Maura Derrane has shared a sweet memory and momento her mother has kept for almost three decades. Her parents, farmer Mattie and homemaker Bridgie, built their home in Inis Mór with Maura enjoying a quintessential Irish childhood there, and on returning there to celebrate Christmas , she found a newspaper clipping from 1995. The clipping was from story about Maura overcoming illness as she took on a project - theatre acting - to help her launch her television career. Read more: Maura Derrane is the spitting image of her mum in rare throwback photo Read more: Married couple killed in St. Stephen’s Day hit and run were with their daughter Posting a snapshot of the clipping to Instagram, she shared that she is always amazed at the things her mum keeps. She said: "Every time I come home to Inis Mór , I find a memory my mother has kept from many moons ago." "She showed me this newspaper clipping the other day, which she kept from 1995, when I launched my acting career. It’s a play from the Taibhdhearc Theatre in Galway." Explaining why she wanted to tackle the challenge of a play, she said: "I had just started working on television at the time, but has such a fear of cameras and public speaking that I decided I had to do something to get over it." "Facing my fears on stage seemed like the best way to do it. I seriously nearly passed out of the opening night, not just from the flu, but seeing actual humans in the audience." "But it was exhilarating at the same time. And it worked! It help me face the film and continue working in this industry since. Facing our fears is the only way!" On another occasion that she was home, she came across an old picture of her mum, who looks just like her. Taking to social media to share the beautiful black and white photo, Maura explained that her mother had made her own dress.Larry Page, Google Co-Founder, Said He'd Leave His Fortune To Elon Musk Over Charity Because Of His Plans 'To Go To Mars To Back Up Humanity'
Fake stories about Taylor Swift, Beyonce’s reactions to Trump win shared as real newsSean “Diddy” Combs’ twin daughters, Jessie and D’Lila Combs, put on a united front over the weekend, attending their high school senior night amidst ongoing legal troubles surrounding their father. The 17-year-olds shared a snapshot on Instagram, beaming in blue-and-white cheerleading uniforms paired with “senior” sashes and tiaras, marking a milestone moment in their young lives. The photo, captioned simply “Senior Night,” showed the twins holding pink pom-poms as they posed on the sidelines of a football game. Their celebratory post was a bright spot in what has otherwise been a difficult few months for the Combs family. Just days earlier, Jessie and D’Lila appeared in a Manhattan courtroom for their father’s third bail hearing . Sean, 55, who remains in custody at a Brooklyn detention center, blew kisses to his daughters and other family members present in the gallery. A judge is expected to decide on his bail within the coming week. The twins have carried on with their senior year activities, determined to find normalcy amid the challenges. Last month, they attended their homecoming, dressed in matching orange off-the-shoulder gowns and bronze heels. Their poised appearances have garnered admiration from fans, who have praised their strength. The sisters also took time earlier this month to honor the memory of their late mother, Kim Porter, who died unexpectedly in 2018. In a heartfelt Instagram tribute marking six years since her passing, they wrote, “We think about you every single second of the day. We love and miss you so much words can’t even explain.” Kim, who shared four children with Sean, was a central figure in their lives, and her absence is deeply felt. Sean, a father of seven, has always been vocal about his pride in his children. Along with Jessie and D’Lila, he shares Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, Christian, 26, Chance, 18, and Love, 2. Despite the serious allegations he faces, his children have publicly stood by him. In October, Sean’s six eldest children attended a court hearing where a May 2025 trial date was set. Following the proceedings, they released a statement defending their father, calling the allegations against him “absurd.” “Many have judged both him and us based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity on social media,” they wrote. “We stand united, supporting you every step of the way. We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family.” Sean’s children have remained a constant source of support during his legal battle, sharing moments of connection with him even from afar. On his birthday, Nov. 4, they called to celebrate with him, a touching exchange that highlighted their close bond. “I just want to say that I’m proud of y’all, especially the girls. I mean, all y’all, just for being strong,” Sean told his kids during the call. The music mogul, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, has maintained his innocence as his legal team prepares for the upcoming trial.
Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded
Oman’s central bank approves regulations for Banking Deposits Protection LawPHOTOS: Ontario travel heavily disrupted by intense snow squall bands
Haynes' 18 help George Mason defeat Mount St. Mary's 64-56
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored the Celtics’ first 15 points on five consecutive 3-pointers and finished with 29 points, before Boston withstood a late charge to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-105 on Sunday. Jayson Tatum added 26 points and eight rebounds to help Boston post a season-high fifth straight victory. Anthony Edwards had 28 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost five of its last seven. Julius Randle added 23 points, and Rudy Gobert finished with 10 points and 20 rebounds, his eighth double-double of the season. Minnesota got within 55-54 early in the third quarter, before a 14-0 run by Boston. The spurt featured four 3s by the Celtics, including two by Tatum. The lead grew to 79-60 with 4:26 to play in the period. But the Timberwolves chipped it all the way down in the fourth, getting within 107-105 with 34 seconds left on a driving layup by Randle. Timberwolves: Minnesota will be looking to for some wins at home, after dropping four of its last five on the road. Celtics: The Celtics have struggled at home at times this season but improved to 6-2 at the Garden. The Timberwolves had the ball with 7.1 seconds and a chance to win. Edwards got the inbounds and tried to drive on Brown. But he was cut off, and the ball swung to Naz Reid, who failed to get off a 3 as time expired. Boston assisted on 25 of its 37 made field goals. The Timberwolves host Houston in NBA Cup play on Tuesday, beginning a four-game homestand. The Celtics host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Leveraging AI to enhance ESG reporting in West Africa’s energy sectorBOSTON (AP) — Donald Hand Jr. scored 15 of his career-high 29 points in the first half and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Boston College beat Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70 on Saturday. Chad Venning scored a season-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting for Boston College (8-5). Ahmed Barba-Bey was fouled on a 3-point shot and made all three free throws before Terrence Brown converted a three-point play to cut FDU's deficit to five points with 2 minutes left and Barba-Bey’s 3 with 39 seconds left made it 74-70. Hand answered with a layup 10 seconds later and followed with two free throws that capped the scoring with 18 seconds to play. Barba-Bey, a graduate transfer from Division-II Jefferson, hit eight 3-pointers and led Fairleigh Dickinson (4-11) with a career-high 31 points on 10-of-12 shooting. Brown added 20 points and Bismark Nsiah scored 10, all in the second half. Hand hit a 3-pointer that gave Boston College the lead for good with 17:17 left in the first half and scored 13 of the game's first 24, including a three-point play that gave the Eagles a 17-7 lead with 11:58 left before the intermission. Barba-Bey hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut FDU's deficit to four just over a minute later but Boston College scored the next eight points and the Knights got no closer until the second half. Boston College won for just the second time since beating Boise State 63-61 on Joshua Beadle's late 3-pointer to win the Cayman Islands Classic on Nov. 26 and improve to 6-1. The Knights have lost four games in a row overall and are 0-10 away from home this season. Boston College won the lone previous meeting between the programs 72-54 on Dec. 10, 1992. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballArticle content FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Republican senators pushed back on Sunday against criticism from Democrats that Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services, is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and secret meetings, as a congresswoman, with Syria’s president, a close ally of the Kremlin and Iran. Recommended Videos Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a veteran of combat missions in Iraq, said she had concerns about Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice to be director of national intelligence. “I think she’s compromised,” Duckworth said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” citing Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria, where she held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Gabbard was a Democratic House member from Hawaii at the time. “The U.S. intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America’s foes. And so my worry is that she couldn’t pass a background check,” Duckworth said. Gabbard, who said last month she is joining the Republican party, has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades. She was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait and, according to the Hawaii National Guard, received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for “participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.” Duckworth’s comments drew immediate backlash from Republicans. “For her to say ridiculous and outright dangerous words like that is wrong,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, said on CNN, challenging Duckworth to retract her words. “That’s the most dangerous thing she could say — is that a United States lieutenant colonel in the United States Army is compromised and is an asset of Russia.” In recent days, other Democrats have accused Gabbard without evidence of being a “Russian asset.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, has claimed, without offering details, that Gabbard is in Russian President Vladimir “Putin’s pocket.” Mullin and others say the criticism from Democrats is rooted in the fact that Gabbard left their party and has become a Trump ally. Democrats say they worry that Gabbard’s selection as national intelligence chief endangers ties with allies and gives Russia a win. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat just elected to the Senate, said he would not describe Gabbard as a Russian asset, but said she had “very questionable judgment.” “The problem is if our foreign allies don’t trust the head of our intelligence agencies, they’ll stop sharing information with us,” Schiff said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Gabbard in 2022 endorsed one of Russia’s justifications for invading Ukraine: the existence of dozens of U.S.-funded biolabs working on some of the world’s nastiest pathogens. The labs are part of an international effort to control outbreaks and stop bioweapons, but Moscow claimed Ukraine was using them to create deadly bioweapons. Gabbard said she just voiced concerns about protecting the labs. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said he thought it was “totally ridiculous” that Gabbard was being cast as a Russian asset for having different political views. “It’s insulting. It’s a slur, quite frankly. There’s no evidence that she’s a asset of another country,” he said on NBC. Sen. James Lankford, another Oklahoma Republican, acknowledged having “lots of questions” for Gabbard as the Senate considers her nomination to lead the intelligence services. Lankford said on NBC that he wants to ask Gabbard about her meeting with Assad and some of her past comments about Russia. “We want to know what the purpose was and what the direction for that was. As a member of Congress, we want to get a chance to talk about past comments that she’s made and get them into full context,” Lankford said.
Kobe Sanders scores 27 points, Nevada never trails in 90-78 win over Oklahoma State
Trump selects Jared Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner, for ambassador to France