Actor André Braugher died on Monday at the age of 61. Braugher died after a brief illness‚ according to Deadline. He was well known for his roles on multiple television shows such as “Homicide: Life on the Street‚” “Men of a Certain Age‚” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” He won two Emmy awards; his first in 1998 for his role in “Homicide” and another for the 2006 miniseries “Thief.” He also appeared in a number of films throughout his career‚ beginning with “Glory” in 1989‚ a story about a unit of black soldiers in the Union Army during the Civil war. Braugher acted alongside Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington. In his next appearance on screen‚ Braugher starred as the first black man to play in Major League Baseball‚ Jackie Robinson‚ in the film “The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson.” He went from “The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson” to giving an Emmy award-winning performance as detective Frank Pemberton in “Homicide.” Braugher went on to play roles in films such as “City of Angels‚” “Frequency‚” “Poseidon‚” “Primal Fear‚” “Duets‚” “The Mist‚” “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‚” “Salt‚” and “The Gambler‚” according to Variety. From 2013 to 2021‚ Braugher was known as the no-nonsense‚ deadpan head of a Brooklyn police department‚ Captain Raymond Holt‚ in the comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” That role scored Braugher four Emmy nominations. Braugher was born in Chicago in 1962. He graduated from Stanford University before attending Juilliard School for drama. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Braugher leaves behind his wife of over three decades‚ actress Ami Brabson‚ whom he met on the set of “Homicide.” The two were married in 1991 and had three sons: Michael‚ Isaiah‚ and John Wesley.

Top Hamas terrorist officials who have lived extravagant lives inside Qatar in recent years are reportedly on the run amid fears that Israeli operatives are preparing to kill them. The Jerusalem Post reported that several Hamas leaders have left for “an unknown destination‚ turning off their phones and not accepting calls‚” according to a report that cited sources in Qatar’s capital city of Doha. Separately‚ a top official left his home in Qatar for the Islamic fascist state of Turkey‚ the report said. Another local report said that the Hamas leaders fled their homes because Qatar informed them that the country could no longer guarantee their safety and urged them to leave. The news comes after Hamas terrorists carried out an unprecedented terrorist attack against Israel two months ago‚ murdering 1‚200 Israelis‚ wounding 5‚300+‚ kidnapping hundreds‚ and committing horrific acts of sadistic sexual violence against numerous victims ranging from children to the elderly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the media late last month that he has ordered Mossad to hunt down and kill Hamas’ leaders “wherever they are.” Netanyahu went as far as to say that even when there was a temporary ceasefire in Gaza‚ Hamas’ leaders were not exempted from being killed during that time. “They are living on borrowed time‚” added Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “The struggle is worldwide: From gunman in the field to those who are enjoying luxury jets while their emissaries are acting against women and children‚ they are destined to die.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The head of the Israel Security Agency‚ commonly referred to as “Shin Bet‚” said in a recently leaked audio recording that Israel viewed the current moment as “our Munich” — a reference to when Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 members of Israel’s Olympic team in the 1972 Summer Games in Munich. Israel responded to the murders by hunting down and killing every person who was involved‚ either directly or indirectly‚ with the attacks. “The cabinet set a goal for us‚ to take out Hamas. And we are determined to do it‚ this is our Munich‚” said Shin Bet Head Ronen Bar. “In every location‚ in Gaza‚ in the West Bank‚ in Lebanon‚ in Turkey‚ in Qatar‚ everyone. It will take a few years‚ but we will be there in order to do it.”

A Turkish lawmaker collapsed on Tuesday immediately after declaring that Israel cannot “escape the wrath of God.” Video from the Turkish Grand National Assembly showed Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy Hasan Bitmez‚ 53‚ giving a speech before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when he collapsed. “Even if history remains silent‚ the truth will not remain silent. They think that if they get rid of us‚ there will be no problem‚” he said in a translation of his speech. “However‚ if you get rid of us‚ you will not be able to escape the torment of conscience. Even if you escape the torment of history‚ you will not be able to escape the wrath of God.” Immediately after making the remarks he turned and collapsed onto the floor as people rushed in to help him. Turkish officials later said that “during angiography‚ it was seen that two main veins were completely blocked‚ and after the intervention did not yield any results‚ he was connected to a heart-lung pump.” “He is now vital with a heart-lung pump‚” they added. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP WATCH: Turkish parliament member Hasan Bismet strongly condemned Israel‚ shouting that it will "suffer the wrath of Allah". Moments later Bismet suffered a heart attack and collapsed. pic.twitter.com/lDxYhAZ0CH — Ariel Oseran (@ariel_oseran) December 12‚ 2023

