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Journalists’ rights group counts 94 media workers killed worldwide, most at an alarming rate in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — A leading organization representing journalists worldwide expressed deep concern Friday at the number of media professionals killed around the globe doing their jobs in 2023, with Israel’s war with Hamas claiming more journalists than any conflict in over 30 years.In its annual count of media worker deaths, the International Federation of Journalists said 94 journalists had been killed so far this year and almost 400 others had been imprisoned.The group called for better protection for media workers and for their attackers to be held to account.“The imperative for a new global standard for the protection of journalists and effective international enforcement has never been greater,” IFJ President Dominique Pradalié said.The group said 68 journalists had been killed covering the Israeli-Hamas war since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 — more than one a day and 72% of all media deaths worldwide. It said the overwhelming majority of them were Palestinian journalists in t...

UN to hold emergency meeting at Guyana’s request on Venezuelan claim to a vast oil-rich region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency closed meeting Friday at the request of Guyana following Venezuela’s weekend referendum claiming the vast oil- and mineral-rich Essequibo region that makes up a large part of its neighbor.In a letter to the council president, Guyana’s foreign minister, Hugh Hilton Todd, accused Venezuela of violating the U.N. Charter by attempting to take its territory.The letter recounted the arbitration between then-British Guiana and Venezuela in 1899 and the formal demarcation of their border in a 1905 agreement. For over 60 years, he said, Venezuela accepted the boundary, but in 1962 it challenged the 1899 arbitration that set the border. The diplomatic fight over the Essequibo region has flared since then, but it intensified in 2015 after ExxonMobil announced it had found vast amounts of oil off its coast. The dispute escalated as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro held a referendum Sunday in which Venezuelans approved his...

National Chief Woodhouse thanks family, teachings for getting her to top job

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

Cindy Woodhouse, the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says her relatives were her role models.The 40-year-old mother of three has said she grew up hearing the Anishinaabe language at home on Pinaymootang First Nation, north of Winnipeg, from her large family.Her father, Garnet Woodhouse, was chief of the First Nation for over four decades.“Our people are suffering out there, and I’ve seen it first-hand growing up right since I was born,” Cindy Woodhouse said after she was voted national chief Thursday.“People would be at our house and Dad would always make sure that nobody went hungry.”With her father standing nearby, Woodhouse delivered her victory speech draped with a white buckskin cape and dress, buttons made out of antlers, and long fringe that almost reaches the floor.She said she was raised by her family to work with all people in a good way, which is what she hopes will guide her in working with the federal government.“...

Death toll rises to five in cantaloupe salmonella outbreak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the death toll has risen to five in a salmonella outbreak linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes.It says 129 people have been confirmed with salmonella linked to the outbreak, almost double the number at the last update on Dec. 1, when a single death had been recorded.The agency provided no details on the deaths in its latest update on Thursday, but cases have risen sharply in Quebec, with 91 confirmed infections compared to 35 last week.There are also 17 cases in Ontario, 15 in British Columbia, and 2 each in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. The agency issued food recall warnings three times in November for Malichita cantaloupes sold between Oct. 11 and Nov. 14.On Nov. 24, it updated its warning to include Rudy brand cantaloupes sold between Oct. 10 and Nov. 24.

'He's the ball of sunshine': Mom provides update on Cooper Roberts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Life is now drastically different for Cooper Roberts and his family, but his mom said Cooper is happy and making positive strides, while learning to reflect on his situation differently than he has before."He's the ball of sunshine, funny, caring kids and that's still the same. That hasn't changed," said Keely Roberts, Cooper's mom. "I think probably the biggest change with Cooper is he's reflecting on himself in a different way."Life changed dramatically for the family on July 4, 2022, when Keely, Cooper and his twin, Luke, were among dozens injured during a deadly mass shooting at Highland Park’s Independence Day Parade. After extensive medical care, which continues just about daily, Cooper remains paralyzed from the waist down in a wheelchair."He's maneuvering this really well. I think he's learning to, first and foremost, consider himself fortunate to be alive," Roberts said.Roberts said Cooper absolutely loves sports — including wheelchair basketball and s...

