The Associated Press Members of the Rastafari religion and political movement have for decades been persecuted and imprisoned for their ritualistic use of marijuana. But the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda recently became one of the first Caribbean nations to grant Rastafari official sacramental authorization to grow and smoke the herb that they deem
Continue ReadingBy T.J. Wilham Click here for updates on this story ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — Photos are all Anastacio Melero has left of his sister. “That was the last time that we got to spend time with her in person,” he said while showing a photo taken from his mother’s funeral. “There are a lot
Continue ReadingBy LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) — The Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda recently granted Rastafari official sacramental authorization to grow and smoke marijuana that their faith deems sacred. Rastafari across the world have been persecuted and jailed for decades for their ritualistic use of marijuana. As public opinion
Continue ReadingTamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN (CNN) — After struggling with anxiety and depression for years, Christian Lewis, a former paratrooper from Wales, had hit an incredibly low point and realized he needed to make some drastic changes in his life. On the verge of becoming homeless for the second time, the single father made a “split-second decision”
Continue ReadingBY DAVID CRARY AP National Writer In the year since the Supreme Court struck down the nationwide right to abortion, America’s religious leaders and denominations have responded in strikingly diverse ways — some celebrating the state-level bans that have ensued, others angered that a conservative Christian cause has changed the law of the land in
Continue ReadingCAIRO (AP) — Jill Biden has arrived in Cairo on the second leg of her six-day trip across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe that seeks to promote empowerment for women and education for young people. Biden arrived from Jordan, where she attended the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Saudi architect Rajwa Alseif.
Continue ReadingBy LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press LIBERTA, Antigua (AP) — On the same ground where their enslaved ancestors were forced to plant sugar cane, Rastafari on this small island nation are now legally growing and ritualistically smoking marijuana. For Rastafari, the practice brings them closer to the divine. But for decades, many have been jailed
Continue ReadingBy MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s birth rate declined for a seventh consecutive year in 2022 to a record low of 1.26, the Health Ministry says, adding to a sense of urgency in a country where the government is seen as too slow to take drastic measures to address its rapidly shrinking
Continue ReadingBy Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — A drug used in people in the early stage of the most common kind of breast cancer – HR+/HER2- breast cancer – significantly reduced the risk of the cancer returning after treatment, according to a new study. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the Novartis drug ribociclib, marketed under the
Continue ReadingBy Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — A late-stage trial of women with cervical cancer at low risk of progression found that having a simple hysterectomy instead of a radical hysterectomy resulted in similar outcomes in terms of keeping them cancer-free, a finding that some doctors say could be “practice-changing.” The results of the trial, presented
Continue ReadingBy HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic makes no secret of the way he loves to feed off negativity during a tennis match. Doesn’t really matter whether he’s ahead or behind on the scoreboard. The guy simply finds motivation and inspiration from all manner of slights, real and perceived. Maybe it’s
Continue ReadingBy Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — As birthday presents go, defeating the world No. 1 and five-time world champion must rank up there among the best for chess grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh. On his 17th birthday, the young Indian chess star beat Magnus Carlsen in the blitz event ahead of the Norway Chess tournament. Afterwards, Gukesh
Continue ReadingCNN By Hadas Gold, CNN Eilat, Israel (CNN) — Under the bright blue water of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, the view is stunning. Expansive coral reefs teeming with life; colorful fish and invertebrates. But something crucial has gone missing from this beautiful scene, and that could threaten this entire ecosystem. Black
Continue ReadingBy Hadas Gold, CNN Eilat, Israel (CNN) — Under the bright blue water of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, the view is stunning. Expansive coral reefs teeming with life; colorful fish and invertebrates. But something crucial has gone missing from this beautiful scene, and that could threaten this entire ecosystem. Black sea
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GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, EVERYONE… Today marks the beginning of a warmup that will have us in grand shape for the weekend ahead! With plenty of sunshine all day, highs will reach the mid 70’s. Northerly and NW breezes will be gentle at 5-10 mph. Breezes become light and variable after midnight tonight. Skies will stay clear,
Continue ReadingBy Alicia Wallace, CNN Minneapolis (CNN) — The US labor market isn’t ready to slow down just yet. Employers added 339,000 jobs in May, according to the monthly employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday. That’s an acceleration from April’s job gains, which were revised upwardly to 294,000, and it’s a
Continue ReadingBy Laura He and Olesya Dmitracova, CNN Hong Kong/London (CNN) — Global stocks climbed Friday, led by a resurgent Hong Kong market, as investors greeted signs that the US Federal Reserve may hold off raising interest rates this month, the end of the US debt ceiling drama, and talk that China might unveil new measures
Continue ReadingBy Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — North Carolina’s Fort Bragg is now Fort Liberty, as the US Army on Friday redesignated one of the largest military installations in the world. The renaming was formalized in a ceremony on Friday morning. The change follows a branch-wide push to rename bases that bear the name of Confederate
Continue ReadingBy Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN New York (CNN) — The faucets at the US Department of the Treasury are set to turn back on after nearly five months of frozen pipes. In a vote on Thursday evening, the Senate approved a measure to suspend the nation’s debt limit through January 1, 2025. President Joe Biden is
Continue ReadingCNN By Alexandra Meeks, CNN (CNN) — You’ve seen images of Mars before, but you’ve never been able to see them live — until today. For the first time, photos directly from the red planet will be streamed in real time on YouTube starting at 12 p.m. ET. Here’s what else you need to know
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