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A rebel attack on Burundi from neighboring Congo has left at least 20 dead, the government says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — At least 20 people have been killed in Burundi following an attack by a rebel group based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, a Burundian government spokesman said Saturday.Among those killed were 12 children and three women, two of whom were pregnant, spokesman Jérôme Niyonzima said in a statement.The attack targeted nine homes on Friday evening in the western town of Vugizo, close to the Lake Tanganyika border with Congo, according to the Burundian government. RED-Tabara, a Burundian armed rebel group based in South Kivu, eastern Congo, claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The group, which denied having targeted civilians, claimed to have killed nine soldiers and a police officer.Burundian authorities consider RED-Tabara a terrorist movement. The group first appeared in 2011 and has been accused of a string of attacks in Burundi since 2015.Witnesses who spoke to The Associated Press said the rebels appeared to b...

New York governor commutes sentence of rapper G. Dep who had turned self in for cold case killing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper Travell “G. Dep” Coleman, who walked into a New York police precinct in 2010 and admitted to committing a nearly two-decade-old cold case murder to clear his conscience, has been granted clemency by Gov. Kathy Hochul.Now 49, Coleman has served 13 of a 15-year-to-life sentence. With his sentence being commuted by the Democratic governor, he will now be allowed to seek parole earlier than his original 2025 date. Coleman is one of 16 individuals granted clemency by Hochul in an announcement made Friday. They include 12 pardons and four commutations. It marked the third time Hochul has granted clemency in 2023.“Through the clemency process, it is my solemn responsibility as governor to recognize the efforts individuals have made to improve their lives and show that redemption is possible,” Hochul said in a written statement. The rapper earned an associate’s degree while in prison and facilitated violence prevention and sobriety counseling programs, while als...

12 Turkish soldiers have been killed over 2 days in clashes with Kurdish militants, authorities say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Six Turkish soldiers were killed Saturday in clashes with Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, a day after another six were also killed.The six soldiers slain on Saturday died in a firefight when militants attempted to infiltrate a Turkish base, according to a statement by the Turkish Defense Ministry. The statement said 13 militants had been “neutralized.”In addition to the six Turkish soldiers killed on Friday, four militants were slain, authorities said. Turkey conducts operations and airstrikes against targets in Syria and Iraq that it believes to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, a banned Kurdish separatist group that has waged an insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s.Ankara maintains that PKK has sanctuaries in northern Iraq, where its leadership is also purportedly based. The PKK is considered a terror organization by the United States and the European Union. Tens of thousands of people have died since the start of the conflic...

Man charged in fatal shooting at Wheaton pub after argument over bar tab

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

WHEATON, Ill. -- A suburban man has been charged with murder after an alleged argument over pizza and a bar tab led to a fatal shooting at a pub in unincorporated Wheaton on Friday.According to the DuPage County State attorney's Office, 49-year-old Michael Freund of Aurora was denied pretrial after Dexter Perkins was shot and killed at Rosie O'Reilly's in Wheaton. The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office said they responded to a shooting at Rosie O Reilly’s Pub, 0N131 Gary Avenue just before 8:45 a.m. Friday. Witnesses described what seemed like an argument happening inside the pub, which eventually resulted in a fatality.Investigators allege that the shooting resulted from an argument over pizza and the bar tab between Freund, Perkins and three other men. Naperville man sentenced to 10 years for attempted murder of wife According to the state's attorney's office, a brief argument occurred on the front porch the pub between Perkins and one of the three men when Freund pulled out a hand...

Reports: Bears ink Cairo Santos to extension

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Christmas came early for one Chicago Bear Saturday, as the team is signing kicker Cairo Santos to a multi-year contract extension, according to multiple reports.First announced by the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs, The Bears are reportedly signing Santos to a four-year/$16 million extension.Nicknamed the "Brazilian Bear Booter," Santos has connected on 27 of 29 field goals (93.1%), while also going 24-for-26 (92.3%) on extra point attempts so far during the 2023 NFL season.Santos has also hit all six of his attempts from 50 yards and beyond this year, with his season-long field goal being 55 yards. Cubs free agency: What’s the latest on Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman and Rhys Hoskins? Beyond this season, Santos also hold the mantle of being the most accurate kicker in team history. Among Chicago kickers who have attempted at least 15 field goals in their career, Santos sits at the top of the list, having hit 105 of 116 field goals (90.5%), which is a little more than 5% bet...

