Former cop jailed for stealing guns & ammunition
A former police officer in Puerto Rico was sentenced to eight years in prison on Tuesday for stealing 54 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) headquarters in Guayama.
William Cintrón-Rivera was convicted of multiple firearms violations and tampering with witnesses in April 2023.
Prosecutors said that Cintrón-Rivera, who went by the alias “El Kid/Kid” stole the guns and ammunition from the PRPB headquarters on July 17, 2019, while he was still a police officer.
Prosecutors said Cintrón-Rivera attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade a female to provide false information to federal investigators regarding the nature and duration of their relationship; his whereabouts during the timeframe of the theft; the identity of an alleged informant and their communications.
Cintrón-Rivera was arrested in September 2019 after a federal investigation.
In addition to the prison sentence, Cintrón-Rivera was also ordered to forfeit his position as a PRPB officer and to pay $48,624 in restitution to the PRPB.
Source- Loop Caribbean News
Fast & Furious star Tyrese Gibson sues The Home Depot for $1m after 'racial profiling'
Fast & Furious star Tyrese Gibson is suing US hardware store The Home Depot for over $1m (£790,000) after allegedly being racially profiled in one of its stores.
The 44-year-old actor claimed he and two associates were subjected to "outrageous discriminatory mistreatment" during an incident in February.
Gibson has starred as Roman Pearce in seven of blockbuster films alongside Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, and Dwayne Johnson.
A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Wednesday detailed the incident that allegedly occurred in The Home Depot store in West Hills, Los Angeles County.
The suit stated that the cashier had been "very slow scanning items and the process took 20 minutes".
It is alleged they had then declined to accept Gibson's credit card to complete the transaction.
When Gibson asked to speak to the manager, he was refused, and was only able to complete his purchase after a "heated discussion".
The lawsuit said: "Gibson, one of the most recognizable black actors and musicians in the United States, and his associates, craftsmen Mora and Hernandez, experienced outrageous discriminatory mistreatment and consumer racial profiling first-hand inside The Home Depot retail store.
"While plaintiffs attempted to make an in-store purchase, store clerks purposely interfered with and refused to process the transaction based on their groundless suspicion of Gibson, Mora, and Hernandez arising from their skin color."
It continued: "Gibson is a long-time customer of The Home Depot and over time he has purchased no less than $1,000,000 (£790,000) worth of materials from the company.
"The actions of the cashier and manager were discriminatory based on race and origin. There is no other plausible explanation for the mistreatment of Plaintiffs.
"The transaction was refused, despite Gibson's repeated authorizations, because of the Plaintiffs' skin color and, in the case of Mora and Hernandez, also because of their national origin.
"This is a clear and deplorable instance of discriminatory mistreatment and consumer racial profiling.
"The treatment of Gibson, Mora, and Hernandez by The Home Depot was humiliating and demeaning."
In a statement, The Home Depot said: "Diversity and respect for all people are core to who we are, and we do not tolerate discrimination in any form."
"We value Mr. Gibson as a customer, and in the months since this happened, we've reached out to him and his attorneys several times to try to resolve his concerns. We will continue to do so."
Source- Sky News
Amazon asked by minister to justify temporarily withholding sellers' funds
The government has demanded answers from Amazon after its recent policy change led to hundreds of sellers being unable to access their money.
In a letter seen by the BBC, small business minister Kevin Hollinrake asks the tech giant to explain how it will "mitigate" the impact on sellers.
One seller, Daniel Moore, who sells ink cartridges, says he has £263,000 locked and cannot pay his VAT bill.
Amazon said the policy change had affected a small number of sellers.
The letter from Mr. Hollinrake was sent after the BBC spoke to several businesses who say the recent policy change leaves them unable to restock or pay staff and bills.
Amazon's recently amended policy is to hold back some money from sellers in case buyers demand a refund.
That leads to sellers not having access to their takings for around two weeks, although Amazon says the policy will only hold money for seven days from the delivery date.
This was implemented on 3 August across the UK and EU for sellers registered before August 2016. Amazon said some sellers should soon be able to access some of their funds.
But its email about the policy change was not seen by many EU and UK sellers, and in many cases was automatically sent to their junk folder.
The BBC has seen several complaints on Amazon's online seller forums saying the email was "not clear" that the withdrawals from their account that they are used to making on a daily basis would be blocked.
