Trump Concedes Defeat,Promises Orderly Change; Still Won't Accept the Trustability of Pres. Election

 President Donald Trump today (January 7, 2021) said there would be an "orderly transition on January 20th" after Congress concluded the electoral vote count yesterday, certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory hours after Trump appeared to excuse the violent occupation of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, according to the Times Leader website. 

Trump acknowledged  defeat in the November 3 election for the first time, after a day of chaos and destruction on Capitol Hill perpetrated in his name by supporters that halted business in Congress for more than six hours. 

"Even  though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in a statement posted to Twitter by aides. His personal account was locked by the social media company for posting messages that appeared to justify the assault on the seat of America's democracy.

Pope Has Epiphany Mass on Theological Realism; We Must Take the Focus Off Oneself,Put It on God

 Pope Francis, during a Mass for the feast of the Epiphany today (January 6, 2021), advocated an attitude of "theological realism" which, he said, fosters trust in God and looks for deeper meaning rather than getting caught up in one's own problems, according to the Crux website. 

Speaking at a live-streamed Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the pope said that to worship God, "We need to 'see' beyond the veil of things visible, which often prove deceptive."

The pope stressed the need to "lift up our eyes" in order to take the focus off oneself and put it on God.

US Aircraft Carrier Will Remain in Persian Gulf; Will Not Return to US Due to "Iranian Threats"

The Pentagon has announced that the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will stay in the Persian Gulf because of "recent  threats" by Iran, the Worthy News website reports today (January 5, 2021). 

The announcement came after reports that the vessel would be returning to the U.S. after having patrolled the Gulf since November. 

Iran's judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi told a gathering of Iranian officials on January 1 that those responsible for the death of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleiman on January 3, 2020 "will not be safe on Earth."

Church in Greece Rejects Govt. Closing Order; Govt. Increased Closings Due to Rise in COVID

 Greece's powerful Orthodox Church is rebelling against a government order to briefly close places of worship under a weeklong drive to tighten coronavirus restrictions, the AP website reports today (January 4, 2021). 

The Church's ruling today issued a statement directing priests to admit worshippers during indoor services for January 6 for the feast of the Epiphany. 

The Holy Synod said it "does not accept" the new restrictions, in force from January 3 --10, and would send a letter of protest to the government. 

Israel and Saudi Arabia Urge Trump to Strike Iran; Failure to Do So May Lead to Iran Betraying Biden

Israel and Saudi Arabia are pressuring the Trump administration to carry out a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities before President-elect Biden takes office, the Worthy News website reports today (January 3, 2021). 

According to anonymous U.S. sources, Saudi Arabia and Israel "exerted heavy pressure on the president to take out Iran's  nuclear installations in a surgical strike" in order to sabotage Biden's plan to re-enter negotiations with the ayatollah regime on a long-term deal. 

The two countries reportedly told Trump that such action is justified in light of Iran's recent breaches of the nuclear accord from 2015.

Pope Reappears after His Extreme Sciatica Pain; Delivers His Traditional Appeal for World Peace

Pope Francis reappeared yesterday after chronic sciatic pain forced him to miss the Church's New Year services, as he delivered the traditional appeal for world peace, the Reuters website reports today (January 2, 2021).

The pope was unable to attend services on December 31 and again on the morning of January 1 because of the sciatica -- a relatively common problem that causes a sharp pain along the sciatic nerve down the lower back and legs. 

"Life today is governed by war, by enmity, by many things that are destructive. We want peace. It is a gift," Francis said, adding that the response to the global coronavirus crisis showed the importance of burden-sharing.  

Gallup Poll:Trump America's Most Admired Man; Pres. Obama Had Been Most Admired Since 2008

 President Trump is the most admired man in the U.S. for 2020, according to a new Gallup survey, the Christian Headlines website reports today (January 1, 2021).

Trump finished No. 1 in the survey released Dec. 29, ending the 12-year run of President Obama, who had finished No. 1 as the most admired man every year since 2008.

Although Trump and Obama tied for No. 1 in the survey in 2019 with 18 percent each, this year Trump ended the year at No. 1 by himself.