Two decades after Nelson Mandela’s legendary 46664 concerts‚ a new movement‚ Move Afrika‚ developed on the African continent. Inspired by Mandela’s vision‚ his grandson Kweku Mandela launched this five-year project to create an annual music tour to promote Africa’s artistic environment while tackling bigger socioeconomic issues. What was Kweku Mandela’s ambition? Everything that can be done to “[promote] health and equity‚ [defend] our planet‚ and [create] jobs and economic opportunity.” Shaping the musical landscape of Africa Kendrick Lamar‚ the Grammy Award-winning singer‚ lit up the stage at Move Afrika’s debut performance at Kigali’s BK Arena on December 6‚ 2023. As Global Citizen‘s chief vision officer‚ Mandela stressed the significance of this achievement‚ saying‚ “We are putting a marker in the sand around live touring events and showcasing the creative economy on the African continent.” The event featured renowned East African singers such as Bruce Melodie and Zuchu‚ highlighting the vast and vibrant musical diversity of the region. Notably‚ the stage design was a tribute to local ingenuity‚ created by the Rwandan NGO Nyamirambo Women’s Center by fusing traditional aesthetics with contemporary flair. The musical renaissance in Africa Africa’s musical history‚ which includes giants such as Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti‚ has now entered a new period. Mandela stressed the rise of a new generation of African musicians‚ saying‚ “It’s so essential that they have a live tour event playing as part of that.” African music‚ which was once labeled generically as ‘world music‚’ has evolved into various genres that have become interwoven into worldwide popular culture. Global outlets such as MTV and the Grammys‚ which have specialized categories for Afrobeats and African performers‚ highlight the seismic change in recognizing African musical prowess. Local artistry with worldwide appeal The significance of this event was not lost on the local artists. Bruce Melodie‚ reflecting on the night‚ expressed his elation: “It’s a great opportunity for me as a local artist being here.” His partnership with Shaggy on “When She’s Around” exemplifies the growing global appeal of African music‚ notably Afrobeats. Melodie emphasized the government’s support for the conducive climate for music in Rwanda. Sherrie Silver‚ an award-winning choreographer‚ expressed this sentiment‚ highlighting the importance of Africa actively participating in and benefiting from its vibrant entertainment sector. Beyond entertainment: economic empowerment and social impact Move Afrika’s ticket distribution approach‚ in which 30 percent of tickets were sold and the remainder were acquired by community initiatives such as tree planting and volunteering‚ highlights the organization’s greater objective. Hugh Evans‚ co-founder of Global Citizen‚ underlined the importance of investing in Africa’s domestic entertainment and creative economy to create jobs and empower local artists. Creating a path forward Kweku Mandela sees the shift from altruism to genuine cooperation and investment as evidence of Africa’s changing narrative. He stressed young Africans’ need to be viewed as partners seeking true investment and empowerment. Move Afrika is about more than simply music; it is a communal movement aimed at changing attitudes‚ fostering collaboration‚ and paving the road for Africa’s expanding creative economy to onto the world arena. As Mandela aptly concluded‚ “We are moving past the idea of just philanthropy. What young Africans are really asking for is genuine authentic partnership and real investment.”The post Move Afrika: elevating African music on a global scale starting with concert in Rwanda first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

In the heart of the holiday season and the festive buzz of December‚ there is yet another event to look forward to: the annual extravaganza‚ the celestial spectacle—the Geminid meteor shower. A glittering display The skies promise a thrilling show tonight‚ Wednesday‚ December 13‚ through Thursday‚ December 14‚ painting up to 150 breathtaking meteors per hour across the star-studded canvas. Unlike other meteor showers‚ the Geminids are caused by an asteroid‚ 3200 Phaethon‚ and leave a mesmerizing trail of debris as Earth travels through its cosmic wake. These meteors‚ known for their vibrant and colorful display‚ have a characteristic greenish tinge that distinguishes them from other showers visible in the night sky. A heavenly (and accessible) delight Lead for the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA‘s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Bill Cooke praises them‚ saying‚ “They’re pretty meteors!” These cosmic treasures light the night sky and are visible to all enthusiasts with no additional equipment. All you need are your naked eyes! According to the American Meteor Society‚ you should begin this cosmic adventure around 22:00 on December 13‚ with the peak coinciding beautifully with the new Moon. Prepare for a fascinating nocturnal experience that will begin after nightfall and continue into the early morning hours—a show not to be missed. Gemini constellation and beyond While the Geminids radiate from the constellation of Gemini‚ these meteors move over the entire sky‚ making any viewing angle a spectacle. So‚ broaden your horizons! The orbital story of 3200 Phaethon‚ which swings from scorching closeness to the Sun to vast ranges beyond Mars‚ gives information on the stunning genesis of the Geminids. During Earth’s periodic collision with its debris path‚ its fractured surface spews cosmic particles into space‚ creating this brilliant spectacle. A cosmic collision The Earth’s passage along this celestial path causes a meteor shower. While meteor showers can be surprising‚ the Geminids are a favorite among stargazers because of their constant and brilliant displays. A captivating and predictable show Admire this annual cosmic ballet‚ and while meteor showers may dance to their own beat‚ the Geminids promise a celestial display that rarely disappoints.The post Attention all stargazers! Geminid meteor shower is set to dazzle tonight’s night sky  first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Many of us struggle to stay focused on Jesus during the Christmas season because of everything that is expected of us during this time of year. Here are five ways to stay focused on Jesus this Christmas.