AfrikTimes

08/18/2026

Detroit TV Anchor Caught in Heated Newsroom Confrontation With Coworker

A resurfaced video showing a heated confrontation involving former FOX 2 Detroit anchor Taryn Asher and a coworker has drawn renewed attention online, offering a glimpse into tensions that reportedly developed inside the Detroit newsroom.

The footage, which was recorded while Asher was preparing a public-service announcement, appears to show the longtime anchor becoming frustrated during an exchange with a colleague. At one point, Asher is heard using profanity and calling the coworker a derogatory term before continuing to vent about the situation.

The incident has resurfaced amid a broader legal dispute between Asher and FOX 2’s parent companies. Asher filed a federal lawsuit in June 2026 alleging s*x discrimination and retaliation, claiming she was treated differently from male colleagues after raising concerns about unequal treatment in the newsroom.

According to reports, FOX 2 removed Asher from the air in November 2025 following complaints about her workplace conduct. The station has disputed her allegations and has cited complaints about her behavior, including confrontations and outbursts involving coworkers.

Asher, who joined FOX 2 in 2007 and became the station’s lead evening anchor in 2022, has argued that the disciplinary action against her was connected to her complaints about gender discrimination. Her lawsuit also alleges that male employees who engaged in comparable or more serious workplace misconduct were treated less harshly. FOX has denied that her removal was retaliation for raising concerns about gender bias.

The newly circulating footage has therefore taken on additional significance because it appears to show one of the workplace confrontations that became part of the controversy surrounding Asher’s departure from the station.

The video has prompted widespread reactions online, with viewers debating whether the footage represents an isolated emotional outburst or provides additional context to the workplace dispute.

FOX 2 Detroit has previously reported on Asher’s employment situation, while the legal claims remain disputed between the former anchor and the station.

08/18/2026

SUV Flips Over Parking Lot Ledge in Hattiesburg; Driver Faces DUI, Other Charges

A dramatic vehicle incident in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, left a driver with minor injuries after an SUV went over a ledge and overturned near a parking lot on West 4th Street.

The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. Monday, August 17, near the Bismillah Super Market at 2511 4th Street, according to local authorities and reports from WDAM.

Video from the scene shows two men attempting to stop or pull the SUV back as it dangled precariously over the edge of the parking lot. The footage also shows a person inside the vehicle attempting to get out before the SUV ultimately went over the ledge and overturned in a nearby ditch.

Emergency responders, including the Hattiesburg Police Department, Hattiesburg Fire Department, AAA Ambulance Service and University of Southern Mississippi Campus Police, responded to the scene.

The driver was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. Authorities said the occupants were alert, while officials also reported minor injuries in connection with the incident.

The driver, whose identity has not been released, is now facing multiple charges. According to Hattiesburg police, the charges include driving under the influence (DUI), driving without insurance and driving without a license.

Authorities have not indicated that anyone suffered serious injuries. The incident remains under investigation.

The dramatic rescue attempt was captured on video, showing bystanders making a desperate effort to prevent the SUV from plunging over the ledge before the vehicle eventually tipped over.

AfrikTimes will continue to monitor the investigation for further updates.

08/18/2026

Woman Seriously Injured After Being Struck by Vehicle in Peru’s Santa Anita as Driver Flees Scene

A 51-year-old woman was seriously injured after being struck by a silver pickup truck on Avenida Los Chancas in the Santa Anita district of Lima, Peru, with the driver fleeing the scene after the collision.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning, August 16, 2026, and was captured by security cameras in the area. The victim, identified as Maritza Joaquin Aguirre, was reportedly arranging her belongings in the trunk of a taxi when the vehicle suddenly struck her.

According to local reports, Aguirre had been preparing to enter the taxi while the driver of the taxi helped her place her merchandise in the trunk. The speeding vehicle reportedly attempted to overtake another vehicle before losing control and crashing into Aguirre. The impact sent her onto the pavement and also injured the taxi driver in the arm.

Security-camera footage captured the moment of the collision and the driver’s subsequent escape. Reports indicate that the driver initially got out of the vehicle, looked at the aftermath of the crash and then fled on foot without providing assistance to the injured woman. The driver reportedly returned briefly to the scene before leaving again.

Local authorities identified the vehicle as a silver pickup with license plate D4H-523. Police identified the suspected driver as Víctor José Morales Meneses, a 37-year-old Venezuelan national who reportedly did not have a valid driver’s licence. He remains at large, according to reports.

The vehicle’s owner, identified as Karla Barzola Ñaña, 44, was reportedly taken to the Santa Anita police station for questioning. Authorities are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the presence of other occupants in the vehicle and their actions immediately after the crash.

