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EXPLAINER: What is the Hajj pilgrimage and what does it mean for Muslims?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Over 2 million Muslims will take part in this week’s Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as one of the world’s largest religious gatherings returns to full capacity following years of coronavirus restrictions.The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so. For the pilgrims, it is a profound spiritual experience that wipes away sins, brings them closer to God and highlights Muslim unity.For the Saudi royal family, which captured Mecca in the 1920s, organizing the pilgrimage is a major source of pride and legitimacy. Authorities have invested billions of dollars in modern infrastructure, but the Hajj has occasionally been marred by tragedy, as in 2015, when over 2,400 pilgrims died in a stampede.Here’s a look at the pilgrimage, which begins on Monday, and its meaning.WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE ...

Israel’s Netanyahu briefly freezes Golan wind turbine project that set off rare clashes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a brief freeze in construction on a wind turbine project in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights that set off a rare clash between Druze residents and police.Netanyahu said late Saturday he agreed to a pause on the project during this week’s Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which is meant to allow time for talks to defuse the crisis. The project is expected to resume next week. A statement from Netanyahu’s office said he made the decision based on advice from security officials.The Druze oppose the plan, which would install more than two dozen 200-meter (660-foot) tall turbines throughout their land. The landowners said the turbines will harm their agricultural output and that the energy company behind the project didn’t consult with them in good faith, a claim the company denies.Last week, thousands of residents demonstrated against the project, storming a police station, throwing stones and fireworks, se...

Gunmen shoot and kill Sikh man in Pakistan’s northwest, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Gunmen shot and killed a member of Pakistan’s minority Sikh community in an overnight attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said Sunday.Gauher Khan, a local officer, said the attack on Manmohan Singh, 35, looks like a targeted killing. A police investigation continues, Khan said, into the motive.Khan said the assailants opened fire at Singh while he was returning home from a suburban area. The assailants fled the scene.It’s the third attack on a Sikh community member this year in Pakistan. Last month, assailants gunned down Sardar Singh in a drive-by shooting in the eastern city of Lahore. In April, gunmen shot and killed Dayal Singh in Peshawar. In the same city in May 2022, gunmen killed two members of Sikh community.Most Sikhs migrated to neighboring India in 1947, the year British rule of the subcontinent ended and Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims in the region. Thousands of Sikhs stayed in Pakistan, where they generall...

Missing girl in Orange County found safe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

A missing girl who had disappeared in Santa Ana Saturday night was found safe.The child, Guadalupe Merino, 10, was headed to a local convenience store around 7 p.m., according to Santa Ana police.At the time, she was last spotted with a male subject near the 800 block of South Bristol Street. Police located Merino on Saturday night and returned her home safely. "We would like to thank everyone for their assistance," authorities said.No further details surrounding her discovery were released.

Por qué nos atrae el encanto “tóxico” de Titanic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

(CNN) — La incesante fascinación del mundo por la catástrofe del Titanic se saldó esta semana con una nueva tragedia: cinco personas murieron por la “implosión catastrófica” de un sumergible que se dirigía a la última morada del buque.El Titanic es sólo uno de los muchos pecios que yacen en las profundas y hostiles aguas del Atlántico. En este océano embravecido se han producido muchas más calamidades marítimas que la colisión con el iceberg que hundió el Titanic y causó la muerte de 1.517 personas en su viaje inaugural en 1912.Sin embargo, el Titanic atrae a la gente una y otra vez. La tragedia histórica ha inspirado novelas, películas y una próspera industria turística en forma de museos y exposiciones que atraen a cientos de miles de visitantes cada año.Y, por supuesto, inevitablemente, para aquellos con presupuesto para gastar, han existido los viajes para ver el propio lugar del naufragio. Para algunos, el gasto y el riesgo extremo parecen merecer la pena sólo...

