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In Benin, Voodoo’s birthplace, believers bemoan steady shrinkage of forests they revere as sacred

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

PORTO-NOVO, Benin (AP) — For many people in Benin, the forests empowered them before they were born, or in the first months of their lives.Barren women performed Voodoo rituals by sacred trees to get pregnant. Others were brought as newborns by parents seeking to ward off evil spirits. Some entered at a crossroads as adults, asking for guidance. In the cradle of Voodoo, the forests were places of hope. Yet as the woodlands shrank, due to economic development and other factors, it has dealt a blow to communities struggling to protect the spirits believed to live within them.In many cases, according to believers, the spirits fought back.When residents in the village of Houeyogbe agreed to let the government destroy much of its forest to build roads and install electricity, locals say the spirits unleashed a plague, with inexplicable deaths and mounting illnesses. In Ouidah, Benin’s epicenter of Voodoo, a gas station that replaced the Aveleketezou forest years ago has not turned a pro...

Erdogan opts for a low-key celebration of Turkey’s 100th anniversary as a secular republic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is marking the 100th anniversary of the creation of the modern, secular republic from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire on Sunday, but expect no grand pageantry or gala reception to memorialize the important milestone.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has opted for a low-key celebration of the centennial, which comes months after a devastating earthquake that killed 50,000 people and coincides with the Israeli-Hamas war that has roiled the Middle East. The subdued affair, however, has caused dismay among many in Turkey who feel that the legacy of the republic’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is under attack by Erdogan’s government. They see the lack of pomp and fanfare an as attempt by the government, which finds its roots in Turkey’s Islamic movement, to erase Ataturk’s memory.Erdogan will observe the traditional protocol of laying a wreath at Ataturk’s mausoleum in the capital and shake hands with a procession of ambassadors and ...

Forbes: Warriors are the most valuable NBA franchise in 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

(KRON) -- In 2010, Joe Lacob and Peter Guber were leaders in an ownership group that purchased the Golden State Warriors for a then-record $450 million. Thirteen years later, it's safe to say that investment paid off.For the second year in a row, the Warriors are the most valuable NBA team, according to a Forbes report released this week. The Dubs are worth $7.7 billion -- a 10% increase from a year ago.Despite not winning the NBA Finals, the Warriors still generated a league-high $765 million during the 2022-23 season. Forbes said that is 48% more than any other team -- the Los Angeles Lakers behind them at $516 million. Curry cracks Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes for second straight year Forbes: Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Teams in 2023Golden State Warriors ($7.7 billion)New York Knicks ($6.6 billion)Los Angeles Lakers ($6.4 billion)Boston Celtics ($4.7 billion)Los Angeles Clippers ($4.65 billion)Chicago Bulls ($4.6 billion)Dallas Mavericks ($4.5 billion)Houston Rockets ($4....

Cleland throws for 3 TDs, Adams runs for 2 more as Davidson beats Presbyterian 45-28

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

DAVIDSON, N.C. (AP) — Coulter Cleland threw three touchdown passes, Mari Adams added two rushing TDs and Davidson beat Presbyterian 45-28 Saturday night. Davidson (6-2, 5-0 Pioneer League) has won six games in a row following back-to-back losses to open the season, including 33-31 loss in the Wildcats’ home opener against Barton College, a member of the NCAA’s Division II. Mason Sherone ran for 139 yards, including a 43-yard TD run just 39 seconds into the third quarter that made it 21-10, and Davidson led by at least two scores the rest of the way. Cleland completed 7 of 8 passes for 69 yards without an interception and Adams finished with 41 yards rushing on 12 carries for the Wildcats. Tyler Wesley was 15-of-23 passing for 189 yards with two touchdowns and added 16 carries for 198 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown in the first quarter, for Presbyterian (3-5, 1-4). His longest run of the game covered 73 yards.Source

No. 19 Air Force overcomes snow, snowballs in 30-13 win over Colorado State to stay unbeaten

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

FORT COLLINS, Colorado (AP) — Zac Larrier scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, punctuating a drive aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Colorado State bench because of fans pelting the visiting Falcons’ sideline with snowballs, and No. 19 Air Force remained undefeated with a 30-13 win over the Rams on Saturday night.Larrier also threw for a score and Emmanuel Michel and John Lee Eldridge III ran for touchdowns as Air Force (8-0, 5-0 Mountain West) matched a school record with its 13th straight win, dating to last season. Michel finished with 130 yards on 20 carries, including a 5-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Matthew Dapore had a 29-yard field goal late in the third quarter as the Falcons’ pulled away in the second half to win their seventh in a row against Colorado State (3-5, 1-3). “I think we just keep fighting and keep pushing and just know that we’ve got to finish and eventually we’ll wear people out,” Michel said. “...