Aguirre was rushed to Clínica Montefiori, where she remains hospitalized in serious condition. Her family has gathered at the medical facility and police station while demanding justice and the prompt apprehension of the driver.

The incident has renewed concerns about road safety and reckless driving in Santa Anita, while investigators continue reviewing surveillance footage and other evidence to establish exactly how the crash occurred and determine the responsibilities of those involved.

The graphic security-camera footage shows the violent impact and the moments immediately afterward, including the driver’s flight from the scene.

08/18/2026

🇪🇸 A pregnant woman, her mother and a 16-year-old boy were just shot dead by two masked gunmen on a motorcycle in Isla Cristina, southern Spain.

Police are investigating whether the shooting was linked to a feud between rival gangs, while the attackers remain at large.

Writer: Mhedi

x.com/europa/status/…

08/18/2026

Woman Killed in Knife Attack by Partner Inside São Paulo Supermarket as Bystanders Intervene

A 40-year-old woman was fatally stabbed by her partner inside a supermarket in São Paulo on Sunday, August 16, in an attack that unfolded in front of other shoppers and was captured by security cameras.

The victim, identified as Angelita Manoela Rodrigues, was waiting in line at the supermarket’s butcher counter in the Freguesia do Ó area of northern São Paulo when Lafayete Gonzaga da Silva, also 40, approached her from behind and attacked her repeatedly with a knife.

According to Brazilian media reports, the assault occurred at around 1 p.m. at a supermarket in the Morro Grande area. Security footage showed the man striking Angelita several times, including blows to her back and face.

The attack triggered panic among customers inside the store. Several people attempted to intervene, throwing products at the attacker as he continued the assault. Other shoppers moved away from the immediate area as the violence unfolded. Reports also said a man wearing a Lionel Messi jersey was among those who attempted to help stop the attacker.

Angelita was rescued and transported to Hospital Municipal de Vila Brasilândia for treatment but died from her injuries. Police subsequently arrested Lafayete, who had been restrained by people at the scene before officers arrived.

Authorities are investigating the killing as feminicide, the term used in Brazil for the killing of a woman because of her gender, particularly in the context of domestic or intimate-partner violence. The investigation is being handled by the police in São Paulo.

Investigators are also examining what happened before the supermarket attack. According to police reports cited by Brazilian outlets, Lafayete allegedly killed Angelita’s pet dog at the couple’s home before going to the supermarket and attacking her. That detail remains part of the ongoing investigation.

Reports from people who knew Angelita indicate that the relationship had a history of violence. A friend told Folha de S.Paulo that Angelita had allegedly suffered repeated physical abuse and threats during the relationship and had previously appeared at work with visible injuries.

Following a custody hearing on Monday, August 17, a judge converted Lafayete’s arrest into preventive detention, meaning he will remain in custody while the investigation and legal proceedings continue. His defense said it would present its arguments before the court at the appropriate stage.

The killing has renewed concerns over violence against women and the dangers faced by victims of abusive relationships, including situations in which violence escalates into deadly attacks in public spaces.

The case remains under investigation, and authorities are expected to examine security-camera footage, witness statements and other evidence as they reconstruct the events leading to Angelita’s death.

08/17/2026

Actress Hayden Panettiere has died, her representative confirmed to AfrikTimes. She was 36 years old.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” her father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement shared by her representative with AfrikTimes.

Her father asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Actress Hayden Panettiere has died, her representative confirmed to AfrikTimes. She was 36 years old. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic pass

08/16/2026

Ukrainian Commander Drives Unarmored Pickup Into Drone Zone to Rescue Wounded Soldiers

A Ukrainian company commander has been praised for his actions after driving an unarmored pickup truck into an area exposed to Russian drones to rescue two wounded soldiers who had been left stranded on the battlefield.

The Ukrainian Joint Forces Group released footage on August 16 showing Vladyslav Polskyi, a company commander with Ukraine’s 475th Separate Assault Regiment “CODE 9.2,” personally carrying out the dangerous evacuation.

According to the Joint Forces Group, the two Ukrainian assault soldiers had captured Russian positions before coming under attack from Russian Molniya drones while withdrawing. Both soldiers suffered serious injuries and were unable to move on their own.

Ukrainian forces initially attempted to evacuate the wounded soldiers using an unmanned ground vehicle, allowing the troops to be retrieved without exposing additional personnel to enemy fire.

However, the robotic evacuation vehicle was struck by a Russian drone while returning with the wounded soldiers, leaving it immobilized in open terrain. The two injured troops were consequently stranded beside the disabled vehicle in an area exposed to Russian aerial reconnaissance.

With the robotic evacuation no longer possible, Polskyi got behind the wheel of a pickup truck and drove directly toward the stranded soldiers.