Sellers have complained that the temporary withholding of their funds is bringing their businesses close to collapse.
Mr. Hollinrake took this issue up in his letter to John Boumphrey, the country manager for Amazon UK, as he wrote: "Given these complaints, I would be grateful if you could explain how Amazon intends to help mitigate the impact on its sellers of this change, as this is a challenging time for many small businesses who are already struggling with cashflow issues."
Marios Katz sells CDs and vinyl on Amazon and said he doubted that Mr. Boumphrey would respond to the minister's letter. He told the BBC he was "shaken and panicked" by not having access to his takings.
He is concerned he will not be able to feed his family, as he is used to withdrawing money from his account as soon as he has earned it.
"They [Amazon] are a billionaire company - maybe they don't care, or maybe they don't know what is really happening," Mr Katzadded.
Mr. Hollinrake wrote in his letter to Mr. Boumphrey: "I am sure you will share my desire to ensure the livelihood of small businesses are not being jeopardized by Amazon's approach."
Daniel Moore, 48, has a business called Ink Jungle that sells ink cartridges and the reserve amount is increasing by £40,000 a day, he said.
"The value they will be holding from us is disproportionately high versus the potential refunds processed by customer returns or non-delivery," says Mr Moore.
He called Amazon's approach to its policy "dreadful", but called Mr. Hollinrake's letter "a help" - although Daniel added he was "not expecting miracles".
A Cheltenham business that has been selling pet products for more than 10 years on Amazon told the BBC the company was holding £16,000 of its takings.
The business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said of Mr Hollinrake's intervention: "I certainly welcome that news and I wait in anticipation to see what Amazon's response to this will be.
"Things were already tough enough with the cost-of-living crisis which not only affects costs at home but also in the workplace, with a host of price rises ranging from electricity to postage."
Online retail expert Martyn James said Amazon's policy shift shows the need for consumer law to "evolve and be updated" to prevent "dramatic impacts on people's lives with little to no consultation".
"The fact remains that we have strong laws in the UK that cover the rights of both buyers and sellers of goods and services - but only if you buy or sell goods directly", said Mr. James.
He called for a single regulator for the entire retail industry, as well as a free ombudsman service that people can turn to if things go wrong.
Libby Pearson, 42, from Kent says many sellers did not know what was happening when their money was locked. She sells nutritional supplements and has been on Amazon since 2009.
She says Amazon has locked £700 of her money - and that every day more is being added to that amount, as sales continue.
She was used to withdrawing amounts daily from her Amazon account for the day-to-day running of the business but says that is now totally disrupted.
"There was no clarity on which order is being held or when it will be released. I had to ring HMRC saying I can't pay my VAT bill on time," Libby said.
An Amazon spokesperson said the policy change affected a "small number of sellers".
"We are listening to sellers' concerns and are in contact with those who have experienced a one-time cash flow disruption", the spokesperson added.
The issues are similar to those faced by Etsy sellers after that marketplace began withholding 75% of sellers' funds for around 45 days. Hundreds of sellers complained it was undermining their businesses.
Source- BBC
Harry Kane leaves Tottenham for Bayern Munich in search for trophies
England captain Harry Kane completed his move to Bayern Munich from Tottenham on Saturday in football's biggest transfer of the summer as the striker goes in search of the first major trophies in his career.
The transfer fee for Kane could hit more than 100 million pounds ($110 million), which breaks the Bundesliga transfer record and is a huge sum for a player who would have been out of contract next year.
“Buzzing to have signed for such a massive club with an incredible history, can’t wait to get started!” Kane wrote on his social media channels.
Kane, who has signed a four-year deal, flew to Munich on Friday to undergo a medical examination and is set to be presented to fans at the German Super Cup on Saturday when Bayern play Leipzig.
The 30-year-old Kane leaves Tottenham after 19 years at the club, where he became the second highest-scoring player in Premier League history — with 213 goals, 47 behind Alan Shearer — but never won a trophy with the team.
“It’s not a goodbye because you never know how things pan out in the future,” Kane said in a video message, “but it’s a thank you and I’ll see you soon.”
The reported fee for Kane would easily break the Bundesliga transfer record set when Bayern signed French defender Lucas Hernández from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Bayern president Herbert Hainer said Kane would be a “real asset to the entire Bundesliga.”
