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Niger junta says it thwarted an escape attempt by detained president Bazoum ousted in July coup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

Niger’s ruling junta said late Thursday it had thwarted an overnight attempt by deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to escape detention with his family nearly three months after he was detained in the wake of a military coup.In a communique, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said that Bazoum tried to reach a waiting vehicle at around 3 a.m. that was to take him to the outskirts of the capital, Niamey, along with his family, two cooks and his security personnel.From there, they were to be flown to Nigeria aboard “two helicopters belonging to a foreign power,” Abdramane said.“This plan to destabilize our country was thwarted,” Abdramane said, adding that the main perpetrators had been arrested and an investigation has already been opened by the public prosecutor.Bazoum has been under house arrest with his wife and son since being ousted in July, and has refused to resign. The junta had cut off his electricity and water.The United States has formally declared that the ousting of Bazoum was...

Woman whose body was found in a car’s trunk in US had left South Korea to start anew, detective says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car in Georgia had come from South Korea to start anew and ease her depression, but instead was subjected to beatings and ice baths while being initiated into a religious group, police said Thursday.Sehee Cho, 33, tried to leave the group, but one of the defendants charged with her murder told investigators that once the initiation process started, there was no getting out, Gwinnett County police homicide Det. Angela Carter said.Carter testified in court at a preliminary hearing for five of the seven defendants facing murder charges in Cho’s death. Police discovered the woman’s decaying body in September in a car parked outside a popular spa in the Atlanta suburb of Duluth.At least some of the defendants referred to themselves as members of the group called “Soldiers of Christ,” according to police. Investigators who searched the home where Cho was held found clothing with the initials “SOC” on it, ...

300-year-old painting stolen by an American soldier during World War II returned to German museum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — After a stopover in the U.S. that lasted the better part of a century, a baroque landscape painting that went missing during World War II was returned to Germany on Thursday. The FBI handed over the artwork by 18th century Austrian artist Johann Franz Nepomuk Lauterer to a German museum representative in a brief ceremony at the German Consulate in Chicago, where the pastoral piece showing an Italian countryside was on display. Art Recovery International, a company focused on locating and recovering stolen and looted art, tracked down the elusive painting after a person in Chicago reached out last year claiming to possess a “stolen or looted painting” that their uncle brought back to the U.S. after serving in World War II.The painting has been missing since 1945 and was first reported stolen from the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich, Germany. It was added to the database of the German Lost Art Foundation in 2012, according to a statement from the art recov...

Biden declares support for Israel and Ukraine is 'vital' for U.S. security

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

Watch the entire Oval Office address in the video player above.WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden declared it is “vital for America's national security” for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening U.S. involvement in a rare Oval Office address as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries.If international aggression is allowed to continue, Biden said, “conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world.”“Hamas and Putin represent different threats," Biden said. "But they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy.” For more coverage of the Israel and Hamas Conflict, click here He said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be roughly $100 billion over the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled on Friday, includes money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management.“It’s a...

'An all-around good person': Loved ones say South Side shooting victim was targeted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

CHICAGO — A South Side family is seeking justice following the shooting death of their loved one. Family members told WGN News they believe the shooting was targeted due to Jamol Lisa Turman identifying as transgender. FBI warning Chicago residents about growing threat of hate crimes "An all-around good person who did not deserve this," said Donna, a cousin of Turman, during a phone interview with WGN News. "A loving, caring, free-spirited person. Always smiling and laughing."According to police, around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, the 35-year-old was shot in the chest and back near 79th St. and Cottage Grove Ave. Loved ones said Turman was walking home after leaving a friend's house."A car just drove up, made a U-turn and (saw) my cousin," Donna said. "Approximately 30 seconds later, the car stopped and my cousin was shot."According to family members, several neighbors knew that Turman identified as transgender. Now, they intend to get justice. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines ...

How can the Bulls take a step forward in 2023-2024?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

Joshua M. Hicks of The Bigs talks about the Bulls in the preseason as they approach their season opener on October 25 on "9 Good Minutes" on WGN News Now.CHICAGO — In just six days, the Bulls will open up a new season with a lot of the same players.Fans have known that for a while as the team's core of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vuvevic prepare to lead the team into the 2023-2024 campaign. Ayo Dosunmu, Patrick Williams, and Coby White are also back hoping to take their games to the next level. Once again, Lonzo Ball is on the sidelines trying to get his troublesome right knee back to health, and he won't be on the court the entire season. There are a few newcomers, like forward Torrey Craig along with guard Oak Park native Jevon Carter, but for the most part, the Bulls' success will come from internal improvement. That puts the burden on head coach Billy Donovan to find new ways to draw more out of his team over the next six months. If they can't, the core that executive...

DOJ urges court to reject Trump effort to toss election interference case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

(The Hill) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) vociferously urged the court to reject an effort from former President Trump to toss his election interference charges, arguing his status as a president while seeking to block the transfer of power offers no immunity from prosecution.The 54-page brief comes after Trump earlier this month asked the judge overseeing the case to toss the charges, arguing he is protected by presidential immunity.“That novel approach to immunity would contravene the fundamental principle that ‘[no] man in this country is so high that he is above the law.’ The defendant is not above the law. He is subject to the federal criminal laws like more than 330 million other Americans, including Members of Congress, federal judges, and everyday citizens,” the DOJ wrote in the Thursday brief. McCarthy scolds Gaetz in GOP meeting: ‘Sit your a-- down’ “None of the sources the defendant points to in his motion — the Constitution’s text and structure, history an...

More than 60 supercars featured at F1 event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Formula 1 is making its return to the Circuit of the Americas this weekend, and on Wednesday night, Austinites got to get into the spirit by checking out exotic cars.More than 60 cars were displayed at the nightclub Superstition ATX Wednesday night.Several automakers were featured, including Lamborghini, Corvette and Rolls Royce. The event also featured speakers, including Formula 1 driver AJ Alsup.The event was part of a final lead-up to the big race this weekend."We wanted to really just turn this week before F1, and the months leading up to Formula 1 in Austin into a festival for people that are in love with the sport and passionate about Formula 1," Anand Clemens, event coordinator with Austin Supercars and Exotic, said.Not only was it a way to show off some cool cars and get people ready for the big race, the event also benefited the Make-a-Wish Foundation.This weekend's Formula 1 race is set for Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Circuit of the Americas.

Biden says support for Israel and Ukraine is ‘vital’ for US security, will ask Congress for billions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden declared it is “vital for America’s national security” for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening U.S. involvement in two unpredictable foreign conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries.If international aggression is allowed to continue, Biden said in a rare Oval Office address, “conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world.”“Hamas and Putin represent different threats,” Biden said. “But they share this in common. They both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy.”He said he would send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be $105 billion for the next year. The proposal, which will be unveiled on Friday, includes $60 billion for Ukraine, much of which is for replenishing U.S. weapons stockpiles that have already been provided.There’s $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion for huma...

St. Louis man convicted in 2020 I-70 killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:50:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man was convicted Thursday for fatally shooting a man while the two were riding in the same car on Interstate 70.The shooting happened around 2 a.m. on May 15, 2020, on westbound I-70 near West Florissant Avenue.Brian Williams and Leonard Ward were riding in a vehicle driven by a friend, Edouard Claypool. Williams and Ward got into a verbal argument. At some point, Williams, who was in the backseat, produced a gun and shot Ward in the head three times.Ward died immediately. He was 53. His body was later found along an off-ramp from I-70 to West Florissant. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW Prosecutors said Williams admitted that he killed Ward and tossed the gun as he ran from police.Williams, now 59, waived his right...