Schoolgirl, 14, 'secretly gives birth and hides baby from parents in freezer'

 

A 14-year-old schoolgirl reportedly gave birth to a baby boy in secret and put him in the freezer at her home to die after she got pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s child. The girl, identified by Russian media as Anastasia, was taken to hospital after her mother became worried about her after she heard her "moaning" throughout the night.
 Concerned her daughter was suffering from appendicitis, she called an ambulance, and the girl was found to be heavily bleeding.

Germany announces second national lockdown to curb Coronavirus spread

 

 Germany has announced second national lockdowns to curb coronavirus spread. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said her nation will enter a four-week lockdown from 2 November.
 
Germany's restrictions will see:
•    Bars and pubs to shut
•    Restaurants to close except for takeaway
•    Gyms, cinemas and theatres to shut
•    Indoor gatherings banned for more than 10 people and between more than two households

At least 7 dead, more than 120 injured after blast at religious school in Pakistani city of Peshawar

 

Seven people have died and at least 123 more have been injured in a blast at a religious school on Tuesday in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to local authorities. Lady Reading Hospital spokesman, Mohammad Asim, told CNN there were children among the injured.
The school is located on Peshawar's ring road, on the southern outskirts of the city.
Peshawar's superintendent of police Waqar Azeem told CNN the blast occurred during the morning's first lecture. Rescue services and a bomb disposal squad are on site.

Vietnam prepares to evacuate 1.3 million people as Typhoon Molave approaches

 

 
Vietnam is preparing to evacuate nearly 1.3 million people ahead of Typhoon Molave, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. Typhoon Molave, with wind speeds of 125 kilometers (77 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 150 kph (93.2 mph), left the main Philippine island of Luzon earlier on Monday, with heavy rain causing seven landslides and floods in 11 areas, the disaster agency said.
There were no reports of casualties, but 12 fishermen at sea failed to return to Catanduanes province off the country's eastern coast. Molave, known as Typhoon Quinta in the Philippines, was the 17th typhoon to hit the country this year.

Belgium's ex-king meets daughter after paternity battle

 

 Belgium's former King Albert has met his daughter Princess Delphine, following a legal battle over her status as his daughter. Albert admitted paternity in January after fighting the claim for more than a decade.  Delphine, 52, is the child of an 18-year affair Albert had with a baroness before he was king.
An image posted online shows the former Belgian king with Delphine at his castle in Brussels.
A statement from Albert, his wife Paola and Princess Delphine said they met on Sunday and were beginning a "new chapter".
"After the turmoil, suffering and injury, it is time for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation. Together we decided to take this new path. This will take patience and effort, but we are determined," the statement said.

Two beheaded as three people die in 'terrorist' knife attack during morning mass at a Catholic church in Nice, France

 

 At least three people have been killed with two of them beheaded in a 'terrorist' knife attack at a catholic cathedral in Nice, France. According to reports, the attack began around 9 am just as mass at the Notre Dame basilica - the largest Roman Catholic church in Nice started.
 Among the three people that have been confirmed dead, a man and a woman were beheaded while several others were left injured in the attack at Notre Dame church in Nice, south of France.
 Police quickly rushed to the scene, where they shot and arrested the attacker, who has been taken to hospital.  

Pastor and presbyter drown after baptism ceremony in horror reservoir accident

 

A pastor and a presbyter have drowned after going to a reservoir in Brazil to carry out a baptism. Pastor Davi Santos, 40, and presbyter Samuel Sergio, 38, lost their lives at the Atibainha reservoir, in the south-eastern Brazilian municipality of Nazare Paulista, at around midday on 25th October.
 According to local media, the group had taken part in a baptism of eight people and went in the reservoir to cool down before going home to the city of Guarulhos.
 Samuel Sergio got dragged by the current and cried for help, and as he was drowning Davi Santos went in to try to rescue him. However, he also got dragged down by the current.

