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Man charged with murder following stabbing spree in North Vancouver

Yannick Bandaogo, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the attack that left one woman dead and six people injured. A 28-year-old man is facing a murder charge in connection with Saturday’s mass stabbing at the Lynn Valley Library in North Vancouver that left a woman dead and six other people injured. North Vancouver RCMP said, “multiple victims” were attacked both inside and outside the library. A man was arrested at the scene and RCMP said there is no ongoing threat to the public. Yannick Bandaogo was charged Sunday with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing spree. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Bandaogo is in police custody after undergoing surgery for self-inflicted wounds. Sgt. Frank Jang, the spokesperson for IHIT, confirmed a woman in her late 20s died of her injuries while the remaining victims were treated in hospital for “non-life-threatening” injuries. The North Vancouver District Public Library said none of their staff or volunteers was injured in the attack. “Obviously the question is why did this happen, I understand. We believe we know the how, the what, the where and the when. It is our job now to determine why,” Jang told a news conference near the library. “That is going to be the No. 1 question for us.” Jang said the man arrested Saturday has had previous interactions with police and has a criminal record. The motive for the stabbing spree is unknown. According to court records, however, Bandaogo does not have a criminal record in British Columbia. A man sharing his name appeared in a 2012 short film on YouTube titled Determination that depicts a young man training at the Techno-Boxe boxing club in Longueuil, Quebec. IHIT said in a release on Sunday that Bandaogo’s background, history in B.C., and his relationship to the victims, if any, were still being determined. Memorial grows On Sunday morning, a steady stream of people placed flowers at a makeshift memorial set up in a taped off area between the library and the Browns Socialhouse restaurant. A sign above the memorial read “Lynn Valley Strong.” “What we are seeing here today is a huge outpouring of support from the community, people are dropping off flowers (and) expressing appreciation to the emergency personnel who were here … it’s a way to express their grief in this situation,” said District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little. “I think that’s going to continue for some time and then we will have to work through the process of welcoming the community back to this space, which is a community civic place where we want people to feel safe and welcome.” Both the library and the restaurant, along with all the shops in the Lynn Valley Village plaza, remained closed on Sunday. Little says stories of heroism will begin to emerge over the next couple of days. “We do know the restaurant right next door gave refuge to people who were running and injured people, there was a very badly injured person in the restaurant as well,” he said. Darren Hailes said he had just finished a run with some friends and they were standing on a patio just outside the Lynn Valley library, unaware of the attacks that would leave one woman dead and six people injured. “We weren’t immediately aware of the violence that had just taken place because the area was so calm,” he recounted in an interview on Sunday. Then, he said, someone approached and asked Hailes if he had first aid training to help multiple people injured inside the library lobby. He did. “I saw people running and out of the cafe bringing tea towels and various supplies to help with some of the bleedings. Somebody (had) obviously gone and got the first aid kit.” Hailes estimates he arrived about a minute after the attacker left the lobby. “The passage of time is quite blurry in my mind, but it didn’t feel very long before I first saw a fire engine pull up in front of the library and police arrived and paramedics arrived,” he said. “They immediately, of course, went to triage all of the different victims.” Hailes said he later talked to a man who tried to lure the attacker away from other people around the library. “Realizing he wasn’t going to be able to intervene and stop a man with a knife on his own, he immediately began to back away and to call the attacker toward him.” The man backed through the library lobby and down the street and he was there when police arrested the suspect, Hailes said. Video captured by Sam Garrett and published on Twitter showed multiple officers restraining a man on the ground after he appeared to cut himself before collapsing. Ethan Jackson works at a dental office near the library and said he heard a woman scream and when he later looked out the window he saw a man lying on the ground covering his face. Jackson said there was blood around the man and he was being treated by paramedics. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered condolences to the victims in a tweet later on Saturday. “My heart is in North Vancouver tonight. To everyone affected by this violent incident in Lynn Valley, know that all Canadians are keeping you in our thoughts and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.” Jonathan Wilkinson, the MP for North Vancouver and minister of environment and climate change, said he was “shaken” by the attack, and expressed how important the Lynn Valley Public Library is to the community. “This library has been a secure place for families to gather in the Lynn Valley community for years,” he said in a statement. “Until today, it was unimaginable that such a senseless act of violence could have occurred in the very heart of it.” Eleven ambulances responded Amy Robertson of B.C. Emergency Health Services said first responders transported the patients to the hospital after receiving a call at 1:46 p.m. on >>Read more
