News Briefs – National and International

ELISHA VALLADARES-CORMIER
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

National

HHS Secretary Resigns

Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Price, resigned Sep. 29 after several reports were released that demonstrated the Trump-appointee’s use of private and military aircraft. According to POLITICO, Price had spent upwards of $1 million in taxpayer money on travel since May. Part of the controversy was the fact that Price had mixed in private affairs, including lunch with his son, with official government business trips. Price is the first cabinet secretary from the Trump administration to resign and has been on watch for the past several months for his failure to procure the necessary amount of votes for the Obamacare repeal. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Don J. Wright will be serving as acting secretary until a successor is appointed.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/29/trump-tom-price-private-jets-downfall-243327  

Trump, NFL Trade Barbs Over Anthem Kneeling

President Donald Trump and several high-profile NFL players brewed a boiling debate over the past week following on-field protests taking place during the playing of the national anthem. The protests stem from San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s statement last season that he would not stand for the national anthem in protest of what he perceived as social injustice. During the games on Sept. 24, dozens of players knelt or sat during the playing of the national anthem while several more refused to show up on the field for it. President Trump condemned the protesters and suggested that they should be fired for their actions. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, on the other hand, said he was proud of the way the players acted.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/sports/nfl-trump-anthem-protests.html?mcubz=3

Gunman Kills One, Injured Seven In Tennessee Church

A Sudanese immigrant has admitted to being the gunman in an attack that killed one parishioner and injured seven others in a Nashville, TN, church on Sep. 24. Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, admitted to being the shooter in an interview with police officers but did not reveal a motive. Samson walked into Burnette Chapel Church of Christ and began shooting before being subdued by usher Robert Engle, 22, who retrieved his own gun and held Samson until police arrived. Investigators have acknowledged that the attack could have been in retaliation for the 2015 white supremacist attack at a South Carolina Church.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/25/tennessee-church-shooter-admits-to-crime-as-bizarre-facebook-posts-surface.html  

 

International 

Dozens Write “Filial Correction” to Pope

Dozens of Catholic scholars, including some clergy presented Pope Francis with a letter of “filial correction.” The letter follows months of calls for clarification concerning the pontiff’s 2016 apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia,” which they felt opened room for debate on items such as Communion for the divorced and remarried. In the letter, the signers asked for Francis to reaffirm Church teaching on those issues to avoid “scandal concerning faith and morals.” Francis has not addressed this letter, nor a previous letter sent last year by four high-profile cardinals, which included the American Raymond L. Burke.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/25/world/pope-heresy/index.html 

14 Dead at Mexican Drug Rehab

At least 14 people were killed and eight more are injured after several masked men opened fire in a Mexican drug rehabilitation center. According to BBC, the men were wearing military style clothes and were each carrying assault rifles. The rehabilitation center was in the city of Chihuahua, which is located in the Mexican state by the same name. The state of Chihuahua has seen a rise in murders in the past several months, which police attribute to a fight between two drug cartels for control of the local drug market. As of Sept. 30, the police had not been able to apprehend the gunmen.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41412058

Palestinian Kills Israelis Near West Bank Settlement

A Palestinian gunman killed three Israelis and left a fourth critically wounded near a West Bank settlement before being shot himself. The attack occurred on Sept. 26 and was one of the most deadly attacks in two years of violence between Israel and Palestine. The gunman was identified as a lone attacker who was motivated by personal problems to engage in the deathly rampage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to condemn the attack and announced that the attacker’s home would be demolished.  Additionally, any work permits given to the attacker’s family members would be revoked. Netanyahu called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to condemn the attack, but accused him of helping to incite violence against Israelis.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/shooting-attack-jerusalem-kills-israelis-50094159