USA - The worst US drought in more than half a century has weakened the safety net for the 50 million Americans who struggle to get enough to eat, and the nation's food banks are raising the alarm as the holiday season gets into full swing.

USA - Federal disability insurance payments hit a record $135 billion in fiscal year 2012, which ended on September 30. That was more than the $124.712 billion the Department of Defense paid in fiscal year 2012 for procurement of goods and services, according to the federal government's Monthly Treasury Statement for September. Given that the Bureau of Labor Statistics said there were 115,459,000 Americans working full-time in October, the 8,805,353 workers now collecting disability equal about 1 for each 13 full-time workers.

USA - More Americans will use food stamps to buy their Thanksgiving dinner this year than ever before, according to a new report from the nonprofit government watchdog group The Sunlight Foundation. The Food Stamp Challenge, which challenges higher-income families to live as if they are on food stamps, estimates that a person on food stamps has a budget of about $1.25 per meal.

FRAMINGHAM, USA - It’s one of the most highly anticipated deliveries of the year, the turkeys at Pearl Street Cupboard and Café in Framingham [food distribution depot for the needy]. But three days before Thanksgiving, the food pantry is coming up short of turkeys for everyone who walks through the door. It’s the first time Criseida Hernandez has asked for one. “It’s a little hard because I’ve been able to get one myself without going any place to ask for it. But I’ve been unemployed for the last year,” she said. It’s the busiest time of year for food distribution and at Pearl Street, requests for help are up 400 percent over last year. “These are folks you wouldn’t normally expect to be needing help, on top of those always in need, it’s a big group and a big deal,” said Paul Mina president of United Way Tri-County, which runs the food pantry.

USA - The bright line between "social" and "economic" issues in American politics is perhaps blurrier than one might think. One study shows the economic effects of abortion, finding significant economic consequences for women who carried unwanted pregnancies to term.

ISRAEL - Hamas unleashed new rounds of rocket missile bombardments on southern Israel Wednesday morning as United Nations and American officials try to reach a ceasefire. The Iron Dome anti-missile system blew up at least a dozen missiles, including those aimed at Be’er Sheva and Ashkelon. Most of the others landed in open areas, but one missile exploded at a house in Be’er Tuvia, a community next to Kiryat Malachi and located halfway between Be’er Sheva and Tel Aviv.

UK - After a tortuous 12-year legal process, which secured strong backing in all but two of the 44 dioceses, the move was denied final approval by just six votes. The decision averts the prospect of a small group of conservative evangelicals and traditionalist Anglo-Catholics, who object to women bishops on theological grounds, from leaving the Church.

It could be many years before it is discussed again.

NEW ZEALAND - A New Zealand volcano used as a backdrop to "The Lord of the Rings" films has erupted, sending a column of ash two kilometres above the North Island. The official GNS Science monitoring service issued a potential threat alert after the 1:25 pm (0025 GMT) eruption at Mount Tongariro, which became active in August this year after lying dormant for more than a century. New Zealand lies on the Pacific's so-called "Ring of Fire" and is a hotspot for volcanic and seismic activity.

FRANCE - The village of Bugarach, at the feet of the French Pyrenees – believed to be the only place on the planet to be left standing after next month’s predicted apocalypse – has been closed for the occasion. Local authorities decided to limit access to the peak beginning December 19 through December 23. New Age theories say Bugarach will be the only refuge where people will be able to escape the apocalypse, which they expect to fall on December 21 of this year.

CAIRO, EGYPT - Israel and militants from the Gaza Strip have agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that will come into force at midnight local TIME (22:00 GMT), Hamas official Ayman Taha said, speaking to Reuters from Cairo. "An agreement for calm has been reached. It will be declared at 9.00 pm and go into effect at midnight," Taha said.

UK - Does Britain have a future as a member of the European Union? Prime Minister David Cameron doesn't have an answer to that question - and that is a problem. His threats to veto the EU budget and efforts at securing a special status for his country are both undignified and dangerous. Will the country remain on the cusp as it is now? Will London take additional steps outside of the fold? Anything is possible, and Britain's erratic position is increasingly becoming an annoyance for the UK's partners on the other side of the Channel. It's not that the British hate the European Union. But they fear the inevitability with which the Brussels beast is mutating into a monster, and they fear being eaten by that monster.

FRANCE - The credit ratings agency Moody's has downgraded France from its top rating. The country's debt rating has been reduced from AAA to AA1 and has kept its negative outlook, meaning it could be downgraded again. In a statement, Moody's blamed the risk of a Greek exit from the euro, stalled economic growth and the chances that France will have to contribute to bailing out other countries. Rival agency Standard & Poor's downgraded France in January.

SYRIA - The regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad has perpetrated brutal attacks on both rebel fighters and civilians alike. Lately, though, the spotlight of world attention has been on alleged atrocities committed by those attempting to overthrow Assad. Moral standards may be shifting as the civil war drags on. The rebels didn't hesitate long after capturing a checkpoint near Sarakib, southwest of Aleppo, on November 1. They rounded up the surviving soldiers and militia members fighting on behalf of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, made them lie on the ground and shot them to death. With each passing day and each person killed, the risk of a storm of revenge grows.

BRUSSELS, EUROPE - As some European sources have put it, a "miracle" would be needed to strike a deal on the 2014-2020 EU budget when EU leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. At least seven countries have threatened to veto the on-going EU budget talks – an agreement at the EU summit this week looks unlikely.

GAZA, PALESTINE - Egypt’s Prime Minister Hisham Kandil cried on Friday and kissed the dead child’s forehead, calling him a “martyr.” CNN called him “another victim of an [Israeli] airstrike.” Newspapers showed his photo as an example of the Palestinian civilians killed by Israel’s ongoing military campaign against militants in Gaza.