“We’re very happy about this top-quality new arrival,” Hainer said. “The transfer required tenacity, bite, and perseverance — my compliments to all those involved in these negotiations at FC Bayern.”
Bayern won an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title last season, but only on goal difference ahead of Borussia Dortmund after a turbulent season that saw conflict within the squad and the surprise firing of coach Julian Nagelsmann. The close title race was widely seen as rekindling international interest in the German league even as Bayern’s title streak continued.
Kane will give a central focus in attack to a Bayern team that has struggled to adapt since selling Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona a year ago.
In Bayern's announcement, Kane added he's “very happy” to be at the perennially successful club.
“Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and I’ve always said that I want to compete and prove myself at the highest level during my career. This club is defined by its winning mentality — it feels very good to be here,” he said.
Kane’s arrival marks a symbolic moment for the Bundesliga, which lost some famous names last year when Lewandowski left and Dortmund sold Erling Haaland to Manchester City.
As for Tottenham, Kane’s departure would leave a hole in the squad ahead of their first game of the new Premier League season, against Brentford on Sunday. It would require restructuring a team that is already reeling from the failure to qualify for any European competition this season, but new manager Ange Postecoglou said Friday he had been preparing for that and that Kane’s imminent departure “at least gives us some clarity.”
“We have been planning for this, it’s fair to say, for a while,” he said. “This doesn’t change things dramatically from my perspective anyway for what we are trying to build.”
Kane scored 30 Premier League goals for Tottenham last season. No other player on the team scored more than 10.
The closest he came to winning major honors was in 2019 when Spurs were beaten by Liverpool in the Champions League final.
Kane has repeatedly been linked with moves to leading clubs in the Premier League and Europe, but Tottenham have always resisted attempts to lure him away, largely because he was tied to a six-year contract, which was signed in 2018.
In 2021, Tottenham blocked interest from Manchester City, despite Kane indicating he was ready to leave. But with Kane set to become a free agent at the end of the season, Spurs risked losing him for nothing next summer.
Source- Loop News
Russia launches first moon mission in almost 50 years
Russia has launched its first moon mission in almost 50 years.
A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft blasted off from the Vostochny spaceport in the far eastern Amur region.
It's expected to reach its destination on 23 August, the same day as an Indian vessel that launched last month.
Russia's craft, Luna-25, will take about five and a half days to travel around the moon, and then spend up to a week orbiting before touching down on the surface of the moon's south pole.
Its mission is to collect samples of rock and dust to get an understanding of the environment for a potential base.
The south pole is of particular interest to scientists, who believe its permanently shadowed polar craters may contain frozen water that could one day be transformed into air and rocket fuel.
Friday's launch marks Russia's first lunar mission since 1976 when it was part of the Soviet Union (USSR).
The USSR is one of only three governments to manage a successful moon landing so far, along with the US and China.
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, has been keen to prove itself as a "space superpower" since the invasion of Ukraine saw it lose access to Western technology.
It said it wanted to prove Russia "is a state capable of delivering a payload to the moon" and "ensure Russia's guaranteed access to the moon's surface".
Despite being widely ostracised from the West by sanctions which have impacted its space program, the country remains part of the International Space Station program for now.
It will leave next year, as work continues on its own orbital outpost.
Source- Sky News
NOAA increases Atlantic hurricane season prediction to ‘above normal'
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has increased its prediction for the ongoing 2023 Atlantic hurricane season from a near-normal level of activity to an above-normal level of activity.
An update was issued two days ago.
Forecasters believe that current ocean and atmospheric conditions, such as record-warm Atlantic Sea surface temperatures, are likely to counterbalance the usually limiting atmospheric conditions associated with the ongoing El Nino event.
NOAA forecasters have increased the likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season to 60 percent (increased from the outlook issued in May, which predicted a 30 percent chance).
The likelihood of near-normal activity has decreased to 25 percent, down from the 40 percent chances outlined in May's outlook.
This new update gives the Atlantic a 15 percent chance of seeing a below-normal season.
NOAA’s update to the 2023 outlook — which covers the entire six-month hurricane season that ends on November 30 — calls for 14 to 21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 6 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater).
Of those, 2 to 5 could become major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater). NOAA provides these ranges with 70 percent confidence. These updated ranges include storms that have already formed this season.
