Coptic Christians massacred by gunmen in Egypt

Our prayers are with the Coptic victims! We denounce these barbaric attacks

by AP - At least 26 Coptic Christians have reportedly been killed by gunmen in Egypt. The Christians were travelling by bus to a monastery when they were attacked. Many of those killed were children, according to the New York Times. Health officials said that the attack happened on Friday while the bus was travelling on the road to the St Samuel Monastery in the Minya governorate, about 220 kilometres, or about 140 miles, south of the Egyptian capital. The health ministry has said there were between eight and 10 attackers dressed in military uniforms, according to witnesses. Khaled Mogahed, the health ministry spokesman, said that the death toll had reached 26 but feared it could rise further. According to Copts United news portal, only three children survived the attack. Arab television stations showed images of a damaged bus along a roadside, many of its windows shattered. Ambulances were parked around it as bodies lay on the ground, covered with black plastic sheets. Though no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, it had all the hallmarks of Egypt’s Islamic State affiliate. Egypt has seen a wave of attacks on its Christians, including twin suicide bombings in April and another attack in December on a Cairo church that left over 75 people dead and scores wounded. The Islamic State group in Egypt claimed responsibility for them and vowed more attacks.

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Lebanon renews Central Bank governor's term amid turbulence

The Associated Press -BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese government has reappointed Lebanon's long-serving Central Bank governor for another six year term. The renewal of Riad Salameh's term sends a positive signal to international investors at a time of regional turbulence when Lebanese banks are increasingly under scrutiny from the U.S. Treasury. The U.S. administration is considering imposing new financial sanctions on Lebanese banks that knowingly do business with the militant group Hezbollah. Salameh, 66, assumed office in 1993, a few years after the country's 15-year civil war ended. He is credited with stabilizing the pound throughout years of regional upheaval, and is widely regarded as a guarantor of financial stability in the fragile country. Information Minister Melhem Riachi said Tuesday's decision to renew Salameh's term was unanimous.

Reports: Akouri considered for ambassador to Lebanon

by Melissa Nann Burke, Detroit News Washington Bureau  Washington — John Akouri, president and CEO of the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce in Royal Oak, is under consideration as the next ambassador to Lebanon, according to reports. Akouri is a former city councilman in Farmington Hills and a GOP strategist who co-chaired President Donald Trump’s campaign in Michigan. Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley offered his support in a Thursday post on Akouri’s Facebook page: “My dear friend John Akouri will make an outstanding Ambassador to Lebanon! The White House has not announced Akouri’s nomination or confirmed his candidacy for the diplomatic post. Overseas Arabic-language news articles name Akouri as a candidate for the Lebanese ambassadorship, said Fay Beydoun, executive director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. “He’s probably on a short list, but I’ve not seen anything that it’s confirmed,” Beydoun said.

Republican National Committeewoman Kathleen Berden said Akouri would do an excellent job in the position. “He’s highly intelligent and motivated and just has a heart for people. He’s the most outgoing, wonderful person,” said Berden, who got to know Akouri during the Trump campaign. “And his heritage is from there. I just cannot think of anyone else who could hold a candle to him.” Akouri previously worked in Washington as a senior adviser to former U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills, and as a media consultant to former U.S. Sen. Spence Abraham when the Auburn Hills Republican was energy secretary under President George W. Bush, according to a bio on his blog.

Akouri has appeared on FOX-2 News and NBC’s WDIV-TV as a Middle East commentator. He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for the state House in Oakland County in 2002 and for the Wayne State Board of Governors in 2006. He previously served as ethnic vice chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. He told The Detroit News during the presidential campaign last fall that many members of the Middle Eastern community supported Trump “We know he is the only candidate who can bring the necessary change needed to unleash our economy and make the world a safer and more peaceful place,” Akouri said in a statement. “Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's poor judgment at home and in the Middle East has already cost us too much — we simply cannot afford what would be nothing more than a third Obama term. On the most important issues, such as jobs, the economy, education, public safety and national security, I trust Donald Trump, a successful and straight-talking businessman, far more than I could ever trust a deceptive, career politician like Hillary Clinton.” Akouri did not respond Thursday to calls for comment.

Hezbollah accuses Saudi Arabia of terrorism supporter

This article represents only the opinion of the author

BEIRUT, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah launched a verbal attack Thursday on Saudi Arabia and the Riyadh summit, accusing it of being behind all the terrorist activities that are targeting the countries of the region and the world. In a televised speech to mark the "Resistance and Liberation Day," Nasrallah said "the Riyadh summit was focused on deviating the accusation of supporting terrorism from Saudi Arabia and pinning it on Iran." Lebanon celebrates on May 25 the "Liberation and Resistance Day" that marks the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon on May 25, 2000 after almost 18 years of occupation. "Saudi Arabia is behind the takfiri thinking and the takfiri groups and the entire world knows this. That's why the Saudi regime sought to offer a bribe to U.S. President Donald Trump," Nasrallah added, referring to huge deals worth some 380 billion U.S. dollars that were signed between Riyadh and Washington during the U.S. president's visit.

