UK man jailed for life over aggravated rape of Sikh woman
LONDON, April 24: A 32-year-old man, John Ashby, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to the religiously aggravated rape of a Sikh woman in Walsall, UK. Ashby initially denied multiple charges, including sexual assault, strangulation, racially aggravated assault, and robbery, before later admitting them. The court heard he followed the victim from a bus stop to her home, broke in, and subjected her to a violent attack involving religiously motivated abuse. He mistakenly believed she was Muslim and directed anti-Muslim insults at her. Evidence included CCTV footage, DNA, and fingerprints linking him to the crime. The judge described Ashby as a dangerous racist and Islamophobe, stating he posed a continuing threat to women. The victim, in her 20s, said the attack forced her to move house and severely impacted her life, including her planned wedding. Prosecutors said the crime was driven by religious hatred and caused lasting psychological trauma. The victim later said she felt a sense of relief after the conviction. (AP)
Former officer planned mass shooting at New Orleans festival
NEW ORLEANS, April 24: Authorities say former North Carolina law enforcement officer Christopher Gillum was arrested in Florida after allegedly planning a mass shooting targeting Black people at a major festival in New Orleans. He was detained at a hotel in Destin, Florida, with a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement officials said Gillum, who is white, was traveling toward Louisiana and had expressed threats of violence. He was wanted for “terroristic threats” and is expected to be extradited to face charges. The FBI is assisting investigators across multiple states. Officials did not name the event, but the timing aligns with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of attendees annually. Authorities said Gillum’s family had reported him missing and noted a history of self-harm, along with recent threats to harm Black people. He was previously employed in multiple law enforcement roles in North Carolina but had resigned or left those positions over time. (AP)
Israel PM says he was treated for prostate cancer
Jerusalem, April 24: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said he was treated for prostate cancer and is now healthy. It’s his first public acknowledgment of the diagnosis. He said that roughly a year and a half ago he had prostate surgery. Then two and a half months ago, his doctors discovered and treated a small tumour at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital with radiation therapy. That was not announced at the time. “I requested to delay its publication by two months so that it would not be released at the height of the war” against Iran, the Israeli leader said, to prevent “more false propaganda against Israel.” He said he was healthy and called the tumour a “minor medical issue.” (AP)
