Pope Francis, seen as a progressive modernizer, reiterated traditional views on women’s roles in the Church, emphasizing their roles as daughters, sisters, and mothers. UCLouvain criticized his “deterministic and reductive position,” disagreeing with his comments on women’s roles. Despite advocating for women’s importance, Francis maintains the Church’s ban on women serving as priests or deacons. His remarks followed a student letter highlighting women’s invisibility in the Church. Lucetta Scaraffia noted Francis’s traditionalist stance on women. Francis visited Belgium to mark the 600th anniversary of UCLouvain and KU Leuven. Noah Prescott 29/09/2024 7:00 pm
Pope Francis, on his return from Belgium, criticized Israel’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon as “immoral” and disproportionate, suggesting they exceed the rules of war. He commented on Israel’s recent strike in Beirut, which killed Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and others, without naming Israel directly. Francis emphasized that defense should be proportionate and condemned any country’s excessive military actions as immoral. He acknowledged the inherent immorality of war but stressed the importance of adhering to moral rules. The death of Nasrallah has significantly impacted Lebanon and the Middle East. U.S. President Joe Biden supported the strike as justice against Hezbollah. Penelope Kingsley 29/09/2024 7:00 pm
Austria’s Freedom Party (FPO) is projected to win the general election with 29.1% of the vote, ahead of the governing Austrian People’s Party (OVP) at 26.2%, and the Social Democrats (SDP) at 20.4%. Led by Herbert Kickl, the FPO’s victory highlights rising support for hard-right parties in Europe due to immigration concerns. Despite the win, Kickl needs a coalition partner to form a government, but rivals refuse to work with him. The OVP is open to a coalition with the FPO, but not with Kickl as leader. Economic and immigration issues dominated the campaign. Penelope Kingsley 29/09/2024 7:00 pm
Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal, appearing as a Harris campaign surrogate on “Face the Nation,” discussed U.S. strategy regarding Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah. He emphasized that military actions alone are insufficient without a durable political outcome. McChrystal urged both sides to consider long-term solutions, acknowledging the deep emotional toll and ongoing violence. Penelope Kingsley 29/09/2024 7:00 pm
The Israeli military has conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, hitting power plants and sea port facilities in Hodeida, in response to a ballistic missile attack on Ben Gurion airport. Separately, Israel killed high-ranking Hezbollah official Nabil Kaouk in an airstrike, following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other senior members. Another targeted strike on Beirut was carried out, with details pending. The strikes have resulted in significant casualties and destruction, with at least 20 Hezbollah militants killed. Ava Sinclair 29/09/2024 3:30 pm
Conservative leadership contenders Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are at odds over immigration policy. Badenoch emphasizes the need for immigrants to adopt Western values and avoid bringing “foreign conflicts” to the UK. Jenrick, however, focuses on reducing immigration numbers and suggests leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. Both candidates are using the Tory party conference to present their views, with the leadership contest culminating in a final vote on 2 November. The disagreement highlights a key issue that has influenced voter behavior in recent elections. Penelope Kingsley 29/09/2024 3:30 pm
Pope Francis concluded his visit to Belgium by reaffirming his traditional views on women and abortion and urging Catholic bishops to stop covering up for predator priests. He praised Belgium’s late King Baudouin for his anti-abortion stance and criticized abortion as “homicidal,” calling doctors who perform them “hitmen.” Francis also demanded punishment for abusive priests and praised victims’ courage during a Mass in Brussels. His comments on abortion drew criticism in Belgium, where the issue remains politically contentious. Ava Sinclair 29/09/2024 3:30 pm
More than 100 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russia, sparking a wildfire and setting an apartment block alight. Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported downing 125 drones across seven regions, with Volgograd heavily targeted. In Voronezh, debris damaged an apartment block and a home, while in Rostov, debris ignited a wildfire. No casualties were reported. Meanwhile, 16 civilians were injured in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, due to Russian guided bomb attacks, amid warnings of a potential new Russian offensive in the south. Penelope Kingsley 29/09/2024 3:30 pm
A funeral in Vienna sparked outrage after a song with Nazi ties, “Wenn alle untreu werden,” was sung, attended by far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) members. The song, glorified by the Nazi SS, was reported by Der Standard, showing FPÖ politicians Martin Graf, Harald Stefan, and Norbert Nemeth present. The incident, condemned by various political parties, comes as Austria braces for elections where the far-right is projected to gain. Austria’s Jewish Students’ Union reported the incident to prosecutors, calling it an “alarm signal for Austria.” Noah Prescott 29/09/2024 12:00 pm
Israel’s military continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, raising the possibility of a ground incursion, which would be its fourth invasion in 50 years. The recent escalation has displaced hundreds of thousands and killed over 1,000 people. Airstrikes have targeted southern Lebanon and Beirut, killing several, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Many Lebanese civilians are seeking shelter in public spaces. The US notes a potential limited Israeli ground incursion, but no decision has been made. Ava Sinclair 29/09/2024 8:30 am
