Free Republic

King Charles III has expressed his support for the “Shine Your Light” campaign that aims to galvanize 100,000 Christians in the U.K. to take part in pop-up carol singing, Nativity plays and other creative efforts to help people know Jesus is the King of Kings. In a letter sent to the organizers, the king expressed “warmest good wishes” and lauded the efforts to “bring many Christian denominations together, and share in faith this festive period.” The letter, made public on the Shine Your Light campaign website, added that the Charles had been “most touched” by the success of the previous...

A landmark study published Monday in the United States and Israel has uncovered that the value of property confiscated from Syria's Jewish community exceeds $10 billion in contemporary terms. The research also documents that the once-thriving community has dwindled to just four known Jewish residents in Syria today. The comprehensive findings come from Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC), a Jewish-American organization, following an exhaustive six-year investigation. The study is part of a broader research initiative, with findings on ten additional Arab countries scheduled for release in the coming months. According to the JJAC, Jewish communities had established deep...

Keonte Tynes is beating the odds stacked against him. The 18-year-old is facing homelessness but he’s not letting that break his spirit. The teenager is currently sheltered at The Christian Shelter. However, he doesn’t let his struggles deter him from success. “There are people that are on the street that aren’t dead. They are not struggling how they could be struggling. I consider myself blessed and feel like being here opened me up to God.” Tynes credits the Christian Shelter for his academic success. This stability has allowed him to excel. Tyne’s life drastically changed when he moved from East...

Forget long waits and hefty bills—these 17 Italian classics show how homemade can beat the high-end every time. With Nonna’s secrets guiding the way, every dish is a masterclass in keeping things authentic, flavorful, and utterly fulfilling. They’re the kind of recipes that make even the best trattorias a little jealous. You don’t need to tip anyone, except maybe the chef in your mirror. Italian Pot Roast Pasta If cozy dinners are your thing, you’ll love this combo of tender pot roast with pasta. It turns a classic comfort meal into something you can twirl on a fork. Italian Pot...

This week’s Economist/YouGov poll covers the health-care system, the presidential transition, the economy, President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, and cryptocurrency.Health careTwo-thirds (66%) of Americans with health insurance say they are very or somewhat satisfied with it; 14% say they are dissatisfied while 20% say they do not have health insurance or are not sureThe highest satisfaction levels are among Americans with health insurance coverage from Medicare (86%) or Medicaid (89%)One in four Americans (25%) say they or an immediate family member have ever had a health insurance claim denied60% of Americans who have had an insurance claim in...

Archaeologists have discovered a 1,500-year-old shipwreck near the ancient Greek city of Kydonies, now known as Ayvalık, on Turkey’s Aegean coast. This remarkable find, part of the “Turkish Sunken-Ships Project: Blue Heritage,” sheds new light on ancient maritime trade and the region’s historical significance. Researchers from Dokuz Eylül University’s Underwater Research Center (SUDEMER) identified the shipwreck located 2.5 miles offshore at a depth of 43 meters. Led by Associate Professors Harun Özdaş and Nilhan Kızıldağ, the team worked with the approval of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Underwater robotic systems were crucial in locating and studying the site. Largest...

Loved and hated in equal measure, Christmas pudding's cultural and political clout have extended far beyond the dining table. It has been called a "gastronomic paradox" – the most British of all dishes largely made from non-British ingredients. Today, Christmas pudding, the dense, fruit-packed confection that is boiled for hours and served with brandy butter or steaming custard just once a year, is loved and hated in equal measure, like Brussels sprouts or Marmite. Its cultural and political clout, however, have extended far beyond the dining table. Starting out as an affordable gruel enjoyed by the British working class, by...

An illegal migrant who killed an off-duty Las Vegas police officer in a wrong-way crash this month had been deported twice — but kept sneaking back into the country, authorities said. Mexican citizen Fernando Jimenez-Jimenez, 31, was driving his Ford F-150 the wrong way on Interstate 15 on Dec. 12 when his vehicle crashed head-on with Officer Colton Pulsipher, who was heading hoBoth Jimenez and Pulsipher were pronounced dead at the scene. Jimenez, 31, entered the US twice in 2019, when he was deported back to Mexico each time, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told local news outlets.me from his...

