by Nalova Akuya YAOUNDE, Cameroon  — Geraldine Achiah, an elementary school teacher in her 30s, died barely two months into her marriage in September. Her relatives allege her husband beat her over a marital dispute and demand justice in what they say is a gender-based crime. Her only child, Courage Abombi, 18, fondly remembers her support for his dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer. “My mom died an unexpected and painful death,” said Abombi, who had to take a university entrance exam a day after his mother’s burial. Achiah, who died in September, is one of nearly 70 women who…

by Jay Cohen LAKE FOREST, Ill.  — Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson likes his three quarterbacks. He has been pretty clear on that point for a while. As far as who is going to start on Sunday, well, he isn’t willing to share that information just yet. “Yeah, we got three guys, and we’ll kind of … we’ll work through the week and see where they’re at,” Johnson said Wednesday. With Caleb Williams sidelined by a right hamstring injury, Case Keenum led Chicago to an impressive 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. Keenum passed for 247 yards…

by Kayleen Morgan and Mogomotsi Magome , South Africa  — Hundreds of people held a demonstration against illegal immigration in the South African city of Durban on Wednesday, vowing to intensify their actions against what they say is the government’s failure to deal with the issue. The crowds, led by the March by March group, had set a Sept. 30 deadline for those living illegally in South Africa to leave the country. The deadline wasn’t recognized by the government and authorities. With some brandishing traditional Zulu weapons and singing cultural songs, they marched through Durban’s streets. Police didn’t report any…

by Aarn Bracy CHICAGO  — Turnovers, penalties and poor decisions were costly in Philadelphia’s 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night. The Eagles also were hurt by circumstances out of their control when quarterback Jalen Hurts was in concussion protocol. First, a look at what was in their control. Hurts threw an interception, backup Andy Dalton tossed an end-zone pick when Hurts was being evaluated, and the Eagles lost a fumble while forcing zero turnovers. “You can’t sustain wins,” coach Nick Sirianni said of losing the turnover battle. “Obviously have to make a change there.” Then there were…

by Jay Cohen CHICAGO  — Rome Odunze knew something was wrong when Caleb Williams stayed on the ground. Williams left Chicago’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota in the fourth quarter with a right hamstring injury, punctuating a frustrating afternoon for the Bears. The third-year quarterback got hurt on a scramble deep in Vikings territory with about 7 1/2 minutes left. “I’ve never seen him go down like that and be down like that,” said Odunze, one of Chicago’s top receivers. “He usually pops back up. I’ve seen him pop back up from hits, all sorts of things. So definitely not a…

by Jay Cohen CHICAGO  — Dallas Turner threw Tyson Bagent to the ground, then took off down the field in celebration. It rained on his parade, for sure, but that was just fine with him. Turner had two of Minnesota’s four sacks, including his takedown of Bagent on the final play, and the Vikings shut down Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears for a damp 9-3 victory on Sunday. “I feel like, just preparing myself for these moments, ever since I was in college,” said Turner, a third-year linebacker who also had a sack during a 39-22 win over Green…

by Stephen Sloan and Ashraf Khalil WASHINGTON  — The Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board voted on Tuesday to close most of the iconic performing arts venue just hours after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning President Donald Trump’s name to the building. In a social media post, Trump said the closure was needed for safety repairs. But he said the repairs, which Congress has allocated $257 million to cover, would only happen if the board was allowed to move forward with plans to add his name to the building. A federal judge has twice said that can’t happen without…

by Steve Reed CHARLOTTE, N.C.  — Ben Johnson said he slept well Saturday night at the Bears’ team hotel, sensing that quarterback Caleb Williams was more than ready for the season opener. Chicago’s coach had good instincts. Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, looked like a league MVP candidate on Sunday, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns and running for 65 yards and two more scores as the Bears trounced the Carolina Panthers 59-37 in the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history. “I could kind of tell (Saturday) night when we did our quarterback meeting…

by Dyepkzah Shibayan ABUJA, Nigeria — Two Nigerian nationals have been killed in South Africa, Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry said, as tensions run high between the two countries over anti-immigrant protests. The ministry said one of the victims, James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, was killed after “gruesome interrogation techniques” by South African police officers in Cape Town, on Sept. 5. The statement did not identify any suspects or provide a possible motive in the death of Taiwo Michael Fakunle, a bishop, who was killed at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on Sep. 4. South African police did not immediately respond to a request…

by Jonathan  Landrum Jr. and Jessica Hill LAS VEGAS — The murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur is headed to closing arguments after the defense rested Thursday following testimony from three former Las Vegas police officers. Jurors are scheduled to return Monday for closing arguments before beginning deliberations in the only prosecution brought in the killing of the hip-hop icon. The presentation of evidence ended after nine days of testimony. Davis, 63, did not take the stand. Shakur was riding in a BMW on Sept. 7, 1996, when a white Cadillac pulled…