Muslims 'have the right to kill millions of French people', Malaysia's former PM says after knife-wielding Islamist killed three people in a church in Nice

 

Malaysia's former prime minister on Wednesday, October 29, said that Muslims have the right "to kill millions of French people", shortly after a knife-wielding Islamist killed three people in a Church in Nice. 
Mahathir Mohamad, who lost power in February this year, said freedom of expression does not include "insulting other people" as anger over satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed sweeps the Islamic world.
 The 95-year-old politician said he did not approve of the beheading of a French school teacher for sharing caricatures of the Prophet, but added that, "Irrespective of the religion professed, angry people kill".

Ancient Thai city grapples with surging monkey population

 

It's a Friday afternoon on a Thai public holiday in September, and local tourists are out in force in the small city of Lopburi.
The attraction? Some 4,500 crab-eating macaques that roam this ancient capital's streets, many of which occupy the crumbling Khmer-style Phra Prang Sam Yod -- aka Monkey Temple -- in the city center. The primates not already munching on snacks wait for the tourists to purchase bags of the fruit, seeds, peanuts and -- their favorite -- sugary drinks from one of the vendors that line the parking area, train track and nearby roads.
Patience isn't the macaques' style. Some quickly climb up the tourists' bodies to grab the goodies and run.

Cocaine worth $500m found hidden in charcoal shipment

 

Police in Paraguay have found a record 2.3 tonnes of cocaine hidden among a charcoal shipment destined for Israel. They said the drugs had an estimated street value of $500m (£383m). It is the largest drugs seizure police have made in the South American country.
The cocaine was found in a container at Terport, a private port in the city of Villeta, near the capital, Asunción. Two people have been detained, one of them a former director of a state TV channel.
The police said the cocaine, neatly packed into parcels, was found in one of six containers. The five remaining containers are still to be searched and police did not rule out that they, too, could contain drugs. Interior Minister Euclides Acevedo said the final haul could amount to more than three tonnes.

Former Miss America, Leanza Cornett dies at age of 49 from brain injury after a fall

 

Former Miss America, Leanza Cornett has died at the age of 49 from injuries suffered in a fall.  A family spokesperson told CBS News affiliate WJAX-TV that the mother of two died on Wednesday, October 28. Cornett's death was also confirmed by the Miss America Organization in a statement.
 "Leanza had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious. We know she meant so much to so many, including all of you," the statement reads. "We are devastated by this sudden loss in our Miss America family and we are deeply sorry for her family and close friends for their loss."
It was reported the Jacksonville native died from brain injury after a fall on October 12.

Man sentenced to life imprisonment for stealing set of hedge trimmers is freed after spending 23 years in prison

 

A man sentenced to life imprisonment for stealing a pair of hedge clippers has been freed on parole 23 years on, after a lengthy battle to get him out. Fair Wayne Bryant, 63, has been in the US's largest maximum-security jail, Angola, since 1997.
 The Supreme Court had repeatedly declined to review his sentence for being a "habitual" offender under the USA's three strikes law.
 But Bryant, of Louisiana, was granted parole last Thursday shortly after the Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole voted for the move.

181 students, staff test positive in Lagos school

 

 
One hundred and eighty one students and staff of a private boarding school in Lekki, Lagos have tested positive for coronavirus. Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the cases were discovered during surveillance and case investigation in the school.
Giving details of the investigation, Abayomi explained that a 14-year-old SS1 female student fell ill on October 3 and was sent home after receiving first aid at the school.
He added the student subsequently tested positive on October 6 in one of the accredited private labs in Lagos.

Gunman 'shouting Allahu Akbar' BEHEADS Paris teacher who had shown cartoons of Prophet Mohammed to pupils

 

 A parent shouting Allahu Akbar and thought to be wearing an explosive vest has been shot dead by French police near Paris after allegedly beheading a school teacher with a knife.
The victim was said to have been a school teacher who had enraged parents by displaying cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed to pupils.
A source told Le Parisien: ‘The victim had recently given a lesson to his students on freedom of expression and had shown the caricatures of Muhammad’.
This led to an enraged parent confronting the teacher with a kitchen knife, and then cutting his head off, said the source.

