Demi Lovato to help war-scarred children in Iraq
NEW YORK (AP) – Demi Lovato was named a Global Citizen ambassador at the organization’s annual music festival Saturday, championing the mental health of thousands of children displaced within Iraq and other vulnerable communities.
The singer and Global Citizen will fund the expansion of a Save the Children pilot program, Healing and Education through the Arts, to violence-scarred young people living in Iraq’s Kirkuk and Salah al Din areas.
“Ending the stigma around mental health conditions and supporting internally displaced children to build physical and mental resilience through education and access to justice is not a choice, it needs to happen, and it needs to happen now,” the singer said onstage in Central Park.
Since 2014, more than 3 million people in Iraq have been displaced within the country due to war and conflict. Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, told the festival crowd the organization’s HEART program will allow displaced children scarred by the violence to process trauma “through drawing, painting, music and other art forms” as a way to begin healing and “rebuild their self-confidence and trust in others.”
Lovato has been a strong advocate for mental health issues after sharing her own struggles with eating disorders, substance abuse and a bipolar diagnosis.
AP-WF-09-23-17 2306GMT
Meghan Markle appears at Prince Harry’s Invictus Games
Meghan Markle appears at Prince Harry’s Invictus Games
Reorders photo links. With AP Photos.
AP Photo JFJ531, JFJ525, CHY108, FNG105, JFJ502, CHY105, CHY103, NSD518, DCAH117, RPTRB101, CHY109, CD111, JFJ532
Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) – Prince Harry’s girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, sat in the stands for Saturday’s opening ceremony of his Invictus Games for wounded veterans in her first appearance at a public event with him.
They were not sitting together at the Air Canada Centre. They were about four rows apart but Harry looked over at her when the Canadian anthem played. A security guard blocked at least one fan from taking pictures of Markle, who sat with friend Markus Anderson, a party consultant.
Markle lives in Toronto, but hadn’t appeared with Harry since he arrived in the city. She recently told Vanity Fair they’re in love. The 36-year-old actress was wearing a burgundy leather jacket over a dark dress. She is known for her portrayal of a paralegal in the television show “Suits.”
The Invictus Games are the creation of Prince Harry, who got the inspiration to help wounded and sick military personnel and their families after his two tours of duty in Afghanistan. This is the third Invictus Games.
“I hope you are ready for some fierce competition,” Harry said to the crowd and wounded athletes. “You are all winners. You are all Invictus. Let’s get started.”
Markle smiled broadly when Harry spoke and raised her hands to her face and laughed when he mangled a line in French. She left right after his speech.
About 550 competitors from 17 countries are slated to compete in 12 sports over the next week. U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also attended the opening ceremony.
Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams will perform at the closing ceremony next Saturday.
U.S. Master Sgt. Brian Williams, who had his left leg amputated at the knee because of an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012, said Harry is living up to the legacy of his late mother Diana with his charity work.
“He’s following in his mother footsteps. Straight up,” Williams said.
Williams said he has a lot of respect for Harry, a former soldier who served in Afghanistan. “He doesn’t have to do this but he is,” he said.
Williams was working as a dog handler during his second deployment in Afghanistan when he was severely injured while clearing a Taliban compound. Despite his injuries he has worked hard to stay on active duty. He also competed in last year’s Invictus Games in Orlando and he’s taking part in wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball this year.
Canadian Melanie Harris is set to compete in bioarchery. Harris did two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the Canadian military. She would help carry bring in wounded soldiers to the medical facilities on base. She has since struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I was living without passion, without purpose. I needed to believe in myself again and I needed to be inspired. And these Invictus Games that’s what they did,” Harris said.
Reorders photo links. With AP Photos.
AP-WF-09-24-17 0342GMT
Justin Timberlake declares love for Tenn at home state set
Justin Timberlake declares love for Tenn at home state set
Updates throughout. With AP Photos.
AP Photo TNRP109, TNRP104
Associated Press
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) – Memphis native Justin Timberlake returned to his home state for one of his few performances this year to declare his love for Tennessee.
Timberlake performed on Saturday in Franklin, Tennessee, at the Pilgrimage Festival, a 3-year-old music festival that he now co-produces and is conveniently close to his current home in Middle Tennessee.
The pop singer and actor joked to the capacity crowd of more than 25,000 fans that he was nervous about performing at home.
“Half of you I might be related to,” Timberlake said.
He surprised the crowd by reuniting with country star Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgane, after their breakout performance with Timberlake on the 2015 Country Music Association Awards.
The three sang “Tennessee Whiskey,” a country song made famous by George Jones and now Stapleton. They also sang “Fire Away,” and “Sometimes I Cry,” both from Stapleton’s multiplatinum record “Traveller.”
The addition of Timberlake as a performer helped boost attendance numbers for the new music festival, about 30 minutes south of Nashville.
Timberlake closed out the performance with his hit songs “SexyBack,” “Rock Your Body,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”
Updates throughout. With AP Photos.
AP-WF-09-24-17 1259GMT