ishop Joseph Strickland did not always have a difficult relationship with Pope Francis. When Francis became the head of the Catholic Church, Strickland recalls admiring how welcoming the pope was. But as the began taking increasingly liberal stances, the bishop of Tyler, Texas, felt he could no longer stay silent. As Strickland began speaking out about Francis’ teachings, from the church’s positions towards divorcees and LGBTQ+ people to the question of whether priests should be allowed to marry, he quickly realized that “Politically, I was in a rather ” “There’s just a lot of politics in the world and it’s a reality that affects the church as well,” the bishop told in an interview. Although he said he has the action against him, Strickland said he worries that it could promote an “atmosphere of fear” within the church. Strickland’s removal last year was not only an unprecedented measure but also a sign of how the culture wars have polarized the church of 1.3 billion Catholics, with the battle lines nowhere more evident than in the United States. Under the leadership of Francis, the church has welcomed more people, including same-sex couples and divorced Catholics. The pope has also been outspoken on issues such as climate change, inequality, global capitalism and interfaith dialogue, all of which have meant a departure from the traditional teachings of the church. And while these positions have made Francis a hero among progressives and their allies, it has with traditionalists. The types of actions that Francis has taken against his conservative American critics have not been seen in centuries, said church historian and Villanova University professor Massimo Faggioli. “In terms of the relations between a pope and the United States, it’s unprecedented,” Faggioli, who is also the author of Pope Francis: A Voice for Mercy, Justice, Love, and Care for the Earth, told . “It started immediately after his election, and there was a clear sense that this pope was really different from the previous ones.” The Press Office of the Holy See did not respond to request for comment. Inaugurated in 2013, Francis wasted no time in breaking with the conservatism of his predecessor Benedict XVI. Early in his papacy, Francis startled traditionalists when he asked, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” From there, it became increasingly clear that Francis was leading the church in a more progressive direction. Central to the conservative pushback is the way Francis has embraced LGBTQ+ people. Attitudes toward the community have softened under Francis, and culminated last year in the pope’s approval for a that said priests could to same-sex couples under certain circumstances. Opposition came from many parts of the world. Some 90 scholars and authors from around the globe published a joint letter calling on all Catholic cardinals and bishop to oppose the document from the Vatican. There was a particularly in one of the fastest growing regions for the church, Africa, where bishops called the idea “contrary to the will of God.” “This declaration has caused a shockwave,” wrote Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo in a strong sign of with Francis “In our context, this would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities.” But Francis did not back down. In response, he slammed his opponents, calling it “hypocrisy” that those critics wouldn’t have objected to him giving a “blessing to an entrepreneur who perhaps exploits people,” but that they were “scandalized” by his blessing for “two people who love each other,” even if they’re of the same sex. The culture wars in the church have resonated globally, and the divide is easily depicted in two New York City where the vastly different opinions of Francis are separated by just two miles. Reverend Mark Hallinan of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, a Roman Catholic parish on Park Avenue in New York City’s Upper East Side, for one, is grateful that Francis has called on the church to put a “greater emphasis on and ” Hallinan told that some of his had been “very appreciative” of the outreach by Francis, but he does note there are some who have been “impatient with the pace of change,” acknowledging that the pope is not always “free to move as far as he might like.” The mood is distinctly different at the Church of the Holy Family in midtown Manhattan, where Reverend Gerald Murray refers to Francis by the nickname the “Pope of Surprises.” “Not all surprises are welcome,” Murray told . Murray said he took issue not only with open criticisms by Francis of “what he calls the ‘ideological’ opposition of some Catholics in the United States,” but also the pope’s refusal to “consider the substance of those criticisms.” In the face of repeated sniping from conservative bishops in the United States, Francis sent a clear message to his critics last year. Over the summer, he criticized some conservatives in the United States Catholic Church for saying they showed “a very strong, organized, and had replaced with political ideology. Toward the end of the year, he moved against them. Weeks after Strickland was relieved by the Vatican in a one-line statement, Francis took the unprecedented step of revoking Cardinal Raymond Burke’s right to a subsidized Vatican apartment and salary. Burke, a traditionalist cardinal from Wisconsin and one of the highest-ranking critics of Francis, received notice in late November that he was to begin paying market rate rents on the apartment or surrender it by the end of February. While the church never explicitly detailed why Strickland was being removed, nor reveal the findings of its monthslong investigation into his governance at the diocese in Tyler, Strickland believes he was ultimately because he was “not with the program.” After all, a month before the pope’s decision, the bishop had called it a “I loved what Pope Francis said early on in his pontifices because he spoke a lot about reaching out and welcoming people,” Strickland said. “But what troubles me is, as things have developed, it’s like, ‘Reach out to the marginalized and just leave them marginalized.’” “I just don’t see how you can really guard the deposit of faith but say, ‘Oh, the faith changes.’ That’s not what the Bible says,” he added. At his house in a rural area outside the town of Tyler, nearly four months after his removal, Strickland seems as calm and cheery as the sunny, yellow room he sits in. Even though he has had to leave the Catholic Diocese of Tyler himself, Strickland continues to tell his supporters, “Please don’t walk away from the church.” He has also continued to speak out, while saying he recognizes the pope’s challenges and respects his authority. In a strongly worded letter “to all of my brother bishops around the world, including Pope Francis,” Strickland told his fellow Catholics on February 29: “Let us stand with our brothers, who in the 20th century, were strong enough to speak against despotic rulers even though they were a minority voice in their time.” Scholars say that Francis when addressing ideological conflicts because he also must ensure that his cardinals and bishops do not question or over the legitimacy of his authority. Much like a president expects his cabinet to the pope expects his cardinals to serve as a physical and tangible link between the Vatican and Catholics around the world. Because Cardinal Burke had repeatedly questioned the teaching of Francis, the pope decided “he doesn’t have to subsidize [Burke] to do that,” National Catholic Reporter’s Vatican correspondent Christopher White, told . Unity in the church is not easy to achieve and some are pushing the pope to become more liberal. One of the most prominent progressive challenges to Francis is Germany’s Synodal Path, a group that has called for the pope to do more to include divorcees, women and LGBTQ+ people within the church. They have also asked the church to reconsider its current structure so that members can play a greater role by choosing bishops and even preaching at Masses. “There’s no question that [Francis] is deeply concerned, perhaps even more concerned in some ways, with what’s happening in the German ” David Lantigua, a moral theology professor at the University of Notre Dame, told . “The pope has, on a couple of occasions, made it clear that the German Synodal Path has kind of set itself up as another council of the church and that it’s potentially headed in a direction of breaking from the church or schism.” While critics of Francis, both traditionalist and progressive, are outspoken, most Catholics support their pope. A 2021 Pew Research Center poll found that 82 percent of U.S. Catholics have a “very” or “mostly favorable” opinion of the pope, and that the majority of all Americans, 63 percent, support Francis. Even newly elected right-wing Argentine President Javier Milei, who had at one point described the pope as an “imbecile” and a “ has changed his tone. Since taking office, the right-wing libertarian has softened. In February, he embraced Francis at mass in the Vatican City days after calling him “the most important Argentine in history.” But traditionalist critics do not believe the pope is treating all his adversaries equally. Murray said that while Francis has criticized the German Synodal Way more than once, he has not taken strong action over their disregard for his concerns. “He could, for instance, forbid the German bishops from continuing to implement and finance the agenda of the Synodal Way,” Murray said. “He has not done that. The pattern is one of strong words and actions against more conservative Catholics, contrasted with a history of cooperation with and promotion of more liberal Catholics, who occasionally receive relatively mild criticisms and are rarely disciplined.” Faggioli said it was true that Francis has adopted a harsher tone with American traditionalists: “But they have also gone further than other bishops around the world.” He said the two camps have taken wildly different approaches, where progressives abroad use more conventional language when criticizing Francis and traditionalists American Catholics are taking to social media to voice their complaints with the pontiff. “It’s not getting any better. It will never get better. It will remain that complicated,” he said of the relationship between Francis and the church in America. “It’s the most problematic relationship Pope Francis has had with one national church. There’s no question of that.” While the United States has taken center-stage in the culture wars, the challenge for Francis is a global one. “On the one hand, he wants to move the church forward,” William Dinges, a religious studies professor at the Catholic University of America, told . “He wants to avoid going too far and transforming Catholicism into just another form of cultural religion. On the other hand, he also wants to avoid turning the church into a sectarian, over-and-against ecclesial community. He’s trying to find that sweet middle ground.” – biskup, papież – niepewna pozycja, niebezpieczna sytuacja – zaakceptować coś, pogodzić się z czymś – doprowadzić to do rozłamu – przełomowe orzeczenie – udzielać błogosławieństwa – duchowny, ksiądz, pastor – ostry sprzeciw – różnica zdań, sprzeciw – parafia – miłosierdzie – współczucie – parafianin – zacofanie – reakcyjna postawa – wiara (w Boga) – usunięty ze stanowiska – parodia, karykatura – balansować (między czymś a czymś), być w trudnej sytuacji wymagającej ostrożnego i przemyślanego zachowania – podać coś w wątpliwość – podporządkować się – niewyświęcony (na księdza) – wspólnota kościelna – obrzydliwy lewak and answer the following questions: 1. How did Bishop Joseph Strickland initially perceive Pope Francis’ leadership of the Catholic Church? 2. What prompted Bishop Strickland to speak out against Pope Francis’ teachings? 3. What significant step did Pope Francis take regarding the church’s stance on same-sex couples? 4. How did some bishops in Africa react to Pope Francis’ stance on blessings for same-sex couples? 5. How did Reverend Mark Hallinan of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola view Pope Francis’ emphasis on mercy and compassion? 6. How did Pope Francis respond to criticisms from conservative bishops in the United States? 