European Union to rush more than $2 billion to disaster-hit Greece, using untapped funds
The European Union is promising Greece more than 2 billion euros ($2.15 billion) in financial support in the wake of massive summer wildfires and ongoing floods that have caused extensive damage across central Greece
2023-09-12 22:56
Police officer laughs about woman struck and killed by patrol car in shocking bodycam video
Shocking body cam footage shows a police officer laughing about a woman who was struck and killed by a patrol car in Seattle. Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, was killed in January on a crosswalk near her university campus after she was struck by a patrol car while police were responding to an overdose in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Seattle Police said the officer driving the patrol vehicle was responding to a priority-one call when the incident happened. The officer was going 74mph in a 25mph speed zone. Police ruled the incident was an accident, and returned the unnamed officer to duty shortly after. Authorities are now investigating bodycam footage released by Seattle Police on Monday from the incident which shows officer Daniel Auderer — who is also the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild — insulting and laughing about the 23-year-old student. In the footage, Mr Auderer can be heard saying: “There is initially – he said she was in a crosswalk, there is a witness that said, ‘No she wasn’t,’ but that could be different, because I don’t think she was thrown 40 feet, either.” Mr Auderer can then be heard saying: “She is dead,” before laughing. He continues: “No, it’s a regular person – yeah, yeah, just write a check, just, yeah,” before laughing again. “$11,000. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value,” he says. In a statement, the Seattle Police Department said: “The following video was identified in the routine course of business by a department employee, who, concerned about the nature of statements heard on that video, appropriately escalated their concerns through their chain of command to the Chief’s Office which, following a review of the video, referred the matter to OPA for investigation into the context in which those statements were made and any policy violation that might be implicated. “This is what department policy and the City’s Accountability Ordinance require.” The statement continued: “While any incident of public concern is under OPA, SPD or OIG review, no City employee should comment, either in their official or personal capacity, in a way that suggests that any factual, policy, or legal conclusions have been reached about the incident.” The Office of Police Accountability is investigating. Ms Kandula was a student at Northeastern University, studying for a master’s degree in information systems. Read More Student dies after being stabbed 107 times by stepfather as she tried to protect mother, police say Man accused of imprisoning kidnapped woman in cinderblock cell appeared on Judge Judy Seattle Proud Boys leader who led mob to Capitol on January 6 sentenced to 18 years in prison
2023-09-12 22:46
Apple expected to unveil the iPhone 15. Here’s what to expect.
Apple is expected to take the wraps off its next iPhone on Tuesday during what has become an annual late summer rite aimed at giving more people more reasons to buy the technology trendsetter’s marquee product
2023-09-12 22:24
This entire village was wiped out 'in just 10 seconds' in Morocco's devastating earthquake
Rajaa Acherhri was known as the village math genius. At six years old, she loved solving problems way above her grade level. He sister Sanaa had big dreams too. She wanted to become a doctor, her mother Fatema told CNN.
2023-09-12 21:58
American researcher doing well after rescue from a deep Turkish cave, calling it a 'crazy adventure'
Turkish officials say an American researcher who was pulled out of a deep Turkish cave after becoming too sick to climb out on his own is doing well in a Turkish hospital
2023-09-12 21:56
10 Surprising Facts About Animal Sex
From turtle mating to what really turns big cats on, animal sex can be a lot weirder (and funnier) than you probably expected.
