Filipino Catholics pray for Mideast peace in massive procession venerating a black statue of Jesus January 09, 2024 at 12:16AM

A massive crowd of mostly barefoot Catholic worshippers marched Tuesday in an annual procession in the Philippines' capital, carrying a centuries-old black statue of Jesus. Many said they were praying for peace in the Middle East, where tens of thousands of Filipinos work, as fears rise of a spread of the Israel-Hamas war, now in its fourth month. The procession, considered one of the major events of the year for Catholics in Asia, was suspended for three years during the coronavirus pandemic and last year, the statue was not paraded to discourage larger crowds.

Blinken to discuss 'way forward' in Gaza as he meets Israeli leaders January 08, 2024 at 11:05PM

Following a tour of Israel's Arab neighbours, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with leaders on Tuesday, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss the "way forward" in Israel's battle in Gaza. Blinken said he would share the insights he had gathered from regional nations during a day of talks with Israel's administration, speaking alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog prior to their meeting on Tuesday morning. That will include meeting the war cabinet.