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The European Union has viewed itself as progressive, liberal, and left-leaning. But as a recent analysis in The Guardian suggests, “For the first time in its history, we could be looking at a genuinely rightwing European Union” (November 18, 2024). The incoming parliament is the most right-wing in history and will be responsible for backing the conservative agenda of Ursula von der Leyen’s second term.

The nations of Southern Africa are no strangers to drought. Historically, one in five years is a drought year in the region. But in recent decades, that number has risen to once every three or four years (The Guardian, November 14, 2024). Experts say the current drought is a once-in-a-century situation.

In a controversial move, the Biden administration recently approved the use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine to attack targets within Russia (USA Today, November 19, 2024). Within days, Ukraine used these missiles to attack a Russian weapons storage facility 70 miles from the Ukraine border.

The Guardian reports, “Every US state except Alaska and Kentucky is facing drought, an unprecedented number, according to the US Drought Monitor” (November 5, 2024). “As of November 19, 2024, 38.03% of the U.S. and Puerto Rico and 45.48% of the lower 48 states are in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor,” and this drought is impacting more than 140 million people (Drought.gov, November 19, 2024).

Several years ago, the Satanic Temple made headlines in the United States, but now it is making headlines in Chile as it seeks official recognition there as a religious association (AP, November 7, 2024). In that traditionally Catholic nation, this is a bold step. But, as sexual abuse scandals have rocked the Roman Catholic Church, the Satanic Temple feels that now is a good time to put its request forward.