Melania Trump is welcoming the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree.
The first lady stepped out on the North Portico of the White House Monday to accept the tree, a 18.5-foot-high Fraser Fir from Dan and Bryan Trees in West Virginia.
For the holiday kick-off event, Trump wore a black-and-white houndstooth coat, black gloves and matching black boots.
In festive style, the tree was delivered in a green horse-drawn carriage, decorated with wreathes and a sign in red font that read “White House Christmas Tree 2020” while Christmas music played.
After approaching the carriage, Trump walked around the tree to inspect it before speaking to the carriage drivers. She then posed in front of the fir for photos before waving to photographers and walking back into the White House.
“Since 1966, the arrival of the White House Christmas Tree has become an iconic holiday tradition,” she added, sharing photos of herself accepting the tree in previous years.
Trump stirred controversy earlier this year over comments she made about Christmas during a secretly recorded conversation by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who wrote the book “Melania and Me.”
The Indonesian army has deployed a special force to hunt for suspected Islamic state-linked militants behind a deadly attack on Christians.
Four Salvation Army members were killed – one of them beheaded – in an ambush on Sulawesi Island on Friday.
Intolerance against Indonesia’s Christian minority has been rising as the Muslim-majority country battles an ongoing Islamic militancy.
A church body denounced the killings as terrorism rather than a religious feud.
A group of men wielding swords and guns attacked a Salvation Army outpost in remote Lemban Tongoa village in central Sulawesi province on Friday morning.
They killed four of its male Christian members – beheading one victim – and burned down homes, including one used for prayers, the village leader and police told news media.
Four Salvation Army members were killed – one of them beheaded – in an ambush on Sulawesi Island on Friday.
Intolerance against Indonesia’s Christian minority has been rising as the Muslim-majority country battles an ongoing Islamic militancy.
A church body denounced the killings as terrorism rather than a religious feud.
A group of men wielding swords and guns attacked a Salvation Army outpost in remote Lemban Tongoa village in central Sulawesi province on Friday morning.
They killed four of its male Christian members – beheading one victim – and burned down homes, including one used for prayers, the village leader and police told news media.
Botswana says it is sending thousands of wild elephants back to neighbouring Angola.
The southern African country has the largest number of elephants in the world, an estimated 130,000 of them.
But tens of thousands are actually refugees from Angola’s civil war between 1975 and 2002. they are now expected to repopulate and recolonise their former habitat, in southeast Angola.
Botswana opposition Member of Parliament and conservationist Kgoborego Nkawana told journalists that elephants have a big home range that includes Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Angola.
The Federal Government of Nigeria says it has conceded about N1.024 trillion import duty waivers, concessions and grants to drive economic growth in the country in the past three years.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Zainab Ahmed, made this known at a one-day sensitisation on Digitisation Of Import Duty Exemptions Certificate (IDEC) on monday in Kano.
The Minister, represented by Shehu Na-Allah Kura, the Kano state commissioner of finance said the waivers were granted to businesses and corporate organisations between 2011 and 2015.
Ahmed said for the records, between 2011 and 2015; government conceded about 1.024 trillion through the grant of only four types of incentives, namely:
She added that the government also granted approximately N341.94 billion waivers between August 2017 And August 2019.
She said the basis for providing these incentives was to stimulate economic growth and overall development.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said the government would compensate victims of the violent protests that left several people dead following the arrest of an opposition presidential candidate.
In a televised address, Museveni said the government would compensate the families of the victims, the injured, and those who lost property during what he called “senseless riots” over the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi.
He said the death toll from the November 18 -19 sporadic protests in some parts across the country has risen to 54, as more people succumbed to the injuries sustained.
Museveni directed police to carry out comprehensive investigations on alleged stray bullets fired by security personnel during the riots, which killed people and injured others.
The arrest of Kyagulanyi, an opposition presidential candidate, in the eastern district of Luuka for allegedly flouting covid-19 campaign guidelines, sparked sporadic protests in some parts of the country.
Food is one of the most important things required for sustenance, eating is one of the most important activities required for same. When we eat, we seek satisfaction but in our bid to satisfy cravings, we sometimes miss out on some great, highly beneficial food items, because we choose to stick to what is familiar or we do not have the important information to add them.
They are called POWER FOODS and they mean every word of that. So called because, in just little quantities, they fill the body with so much great nutrients, other food items would need to be four times as much to give half as much goodness. So lets dive right into seven of the food items that you need to be eating.
Sardines – One of the best sources of blood pressure-lowering Omega 3 fats, this power food is packed with vitamins that help your cardiovascular system, give you energy, and is necessary for good bone health throughout your life.
Chia seeds – These tiny seeds contain large amounts of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids along with plenty of high-quality protein. This power-food helps to improve blood sugar control and lower blood pressure. Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants and have been linked to improvement in risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, as well as benefits for digestion and gut health. Chia seeds can be made into a porridge or sprinkled over your bread, salad, or fruits. It can also be sprinkled over everyday meals.
Avocado – While most fruits consist primarily of carbohydrates, avocado is high in healthy fats. Avocado contains more potassium than bananas and potassium helps maintain electrical gradients in your body’s cells. This nutrient is a nutrient that most people don’t get enough of. Avocado contains some of the best sources of heart-healthy fats in any plant food. Avocado consumers are repeatedly found to be much healthier than people who don’t eat this fruit. Avocados can also be applied topically to skin and hair for excellent results.