7. What is the general sentiment among Catholics towards Pope Francis, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center poll? First, match the words to form collocations and verb phrases that will help you describe the issue presented in the article. Next, write down a sentence using each collocation and verb phrase. The sentences you create should relate to the topic being discussed in the text. ( ) same-sex interfaith conservative landmark fierce minority ruling voice dialogue backlash pushback couples polarize break with lead embrace send speak against a clear message the church LGBTQ+ people the church despotic rulers the conservatism Task description: Students will participate in a discussion about Pope Francis’ progressive stances on the Catholic Church. Task elements: 1. Recall specific examples of Pope Francis’ progressive stances on the Catholic Church mentioned in the text. 2. Identify the motivations behind the Pope’s progressive actions and the various responses they have generated. 3. Discuss the potential benefits and challenges of embracing progressive values within the Catholic Church. 4. Consider whether Pope Francis’ progressive agenda has been effective in addressing contemporary challenges faced by the Church and promoting its relevance in today’s world. 5. Propose potential strategies for Pope Francis to further advance progressive values within the Catholic Church while fostering unity among its members. Complete the following summary using information from the text. Bishop Joseph Strickland, once an admirer of Pope Francis, grew critical as the pope embraced ________ stances. Strickland’s outspokenness led to his removal, reflecting a global ________ within the Catholic Church. Francis’s liberal shifts, especially regarding LGBTQ+ rights, face staunch ________, notably from ________ in the United States. The pope’s actions against conservative critics, like Strickland and Cardinal Burke, signal a significant departure from past norms. Despite challenges, Pope Francis enjoys ________, though tensions persist between traditionalists and progressives, complicating his leadership. Check the answer key!
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'Booo!' Trump fans say they are 'disheartened' after he gives 'slap in the face to MAGA'The chief executive of the North West Co. Inc. is rejecting accusations that its stores in remote Indigenous communities hiked food prices as funding flowed in this year from federal programs aimed at making necessities more affordable. Dan McConnell made the comments Tuesday during a call for shareholders discussing the company's third-quarter financial results, in which it reported consolidated sales of $637.5 million. "Absolutely not," he said when asked if the company's stores in Northern Canada were raising prices when federal funding arrived in the region. "We're actually looking at lowering prices by bringing in other options and lower cost items under a private label program." The North West Co. operates 118 Northern grocery stores in remote communities across Northern Canada, as well as a host of other businesses, including Quickstop convenience stores in Northern Canada and Alaska and a dozen Cost-U-Less stores in regions including St. Maarten, the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean. Last month, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the land-claims body representing Nunavut Inuit, said it is planning to investigate whether retailers, including Northern stores, hiked food prices after communities began receiving money this year under the federal Jordan's Principle and Inuit Child First Initiative programs. The programs provide funding to ensure children get adequate food and education. The consolidated sales figure reported for North West Co.'s third quarter, which ended Oct. 31, marks a 3.3-per cent increase over the same quarter last year, but McConnell said that didn't translate to the bottom line, as the company's net earnings were $36.4 million, down from $38 million in the third quarter of 2023. The company also faced a seven per cent increase in selling, operating and administrative costs compared with the same quarter last year, partly driven by higher minimum wages and new hiring, McConnell said. Sales in the company's Canadian operations were up by four per cent, thanks in part to increased demand in communities where people qualified for government funding and payouts from a 2021 settlement between Canada and certain First Nations over drinking water. "In Canada, we expect consumer demand in the fourth quarter and into 2025 to continue to be positively impacted by the distribution of First Nations drinking water settlement payments and government spending on First Nations Child and Family Service programs, including Jordan's Principle and the Inuit Child First programs," McConnell told shareholders during the call. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Calgary company steps up to help grieving family with free furnace after fatal carbon monoxide poisoning A Calgary furnace company stepped up big time Friday to help a Calgary family grieving the loss of a loved one. 'A well-loved piece': Historic carousel display from Hudson’s Bay Company store lands at Winnipeg shop When a carousel setup from the Hudson’s Bay Company became available during an auction, a Winnipeg business owner had to have it. Sask. doctor facing professional charges in circumcision case A Saskatoon doctor has been accused of unprofessional conduct following a high-cost adult circumcision that included a request for the patient to text unsecured post-op pictures of his genitals. Regina home recognized internationally for architectural design Jane Arthur and her husband David began a unique construction project in 2014. Now, a decade later, their home in Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood has won a title in the Urban House and Villa category at the World Architecture Festival. Politics Freeland doesn't commit to meeting her own deficit target in fall economic statement Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has not committed to meeting the $40.1-billion deficit target she set for the government last year, as the Liberal government appears to unshackle itself from constraints on spending ahead of a federal election. Canada continues to review Syrian refugee claims as European nations pause intake Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada will continue evaluating the asylum claims of people who have fled Syria, even as some European countries are pausing those claims after the Assad regime's fall. 