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Arson Attack Targets Montreal Synagogue, Nearby Jewish Office Damaged

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Arson Attack Targets Montreal Synagogue, Nearby Jewish Office Damaged

A synagogue in a Montreal suburb was targeted early Wednesday in what police suspect was an arson attack, marking the second time the building has been hit by an incendiary device in just over a year. Authorities reported that a nearby Jewish office building also appeared to have been targeted, though it remains unclear if the two incidents are connected.

Montreal police responded to a 911 call shortly before 3 a.m. reporting a fire at Congregation Beth Tikvah in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and discovered an incendiary device at the scene. The synagogue sustained minor damage, including a smashed window, smoke damage, and a damaged door. Witnesses reported seeing a suspect fleeing the area shortly after the fire began.

No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made. Police have yet to determine whether the fire constitutes a hate crime, Dubuc added.

A few hours after the synagogue fire, officers discovered similar damage—a smashed window and a broken glass door—at the West Island office of the Federation CJA, a prominent Jewish community organization. However, no incendiary device was found at this second location. Authorities are investigating whether the incidents are connected.

This is not the first time these locations have been targeted. In November 2023, both Congregation Beth Tikvah and the Federation CJA office experienced arson attempts that caused minor damage. No injuries were reported, and no arrests were made in those cases.

The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the incidents on social media, calling them “cowardly and criminal” acts of antisemitism. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned the attacks, urging the Canadian government to take decisive action to combat hatred.

Police investigations into the latest attacks are ongoing.

Blast Kills Two Mexican Soldiers and Injures Five in Suspected Drug Cartel Booby Trap

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Blast Kills Two Mexican Soldiers and Injures Five in Suspected Drug Cartel Booby Trap

An improvised landmine, believed to have been planted by a drug cartel, killed two Mexican soldiers and wounded five others, Mexico’s defense secretary announced Tuesday.

Gen. Ricardo Trevilla revealed that the army had suffered six fatalities from similar improvised explosive devices (IEDs) between 2018 and 2024. He did not specify whether these deaths resulted from roadside bombs or explosives dropped by drones, both of which are tactics commonly used by gangs in Mexico.

The device involved in Monday’s explosion was described by Trevilla as “very rustic.” Officials have previously compared such devices to buried pipe bombs. There was no immediate update on the condition of the five wounded soldiers, which included at least one officer.

The incident occurred in Michoacán, a western state plagued by cartel violence. Trevilla suggested the explosion was likely part of a drug cartel booby trap. The soldiers had been dispatched to investigate reports of an armed encampment in a rural area. Upon arriving, they found the path blocked by logs and were forced to proceed on foot.

As they advanced, they discovered three dismembered bodies near the seemingly abandoned encampment. Moments later, a buried explosive detonated, striking the soldiers.

Trevilla attributed the attack to the United Cartels, an alliance that includes the Viagras gang, which has been engaged in long-standing turf wars with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Michoacán.

The Mexican army previously acknowledged in August that some soldiers have been killed by drones operated by drug cartels. However, officials have noted that roadside bombs are more frequently encountered than drone-dropped explosives.

Michoacán has seen escalating violence as cartels employ militarized strategies, including IEDs, trenches, pillbox fortifications, homemade armored vehicles, and sniper rifles. According to a report released in August 2023, 42 soldiers, police, and suspects were wounded by IEDs in the first seven months of that year, a significant rise from 16 cases in 2022.

Michigan Man Admits to Plotting Hate-Fueled Mass Shooting Targeting LGBTQ+ Individuals

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Michigan Man Admits to Plotting Hate-Fueled Mass Shooting Targeting LGBTQ+ Individuals

A Michigan man pleaded guilty to planning a mass shooting at a political party headquarters and a nearby bar, both of which he associated with LGBTQ+ individuals, officials announced Tuesday.

Mack Davis, 22, admitted to one count of committing a hate crime for attempting to carry out the mass killings in Owosso, a town about 25 miles west of Flint. Davis faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.

“This kind of vile and heinous hate-fueled violence, intended to target innocent people based on their sexual orientation, runs contrary to our values as Americans,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in the release. “Bias-motivated crimes targeting the LGBTQI+ community will not be tolerated. The Justice Department will continue using every tool at our disposal to protect communities from the scourge of hate-fueled violence by prosecuting those who carry out or attempt to carry out such crimes.”

Prosecutors said Davis spent months researching mass killings and writing about them in journals and on social media. Between July of last year and June of this year, when he was arrested on an unrelated charge, Davis compiled a list of weapons he owned and weapons he intended to acquire.

