Afternoon Briefing: Woman accused of using ICE to avoid drug case is detained
A judge ordered a British woman to remain jailed today after she was accused of trying to get herself deported to evade trial, finding too much risk that her release would result in her fleeing home or being sent there by immigration authorities.
Kimberly Hall, 29, is facing felony charges of drug trafficking and possession with intent to deliver after she was arrested Aug. 19 at O'Hare International Airport with nearly 100 pounds of cocaine. She was initially released on electronic monitoring while her case was pending.
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This past Memorial Day weekend saw an overall decrease in gun violence compared to last year, according to Chicago police data. Read more here.
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It's the last day to book a flight on Southwest Airlines without being hit with a fee to check bags after the airline abandoned a decades-long luggage policy that executives once described as key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals. Read more here.
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Adrian Houser made 23 appearances last season with the New York Mets. Yesterday, he was on the mound for the White Sox facing his former team at Citi Field. Read more here.
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My Pi, the pizzeria founded on deep dish in Chicago, which once had 17 restaurants across the country, will close its last shop after 54 years next month. Read more here.
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A 53-year-old British man who injured 65 people when he plowed his vehicle into a crowd of Liverpool soccer fans celebrating their team's Premier League championship has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, police said today. Read more here.
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
US hitwoman who flew to UK to murder lover's business rivals gets 30 years in prison
An American woman who traveled to the UK to try to assassinate her lover's business rivals — just for the gun to jam on her — was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison. Loved-up Aimee Betro, 45, traveled from Wisconsin for the twisted murder plot nearly six years ago in Birmingham, England, to please Mohammed Nazir, a British man she fell for on a dating app. Surveillance footage caught Betro as she hid behind a full Islamic niqab face covering while waiting in a car — then stepping out to try to shoot her main target's son, Sikander Ali, as he arrived home, just for the gun to jam. She came back hours later and fired three shots through the upstairs window, seemingly aiming to kill Ali's father, Aslat Mahumad, over an earlier fight he had with her lover, according to cops. 4 Aimee Betro of Wisconsin has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for trying to kill her British lover's business rival. She even texted Mahumad, threatening him: 'Stop playing hide n seek. You're lucky it jammed. Who is it? Your family or you? Pick one.' Betro fled the UK the next day – and remained on the run for five years. She was finally tracked down when she and Nazir tried to frame an innocent British man for the shootings. Betro, from West Allis, Wisconsin, was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison for her 'leading role' in the twisted September 2019 plot, for which her online lover and his dad are already behind bars. 4 Betro was hired by Mohammed Nazir, whom she fell in love with online. West Midlands Police/SWNS 'You went beyond simply reaching an agreement to kill,' Judge Drew told Betro at sentencing, according to the BBC. 'It is only a matter of chance that Mr Ali wasn't killed. You were engaged in a complex, well-planned conspiracy to murder. You were prepared to pull the trigger and did so on two separate occasions,' the judge said. Betro — her hair in plaits and wearing glasses, a white top and black cardigan — sat expressionless as she was convicted of conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to cause fear of violence, and illegally importing ammunition at Birmingham Crown Court. 4 Betro's murder plot failed when her gun jammed, the jury was told. Nazir was last year sentenced to 32 years in prison for the failed contract killing, while his dad, Mohammed Aslam, got 10 years. The pair had feuded with Aslat Mahumad, and all three were hurt in a brawl at the target's clothes shop a year before the attempted hit, police noted. Betro had flown twice before to the UK to visit Nazir — in December 2018 and May 2019 — before coming back in August 2019 for the doomed hit. 4 Nazir's father, Mohammed Aslam, was sentenced over the plot in 2024. West Midlands Police/SWNS 'It's by luck that her attempt to kill her target failed, thanks to the jamming of her gun,' Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas of West Midlands Police said. 'While she was passing herself off as a tourist, posting pictures and video of landmarks such as the London Eye while she was here, her real purpose was to commit murder.' The American convict will serve her prison sentence in the UK, which is likely to be 'particularly difficult,' the judge said in sentencing. 'All her family and friends are in America and she has had very few visits except for her lawyers,' Judge Drew said, noting that Betro had expressed 'remorse.'