Your Money: Five smart ways to maximize an inheritance

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

Bruce Helmer and Peg WebbAmericans stand to inherit trillions of dollars over the next few decades.In our culture, it’s assumed that more wealth equals happiness. But this isn’t always the case. Sudden wealth through an inheritance instills complex emotions, such as being paralyzed or fearful of making a mistake.In addition to important financial planning, investment, and tax implications, it may also have an impact on your sense of identity and purpose. Here are five common-sense ways to make the most of an inheritance.1. Take time to process your newfound fortune.Sometimes when people come into an unexpected amount of money, they make impulsive decisions, like buying a new house or car, splurging on travel, or retiring early.To resist making fast decisions, take stock of your emotions. How do you feel about how your inheritance is changing your circumstances? Are you joyful, sad, or feeling guilty? Are you worried about how your friends will view your good fortune? We often tell c...

Two dead in apparent fiery crash in Niskayuna

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

NISKAYUNA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Niskayuna Police Department reports the deaths of two individuals in the early morning hours of Saturday. They said that a vehicle crashed into a tree on Saint David’s Lane near Morgan Avenue. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Firefighters from Niskayuna Fire District No. 1 and officers from the Niskayuna Police Department headed to the scene at around 4:39 a.m. on December 23. The vehicle was on fire when they got there, and responders determined that both people inside were dead. Neither of their identities have been released by police.The circumstances leave it unclear whether the pair died in the crash or in the fire. Niskayuna Police and the Schenectady County Sheriff's Office are investigating. They want anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them at (518) 630-0911.

Comeback could arrive sooner than expected for CU Buffs guard Javon Ruffin

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

The uncertain status of injured redshirt freshman RJ Smith has trimmed the backcourt depth of the Colorado men’s basketball team.A possible reinforcement might be on the way from an unexpected source.Injured guard Javon Ruffin recently returned to practice in a non-contact capacity, and if his rapid recovery from offseason knee surgery continues unabated, he could be in the mix down the stretch for the Buffaloes.“He can do all the non-contact stuff right now,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “He can run. He can do 5-on-0. He can do shooting. And he looks good. I hope we can get him back this year. We’ll see. I’m cautiously optimistic about it. But I have no time frame. It’s not going to be anything imminent.”Ruffin is a versatile 6-foot-5 guard with the potential to be one of the top 3-point shooters on a team off to a hot start from the arc. But Ruffin’s CU career has been marked by persistent trouble with his right knee.Injured at the end of his high school career, Ruffin endured su...

Two killed in north metro shootings

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

Two men were killed overnight Friday into Saturday in separate shootings in Thornton and Westminster that appear to have started with arguments in parking lots.The first shooting happened about 10:30 p.m. Friday in the 8900 block of Harlan Street in Westminster, according to a Westminster Police Department news release. Officers found a man with a gunshot, and he was taken to a hospital, where he later died.Police later learned another man was also at a hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds.Police believe several men were arguing with each other in a parking lot before shooting at each other.The second shooting happened about 12:50 a.m. Saturday in the 16000 block of Grant Street in Thornton.Thornton police reported in a news release there was a “disturbance” between two employees of an area business, and one man, identified as Victor Salazar-Guarache, 26, shot at a 22-year-old man.The 22-year-old was taken to hospital and died.Weld County deputies later loc...

Pac-12 MBB preview: Our picks for the all-conference teams, postseason award winners and March Madness bids

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:44:30 GMT

Welcome to the Hotline’s fearless forecasts for Pac-12 men’s basketball as conference play ramps up.Here we go …NCAA Tournament bids: Arizona and ColoradoThe Wildcats are the best team in the conference and a lock for March Madness; the only question is whether they nail down a No. 1 seed. Most of the remaining teams have removed themselves from consideration with subpar showings in non-conference play. A precious few are on the NCAA bubble and must navigate 20 league games, plus the Pac-12 tournament, without accruing too many bad losses. Colorado is better equipped for that task than Utah, which is better positioned than either USC or Washington.Player of the Year: Colorado’s KJ SimpsonAn all-conference selection last season, the junior has upgraded his all-around play: He’s averaging 19.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and shooting a tick under 50 percent from 3-point range. Those are All-American numbers for a point guard who means more to the Bu...