Garlic – More commonly known for its stench, garlic is one of the most medicinal herb plants. The sulfur in garlic helps to fight against common cold and reduce blood pressure. Garlic is highly nutritious with very few calories and can be consumed in large quantities.
Brown rice – Brown rice has been known to reduce the risk of premature aging. It contains, antioxidants that help reduce damage to cells and is excellent for weight loss as it contains fewer calories than white rice but provides more energy. Scientists estimate that by replacing about 50 grams per day of white rice with brown rice, a person can reduce their diabetes risk by 16%.
Oats – Oats are amongst the healthiest grains on the earth and are incredibly nutritious. They are heavy in digestion aiding fibre, and help to reduce cholesterol levels. They are also packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and have been used in skin and hair care for centuries.
Beans – Many people know beans as a major source of protein but the power food is rich in fibre and is a source of natural energy. Black-eyed beans, the variant, most commonly eaten in this part of the world are rich in vitamins and help improve gut health. The antioxidants in beans have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and immune-boosting effects. Beans fill you up for longer and help to manage weight gain.
A mob of Muslim villagers has attacked the homes and shops of Coptic Christians in Egypt’s Minya governorate over rumors that a Christian man had posted a comment denigrating Islam on Facebook.
At least one elderly woman was hospitalized for burns suffered in the fire in her home after groups close to Islamist groups used stones and Molotov cocktails to target the Coptic Orthodox community in al Barsha Thursday.
The man accused of posting the comment against Islam on his personal Facebook account said that his page had been hacked.
The mob also tried to attack the church of Abou Sefin, where the congregation was celebrating the beginning of the Coptic fast, reported the U.K.-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a United Nations-recognized NGO that works in several countries to assist persecuted communities.
A minibus belonging to the church was also reportedly burnt.
Soon after the attack, General Osama Al Qadi, the governor of Minya, called a meeting with village leaders to ease the tensions and calm the passions. Al Qadi also urged Muslim clergy to promote coexistence and tolerance through their sermons in mosques.
According to the Christian persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, Egypt is the 16th worst persecutor of Christians in the world.
With 25 denominations representing some one million adherents, the Minnesota Council of Churches has embarked on a 10-year plan to tell the truth and educate about racism in Minnesota and offer reparations to black and indigenous communities harmed by it.
According to president of the National Council of Churches, Jim Winkler, he has never seen an anti-racism plan like the one laid out by the MCC.
The statewide “truth and reparation” plan, first announced in October, is modeled on the principles of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa.
The Rev. Curtiss DeYoung, CEO of the MCC and also a former professor of reconciliation studies who traveled frequently to South Africa to study its Truth and Reconciliation Commission, also said the plan is unprecedented.
In a document on the plan presented by the council, they explain that the truth telling process will start with acknowledging the complicity of faith communities in racial injustice and disparities.
The process will emerge in various contexts statewide and across local governments addressing issues such as policing, land, and racial equity in health, education, wealth, employment and housing.
Denominations will be allowed to pursue their own educational process for racial justice and equity work in conversation with MCC, which could include anti-racism training or other efforts like cultural competency development.
France will have to review the restrictions it created for worship attendance to combat the spread of the coronavirus, according to the Western European nation’s highest court.
France’s State Council ordered the government on Sunday to review a law that limited church attendance to 30 in-person attendees in response to Catholic groups challenging the law.
The religious groups wanted the standard to be changed to allow 30% capacity for houses of worship, arguing that secular businesses are given looser standards during the lockdown.
On Oct. 30, in response to a new wave of COVID-19 infections, France instituted a national lockdown whose restrictions began to be eased this past weekend.
French Catholic bishops took issue with the 30-person limit for worship, releasing a statement last week saying that they were “disappointed and surprised” by the restriction.
The Gospel has advanced powerfully in 2020, Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association President Franklin Graham told The Christian Post.
In 2019, 1.3 million people gave their lives to Christ through online ministries, Graham said. In 2020, 1.7 million people did.
“I try to shy away from the questions on numbers. God’s the one who gives the increase. It’s not Franklin Graham and it’s not the institution,” he said.
The pandemic meant that Graham had to cancel evangelistic crusades and concentrate on using new ways to spread the Gospel. Situations might change but the call to preach the Gospel faithfully always remains, Graham emphasized.
We’ve never gone through a pandemic in my lifetime. The world has never been locked down before,” he said. “It’s God who touches people’s hearts and opens up people’s eyes. The pandemic hasn’t stopped it. If anything, it’s advanced it.”
For the first time, the BGEA operated a 24/7 Gospel call hotline and bought ads on television. In a 60-second ad spot, Graham can engage viewers, ask them about the condition of their souls and pray a quick prayer. The glory for the Gospel’s spread this year goes to God, Graham said.
“The people’s hearts have been softened a little bit. People who have not listened before are listening now. For evangelism, it may be one of the better years we’ve had,” he said.
People haven’t changed their attitudes toward the Gospel, the evangelist noted. Instead, it’s their attitude toward the rest of life that changed as people fear the pandemic and feel near to death. People have reacted in panic toward the coronavirus and their fear leaves them yearning for a message of hope.
“I think they’re willing to listen to the Gospel. People are scared and afraid. When you give them the hope we have in Jesus Christ, they’re eager to accept that. When the world turns upside down is when they’re eager to listen,” Graham, who’s the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, said.
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