Pope Francis has called for an extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, saying that "war is always a defeat"for everyone except arms manufacturers, the Catholic News website reports today (Nov. 30, 2023).
"I hope the truce underway in Gaza might continue, so that all the hostages might be freed,and the necessary humanitarian aid might be able to enter."
"May we please continue to pray for the serious situation in Israel and Palestine," he said. "Peace.please,peace."
U.S. taxpayers' money should not be wasted on Ukraine's "losing war," U.S. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Nov. 27 that he will hold a vote on President Joe Biden's request for $106 billion in military assistance for Ukraine and Israel during the first week of December.
The Biden administration has so far failed to push through its supplementary "national security" proposal, with Schumer saying that "the biggest holdup" is opposition from the Republicans , who insist that additional aid to Kiev should be combined with funding for security on the U.S.--Mexico border.
Published documents show the U.S. government has been secretly collecting and analyzing more than a trillion domestic phone records within the U.S. each year, the Worthy News website reports today (Nov. 28, 2023).
The program, which was formerly known as Hemisphere, is run by telecom giant AT&T with federal, state, and local law enfotcement agencies, Worthy News has learned.
A letter obtained by leading American tecdhnology magazine "Wired" showed that the Data Analytical Services (DAS) was used for the secret monitoring program.
The Vatican announced today (Nov. 27, 2023) that Pope Francis is receiving antibiotic treatment for an inflammation of his lungs, and that while he is in good condition, many of his commitments in the coming days have been postponed to facilitate his recovery, the Crux website reports.
Pope Francis has planned a December 1--3 trip to Dubai for the COP--28 cliimate change summit.
Concern over the pontiff's health areose yesterday after the Vatican issued a statement saying Francis was suffering from a "mild flu" and that he had gone to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for a CT scan to rule out pneumonia.
"Many churches and faithful organizations across the U.S. are on the front lines serving the critical needs of people experiencing hunger and homelessness,"explained Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, the WND website reports today (Nov. 26, 2023).
The Justice Dept. is committed to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure that all religious groups each freely exercise their religious beliefs.
The fight is raging in U.S. District Court over the decision by the city of Brookings in Oregon to restrict the activities of St. Timothy's church.
This week marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who was gunned down in Dallas,Texas on November 22, 1963by a comunist, the Cartholic Herald website reported yesterday (Nov.24, 2023).
A Democrat, Kennedy was the first Catholic president of the U.S.at a time when the WASP aristocracy still dominated American public life.
Kennedy was an ardent anti-communist and in his inauguration speech on January 20, 1961 stood for natural rights declaring , "and yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe. The belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God."
The first group of hostages released after seven weeks in Hamas captivirty are with Israeli soldiers and will be reunited with their families, the USA Today website reports today (Nov.24, 2023).
The hostages included some 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino citizen, according to Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, one of the countries that served as a mediator in the agreement.
They underwent an initial medical assessment in Israeli territory and will be transported to Israeli hospitals, according to Israel's military.
Meanwhile, 39 Palestinian prisoners , all women and children, have been released from Israeli jails, al-Ansari said.
A speeding vehicle on the American side of a U.S.--Canada border crosssing near Niagara Falls blew up a vehicle yesterday (Nov. 22, 2023) killing two people and causing federal authorities to shut down four border checkpoints amid international concern, the USA Today website reports.
Two people found dead were inside the vehicle that exploded. The FBI field office in Buffalo said it is investigating the explosion on the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the U.S. and Canada.across the Niagara River.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said that, based on a preliminary investigation, there is no sign of terrorist involvement. Law enforcement was not aware of any threats to the area and the investigation is ongoing, she said. The vehicle was incinerated and pieces of the car are widely scattered.
A possible hostage deal between Israel and Hamas is imminent and could be announced as soon as today (Nov. 22, 2023), the Yahoo News website reports.
Officials from both sides indicated they were close to an agreement for Hamas to release some of the roghhly 240 hostages the militant group seized during its brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with military reservists and said, "We are making progress. I don't think it's worth saying more, even at this momenr\t, butI hope there will be good news soon."
Washington announced a package of weapons and equipment to support Ukraine as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States was in the war "for the long haul" in its support for Ukraine as it continues to battle Russian troops, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website reported yesterday (Nov. 20, 2023).
The package provides up to $100 million of arms and equipment authorized under previously directed drawdowns,Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The package includes High--Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and additional ammunition.
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, devoted wife of the nation's 39th president and a tireless advocate for mental health care, has died, the USA Today website reports(Nov. 19, 2023).
