Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER

Beaches in Brooklyn and Queens have been closed for the weekend over safety concerns brought on by Tropical Storm Ernesto passing offshore from New York City. Swimming will be prohibited at city beaches in those boroughs through Sunday, but lifeguards will remain on duty through the weekend. Jacob Riis Beach, although managed by the National Park Service, will also be closed to swimming. On top of potentially life-threatening rip currents, forecasters are predicting ocean swells of up to 6 feet and wind gusts at 12 mph. “Our primary focus is keeping New Yorkers safe, so as the impacts of Tropical…

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Children are particularly vulnerable to the new strain of the deadly mpox virus that is spreading globally after being declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization.  The most recent data shows that about two-thirds of infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – which currently has about 90% of reported cases – are in people under the age of 15 with more than 321 children dying.  Here are five ways the virus is affecting children:  1) Children are at higher risk than adults of contracting mpox –  with 70% of DRC’s 14,901 cases in children…

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In this story, we pay homage to Nigerian music videos by highlighting 10 of the best-animated ones. One thing about Nigerian music, even when it was generally not as good as it currently is, we always got served with good music videos that pieced together quality directing, choreography, styling and a resolution that was for the most part, at par with videos in that era. With the right factors coming together to get our music more attention first on the local scene before the international, this attention to visual details had become an additional booster that had piqued the interest…

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The White Sox announced that they have reinstated right-hander Matt Foster from the 60-day injured list. In a corresponding move, fellow righty Dominic Leone was placed directly onto the 60-day IL with a sprain of his right ulnar collateral ligament. Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times relayed on X prior to the official announcement that Foster would be activated and Leone would be going on the IL.Foster, now 29, had a decent showing with the Sox from 2020-22. In that time, he made 108 appearances for the Sox, allowing 4.39 earned runs per nine innings. He struck out 23.7…

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Nearly 4,000 residents in the region have been moved to safety and six arrested for alleged sabotage, authorities said.Wildfires have engulfed swaths of western Turkey triggering the evacuation of nearly 4,000 residents, the disaster management agency said. Helicopters and water bombers, which were grounded due to strong winds, were brought in to battle the blaze on Saturday in the resort city of Izmir on Turkey’s Aegean coast, broadcaster NTV reported. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 900 residents in five affected districts were evacuated overnight in Izmir, the country’s third-most populous city. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on…

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Is Fanatics Fest NYC living up to the hype? Fanatics Fest NYC has been dubbed ‘the Comic-Con of sports,’ but is it truly living up to the hype? FOX 5 NY’s Jennifer Williams visited the Javits Center to see how fans are enjoying themselves. NEW YORK CITY – Get ready, sports fans! Fanatics Fest NYC kicks off on Friday through Sunday at the Javits Center, featuring merch drops, product releases, panels, screenings and more. JUMP TO: GUESTS l TICKETS l PARKING l HOURS “Fanatics Fest NYC is a once-in-a-lifetime fan event that will bring together fans and collectors across all…

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The UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) top operations and protection officials are calling attention to the plight of 3.7 million forcibly displaced people in Nigeria and the need to accelerate sustainable solutions for them. Commending the government for respecting its international legal obligations and welcoming over 100,000 asylum-seekers and refugees from almost 50 countries, Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, and Ruven Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, pledged to increase the self-reliance of forcibly displaced people in Nigeria after a visit to the country that ends today.  Over 3 per cent of the world’s 120 million forcibly displaced…

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On 20 September 2024, Oxlade is set to take the global stage by storm with the release of his debut album, ‘Oxlade From Africa (OFA)’. The highly anticipated project reflects the Afro-Pop star’s desire to represent not just Surulere, Lagos, or Nigeria, but the entire Continent. The multi-award winner pays homage to Africa’s elegance and beauty through his music, fashion, and imagery. Oxlade aims to make Africans proud of their heritage and culture by celebrating the richness of the Motherland. ‘Oxlade from Africa’ is a blend of Afrobeats, Afro-Swing, Amapiano, Coupé-Décalé and R’n’B. The singer’s distinctive vocals bounce on infectious…

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Despite leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, Luka Doncic still has some prominent critics.Speaking on his “Showtime Podcast” for CLNS Media, retired Los Angeles Lakers great Michael Cooper made some harsh comments about the Mavs star Doncic. Cooper was playing a game of “Start, Bench, Cut” with his co-hosts, and Doncic’s name came up at one point. During the segment, Cooper did not hold back on the Slovenian superstar.“Luka gives you that triple-double almost about every night, but he’s too slow for me,” said Cooper, per Lakers Nation. “If he wasn’t a scorer, I would cut…

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As someone who lived in Palestine, made lifelong friends there and spent a decade working as a journalist, I had seen the devastation Israel left behind with each brutal attack on the defenceless people of Gaza. The impact on civilians, especially children, in the densely populated territory, was always disturbing for anyone who cared to read about Israel’s attacks. But I could not have ever imagined Israel would carry out the level of destruction and mass extermination it has since October 7. The official death toll in Gaza has come close to 40,000 by now. An article published by medical…

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