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South Africa’s genocide case against Israel sets up a high-stakes legal battle at the UN’s top court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — South Africa has launched a case at the United Nations’ top court alleging that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide.The filing and Israel’s decision to defend itself at the International Court of Justice set up a high-stakes showdown before a panel of judges in the Great Hall of Justice.The case will likely drag on for years. At its heart is the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, drawn up in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.The convention defines genocide as acts such as killings “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”Here are some further details on the case and its ramifications. WHAT IS SOUTH AFRICA’S ARGUMENT?South Africa’s 84-page filing says Israel’s actions “are genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part” of t...

‘Black Panther’ performer Carrie Bernans identified as pedestrian hurt in NYC crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The woman who was pinned under a food truck when a driver fleeing police plowed into pedestrians in midtown Manhattan early on New Year’s Day has been identified as an actor who has appeared in films such as “Black Panther” and “The Color Purple.” Actor and stunt performer Carrie Bernans suffered broken bones and chipped teeth and is in a great deal of pain following the crash near Penn Station on Monday, her mother posted to Instagram.Bernans’ publicist did not immediately return a message left Tuesday seeking comment.Police said a 44-year-old man was fleeing officers at around 1:30 a.m. when he drove onto the sidewalk and injured several pedestrians, including a woman who was pinned under a food truck.None of the injuries were life-threatening, police said. The driver was arrested on charges including attempted murder, reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated.The crash happened about a dozen blocks south of Times Square, where thousands...

Dozens of donated toys not delivered to families will be held until next Christmas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

Dozens of toys donated to the Salvation Army’s annual Toy Mountain campaign didn’t make it under a Christmas tree for local families in need this holiday, after a bin was not emptied in time.As of Monday morning, the donation bin at Promenade Shopping Centre in Thornhill was still overflowing with new toys meant to ensure deserving children had a gift to unwrap on Christmas morning.“In some cases, where donations to The Salvation Army are received or picked up after Christmas, toys are carried over to the following year,” Public Relations Officer Erin Boyle with the Salvation Army Ontario Division told CityNews in a statement.Boyle added the late pick-ups are important for distribution to families in the early part of the next holiday season when local toy drives are just beginning.The Salvation Army says toys dropped off at major malls were picked up regularly so that they could be sorted and distributed as quickly as possible. It’s unclear whether the bin at Promenade had been emp...

Arkansas family identified in house explosion that killed 4 in Michigan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Four people from an Arkansas family were publicly identified Tuesday as the victims of a fatal house explosion in Michigan over the weekend.Authorities said the explosion Saturday was likely caused by flammable fuel in the air and not a result of foul play.The dead were identified as Hope Bragg, 51, husband Don Bragg, 53, and their children, Kenneth Bragg, 22, and Elizabeth Bragg, 19, all from Monticello, Arkansas, the Northfield Township Police Department said.The explosion happened at the home of Hope Bragg’s father, Richard Pruden, 72, who remained in critical condition. Stephen Bragg, 16, was in stable condition.The explosion destroyed the home, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Detroit. The Braggs were visiting Michigan for the holiday, Lt. David Powell said.“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Powell said of the damage.Hope Bragg was an instructor at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, and Don Bragg worked as a ...

Dennis Edney, lawyer for former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr, dead at 77

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

EDMONTON — A well-known Canadian lawyer who played a critical role in the release of Omar Khadr, a young detainee at Guantanamo Bay, has died. Dennis Edney died Saturday at the age of 77.The soccer-player-turned lawyer spent more than a decade acting in defence of Khadr, including in three Supreme Court of Canada cases that led to Khadr’s eventual release from prison in 2015.An obituary published in the Edmonton Journal says Edney, who was born in Scotland, embraced Edmonton as his home for most of the last 45 years. It says his legal practice reflected his dedication to justice and his indomitable spirit. The obituary says Edney’s most enduring passion was his family — his wife, Patricia, and sons, Cameron and Duncan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 2, 2024. The Canadian Press