We strongly oppose oppression, brutality and intimidation - Google tweets in support of #EndSARS protest

 

 Global Organization of Oriented Group Language of Earth (GOOGLE) has also thrown its weight behind the #EndSARS protest currently ongoing across the country.
 The international company which specializes in Internet-related services and products in a tweet shared on Thursday October 15, stated that it is against oppression, brutality and intimidation.
 Google also called for a speedy response and resolution to the current situation. The tweet read;
 We strongly oppose oppression, brutality & intimidation. We believe a fair and impartial police force is a critical element of a stable society, & that abuse of power infringes on people’s democratic & human rights. We urge a speedy resolution to the current situation. #EndsSARS

Trump snubbed as 2020 Nobel Peace prize is given to World Food Programme

 

 The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for its efforts to combat hunger during the Coronavirus pandemic, snubbing other high profile nominees like Donald Trump, climate activist Gretha Thunberg, Joe Biden and the press. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announcing on Friday, October 9, said the WFP had acted "as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict".
 The Nobel Peace prize is worth 10m Swedish krona ($1.1m; £872,600).

Chadwick Boseman last movie to be released in December

 

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the last movie Chadwick Boseman shot before his death is set to premiere December 18. The film, set in 1920s Chicago, tells the story of “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey, who is fighting with her white manager and producer for control of her music.
Netflix confirmed the release date of the movie featuring Viola Davies and deceased actor, Chadwick Boseman.
The movie is an adaptation from August Wilson’s 1984 play of the same name. Chadwick Boseman acted as a trumpeter in Ma Rainey’s session band called Levee.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk to undergo knee surgery

 

Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk has damaged knee ligaments and is set to undergo surgery after he was injured in Saturday’s Merseyside derby draw against Everton, the Premier League club confirmed on Sunday. The Dutch defender was substituted early in the game when Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a reckless challenge in the box, which left Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp fuming.
“Liverpool can confirm Virgil van Dijk will undergo surgery on the knee injury he sustained during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Everton,” the club said in a statement.

Churches burnt as Chileans mark protest movement anniversary

 

 Two churches were torched as tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered Sunday in a central Santiago square to mark the anniversary of a protest movement that broke out last year demanding greater equality in Chile. The demonstration comes just a week before Chileans vote in a referendum on whether to replace the dictatorship-era constitution — one of the key demands when the protest movement began on October 18, 2019.
While the morning brought a largely festive atmosphere to the protests at Plaza Italia, there were several incidents of violence, looting and vandalism in the afternoon.
One church close to Plaza Italia was burnt to the ground as hooded protesters cheered, while a second-place of worship was looted and also suffered fire damage.

Genius boy, 12, starts second year of university as he vows to work with Elon Musk

 

A 12-year-old boy is starting his second year at Chattahoochee Technical College in the US. Caleb Anderson is set to get an aerospace engineering degree in two years and hopes Elon Musk will make him an astronaut. The brainy youngster, of Marietta, Georgia, told CBC News: "I'm not really smart.
 "I just grasp information quickly. So, if I learn quicker, then I get ahead faster."
 Caleb learned sign language at nine months and started reading a few months later.
 He was able to solve maths problems by his second birthday and joined MENSA - a club for people whose IQ scores are in the top 2% - aged three.

Dad who thought Covid didn't exist dies after catching it on Turkish holiday

 

A  fitness influencer who thought Covid-19 didn't exist has died from it at the age of 33. Dad-of-three Dmitriy Stuzhuk had recorded a video from hospital after catching the virus on a trip to Turkey.
 Dmitriy said he woke up in Turkey with a swollen neck and breathing difficulties.
 The Ukrainian posted to his one million online fans: "I want to share how I got sick and to strongly warn everyone.
 "I was one who thought that Covid does not exist…
"Until I got sick."
 He told them: "COVID-19 IS NOT A SHORT-LIVED DISEASE! And it is heavy."

New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern wins second term following her effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic

New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has won re-election in a landslide victory after her effective response to the coronavirus pandemic.  The 40-year-old leader went head to head with Judith Collins of the National Party in the Saturday's election to form the country's 53rd parliament
 Ardern's Labor Party won 49.1% of the vote after Saturday's election. It was more than a 20% margin against their opponent, the conservative National Party, which won 26.8% of the vote.
 The Labor Party scored the highest result since New Zealand's current mixed-member proportional political system was first adopted in 1996, according to CNN.