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The Hague Tribunal: An Overview of Key Cases and Their Significance

The Hague Tribunal, also known as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), is a United Nations-affiliated international court established in 1993 to prosecute serious crimes committed during the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s. The Hague Tribunal operates under the principle of complementarity, meaning that it only takes cases where the relevant national jurisdiction is unwilling or unable to do so. The Hague Tribunal has prosecuted some of the most notorious figures from the Balkans conflict, including former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladić, and Croatian General Ante Gotovina. The following are some of the most significant cases handled by the Hague Tribunal: The Trial of Slobodan Milošević: The former Serbian President was charged with 66 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in connection with the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The trial, which lasted from 2002 until Milošević’s death in 2006, was the first time a former head of state was tried for war crimes before an international tribunal. The Trial of Ratko Mladić: The former Bosnian Serb military leader was charged with 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, including the massacre of over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995. Mladić was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison in 2017. The Trial of Ante Gotovina: The former Croatian General was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in a military operation that led to the forced expulsion of Serb civilians from the Krajina region of Croatia in 1995. Gotovina was initially convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison, but his conviction was later overturned on appeal and he was acquitted in 2012. These trials, along with many others conducted by the Hague Tribunal, have been instrumental in bringing to light the extent of the atrocities committed during the Balkan conflicts and in holding those responsible accountable for their actions. The legacy of the Hague Tribunal continues to be felt today, as it has set a precedent for international criminal justice and helped to establish the principle that no one, regardless of their position or power, is above the law. The Trial of Slobodan Milošević: A Milestone in International Criminal Justice The Trial of Slobodan Milošević was one of the most significant cases in the history of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The former Serbian President was charged with 66 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in connection with the conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The trial, which lasted from 2002 until Milošević’s death in 2006, was the first time a former head of state was tried for war crimes before an international tribunal. Milošević was accused of orchestrating a campaign of ethnic cleansing aimed at driving out non-Serbs from large parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The prosecution presented evidence of mass killings, rape, and forced deportations of non-Serb civilians. Milošević was also accused of implementing a widespread campaign of terror and violence to maintain his grip on power in Serbia and of supporting the Bosnian Serb army in its pursuit of territorial gains and the extermination of Bosnian Muslims. The trial was widely seen as a test of the international community’s commitment to holding leaders accountable for serious crimes, and it attracted widespread media attention. Despite the high-profile nature of the case and the significance of the charges, the trial was marked by a number of difficulties, including the unavailability of key witnesses, the slow pace of proceedings, and the death of Milošević before a verdict could be reached. Despite these challenges, the Trial of Slobodan Milošević remains a landmark case in the history of international criminal justice. It demonstrated the principle that no one, regardless of their position or power, is above the law and that those who commit serious crimes will be held accountable for their actions. The legacy of the trial continues to be felt today, as it has set a precedent for international tribunals and reinforced the importance of holding those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity to account. In conclusion, the Trial of Slobodan Milošević was a significant event in the history of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and a landmark case in the history of international criminal justice. It marked the first time a former head of state was tried for war crimes before an international tribunal and set a powerful precedent for holding those responsible for serious crimes accountable for their actions.
