A vibrant art scene in Uganda mirrors African boom as more collectors show interest

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

A vibrant art scene in Uganda mirrors African boom as more collectors show interest KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Lilian Nabulime hasn’t forgotten the time in the 1990s when the Ugandan capital had just one commercial art gallery, a small space that emerging artists struggled to get into. Now, there are at least six in Kampala, including one whose curator recently exhibited the sculptor’s contrarian work.Nabulime’s show, which has attracted audiences for its conspiratorial take on the peculiarities of urban “gossip,” might never have happened if she hadn’t approached Xenson Art Space and asked for the opportunity to exhibit her work. Her work includes terracotta works topped with the deformed facial features of gossip bearers.“Nobody ever comes to me and says, ’Oh, can we show your work?” she said, sitting amid her sculptures. “For me, I just decided and said, ‘Let me go and exhibit my work.’ I asked for the exhibition, and they gave me the space.”Her solo show, which will last until Dec. 20, exemplifies an expanding artistic landscape that allows more room for local arti...

No room at the inn? As holidays approach, migrants face eviction from New York City shelters

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

No room at the inn? As holidays approach, migrants face eviction from New York City shelters NEW YORK (AP) — It could be a cold, grim New Year for thousands of migrant families living in New York City’s emergency shelter system. With winter setting in, they are being told they need to clear out, with no guarantee they’ll be given a bed elsewhere.Homeless migrants and their children were limited to 60 days in city housing under an order issued in October by Mayor Eric Adams, a move the Democrat says is necessary to relieve a shelter system overwhelmed by asylum-seekers crossing the southern U.S. border.That clock is now ticking down for people like Karina Obando, a 38-year-old mother from Ecuador who has been given until Jan. 5 to get out of the former hotel where she has been staying with her two young children.Where she will end up next is unclear. After that date, she can reapply for admission to the shelter system. A placement might not happen right away. Her family could wind up getting sent to one of the city’s huge tent shelters far from where her 11-year-old so...

Cambodia welcomes the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s plan to return looted antiquities

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

Cambodia welcomes the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s plan to return looted antiquities PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia has welcomed the announcement that New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will return more than a dozen pieces of ancient artwork to Cambodia and Thailand that were tied to an art dealer and collector accused of running a huge antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia.This most recent repatriation of artwork comes as many museums in the United States and Europe reckon with collections that contain objects looted from Asia, Africa and other places during centuries of colonialism or in times of upheaval.Fourteen Khmer sculptures will be returned to Cambodia and two will be returned to Thailand, the Manhattan museum announced Friday, though no specific timeline was given.“We appreciate this first step in the right direction,” said a statement issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. “We look forward to further returns and acknowledgements of the truth regarding our lost national treasures, taken from Cambodia in the time of...

4 businesses burglarized within 20 minutes in San Fernando Valley

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

4 businesses burglarized within 20 minutes in San Fernando Valley An overnight crime spree targeted the San Fernando Valley and police say the burglary crew hit all four businesses in under 20 minutes. The business owners, some of whom have been hit before, are frustrated and said they're running out of patience with the justice system. Police are investigating the four burglaries which took place around the same time in the morning along Ventura Boulevard on Friday. They say the crimes are connected. Around 3:30 a.m., surveillance video captured four hooded suspects ransacking Equivalence shoe store in Encino. Approximately seven miles west, straight down Ventura Boulevard, three suspects were seen carrying crowbars and tools to target Bliss Pharmacy in Woodland Hills. Security footage shows the getaway car, a white four-door Lexus, back into the parking lot. The license plate was covered with a towel. The pharmacy owner, who did not want to reveal herself, told KTLA that the burglary attempt was unsuccessful. However, it's the second time i...

Lackluster Sharks shut out, but some ‘skilled’ help has been added

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

Lackluster Sharks shut out, but some ‘skilled’ help has been added The San Jose Sharks are going to have to rediscover their offensive touch if they want to finish their two-game road trip on a positive note Sunday.The Sharks could not get anything past Arizona goalie Connor Ingram — or the NHL’s video review judges — in a 1-0 loss to the Coyotes on Friday at Mullett Arena in Tempe.The Sharks (9-18-3) scored a combined 26 goals on their six-game road trip that ended on Dec. 10. But they had all 21 of their shots on net Friday stopped by Ingram, plus saw two other would-be goals called back by the NHL’s Situation Room, in their fifth shutout loss of the year.San Jose, which plays the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday in Denver, is now 3-12-1 away from home this season.“It’s one of those nights where you don’t have all your energy,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “You can just feel there wasn’t a lot of energy in the locker room before the game.”At the 7:40 mark of the third period, it appe...