The Atlantic basin experienced an active start to the hurricane season with five storms that have reached at least tropical storm strength, including one hurricane already.
An average hurricane season produces 14 named storms, of which seven become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Centre stated: “The main climate factors expected to influence the 2023 Atlantic hurricane activity are the ongoing El Nino and the warm phase of the Atlantic Multi-Decadal Oscillation, including record-warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures.”
He added: “Considering those factors, the updated outlook calls for more activity, so we urge everyone to prepare now for the continuing season.”
Source- Loop News
NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS CEREMONY
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services, in collaboration with the National Council of External Examinations, organized the National Academic Awards Ceremony. This event, aimed at recognizing students' achievements, was held on Friday, August 4, 2023, at 10:00 am in Providenciales at Brayton Hall. The ceremony's theme was "Investing in Human Capital: Securing a Brighter Future."
The ceremony was held to acknowledge the students' performance in external exams after their annual exit exams. The awardees had significant accomplishments, both individually and collectively, deserving of recognition.
The awardees were recognized across five presentations:
- Presentation 1 recognized graduates that passed 5 to 9 subjects and 10 or more subjects
- Presentation 2 recognized graduates that pass English Language and Mathematics with General 1's and 2's or A and B
- Presentation 3 recognized the Best Performing student from different disciplines (Business, Science, Hospitality, Humanities, Foreign Languages, Regional Merit List Awardees, etc.)
- Presentation 4 recognized graduates that Attained 5 or more General 1's or A's in one (1) examination sitting
- Presentation 5 recognized the Top Performing International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students
This was a proud moment indeed for the Turks and Caicos Islands as three students received awards for their academic achievements at the Caribbean Examinations Council and General Certificate of Secondary Education.
Of the three students, one from CSEC and two from IGCSE were recognized as the Top performers from this cohort. Shania Forbes of the H J Robinson High School has earned a first position with twelve (12) grade one passes; Second Place was Anika Harry of the British West Indies Collegiate with ten (10) passes and third place was Evadne Gardiner of British West Indies Collegiate with ten (10) passes. For the first time, this year's ceremony included a place for the best British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) student; Ephita Monestime of the British West Indies Collegiate captured this award. The best-performing students overall are awarded Government Scholarship, and therefore, currently, only TCI students are considered for these awards.
Other Awards presented during the ceremony were:
- Ryan Hurdle of Precious Treasures International School won the award for Best Performing Student in Humanities
- Best Performing Technical Vocational Student was awarded to Teandra Milord of Clement Howell High School
- Favour Mubenwafor of H J Robinson High School captured the award for Best Performing Business Student
- Best Performing Science Students were Yuan Sayao of Clement Howell High School, Shaina Forbes and Adrienne Parry of H J Robinson High School, Thais Burgess, Joel Degouth, Evadne Gardiner, Anika Harry, Ephita Monesime and Zakri Smith of British West Indies Collegiate
- Best Performing Student in Hospitality went to Roodemailine Brenord of Clement Howell High School
- Best Performing Prevocational Student was awarded to Joshua Swann of Clement Howell High School
"The entire Turks and Caicos Islands is proud of your scholastic achievement, which is a result of your diligence and the dedication of your teachers," Minister of Education, Honourable Rachel Taylor said in congratulating the awardees. She encouraged them to continue being beacons of inspiration, charging them to aim high in all their endeavours.
