Tuesday, November 26
US university campus protests demand ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict, facing police action, calls for amnesty, and divestment from universities.
Pope Francis on Sunday visited a prison for women in Venice ahead of a mass in the watery city representing the 87-year-old pontiff's first trip outside Rome for seven months. The one-day trip to Venice will be closely watched amid concerns over the fragile health of Francis, who has toured the world extensively in his 11 years as pope but has not travelled since visiting the French city of Marseille in September.
A group of protesters, calling for an end to civilian casualties in Gaza, draped a huge Palestinian flag over the side of the venue, even as they directed slogans at the dinner guests and the motorcade of US President Joe Biden as he arrived at the venue, according to The New York Post. A few among the group of protesters even stormed the red carpet at the event, the report noted.
The governor of Ukraine's Mykolaiv region reported significant damage to a hotel from a Russian drone attack, although no casualties were reported. Ukraine's Air Force destroyed a drone over Mykolaiv, and four others were downed in different regions. Russia's RIA news agency claimed the hotel housed English-speaking mercenaries. Damage to nearby buildings and infrastructure was also reported.
Human rights groups and diplomats criticized a law that was quietly passed by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend that would impose heavy prison sentences on gay and transgender people. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the law passed Saturday “threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society” and “can be used to hamper free-speech and expression.” He warned that the legislation could drive away foreign investment.
Greece's coastguard said on Sunday it had found the body of a man believed to have drowned when a migrant boat sank near the island of Samos. In June 2023, 82 people drowned and hundreds went missing when a migrant trawler sank off the coast of Pylos.
The war in Gaza spurred large protests outside a glitzy roast with President Joe Biden, journalists, politicians and celebrities Saturday but went all but unmentioned by participants inside, with Biden instead using the annual White House correspondents’ dinner to make both jokes and grim warnings about Republican rival Donald Trump’s fight to reclaim the US presidency.
The UK Prime Minister declined to specify a date for a general election, particularly with significant regional votes approaching this week, which are seen as indicative of the Conservative Party's future prospects. In an interview, Rishi Sunak said that he won’t comment on whether or not a national vote will happen in July.