Footage released by the Ukrainian Joint Forces Group shows the pickup moving rapidly toward the disabled evacuation vehicle before Polskyi stopped alongside it. He then personally transferred the wounded soldiers into the vehicle and drove them out of the exposed area.

The vehicle used in the rescue reportedly had no armor protection or electronic-warfare equipment to shield it from Russian drones, making the evacuation particularly dangerous. Both wounded soldiers were successfully brought to safety.

The incident has been highlighted by Ukrainian military authorities as an example of battlefield leadership, particularly at a time when Russian drones have made the evacuation of wounded personnel increasingly dangerous.

The Ukrainian military has increasingly turned to unmanned ground vehicles for casualty evacuations in areas heavily monitored and targeted by drones. The use of robotic systems is intended to reduce the risk to additional soldiers during medical evacuations.

The rescue also illustrates the growing danger posed by drones along the Russia-Ukraine frontline, where even vehicles attempting to evacuate wounded personnel can become targets.

08/16/2026

Palestinian nurse permanently paralyzed by Israeli settler gunfire near Hebron

Mohammed Nabil al-Mutawwar, 27, an intensive care nurse at Dura Governmental Hospital, was shot in the back Friday evening when armed Israeli settlers opened fire in the town of Sa’ir, northeast of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Nursing and Midwifery Association.

The bullet severed his spinal cord, causing permanent paralysis, the association said. He had been preparing a home in the al-Uddeissa area ahead of his marriage. A young woman was also shot, in the back and head, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Both were taken to a hospital in Hebron.

Palestinian sources said roughly 30 settlers descended on the neighborhood from an outpost established about 10 days earlier, part of a documented pattern in which new outposts are followed by escalating attacks on nearby Palestinian residents.

Speaking from the hospital, al-Mutawwar told WAFA he remained determined to live in the home he had been building before his marriage.

08/16/2026

American Buys California Ghost Town for $1.4 Million and Moves In Almost Alone

An American entrepreneur has turned an abandoned California mining town into his unlikely home after purchasing the historic settlement for about $1.4 million and moving there almost entirely on his own.

Brent Underwood and his business partners acquired Cerro Gordo, a former mining town in California’s Inyo Mountains, in 2018. Once a thriving silver-mining community during the 19th century, Cerro Gordo eventually declined as mining activity faded, leaving behind an isolated ghost town.

Underwood moved to Cerro Gordo permanently in 2020 and began documenting his unusual life there through his YouTube channel, Ghost Town Living. His videos offer a close look at the challenges of living in a remote settlement surrounded by abandoned buildings, historic mine workings and rugged mountain terrain.

Since moving in, Underwood has made restoring Cerro Gordo his life’s work. His efforts have included repairing historic structures, searching for a reliable water supply, exploring miles of abandoned mining tunnels and recovering objects left behind for more than a century.

One of his major restoration projects has been the rebuilding of the American Hotel, a historic structure that was destroyed by fire. The project forms part of his broader effort to preserve the town’s history while bringing parts of Cerro Gordo back to life.

Life in the former mining town has also presented significant challenges. The remote location means dealing with limited infrastructure, harsh conditions and the practical difficulties of living far from modern conveniences.

Through his online videos, Underwood has documented everything from restoration work and exploration of the abandoned mines to the everyday realities of surviving in a nearly deserted mountain community.

What was once a bustling center of California’s silver-mining industry is now being slowly revived by one man determined to preserve its history and give the ghost town a new chapter.

08/16/2026

🟢 The senior Hamas delegation in El Alamein, Egypt, today went beyond political leader Khalil al-Hayya.

Anadolu, citing a Hamas source, said it included Shura Council head Mohammed Darwish, Hamas’s overseas chief Khaled Meshaal, West Bank chief Zaher Jabarin and Arab and Islamic Relations Office head Basem Naim. A subsequent Hamas statement also named political bureau member Ghazi Hamad.

Axios reported that Kushner met Hamas leaders alongside Tony Blair, Nickolay Mladenov and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi and a senior Turkish official.

➤ In its earlier meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, the delegation “reaffirmed commitment to completing” Trump’s plan and said it would brief Egypt on Israeli ceasefire violations, according to AFP and Egypt’s state news agency. Al-Hayya stressed Hamas is ready to implement the agreement “as soon as Israel announces its commitment to it.”

➤ At the meeting with Kushner, the envoy reportedly also pressed Hamas to halt shows of force in Gaza, including deployments of armed and uniformed members on the streets, and to allow a smooth handover of authority to the new technocratic committee, an Arab diplomat told the Times of Israel.

Photo from Shehab News shows Al-Hayya meeting with Egypt’s Intelligence Chief.