Oscar 2021: Academy ‘approves Nigerian Pidgin English as foreign language’

 

The Nigeria Official Selection Committee For the Academy Awards Submissions says the Oscars has approved Nigerian Pidgin English as a non-English (Foreign language) recording dialogue in films.
Chineze Anyaene, the chairperson of the committee, who announced this on Saturday, said the request for approval began in December 2019.
She said she visited the Academy’s office in Los Angeles in February 2020 where she met with representatives of the International Feature Film (IFF) Executives.
She added that the outcome of the meeting was wider consultation with the IFF executives; ensuring approval is benchmarked and consistent with their screening matrix.

Sierra Leone captain Bangura, officials contract Covid-19

 

Sierra Leone captain Umaru Bangura and two other members of Leone Stars Phillip Kor, a fitness coach, and Eric Fomba, an official, have tested positive for coronavirus. Nigeria host Sierra Leone in next month’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations on November 9, before traveling for the reverse fixture billed for the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown the following week.
The trio contracted Covid-19 while on international duty with the Leone Stars in Niger and they are self-isolating, a statement from the Sierra Leone Football Association confirmed.

Kyrgyzstan election: President accepts new prime minister

 

A nationalist politician has become the new prime minister of the Central Asian country following a political crisis.bSadyr Japarov had been serving a prison sentence but was freed by supporters last week.
President Sooronbay Jeenbekov at first rejected parliament's decision to appoint Mr Japarov, questioning its legitimacy.
But on Wednesday the president gave his approval after parliament voted for him a second time.
A disputed parliamentary on 4 October has plunged the country into political turmoil.
The unrest began after demonstrators took to the streets of the capital Bishkek and stormed government buildings, demanding a new vote and the resignation of pro-Russian President Jeenbekov.

Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey reveals special #EndSARS emoji after endorsing the movement

 

Twitter CEO,  Jack Dorsey has revealed special #EndSARS Emoji after endorsing the movement against police brutality and other unlawful crimes in Nigeria. Recall the tech boss tweeted his support for the #EndSARS protests and called for Bitcoin donations towards the movement two days ago.
Last night, Twitter experienced issues globally with large numbers of users unable to post tweets, access their timelines, or see notifications. After fixing these issues, Jack Dorsey revealed a special #EndSARS emoji, a fist with the colour of the Nigerian flag.
 ave flooded his comment session to thank him for his support and the special #EndSARS emoji he created for the movement.

27-year old man refused all help to save his one-year old daughter locked in hot car because he is scared the repair expenses would be much and she died

 

A Las Vegas dad has been charged with child abuse leading to substantial bodily harm after his one-year-old daughter was found dead in a hot car. Sidney Deal, 27, was arrested on Monday after refusing several efforts to free his daughter, Sayah, from the hot car, where she was trapped for about an hour.
Deal was booked at the Clark County Detention Center and is being held on $20,000 bail. He didn't attend his initial hearing for medical reasons.
The Las Vegas Man told police officers on the scene that he didn't want to break the car windows of his Nissan Altima because of the potential cost to the vehicle. His partner also called an insurance company who offered to send a tow truck, but Deal refused the request after a disagreement about the price.
Police officers offered to call a locksmith, but Deal used the opportunity to speak on the phone with his brother instead.

'We owe you a duty to win back your trust'- Nigeria’s VP Osinbajo writes Nigerians as #EndSARS protests continues nationwide

 

 As Nigerians continue to call for an end to police brutality and total reform of the Nigerian Police Force, VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Buhari-led government owes the Nigerian youths a duty of winning back their trust. Osinbajo in an open letter to Nigerians, said efforts are currently being made to address all the issues raised in the end SARS protests. His letter reads:

Dear Nigerians, I know that many of you are angry, and understandably so. We could’ve moved faster and for this we are sorry.  I fully understand how many young people feel. Many feel that we have been too silent and have simply not done enough. These feelings of frustration are justified.

