Mount Taranaki — now known as Taranaki Maunga, its Māori name — is the latest natural feature to be granted personhood in New Zealand, which has ruled that a river and a stretch of sacred land are people before. The pristine, snow-capped dormant volcano is the second highest on New Zealand’s North Island at 2,518 meters (8,261 feet) and a popular spot for tourism, hiking and snow sports. (Graham-McLay, AP News)
Read MoreAn executive order signed Wednesday by President Trump outlines a broad federal crackdown on antisemitism in the U.S., especially on college campuses, and suggests foreign students who take part in prohibited activities like supporting terrorist organizations could be deported. (Smith, NPR)
Read MoreWith his criticism of U.S. Catholic bishops for supporting immigrants, Vice President JD Vance has reignited years of GOP attacks on the Catholic Church as both sides navigate an issue that has divided the nation and the faithful. (Boorstein, The Washington Post)
Read MoreLadies & Gentleman... 50 Years of SNL Music, co-directed by Oz Rodriguez and The Roots drummer, Tonight Show bandleader, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Questlove, premieres Monday, January 27 at 8/7c on NBC. Streaming next day on Peacock. (SNL Fanatic, YouTube)
Read MoreThere’s a mystery to prayer, even for the most sincere of us. How does it work? What are we supposed to say? For people of faith, these are questions of deep significance. But that doesn’t mean they don’t lead to moments of genuine comedy. And who knows? Maybe some of those moments can help us find some real answers too. (Relevant)
Read MoreThe Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists made the annual announcement — which rates how close humanity is from ending — citing threats that include climate change, proliferation of nuclear weapons, instability in the Middle East, the threat of pandemics and incorporation of artificial intelligence in military operations. (Associated Press)
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