Images of war along Mag Mile call attention to the Israel and Hamas conflict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

CHICAGO — Exactly two months after the start of the Israel and Hamas war, organizers put together a visual display in Water Tower Park to continue to call attention to the humanitarian crisis. "The last two months have been a nightmare we can’t wake up from," said Chicago resident Tarek Kishawi, who revealed more than 30 members of his extended family have been killed in Gaza.For Kishawi, a temporary display showing people walking by images from the war sends the message that the crisis did not start on Oct. 7. Strikes on Gaza’s southern edge sow fear in one of the last areas to which people can flee "Our people in Palestine have been undergoing a slow genocide for generations, starting from my grandparents in 1948, who were exiled from their homes and never allowed to return," he said. Two months after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis in surprise attacks and took more than 200 hostages, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says more than 17,000 Palestinians - primarily women and childre...

An art mystery: Buffalo Grove man seeking to discover artist of beloved Wrigley Field painting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. — There's an artistic mystery underway in Buffalo Grove, and Daniel Kamen is trying to get to the bottom of it.Kamen, a retired chiropractor, is trying to figure out the original artist of a Wrigley Field-themed painting that he recently reacquired.The painting in question was first given to Kamen by a former patient named Harold. After years of treating him, Kamen befriended Harold, who gave him the painting once in lieu of payment.Daniel Kamen of Buffalo Grove talks about his beloved Wrigley Field-themed painting."When I first got this, Harold said that it’s something of 'The Three Stooges,'" Kamen said.Chock full of characters, the painting actually depicts the Friendly Confines, Kamen said."This is Wrigley Field, because of the ivy," he explained. "Because of the banner over there, and there is a lady right there knitting a Cubs sock."The painting also features a host of other characters, including one who Kamen says "looks like Wimpy from 'Popeye.'"Daniel Ka...

Motorcyclist critical after colliding with car in Evergreen Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. — A motorcyclist was critically injured following a crash involving a vehicle Thursday afternoon in southwest suburban Evergreen Park.According to police, just before 4 p.m., officers were called to the 10000 block of Kedzie Ave. for a vehicle versus motorcycle crash. Liquor store, restaurant employees robbed at gunpoint in Cicero At the scene, police learned that a motorcycle was traveling southbound on Kedzie Avenue when it struck a vehicle turning westbound on the same block.As a result of the crash, the motorcyclist was rushed to Christ Hospital in critical condition. The driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries. A crash investigation is ongoing. SkyCam9 flew above the scene. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Anyone with information is asked to contact the Evergreen Park Police Department at (708) 422-2144.

Bills coach Sean McDermott apologizes for 9/11 comments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott apologized Thursday for making an analogy to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 in a team meeting four years ago, which was brought to light in a new report earlier in the day."My intent in the meeting that day was to discuss the importance of communication and being on the same page with the team," McDermott told reporters Thursday afternoon in an unscheduled interview. "I regretted mentioning 9/11 in my message that day and I immediately apologized to the team. Not only was 9/11 a horrific event in our country’s history, but a day that I lost a good family friend." Von Miller declines to comment on domestic assault allegations after returning to Bills practice The article, published by former Bleacher Report and Buffalo News reporter Tyler Dunne on his independent website, was part of a three-part series about the Bills that Dunne said was based on interviews with 25 unnamed former coaches, players, executives and ot...

'She is a hero': Family of shooting victim says the young mother saved her son's life

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- In just a few weeks, Sabrina Rahman was supposed to celebrate her 25th birthday. But instead, her family is left planning her funeral. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 6 people dead after shooting spree in Austin, double homicide in Bexar County Rahman was one of the two victims fatally shot on Shadywood Drive in south Austin on Tuesday. "The friendliest, kindest… just a sweet, sweet, sweet angel," Rahman's husband, Ishraq Islam, said. The other person was 32-year-old Emmanuel Pop Ba. There is a GoFundMe to help his family. Rahman's family said he worked with them on renovations for their home. "Gentle giant, tough as an ox," said Ibsan Islam, Rahman's brother-in-law. "Never complained. Hard worker, worked for his family." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Families of spree shooting victims mourn outside south Austin home Rahman's family said Pop Ba was doing handiwork for them at their home and was taking his lunch break outside when he was shot. Rahman was on her way back home from a wa...