September was world's 'hottest on record'

 

 
September was the warmest on record globally, according to the weather service Copernicus.  It was 0.05C hotter than September last year, which in turn set the previous record high for the month. Scientists say it’s a clear indication of temperatures being driven up by emissions from human society.
Copernicus, which is the European Union's Earth observation programme, said warmth in the Siberian Arctic continues way above average. And it confirmed that Arctic sea ice is at its second lowest extent since satellite records began.
This year is also projected to become the warmest on record for Europe, even if temperatures cool somewhat from now on. The elevated heat globally contributed to record wildfires in California and Australia. It also helped fuel the hottest day on record - a searing 54.4C (130F) in Death Valley.
And it had a hand in the torrential downpours that inundated the south of France with more than half a metre of rain in a day.
Météo-France, the French met office, said a downpour like this was expected once in 100 years – they had two in a month.

Ikea to buy back used furniture in recycling push

 

 Ikea, the world's biggest furniture business, is planning a second-hand furniture venture. The Swedish giant will next month launch a scheme to buy back your unwanted Billy bookcases, and certain other of its furniture items you no longer need or want. Under the plan, it will offer vouchers worth up to 50% of the original price, to be spent at its stores. The "Buy Back" initiative will launch to coincide with Black Friday.
"By making sustainable living more simple and accessible, Ikea hopes that the initiative will help its customers take a stand against excessive consumption this Black Friday and in the years to come," it said in reference to 27 November, when lots of retailers offer discounts on their products.
The international scheme will see customers given vouchers to spend at Ikea stores, the value of which will depend on the condition of the items they are returning.

Brazil surpasses 150,000 coronavirus deaths, health ministry says

 

 
Brazil registered 559 additional coronavirus deaths over the last 24 hours and 26,749 new cases, the nation’s Health Ministry said on Saturday.
The South American country has now registered 5,082,637 total confirmed coronavirus cases and 150,198 total deaths.

Philippines: Environmentalists criticise artificial beach in Manila Bay

 

An artificial beach in the Philippine capital, Manila is causing controversy with some environmentalists arguing it is bad for the environment.
The ''Manila Bay Sands'' project is part of a wider $20m government plan to clean up Manila Bay.
The white sand is made from crushed dolomite rock which is extracted from large dolomite mines.
The Kalikasan Environment Group says the mining operations are destructive and the synthetic sand can harm marine life.
Despite this, thousands of Manila's residents have been flocking to the beach to catch a glimpse of the city's hottest new talking point.
Source: BBC

Big global study finds remdesivir doesn't help Covid-19 patients

 

 In a study it described as both conclusive and disappointing, the World Health Organization said the antiviral drug remdesivir has "little or no effect on mortality" for patients hospitalized with coronavirus and it doesn't seem to help patients recover any faster, either. Until now, remdesivir has been the only drug that appeared to have specific effects for coronavirus. It was the only drug with an Emergency Use Authorization for Covid-19 from the US Food and Drug Administration.
Results of the WHO study have not been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. But WHO posted them to a pre-print server.

WW2 'earthquake' bomb explodes in Poland during attempt to defuse it

 

The largest unexploded World War Two bomb ever found in Poland has detonated during the defusing process, a Polish Navy spokesman said. The chance the bomb - at the bottom of a Baltic Sea shipping canal - would detonate had been put at 50-50 and all the divers were unharmed. About 750 residents had been evacuated near the port city of Swinoujscie.
The RAF dropped the Tallboy or "earthquake" bomb in a raid in 1945 which sank the German cruiser Lützow.

US woman faces first federal execution since 1953

 

The US is to execute a female federal inmate for the first time in almost 70 years, the Justice Department said. Lisa Montgomery strangled a pregnant woman in Missouri before cutting out and kidnapping the baby in 2004. She is due to be given a lethal injection in Indiana on 8 December.
The last woman to be executed by the US government was Bonnie Heady, who died in a gas chamber in Missouri in 1953, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
The federal execution of Brandon Bernard, who with his accomplices murdered two youth ministers in 1999, has also been scheduled for December.

Update: Update: British pilot charged over tragic plane crash which killed footballer Emiliano Sala

 

A British pilot from the East Riding of Yorkshire is being prosecuted over the crash which killed Argentinian professional, footballer Emiliano Sala. The 28-year-old striker was being flown from Nantes in France to his new club, Cardiff City, on 21 January 2019 when the light aircraft being piloted by David Ibbotson, 59, from Lincolnshire, plunged into the sea near Guernsey. His body was recovered from the seabed 68 metres down two weeks after while Ibbotson’s body has still not been found.
 The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced in a statement that David Henderson, 66, who was meant to have flown the footballer, has been charged with two offences under the Air Navigation Order (2016).