Frei, Gallese up to task as Sounders, Orlando City tie 0-0

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle’s Stefan Frei finished with three saves for his league-leading 10th clean sheet of the season and Pedro Gallese saved two shots as Orlando City played the Sounders to a scoreless tie on Saturday night.Seattle (8-7-5) improves to 2-0-2 all-time at home against Orlando City (7-5-7).The Sounders were coming off a 1-0 loss to defending champion Los Angeles FC on Wednesday after Frei conceded a first-minute goal. Seattle hadn’t conceded a goal in the first minute of a match since the New York Red Bulls pulled off the feat in September of 2014.Orlando City improves to 3-0-6 in its last nine road matches against Western Conference opponents. The club picked up its first win over the Sounders with a 3-2 victory last August, rallying from two goals down. Prior to its unbeaten run, Orlando City was 0-10-2 on the road against the West.Orlando City returns home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday. Seattle will host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.____AP soccer...

Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan to testify at Netanyahu’s corruption trial as a prosecution witness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan will testify Sunday at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to answer questions about an alleged “supply line” of champagne and cigars funneled to the Israeli leader and his wife said to have been in exchange for help with Milchan’s personal and business needs.Milchan, who will appear by videoconference from Brighton, England, near where he is based, is a key witness whose testimony is essential for prosecutors who are trying to prove that Netanyahu committed fraud and breach of trust in one of three cases brought against him.Prosecutors hope Milchan’s testimony, which extends through this week and next, will paint a picture of plush favors granted to Netanyahu and his wife that allegedly spurred the Israeli leader to use his position of power to advance Milchan’s interests. The defense will try to lay out their case that Netanyahu wasn’t acting in Milchan’s personal interests and that the gifts were jus...

Islamic State group claims killing Sikh man in Pakistan’s northwest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Gunmen shot and killed a member of Pakistan’s minority Sikh community in an overnight attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said Sunday.Gauher Khan, a local officer, said the attack on Manmohan Singh, 35, appeared to be a targeted killing. A police investigation continues, Khan said, into the motive.Khan said the assailants opened fire at Singh while he was returning home from a suburban area. The assailants fled the scene.The Islamic State group in a statement claimed responsibility for the killing, saying Singh had been a follower of what it called a “polytheistic” Sikh sect in Peshawar. It also claimed wounding a Sikh in the northwestern city the previous day. It’s the third killing of a Sikh community member this year in Pakistan. Last month, assailants gunned down Sardar Singh in a drive-by shooting in the eastern city of Lahore. In April, gunmen shot and killed Dayal Singh in Peshawar. In the same city in May 2022, gunmen killed tw...

Italy might stop hiring foreign museum directors. The head of Milan’s Brera hopes to leave his mark

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

MILAN (AP) — The British-Canadian director of Milan’s Brera Gallery was hired in 2015 after the Italian government launched reforms that for the first time brought in foreign museum directors. His eight-year tenure is ending as Premier Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing administration seeks to again reserve top cultural jobs for Italians.Admirers have credited James Bradburne, a 67-year-old architect who has run five cultural institutions in five countries, with revolutionizing the museum that Napoleon intended to make “the Louvre of Italy” and fill with paintings from his Italian campaigns when he expanded his French empire. Bradburne had each of the 38 rooms renovated without ever closing the museum, established in 1809. He worked to make it more user-friendly by revamping the labels beneath key works, inaugurating musical events to draw in local residents and no longer putting together exhibitions as a way to drive visitor numbers. During his tenure, popular innovations for highli...

Rockies suffer worst loss in franchise history in 25-1 annihilation by Angels, give up club-record 13 runs in one inning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:32 GMT

So ugly you can’t look away, the Rockies reached the absolute nadir.The Angels annihilated Colorado on Saturday at Coors Field, 25-1, in the Rockies’ worst loss in franchise history.Los Angeles broke the humidor in the baseball bloodbath while setting a franchise record for largest victory, runs and hits with 28. The Rockies, meanwhile, were ripped into infamy by the visiting lineup as Chase Anderson and Matt Carasiti combined to give up a club-record 13 runs in the third inning.“I don’t think about (negative) records,” Rockies manager Bud Black insisted. “It’s one game.”But it didn’t feel like just one game. It felt like the darkest omen yet in a first-half full of them as the Rockies are steering straight toward the cliff ahead of the all-star break.A red-dotted crowd of 45,274 was on hand for the see-it-to-believe-it performance, and they gave a raucous, sarcastic standing ovation to mock the home club when Carasiti finally re...