Before every weightlifting competition, Mohammed Hamada thinks of Gaza. He thinks of the destruction of his home and people, or of the mass grave he dug for residents of the building next to his. These circumstances have created a special kind of athlete. One who had to eat animal food to survive, losing 18kg in the process. And one who ultimately had to leave Gaza and his family, so he could try and compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. “We came out of Gaza not to escape death,” the 22-year-old Palestinian weightlifter said. “We left Gaza to complete our…
Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER
The Olympic closing ceremony on Sunday will be the final event of the Paris Olympics before Los Angeles takes the torch ahead of 2028. Thomas Jolly, the artistic director behind the opening ceremony, which starred Celine Dion, among other big performances, is also overseeing the closing ceremony. He has said the theme of the closing will be “Records,” according to Olympics.com. Who is performing at the closing ceremony of the Olympics? H.E.R., a five-time Grammy winner, is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France as part of the handover for the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028. H.E.R.…
Worlasi will unveil his new single “Safia” with a live debut performance on August 17 at his art exhibition “EKA (A’line to your Lineage)” at Barn Door Beergarden in Accra. This event promises to be a unique experience, combining Worlasi’s music with his artistic vision. The single “Safia,” meaning “key” in Ewe, explores themes of self-discovery and finding hidden resources within ourselves. Watch Safia by Worlasi Worlasi’s live performance will offer fans an exclusive first listen to the track, showcasing his ability to blend African rhythms with reflective lyrics. The art exhibition, running concurrently, will highlight Worlasi’s multi-faceted talents, including…
As Europe bakes this summer under record heat waves, droughts have also caused water levels to plunge on rivers and lakes across the continent.In the Netherlands, the Waal River is so low that it has fallen below the bottom marker on bridges.In Germany, the Rhine is so dry, it’s causing shipping problems.And in Spain, receding waters in one reservoir have revealed a prehistoric treasure.The Dolmen of Guadalperal, or Spanish Stonehenge, has been exposed in the province of Cáceres for just the fourth time since the 1960s. The stones date back thousands of years but were flooded because of development under…
The Paris Games are wrapping up Sunday afternoon. The closing ceremony will be a celebration of athletic achievement and mark the passing of the torch (literally) to the next host city, Los Angeles.According to promotions by Olympic organizers, here’s what fans can expect to see from the proverbial handover Sunday:A star-studded lineup of California-based artists: The closing ceremony will feature performances by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg, who popped up all over Paris throughout the Games. Five-time Grammy Award winner H.E.R. will also give a rendition of the U.S. national anthem. California Olympians: Two-time Olympic skateboarding medalist…
Editor’s Note: Monthly Ticket is a CNN Travel series that spotlights some of the most fascinating topics in the travel world. In September, we’re celebrating superlatives as we look at some of the world’s biggest, tallest and most expensive attractions and destinations. CNN — Having lived in Beijing for almost 12 years, I’ve had plenty of time to travel widely in China. I’ve visited more than 100 cities, not to mention countless towns and villages throughout the mainland’s 31 provinces. Looking back, I’ve come to realize it was my frequent visits to different parts of the Great Wall in Beijing…
The U.S. women’s soccer team is back on top of the podium at an Olympics for the first time in 12 years after defeating Brazil and winning the gold medal on Saturday in the final match in Paris. The U.S. beat Brazil 1-0 behind a second-half goal by USA forward Mallory Swanson in the 57th minute. It was a milestone game for Swanson, 26. In addition to scoring the winning goal and sole score of the game, with her appearance, she earned her 100th cap. The United States went undefeated at the Paris Olympics and didn’t allow a goal in…
Asake and Stormzy LyricsAsake’s new album, Lungu Boy, includes Suru as the seventh track, featuring Stormzy, check out the song’s lyrics below.Lungu Boy Album Cover ArtRELATED: Read ‘Worldwide’ Lyrics by AsakeAsake & Stormzy – Suru LyricsIntro: AsakeWa, waSurulere, waPChorus: AsakeMy mama tell me say surulere (Surulere gan ni)To ba focus o ma gbope (O ma kere gan ni)Ise Oluwa ko seni to ye (Ise Oluwa ko seni to ye)Ise Oluwa ko seni to ye (Ise Oluwa ko seni to ye)Ko seni to ye rara, Ise Oluwa ko seni to yeVerse 1: StormzyYeahTears might fall from my eyes only this timeCan…
This summer’s flight headaches, many of them caused by extreme weather, continue to wreak havoc at airports across the US and beyond, with 11,337 delays and 2,077 cancellations reported so far. And it’s not likely to get much better any time soon.The hardest-hit airports on Monday, which saw the bulk of the cancellations, were Newark Liberty International, Dallas–Fort Worth International, and LaGuardia, according to FlightAware. The delays and cancellations at those airports were due to storms and staffing issues.The National Weather Service said Dallas–Fort Worth Airport saw record rainfall between Sunday and Monday with 9.19 inches of rain, making it…
Bobby Witt Jr. recently was anointed the AL Player of the Month after hitting .489, with an OPS of 1.353, seven home runs, 22 batted in and 26 runs scored. Overall, having just turned 24, he is having an incredible season, among one of the best in Royals history. The best season in franchise history, of course, is George Brett’s 1980 MVP masterpiece, where he hit .390, the highest batting average in the majors since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941 when the Splendid Splinter was just 22. What many people don’t know about that season is that Brett played in…