Pope Francis hosted a summit in Rome focusing on protecting children from war, exploitation, trafficking, and forced labor. The summit highlighted the violations of children's rights worldwide, especially in conflict zones like Gaza. Queen Rania of Jordan, Holocaust survivor Liliana Segre, and other leaders emphasized the urgent need to protect children, referring to the UN convention on the rights of the child. Pope Francis also drew attention to the plight of stateless children and refugees, while also acknowledging the Church's struggles with its own history of abuse.
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Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that 99% of borrowed resources will be used for capital expenditure in 2025-26, with effective capital expenditure at 4.3% of GDP. She also noted the moderation of inflation, with retail inflation within the 2%-6% range, and emphasized the robust growth of the Indian economy.
Theories about the purpose of the drones have abounded since the sightings began. An expert speaking to Fox Business speculated that a hostile foreign entity might be using the drones to divert the attention of federal and local authorities from other nefarious activities. Former President Donald Trump suggested that officials know more about the situation than they are revealing and called for the drones to be shot down.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is determined to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, confirming high-level meetings with US and UK officials to negotiate peace. He plans to meet in Saudi Arabia next week, aiming for concrete steps toward peace, emphasising Ukraine's commitment to dialogue.
The Trump administration is moving to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born immigrant. They claim he provided false information on his green card application and omitted key job details. Khalil is also linked to a pro-Palestinian protest group. His lawyer argues this is a First Amendment issue. Khalil is currently detained in Louisiana.
Rivers, an Australian footwear and clothing brand with a 160-year history, is closing all 136 stores, impacting over 600 employees. The shutdown follows failed sell-off efforts and the financial collapse of its parent company, Mosaic Group, which filed for administration with debts of $249 million. Supply chain issues exacerbated by Covid-19 contributed to its downfall.
"For those who want America to lose for their own personal gain, I have no respect. Zero," Musk said hitting at far-Right activist Laura Loomer who has been attacking Elon Musk over the issue and then claims that because of her open criticism of Elon Musk, X took away his blue-check verification badge and deactivated her subscriptions.
US President-elect Donald Trump plans a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek resolution to the Ukraine conflict, which has persisted for nearly 34 months. Trump has promised a swift resolution, though his aides suggest potential concessions involving Ukrainian territory. Russia welcomes dialogue and awaits formal requests as Trump assumes office.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk, who is accused of supporting Hamas, without evidence presented. Ozturk, a Turkish national, was detained by ICE, and her case is pending jurisdiction determination.
During his annual 'Direct Line' address, Vladimir Putin proposed providing more appealing alternatives to internet pornography to combat its perceived contribution to 'moral decay.' He acknowledged the global nature of this issue. Putin also reflected on the Ukraine conflict, suggesting earlier action would have been preferable, and speculated on Zelensky's potential future abroad.