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Bulgarians celebrate the feast of Epiphany with traditional rituals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers dived into the wintry waters of rivers and lakes across Bulgaria on Saturday to retrieve crucifixes cast by priests in Epiphany ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.The legend goes that the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year. After the cross is fished out, the priest sprinkles believers with water using a bunch of basil.The celebration of Epiphany, or the Apparition of Christ, as Bulgarians call it, began in the capital, Sofia, with a water-blessing ceremony. Senior Orthodox clergy said prayers for the prosperity of the people and blessed the colors of representative army units — a tradition abandoned in 1946 and re-established in 1992.The most attractive Epiphany ceremony was held again in the small mountain city of Kalofer in central Bulgaria, where dozens of men wearing traditional white embroidered shirts waded into the Tun...

Bangladesh’s main opposition party starts a 48-hour general strike ahead of Sunday’s election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s main opposition party has started Saturday a 48-hour general strike as the South Asian nation is gearing up to hold its next general election.The Election Commission said voting would start Sunday and last for eight hours across the country in over 42,000 ballot stations to receive the more than 119 million registered voters. Ballot boxes, among other election supplies, have been sent over in preparation for the vote, the commission said. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former premier Khaleda Zia, and other opposition groups are boycotting the election, saying they can’t guarantee its fairness under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who is seeking to return to power for a fourth consecutive term.The BNP has vowed to disrupt the election, calling for strikes and urging people to join the boycott. On Saturday morning, a small group of party supporters marched across Shahbagh neighborhood in the capital, Dhaka, calling on ...

United Arab Emirates acknowledges mass trial of prisoners previously reported during COP28

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates on Saturday acknowledged it is conducting a mass trial of 84 inmates previously reported by dissidents as it hosted the United Nations COP28 climate talks last month.The trial likely includes a prominent activist lauded by rights group abroad.The state-run WAM news agency quoted the country’s attorney general, Hamad al-Shamsi, as saying the 84 defendants face charges of “establishing another secret organization for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on state territory.”The statement did not name the suspects, though it described “most” of those held as members of the Muslim Brotherhood, a pan-Arab Islamist group long targeted in the autocratic UAE as a threat to its hereditary rulers. Al-Shamsi said the accused all had a lawyer assigned to them and that after nearly six months of research, prosecutors referred the accused to trial. The statement said the trial was still going on. In December, the...

Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel in ‘initial response’ to killing of top leader from allied Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel on Saturday, warning that the barrage was its initial response to the targeted killing, presumably by Israel, of a top leader from the allied Hamas group in Lebanon’s capital earlier this week. The rocket attack came a day after Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that his group must retaliate for the killing of Saleh Arouri, the deputy political leader of Hamas. Nasrallah said that if Hezbollah does not retaliate for Arouri’s killing in its stronghold south of Beirut, all of Lebanon would be vulnerable to Israeli attack.Nasrallah appeared to be making the case for a response to the Lebanese public, even at the risk of escalating the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. But he gave no indication of how or when the militants would act.Hezbollah said Saturday that it launched 62 rockets toward an air surveillance base on Mount Meron and that it scored direct hits. The Israeli militar...

Dear Abby: I’m hurt that I was chided for taking photos of her baby

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

DEAR ABBY: We recently attended the wedding of a close family member on my husband’s side. All went seemingly well until the next day when I was sharing snapshots of the beautiful day with my stepdaughter.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I refuse to spend another holiday with my brother-in-law, Mr. Violent Advice | Dear Abby: Nobody interceded with the bride, and I was left out of the wedding Advice | Dear Abby: My neighbors seemed so friendly until this incident Advice | Dear Abby: My friend was insulted when the waitress asked him to leave Advice | Dear Abby: My often-requested list of new year’s resolutions I promptly received what I’ll call a form letter via text from her, saying: “Hi! As the holidays approach, we’re sending this message to our close family members. With flu season coming up and a rise in COVID cases, we’re asking everyone to not kiss the baby. ...

LeDee and San Diego State host UNLV

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

UNLV Rebels (7-5) at San Diego State Aztecs (12-2, 1-0 MWC)San Diego; Saturday, 4 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Aztecs -9.5; over/under is 140BOTTOM LINE: San Diego State hosts the UNLV Rebels after Jaedon LeDee scored 21 points in San Diego State’s 74-47 victory against the Fresno State Bulldogs.The Aztecs are 7-0 on their home court. San Diego State is fourth in the MWC with 9.2 offensive rebounds per game led by LeDee averaging 3.3.The Rebels have gone 1-0 away from home. UNLV has a 1-2 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.San Diego State makes 44.9% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.8 percentage points higher than UNLV has allowed to its opponents (42.1%). UNLV averages 12.0 more points per game (77.5) than San Diego State gives up (65.5).The Aztecs and Rebels face off Saturday for the first time in MWC play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: LeDee is scoring 21.5 points per game and averaging 8.5 rebounds for the Aztecs. Reese Waters is averaging 12...