2023-09-12 21:45
'I'm not feeling so confident': Bebe Rexha shares real reason behind plan to skip MTV Video Music Awards
Bebe Rexha revealed she was very anxious about people talking about her weight
2023-09-12 21:29
Uber sued after mother-of-four driver was shot in head by rider while pleading for her life
A year after an Uber driver was shot in the head, the mother of the victim has filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against the ride-share company. Christina “Christi” Spicuzza, 38, is alleged to have been murdered by Calvin Anthony Crew, 24, after he pulled a gun on her as she was driving him as part of an Uber taxi service. Cindy Spicuzza, the mother of the victim, has now filed a federal civil lawsuit against Uber for the wrongful death of her daughter. The ride began on 10 February; Mr Crew called his girlfriend Tanaya Mullen to order him an Uber using her Apple Pay account, Allegheny County Police say. Spicuzza accepted the ride and picked up Mr Crew around 9.11pm. Spicuzza, a mother of four, was found dead around midday on 12 February 2022. She was left lying face-down wearing a “Covid face mask” in a wooded area in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Mr Crew was known to authorities as already “adjudicated for a robbery” he committed at the age of 14. The lawsuit relays that Uber failed to protect Spicuzza in three different ways: Uber should have verified Mr Crew’s identity before he entered Spicuzza’s vehicle, that Mr Crew’s previous criminal convictions should have been notified to Spicuzza and finally that Uber should have provided her with basic safety features. Distressing dashcam footage released by the court shows the moment that Mr Crew, who was wearing a balaclava to try and hide his identity, pushed a gun to the back of Spicuzza’s neck while holding her ponytail. In the background, the Uber app is heard saying to “drop off Tanaya”, meaning the journey was supposed to end there. The probable cause affidavit confirmed that the suspect told Spicuzza to keep on driving while holding the gun to her head. “Come on, I have a family,” Spicuzza said. “I got a family too, now drive,” Mr Crew replied. “I’m begging you, I have four kids,” Spicuzza said. “Please take that off of me,” asking him to put down the gun. The suspect allegedly said, “Do what I say and everything will be alright.” According to the affidavit, Mr Crew had been texting and calling his girlfriend Ms Mullen throughout the ride, possibly talking about picking up cannabis. “Whatever you doing tonight be careful,” Ms Mullen allegedly said to Mr Crew during the Uber ride. The night after the murder of Spicuzza, Ms Mullen allegedly texted Mr Crew, “I’m not going to jail if we get caught.” Mr Crew made the victim drive for an hour while going through her banking apps, and then eventually killed her, detectives say. “Had Uber applied its driver background check procedures to passengers, used its massive data analysis capabilities to screen out dangerous passengers, permitted drivers to cancel suspicious fares without penalty, or simply provided basic safety features in Ms Spicuzza’s Uber-approved rental car, these simple and effective measures—all readily available to Uber—could have saved Ms Spicuzza’s life,” the lawsuit said. “Unfortunately, however, Uber knew the dangers its drivers faced from dangerous, unverified passengers like Mr. Crew, and chose to do nothing, evincing a conscious corporate attitude for ‘profits over people,’ leaving behind Ms. Spicuzza’s family to grieve her tragic and preventable death.” The lawsuit states that Uber “could easily fulfil” its duty to protect their drivers “by applying the same screening standards it currently applies to its drivers to its passengers, as well as verifying who is ordering the ride.” In a statement to Law&Crime, an Uber spokesperson said that “No family should have to suffer such an unimaginable loss.” “While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we are committed to the safety of drivers who utilize the Uber app. Over the years, we’ve introduced features and policies, designed with safety in mind, like the in-app Safety Toolkit, the ability to freeze rider accounts with fake names and requiring ID from riders in some circumstances,” the Uber spokesperson said. “The safety of drivers is a high priority, and we’ll continue investing in safety features to raise the bar.” The lawsuit seeks a jury trial in the civil case. Mr Crew was arrested several days after the murder of Spicuzza. CBS News reported in March this year that a jury selection is set to begin his trial, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. Read More Uber raises minimum age for most California drivers to 25, saying insurance costs are too high Woman escapes alleged kidnapper posing as an Uber driver by passing secret note to gas station customer Danelo Cavalcante - live: Homeowner ‘opened fire’ on fugitive after he stole rifle, locals told to lock doors
2023-09-12 21:26
Convicted killer's escape is the latest in string of Pennsylvania jailbreaks this year
The escape of a convicted murderer from a Chester County correctional facility in late August is not the only incident of its kind in Pennsylvania in the past few months.
2023-09-12 20:56
Adam 'Pacman' Jones' wife: Ex-NFL star arrested at airport in Kentucky for 'terroristic threatening'
'Who in the hell is drunk at 6:30 in the morning, man?' asked Adam 'Pacman' Jones after he was freed
2023-09-12 20:55
Ken Paxton impeachment: How Texas Attorney General's alleged extramarital affair risked his office
The affair is one of the key elements in the 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton
2023-09-12 20:45
Spain strips deceased former Chilean President Pinochet of a Spanish military honor
Spain is stripping deceased former Chilean leader Gen. Augusto Pinochet of a Spanish military honor bestowed on him more than 40 years ago by the country’s former dictator, Gen. Francisco Franco
2023-09-12 20:29
