plaintiff Richard Tornetta, a Tesla shareholder. McCormick acknowledged the fee calculation method adhered to Delaware law but deemed the requested amount an "excessive windfall." The rejected compensation package, approved by shareholders in 2018, was structured to reward Musk for Tesla’s growth. However, Tornetta’s lawsuit accused Musk of dictating terms to a board that lacked independence and alleged the package led to Musk’s unjust enrichment, making him the world’s richest person. Musk denied influencing the deal, asserting that Tesla’s investors were sophisticated and capable of monitoring his leadership. The Delaware Court of Chancery, where many Fortune 500 companies are registered, played a pivotal role in this high-profile case. Following the ruling, Musk reposted calls on X urging businesses to leave Delaware. Tesla remains at the center of a heated debate over corporate governance and executive pay.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - US President-elect, Donald Trump has suggested that he will free Jan 6 rioters in response to President Joe Biden pardoning his son. In a statement issued by the White House on Sunday, December 1, Biden said that his son had been “singled out” and “selectively, and unfairly” prosecuted due to his family name. This official grant of clemency cannot be rescinded by President-elect Donald Trump. Hunter Biden was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12 for his conviction on federal gun charges. He also was set to be sentenced on Dec. 16 in a separate criminal case in which he pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges in September. In his first public comment since Biden announced the pardon, Trump wrote: ‘Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!’ That came not long after Fox News commentator Charlie Hurt made the linkage. 'I think he should at least commute the sentences of all of them and pardoned every single one that was obviously just following the person in front of them wandering through the capital,' he said. 'Pardon every single one of them. There were some that did more than just that. And I think he should commute their sentences and let them all out! Every single one of them,' he said. According to the Justice Department, 140 police officers were assulated during the attack on the Capitol, including 80 U.S. Capitol Police officers and 60 from DC's Metropolitan Police Department. More than 1,200 people have been charged on January 6-related charges. Many battled with police officers. Others got charged with interfering with an official proceeding on a day Congress met to certify the electoral votes that made Joe Biden president. 

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - US President-elect, Donald Trump has issued a threat to Hamas, saying if hostages are not released by his inauguration there will be 'all hell to pay' in the Middle East. Trump made the strong threat on his Truth Social site, hours after the Israel Defense Force confirmed the death of American-Israeli hostage Omer Maxim Neutra, 21. Two days ago, Hamas released a harrowing hostage video of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander weeping and pleading for his life after 420 days in captivity. 'Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East - But it’s all talk, and no action!' Trump wrote. 'Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity.' 'Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!' Trump demanded. Families of the hostages have continued to issue urgent pleas for their release. A total of 251 people were taken in the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with more than 60 still being held. 

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump has nominated billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Stephens, 67, is chairman, president, and CEO of Stephens Inc., a privately owned financial services firm headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The businessman said to be worth more than $3 billion is a conservative megadonor and one of the richest men in Arkansas. He will now have the opportunity to serve the United States from Winfield House, the palatial residence of the U.S. Ambassador that overlooks Regents Park in London. There was speculation Trump would pick New York Jets owner Woody Johnson for the role for the second time, after his posting in the first administration. 'I am pleased to announce that Warren A. Stephens, one of the most successful businessmen in the Country, has been nominated to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, a role in which he will act as our Representative to the United Kingdom,' Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social. 'Over the last 38 years, while serving as the President, Chairman, and CEO of his company, Stephens Inc., Warren has built a wonderful financial services firm, while selflessly giving back to his community as a philanthropist,' he continued. 'Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time.' 'I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the U.S.A. to one of America’s most cherished and beloved Allies. Congratulations to Warren, his wife, Harriet, their three children, Miles, John, and Laura, and their six grandchildren!' Trump's Truth Social post read. 

