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A baby girl and two teenagers were killed in a shooting on a Chicago highway Sunday night, Feb. 19, officials said. Three other victims were injured in the shooting on the I-57 expressway on the south side of the Windy City around 10:30 p.m., according to state police. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the slain infant as 1-year-old A-mara Hall, who was pronounced dead after she was rushed to the hospital, according to the Chicago Tribune. She was shot in the torso, authorities said. The other fatal victims were 13-year-old William Smith and 19-year-old Nasir Hall, who were both pronounced dead at the scene. They reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds. One of the surviving victims is a 14-year-old boy who was hospitalized in fair to serious condition, the Chicago Fire Department said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.  The ages and conditions of the other two wounded victims were not revealed. “Everyone in that vehicle had some...

A co-founder of the clothing company Salt Life has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting his teenage girlfriend before leaving her body to decompose in a Florida hotel.   Michael Hutto, 56, entered the guilty plea in Florida on Thursday, Feb. 16, accepting responsibility for the killing of 18-year-old Lora Grace Duncan at the Hilton Singer Island oceanfront resort in October 2020.   He claimed he accidentally gunned down the teenager during a mock shooting game, reported the station WPTV.     Hutto was later arrested in his hometown of Jacksonville after fleeing the crime scene.   According to a probable cause affidavit, Duncan’s father had called the police and requested a welfare check after not hearing from his daughter for several days.   The dad used an app to track his daughter’s cellphone to the Hilton hotel, where police arrived to discover her blood-soaked, decomposing body with a gunshot wo...

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a travel advisory to its citizens ahead of the 2023 election.    In the travel advisory alert titled “Reissued with updates to staffing and do not travel areas”, it was stated that there might be limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in many areas of Nigeria due to security conditions.It was also stated that violent crime is often targeted at dual nationals who had returned to Nigeria. It read;    “Violent crime – such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage taking, banditry, and rape – is common throughout the country. Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual-national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as U.S. citizens with perceived wealth. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads. “Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, tar...

US President, Joe Biden made a surprise and historic visit to war-torn Ukraine on Monday, Februry 20, in a show of support and solidarity with a democratic nation battling a Russia n invasion that started nearly a year ago .   The visit, including a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , was kept under tight secrecy until Biden's arrival.   "Unchecked aggression is a threat to all of us," Biden said. “One year later, Kyiv stands and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands, Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.” "Kyiv has captured a part of my heart," he added   FEB. 20, 202309:51   Even while Biden was on the ground, air raid sirens could be heard.   It is the first time in modern history that a U.S. president has entered a war zone where there is not an active American military presence. Ukrainian police and military had a strong presence and much of the central part of Kyiv was shut down, paralyzing traffic nearby.  ...

At least 36 people have been killed after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in Brazil.   A seven-year-old girl was among the dead as rescue workers continue to look for victims and reconnect isolated communities in Sao Paulo state , authorities say.     The mayor of Sao Sebastiao, Felipe Augusto, said 50 houses had collapsed in the city due to the landslides.     Sao Paulo state government said rain in the region had surpassed 600mm (23.6in) in one day, one of the highest amounts ever in Brazil in such a short period.     Weather forecasts show heavy rains will continue in Sao Paulo's coastal area, challenging rescue teams and raising the prospect of more confirmed deaths.     Sao Paulo state has declared a 180-day state of emergency for six cities after what experts described as an unprecedented, extreme weather event.   According to the weather forecast, heavy rains would continue to lash the coastal area of São Pa...

  Richard Belzer, the longtime stand-up comedian who became one of TV’s most indelible detectives as John Munch in “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Law & Order: SVU,” has died. He was 78. Belzer died on Sunday, February 19, at his home in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, in southern France, as confirmed by his longtime friend Bill Scheft. Scheft, a writer who had been working on a documentary about Belzer, said there was no known cause of death, but that Belzer had been dealing with circulatory and respiratory issues. The actor Henry Winkler, Belzer’s cousin, tweeted, “Rest in peace Richard.” Laraine Newman, an original 'SNL' cast member who worked alongside Belzer from the mid-'70s through the '80s, also confirmed his death.    She wrote;    I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing. I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. We used to go out to dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay for l...

  The BAFTA Awards were presented on Sunday, February 19, by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).    The ceremony took place at London’s Southbank Centre and it was hosted by Richard E Grant.   All Quiet on the Western Front  led the nominations with a whopping 14 nods going into the event. The movie ended up with seven wins including Best Film, alongside best-adapted screenplay and best director.     Martin McDonagh’s  The Banshees of Inisherin  won four awards, including half the performance honors, with Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan landing supporting wins. Elsewhere, Austin Butler won leading actor for  Elvis , and Cate Blanchett leading actress for  Tar .   See the full list of nominees is below, with winners indicated in bold. Best film “All Quiet on the Western Front” * WINNER “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” “Elvis” “‘TÁR” Outstanding British film “Aftersun” “The...