By the time of his arrest, authorities said Davis had amassed an arsenal that included two firearms, magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a crossbow and arrows, bomb-making components, smoke grenades, tactical gear, and several knives. One knife was reportedly inscribed with an anti-gay slur.

Between April and June, Davis posted on social media about plans to open fire at a local political party headquarters and a nearby bar. Using anti-LGBTQ+ slurs in his posts, Davis referred to the two locations as “targets,” according to the Justice Department.

He also allegedly vandalized vehicles belonging to neighbors he believed to be gay, spray-painting slurs and test-firing a firearm at several properties, including the vehicles.

Davis was arrested in June following the shooting incidents and has been in custody since. Sentencing for the foiled mass attack is pending.

“Davis’ plans were chilling. He intended to commit mass shootings at two locations—destroying countless lives and devastating our community—all because of his fanatical hatred for gay people,” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison of the Eastern District of Michigan said. “I applaud the work of law enforcement in disrupting this awful plot and arresting Davis before he could carry out his planned attacks.”

Bryan Sherer, Davis’ attorney, said his client is “just twenty-two years old and vulnerable,” adding that Davis had no prior history of violence and that there was no definitive proof Davis would have carried out the attacks.

The case highlights the ongoing threat of hate-motivated violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. Several high-profile mass shootings have occurred at LGBTQ+ venues in recent years, including the 2016 attack at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 dead, and the 2020 Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that resulted in five deaths and 17 injuries.

2 Pilots Die in Training Flight Crash Near Honolulu Airport

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2 Pilots Die in Training Flight Crash Near Honolulu Airport

Two pilots perished Tuesday when their Kamaka Air Cessna 208 crashed into a vacant building near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu during a training flight. The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. local time, sending flames and black smoke into the air.

Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen confirmed the fatalities, noting witnesses reported the pilots appeared to maneuver away from critical infrastructure, including a fuel farm, before impact. Air traffic control recordings captured the pilots’ final moments, with one stating “We’re out of control here” after being questioned about their flight path.

Witness Nancy Timko described seeing the aircraft flying unusually low past her seventh-floor office window before banking toward the airport, followed by a loud bang. Honolulu Fire Chief Sheldon Hao reported the Cessna struck an exterior stairwell area, with debris contained within a 50-foot radius.

Kamaka Air acknowledged the loss of “two members of the Kamaka Air family” but withheld the victims’ names. The company provides air cargo and charter services in Hawaii. The crash site building, already scheduled for demolition, was owned by the Department of Transportation and unoccupied at the time.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green extended condolences to the victims’ families while promising full support for federal investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have launched investigations into the crash’s cause. Airport operations continued despite the incident, though nearby streets were closed.

South African Man Dies by Suicide After Killing Girlfriend and Posting Photo on Facebook 

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South African Man Dies by Suicide After Killing Girlfriend and Posting Photo on Facebook 

A South African man, Sibusiso Lawrence, who killed his girlfriend, Nontobeko Cele, and posted a photo of her lifeless body on Facebook, was found dead by suicide, authorities confirmed. 

The incident occurred in the Malangeni area of Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), and has sparked widespread outrage on social media. Lawrence’s shocking video confession and disturbing image of 25-year-old Cele lying in a pool of blood with stab wounds went viral on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. 

In the chilling video, Lawrence attempted to justify the murder, claiming his girlfriend wanted to leave him after receiving money from the Road Accident Fund (RAF). He also alleged mistreatment within their relationship as a motive for his actions. 

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that Lawrence’s body was discovered hanging from a tree on the morning of Wednesday, December 18. 

“A man who had confessed to killing a woman on a social media video that went viral was found hanging on a tree on Wednesday morning at Malangeni area in Umzinto, a short distance from where he killed the woman,” Netshiunda said. 

South African authorities responded to a call about a murder on a gravel road in Malangeni, where they found Cele’s bloodied body lying in the middle of the road with multiple stab wounds. A broken knife was recovered near her body. 

“Her bloodied body was found with several stab wounds, and a broken knife was found next to her body,” Netshiunda added. 

Investigations revealed that Lawrence had allegedly fetched Cele from her home earlier. It is suspected that a domestic altercation escalated, leading to the fatal stabbing. Police also found his vehicle abandoned nearby with blood on the front passenger seat, suggesting the attack occurred inside the car. 

