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Vatican
September 14, 2024 5:02 AM Yesterday, Pope Francis, leader of about 1.4 billion Catholics globally, held a news conference aboard the papal plane on his flight back after his demanding 12-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania. He criticised both former US President Trump over his plan to deport millions of immigrants and Vice President Harris over her stance supporting abortion rights. The pope called immigration "a right,’ citing Bible passages that call orphans, widows and foreigners three kinds of people that society must care for and said there could be no excuses for an abortion. "On these things we must speak clearly. No 'but' or 'however'." The pontiff said not welcoming migrants is a grave sin, and likened having an abortion, forbidden by Catholic teaching, to an assassination. Although he did not use Trump and Harris' names, Pope Francis referred specifically to their policies and their genders. Despite criticising both candidates, the pontiff said Catholics should vote. "Not voting is ugly," the 87-year-old pontiff said. "It is not good. You must vote." American Catholics, numbering roughly 52 million nationwide, are often seen as crucial swing voters. In some battleground states, including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, more than 20 per cent of adults are Catholic. "Whether it is the one who is chasing away migrants, or the one who that kills children," said the pope. ’Both are against life." Trump has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and deport millions of immigrants already in the US if elected to a second term as president. He has also refused to rule out building detention camps for undocumented immigrants. Harris has promised to sign any legislation passed by Congress to restore national protections for abortion access, which were struck down by the Supreme Court in its 2022 Dobbs decision. The two candidates sparred over both issues on Wednesday in their first debate together. Most polls show a tight race, with Harris leading slightly. "You must choose the lesser evil," Pope Francis said. "Who is the lesser evil? That lady, or that gentleman? I don't know. Everyone, in conscience, (has to) think and do this." The US bishops have issued a similar election guidance each presidential cycle since 2007-08, with some updates. Their latest version, released with a new introduction in November 2023, states that the 'threat of abortion' is a "preeminent priority" for Catholics. (Source: asiaone *)
* AsiaOne, a Singaporean news and lifestyle website and news aggregator
United States
2024-09-14 15:42:33 Yesterday, during a press conference, former U.S. President and Republican presidential nominee Trump said he will be able to solve "most of the problems" related to North Korea and Iran through phone calls and possibly in-person meetings. He has been highlighting his foreign policy chops in comparison to that of his Democratic rival Harris, quoted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as saying Trump should be reelected president because Russia, China, and North Korea are ’afraid of him." Referring to the 2021 Kabul airport terrorist attack during the Biden administration's withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan that killed 13 U.S. service members, Trump said they were killed by Biden and Harris, and that the administration should not have failed. (Source: world.kbs *)
* the Korean Broadcasting System, a leading South Korean television and radio broadcaster
Sep 14, 2024 08:17 IST ’Be quiet’: Biden snaps at a British reporter - the Sky News correspondent - asking him about Russia's Putin war threat to the West if Ukraine was allowed to use long-range missiles. The incident happened as Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a key meeting at the White House in Washington. The United States has provided 'over $55.7 billion in military assistance so far' since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in February 2022. As pressed Biden on Putin's threat, the 81-year-old US President shot back, 'I say you be quiet until I speak. Okay? That's what I say. Good idea?' As the journalist persisted with his question, Biden rebuked him again, 'You have got to be quiet. I am going to make a statement here, okay?' At the meeting with Starmer, Biden said Putin would not prevail in the war with Ukraine. 'The US is committed to standing with you to help Ukraine as it defends against Russia's onslaught of aggression. It's clear that Putin will not prevail in this war,' Biden said. After the meeting ended, the reporter again asked Biden about his thoughts. 'I don't think much about Putin,' Biden said. Earlier this week, President Putin warned that Russia would be 'at war' with the United States and its NATO allies if they lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range Western missiles to strike deep inside the country. Putin's remarks came as US Secretary of State Blinken, during a recent visit to Ukraine's Kyiv, hinted that the White House was considering lifting the restrictions. However, the White House ’scotched’ the speculation, saying it was not planning to announce any new policy on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles. Calling Putin's rhetoric 'incredibly dangerous', the White House, however, stated, "There is no change to our view on the provision of long range strike capabilities for Ukraine to use inside of Russia." (Source: indiatoday)
14/09/2024 - 07:31 US President Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer postponed a decision on allowing Ukraine to use long-range Western-supplied missiles to strike inside Russia following a meeting at the White House on Friday. The two leaders plan to revisit the issue at the upcoming UN General Assembly amid growing concerns about the conflict's escalation and Moscow's warnings that such moves could provoke a war with NATO. (Source: france24 / AFP)
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