US Tennis player Sam Querrey accused of fleeing Russia on private jet after testing positive for COVID-19

 

33 year old US tennis player Sam Querrey, has been accused of fleeing Russia on a private jet after he and his family tested positive for Covid-19. Querrey and his wife had tested positive for the virus ahead of the St. Petersburg Open this week and were placed in quarantine at a  hotel, according to the tournament organizers.
 Doctors had recommended Querrey and his family be moved to a private apartment but he did not allegedly answer the door when doctors were dispatched to evaluate his condition.

Thailand issues emergency decree to put an end to nationwide protests calling for Prime Minister's resignation

 

 The government of Thailand has announced a ban on gatherings of more than five people under an emergency decree, and arrested several prominent protest leaders in a tight handed bid to stop pro-democracy protests that have gripped the country for more than three months.
 The decree, which came into effect in the capital Bangkok at 4 a.m. local time Thursday October 15, was enforced after thousands of protesters marched from the city's Democracy Monument and broke through a police barricade to camp outside Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's offices late Wednesday, calling for Prayut's resignation and reform of the monarchy.

South African jailed for swallowing cocaine begs for mercy

 

 A 27 year-old South African jailed for life for trafficking more than 0.5kg of cocaine from Brazil to Cambodia will know on 3 November, whether his sentence will be reduced. This was the date the Cambodian Court of Appeal said it would deliver its verdict. The South African, Blignaut Chan had swallowed the drugs before departing Brazil and was arrested at the Phnom Penh International Airport in September 2017.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. During his hearing at the Appeal Court, Chan told a judge through an interpreter that he had been hired by Au Stin, also a South African, to swallow about 50 pills filled with cocaine.

Thailand crash: Bus collides with train, killing 18

A bus has collided with a train in Thailand, killing at least 18 people and injuring dozens more, officials say.  The crash happened on Sunday morning, 50km (31 miles) east of Bangkok.
Thai police said passengers inside the bus were on their way to a temple to mark the end of Buddhist Lent. Images from the scene show the bus upturned on its side, heavily damaged and objects scattered along the train tracks. Rescue workers say they need a crane to be able to lift the bus.
There were 60 passengers travelling in the bus at the time of the crash, province governor Maitree Tritilanond said.

Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic in French Open final to tie Roger Federer with 20 Grand Slam titles

 

Rafael Nadal produced a convincing displace to stun Novak Djokovic and equal Roger Federer's record of 20 Grand Slam men's titles at the French Open final on Sunday, October 11.  The Spaniard defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 in 2 hours, and 41 minutes at Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris to clinch a record-extending 13th title at Roland Garros.
 Speaking after the game, Nadal who also became the first player to win 100 singles matches at Roland Garros: "A win here means everything for me. Honestly, I don't think about the 20th and equalling Roger, for me it is just a Roland Garros victory."
 "I have spent most of the most important moments in my career here.

Pakistan bans Tik-Tok over ‘immoral and indecent’ content

 

 
TikTok has been banned in Pakistan after the country’s telecom regulator deemed that it had failed to filter out “immoral and indecent” content. It is the latest blow for the beleaguered social media platform, which back in June was banned in India after that country said it had received reports that TikTok and other Chinese apps were “stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data.”
The app, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, also faces a potential ban in the US over concerns about user privacy.

White man wore blackface and fake beard as disguise before allegedly killing the mother of his child

 

A man accused of killing the mother of his 1-year-old daughter allegedly disguised himself by wearing blackface and fake beard before committing the crime. 33-year-old Andrew Charles Beard from Texas, surrendered himself to Carrollton police this week after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
 According to the Carrollton Leader, Alyssa Burkett was reportedly shot and repeatedly stabbed in front of her workplace in Carrollton, Texas on Friday (Oct. 2). Her co-worker, who witnessed the incident through the office window, told cops she saw a man dressed in all black walk up to the driver’s side of Burkett’s car before he fired shots into the vehicle.