La Salle visits Fordham following Medor’s 24-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

La Salle Explorers (9-5, 0-1 A-10) at Fordham Rams (7-7, 1-0 A-10)New York; Saturday, 12 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rams -5; over/under is 145BOTTOM LINE: Fordham plays the La Salle Explorers after Japhet Medor scored 24 points in Fordham’s 119-113 overtime win over the George Washington Revolutionaries.The Rams are 4-4 on their home court. Fordham is the A-10 leader with 12.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Abdou Tsimbila averaging 3.3.The Explorers are 0-1 in A-10 play. La Salle averages 76.7 points while outscoring opponents by 4.6 points per game.Fordham averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game, 1.6 more made shots than the 6.7 per game La Salle gives up. La Salle averages 76.7 points per game, 2.8 more than the 73.9 Fordham allows to opponents.The Rams and Explorers match up Saturday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Medor is averaging 13 points and 3.1 assists for the Rams. Will Richardson is averaging 10.0 points and 2.5 rebounds wh...

North Texas takes on Tulane, aims for 4th straight victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

Tulane Green Wave (10-3, 1-0 AAC) at North Texas Mean Green (8-5, 1-0 AAC)Denton, Texas; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mean Green -5; over/under is 143.5BOTTOM LINE: North Texas comes into a matchup with Tulane as winners of three games in a row.The Mean Green have gone 6-0 in home games. North Texas ranks seventh in the AAC with 9.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Robert Allen averaging 2.7.The Green Wave are 1-0 in conference matchups. Tulane averages 16.2 assists per game to lead the AAC, paced by Kevin Cross with 5.1.North Texas is shooting 43.8% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points higher than the 42.7% Tulane allows to opponents. Tulane averages 7.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.3 more made shots on average than the 5.5 per game North Texas allows.The Mean Green and Green Wave match up Saturday for the first time in AAC play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jason Edwards is averaging 15.4 points for the Mean Green. Rubin Jones is averaging ...

Coit and Northern Illinois host Ohio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

Northern Illinois Huskies (6-7, 0-1 MAC) at Ohio Bobcats (6-7, 0-1 MAC)Athens, Ohio; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bobcats -7; over/under is 155BOTTOM LINE: Northern Illinois visits the Ohio Bobcats after David Coit scored 21 points in Northern Illinois’ 73-51 loss to the Akron Zips.The Bobcats have gone 4-3 at home. Ohio scores 79.2 points while outscoring opponents by 7.7 points per game.The Huskies are 0-1 against MAC opponents. Northern Illinois ranks eighth in the MAC with 8.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Yanic Konan Niederhauser averaging 2.0.Ohio is shooting 45.0% from the field this season, 1.7 percentage points higher than the 43.3% Northern Illinois allows to opponents. Northern Illinois averages 7.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than Ohio gives up.The Bobcats and Huskies meet Saturday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jaylin Hunter is shooting 37.9% and averaging 14.0 points for th...

South Carolina faces conference rival Mississippi State

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:50:59 GMT

Mississippi State Bulldogs (11-2) at South Carolina Gamecocks (12-1)Columbia, South Carolina; Saturday, 12 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulldogs -3; over/under is 135.5BOTTOM LINE: Meechie Johnson Jr. and the South Carolina Gamecocks host Cameron Matthews and the Mississippi State Bulldogs in SEC play.The Gamecocks have gone 8-0 at home. South Carolina scores 75.5 points while outscoring opponents by 12.4 points per game.The Bulldogs have gone 0-1 away from home. Mississippi State scores 76.2 points and has outscored opponents by 13.5 points per game.South Carolina makes 45.0% of its shots from the field this season, which is 6.3 percentage points higher than Mississippi State has allowed to its opponents (38.7%). Mississippi State has shot at a 44.9% clip from the field this season, 4.7 percentage points greater than the 40.2% shooting opponents of South Carolina have averaged.The matchup Saturday is the first meeting this season for the two teams in conference play.TOP PERFOR...