'We are a threat to the U.S.': Ford suggests reason for Trump's proposed tariffs Premier Doug Ford is touting the strength of Ontario’s manufacturing sector, suggesting that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs may have something to do with him seeing the province as a “threat.” Health Some added sugar sources are worse than others for disease risk, study suggests Sugar isn’t helpful when looking to reduce heart disease risk –– but sweet drinks are the worst, according to a study. There are better sweet treats. Some cancer patients may forgo care due to high treatment-related costs: report A Canadian Cancer Society report, published Monday in partnership with Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada with analysis by Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, estimates a cancer patient will face almost $33,000 on average in out-of-pocket cancer-related costs in their lifetime, including loss of income. Heart transplant recipients celebrate the Ottawa Heart Institute's 40 years of transplants More than 60 heart transplant recipients gathered Monday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Heart Institute's first heart transplant and the second chances at life they received through its work. Sci-Tech LinkedIn pauses training AI models on Canadian user data: privacy commissioner Canada's privacy commissioner says LinkedIn has paused training its artificial intelligence models on data from Canadian users. Google says it has cracked a quantum computing challenge with new chip Google on Monday said that it has overcome a key challenge in quantum computing with a new generation of chip, solving a computing problem in five minutes that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe. 'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton receives Nobel Prize in physics As artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton strode across a Stockholm stage to receive his Nobel Prize for physics, the pride back home was palpable. Entertainment Jamie Foxx reveals he suffered a brain bleed and a stroke, says 'I don’t remember 20 days' Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx has opened up about the medical emergency he faced last year, revealing that he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke. Jerry Seinfeld, Kumail Nanjiani among headliners at Just For Laughs Vancouver Jerry Seinfeld is among the big names set to headline Just For Laughs Vancouver. Taxpayer-funded Eras Tour tickets returned by federal minister While tens of thousands of fans packed Vancouver's BC Place for the last shows of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour this weekend, a federal cabinet minister wasn't one of them. Business National rent prices decline year-over-year to 15-month low: report A new report says average asking rents fell nationally on a year-over-year basis to $2,139 in November, marking a 15-month low. Postal strike delaying delivery of medicine, necessities to remote areas: AFN chief The Assembly of First Nations says the ongoing postal strike is delaying supplies of medicine and other necessities to rural and remote communities. With employees in limbo, TikTok hoping for 'solution' to Ottawa's shutdown order The Liberal government's move to order the shutdown of TikTok's Canadian operations over national security concerns has left hundreds of the company's Canadian employees in limbo. Lifestyle The holidays can be an anxious time for some kids. Here's how parents can help Many kids and teens are looking forward to the holidays with great excitement, but others find it a difficult time of year filled with anxiety, stress and loneliness. Montreal man retiring early after winning half of the $80 million Lotto-Max jackpot Factor worker Jean Lamontagne, 63, will retire earlier than planned after he won $40 million on Dec. 3 in the Lotto-Max draw. Fast food 'value war' to last into 2025 as consumer appetite for deals heats up An onslaught of promotions has taken shape at just about every fast-food joint across the country, and the phenomenon has intensified into what industry watchers have dubbed a 'value war.' Sports Swimmer Summer McIntosh wins Northern Star Award as Canada's athlete of the year Swimmer Summer McIntosh has won the Northern Star Award as Canada's athlete of the year after a dominant performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rays star Wander Franco faces sexual abuse, human trafficking charges in Dominican Republic Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is scheduled to go to trial Thursday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl. Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko set to make 1st start of the season Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet says all-star goalie Thatcher Demko will make his first start of the season Tuesday when Vancouver hosts the St. Louis Blues. Autos 80-year-old driver with expired licence accused of going nearly double the speed limit in eastern Ontario Ontario Provincial Police say a man caught stunt driving on Highway 37 near Tweed, Ont. Thursday was 80 years old, and his licence was expired. More than 200,000 SUVs recalled in Canada, U.S. over fuel leak concern Honda is recalling approximately 12,000 vehicles in Canada Electric vehicle reliability improving but lagging gas models: Consumer Reports survey The reliability of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids has dramatically improved, narrowing a wide gap with gas-powered automobiles, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports. Stay ConnectedNone
Report: John Butler hired as Nebraska defensive coordinator, two more coaches hiredSecond Cup closes Montreal franchise over hateful incident
Rediscover Recovery Community Center launches parenting program