The Carter Center confirmed that she died yesterday morning (Nov.19, 2023) at her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96.
"Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished," Jimmy Carter said in a statement from the Carter Center. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.
An Arab source with connections to Hamas said late on Nov. 18, 2023 that Hamas was ready to release 87 of the 240 Israeli hostages in exchange of female and teen terrorists jailed in Israel along with security prisoners, fuel, and a five-day ceasefire, the World Israel News (WIN) website reports.
In return for the convicted women and teenage terrorists and an unspecified number of prisoners, Hamas said it would release 40 Israeli women, 13 childrenand, and 35 foreign hostages.
There have been rumors of a hostage swap taking place in the coming days but with different numbers and terms.
Over 100 faculty members signed a letter to the university president declaring that labeling Israel an "apartheid state" and accusing the country of committing genocide against Palestinians should not be considered anti-Semitism, the Christian Post website reports today (Nov. 18, 2023).
The letter,ublished on Medium.com on Nov. 15,accused Harvard University President Claudine Gay of enforcing a "one-sided" debate about Israel by preventing students and faculty from criticizing the Jewish state.
Harvard did not immediately respond to the Christian Post's request for comment.
The Israel Defense Forces found an operational terror tunnel shaft on the grounds of the Shifa Hospital, the CBN website reports today (Nov. 17, 2023).
Israel has been asserting that tunnels under the hospital are part of Hama's terror command center.
They also discovered a booby--trapped vehicle containing a large amount of weapons.
President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met yesterday afternoon (Nov.15 ,2023) the culmination of months of meetings between U.S. and Chinese officials aimed at easing tensions between the two nations, The Hill website reports.
The leaders' first face-to-face meeting in a year comes during the Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco.
Biden spoke of ensuring that "competition does not veer into conflict."
Thousands took part in the March for Israel in Washington, D.C.yesterday (Nov.14,2023), the UPI website reports.
Demonstrators denounced anti-Semitism and demanded the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas.
Israel has been at war with the Gaza-based terrorist group since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
The U.S.Supreme Court on Nov.13,2023 adopted its first-ever ethics code, bowing to pressure from Congress and the public, the NPR website reports.
All nine justices signed onto the new code, which was instantly criticized for lack of an enforcement mechanism.
Public trust in the court has fallen recently amid revelations that Justice Clarence Thomas received expensive gifts and travel from Harlan Crow, a Republican donor.
As the Israel-Hamas war continues in Gaza for its sixth week, tensions are rising in Europe and the U.S. where protesters are taking to the streets, either backing Israel or supporting the Palestinians, the CBN website reports today (Nov. 13, 2023).
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came against the idea of a ceasefire in Gaza until Israel completes its mission and laid down ground rules for what Gaza will look like at the end of the war.
"As for the talks about the day after -- this day will only be after the elimination of Hamas," said Netanyahu. "Gaza will be demilitarized, and there will no longer be a threat from the Gaza Strip to the State of Israel..."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Nov. 12, 2023) discussed a possible deal to free the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, Gaza's governance following the war, and death toll
figures produced by Gaza officials in an interview on "Meet the Press,." the NBC News website reports.
Netanyahu told "Meet the Press" that there "could be" a potential hostage deal with Hamas but declined to give any further details, saying doing so could thwart the delicate negotiations to free those taken captive by the militant group.
"I think the less I say about it, the more it'll increase the chances that it materializes," he said in the interview.
Following a recent visit and several instances of outspoken opposition to the current papacy, the Vatican announced that Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas has been removed from the leadership of his diocese, the Crux website reports today (Nov. 11, 2023).
In a statement today, the Vatican announced that "the Holy Father has relieved Bishop Strickland from the governance of the Diocese of Tyler,"and that he has named Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin as apostolic administrator until a new bishop is named.
A staunch conservative and papal critic who has all but accused Pope Francis of heresy, Strickland and the Diocese of Tyler were the object of a Vatican apostolic visitation earlier this year.
The leaders of Turkey and Iran underlined their support for the Hamas terrorist organization on Nov.8, 2023, launching bitter attacks against both Israel and its Western allies on the sidelines of a summit meeting in Uzbekistan, the Algemeiner website reports.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi made their comments while attending the meeting in Tashkent of the Economic Cooperation Organization, which brings Turkey, Iran, Pakistan,Uzbekistan, and other nations in central Asia together.
"The Israeli administration, which has full support of Western countries... is bombing schools, hospitals, churches, universities, and civilian settlements," Erdogan stated.
