Gangs in Haiti burn beloved Gothic gingerbread hotel that rose to international fame
Hundreds of Haitians and foreigners mourned the news as it spread across social media, with the hotel manager on Monday confirming the fire in a brief comment on X. Even though gang violence had forced the hotel in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, to close in recent years, many had hoped it would reopen.
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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Convictions after two young friends killed in machete attacks months apart
Two teenage friends aged just 14 and 15 were killed in gang-related machete attacks four months apart, it can now be reported. Daejaun Campbell cried out 'I'm 15, don't let me die' after he was ambushed in Woolwich, south-east London, on September 22 last year, the Old Bailey heard. On Wednesday, a boy aged 17, was found guilty of his murder after a jury deliberated for more than 19 hours. Co-accused Marko Balaz, 19, from Abbey Wood, south-east London, was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. A third defendant, Jacob Losiewicz, 18, also from Abbey Wood, was cleared of wrongdoing. It can now be reported that Daejaun was friends with 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was fatally stabbed by two 16-year-old boys with machetes on a bus in Woolwich months later on January 7. Aspiring rapper Kelyan, nicknamed Grippa, had featured in a YouTube music video entitled Gotta Eat – in which he was seen crouching beside a floral tribute to Daejaun. Last Friday, two 16-year-old youths were detained for at least 15 years and 10 months after pleading guilty at the Old Bailey to Kelyan's murder. The two boys' murders, though not directly related, bore striking similarities and have resulted in pleas by their families to end the 'senseless killings'. Last week, Kelyan's mother Marie Bokassa made an appeal for authorities to do more to stop the violence, saying: 'Our streets at bleeding.' In the wake of Daejaun's murder, his family released a statement in which Daejaun was described as 'naturally gifted, intelligent, creative and musically talented'. They said: 'The brutal manner which Daejaun was taken away from us is sad, and he not the first young person nor will he be the last, this senseless killing needs to stop.' Both killings had been linked to street gang culture with Daejaun described as being exploited and groomed by older youths. Daejaun was allegedly targeted for a 'gang check' when he was spotted near a house the defendants were visiting. Prosecutor Mukul Chawla KC had said he was attacked by Balaz and the 17-year-old boy. He said a witness had heard Daejaun screaming and calling for 'help' as he was stabbed. He also threw a large knife that he was carrying although it appears to have only hit a metal fence or railing and broken into pieces, the court had heard. The 17-year-old attacker was caught on video dropping his machete and leaning down to pick it up as he made off. Daejaun fell to his knees in the street having suffered two stab wounds and six superficial cuts. Losiewicz had driven the others to the scene and was nearby, the court had heard. Mr Chawla told jurors the motive for the killing was unclear but that Daejaun had been carrying money and drugs, possibly crack cocaine. He said: 'He may therefore have been a person exploited, by reason of his age if for no other reason, to be used as carrier and supplier of drugs by organisations that will use younger people and other vulnerable people for those purposes. 'That may be or may have been the reason why he was attacked.' The two older defendants admitted being at the scene but denied being involved in Daejaun's killing. The 17-year-old youth admitted the killing but claimed he acted in self defence and alone. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon – a machete – in a public place. The 17-year-old also had previous convictions for carrying a 'kukri' style knife in 2021 and having a machete and affray relating to a fight in October 2023 in which a male suffered a cut to his face and a stab wound. The court heard Balaz had previous convictions for carrying knives and possession of cannabis. Mr Losiewicz had no convictions to his name.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Is It Ever Okay to Fire a Bridesmaid? Here's What You Need to Know If You've Grown Apart or She's Not Living Up to the Role