Listed below are the names of the students that met and exceeded the selection criteria for the National Academic Awards Ceremony:
2022 NATIONAL AWARDS CEREMONY AWARDEES
British West Indies Collegiate
Andrew Adams Giovanni Astwood
Samuel Connolly Joel Degouth
Brandon Dunlop Hayden A Gardiner
Jonathan Hatmin Detrina Higgs
J'tehya Laporte Sean Mcgurk
Abi-Gaye Miller Ephita Monestime
Shawn Nesbitt Harry Schofield
Sarah Stuart Hayden Williams
Caylen Castillo Kaidan Bobb
Thais Burgess Erline Dorastin
Demari Fulford Evadne Gardiner
Joshua Hall Anika Harry
Angelina Lindenhahn Jayda O’Neil
Hilson Robinson Zakri Smith
Jack Stephens Lillian Taylor
Clement Howell High School
Kerlins Ace Shelly Angrand
Ainscia Antenor Tania Boyce
Roodemailine Brenord Tariffe Byfield
Shar'shanay Cooper Nephthalie Dejean
Shirlonzo Gardiner Tanesia Gardiner
Mariely Garland Walkita Hanchell
Irenique Harvey Ken Janvier
Christian Jolly Teanndra Milord
Dieumima Rene Jonathan Robinson
Yuan Sayao Christophin Sidelus
Maleik Stubbs Jaden Thorpe
Abigail Valdez Yulenny Walkin
H.J. Robinson High School
Richauna Archer Delloyd Been
Brianna Brown Jamari Caley
Malik Carty Jajuan Harvey
Janai Higgs Kyra Selver
Talia Simms Khouri Swann
Trevez Taylor Lydia Toussaint
Omarii Lightbourne Megan Malcolm
Paola Martinez Merejo Favour Mubenwafor
Alejandro Rangel Rivero Shaina Forbes
Adrienne Parry
Maranatha Academy
Siobhan Bowens Garon Clayton
Christopher Parsons Dani Reynoso Reyes
Bruhana St Juste Kensly Tanis
Brentez Williams Ronique Brown
Trayvon Graham
Marjorie Basden High School
Travardo Bain Audresha Jacinthe
Roobentz Joseph Garet Lockhart
Jordinae Williams
Raymond Gardiner High School
Jaden Grice Cameron Handfield
Alidavenson Lagredelle Davar Lewis
Precious Treasures International School
Marc Charles Ryan Hurdle
Tayla Smith
Wesley Methodist School
Athalia Henry Chadev Malcolm
Jasmine Missick Zonovia Simmons
Deangelo Missick Ashonte Trumpet
Colombian drug kingpin Dairo Antonio Úsuga sentenced to 45 years
A US court has sentenced Dairo Antonio Úsuga, who was once Colombia's most-wanted drug lord, to 45 years in prison.
Úsuga, also known as Otoniel, was a notorious cocaine trafficker who was the leader of Colombia's most powerful gang for more than nine years.
He pleaded guilty in January to running a criminal enterprise and drug smuggling.
During his sentencing on Tuesday, Úsuga said he was sorry for his actions.
"I apologize to the governments of the United States and of Colombia and to the victims of the crimes that I have committed," the 51-year-old said.
Prosecutors had described him as "the most significant Colombian narcotics trafficker since [the leader of the Medellín cartel] Pablo Escobar" and said he helped ship nearly 100,000 kilograms (220,500 pounds) of cocaine to the US.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration labelled him "one of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers in the world".
Úsuga was arrested in 2021 and was extradited last year to face drug trafficking charges in the US.
His lawyers sought a sentence of no more than 25 years. They argued that his upbringing in rural poverty, surrounded by guerrilla warfare, led him to a life as a career criminal.
But Judge Dora Irizarry, the US district judge presiding over the case, rejected these arguments, saying her upbringing in a South Bronx housing complex around drugs and violence did not lead her down a similar path.
Úsuga has handed over $216m (£170m) in drug proceeds as part of his guilty plea.
He was the leader of the Gulf Clan cartel in Colombia, which is one of the country's most powerful and brutal gangs.
The gang, which operates in many provinces and has extensive international connections, is engaged in drug and people smuggling, illegal gold mining, and extortion.
It controls many of the routes used to smuggle drugs from Colombia to the US, and as far away as Russia.
Source- BBC
Minnis wants parliament to debate sending Bahamian troops to Haiti
Former Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis, is calling for a parliamentary debate ahead of The Bahamas sending military personnel to Haiti as part of a multi-national force to bring peace and stability to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Last weekend, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping welcomed the announcement by The Bahamas and Jamaica that they are willing to join Kenya in sending a multi-national force to deal with the security situation in Haiti.
The Bahamas and Jamaica said they are willing to send up to 350 personnel to the French-speaking CARICOM nation after Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Alfred Mutua, said last weekend that his country’s commitment is to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police to restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations.
But Minnis wants the issue debated in Parliament, adding also that if the United Nations is putting forth a resolution to discuss and make a determination as to individuals being deployed to Haiti, then Prime Minister Phillip Davis is showing total disrespect to the Bahamian Parliament and the Bahamian people.