However, Nasrallah hailed President Michel Aoun, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, the Lebanese government and al-Mustaqbal Movement over their stances that sought to dissociate Lebanon from the resolutions and statements of the Arab Islamic American Summit in Riyadh. "The stances of Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and President Michel Aoun on the Riyadh summit were courageous and responsible and will contribute to immunizing the country," he said. "Even the government and al-Mustaqbal Movement have said that the Riyadh declaration is not binding for Lebanon," Nasrallah noted. He also reassured the Lebanese that "all the stances that were said and issued at the Riyadh summit will not have any impact on the Lebanese domestic situation." Turning to the situation on the eastern border and in the outskirts of the border town of Arsal, Nasrallah reiterated that "the militants have been completely kicked out of the Eastern Mountain Range." "The remaining phase is Arsal's outskirts. I reiterate that Arsal's residents and the government must exert efforts to put an end to this situation and we are keen on preventing bloodshed," Nasrallah added. "The current situation cannot continue, seeing as the outskirts contain armed groups and would-be suicide bombers who are threatening the region and its neighbors and I tell the armed groups in the outskirts that they have reached a dead end," he concluded.

Pope Francis and Donald Trump meet at Vatican

by catholicherald.co.uk - The US president said it was a 'very great honour' to meet the Pope

Pope Francis and US President Donald Trump spent 30 minutes speaking privately in the library of the Apostolic Palace May 24, and as the president left, he told the Pope, “I won’t forget what you said.” The atmosphere at the beginning was initially formal, however, the mood lightened when Pope Francis met the first lady, Melania Trump, and asked if she fed her husband “potica”, a traditional cake in Slovenia, her homeland. There were smiles all around. Pope Francis gave Trump a split medallion held together by an olive tree, which his interpreter told Trump is “a symbol of peace.” Speaking in Spanish, the Pope told Trump, “I am giving you this because I hope you may be this olive tree to make peace.” The president responded, “We can use peace.” Following the meeting President Trump tweeted that he was “more determined than ever to pursue peace in our world”.

Pope Francis also gave the president a copy of his message for World Peace Day 2017 and told him, “I signed it personally for you.” In addition, he gave Trump copies of his documents on “The Joy of the Gospel,” on the family and “Laudato Si'” on the environment. Knowing that Pope Francis frequently has quoted Martin Luther King Jr, Trump presented Pope Francis will a large gift box containing five of the slain civil rights leader’s books, including a signed copy of The Strength to Love. “I think you will enjoy them,” Trump told the Pope. “I hope you do.”

After meeting the Pope, Trump went downstairs to meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister. He was accompanied by Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, and HR McMaster, his national security adviser. The meeting lasted 50 minutes. The Vatican described the president’s meetings with both the Pope and with top Vatican diplomats as consisting of “cordial discussions,” with both sides appreciating “the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, as well as the joint commitment in favor of life, and freedom of worship and conscience.” “It is hoped that there may be serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, engaged in service to the people in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to immigrants,” the Vatican said. The discussions also included “an exchange of views” on international affairs and on “the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue, with particular reference to the situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian communities.” Because of the Pope’s weekly general audience, Pope Francis and Trump met at 8.30am, an unusually early hour for a formal papal meeting. The early hour meant Pope Francis still could greet the thousands of pilgrims and visitors waiting for him in St Peter’s Square.

Many of those pilgrims, though, had a more difficult than normal time getting into the square. Security measures were tight with hundreds of state police and military police patrolling the area and conducting more attentive searches of pilgrims’ bags. Reaching the St. Damasus Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, where the US flag flew for the morning, Trump was welcomed by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the papal household, and a formation of 15 Swiss Guards. Accompanied by the archbishop up an elevator and down a frescoed hallway, the president passed more Swiss Guards in the Clementine Hall. Although President Trump and Pope Francis are known to have serious differences on issues such as immigration, economic policy and climate change, the Pope told reporters 11 days before the meeting that he would look first for common ground with the US leader. “There are always doors that are not closed,” the pope told reporters May 13. “We have to find doors that are at least a little open in order to go in and speak about things we have in common and go forward.” After leaving the Vatican, President Trump was driven across Rome for meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. Meanwhile, the First Lady went to the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu children’s hospital — right next door to the Pontifical North American College, which is where US seminarians in Rome live. President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, went to the Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic lay movement, for a meeting on combating human trafficking.

Here's the plan for Melania and Ivanka's day in Rome

By Elise Harris - CNS

Rome, Italy, May 23, 2017 / 03:18 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- When U.S. President Donald Trump stops in Rome for a meeting with Pope Francis Wednesday, both his wife Melania and daughter Ivanka will have their own schedules, which include stops at a Vatican hospital and a round-table on human trafficking. Ivanka serves in her father's administration in an unpaid position as an assistant to the president. Pope Francis and Donald Trump will meet at the Vatican May 24 at 8:30 a.m., before the Pope’s General Audience. Melania and Ivanka will both be present for the public portion of the visit, but will each follow their own itinerary after.Once the meeting is finished, the First Lady will a visit the Vatican-owned pediatric hospital Bambino Gesu. During her tour of the facility, Melania is expected to greet patients and visit one of their playrooms as well as the chapel.    While Melania visits Bambino Gesu, Ivanka, a high-profile adviser to her father, will make her way to the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere to meet with the Community of Sant’Egidio to discuss efforts to oppose human trafficking.

The Sant’Egidio Community is often praised by Pope Francis for their work, in particular for the projects they lead aimed at helping the poor and refugees. During her meeting with Sant’Egidio, Ivanka is expected to meet with several women who are victims of trafficking, and discuss various ways in which the Church and the U.S. government can collaborate on the problem. Before leaving with her father on his first international tour, Ivanka hosted an anti-human trafficking round-table at the White House May 17 that hosted a swath of bipartisan lawmakers and representatives of numerous organizations that deal with human trafficking.   According to reports, during the discussion Ivanka spoke about the Trump administration’s efforts to combat trafficking not only in the U.S., but throughout the world, telling attendees that “combatting human trafficking and modern slavery is both a moral and strategic interest domestically and abroad.”

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