There's a right—and a wrong—way to do this. It's your wedding and you make the rules. After choosing your venue, hiring your key vendor team, and making the guest list, one of the biggest decisions you face is deciding who will—and won't—be part of your wedding party. "For brides and bridesmaids, they have likely been planning to be in each others' wedding parties for years, often dreaming of the day together since childhood or college," Emilie Dulles, etiquette and wedding invitations expert our Expert Emilie Dulles is an etiquette, calligraphy, and wedding invitations expert with over two decades of custom stationery design and printing experience for affluent clients in the US, Europe, and Caribbean Islands. Find out more at Dulles Designs or follow the official Instagram."Being a bridesmaid has its share of responsibilities, and all bridesmaids should be up and fit for the task, quick and elegant in their duties, and on their best behavior for many months leading up to [the] wedding," our expert notes. "The minute your save-the-dates go into the mail, your bridesmaids now have an elegant mission to accomplish." So, what happens if you realize you've made a mistake? Whether you two have grown apart or she's no longer living up to her duties in the role, is it ever okay to fire a bridesmaid? Can you really ask her to step back without ruining your relationship and wreaking havoc on your own wedding plans? Yes, but how you do it is important. "Given my decades of experience, I can tell you all wedding plans experience revised decisions and relationship setbacks to some extent, especially during the final weeks and months leading up to the day," explains Dulles. Ahead, we share when it is—and isn't—appropriate to fire a bridesmaid and how to do it respectfully and tactfully. Plus, we share what not to do when asking this attendant to step back from her role. Related: 7 Signs That Indicate You're Being a Difficult Bridesmaid Is It Okay to Fire a Bridesmaid? A quick Google search about firing bridesmaids will lead you to what seems like hundreds of Reddit posts asking this simple question. If you feel like you need to ask an attendant to take a step back from the role, it's important to know that you're not alone. Sadly, this situation occurs more than you'd think, and it's okay to ask her to step down if she's no longer living up to the role, you two have grown apart, or another extenuating circumstance is taking place. Still, asking your friend to step down from this honor is a drastic measure and not one that you ought to take lightly. It's not just about asking them to give up their place in your wedding party. The move speaks volumes about how you view your relationship with your friend. If you've grown apart and see each other less than you did when you popped the bridesmaid question, Dulles says that's not really an excuse to ask her to take a step back. "You should only rescind a bridesmaid ask in unfixable situations involving wrongdoing, or if a bizarre twist of fate befalls your wedding date for the both of you simultaneously," she explains. So, when can you fire a bridesmaid? "In my experience, the most common instigation for a bridesmaid being removed from any wedding party is when some unsavory or deviant behavior, nastiness, or bitter betrayal of their doing unfolds during the final stages of your wedding plan, and the person becomes no longer welcome," Dulles says. If you she refuses to help with any part of the wedding or involve herself in pre-wedding events, this could also be cause to ask her to step down. How to Fire a Bridesmaid Ready to take the plunge and ask your friend not to be your bridesmaid? While there's no perfect way to un-pop the question, there are some tips that will help you get through this somewhat unscathed. Consider how this will affect your relationship with this person and others. Before you ask her to step down from her role, you should think about how this move will affect not only your friendship with your bridesmaid, but also your wider circle of family members and friends. "Your friendship may be in jeopardy after the conversation takes place and reverberates socially, so be prepared for all possible outcomes when you decide to ask someone to no longer be a member of your wedding's inner circle," says Dulles. If you're asking your future spouse's sister to step back, for example, you may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation with your in-laws. If the bridesmaid in question is friends with other attendants, the rest of your 'maids might start choosing sides. Be clear in your decision. There are no ifs, buts, or maybes here. You have made the decision and that is final. "Explain how much your friendship means to you, yet you want to make sure that everyone at your wedding has the best time possible—especially your fiancé and you included—and that's why you feel the need to rescind the ask. The key is to be clear and remain firm in your decision," Dulles offers. Ask a friend to be present. Gossip spreads like wildfire. If you're concerned that your friend will be sharing a remix of how you let them down, make sure you have a witness. Dulles explains, "If the person is prone to getting upset or retaliating socially, having a witness present with you as a third party observer is a good idea." Avoid using tired cliches. You may be tempted to go with the old 'it's not me, it's you' excuse but don't do