Bidenomics is not working as the latest survey from Bankrate.com reveals that half of Americans think they are worse off , not better, under Biden's economic plan to rescue and revive the economy, the New American website reports today (N0v. 9, 2023).
Among the key voting demographic -- independents -- 60% of them say they are worse off.
The voters polled by Bankrate.com are well-informed. Half of those blame President Biden for the poor economy, a third blame Congress,and more than a quarter blame the Federal Reserve, the "engine of inflation," where the blame belongs.
Ohio voters approved a ballot measure enshrining a right to abortion in the State Constitution on Nov. 7, continuing a series of wins for abortion--rights groups, trying to recover from the surprising U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, the NY Times website reports today (Nov. 8, 2023).
Both parties are looking to gauge whether voter anger over the loss of the federal right to abortion might help Democrats in next year's presidential and congressional races.National groups on both sides of the debate poured money into Ohio in recent weeks.
The victory in a conservative state is likely to help lift the hopes of abortion-rights groups pushing similar measures next year in red and purple states, including Arizona, South Dakota, Missouri, and Florida.
Cornell University canceled its classes on Nov. 3 because of the "extraordinary stress" caused by antisemitic threats a junior at the school made, the NBCNews website reported today (Nov.7, 2023).
Officials arrested a person of interest, later to be revealed to be Patrick Dai, who made tthreats against Jewish students at Cornell on an online social media platform and is accused of saying he would "bring a rifle to campus and shoot all of you [ Jewish people]."
"We will not tolerate antisemitism at Cornell; indeed we will not tolerate hatred of any form, including racism or Islamophobia," Cornell president Martha Pollack wrote in a statement.
Pope Francis praised the growing relations between Catholics and Protestants in Scotland during a meeting with leaders of the Church of Scotland last week, the Crux website reports today (Nov. 6, 2023).
"We talked how we both recognized ourselves in what is happening to the ordinary people there, and how we need to recognize our common humanity more openly, said Rt. Rev. Sally Foster-Fulton, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Nov. 4.
"We talked about how important it is that Christians speak and act together in unity in the world today,"she added.
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Washington, D.C.for a protest against Israel's war to eliminate Hamas yesterday (Nov.4, 2023) just blocks from the White House, the WND website reports.
Numerous anti-Israel activist organizations organized the "National March on Washington: Free Palestine" protest, which saw tens of thousands of attendees in Freedom Plaza.
The huge crowd chanted slogans accusing President Joe Biden of being in a genocide against the Palestinian population while also repeatedly chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, a phrase which often is meant to call for Israel and Jews to be destroyed.
Leveling hierarchical distinctions in the Catholic Church without removing them entirely has emerged as a principal objective of Pope Francis' Synod on Synodality, the Catholic World Report website reports today (Nov. 4, 2023).
That is perhaps the chief conclusion to be drawn from the first session of the Synod, which took place Oct.4 --29 at the Vatican.
While advance speculation had focused on whether ordaining women and giving blessings to same-sex couples would be discussed, the fact is t hat they were discussed, but no consensus was reached on them. A .more significant objective of cutting back on clergy-only hierarchy was reached.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Nov. 3, 2023) pushed back against growing U.S. pressure for a "humanitarian pause" in the nearly month-old war to protect civilians and allow more aid into Gaza, insisting there would be no ceasefire until the roughly 240 hostages held by Hamas are released, the Yahoo News website reports.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his third trip t o Israel today since the war began, reiterating American support for Israel's campaign to crush Hamas after its brutal Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel.
He also echoed President Joe Biden's calls for a brief halt in the fighting to address a worsening humanitarian crisis.
More than 10,000 people have been killed in Israel's ongoing conflict with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, the Daily News website reports today (Nov.2, 2023).
Experts warn the number will only increase as Israeli soldiers march further into the Gaza Strip, where many hospitals have already shuttered and more than a million residents have been displaced.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza today said 9,061 people have been killed in Gaza. The death toll also includes more than 1,400 Israelis, most of whom lost their lives on Oct. 7 when the Hamas first attacked Israel.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secrertary of State Antony Blinken have urged Congress to send aid to Ukraine and Israel immediately, arguing that broad support from U.S. lawmakers for the assistance would signal strength to adversaries worldwide, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website reports.
Austin and Blinken testified on Oct. 31 before the Senate Appropriations Committee as Congress considers President Joe Biden's request for $105 billion emergency aid to fund ambitious plans for Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. border security.
Blinken and Austin warned members of the committee that the consequences of failing to help Ukraine in its war with Russia and Israel as it strikes back against Hamas would be dire.
