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Community gathers to celebrate Kwanzaa in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

Many gathered in Boston on Tuesday to mark the first day of Kwanzaa.For the holiday, families and communities come together to honor the past and celebrate African American culture.“This is all about culture,” said event organizer Safiya Sanyika. “This is about respecting the elders and sharing stories, taking their stories and being able to pass them on.”Tuesday’s celebration included live musical performances, fashion shows, and a market selling handmade objects.Each day is represented by one of seven principles. Tuesday, the first day, celebrates the principle of Umoja, or unity. Wednesday is represented by Ujima, or collective work and responsibility.An event marking the second night of Kwanzaa will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury.

Kanye West apologizes to Jewish community in a post in Hebrew after repeated antisemitic remarks — including just weeks ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

(CNN) — Kanye West, who has made repeated antisemitic remarks, posted an apology to the Jewish community for any “unintended outburst caused” by his “words or actions.”The recording artist, who has legally changed his name to Ye, shared the message, written in Hebrew, in a Tuesday Instagram post – just days ahead of his expected release of new music. The post had been liked more than one million times Tuesday morning.“It was never my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,” his message read. Ye said he is committed to learning and ensuring “greater sensitivity and understanding” in the future, adding he is “dedicated to making amends and working toward promoting unity.”In a statement to CNN responding to the post, the Anti-Defamation League said, “After causing untold damage by using his vast influence and platform to poison countless minds with vicious antisemitism and hate, an apology in Hebrew may be the first step on a...

Russian presidential hopeful loses appeal against authorities’ refusal to register her for the race

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian politician calling for peace in Ukraine on Wednesday lost her appeal against election officials’ refusal to accept her nomination for the country’s presidential race that President Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win.Former regional legislator Yekaterina Duntsova has promoted her vision of a “humane” Russia “that’s peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect.”The tight control that Putin has established during 24 years in power makes his reelection in March’s presidential vote all but assured. Prominent critics who could challenge him are either in prison or living abroad, and most independent media have been banned.Over the weekend, Russia’s Central Election Commission refused to accept Duntsova’s initial nomination by a group of supporters, citing errors in the paperwork, including spelling.On Wednesday, Russia’s Supreme Court rejected Duntsova’s appeal against the commission&#...

Man suffers serious injuries from stabbing in Moss Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

A man has suffered serious injuries from a stabbing in Moss Park on Wednesday morning.Police responded to a call just after 1:20 a.m. for reports of a stabbing in the Shuter and Parliament Streets area.Paramedics transported a man in his 20’s to hospital with serious injuries.There is no suspect information at this time and an investigation is ongoing.STABBING:Shuter St and Parliament St1:23 am-reports of a stabbing-male victim in his 20's has been stabbed-transported by @torontomedics to hospital with serious injuries-no suspect info at this time-ongoing investigation-anyone with info, call police#GO2958512^lm— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) December 27, 2023

Bill Granger, chef who brought Aussie-style breakfast to world capitals, dies at 54

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Bill Granger, the Australian chef, food writer and restaurant owner who brought Aussie-style food to international capitals from London to Seoul, has died. He was 54. Granger’s family said on social media Tuesday that the chef died in a hospital in London on Christmas Day. “A dedicated husband and father, Bill died peacefully in hospital with his wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters, Edie, Inès and Bunny, at his bedside in their adopted home of London,” the family statement said. It didn’t provide more details. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Granger was a self-taught cook who launched a chef’s career over three decades after dropping out of art school. He opened his first restaurant in 1993 in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, where he soon became known for his breakfasts served at a central communal table.He and his wife then launched their restaurant business globally, opening more than a dozen restaurants under his name in London, Seoul, and To...

Israel launches heavy strikes across central and southern Gaza after widening its offensive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched heavy strikes across central and southern Gaza overnight and into Wednesday after broadening its offensive against Hamas to more areas where the military had told Palestinians to seek shelter earlier in the war.Residents reported heavy bombing in the built-up Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, in the southern city of Khan Younis and in the southern town of Rafah, areas where tens of thousands have sought refuge as much of northern Gaza was pounded to rubble.“It was a night of hell. We haven’t seen such bombing since the start of the war,” said Rami Abu Mosab, speaking from the Bureij camp, where he has been sheltering since fleeing his home in northern Gaza.He said warplanes flew overhead and gunfire and explosions echoed from the eastern edge of the camp — which, like others in Gaza, houses refugees from the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation and their descendants and now resembles other densely populated neighborhoods.A home nea...

A Greek air force training jet crashes outside a southern base and its pilot is reported killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A Greek air force pilot was killed Wednesday when his training jet crashed in the countryside outside an air base near the southern town of Kalamata, state-run ERT television said.The two-seater T-2 aircraft was carrying only one crew member, ERT said, and crashed as it was coming in to land.Rescue teams cordoned off the area of the crash, where there were no buildings.The U.S.-made T-2 Buckeye first flew in the late 1950s and has served as the Greek air force’s main training plane for decades. It had been scheduled to be withdrawn from service in the coming months.The Associated Press

Teenager Najiah Knight wants to be the first woman at bull riding’s top level. It’s an uphill dream

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Najiah Knight drops her 100-pound frame onto a snorting 1,300-pound bull and adjusts her ropes, warming the sticky rosin. Music blares across the arena, but Najiah can hear only her dad, in the chute with her, and her mom, cheering from the stands. She nods to indicate she’s ready, and a cowboy pulls the door of the chute.The gate swings open, and Najiah — a 17-year-old gladiator entering a ring where men rule — begins her dance with the bull.Najiah, a high school junior from small-town Oregon, is on a yearslong quest to become the first woman to compete at the top level of the Professional Bull Riders tour. She can’t join until next year, when she’s 18, and even then, she’ll have to prove she’s good enough to qualify. There’s fierce competition: Only about 30 of the best riders from around the world reach the top. It takes time, travel, money and, perhaps most of all, guts. The sport is undeniably dangerous, with riders frequently injured and even killed. None of t...

Two bodies found inside home in Avondale neighborhood; Chicago police investigating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

CHICAGO — A wellbeing call from a neighbor led Chicago police to the deceased bodies of a man, 70, and a woman, 66, inside a home early Wednesday morning in the Avondale neighborhood on the city's North Side.Police began their investigation Tuesday night, telling WGN they responded to a call for a wellbeing check in the 3300 block of N. Central Park Ave. from a tenant concerned about their neighbors.Police say they gained entry to the home through the rear door, where they found the two bodies, both deceased.Police did not say how long they believe the bodies were dead inside the home, but they did say there were no signs of trauma.Area Five Detectives are investigating.

Chicago police investigating homicide on city's South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:14:45 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department is investigating an overnight homicide on the city's South Side.Early Wednesday morning, just after midnight, police responded to a person shot in the 4800 block of S. Hermitage Ave. and found an unidentified male victim in an alley with multiple gunshot wounds to the body.According to police, the victim was unresponsive and appeared to be about 35 years old. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition and was later pronounced dead.Police say there is nobody in custody, and Area One Detectives are investigating the incident.