Following an immediate manhunt, police discovered Lawrence’s body hanging from a tree in what appears to be a suicide. 

Authorities have opened a murder case and launched an inquest docket to investigate further. 

The tragedy highlights growing concerns over domestic violence and femicide in South Africa. Advocacy groups continue to call for more robust interventions to address gender-based violence and its devastating consequences. 

Man Detained After Vandalizing Multiple Vehicles at Ghana’s Parliament

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Man Detained After Vandalizing Multiple Vehicles at Ghana’s Parliament

A man wearing white clothing was arrested after damaging several vehicles on Ghana’s Parliament grounds in Accra, with witnesses reporting he smashed windscreens and windows of approximately seven cars parked in front of the legislative buildings.

Police officers stationed at Parliament quickly apprehended the suspect, who appeared to be mentally distressed according to eyewitnesses. During his arrest, the man was heard shouting skyward, “Daddy don’t kill them. Daddy don’t destroy my people.”

Parliamentary authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident or the extent of damage caused.

US Report Accuses Nearly 50 Catholic Priests of Historic Sexual Misconduct

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US Report Accuses Nearly 50 Catholic Priests of Historic Sexual Misconduct

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a landmark report on Monday accusing 48 Catholic priests and other clergy members of historic sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Lansing, uncovering decades of abuse dating back to the 1950s. 

Found Guilty

The report, part of Michigan’s five-year investigation, details allegations against 56 individuals, including priests, deacons, and religious brothers. The findings are based on interviews with survivors, more than 1,100 public tips, media reports, and an extensive review of church documents, including 220 physical boxes of files and 3.5 million digital records seized by investigators. 

Most of the alleged abuse occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. While 11 individuals have been charged as part of the investigation — leading to nine convictions — many of the accused are now deceased, and some living suspects cannot face prosecution due to statutes of limitations or victims not pursuing charges. 

Found Guilty

“These reports are important, not just because we made a promise to the survivors years ago, but because victims, especially in cases like these where the assaults were perpetrated by entrusted members of a community, are often silenced — in some cases for decades or a lifetime,” Nessel said in a statement. 

The Diocese of Lansing cooperated with the investigation, which Nessel acknowledged as instrumental in compiling the report. 

Among those convicted is Vincent DeLorenzo, an 84-year-old priest who pleaded guilty last year to abusing a 5-year-old boy after a family funeral in 1987. DeLorenzo died in January while serving his sentence. Timothy Crowley, a former Ann Arbor priest, received one year in jail and five years of probation after pleading guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct. 

In response to the report, Bishop Earl Boyea, head of the Diocese of Lansing since 2008, issued an apology to survivors and their families. 

Found Guilty

“Having read this long and detailed report, my heart breaks for all those who have suffered due to the evil of clerical sexual abuse, which is a great betrayal of Jesus Christ, His Holy Church, the priesthood, and, most gravely, those victims — and their families — who were harmed physically, emotionally, but above all spiritually when they were so young,” Boyea said. 

“To all those injured by such criminal and immoral actions I say clearly and without hesitation: these terrible things should never have happened to you; I am so deeply sorry that they ever did; please be assured of my prayers, penance, love and support,” he added. 

The report on the Diocese of Lansing is part of a broader investigation into the Catholic Church in Michigan. Nessel’s office has already released findings for the dioceses of Gaylord, Marquette, and Kalamazoo and plans to publish reports on all seven dioceses across the state by 2026. 

This investigation underscores the ongoing reckoning within the Catholic Church, as survivors of abuse and advocates continue to push for accountability, transparency, and justice. 

Mariah Carey Signs Rihanna’s Breast During Final Christmas Concert After Battling Flu 

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Mariah Carey Signs Rihanna’s Breast During Final Christmas Concert After Battling Flu 

Mariah Carey made a triumphant return to the stage on Tuesday, Dec. 17, as she wrapped up her Christmas Time tour with a festive performance at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The show was made even more memorable when Rihanna, a special guest in the star-studded crowd, got her breast signed by the iconic singer. 

“Mariah Carey is signing my tit,” Rihanna, 36, said to the camera, wearing sunglasses and a fluffy tan jacket. 

The grand finale came after Carey had to cancel three earlier performances due to the flu. On Dec. 11, the singer announced she was too unwell to perform in Pittsburgh, Newark, N.J., and Belmont, N.Y. 