World Series 2023: D-backs take Game 2, return home tied 1-1 with Rangers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

Merrill Kelly hushed Adolis García and Texas Rangers in Game 2, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are headed back to Phoenix having taken over home-field advantage for the rest of the World Series. Kelly pitched three-hit ball over seven innings and the Diamondbacks won 9-1 Saturday night, knotting the series at a game each.Kelly struck out nine, walked none and went to just one three-ball count, allowing his only run on Mitch Garver’s leadoff homer in the fifth.Game 3 is Monday night at Arizona, where the D-backs will try to do something no other team has done in its home ballpark this postseason — beat Texas. The Rangers have already matched a postseason record by winning their first eight road games.Max Scherzer is set to start Game 3 for Texas. The Rangers will be the third team the three-time Cy Young Award winner has pitched for in a Fall Classic. Scherzer had missed more than a month because of a muscle strain in his shoulder before starting twice in the AL Championship Series aga...

Internet, phone service gradually returns after vanishing for most of Gaza amid heavy bombardment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Two days after cellular and internet service abruptly vanished for most of Gaza amid a heavy Israeli bombardment, the crowded enclave was coming back online Sunday as communications systems were gradually being restored.That’s a welcome development for Gaza following a communications blackout that began late Friday as Israel expanded ground operations and launched intense airstrikes that illuminated the night sky with furious orange flashes. A rare few Palestinians with international SIM cards or satellite phones took it upon themselves to get the news out.By Sunday morning, though, phone and internet communications had been restored to many people in Gaza, according to telecommunications providers in the area, Internet-access advocacy group NetBlocks.org and confirmation on the ground.After weeks of a total Israeli siege, Palestinians in Gaza felt the vise tightening. Social media had been a lifeline for Palestinians desperate to get news and to...

Suzuki scores in shootout and Allen makes 42 saves as Canadiens come back to beat Jets 4-3

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

MONTREAL (AP) — Goaltender Jake Allen made 42 saves as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night.Montreal captain Nick Suzuki scored to open the shootout and Allen shut the door the rest of the way after a scoreless back-and-forth overtime period.“We had more than enough chances to bury and get that fourth one, we had a power play at the end of the third, too,” said Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon. “I think the team as a whole is feeling good about our game and where it’s at right now.“We found a way to get a point tonight, but frustrating we didn’t get two.”Jets interim coach Scott Arniel gave credit where it was due after the game.“You know what, we threw out 45 shots and there were legitimate A1 chances that we had, and give the goaltender credit. He made some big stops for them,” said Arniel, filling in for head coach Rick Bowness, who’s on leave from the team after his wife Judy had a seizure Sunday.“We could’ve blown that one out, maybe ...

Gordon runs for 271 yards as Oklahoma State tops Cincinnati 45-13 in Bedlam tune-up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Ollie Gordon II rushed for 271 yards and two touchdowns, and Oklahoma State defeated Cincinnati 45-13 on Saturday night to win its fourth straight heading into a showdown with rival Oklahoma.Gordon joined Barry Sanders as the only Oklahoma State players to rush for at least 250 yards in consecutive games. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in five straight contests and gained 858 yards from scrimmage the past three games. Leon Johnson III had five catches for 149 yards and Brennan Presley scored two touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving — for the Cowboys (6-2, 4-1 Big 12), who moved into a five-way tie for the conference lead.Cincinnati rushed for 277 yards but did not capitalize. Myles Montgomery ran for 90 yards and Corey Kiner had 79 for the Bearcats (2-6, 0-5), who have lost six straight.In the second quarter, Bowman connected with Johnson for a 67-yard gain, leading to a 28-yard field goal by Alex Hale that put the Cowboys up 10-7 — a score that ...

Garbers throws 2 TD passes, UCLA defense posts 7 sacks in 28-16 victory over Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:33 GMT

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Ethan Garbers threw two touchdown passes, UCLA’s defense sacked Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders seven times and the 23rd-ranked Bruins broke open a close game at halftime with three second-half touchdowns in a 28-16 victory over the Buffaloes on Saturday night.UCLA led 7-6 at halftime after committing four turnovers in the first half, but scored touchdowns on three of its first four drives in the second half to take control. “Usually you don’t win games when you have four turnovers in the first half. I thought our defense was outstanding,” coach Chip Kelly said. “The drive at the beginning of the second half was key, and kind of got the momentum back on our side.”The Bruins (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) came into the game tied for 10th in the nation with 24 sacks. The seven sacks of Sanders is the first time they have had that many in a game since 2019. Linebacker Laiatu Latu sacked Sanders twice.It is the third time this season Sanders has been sacked at least se...