Group of 12+ thieves target two SoMa businesses

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

Group of 12+ thieves target two SoMa businesses SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Two San Francisco restaurants are trying to bounce back after burglars stole thousands of dollars. The break-ins happened early Friday morning in the city’s SoMa neighborhood.In one of the burglaries, nearly a dozen people were seen ransacking a restaurant. The owners say they facing more than $20,000 in losses after the break-ins.One of those restaurants was able to reopen Friday night for the dinner rush, but the other might be closed for days. Man charged after impersonating dock employee, biting SFPD officer Nearly a dozen burglars were caught on camera breaking into Thai restaurant Sap Ver. The large group smashed in through a front window, ran through the dining area and ransacked the office Friday morning.“Lucky no one was here. If I’m here I can’t do anything to them because there’s a lot of them,” said “Chef Kobe,” the restaurant owner. The chef says the thieves stole a cash register and a safe filled with $10,000. They also caused thousands in...

Man charged after impersonating dock employee, biting SFPD officer

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

Man charged after impersonating dock employee, biting SFPD officer SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A San Francisco man was convicted of three felony counts in connection to an incident in which he pretended to be an employee at a loading dock and bit an officer who tried to arrest him, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Friday. Casey Whitmore, 41, was convicted of unlawful taking of a vehicle, battery with injury on a peace officer, threat to an executive officer and second-degree burglary. SFPD tracks down stolen vehicle, finds minor inside “I would like to thank the jury for their service and their clear message that San Francisco residents will stand up for our community's safety including our police officers’ safety,” said Jenkins. “Mr. Whitmore is now being held accountable for his conduct.”Jenkins said that on July 15, 2021, Whitmore snuck into the loading dock at One Maritime Plaza at 5 a.m. He tried to steal one of the employees' motorcycles before being caught. The DA's office said Whitmore then took an orange construction vest...

Mittelstadt scores twice in Buffalo’s 4-goal 3rd, Sabres rally to beat Golden Knights 5-2

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

Mittelstadt scores twice in Buffalo’s 4-goal 3rd, Sabres rally to beat Golden Knights 5-2 LAS VEGAS (AP) — Casey Mittelstadt scored twice in Buffalo’s four-goal third period, Devon Levi made 32 saves and the Sabres rallied to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 on Friday night.Zach Benson and former Golden Knight Alex Tuch also scored for Buffalo in the third and Dylan Cozens had a first-period goal and added two assists.Mittelstadt tied it at 2 at 5:01 of the third. Benson gave Buffalo the lead at 9:29, then set up Tuch’s goal with 8:48 left. Mittelstadt capped the scoring with an empty-net goal for his eighth of the season.Buffalo has won three of its last four meetings with the Golden Knights, including two straight in Las Vegas.Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel scored for defending champion Vegas, and Logan Thompson made 22 saves.Buffalo, 10-1-1 when scoring first, got on the board immediately after coming off a power play. Cozens skated into the slot and sniped a shot past Thompson to give the Sabres the lead at 7:42 of the first.The lead didn’t last, t...

Iran says it has executed an Israeli Mossad spy

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

Iran says it has executed an Israeli Mossad spy TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran is saying it has executed an Israeli Mossad spy in the country’s southeast, state TV reported Saturday.The report said the spy was linked to foreign intelligence services, including Mossad, and charged with involvement in releasing classified information. The judiciary body executed the person in a prison in Zahedan, the capital of the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan.The report did not identify the person.In April 2022, Iranian intelligence officers arrested three people they said belonged to a group linked to Mossad. It is not clear if the executed person was one of them.Iran and Israel have accused each other of spying and waging a shadow war for years. Israel views Iran as its greatest threat and has repeatedly threatened to take military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran denies it is seeking such weapons and has vowed a harsh response to any aggression.Iran occasionally announces the detention of people it says a...

Southern California repo man killed on the job, suspect at large

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:05:04 GMT

Southern California repo man killed on the job, suspect at large Loved ones are devastated and searching for answers after a man was shot and killed Tuesday while on the job.The victim, Blaine LaPrairie, 46, worked as a repo man and was repossessing a vehicle when a suspect opened fire and shot him.Loved ones describe Blaine as a big-hearted, kind and thoughtful man.“He was a very sweet soul and he would do anything for you,” said Ryan LaPrairie, Blaine’s older brother. Blaine was repossessing a car at the Jasmine Garden Apartment complex in Compton when he was murdered.Blaine LaPrairie seen in a family photo.Blaine LaPrairie seen in a family photo.KTLA's Rick Chambers speaks to Ryan LaPrairie, the victim's brother. (KTLA)The Jasmine Garden Apartment complex in Compton where Blaine LaPrairie was fatally shot on Dec. 12, 2023. (KTLA)The LaPrairie Brothers drove tow trucks for Nation’s Recovery Services, Inc. a business in South El Monte. (KTLA)Blaine LaPrairie, pictured at center, has a black belt in jiu-jitsu. (LaPrairie Family)Blaine L...