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Serena Williams has strongly denied rumours that she has altered her appearance, following viral speculation that she had lightened her skin. In an Instagram Live video on Monday, the retired tennis legend took the opportunity to address the rumours head-on while going through her makeup routine. "And no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin," Williams said, refuting claims that she had made major changes to her appearance. The speculation began after Williams posted footage from her daughter’s school play, which led to numerous social media comments about the apparent change in her skin tone. Williams explained that there were a few reasons for her appearance, including the effects of sunlight. "There is a thing called sunlight and in that sunlight, you get different colours," she said. She also clarified that she was wearing stage makeup, as she had volunteered to help backstage at the event. While Williams emphasized that she has no issue with individuals who choose to alter their skin, she made it clear that it’s not something she would ever do. "I am a dark Black woman and I love who I am and love how I look," Williams affirmed.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Former Valencia and Boca Juniors star, Fernando Caceres has reportedly been accused of killing his wife after she fell to her d3ath from the seventh floor of their apartment in the Argentine city of Ramos Mejia. Raquel Candia, 45, is thought to have been alone in the house with the 54-year-old ex-defender, whom she had lived with for 11 months. Candia was found in the building's inner courtyard having allegedly fallen from the apartment on its seventh floor, and residents were said to have heard 'screams' in the hours leading up to her death. As per Canal 26, other neighbours are said to have seen Candia's fall, and her d3ath is now under the investigation of the La Matanza district Homicide Prosecutor Carlos Arribas, with support from the Scientific Division of the Buenos Aires Police. Arribas was previously involved with Caceres when investigating the former player's shooting in 2009. The ex-Celta Vigo star was left in a wheelchair with life-changing injuries after being shot in the head when he was caught up in an attempted robbery while driving his car in the Buenos Aires suburb of Ciudadela. On Monday, Caceres was found by the police in the apartment allegedly with blood and hair on his person, his home in disarray. As per Spanish outlet Marca, Caceres was not in his wheelchair and was sitting on the bed when met by the police. In the wake of the tragedy, the 54-year-old has been accused by a number of Candia's relatives of playing a role in his partner's de@th, with one of her brothers dubbing the crime 'a femicide' and Caceres 'a bad person'. 'It was a rather aggressive relationship on his part,' Candia's sibling said, via Marca. 'There are witnesses and neighbors here who told us that there was violence previously and that they approached the balcony and pushed her and she fell off the cliff... It's a femicide... 'Fernando Cáceres always mistreated her, he's a bad person. It's inhumane.' Candia's cousin, who spoke to media at the scene of the accident, said she believed that her relative's de@th was not an accident, and that the family were keen to put their faith in the police. 'It wasn't her. We have to investigate what happened,' she said, with another of Candia's brothers, Miguel, making the point more strenuously, via La Nacion. 'There is someone to blame,' he said. 'My sister did not k!ll herself, my sister was killed.' Another relative added: 'It is clear that she was killed. She is not going to kill herself because she would never do something like that, to be clear. 'The police do not tell me anything. There must be a protocol, but they do not let me in to see her.' Candia's mother Adela also confirmed that the couple were due to split at the time of her daughter's de@th, adding that although she 'didn't know much (...) she was moving away.' Adela added that Candia had a difficult relationship with an unnamed former partner, the father of her three children. Caceres began his career at Argentinos Juniors in the late 1980s, playing for his country's standout sides including River Plate and Boca Juniors before making the move to Spain to join Valencia in 1996. The centre-back featured for the side, as well as Celta Vigo, and Cordoba, before returning to home soil and finishing up his 21-year career at his boyhood side. 

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Crystal Palace and England star Marc Guehi is set to be issued a formal reminder by the FA after writing 'I love Jesus' on his rainbow-coloured captain's armband. The defender wrote a three-word statement on his armband during Palace's 1-1 draw at home against Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. FA rules allow a number of 'initiative slogans/emblems', such as Rainbow Laces, but forbid 'political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.' Another law states that captains 'must wear an armband which is simple and conforms to the requirements of Law 4 relating to slogans, statements, images and advertising.' Mail Sport understands that Guehi and Crystal Palace will be reminded of the FA's kit and advertising regulations. Guehi is a devout Christian and previously spoke on how his faith still plays a major role in his football career. Speaking to The Athletic, he said: 'I've grown up loving God and when I have had the chance I still go to church with my family, and my faith is definitely a big part of my life. 'Faith is everything that I'm involved with, really; even in football, where I'm trying to be a role model and show God's graciousness and God's glory through my life.' Guehi comes from a religious household, with his father, John, being a church minister. On Monday, a report claimed that Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy refused to wear a rainbow armband during his side's 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest for religious reasons. According to The Mirror, the newly-promoted side confirmed that the 33-year-old, who is a practicing Muslim, refused to partake in the initiative due to his faith. The club were nevertheless keen to stress their commitment to LGBT+ inclusion. In a statement, a spokesperson insisted that the club 'proudly supports' the campaign. 'Ipswich Town Football Club is committed to being a fully inclusive club that welcomes everyone. We proudly support the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and stand with the LGBTQ+ community in promoting equality and acceptance,' the spokesperson said. 'During this year's campaign, members of the club's men's and women's first-teams visited our Foundation's weekly LGBTQ+ football session, while the club also made a joint pledge of solidarity and inclusivity alongside Nottingham Forest ahead of Saturday's game. 'A range of further initiatives are planned around Tuesday's home game with Crystal Palace, including a takeover of the stadium's big screen in the moments prior to kick-off. 'At the same time, we respect the decision of our captain Sam Morsy, who has chosen not to wear the rainbow captain's armband, due to his religious beliefs. We will continue to grow an environment where all are valued and respected, both on and off the pitch.'

