Israel Accused of Genocide in World Court;Israel's War in Gaza Must Be Stopped to Protect Palestinians

 South Africa asked the t op international court today (May 16, 2024) to order a halt to the Rafah offensive, accused Israel of genocide , and said the country's war effort "must be stopped"to protect the Palestinian people , the USA Today website reports. 

South Adfrica's legal representatives at the International Court of Justice -- also known as the World Court --  said Israel's shutdown of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings have plunged Gaza into "unprecedented levels  of humanitarian need."  They demanded  Israel completely withdraw from Rafah, a city of 250,000 before the war that swelled to more than one million ,as refugees fled fighting elsewhere in Gaza. 

"From the onset, Israel's intent was always to destroy Palestinian life and to wipe them off the face of the earth," said South African law professor Max du Plessis. "Rafah is the final stand. "  

Israel will provide a response in court tomorrow. Israeli offficials have previously denied in court claims the country's military campaign violates the 1949 Genocide Convenrtion, arguing that it stepped up efforts to provide humanitarian aid for Gaza in acordance with previous court orders. 

The court's rulings and orders  are binding, but it has no way to enforce them. Israeli Prime Minister  Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed Israel is defending itself after the Hamas--led attack October 7 that resulted in almost 1,200 deaths and the seizing of more than 250 hostages.

Blinken: Israeli Offensive in Gaza Won't Defeat Hamas; Instead, Israel Should Withdraw from Gaza

U.S. Secretary of State Aantony Blinken has criticized Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, claiming that an all--out offensive in Rafah in the south of the Palestinian enclave would only provide "anarchy, rather than eliminating Hamas, the RT website reports today (May 14, 2024)

In a pair of TV interviews on May 12, Blinken underscored that Washington believes Israeli forces should "get out of Gaza " as their tactics have failed to neutralize Hamas and could drive a lasting insurgency. 

The top U.S. diplomat told CBS that a full--scale invasion of Rafah could come  "potentially at an incredibly high cost" for civilians , and that even a massive assault on the southern Gazan city was unlikely to end the threat from Hamas.  

Washington is waiting to see credible plans from West Jerusalem for Gaza once the war is finally over, Blinken said in another interview with NBC, addding, "we've been talking to them [Israeli authorities] about a much better way of getting an enduring result." 

Blinken's comments come as Israeli forces have been pushing deeper into the densely populated Rafah , where more than a million Palestinians have crowded in hopes of  refugee. 

Turkey Makes Greek Orthodox Church into a Muslim Mosque; Move Is Condemned by Greek Government

 Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan officially inaugurated a former Byzantine--era church , previously known as  the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, a United Nations World Heritage Site, as a mosque this week, drawing condemnation fom the Greek government, the Christian Post website reports today (May 13, 20214). 

The change is part of a series of conversions in recent years, including the iconic Hagia Sophia in 2020, and has garnered international criticism .

Located in the Faith district of Istanbul, near the ancient city walls, the building, known locally as Kariye, is celebrated for its intricate mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. 

Greece has been vocal in its criticism, especially since the Kariye was opened as a mosque the day afrter the Greek Orthodox Easter. The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the move in a statement:

"The Turkish authorities' decision to begin the operation of the Monastery of Chora as a Muslim mosque constitutes a provocaton for the international community as it distorts and affects its characters as a UNESCO World Heritage Site belonging to humanity," the statement reads. 

"The maintenance of monuments' universal character and compliance with international standards for the protection of religious and cultural heritage is a clear international obligation binding on all States. "

Israel Calls on Palestinians to Leave Southern Gaza City of Rafah; Israeli Mil. May Be Planning to Attack Rafah

 Israel yesterday called for Palestinians in nine areas of Gaza's southern city of Rafah to evacuate and head to what it calls an expanded humanitarian area in Al--Mawasi, in a further indication that the military is pressing ahead with plans for a ground attack on Rafah, the USA Today website reports today (May 12, 2024). 

In a post on social media site X, a military spokesperson also called on residents and displaced people in the Jabalia  area of northern Gaza, and 11 other neighborhoosds in the enclave to go immediately to places wst of Gaza City. 

The Palestinian health ministry said at least 37 Palestinians, 24 of them from central Gaza areas, were killed in overnight airstrikes across the enclave, including in Rafah.

The Biden administration acknowledges possible Israeli weapons misuse in a report to Congress. 

"There is no safe place in Gaza," Khitan Al--Khatib, who said she had lost at least 10 of her relatives in an airstrike on a family house, told Reuters. 

What Is Ascension Day?

Thursday, May 9, is Ascension Day, which is a public holiday in many countries, the Christian Today website reports today (May 10, 2024).

