Twenty-nine minors, aged between 14 and 17, are facing the death penalty in Nigeria after participating in a protest against the country’s cost-of-living crisis. The protesters were charged with multiple felony counts, including treason. Other minors were also charged, but four collapsed in court due to exhaustion. The accused were each granted bail but have yet to meet the strict conditions set. Lawyers and advocates have drawn attention to the fact that the Child Rights Act does not allow children to be subject to criminal proceedings and sentenced to death.
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The newly appointed head of the Chicago school board, the Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, resigned on the request of Chicago Mayor, Brandon Johnson, over alarming posts on social media. The posts, deemed antisemitic, sexist, and conspiratorial by city leaders, led to an outcry for his resignation. Notably, the board had already been shaken by the simultaneous resignation of every member earlier this month. One of Rev. Johnson’s posts suggested that the 9/11 attacks were an inside job, while another stereotype women in a negative light. He apologized for his comments, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
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During their first date, Leslie Reeves and Chris Smith were shot, with only Smith surviving. Smith was found in his Illinois home with a bullet in his brain and was placed in a medically induced coma after brain surgery. Pieces of the bullet are still in his brain, as removing them could cause further harm. Smith recovered and can now move his left leg from his knee up, although he has no recollections from the night of the shooting. Now he is back singing with his rock band and is engaged to his fiancée, despite his neurosurgeon saying he may never be able to walk again.
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A final poll before Election Day shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Trump in Iowa by three points, a significant swing from the double-digit lead Trump had over Joe Biden in June. The survey suggests Harris’ popularity surge is partly due to support from older women and independent voters, with her lead among women aged 65 and older being more than two times. Meanwhile, Trump continues to lead among Iowans between 35 and 54 years of age. Democrats aren’t surprised by the poll’s findings, suggesting it aligns with sentiments heard from various voter groups in Iowa. However, the Trump Campaign and Iowa GOP Chair, Jeff Kauffman, dispute the accuracy of this poll, citing an Emerson College poll that shows Trump still leading.
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The FBI is investigating the death of Dennoriss Richardson, a Black man who was found hanged in an abandoned house in Alabama, following a request from the local sheriff amid community accusations of local law enforcement misconduct. Richardson’s death was ruled a suicide by the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office but his wife insists he would not kill himself and believes his death might be connected to a lawsuit he filed against local police, alleging assault and abuse while in custody. Widespread distrust of the local law enforcement reflects a history of excessive force incidents and lynchings in the area. The recent case is one among a series of lawsuits against the Sheffield Police Department. Sheriff Eric Balentine hopes the FBI investigation will help alleviate community concerns.
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North Korean soldiers who have been deployed to support Russia in the Ukraine are expected to suffer significant losses due to their lack of training for the geography and climate, according to Estonian Colonel Ants Kiviselg. North Korea has sent nearly 12,000 troops to Russia, including 500 officers and three generals, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) however these soldiers have typically been trained to fight in mountainous terrain, unlike the conditions in Ukraine. Kiviselg suggests that communication issues between North Korean and Russian troops could also cause difficulties. His comments come as the Ukrainian conflict increases in intensity, with Russian forces reportedly advancing at its fastest rate since the early months of the war.
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Vice President Kamala Harris has made an unexpected trip to New York to appear on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), three days before the election. Harris left for New York after a campaign stop in North Carolina, with her aides confirming the change of plan after Air Force Two had taken off. Harris’ appearance on the show was confirmed by three unidentified sources. Actor Maya Rudolph has been playing Harris on SNL since 2019, a performance that has received critical acclaim, including from Harris herself. Harris’ husband is played by former SNL cast member Andy Samberg, while Dana Carvey portrays President Joe Biden.
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Actor Harrison Ford has endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the US presidential election, releasing three videos as part of the Harris-Walz campaign. The Star Wars and Indiana Jones actor communicated his frustrations about division in the country and the perceived embracing of global dictators under President Trump. Ford emphasised the important democratic process of disagreement and debate, asserting that “what we need is to work together again.” Although Ford admits to not fully aligning with all of Harris and Walz’s policies, he stands behind their beliefs in science, rule of law and governance for all Americans. He joins a list of celebrities, such as LeBron James and Cardi B, endorsing the vice president and Minnesota governor.
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Chanel’s CEO Leena Nair has criticised the AI model ChatGPT for creating an all-male team when asked to present a leadership group from the brand. ChatGPT’s apparent gender bias contrasts with Chanel’s employee makeup, which is 76% female. Nair, who is the second woman and first Indian CEO of the company, is invested in AI integration for Chanel, but plans to address the biases seen in such technologies. In a statement, an OpenAI spokesperson acknowledged bias as a significant problem in AI, pledging continued work to reduce it. Fortune later reported that ChatGPT generated an image with both men and women present when given the same instructions.
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A 61-year-old man was critically injured in Hawaii when a shark attacked him while he was surfing, severing his leg just below the knee. Emergency services were called to the scene and worked to stem the bleeding before transporting him to Maui Memorial Medical Centre. People have been warned to stay away from the beach park and to avoid the water within a mile in each direction of the incident. Local authorities are patrolling the area using rescue watercraft and drones. There have been no further details regarding the type of shark involved.
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John Q. Hosedrinker