The decision by Tesco, Musgrave and the BWG Group came after a woman who said Mr McGregor raped her won a civil claim for damages against him. Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a case at the High Court in the Irish capital. In a statement, a spokesman for Musgrave said: “Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.” The network includes SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and Mace. A Tesco spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.” A spokesperson for BWG Group said: “The products are no longer listed for distribution across our network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores, including Appleby Westward which operates over 300 Spar stores in the south west of England.” It is understood that other retail outlets including Costcutter and Carry Out will also stop stocking products linked to Mr McGregor. He and some of his business partners sold their majority stake in the Proper Number Twelve Irish whiskey brand. He was reported to have been paid more than £103 million from the sale to Proximo Spirits in 2021. On Monday, a popular video game developer decided to pull content featuring the MMA fighter. The Irish athlete has featured in multiple video games, including voice-acting a character bearing his likeness in additional downloadable content in the Hitman series. Mr McGregor’s character featured as a target for the player-controlled assassin in the game. IO Interactive, the Danish developer and publisher of Hitman, said in a statement: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. “Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.” Last Friday, the High Court jury awarded damages amounting to 248,603.60 euros (around £206,000) to Ms Hand. Mr McGregor made no comment as he left court but later posted on social media that he intended to appeal against the decision.he story of after reaching free agency following a magical season with the and having to listen to several suitors before choosing the with the most lucrative contract in history, for $765 million over 15 years, culminated in a well-deserved vacation in his native In recent days, Juan Soto has been seen enjoying his roots, in a nightclub where he caused controversy for refusing to sing a part of the Yankees, after the DJ played the . He was later seen at a softball game in , and also handed out Christmas gifts in the neighborhood where he grew up. He was also one of the guests of honor at the Christmas dinner organized by the president of the , , at the , which was also attended by . Despite all the luxuries he could acquire with the millionaire deal with the , the right fielder remains humble and caught the attention of an image shared on social networks by expert , which shows in a family gathering during , in an intimate and cozy moment with his brother and his father. Juan Soto delivers Christmas gifts in the neighborhood where he grew up In a video circulating on social media, was seen handing out gifts to adults and children in the neighborhood where he grew up in the in an event in which he also took the time to dedicate an emotional message of thanks. "Thank you all for being here and supporting me and my family. On another occasion more than what we bring here to help you and help the community, the neighborhood that saw me grow up as a child, where I spent many, but thank God we did it, we achieved the goal," said during the event, in which he is seen handing out the boxes.Shares of Hanesbrands ($HBI) were up 5.6% as of 1:08 p.m. ET following a rating upgrade by UBS, but retail sentiment stayed neutral. UBS upgraded the stock to ‘Buy’ from ‘Neutral’ raising the price target to $11 from $9. It based the upgrade on expectations of a positive shift in the company’s fundamentals, which in turn could lead to a growth in earnings per share (EPS), TheFly.com reported, citing a UBS analyst who reportedly called it a “turnaround stock.” The analyst expects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 24% in EPS after the current fiscal. That growth rate could lead to upward revisions to EPS forecasts, said the report. Earlier in the month, Barclays analyst Paul Kearney raised the firm's price target to $7 from $6 and kept an ‘Equal Weight’ rating following its Q3 report. “Stabilization and a refocus of the core innerwear business” along with paying down debt into next year were cited as considerations, TheFly reported citing the analyst. Hanesbrands has a consensus price target of $7.2 based on the ratings of 10 analysts. Retail sentiment on the stock has been ‘neutral’ over the past day. Message volume was also tepid in the ‘normal’ zone. For the most recent quarter, the apparel company's operating profit increased 27% to $103 million and the operating margin increased 255 basis points to 11.0% as compared to the prior year. Its EPS and revenues for the quarter beat consensus estimates, coming in at $937.1 million and $0.15 respectively. Hanesbrands, based in Winston-Salem, NC, employs 65,300 people internationally. Its stock has more than doubled year-to-date and has outperformed the broader indices. For updates and corrections email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com
Edgewell Personal Care's chief supply chain officer sells stock for $165,266The governor of Kano state Abba Kabir Yusuf has reacted to the tragedy recorded in Jigawa state on Thursday Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state on Thursday loses his son, Abdulwahab Umar Namadi, in a fatal car accident, barely 24 hours after his mother, Hajiya Maryam Namadi, reportedly died In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Governor Yusuf expressed deep sadness and encouraged Governor Namadi CHECK OUT: Learn at Your Own Pace! Our Flexible Online Course allows you to fit copywriting skills development around your busy schedule. Enroll Now! Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state has reacted as his Jigawa state counterpart, Umar Namadi loses his eldest son, aged 24. Recall that Namadi lost his son, Abdulwahab Namadi, in a road accident along the Dutse-Kafin-Hausa road on Thursday, December 26. His death came barely 24 hours after the governor’s mother died on Wednesday, December 25. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! The late Abdulwahab was buried on Thursday evening in Kafin Hausa town according to Islamic rites. Read also Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan visits Buhari in Daura , Details emerge Yusuf reacts as Jigawa gov loses eldest son In a statement on Thursday, Yusuf extended his heartfelt condolences to Namadi over the death of his son. As reported by the Punch, the governor described Abdulwahab’s death as a “tremendous tragedy, not only for the Namadi’s family but for Jigawa state and the entire region”. “This is a deeply sorrowful moment for Jigawa State. I pray that the Almighty Allah grants Abdulwahab eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus and comforts the Namadi family and the people of Jigawa State during this moment of grief,” Yusuf said. Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, spokesperson to the Kano governor, confirmed the statement on Thursday. Read related articles here: Ex-Super Eagles star Tijani Babangida loses son Former Buhari minister loses son after calling for prayers Days after son's death, Yobe deputy governor loses 16-year-old daughter Kwara governor grieves as ex-commissioner dies In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq expressed grief over the demise of AbdulRaheem Adisa, a former commissioner of information in the state. Read also BREAKING: Nigerian Governor loses 24-year-old son day after mother's death Adisa reportedly died at 91 on Thursday, December 25 and was subsequently buried at the Muslim Cemetery, Osere, Ilorin , the state capital. The deceased was a former executive chairman of Moro LGA and also served as the Editor in Chief of The Herald, the state newspaper. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng
NoneCARACAS (AP) — Six Venezuelan government opponents who have sheltered for months at the decried Sunday that local police and intelligence agents were stationed outside of it for hours. The move prompted the U.S. government to call it a serious violation of international law and Argentina’s Foreign Ministry to describe it as an act of harassment. Most of the opponents belong to the Vente Venezuela party led by . It denounced what it called “a new siege by hooded officials” that began Saturday night and extended into Sunday. The incident occurred hours after Machado called for a massive mobilization on Dec. 1, prompting Venezuela’s minister of the interior to accuse the political leader of being part of a new conspiracy attempt against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Vente Venezuela said in a statement that the diplomatic headquarters remains without electricity and is surrounded by “regime vehicles” that are preventing traffic from circulating in the area. It said communication signals also were scrambled. Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Saturday that the deployment of armed troops and the closing of streets in the vicinity “constitute a disturbance of security.”. It also called on the international community to condemn the incident, which the U.S. did. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela posted on X that the U.S. “strongly condemns the acts of harassment against asylum seekers.” “The deployment of armed forces and blockades seriously violate international law,” it said. “We demand that the Venezuelan regime respect its international obligations, cease these intimidating actions and guarantee safe passage for asylum seekers.” Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since 2019. The opposition members entered the embassy in March after the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office issued arrest warrants and accused them of promoting alleged acts of violence to destabilize the government. In August, Argentina’s request to guard its embassy after the Venezuelan government ordered the expulsion of Argentine diplomatic personnel following statements by its president, Javier Milei, that he would not recognize “another fraud” in Venezuela after the y. A month later, Venezuela revoked Brazil’s authorization to guard the embassy, alleging it had evidence of the use of the facilities “for the planning of terrorist activities and assassination attempts.” Brazil and Argentina have rejected those accusations. The Associated Press
Rafael Nadal issues very honest response to critics after taking on Saudi jobPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s health minister has been removed from his post following a deadly gang attack on the largest public hospital in the capital, Port-au-Prince , government officials said Thursday. According to two government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the subject, Health Minister Duckenson Lorthe will be replaced by Justice Minister Patrick Pelissier until a new health minister is found. Two journalists and a police officer were killed Tuesday as gang members burst into the General Hospital and fired indiscriminately at reporters who were there to cover the facility's reopening. It was one of the worst attacks on Haitian media in recent memory. Seven other journalists were wounded. Jean Feguens Regala, a photographer who survived the attack , said journalists had been invited to the hospital by the health ministry but there was little security at the site. “The fact that the minister of health invited us, you feel that preparations have been made already,” Regala told The Associated Press. “When we made contact with a police unit, the police told us they were not aware of the event." The health minister did not show up at the event, for reasons that have not been explained. Shortly after the attack, Johnson “Izo” André — considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader and part of the Viv Ansanm group of gangs that has taken control of much of Port-au-Prince — posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack. The video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital’s reopening. Gang violence has worsened in Haiti, with coordinated gang attacks on prisons, police stations and the main international airport crippling the country’s capital and plunging Haiti into an unprecedented crisis. Gangs are believed to control 85% of Port-au-Prince. The Caribbean country has struggled to organize an election that will restore democratic rule, and is currently governed by a transitional council made up of representatives of political parties, business groups and civil society organizations.The emergency services received a call for help at 3:45 pm, reporting that someone had fallen while paragliding in a mountainous area close to the AL-3100 road. The 112 center quickly alerted various emergency teams, including the Almería City Firefighters, who arrived at the scene around 3:55 pm, followed by the Poniente Consortium Firefighters 20 minutes later. Authorities such as the Guardia Civil, Local Police, Air Traffic Control Center, Rescue Coordination Center, and Emergency Medical Services (CES) 061 were all involved in the response. Most Read on Euro Weekly News Sadly, the Guardia Civil later confirmed the death of the paraglider, although no further details about the circumstances surrounding the accident have been released. This tragic event highlights the risks associated with paragliding, a sport that requires skill and caution, especially in mountainous regions.