The English word "to ascend " means to go up, and an "ascent" process of doing it. In English, we talk about "ascent of Mount Everest or a person's" arcension  to the presidency." In theology, ascension is the idea that some individuals  ascend to heavenwithout dying first or first die and are bodily resurrected and taken into heaven.  

In the Bible, the idea  of ascension is sometimes applied to Enoch, who was Noah's great-grandfather. The text says, " And Enoch walked with God: and he was not ; for God took him." (Genesis, 5:24). It is not totally clear what that means, but some people interpret it to mean that Enoch had an ascension ionto heaven. A clearer story is told of Elijah . The text reads "behold, there appeared a  chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went uo by a" whirlwind into heaven." (2 Kings2:n).

After the resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days with the disciples . The scene of the Ascension is the Mount of Olives near Bethany near Jerusalem. The Gospel accounts by Matthew and John do not record the ascension, but it is recorded by Mark and Luke. Mark mentions it at the end of his Gospel where it reads: "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God (Luke 24: 52--53).

t of fire 

Billy Graham Statue to Be Unveiled in US Capitol; Is a Great Honor for Top American Evangelist

 The late evangelist Billy Graham wiltake his place next week among 200 Americans honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Christian Post website reports today (May 9 , 2024). 

Graham's statue will be unveiled on  May 16 during an 11 a. m. ceremony that will be attended by musician Michael W. Smith, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R--La., and other congressional representatives, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announced. 

The bronze sculpture, designed by an artist from Graham's birthplace of Charlotte, North Carolina, will stand seven feet tall on a pedestal and depict him gesturing toward an open Bible in his hand as a symbol  of his life's work. 

The pedestal will be engraved with 'JOHN 3:16 and JOHN 14:6 , and Graham will be proclaimed as a "Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." 

Columbia Univ. Cancels Main Commencement; Due to Many Palestinian Protesters Arrested

 Columbia University canceled its main commencement ceremony, but will go ahead with smaller--scale graduations , the school said yesterday, after weeeks of pro--Palestinian demonstrations disrupted the campus, the USA Today website reported yesterday (May 7, 2024.).

"We have decided to make the centerpiece of our commencement activities our class days and school--level ceremonies , where students are honored individually alongside their peers, rather than the university--wide ceremony that is scheduled for May 15," the Upper Manhattan school said in an announcement.. 

School spokesman Ben Chang added, "Holding a large commencement ceremony on our campus presented security concerns that unfortunately proved insurmountable." 

"Like our students , we are deeply disappointed with this outcome." 

He said Columbia tried to come up with a different venue to still hold the traditional larger commencement, but couldn't find one large enough. More than 50,000 people typically attend the ecvent. 

None of the school's smaller ceremonies will even be held on its  iconic South Lawn, where such events are usually staged -- and where hundreds of protesters were recently  arrested for refusing to leave a massive tent encampment. 

EU Ready to Make Full Use of Trade Defense Tools against China, EU Chief Warns

European Union  ( EU)  Chief von der Leyen warned today (May 6, 2024) that trhe European Union stands to flex its muscles to protect the bloc from China's aggressive trade practices , the Euro News website reports today. 

It is von de Leyen's starkest warning that the EU executive will leave no stone unturned in its bid to stop China 's heacvily --subsidized manufacturing sector unfair trade practices from suffocating Europe's homegrown industries.

It is also the clearest sign to date that the bloc is preparing for a potential trade war with China. 

"For trade to be fair, access to each other's markets also needs to be reciprocal , von der Leyen told reporters in Paris adfter meeting the Chinese President alongside France's Emmanuel Macron.

"We stand ready to make full use of our trade defense instruments if this is necessary,"von der Leyen added

"Europe cannot accept market-distorting practices that could lead to de--industrialization here at home." 

"Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and its security."  

Danish Govt. Permits Women to End Pregnancies 18 Weeks after Conception;Girls over 15 Can Have Abortion 18 Weeeks after Conception without Parental OK

The Danish government announced on May 3 that it will permit women to have their pregnancies terminated until 18 weeks after conception, instead of 12, the RT website reports today (May 4, 2024).

Aditionally, girls over 15 will get the right to have an abortion without  parental approval.

"Choosing whether to have an abortion is a diffficult situation and I hope that young women can find support from their parents. But if there is disagreement , whether she wants to be a mother," Marie Bjerre, Minister of Digitzation and Gender Equality said. 

Currently, women under age 18 are allowed to get abortions, but only with parentel consent. The amended Health Act will take affect on June 1, 2025.  

US,Other Nations to Shut Down Coal Plants; Agree to Shut Them Down by 2035

 Early this week, all the nations using coal planrts agreed to shut them down by 2035 at the latest, the New American website reported on May 1, 2024

This includes the U.S. , which still operates more than 200 coal-- fired power plants. 

It does not include China and India which are starting up new coal plants faster than the West is shutting its down.