The jolly, red-suited Santa Claus who delivers presents on Christmas Eve is a beloved and immediately recognizable figure in much of the world. He is very much a magical, whimsical character, but his origin story has its roots in a real historical person: St. Nicholas of Myra. We know very little of St. Nicholas’ life, but historical evidence does confirm that he was a living, breathing man who lived in the third and fourth centuries CE. While many of the recorded details about St. Nicholas are quite likely embellished — falling more into the realm of myth than reality —...

Ghana's Supreme Court has rejected two legal bids to block a controversial bill that punishes the country's LGBTQ+ community for engaging in sexual acts. Parliament approved the bill known as the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in February. The bill calls for jail terms of six months to three years for sexual minorities who are intimate with each other. There was widespread public support for the bill in Ghana, however, it was condemned internationally for curtailing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The court ruled that as outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo has not yet signed the bill into law,...

Sudan has dropped out of the global hunger-monitoring system just as it was about to issue a report that is expected to show famine spreading across the country. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is due to publish a survey on Tuesday that shows famine affecting five areas. The shortages could expand to 10 by May, the report says. "This marks an unprecedented deepening and widening of the food and nutrition crisis, driven by the devastating conflict and poor humanitarian access," says a briefing document seen by the Reuters news agency. But authorities in Sudan accuse the IPC of...

‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ remains a beloved holiday song, thanks in no small part to singer Burl Ives’ warm, mellow voice. It lights up Christmas every year.The singer and actor Burl Ives could easily have played Father Christmas in any stage or film production. The Illinois-born entertainer had the girth (he weighed an imposing 300 pounds), the white beard, the chuckle, and the grin of the very best Santas. It’s fitting, then, that he should be best remembered for the Christmas song “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Ives, one of the stars of the movie Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and winner...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sends this Christmas message to Christian friends of Israel around the world: PM Benjamin NetanyahuOne shudders to think where Israel would be without Christians, especially American Christians. Hated by most Muslims and viewed with indifference or worse by most secular and atheist regimes, Israel needs–and, fortunately, enjoys–the support of a large majority of Christians. It is one more thing to be grateful for this holiday season.

Welcome to the PRAYER REQUESTS thread. This daily thread is a listing of prayer requests that have been posted by Freepers to the main forum who wish to have continued prayer. Hopefully this thread will remind us to continually pray for our fellow Freepers’ cares and needs. GOD hears and answers our prayers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that North Korea could be planning to send more troops and weapons to aid Russia’s army after more than 3,000 soldiers from the hermit kingdom have been killed and wounded while fighting in Ukraine. “There are risks of North Korea sending additional troops and military equipment to the Russian army,” Zelensky said Monday after receiving a report from his top military commander. “We will have tangible responses to this.”

Women in the United States are having babies less often, and the fertility rate reached a record low in 2023, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Christmas Story According to Kids Our son and his wife own a video production business in the Black Hills. This is a humorous video they created and released on Sunday. Enjoy!

I recently posted this on a university website while the moderators were enjoying Christmas. Surprisingly, the thread wasn't locked: ************************************************ The ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, MSLSD "mainstream media" propagandandist stations now have the advantage for a short while in that they are aired on legacy cable channels and easier to find on the cable channel lineup. They are now collectively called the "Legacy Media". Everything they report has an agenda. They lie by omission and simply do not report stories that do not support their agenda. Their job is not to report the actual news, but to build a...

AS VEGAS (KLAS) — The attorney for the man who attacked a Las Vegas judge said his client’s decision to plead guilty but mentally ill reflects both the seriousness of the case and his mental health struggles. Deobra Redden, 31, pleaded guilty but mentally ill Thursday after Judge Mary Kay Holthus and her law clerk testified in his attempted murder trial. As part of the guilty plea, a different judge could sentence Redden to at least three years in prison. As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported on Jan. 3, Redden, a three-time felon, was in Holthus’ courtroom for...

NEW YORK (AP) — Two luxury real estate brokers and their brother have been charged with luring, drugging and violently raping dozens of women over more than a decade, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday in Manhattan. State charges were also filed Wednesday in Florida against two of the brothers and a third man stemming from three alleged sexual assaults. Federal prosecutors allege in the New York indictment that Oren and Tal Alexander, known for brokering deals on high-end properties in New York City and Miami, and sibling Alon Alexander used their wealth and influence to take advantage of...