President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV have engaged in a public dispute over the U.S. war in Iran, with Trump criticizing the pope's calls for peace and the pope urging an end to violence. The conflict has divided opinions among Trump supporters and religious leaders about the roles of political and spiritual authority in war.
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Senate efforts to end the 38-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown stalled after former President Trump demanded that the DHS funding bill include his controversial SAVE America Act, which mandates voter ID and citizenship verification, a proposal opposed by Democrats and lacking sufficient Senate support. The shutdown has strained airport security operations, with TSA workers unpaid and ICE agents deployed to assist, while Democrats have offered to fund non-ICE DHS components separately, a move some Republicans are considering. Political tensions remain high as Democrats accuse Trump of sabotaging negotiations, the Senate faces a looming recess, and a Supreme Court case on late-arriving mail-in ballots adds complexity to ongoing debates over election integrity and federal funding.
On Christmas Day, families around the world celebrated the holiday with traditions both ancient and new. In Bethlehem, a nativity scene honoring the victims in Gaza was placed in Manger Square, near the Nativity Church. The war in Gaza has been ongoing since 2014, causing immense suffering for the people of Gaza and a looming humanitarian crisis in the region. The Christmas season is a time of joy and celebration, but this year, the holiday was marked by the tragedy of war and the suffering of innocent people.
In his annual Christmas address, King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations spoke of the importance of human kindness and urged people to care for one another and the planet. He reflected his coronation theme of public service, connecting it to the message of Jesus' life in serving those less fortunate and the health of the planet. His words serve as a reminder of the importance of caring for one another and the planet, and of the power of human kindness.
Legendary singer-songwriter Shane MacGowan, frontman of the Celtic punk band The Pogues, passed away on Thursday at the age of 65. MacGowan was best known for his work with The Pogues, most famously their Christmas ballad “Fairytale of New York”, and continued to perform and write music despite his health struggles. His family released a statement confirming the news, saying they were “blessed beyond words” to have had so many years of life and love with him.
Mary Lou Retton, an American gymnastics icon, has been hospitalized with pneumonia and is now back home and on the road to recovery. Her daughters Shayla Kelley Schrepfer and McKenna Kelley have shared updates on her condition, thanking doctors, nurses, and fans for their support. Retton is taking the necessary steps to make a full recovery, with her family grateful for the support they have received.
Bob Huggins, the head coach of the University of West Virginia's basketball team, used a homophobic slur twice during a radio interview and later expressed regret for his "abhorrent phrase". The West Virginia athletic department released a statement calling Huggins' comments "offensive" and said they were reviewing the matter. Huggins has since apologized, but the university has yet to comment on the incident or the potential consequences for Huggins.