Pope Francis Pope Francis Religious leaders reassure faithful over Johnson & Johnson vaccine Biden can build on Pope Francis's visit to Iraq Bishops discourage Catholics from receiving Johnson & Johnson vaccine if alternatives available MORE is set to make history as he embarks on an apostolic journey to Iraq. The focus of his visit, entitled “ You are all brothers and sisters ,” signifies a clear objective of reconciliation between Iraqis. The nation since 2003 has been defined by Sunni-Shia conflict over domestic politics and finds itself struggling to recover after the genocide that ISIS committed against Christians, Yazidis, Shia Turkmen and Shabaks. The situation for these communities is particularly dire. Iraqi Christians numbered more than 1.5 million before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and, by 2017, their numbers had fallen to fewer than 250,000 because of sectarianism and genocide. It was a little over five years ago when ISIS targeted Iraq’s Christian heartland of the Nineveh Plains and the Yazidi bastion of Sinjar. ISIS killed many of these people, or sold them at sex slave markers, burned villages and crops, and desecrated and destroyed holy sites to erase these communities from the face of the earth. As a consequence, Christian and Yazidi communities there are weakened and divided, an effect of longstanding persecution and genocide. ADVERTISEMENT Yousif Kalian, with the U.S. Institute of Peace, has remarked that Pope Francis’s visit will give a “huge vote of confidence” to these communities that are in desperate need of hope. Leading the international community in genocide response is the best way that President Biden Joe Biden Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw since January Biden officials to travel to border amid influx of young migrants MORE could build upon this ...
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Pompeo not ruling out 2024 White House bid
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Mike Pompeo Pompeo not ruling out 2024 White House bid Houthis: US sanctions prolonging war in Yemen China plays the Trump card, but Biden is not buying it MORE did not rule out a presidential bid in 2024, saying in a new interview that he’s “always up for a good fight.” Fox News host Sean Hannity Sean Patrick Hannity Pompeo not ruling out 2024 White House bid Grenell hints at potential California gubernatorial bid Cruz blames criticism of Cancun trip on media 'Trump withdrawal' MORE late Wednesday asked the former top diplomat whether he would consider entering the race if former President Trump Donald Trump Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot Intelligence community investigating links between lawmakers, Capitol rioters Michelle Obama slams 'partisan actions' to 'curtail access to ballot box' MORE decides not to run again. “I’m always up for a good fight,” Pompeo said. “I care deeply about America. You and I have been a part of the conservative movement for an awfully long time now. I aim to keep at it.” ADVERTISEMENT "I’ll take that as a strong maybe,” Hannity added, to which Pompeo replied: “That’s perfect.” Pompeo also lashed out at President Biden Joe Biden Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw since January Biden officials to travel to border amid influx of young migrants MORE ’s foreign policy priorities, accusing the new administration of taking on a “blame America first pattern.” The former secretary of State warned that China presents “the most sustained threat to our fundamental way of life,” urging the administration to “take that threat most seriously." "The American people deserve it and I know that they’re going to demand it," Pompeo told Hannity. Earlier ...
Suncor refinery north of Denver faces state review of outdated permits, plans $300 million push to be “better not bigger”
Colorado officials committed to cleaner air and reducing reliance on fossil fuels have reached a turning point on whether to tolerate the hulking oil refinery north of Denver that ranks among the state’s major polluters and regularly malfunctions . They must approve or deny Suncor Energy’s applications to renew its operating permits, which serve as contracts governing the emission levels of toxic pollutants that can cause cancer and serious heart, lung and other health problems. This is oversight power Colorado air pollution regulators have declined to use over nearly a decade of letting Suncor run the refinery under the equivalent of an expired driver’s license — a perk granted to companies if they submit timely renewal applications. Suncor’s outdated permits, which records show were issued in 2006 and 2012, allow emissions of 866,100 tons a year of heat-trapping gases and toxics including sulfur dioxide, benzene and hydrogen cyanide . During malfunctions, pollution exceeds what the permits allow. Colorado air pollution control officials defended their approach, saying it doesn’t impinge on their ability to enforce provisions of the old permits, and blamed bureaucratic backlogs. They’re acting now, they say, because Colorado is cracking down on pollution. Suncor’s refinery, built 89 years ago on a 230-acre site along Sand Creek in Commerce City, malfunctioned 108 times over the past five years, according to state records obtained by The Denver Post. That’s an average of about one breakdown every three weeks — often visible when putrid yellow grit wafts over Denver. The records show toxic pollution spiked above permit limits more than 500 times over the past two years. Suncor also benefits from annual state tax credits, $2.3 million in 2019, for investing in an enterprise zone. But now state officials, reviewing Suncor’s permit applications, say all options up to and including closure are on the table — though they’re mindful of the ...
Woke Wars: Don’t Be ‘Bullied’ by ‘Left-Wing Campaigns’, Culture Sec Begs Museums
The Conservative culture minister has told the institutions trusted with preserving Britain’s cultural heritage not to let themselves be “bullied” by “left-wing campaigns”, as convenors of museums and other spaces come under increasing pressure from Black Lives Matter-inspired activists to unperson historical figures. Britain’s statues , street names , and memorials most recently became targets for damage and destruction by cultural Marxist protesters during and in the wake of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd last year in the United States. Coupled with the wanton vandalism, many administrators of the United Kingdom’s local governments have capitulated to the pressure, commissioning audits of the names of streets, buildings, and other furnishings of public spaces in case they were named after historical figures who may have been in any way connected to slavery, colonialism, empire, or were otherwise accused of racism. Amidst the fervour to erase Britain’s history, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden warned museums and other institutions entrusted with preserving all shades of the country’s records not to be “pushed around” by left-wing activists, according to The Times . Speaking during the History Matters conference organised by the Policy Exchange think tank, Mr Dowden observed that the phenomenon of pressuring institutions was nothing new and had been going on “for years”, adding that some organisations had even experienced “threats of defunding”. “One of the things that prompted me to come into this debate in the first place was talking to some of the institutions who felt like they were being bullied, particularly by left-wing campaigns,” Mr Dowden said. Warning: contains video footage of a Green councillor putting on an American accent and pretending to be Rosa Parks to persuade other local politicians to vote for reparations (yes, really) https://t.co/UxujhFZMSG — Breitbart London ...
The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote
Presented by Facebook Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. Today is Friday! We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the co-creators. Readers can find us on Twitter @asimendinger and @alweaver22. Please recommend the Morning Report to friends and let us know what you think. CLICK HERE to subscribe! Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported each morning this week: Monday, 513,091; Tuesday, 514,657; Wednesday, 516,608; Thursday, 518,453; Friday, 520,356. Senate Democrats voted by the narrowest margin on Thursday to take up a sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus bill, teeing off what's expected to be a sprint through the weekend to help millions of struggling Americans. President Biden Joe Biden Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw since January Biden officials to travel to border amid influx of young migrants MORE could sign a measure into law by early next week. The Senate voted 50-50 to proceed to the relief legislation, with Vice President Harris breaking a tie to advance the bill ( The Hill ). Momentum slowed on Thursday as senators awaited a required assessment from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to ensure rules are being followed to permit the majority to bypass a 60-vote filibuster. The Senate's version of the coronavirus bill strips out House-passed language that would have increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour. It also provides less generous income allowances for those who would receive $1,400 direct payments from the government. A Senate Democratic aide said on Thursday that the bill also includes $510 million for Federal Emergency Management Agency homeless shelter providers, increases the total amount of Amtrak relief funding by $200 million and ...