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - MA Chester FC fan who allegedly made racist monkey gestures towards a black footballer during a local derby match has been found dead just hours later. The Chester FC supporter was spotted on camera performing a gesture towards Warrington Town player Bohan Dixon after a teammate had scored a goal. Objects were also thrown onto the pitch during ugly scenes at the Cal.Delivery Stadium during the National League North fixture in front of 2,296 fans on Saturday. Video footage was then circulated on social media and discussed among fans with one posting an image claiming to be of the man, who has not been identified. Chester initially said it was 'angry and dismayed at an alleged instance of racism', and would share its video and photographic evidence with Cheshire Police. The club added: 'Racism has no place in sport or society, and anyone found to have displayed such behaviour will receive an indefinite ban from attending matches.' Chester also condemned 'the actions of a minority who are unable to behave responsibly' and said the side now faced a Football Association investigation. In a shocking development, the club revealed this morning 'it is with sadness Chester FC has been made aware of the tragic de@th of the individual involved' and 'the immediate thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends.' Cheshire Police confirmed the man was 'due to be spoken to at a later date', before he died yesterday in Flint, North Wales with no suspicious circumstances. The incident happened when Dixon was celebrating his team's opening goal in front of the 900 Chester fans after Connor Woods had scored from the penalty spot. The goal came in the 73rd minute, but Warrington captain Josh Amis was then sent off for violent conduct and Harrison Burke scored a Chester equaliser on the 85th. The 1-1 result left Warrington in 18th place in the 24-team league, three points above the relegation zone. Chester are now in seventh, just within the play-off places. A Cheshire Police spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'During the match between Warrington FC and Chester FC on Saturday, November 30 police were made aware of a racially aggravated public order offence. 'The suspect was identified and was due to be spoken to at a later date about the matter. 'Sadly, the man was reported to have died at an address in Flint on Sunday, December 1. There are no suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.' The force added that the matter had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) 'in line with standard procedure'. 

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 - Everton and England defender, Ashley Young could be in for a dream family clash in the FA Cup third round when his side take on Peterborough United, where his 18-year-old son Tyler plays. Peterborough travel to Goodison Park next month with Young keen to see his son in action at the League One club where he made his first senior appearance this season. “Dreams might come true,” Young said in a post on social media. Young aged 39 boasts a remarkable total of 724 appearances for top clubs including Watford, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Inter Milan. Young is in a similar situation to LeBron James and his son Bronny, who became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA regular-season game for the Los Angeles Lakers in October. The third round will take place around the weekend of January 11-12 and sees the 44 clubs from the Premier League and second-tier Championship enter the competition, joining the 20 lower-league and non-league sides who won in the previous round.

Afronita, founder of AfroStar Kids Academy and brand ambassador for Kalyppo, as part of her 21st birthday celebration made a generous donation to the Cancer Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. She gifted the children GH¢60,000 alongside a variety of Kalyppo drinks, spreading smiles and joy to the young patients. Sharing the beautiful moment on ... Read more The post Afronita Donates GH¢60k And Goodies To Korle-Bu Cancer Unit Kids appeared first on GhanaCelebrities.Com.

Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was declared winner Tuesday of last week’s disputed elections, ushering in the southern African country’s first woman president after a disputed vote that the main opposition has already said it does not recognise. Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took just over 57 percent of ballots followed by the candidate for the main opposition […]

It was a night of celebration and historic wins at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco as Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan were named Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Both athletes achieved extraordinary feats at the Paris Olympics, redefining excellence in their respective disciplines and inspiring countless fans around the world. […] The post Olympic Champions Letsile Tebogo & Sifan Hassan Named World Athletes of the Year appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.