A Michigan police officer who killed a man with a shot to the back of the head is testifying in his own defence at his second-degree murder trial. Christopher Schurr says he was “running on fumes” and fearing for his life when 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya got control of his Taser.

He says he shot Lyoya in Grand Rapids because he thought he would be killed. The issue for jurors is whether they believe Schurr had a reasonable belief that his life was in jeopardy after Lyoya got control of his Taser during a fight. Lyoya was facedown on the ground when Schurr shot him. It’s not known why Lyoya was trying to flee. Records show his driver’s license was revoked at the time and there was an arrest warrant for him in a domestic violence case, though Schurr didn’t know it.

An autopsy revealed his blood-alcohol level was three times above the legal limit for driving, according to testimony. During cross-examination, prosecutor Chris Becker tried to highlight inconsistencies between Schurr’s testimony and his statements to investigators three years ago, particularly his physical condition at the time.

Becker also noted that the officer was on top of Lyoya before the fatal shot, suggesting that he had an advantage. “He never said he was going to kill you, right? Never said he was going to hit you. Never said he was going to kick your butt or do anything bad to you,” the prosecutor said. Schurr earlier testified that he had a Taser used on him during police training and knew it could cause “excruciating pain.”

“I shot him because I believed he was going to use it on me,” Schurr told Becker. “He started to turn up towards me. I felt if I didn’t respond at that time, I wouldn’t be here.” “Sure, but he’s not here, is he?” Becker shot back, referring to Lyoya’s death. “No, he’s not,” Schurr replied.

Lebanese authorities warned the Palestinian Hamas group Friday not to carry out any attacks from Lebanon otherwise they will face the “harshest measures.”

The warning by the Higher Defense Council, Lebanon’s top military body, came weeks after several Lebanese and Palestinians were detained on suspicion of firing rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel.

The move comes as Lebanese authorities are spreading their authority throughout the country, mainly in the south near the border with Israel after the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war that ended in late November with the U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

“Hamas and other factions will not be allowed to endanger national stability,” the council said. “The safety of Lebanon’s territories is above all.”

Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests by The Associated Press for comment on the Lebanese decision.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, the Palestinian group that has armed presence in Lebanon has carried out several attacks against Israel. Israel has since carried out airstrikes that killed Hamas official, including one of its top military chiefs, Saleh Arouri, in Beirut.

Lebanese authorities detained last month several people, including a number of Palestinians, who were allegedly involved in firing rockets toward Israel in two separate attacks in late March that triggered intense Israeli airstrikes on parts of Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group denied at the time that it was behind the firing of rockets. “The harshest measures will be taken to put a complete end to any act that infringes on Lebanon’s sovereignty,” said the statement that was read by Brig. Gen. Mohammed al-Mustafa.

The meeting of the Higher Defense Council was attended by senior officials including the country’s president, prime minister, army commander and heads of security services. The council’s statement quoted Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as saying that all “illegal weapons” should be handed over to the state.

The announcement in Beirut came as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to visit Lebanon later this month. Since the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire went into effect in late late November, Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes that left dozens of civilians and Hezbollah members dead.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone fired three missiles Friday morning at a gas station in the southern village of Houla wounding five poeple. On Thursday, Israel said it killed an official with Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in a drone strike in south Lebanon.

Catholic church members gathered at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Johannesburg South Africa on Wednesday for a mass to pay tribute to the late Pope Francis.

With May 1 considered a holiday in South Africa, members of the Catholic community came to pay their respects to the pontiff.

The memorial was followed by a series of speeches and tributes from Archbishops and members of the Catholic community.

A tree was also planted to honor and remember the late Pope Francis.

Dr. Sheila Leocádia Pires, communications officer for the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) said she hopes the next pontiff will continue the legacy of Pope Francis.

“Whether we have a Black pope or an Asian pope or a European pope, what we want is just somebody that will continue that legacy of Pope Francis of promoting peace,” she said.

Reverend Mzwandile Molo, General Secretary at the South African Council of Churches (SACC) said “His Holiness Pope Francis calls us together in this memorial to thank God for a life of love for the poor.”

“We choose to honor and remember Pope Francis because he is one given by God to challenge the church and reconnect the church to its mission.”

If the next pope is from sub-Saharan Africa, he would be the first in Catholic Church history.

Catholic Africans think it is a long shot, though some are cautiously optimistic that Pope Francis’ successor could be a Black cardinal from their continent.

The answer will come soon, as the cardinals eligible to elect the new pope open their conclave next Wednesday at the Sistine Chapel.