“Pittsburgh, I am sorry to say, I’ve come down with the flu. It breaks my heart that I unfortunately have to cancel tonight’s show. I love you all so much,” Carey shared on X (formerly Twitter). She later canceled two additional shows, explaining, “Newark and Belmont — I wish I had better news but unfortunately I’m still sick and have to cancel the shows tonight and on Sunday.” 

Carey’s health took a turn for the better just in time for her Brooklyn show. “Lambs, thank you for making my #Christmastime so special,” Carey wrote on Instagram on Dec. 16. “I’ve loved singing with you every night, and I can’t wait to see you all tomorrow in Brooklyn for the last show of the tour.” 

The Christmas Time tour kicked off on Nov. 6 in Highland, Calif., following its announcement in August. Throughout the tour, Carey welcomed a few familiar faces to celebrate alongside her. During her Dec. 9 show in Raleigh, N.C., her 13-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, whom she shares with ex-husband Nick Cannon, joined her on stage to present flowers in honor of her classic holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” reclaiming the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

“Thank you. Wow!” Carey exclaimed onstage. “That was the perfect moment to find that out. It’s from the Hot 100? Well, thank you, everybody who helped make that possible. Thank you so much.” 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Carey’s iconic holiday album Merry Christmas, featuring her signature hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” On Dec. 9, she released a limited deluxe edition of the album to celebrate the milestone. 

Mariah Carey’s triumphant Brooklyn performance solidified her status as the Queen of Christmas, closing her holiday tour with energy, fanfare, and a moment Rihanna and the audience won’t soon forget. 

Supreme Court Dismisses Petition Challenging Anti-Gay Bill in Ghana 

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Supreme Court Dismisses Petition Challenging Anti-Gay Bill in Ghana 

Ghana’s Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed a petition challenging the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, a controversial piece of legislation aimed at criminalizing LGBTQI-related activities. 

The petition, filed by broadcast journalist and lawyer Richard Dela Sky, sought to nullify the legislative process surrounding the bill, arguing that it violated constitutional procedures. A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Lovelace Avril Johnson, rejected Sky’s claims, affirming that the legislative process adhered to Ghana’s constitutional guidelines. 

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill aims to criminalize activities promoting, funding, or indirectly supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) advocacy. Proponents of the bill argue it is necessary to preserve Ghanaian cultural and family values, which they believe are under threat from external influences. 

Human rights groups and critics, however, have strongly opposed the bill, calling it a violation of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, association, and equality before the law. 

Separate Petition by Amanda Odoi

The case also included a related challenge from equality and inclusion advocate Amanda Odoi. Both Sky and Odoi contended that Parliament failed to meet the constitutional quorum requirements outlined in Articles 102 and 104 of Ghana’s Constitution during the bill’s legislative process. 

In its ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed both petitions, emphasizing that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has not yet become law. Justice Lovelace Johnson explained that a bill cannot be subjected to judicial review on constitutional grounds until it receives presidential assent and becomes enforceable law. 

The ruling underscores the Supreme Court’s position that judicial intervention in legislative processes is premature unless a bill has been formally enacted. 

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill continues to spark intense debate across Ghana, highlighting the growing divide between cultural advocacy and human rights concerns in the country. 

Source: assaseradio.com

Israeli Military Orders Gaza Evacuation Ahead of Renewed Offensive Amid Ceasefire Talks 

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Israeli Military Orders Gaza Evacuation Ahead of Renewed Offensive Amid Ceasefire Talks 

The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered an evacuation in central Gaza as it prepared for a renewed offensive, even as ceasefire talks with Hamas resumed. The directive affects residents in the Bureij refugee camp, where the military claims Palestinian militants launched rockets toward Israel. 

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, urging residents to relocate to a designated “humanitarian zone” in Muwasi. Evacuation orders have been a regular occurrence throughout the 14-month conflict, with over 90% of Gaza’s population displaced, many forced to move multiple times. 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Adam Boehler, in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Boehler, a former aide to Jared Kushner, previously met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week. 

Ceasefire negotiations have restarted after months of stagnation. The proposed deal includes a six-week halt in hostilities, during which Hamas would release 30 hostages, including dual Israeli-U.S. citizens, in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Trump has voiced support for a quick resolution to the war. 

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military operations in the past 14 months. The ministry states that over half of the casualties are women and children, though it does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. 

Israel’s military campaign began in response to Hamas’ October 2023 attack on southern Israel, where militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted 250 others. About 100 hostages remain in captivity. 

As humanitarian concerns mount, international observers are closely watching both the ongoing ceasefire talks and the situation on the ground in Gaza. 

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