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Coffee Around the World

The ideal conditions for coffee trees to thrive are found around the world along the Equatorial zone called “The Bean Belt,” located between latitudes 25 degrees North and 30 degrees South. Finicky Arabica grows best at high altitudes in rich soil, while the heartier Robusta prefers a higher temperature and can thrive on lower ground. What impacts the quality and flavor of coffee? Everything from the variety of the plant, the chemistry of the soil, the weather, the amount of rainfall and sunshine, and even the precise altitude at which the coffee grows can affect the taste of the final product. These key variables, combined with the way the cherries are processed after being picked, contribute to the distinctions between coffees from countries, growing regions, and plantations worldwide. The combination of factors is so complex, that even from a single plantation one finds variation in quality and taste. Coffee is grown in more than 50 countries around the world, including: North America & The Caribbean The United States – Hawaii: Though coffee farms are found throughout the Hawaiian islands, it is Kona coffee, from the large island of Hawaii, that is best known and always in high demand. Here, nature provides just the right environment for the coffee trees on the slopes of the active Mauna Loa volcano. Young trees are planted in black, volcanic soil so new that it often seems the farmers are growing seedlings in rock. Afternoon shade from tropical clouds forms a natural canopy over the trees to protect them from intense sun, and frequent island showers give the plants just the right amount of rain. Kona coffee is carefully processed to create a deliciously rich, aromatic cup of medium body. Mexico: Small Mexican coffee farms are more common than large plantations, but with over 100,000 coffee farmers, Mexico ranks as one of the largest coffee-producing countries in the world. Most farms are in the southern states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. A cup of Mexican coffee generally offers a wonderful aroma and depth of flavor, often with a pronounced sharpness. It is an excellent bean for dark roasts and is often used in blends. A Mexican coffee designated Altura means that it was grown at high altitudes. Puerto Rico: Coffee was brought to Puerto Rico from Martinique in 1736, and by the late 19th century, the island was the sixth leading exporter of coffee in the world. However, major hurricanes and competition from other coffee-producing countries forced the island to seek other means for economic survival. Today, the coffee industry is being revived with carefully cultivated coffee from quality Arabica varieties that are produced to the highest standards. There are two major growing regions on the Caribbean island: Grand Lares in the south-central region, and Yauco Selecto in the southwest. Both regions are noted for their beans’ balanced body and acidity, as well as a fruity aroma. Central America Guatemala: While perhaps not as well-known as some of its Central and South American neighbors, Guatemala’s coffee has a distinctive taste quality favored by many for its rich flavor. There are three main growing regions — Antigua, Coban, and Huehuetenango — each with a breathtakingly rugged landscape and rich volcanic soil. Microclimates strongly influence the quality and flavor of the “strictly hard beans” (grown at altitudes 4500 feet/1370 meters or higher). This medium-to-full-bodied coffee has a depth and complexity of taste that is almost spicy or chocolatey. Costa Rica: Costa Rica produces only wet-processed Arabicas. With its medium body and sharp acidity, it’s often described as having perfect balance. Costa Rican coffee is grown on predominantly small farms or fincas. After harvest, the cherries are immediately taken to state-of-the-art processing facilities, known as beneficios, where wet method processing begins. The careful attention to quality processing and conscientious growing methods have built Costa Rica’s reputation for fine coffee. South America Colombia: Colombia is probably the world’s best-known coffee producer and ranks second worldwide in yearly production. A high standard of excellence is maintained with great pride and careful growing on thousands of small family farms across the country. Such care and attention results in consistently good, mild coffees, with a well-balanced acidity. The rugged Colombian landscape provides the perfect natural environment for growing, but the terrain makes it difficult to transport the harvested coffee beans to production and shipment centers. Even today, this is often done by mule or Jeep. Colombian Supremo, the highest grade, has a delicate, aromatic sweetness while Excelso Grade is softer and slightly more acidic. Brazil: Brazil is the biggest coffee-producing country in the world, with seemingly endless expanses available for its production. Coffee plantations in Brazil often cover immense areas of land, needing hundreds of people to manage and operate them to produce huge quantities of coffee. Both Arabica and Robusta are grown, and the climate, soil quality, and altitude determine which variety will grow best in which region. A fine cup of Brazilian is clear, sweet, medium-bodied, and low-acid. East Africa Ethiopia: Coffee legend tells of the discovery of the first coffee trees in Ethiopia — it’s not hard to believe that coffee originated where wild coffee tree forests are still the primary harvesting source. Generally, wet-processed, coffee from Ethiopia comes from one of three main growing regions — Sidamo, Harrar, Kaffa — and often bears one of those names. In the cup, an Ethiopian coffee tends to offer a remarkable and bold statement: full-flavored, a bit down-to-earth, and full-bodied. Kenya: Kenyan coffee is well-known and well-liked, both in the United States and Europe. The beans produce a sharp, fruity acidity, combined with a full body and rich fragrance. Coffee is grown on the foothills of Mount Kenya, often by small farmers. Kenyan producers place an emphasis on quality and as a result, processing and drying procedures are carefully controlled and monitored. Kenya has its own unique grading system. Kenyan AA is the largest bean in a 10-size grading system, and AA+ means that it was estate-grown. West Africa Ivory >>Read more
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Types of Bikes: The Ultimate Bike Buying Guide

Welcome to the Co-op’s own ‘I’m new to cycling and I don’t know what type of bike I should buy’ guide. Here you’ll find the main types of bikes that people tend to speak about, demystified. Think of it as the ultimate bike types guide for beginners! Bike Buying Guide: Different bikes for different activities We usually recommend that you buy a bike for the kind of activity you want it for – although if you want to buy a bike just because you like the way it looks, that’s fine too! Do you want a bike mostly for commuting? Do you want a versatile bike that can handle both tarmac and dirt tracks well? Do you want to dress head-to-toe in lycra and attempt the land speed record? Many people who are new to cycling often opt for a mountain bike, purely because it somehow sounds like the most familiar. However, there’s really no need to buy a mountain bike unless you a) really like mountain bikes for whatever reason or b) want to go mountain biking. Here at the Co-op we tend to divide our bike types into the following categories based on the activity they’re used for: Road bikes: Roads. Mountain bikes: Off road. Hybrid or Commuter bikes: A bit of everything. Cyclocross bikes: A bit of everything, but with a road bike feel. Folding bikes: Commuting, leisure or touring for the short-on-space. Electric bikes: An electric-assisted bit of everything. Touring bikes: designed for carrying loads over longer distances while remaining comfortable for the rider. Women’s bikes: All of the above, designed specifically for women. Kids bike: bikes for kids We’ll look at each of these in turn so you can get a better idea of what bikes are used for what. Road Bikes As the name suggests, road bikes are designed to ride on the road. Can’t all bikes ride on the road, you wonder? They absolutely can. But road bikes are optimised to make road cycling as efficient as possible, and because of that they’d perform terribly on a mountain dirt track. Instead, road bikes are designed to help cyclists get the most out of the road, including the particular geometry (i.e. frame shape) of the bike, the width of the tyres, and the weight of the components. And just in case you were wondering; You won’t be able to buy a road bike with skinny tyres and transform it into a mountain bike by putting big, knobbly tyres on. Mountain bike tyres just won’t fit on, full stop. Defining characteristics: A lightweight frame, skinny tyres, drop handlebars (those are handlebars which curve back down underneath themselves) and a high gear ratio (i.e. The gears are set up to favour the ones that help you go really fast, if your legs and lungs are up to it.) Get a road bike if: You want fast, efficient cycling on tarmac roads for commuting, competing, or for fun. Don’t get a road bike if: You want to take it off the road. Skinny tyres means you won’t really be able to use a road bike on anything other than tarmac. Icy roads can also be a problem for road bikes. If you’re after a road bike, reading up on What Kind of Road Bike Should I Get? might be a useful five-minute read. Mountain Bikes Mountain bikes are designed to go on mountains or on off-road trails, which means they’re chunkier, have knobbly tyres on them, and a frame geometry which makes them better suited for seriously uneven terrain. Defining characteristics: Wide, knobbly tyres for traction, and a wide range of gears to help you get up and over mountains or across fields. Some bikes have front suspension but are rigid at the back (‘hardtail’), and some have front and rear suspension for cushioning jumps and drops (‘full suspension’ or ‘full sus’). Others have neither. Here’s our Guide to full suspension vs hardtail. Get a mountain bike if: You want to go mountain biking or mainly off road. Don’t get a mountain bike if: You want to go fast on tarmac roads, cycle long distances, or mostly knock about town. Hybrid or Commuter Bikes Hybrid bikes, or commuter bikes as they’re also known, are essentially a mixture between road bikes and mountain bikes. They give you the versatility to do a bit of everything. What you sacrifice in terms of speciality, you gain by being able to do what you want, when you want. Defining characteristics: Hybrid bikes have flat handlebars instead of drop handlebars. Some models have front suspension to cushion bumps in the road or on the track, and others don’t. They’re designed with versatility and comfort in mind, so they have the comfortable geometry of mountain bikes but with slicker, narrower tyres. The tyres can be changed for super knobbly tyres if you want to do a bit of off-roading, or slicker tyres if you’re commuting on tarmac, or something in between. Get a hybrid/commuter bike if: Your main use for the bike will be commuting and/or knocking about town, as well as occasionally going off road or mountain biking. Don’t get a hybrid/commuter bike if: You want to go full lycra and ride as fast as possible on roads, or tear down mountain bike trails as dexterously as possible. Cyclocross bikes Also simply known as ‘Cross Bikes’, these are bikes which follow the tradition of road cyclists in the olden days, who would swap their slick road tyres for knobblier tyres and continue to train during the winter months. A cyclocross bike could be the perfect year-round bike for you if you’re looking for a fast road bike that will cope with off-road excursions. Defining characteristics: The easiest to spot is the drop handlebars like a road bike, instead of the flat handlebars of a hybrid. Like a hybrid, there’s also enough clearance (space around the wheel) for knobblier tyres and mudguards. A cross bike has more of a road bike feel >>Read more
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Nokia is releasing a new version of its 6310 ‘brick phone’ – and yes, it still has Snake!

Nokia is re-releasing one of its classic mobile phones, the 6310 ‘brick’ to mark 20 years since it was first released in the UK. HMD Global, makers of Nokia phones, said the device would have the original and iconic silhouette of the classic 6310 with its trademark long battery life. The phone will come with a copy of the 90s classic mobile game Snake, and a sturdy form factor that gave it the nickname ‘the brick’ when it first came out in 2001. There will be ‘subtle changes’ to mark the passing of 20 years of technological evolution, including bigger buttons and a zoomed-in menu for ease of reading. It comes with a larger 2.8 inch 320×240 pixel screen, compared to the 1.8 inches 120×160 pixel screen found on the original and is on sale for £59.99. HMD Global, makers of Nokia phones, said the new device (pictured right) would have the original and iconic silhouette of the classic 6310 (pictured left) with its trademark long battery life HMD Global, makers of Nokia phones, said the new device (pictured right) would have the original and iconic silhouette of the classic 6310 (pictured left) with its trademark long battery life NOKIA 6310: SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES The Nokia 6310 was first released in 2001 and has been re-released in 2021 to mark its 20th anniversary. The new version comes with a larger screen, larger buttons, but the same long battery life and sturdy body. Name: Nokia 6310 (20th anniversary) Price: £59.99 Colors: Yellow, Black Camera: 0.3 megapixels Memory: 16MB RAM, 8MB internal Screen: 2.8 inches curved Shell: Polycarbonate Battery standby: 21.7 days Battery talk time: 19.4 hours Features: FM Radio (Wired/Wireless), MP3 player Included: Micro USB Charger Nokia says the new version of its iconic device, beloved of teenagers when it was first released for its reliability, long battery life, and sturdy form will also include a wireless FM radio. ‘That yearning for nostalgia makes the new Nokia 6310 the perfect tonic,’ a Nokia spokesperson explained, talking about the anniversary release. The new handset has been ‘refreshed and reinvented,’ to match modern needs. This includes a larger screen and buttons, making it easier to read messages and connect with loved ones, Nokia says. ‘With the Nokia 6310, it is all fun and games,’ the firm said, adding ‘you can listen to your favorite news channels, sports games, or music stations on the go with reliable connectivity or play an intense game of Snake!’ One thing Nokia hasn’t changed is the battery, with the new device lasting weeks between charges, just like the original. In fact, it can go a whopping 21 days between charges if left on standby! The phone charges using a MicroUSB cable and can run for 19 hours on battery when being actively used in a call, according to Nokia’s website. The Nokia 6310 was first launched in 2001, updated to the 6310i in 2002, and finally discontinued in 2005 with the release of the Nokia 6230 and others. The original came with a 1.8-inch screen, whereas the new version will include a much larger 2.8-inch screen. Nokia says the new version of its iconic device, beloved of teenagers when it was first released for its reliability, long battery life, and sturdy form will also include a wireless FM radio When the original version was released back in 2001, it could send emails, texts, and picture messages had basic internet access and simple Java-based applications, including Snake. It was about 3.9 ounces and could store 174 KB of data, with a battery that lasted up to 408 hours on standby, or for seven hours of constant talk time. The new version is built from a tough polycarbonate shell that can ‘take the knocks and bumps of everyday life’. COMPARED: NOKIA 6310 2001 vs 2021 Adam Ferguson, Head of Product Marketing at HMD Global said the device plays on the memory of the old. ‘They don’t make them as they used to is a phrase we’ve disowned,’ Mr. Ferguson said. ‘We still bring that signature build quality to all of our devices. ‘We recently launched the new Nokia XR20, a life-proof smartphone that in my eyes, is a modern-day Nokia 3310 in a smartphone. ‘And now the Nokia 6310 is back and better than ever.’ It isn’t clear whether Nokia is working on a new smartphone that is a ‘6310 in a smartphone,’ or whether this is a limited anniversary release of an old classic. However, Mr. Ferguson added: ‘For all feature phone lovers, it’s the original and iconic model, and whilst its 2.8-inch curved window screen may be new, it still retains its familiar design and functionality. ‘As one of the trailblazers in making mobile go mainstream in 2001, it’s no surprise to see its impact 20 years on. ‘It’s a legacy that the new Nokia 6310 will continue way into the next 20 years.’ That 90s home! Retro-obsessed man, 23, spends £5,000 transforming his home into a time capsule complete with retro TVs, pine furniture, landline phones, and a very chunky laptop A self-confessed 1990s fanatic has revealed how he’s so obsessed with the era he transformed his home into a time capsule to the decade – complete with dated Ikea furniture, VHS players, telephone alarm clocks. Jack Walter, 23, from Bakewell, Derbyshire has spent roughly £5,000 pursuing his passion for the era and even drives a ‘G reg’ Austin Mini Metro. The illustrator often scours charity shops and eBay while wearing high-waisted Levi jeans and Sweater Shop jumpers and says he finds comfort in the era and hoped to recreate the ‘coziness’ of his parents’ house from when he was a child – though he admits people think he’s ‘mad’ for not enjoying the present day. And due to living in the countryside, he claims his 90s phone with extendable aerial ensures he gets better signal than his mobile phone. ‘It started as me recreating my parents’ house from when I was little, with the coziness,’ Jack >>Read more
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