Mum tries to sell her one-week-old baby for £3,000 to buy a pair of boots

 

A heartless mum tried to sell her newborn baby for £3,000 to treat herself to a new pair of boots.
Luiza Gadzhieva, 25, was detained in Moscow, Russia, for attempting to sell her newborn baby on the black market. She advertised her tiny daughter saying she was seeking adoptive parents and accepted £3,000 for the child. But the mother, who has three other children, was caught in a sting operation with law enforcement posing as the buyers.
Earlier, Gadzhieva discussed with her sister how she had chosen a new pair of boots to buy once she sold the baby, it was revealed.

Bangladesh to allow death penalty for convicted rapists

 

Bangladesh is set to allow the death penalty for convicted rapists after weeks of protests over sexual violence in the country. Bangladesh's Cabinet on Monday approved an amendment changing the maximum punishment for convicted rapists from life imprisonment to death, according to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
The new provision will go into effect once it is signed by Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid. The step is considered a formality.
"Surely (the law) will be a deterrent to such notorious crimes while we simultaneously will make all-out efforts to expedite the trial process of rape cases in the relevant courts," Law Minister Anisul Huq said, according to BSS.

Barcelona forced me out because of Messi – Luis Suarez

Atletico Madrid striker, Luis Suarez, has claimed that he was forced out of Barcelona, because of his relationship with Lionel Messi. The 33-year-old left the Nou Camp after six years this summer.
During his spell with Barca, Suarez became the club’s third all-time top goal scorer with 198 goals.
“I would have looked for a solution if it was a financial problem and if it was a sporting issue I could have understood. It is not clear to me why they took the decision they took.
“I think they wanted to remove me from Messi’s side. Maybe it annoyed them that I had a good relationship with Leo. Perhaps they didn’t want him to be with me so much. I can’t find any reason to think that would damage the team, though,” Suarez told ESPN’s “90 Minutos” on Friday.

Manchester United striker, Marcus Rashford honoured with MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his campaign against child poverty

 

 England and Manchester United striker, Marcus Rashford has been honored by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his campaign against child poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 22-year-old forward was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the Queen's Birthday Honors list, approved by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
 Rashford made an impact during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic when he campaigned for the government to allow about 1.3 million children to claim free school meal vouchers in England's summer holidays during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hundreds battle to contain fire on slopes of Kilimanjaro

 

 Tanzanian residents, students and firefighters were battling on Monday to contain a fire that broke out Sunday on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, the National Parks service (TANAPA) said.
Hard winds on Sunday helped fan the fire, but the winds have died down. So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported and no property damaged.
"The fire is still going on and firefighters from TANAPA, other government institutions and locals are continuing with the efforts to contain it," said Pascal Shelutete, a TANAPA official.
Kilimanjaro rises to nearly 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) above sea level. Around 50,000 tourists climb it every year.

Westgate: Two found guilty over Kenya shopping mall attack

 

A court in Kenya has found two men guilty of helping Islamist militants to attack an upmarket shopping mall in 2013. At least 67 people died in the assault by al-Shabab on the Westgate shopping complex in the capital, Nairobi.  The state said the four militants who carried out the attack were found dead in the shopping centre's rubble.
The militants occupied the mall for four days, in one of the deadliest jihadi attacks in Kenya.
A third man was found not guilty on all counts of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.
The trial is the only one so far over the Westgate shopping mall attack.
More than 140 witnesses testified in the case. The accused denied conspiring to commit terrorism.
The presiding judge ruled that the two suspects, both Kenyan citizens, will be sentenced on 22 October.
The BBC's Ferdinand Omondi in Nairobi says their convictions will be welcomed in a country that remains on high alert over possible attacks by al-Shabab.
The al-Qaeda affiliate is based in neighbouring Somalia, and has carried out a series of attacks in Kenya.
Kenya has troops in Somalia to help fight the militants.

Facebook bans QAnon conspiracy theory accounts across all platforms

 

 Facebook has banned all accounts linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory movement from its platforms.
"Starting today, we will remove Facebook Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts," the company said on Tuesday.
The move is a significant escalation to Facebook's earlier decision to remove or restrict groups and accounts sharing and promoting QAnon material.
QAnon is a conspiracy theory that says President Trump is waging a war against elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles.