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Grassroots faith leaders navigate a Northern Ireland in flux

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Teenagers from Catholic and Protestant youth groups lit candles on a Belfast street in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, then listened solemnly to a warning about the dangers of Northern Ireland’s own infamous religious bigotries.“We all know what prejudice is,” said Stephen Hughes, leader in charge of St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre, his voice robustly carrying over the twilight rush-hour traffic. “We were encouraged to hate each other because they’re Protestant or they’re Catholic.”The teens were too young, he noted, to remember “the Troubles” — three decades of sectarian violence that claimed more than 3,600 lives in the late 20th century and left countless more wounded and bereaved.The violence largely ended 25 years ago this month with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which laid out a political process for resolving Northern Ireland’s future.But that political process has been turbulent, skirmishes have periodically res...

Canadian R&B singer Jully Black honoured at AFN ceremony for NBA anthem rendition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian R&B singer Jully Black was honoured at an AFN Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa Monday night for making an appreciated tweak to the Canadian national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah in February.The Juno Award-winner had swapped out one word in the anthem’s usual opening line “O Canada! Our home and native land!” with “O Canada! Our home on native land” to recognize the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land before European settlers.Black was presented with an eagle feather and wrapped with a blanket during a Blanketing Ceremony by AFN Knowledge Keepers and National Chief RoseAnne Archibald.The singer said she was “grateful” while holding back tears, adding “I didn’t realize that my action would garner such a response.”Black said, “On behalf of the Black community, I say we are one. We’re better together.”After the presentation of the blanket and feather, Blac...

Finland's PM Marin concedes defeat as right-wing NCP wins election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

Finland's left-wing Prime Minster Sanna Marin conceded defeat in Sunday's (2 April) parliamentary elections. The opposition right-wing National Coalition Party won victory in a closely fought race.Pro-business NCP was expected win 48 of 200 parliament seats. This is narrowly ahead nationalist Finns Party, which has 46 seats, and Marin's Social Democrats, who have 43. Justice ministry election data shows that all ballots were counted."We got the largest mandate," NCP leader Petteri Oderpo stated in a speech to his followers. He pledged to "fix Finland's economy".As Marin's tenure as prime minister is expected to end, he will have the chance to form a coalition in order to win majority in parliament."We have gained support, and we have won more seats (in parliament). Even if we didn't finish first today, that's an outstanding achievement," the prime minister stated in a speech to party members.Marin, 37, was the world's youngest prime minster when she assumed office in 2019. She is re...

Remarkable Women 2023 Winner: Mona Highline

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

Nexstar’s 2023 Remarkable Woman of the Year was announced Monday night during a lavish awards ceremony at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. Each year, Nexstar Media Group celebrates International Women’s Month by spotlighting “Remarkable Women” from coast to coast, with the big winner eventually being named “Nexstar Woman of the Year.” This weekend, more than 100 remarkable women arrived in Los Angeles, all inspirational leaders from across the country making an impact in their communities — from helping the homeless to working with domestic violence victims. Their work and contributions were in the spotlight as they descended on Hollywood and received star treatment. On Sunday, hours after their arrival in L.A., they walked the “purple carpet” and danced poolside at the hotel, where they had their very own Remarkable Women decorative waterfall. They kicked off Monday with a double-decker bus tour of some of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks. All 200 Nexstar ...

Hayne found guilty after 3rd trial over sexual assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Former Australian National Rugby League star Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty after a third trial of sexually assaulting a woman in her home north of Sydney in 2018.Hayne, 35, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and faced a two-week trial over the allegations in the New South Wales District Court.A jury of six men and six women returned a guilty verdict on both counts on Tuesday. He is awaiting sentence.Hayne’s first trial ended with a hung jury in December 2020. In a retrial in 2021, Hayne was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison after being found guilty of two charges. A three-judge panel in the New South Wales state Court of Criminal Appeal last year upheld some grounds of Hayne’s appeal, and he was granted bail and ordered to stand trial a third time.Hayne played more than 200 games mostly for the Parramatta Eels in Australia’s top-flight NRL. He also played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 and had a b...

Afghan Taliban raid kills 6 members of Islamic State group

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — An overnight raid by Taliban forces in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province killed six members of the extremist Islamic State group, a Taliban spokesman said on Tuesday.The regional affiliate of the IS group — known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province — has been the key rival of the Taliban since their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The militant group has increased its attacks, targeting both Taliban patrols and members of Afghanistan’s Shiite minority.According to Mohammad Asif Waziri, a spokesman for the police chief in Balkh, the operation late Monday night targeted an IS hideout in Nahri Shahi district and six members of the militant group were killed.The Taliban swept across Afghanistan in August 2021, seizing power as U.S. and NATO forces were withdrew after 20 years of war. The international community has not recognized the Taliban government, wary of the harsh measures they have imposed since their takeover — including restricting rights and ...

Padres 1st MLB team to walk off on back-to-back HRs by 8-9

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The not-so-glamorous bottom of the San Diego Padres’ lineup delivered a stunning walk-off win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pinch-hitter David Dahl and Kim Ha-seong hit consecutive home runs opening the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Padres over Arizona 5-4 on Monday night for their third straight victory.San Diego moved above .500 for the first time this year and became the first team in major league history with a walk-off win on back-to-back homers by its No. 8 and No. 9 batters, according to OptaSTATS.“David Dahl hit the tying home run and I was just wanting to keep that momentum going and then I had a great pitch to hit and I was able to walk it off,” Kim said through an interpreter. “I’m kind of sorry for David that I took all the spotlight, but he hit a great tying home run that was able to set me up for a great moment. Giving the team the win was the most important thing.” The Diamondbacks took a 4-3 lead on Evan Longoria’s homer in t...

Cousins Hawkins, Reese claim titles on consecutive days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — UConn’s Jordan Hawkins made this year’s NCAA championships a family affair Monday night when he picked up a title a day after his cousin Angel Reese led LSU to the women’s crown.And he had a message for those who’ve criticized Reese for waving her hand in front of her face while staring down Iowa star Caitlin Clark before pointing toward her finger where a championship ring might be while walking toward the Iowa star.“We’re national champions. They’re not,” he said. “So, at the end of the day, they can say whatever they want.”Reese, who was named Most Outstanding Player, was unapologetic over her actions after social media went wild with opinions on her trash talk in the closing minutes of LSU’s 102-85 victory Sunday.“All year, I was critiqued about who I was,” Reese said Sunday. “I don’t fit in a box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. But when other people do it, y’all say nothing. So this was for the girls that look li...

Ramírez hits RBI single in 10th, Guardians outslug A’s 12-11

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Eli Morgan’s first career save called for a celebratory beer shower — and the Cleveland Guardians sure had to work to win this one.José Ramírez hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning after his RBI triple in the eighth gave Cleveland the lead, and the Guardians rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 12-11 on Monday night.Cleveland added an insurance run on a wild pitch by Trevor May (1-1), which the Guardians needed when Oakland got one back in the bottom of the 10th on Esteury Ruiz’s double.“That was a hard game to win for a lot of reasons,” manager Terry Francona said. “We got down, we got up, we got down, they fought back. I give them a lot of credit, and you’re on the road so you’re always a swing away. But we did enough to win, and that’s what we set out to do so it makes for a good day.”Seth Brown hit a tying, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase (1-0).Brown struck out on an automatic ...

Australia prohíbe TikTok en los dispositivos del gobierno federal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:14 GMT

(CNN) — Australia se unió a otros países occidentales en la prohibición del uso de TikTok en los dispositivos gubernamentales, ya que la aplicación de vídeo de propiedad china está siendo objeto de una creciente presión debido a las afirmaciones de que representa un problema de seguridad.El fiscal general de Australia, Mark Dreyfus, anunció la prohibición este martes tras recibir asesoramiento de los servicios de inteligencia y seguridad, y afirmó que la directiva se impondría “tan pronto como sea posible”.El gobierno australiano se ha unido a la creciente lista de países que prohíben TikTok en los dispositivos gubernamentales. (Crédito: Natalia/Adobe Stock)La decisión pone a Australia en la línea de sus aliados de la alianza de inteligencia Five Eyes: EE.UU., Gran Bretaña y Canadá ya han anunciado restricciones similares, mientras que el Parlamento de Nueva Zelanda también ordenó retirar la aplicación de todos los dispositivos con acceso a la legislatura.Noruega y...