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At a glance: Laws in the Caribbean region that criminalize gay sex

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) — In recent years, several Caribbean nations have struck down laws criminalizing same-sex relations — some of them dating back to the European colonial era.Courts in Belize in 2016 and Trinidad and Tobago in 2018 found such laws unconstitutional. Last year, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court also ruled Antigua and Barbuda’s “Sexual Offences Act” unconstitutional. The case was filed by a gay man who was persecuted for his sexual identity. Just months after the ruling, St. Kitts & Nevis and Barbados, struck down similar laws that often sought long prison sentences. Other cases in the region are pending.Still, discrimination against LGBTQ people persists across the conservative and mostly Christian Caribbean. Some lawmakers and religious leaders oppose the abolition of anti-gay laws, invoking God in their arguments and calling gay relationships a sin.Same-sex consensual intimacy is still criminalized in six Caribbean countries, accor...

Rapper Kodak Black hosts 2nd annual community event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

South Florida rapper Kodak Black is celebrating Kodak Black Day, a day in his honor, for the second time around. This year’s event will be held on June 11 at Pompano Community Park at 1660 NE 10th St in Pompano Beach, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. According to their official website, the rapper is hosting a car and bike show that includes a showcase of 100 of “the hottest cars and bikes from across the nation”, as well as vendors, music, food, a Kid Zone, arts and crafts, and live performances by South Florida’s Dream Team Elite Dancers. The event also accepts car and bike registrations to give show participants an opportunity to win a cash prize. Ticket admission starts at $60. Kodak Black Day was created in 2021 when he received a proclamation from former Broward County Mayor Dale Holeness during a charity basketball game, to celebrate the rapper for what he has done and continues to do for the community.Some of his philanthropic acts include providing financial a...

Spaghetti Pie / Belkys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

Ingredients:1 pound spaghetti1 pound ground beef1 tbs. olive oil1 medium yellow onion, chopped2 tbs. minced garlic1 tbs. Italian seasoningsalt and pepper to taste2 cups marinara sauce1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese2 tbs. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley2 large eggs1 cup grated parmesan cheese1 cup shredded mozzarella cheesenonstick cooking spray for the panMethod of Preparation:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 X 3-inch cake pan with cooking spray.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook for 3-4 minutes until al dente. Drain and reserve. (You can also use leftover pasta if you have enough!)In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add a little olive oil and sauté the chopped onion and garlic. Add ground meat, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Cook until the meat is cooked through- about 8 minutes. Set aside.In a large bowl, whisk together the marinara, ricotta, parsley, eggs, and 1/2 cup of the parmesan. Add the cooked spaghetti and coo...

Nicola Sturgeon arrested in Scottish National Party funding probe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

The former first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has been arrested amid an investigation into the finances of the Scottish National Party.Police Scotland launched an inquiry in 2021 after complaints were made about the SNP’s use of a £600,000-plus fund raised by activists which was intended to be ring-fenced for campaigning towards Scottish independence.In a statement, Police Scotland said: “A 52-year-old woman has today, ​Sunday, 11 June, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.“The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.”Sturgeon — who led Scotland’s government from 2014 until 2023 — is the third senior SNP figure to be arrested in connection with the probe, which started interviewing witnesses this year.Her husband, the former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was picked up by police in April, while the SNP’s t...

Warmer temps today, unsettled weather this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

7Weather- We’re heading for a warmer afternoon. There’s a chance for an isolated shower this afternoon. Better chances for widespread rain and some storms return to the forecast for the work week.High pressure is in charge of our region. That setup has led to a bright start and light wind. There’s a warmer air mass in place along with the June sunshine will boost temperatures into the low/mid 80s inland. More clouds will filter the sun into this afternoon. Highs will stay in the 70s on the coast with onshore breezes. There’s a chance for an isolated shower this afternoon.The air mass will stay warm overnight so we’ll start tomorrow morning in the upper 50s/low 60s. Tomorrow will look and feel different. We’ll see more clouds. It’ll also start to feel a bit on the muggy side as dew points head near 60. Most of Monday is dry. We’ll track an area of low pressure to our west that’ll pull showers into our area late Monday (around/just...

Police investigating Dorchester fight, stabbing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

Two people were hurt in a fight on Evelyn Street in Dorchester late Saturday night, police said.Officials said a man was stabbed just before midnight and transported to a local hospital.The second victim was a woman who was hurt trying to break up the fight. She was treated at the scene.No other details were immediately available.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

European leaders offer more aid to Tunisia amid efforts to curb migration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — European leaders visiting Tunisia held out the promise of more than 1 billion euros in financial aid as well as investments in undersea data cables and renewable energy Sunday in an effort to restore stability to the North African country — and to stem migration from its shores to Europe.Tunisia’s increasingly autocratic president hosted the leaders of Italy, the Netherlands and the European Commission for talks aimed at smoothing the way for an international financial bailout of the increasingly troubled country. Support from Tunisian President Kais Saied is crucial to any European Union deal to curb migration.On the eve of the talks, Saied made an unannounced visit to a migrant camp in the coastal city of Sfax, a central jumping-off point for boat journeys crossing the Mediterranean to Italy. Saied spoke with families living in the camp, and pleaded for international aid for Africans who converge on Tunisia as a transit point to reach Europe.His caring ...

In Yemen, 3 killed in clashes between suspected al-Qaida militants and pro-government forces

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Clashes between suspected al-Qaida militants and Yemen’s pro-government forces in the country’s south killed three men Saturday, a military official and tribal leaders said.The fighting broke out Saturday evening when militants thought to be al-Qaida members attacked the United Arab Emirates-backed Shabwa Defense Forces near the town of al-Musnaiya in southern Shabwa province with machine guns, two tribal leaders and a military official said. The three spoke on condition of anonymity.They said the gunbattle in the oil-rich province lasted for several hours, killing two Shabwa Defense Forces fighters and one militant before the militants finally withdrew.Yemen’s ruinous civil war began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition including the UAE intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognized government to power.Al-Qaid...

Gunfire into funeral procession in suburban Chicago wounds 4, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

OAK PARK, Ill. (AP) — Shots were fired into vehicles as a funeral procession passed through a Chicago suburb, badly wounding two people and hurting two others, police said.The shooting happened about 1 p.m. Saturday when a white pickup truck pulled alongside a vehicle and someone inside opened fire as the procession traveled from Chicago through the suburb of Oak Park just west of the city, Oak Park police said.Two people in the vehicle were taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said. Two people in another vehicle that was part of the procession were also struck by the gunfire and were treated at a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening.No bystanders were hurt in the shooting and police made no immediate arrests. Oak Park police said the department had received no warning of risks concerning the funeral procession.Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said the department didn’t believe there was any additional threat to the public.The Associated Press

Ex-Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon arrested by police investigating governing party’s finances

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested by police investigating the finances of the governing Scottish National Party, British media said Sunday.Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was detained “as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.”“The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives,” the force said.U.K. police do not name suspects until they are charged. The BBC and other media outlets identified the arrested woman as Sturgeon.Several senior SNP figures have previously been arrested and questioned as part of the investigation. None has been charged.The Associated Press