New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
BBC pressured to cut ties with author Sally Rooney over support for terrorist group Palestine Action
The BBC faces mounting pressure to sever ties with bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney who recently said she would donate money to a pro-Palestinian organization that British authorities have categorized as terrorists. Rooney, the controversial author of a book that was adapted to a popular movie streamed on the British public broadcaster, stunned critics last weekend by announcing she would give a percentage of proceeds from book sales to Palestine Action. 'I want to be clear that I intend to use these proceeds of my work, as well as my public platform generally, to go on supporting Palestine Action and direct action against genocide in whatever way I can,' the 34-year-old Rooney told The Irish Times. Advertisement 4 The BBC faces mounting pressure to sever ties with bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney. Getty Images The defiant novelist, who lives in Ireland and has declared a boycott of Israel, said if that branded her a 'supporter of terrorism' under British law, 'so be it.' Her bombshell declaration triggered fierce backlash from Jewish groups and legal experts who warned the BBC could face criminal liability for continuing to profit from her work. Advertisement Palestine Action, which was founded in 2020, has generated headlines for targeting British arms companies that conduct business with Israel. The group's members have engaged in blockades, occupied facilities and inflicted property damage at weapons factories and military installations. On July 5, the UK government officially banned Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000, making membership punishable by up to 14 years in prison and criminalizing any form of support including fundraising, statements or displaying associated materials. 4 Rooney stunned critics this past weekend by announcing she would give a percentage of proceeds from book sales to Palestine Action. Getty Images for Hulu Advertisement Since the ban took effect, over 744 individuals have been arrested for showing support for the group, including a record-breaking single-day arrest of 522 people at a London Parliament Square protest on Aug. 9 The Campaign Against Antisemitism, a UK-based nonprofit, torched Rooney's stance as 'utterly indefensible' and demanded platforms cut ties immediately. 'This goes far beyond political activism — it is a deliberate statement of intent to channel money towards a group that vandalized RAF jets and terrorized the Jewish community,' the organization said. Advertisement 'Platforms and publishers profiting from her work must urgently review their relationship with her, as they now risk enabling the flow of funds to a terrorist organization.' The BBC has hosted 'Normal People' on iPlayer since its 2020 launch and aired another Rooney adaptation, 'Conversations with Friends,' in 2022. The corporation scrambled to distance itself from the controversy. 4 Rooney has declared a boycott of Israel over its policies in the Palestinian territories. She has refused to have her books translated into Hebrew. Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/Shutterstock 'Matters relating to proscribed organizations are for the relevant authorities,' the BBC stated tersely, noting Rooney was never a staff member and what authors do with previously received money is 'a matter for them.' But several BBC insiders expressed dismay privately, with some remarking that Rooney 'had form' for courting controversy, according to the UK-based Times. The timing couldn't be worse for the broadcaster. Netflix began streaming 'Normal People' just two weeks ago, with the 12-part drama immediately cracking the platform's top-ten UK chart. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Advertisement Downing Street fired back Monday, warning donors to Palestine Action they were committing terror offenses under the Terrorism Act. 'There's a difference between showing support for a proscribed organization, which depends on the Terrorism Act, and legitimate protest,' a government spokesman said. 'Where activity breaks the law, then obviously the police will take action.' Rooney has been reported to counterterrorism police, though no action is expected since Palestine Action isn't banned in Ireland, where she made her comments. Advertisement 4 Jewish groups have demanded that the BBC sever ties with Rooney. REUTERS A law enforcement official told the Times that arresting Rooney would be complicated given jurisdictional considerations. 'Ordinarily, offenses occur based on where the person is at the time,' the official told the newspaper. Advertisement 'If you're in the UK and you're sending money to a proscribed terrorist organization then yes, it would likely be an offense.' But legal experts told the Times that they believe Rooney could still face prosecution under UK terror finance laws that cover overseas actions. Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, argued the author along with the BBC and booksellers could have broken the law. 'By providing financial assistance to an organization which clearly intends to commit criminal damage in the UK, she is likely to be guilty under UK law for knowingly assisting the commission of criminal offenses,' Turner said. Advertisement 'I think the BBC and other sellers of her books could also be liable for assisting criminal offenses by Palestine Action as well as offenses under the Terrorism Act 2000 for transferring funds that may be used for the purposes of terrorism.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper branded Palestine Action more than 'a regular protest group' this past weekend, citing its 'escalating campaign' of activities. The Post has sought comment from the BBC and Rooney.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Family of woman who took her own life in skydive tragedy release statement
The family of Jade Damarell has thanked the skydiving community after an inquest found the experienced jumper died by suicide when she did not deploy her parachute. Jade Damarell died on impact after not deploying her main or backup parachute during a skydive over Fleming Field, in Shotton Colliery, on April 27. An inquest into her death held at Crook Coroner's Court on Thursday (August 21) heard the incident took place the morning after her relationship ended with her boyfriend Ben, who she had met "through their shared love of skydiving". The inquest heard Jade was a "very experienced and competent" parachutist, and had skydived six times successfully the day before the incident took place, but on the fatal jump a report from the British Skydiving Association found there was "no attempt" to deploy the parachute. In a statement after the inquest her family said: 'We acknowledge and accept the conclusion of the coroner's inquest into our daughter Jade's death. 'Once again, we express our sincere thanks to all services involved for the care and compassion given. Jade Damarell. (Image: FACEBOOK) 'We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Sky-High Skydiving and the fantastic 'SkyFam' community. 'You meant so much to Jade, and we're incredibly comforted by how admired, respected and deeply loved, she was. 'Jade loved the sport with a passion, and it brought her so much joy. 'Sky-High handled the tragedy and investigation into Jade's death professionally and with compassion that allowed us to all share in our grief. 'So much so, Sky-High Skydiving helped us to celebrate Jade's life with a very fitting tribute and final farewell, ending with Jade's mum, Liz, honouring Jade's memory with a final tandem jump. (Image: FACEBOOK) 'Our beloved daughter Jade was a brilliant, beautiful, brave and truly extraordinary person. A bright, adventurous, free spirit, she lived with immense energy, passion and love and touched countless lives with her warmth and kindness. 'By speaking openly and without shame, we hope to contribute to a culture where mental ill-health is met with kindness and support, and where people in deep distress, and those around them, feel seen, believed, and able to reach for support without fear of judgment. 'We miss Jade beyond words, but Jade's love, brilliance, courage and light will live on in our family and among all those who knew and loved her. 'Some stars are so bright, they burn through their time too quickly, but their light never truly fades. Read more: GCSE success in Bishop Auckland inspires cheers from British soldiers in Estonia Bishop Auckland schoolgirl celebrates 'brilliant' GCSE results Father and son accused of conspiring to supply cocaine with a third man 'Please respect our family's privacy at this time.' Assistant Coroner for County Durham and Darlington Leslie Hamilton concluded her death as suicide. The family has set up a GoFundMe page in support of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which helps children with critical illnesses.- Samaritans is available, day or night, 365 days of the year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@ or visit to find your nearest branch. - If U Care Share on 0191 387 5661 or text IUCS to 85258 - SANE on 07984 967 708, Calm on 0800 58 58 58