it. "Try to avoid cliches or cop-outs, and definitely do not rehash all the details or open up a new court case over the matter. You must phrase the conversation as a case-closed communication, not something that's up for negotiation or entreaties. Be fair, be clear, and be honest." Give her some time and space. This news may come as a shock to your friend. "Give them the space to react whilst you remain as calm as possible," says Dulles. "Once you've explained your position, there's no need to argue or delve into more reasons why she's disinvited from your bridal party. The phrase: 'I'm sorry, yet I'm making this decision for myself, my future spouse, and our families' is all you need to say." Let her know she's still invited to the wedding (if she is!). If the relationship isn't entirely irreparable, make it clear that you'd still love her to be present as a guest. Being asked to step back from bridesmaids' duties might even come as a relief to her. Try to salvage the friendship. Last but not least, try to save the friendship (if you can!). "The first sign of anyone taking responsibility for their actions or transgressions is to try and make amends, accept the disinvitation elegantly, and move past the unpleasantness like mature adults," says Dulles. "If she reaches out her hand in apology and sees the decision as a good idea, then the friendship is surely salvageable." What Not to Do When Firing a Bridesmaid There's a right and a wrong way to ask an attendant to step down, so it's important to do this tactfully and respectfully. Here's what you shouldn't do. Don't tell her over text message. It may be uncomfortable, but it's best to have this conversation in person; if that's not possible, do it over the phone. A text message or email isn't appropriate here. Don't harp on everything that's gone wrong. It's important that you tell her why you're making this decision, it's best not to harp on every shortcoming. Be clear with her, but also be concise—dragging out the conversation will feel worse for both of you. Don't doubt yourself. Once you've made this decision, be firm with it. The last thing you want to do it start to second-guess your feelings or give her an opportunity to step back into the role. Up Next: 10 Things Brides Do That Annoy Their Bridesmaids Read the original article on Brides Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
8 hours ago
- CBS News
MS-13 members storm funeral of rival gang member in Guatemala, killing at least 7
Armed gang members stormed into the funeral of a rival gang member in Guatemala, killing at least 7 people and wounding 13 others, government officials said. Guatemala is plagued by the violent rivalry between the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, gangs. Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez blamed the attack at the funeral home on Tuesday in the capital, Guatemala City, on their rivalry. The funeral, Jimenez said in a statement, was that of a Barrio 18 member who was killed Monday. While the wake was taking place, "rival gang members from Mara Salvatrucha stormed the funeral home and fired at the family and friends" of the deceased, he added. The attackers, who arrived at the funeral home on motorcycles, fled the scene. Authorities cordoned off the area as forensic teams recovered the bodies. Jimenez said the wake had been considered "high risk" due to "the profile of the deceased," and regretted that the police officers assigned to monitor the event had abandoned their posts before the attack. He called the situation "unacceptable" and said the officers would be investigated by the internal affairs unit. "If found responsible, they will immediately be brought before the courts," he said. The MS-13 gang was formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants who fled the civil war in their home country. The brutal gang has since spread to Guatemala and Honduras, turning the region into one of the most violent in the world. It's violent grip in Central America is one of the forces driving thousands of migrants to flee to the United States. Earlier this year, the U.S. designated MS-13 a terrorist organization, with President Trump calling it "probably the meanest, worst gang in the world" and "an evil group of people. They're sick and deranged." The Barrio 18 and MS-13 gangs are battling for territorial control in Guatemala, extorting shopkeepers, transport workers and civilians. Those who refuse to pay are often killed. Tuesday's attack "was not directed against ordinary citizens, but rather the result of the cancer that gangs represent for the country," Guatemala's security chief said. Guatemala ended 2024 with a homicide rate of 16.1 per 100,000 inhabitants — twice the global average — according to the interior ministry. However, the figure has dropped from 29.6 in 2014. Authorities attribute half of violent crimes to drug cartel activity and territorial disputes between gangs.