‘Bachelorette’ Rachel Lindsay’s husband, Bryan Abasolo, files for divorce after 4 years of marriage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The bloom is off the final rose for “Bachelorette” star Rachel Lindsay and husband Bryan Abasolo, who found love on the reality dating show. Court records show that Abasolo filed to end their marriage Tuesday. He cited irreconcilable differences for the breakup and his filing in Los Angeles Superior Court says the pair separated on Dec. 31. “After more than 4 years of marriage, Rachel and I have made the difficult decision to part ways and start anew,” Abasolo said in a statement posted to his Instagram account. “Sometimes loving yourself and your partner means you must let go.” After competing on Season 21 of “The Bachelor,” Lindsay gained fame as the first Black lead on any iteration of “The Bachelor” franchise when she was picked as “The Bachelorette” in 2017. She chose Abasolo as her winning suitor and they married in August 2019. Lindsay, an attorney and author, recently left her correspondent position at entertainment news show “Extra.” Abasolo is a chiropra...

Zvi Zamir, ex-Mossad chief who warned of impending 1973 Mideast war, dies at 98

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Zvi Zamir, a former director of Israel’s Mossad spy service who warned that Israel was about to be attacked on the eve of the 1973 Mideast war, has died, the Israeli prime minister’s office announced Tuesday. He was 98.Zamir led the Mossad from 1968-1974, a turbulent period that included a number of Palestinian attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets around the world. Among them was an attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics in which Palestinian militants killed 11 members of the Israeli delegation.Israel subsequently hunted down and killed members of the Black September militant group who had carried out the attack. The campaign was widely seen as a success in Israel, though Israeli agents also killed a Moroccan waiter in Norway in a case of mistaken identity.“Under his command, the Mossad led daring intelligence-gathering and counter-terrorism operations, including operations around the world to strike the leaders of the ‘Black September’ organization that was responsibl...

Indiana crash survivor 'the most grateful person ever' following rescue from mangled truck: 'A Christmas miracle'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

PORTAGE, Ind. — Matt Reum, the man at the center of a miraculous rescue in Indiana last week, is offering a message of gratitude to start the new year.  Reum posted on social media for the first time since the crash that left him trapped in a mangled truck for six days across the Christmas holiday. The 27-year-old from Mishawaka, Indiana thanked everyone for reaching out and donating to his GoFundMe for medical expenses. In his Facebook post on Monday, Reum called the rescue a 'Christmas miracle,' adding that the ordeal has since turned him into 'the most grateful person ever.'  Honeymooning couple shares story of being in cab that crashed into tree near Millennium Park ice rink Let’s break some silence, to everyone, and I mean the hundreds and thousands of people who have tried calling, texting, messaging, commenting, donating, and showing up to things like Corby’s to support me, there will never be enough graditude I can show.You guys turned an ordinary person who had a mir...

'Hooliganism': Actor Ian Ziering addresses Hollywood mini-biker brawl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

(KTLA) — Actor Ian Ziering described a physical confrontation between himself and a group of mini-bikers on Hollywood Boulevard Sunday as "hooliganism" in a social media post.Ziering, best known for his role in “Beverly Hills 90210,” was caught on camera in a fight with a group of people riding motorized mini-bikes in Hollywood on New Year’s Eve, according to a report from TMZ. Video posted by the tabloid outlet appeared to show the actor pushing one of the mini-bike riders, who was right in front of what seemed to be Ziering's SUV just before an all-out fight broke out. WATCH: Cat saves dog from attacking coyotes The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Nexstar’s KTLA that officers responded to the area of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue at around 3 p.m. on Sunday for reports of a fight that broke out after the group of bikers were driving recklessly in the area. While it wasn't immediately clear what prompted the interaction, Ziering addressed the alterca...

Couple awarded Cook County's first marriage license of 2024 officially wed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

Celebrations are in order for one Chicago couple commemorating a huge milestone.Alvonso Arroyo and Angelica Rodriguez received Cook County's first marriage license of the new year Tuesday morning. SEE ALSO: Honeymooning couple shares story of being in cab that crashed into tree near Millennium Park ice rinkThe two were selected in a lottery drawing on December 27, besting out more than 200 entries. Alvonso Arroyo and Angelica Rodriguez received Cook County's first marriage license of the new year Tuesday morning, Jan 2, 2024. (Photo/WGN News)The couple, who met while waiting at a bus stop, also received donated gifts from Whittingham Meats, Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Duet Dance, Eli's Cheesecake, The Chopping Block, LaSalle Flower Group and the Laugh Factory Chicago. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Congrats from WGN!!!