“If the UN requires a resolution, then The Bahamas should insist that a resolution is brought to Parliament so it’s debated and discussed in Parliament with the involvement and input of the Bahamian people,” Minnis said.
But National Security Minister Wayne Munroe has brushed aside the call by Minnis, recalling that Nassau had sent 141 members of the Bahamas Defence Force (BDF) to Haiti in 1994 as part of a UN peacekeeping mission.
“He (Minnis) would do well to speak to HAI (Hubert Alexander Ingraham) about how it happens,” Munroe said, adding “he seems to be clueless about how deployments work”.
According to the Defence Act, an order from the Governor-General is the only requirement needed to deploy BDF personnel outside The Bahamas.
Minnis, a former prime minister, said although officers may engage in just technical assistance in Haiti, the volatile situation there should warrant local parliamentary debate before troops are committed to the cause.
“We don’t know what would be the extent of their involvement, and this is something totally different altogether,” he said, as reporters reminded him about the 1994 deployment of BDF officer in Haiti.
“You talking about gang warfare? There are possibilities that we can lose individuals... you don’t know who the gangs are, so we are sending individuals who can be exposed. It’s only fair that a resolution should be debated so that Bahamian people would know exactly whether their sons and daughters are going and what kind of danger they will be exposed to.”
“The government should bring forth a resolution so that it could be debated so that the Bahamian people could know for certain this will have no impact on our crime, no impact on migration, no impact on monitoring our waters with respect to fishing, poaching, etc. That has to be debated to ensure we ourselves are not compromised.”
Last Friday, the United States said it expects several countries within the Eastern Caribbean to send translators to Haiti as part of a Kenya-led United Nations-backed multinational force.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, Barbara Feinstein, told a news conference that “there has been mentioned, for example, that in the Eastern Caribbean, there are certain countries that have the same or a very similar Creole to Haitian Creole, to the extent that they might be able to provide translators or interpreters is something that could also be of use”.
St Lucia and Dominica are two countries within the 15-member CARICOM grouping, capable of communicating in the French Creole or Patois language widely spoken in Haiti.
Feinstein said that the deployment of a multinational force to Haiti, with material support from the US as well as other countries, depended on an assessment that would be conducted by Kenya in another few weeks.
Last year, Haiti’s Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry, sent an urgent appeal to the UN asking for “the immediate deployment of a specialized armed force, in sufficient quantity” to stop gang warfare.
Last month, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the UN Security Council and major potential contribution countries to act fast to create the conditions for the deployment of a multinational force to Haiti.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Monday said persistent violence in Haiti remains a significant concern for the safety and welfare of its most vulnerable citizens, especially women, and children, citing reports of an “alarming spike” in kidnapping and other crimes.
According to UNICEF, nearly 300 confirmed cases were reported in the first six months of 2023, almost matching the total number documented over 2022 and close to three times the number in 2021.
“The stories we are hearing from UNICEF staff and partners on the ground are shocking and unacceptable,” said Gary Conille, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Source- Loop Caribbean News
Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years for shooting and injuring Megan Thee Stallion
Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for shooting and injuring Megan Thee Stallion in July 2020.
Lanez, 31, who was convicted on Dec. 23, 2022, for shooting and injuring the hip-hop star, whose legal name is Megan Pete, was initially set to be sentenced in January but the sentencing has been delayed several times after Lanez obtained new attorneys and filed a motion for a new trial. The request for a new trial was denied in May.
The defense called several witnesses, including members of his family, to testify on the rapper's behalf during the hearing, which began on Monday and was extended through Tuesday.
Meanwhile, prosecutors on Monday read an impact statement from Megan, who called for Lanez to "be forced to face the full consequences of his heinous actions and face justice.”
“He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma. He tried to position himself as a victim and set out to destroy my character and my soul. He lied to anyone that would listen and paid bloggers to disseminate false information about the case on social media. He released music videos and songs to damage my character and continue his crusade," her statement said.
“Today, I beg this court to send a message to every victim of violence and fully hold the defendant accountable for his criminal conduct. This is a statement for all survivors that their lives matter and there is zero tolerance for the torture that accompanies violence," she added.
Lanez, legal name Daystar Peterson, was found guilty last December of three charges for shooting and injuring Megan in both of her feet in an incident in the Hollywood Hills on July 12, 2020. He faced up to 22 years and eight months in prison.
Source- ABC