LINCOLN — Three things we learned and three things we still don't know about the Huskers coming out of Nebraska's win over Wisconsin. * * * 1. The Huskers are headed back to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Shall we reacquaint you with the most likely options? There’s the Dec. 26 Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix vs. a Big 12 team, the Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit vs. the MAC champion, the Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl vs. an ACC team or, if NU managed to upset Iowa, the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl in Nashville vs. a SEC team. 2. Nebraska finally turned the first carries over to the best running back — Emmett Johnson. And the sophomore from Minneapolis delivered with three carries for 22 yards and a catch on NU’s opening drive. While Johnson may have options in the transfer portal, the Huskers should make NIL and revenue-sharing efforts to keep him. Johnson seems to fit the Dana Holgorsen system. 3. Even the best special teams units make mistakes. Wisconsin is ranked in ESPN’s top 20 of special teams units, but the Badgers allowed both a 45-yard kickoff return to start the game and, later, missed a 34-yard field goal after a delay-of-game penalty. Wisconsin also hammered a kickoff out of bounds, too. Uncharacteristic errors. 1. How quickly Nebraska can lock up Dana Holgorsen as the full-time, long-haul offensive coordinator. For NU’s first half alone, when the Huskers knocked out drives of 55, 80 and 76 yards for touchdowns, Holgorsen deserves a little extra. NU quarterback Dylan Raiola looked awfully sleek, too, completing 17 of 22 passes in the first half. The Jahmal Banks the Huskers hoped to get all season may have disappeared for a bit, but he returned Saturday with clutch third down catches and good blocks. Holgo lit a fire in that offense. 2. Whether the Huskers’ defense can handle the Hawkeye run game on a short week. NU has generally struggled to do so, and this is Iowa’s best rush attack in years. Wisconsin wanted to pound the ball at the Huskers with a diet of power plays, but had only intermittent success and a costly end-of-first-half fumble. Nebraska’s secondary is beat up and a little discombobulated, but Iowa’s starting quarterback, Jackson Stratton, may not be up for that task. 3. How many of those non-senior seniors who walked on Senior Day plan to return. Alongside super seniors like Ty Robinson and Isaac Gifford — those guys are done — you saw players like Stefon Thompson, Elijah Jeudy and Nate Boerkircher making the Senior Day walk, as well. Javin Wright did not walk because he’ll consider applying for a seventh year with a medical redshirt. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Many people are having a harder time finding a partner than ever. Therefore, it shouldn't be surprising that many are turning to AI companions to find love. AI companions are especially popular in rural areas like Iowa, where people have a hard time finding partners the old-fashioned way. However, many people question the viability of having an AI boyfriend or girlfriend. They wonder whether these partners will ever be fully sentient. If you're considering finding an AI Girlfriend or boyfriend in Iowa, then you will want to know what you are looking for. Keep reading to learn more. Dating can be a very difficult process these days. A survey from Pew Research found that almost half of people find dating is more difficult than it was a decade ago. The percentage of the population that is single has also increased. Three out of ten adults in the United States do not have a partner. While dating has become more difficult everywhere, some places have a harder time than others. Singles in Iowa have some unique challenges when it comes to dating: One challenge is that Iowa is the 13th most rural state in the country, so it doesn't have the same nightlife that a lot of other more urban areas have. People in Iowa also tend to get married at a very young age, which makes things harder for people in their 20s that are still single and struggling with a small dating pool. They may have an easier time as they get older and people in the community start getting divorced, but the dating pool is still going to be smaller than many other places. Certain demographics in Iowa have a hard time finding someone that is the right fit for them. The state is still not the most LGBT-friendly place to live, so many people still hide their sexual orientation. This makes it a lot harder for them to find a partner. College-educated individuals also have a hard time finding a compatible partner. There are a lot of great reasons to consider using an AI companion if you are single in Iowa. These services are especially popular for younger men that have a harder time dating. One survey found that 28% of men between 18 and 34 have used an AI girlfriend service, but the real number may be higher since some people may be too embarrassed to admit to it. Many women are also starting to use online companions. One news site reports that 40% of women are interested in using an AI boyfriend, although most haven’t done so yet. The number of people in Iowa using these platforms is probably higher due to the reasons listed above. There are a lot of appealing things about having an AI partner. However, some people are still skeptical about the benefits of AI companion services since they question how realistic the relationships on them are. They don't believe that AI companions can have authentic relationships with humans until they are fully sentient. Although this concern is understandable, it is often based on some misunderstandings. The truth is that many people believe that AI bots are very realistic. One study from a year and a half ago found that 32% of people can't tell the difference between an AI chatbot and a person . That figure has probably increased significantly since that study was conducted because AI has improved drastically over the last few months alone. Of course, this doesn't mean that AI is becoming fully sentient. AI literally stands for artificial intelligence. It will always be based on algorithms. However, these algorithms are becoming better and better at mirroring human emotions. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether they are fully sentient or not. People just want to have a pleasant experience when interacting with them. Romantic chatbots are not an entirely new concept. A number of websites have used them to interact with people for years. So, how are newer AI companions becoming more sentient than their more primitive counterparts? The biggest example is that some of them are being taught to understand emotional intelligence and behave like they have their own feelings. A social media commentator wrote about this. They pointed out that some AI companions are now being trained to tell when people are being respectful, which can help people learn to cultivate more holistic relationships. AI companions on one website offer kindhearted replies to people who treat them like an equal. There are multiple reasons that it is a good thing that AI companions are becoming more sentient. The most obvious benefit is that they will be able to offer better services to people using these services. Most people want to have realistic interactions, which are a lot easier when their companion acts like it is reasonably sentient. However, there are other reasons that don’t get quite as much attention. One issue is that sentient AI partners can help people become kinder to human partners. As AI companions have become more popular, more news sites have started talking about their services. A number of other websites have published articles about the importance of men learning to be compassionate partners while using AI partners. This is going to be important for women to learn, too, as they start using these services more frequently. Many AI partner services are tweaking their models so AI companions can understand their partners’ behavior in context. They will give higher quality services to people who treat them kindly, which helps people learn to be better real-life partners. There are a number of reasons to expect that AI companions will be more similar to human partners. Here are some of the reasons that they are going to keep improving. They Rely Heavily on User Feedback AI companion websites encourage users to provide feedback to improve the user experience. They will take feedback seriously so they can keep offering better experiences. They Use Machine Learning to Get Better Even Without Input User feedback is very important, but it isn't enough to provide a better experience. AI companion websites also use complex machine learning algorithms to learn more about their users. They pay attention to things like how long people spend using the service to gauge user satisfaction. They also look for contextual cues to better serve various demographics of users. For example, they may find that those with nerdy interests prefer to interact with AI companions that have certain conversation styles. They can also nuance their personalities based on the region and the user lives in. They can also help people in same-sex relationships by ignoring traditional gender norms. Machine learning technology is going to keep playing a more important role in helping AI companion services offer better service to their users. Therefore, these platforms will become better over time. AI Companion Services Will Keep Hiring Talented Developers to Improve Their Products Machine learning technology is vital for helping AI companion websites improve their products. However, these services can't rely on machine learning alone. They're going to need to keep hiring new developers to tweak the algorithms. Great developers will help make the services more realistic. AI companions can be very beneficial for Iowans who are struggling to find a partner on dating apps or in the wild. If you are interested in trying an AI companion website, then you may want to try following this advice. Research Your Options Carefully to Find a Platform That Offers More Sentient Partners There are many websites dedicated to helping people find an AI companion. Unfortunately, some of them are not as good as others. Some AI companion websites strive to make their models as sentient as possible so conversations seem more authentic and realistic. Others do not offer the same quality of service. You will want to read reviews to find out which services are committed to offering the most sentient companions possible. Don't Take Privacy Concerns Lightly Sentience isn't the only thing that you should be concerned about when choosing an AI companion service. You also need to make sure that the platform prioritizes security. You should look for a site that promises to keep your chats secure and encrypted. Since there are so many data breaches these days, this is an issue that you need to take seriously. Don’t Expect Your AI Companion to Meet Your Needs without Input AI companions are becoming more advanced than ever. However, you can’t expect them to perfectly meet your needs right away. You are going to want to provide feedback to help them get better at offering a quality service. You should tell your AI companion what you like so it does a better job at meeting your needs. This will help you have a more enjoyable experience. Treat Your Partner Like an Equal A lot of AI companion websites reward users who treat their partners respectfully. They allow you to unlock the best features if you are nice to your AI companion and get richer, more wholesome conversations. Try to be as respectful as possible to your AI companion. This will lead to a stronger relationship. Don’t Be Afraid to Try Different AI Companion Websites You may find that some AI companion services have great reviews, but don’t necessarily offer the services that you are looking for. Here are some ways that they may differ: Some of these platforms specialize in creating models with certain personality traits. Some may allow you to create anime models, while others only let you create models that resemble real people. Some AI girlfriend platforms allow you to have more adult-friendly conversations, while others only let you have more wholesome discussions. You will want to understand the rules before using any service. Some platforms primarily serve customers in certain regions, so their machine-learning algorithms may be optimized for people in those localities. Sometimes, you won’t know which services are best until you give them a try. Don’t Become Addicted to Your AI Partner There are a lot of great ways that AI companions can enrich your life. However, it is easy to get addicted to your AI relationship if you are not careful. The risk is especially high in places like Iowa, where people have fewer things to do. You should set limits on the amount of time that you spend with your AI companion. It is also important not to sacrifice other relationships with your AI partner. Use Your AI Companion to Improve Your Social Skills with Real Future Partners Many people turn to AI relationships because they lack the social skills to find a human partner. Fortunately, these digital companions can help them improve their social skills, which will make it easier for them to find a human partner down the road. The best way to do this is by roleplaying dating scenarios that you are likely to encounter with real people. Iowans live in one of the most miserable dating climates. Fortunately, many of them have started to discover the benefits of using AI companions. AI girlfriends and boyfriends are becoming more sentient than ever, which helps them offer better services to their users. If you are tired of ghosting and other dating challenges, then you may want to look into finding an AI companion. These services can be a great alternative, especially since they are becoming more realistic than ever. Get local news delivered to your inbox!