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London: Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, issued an apology on social media on Monday for "any confusion" caused by an edited photograph which was issued by her office Kensington Palace on Sunday.
<a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1767135566645092616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1767135566645092616%7Ctwgr%5E142009551109fc18bbb5b9607613df8ed0abadd1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fworld%2Fuks-princess-of-wales-kate-middleton-apologises-for-edited-photograph-with-children-2931310" target="_self">https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1767135566645092616?</a>
"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," the message on X said, signed with a "C" meaning it was sent by Kate. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."
—Reuters

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, apologizes for confusion caused by edited photograph released by Kensington Palace.

UK's Princess of Wales Kate Middleton apologises for edited photograph with children

London's iconic BT Tower is set to become a hotel after the owner BT Group said it had agreed to sell the 177-metre building in the capital's West End to MCR Hotels for 275 million pounds ($347 million).
The tower, opened by Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1965, was London's tallest building for 16 years until the NatWest Tower in the City of London was built.  Its role in communications has diminished as fixed and mobile technology changes, and its microwave aerials were removed more than a decade ago as they were no longer needed to connect London to the rest of the country.  BT's Property Director Brent Mathews said the tower, which sits at the heart of London, had played a vital role in carrying the nation's calls, messages and TV signals.
"This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come," he said.  Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR Hotels, said: "We are proud to preserve this beloved building and will work to develop proposals to tell its story as an iconic hotel, opening its doors for generations to enjoy."
—Reuters

London's BT Tower sold to MCR Hotels for £275M. Iconic landmark transforms into a hotel, preserving its legacy at the heart of West End. 

London's BT Tower to become hotel after $347 million sale

London's BT Tower sold to MCR Hotels for £275M. Iconic landmark transforms into a hotel, preserving its legacy at the heart of West End.

Paris: France has summoned the Russian ambassador to Paris following the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the French foreign ministry said on Tuesday, confirming earlier media reports.
The Russian ambassador was summoned on Monday, the ministry said. Germany also summoned Russia's ambassador in Berlin on Monday over Navalny's death.
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 Navalny, 47, died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the "Polar Wolf" penal colony in Kharp, about 1,900 km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said.  Western countries and Navalny's supporters say Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. The Kremlin has denied involvement and says that Western claims that Putin was responsible were unacceptable.
—Reuters

France summons Russian ambassador over Navalny's death. International outcry as Western nations blame Putin. Kremlin denies responsibility.

France summons Russian ambassador after Navalny's death

The Hague [Netherland]: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is preparing to commence historic hearings on the legality of Israel's 57-year occupation of Palestinian territories. Scheduled for a week at The Hague, the proceedings coincide with Israel's ongoing military offensive in Gaza, resulting in the death of over 29,000 Palestinians since October 7, Al Jazeera reported. Distinct from the genocide complaint filed by South Africa against Israel for alleged violations in the current conflict, the ICJ hearings focus on Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem since 1967. The Palestinians, seeking these areas for an independent state, argue that the occupation breaches three fundamental principles of international law, as reported by Al Jazeera. Palestinian representatives assert that Israel has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest by annexing significant portions of occupied land, infringing upon the Palestinians' right to self-determination, and imposing a system of racial discrimination and apartheid. Omar Awadallah, head of the UN organisations department in the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, emphasises the desire for the court to consider the term "apartheid," similar to its evaluation of "genocide" in the South Africa case. An advisory opinion from the court is anticipated to provide the Palestinians with legal tools to address the alleged illegalities of the occupation through peaceful international law methods. The court's ruling is expected to take months. Following the Palestinian presentation, an unprecedented 51 countries and three organisations--the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union--will address the judges. While Israel will not present an oral argument, it has submitted written observations. The case reached the ICJ after the UN General Assembly voted in December 2022 to seek a non-binding advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation from the 15-judge panel. This request, championed by Palestinians and contested by Israel, prompted strong objections from the latter, which deemed any potential decision from the court as "completely illegitimate." Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza in 1967 during a war with Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. While Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it still controls the enclave's borders. In the West Bank, 146 settlements house over 500,000 Jewish settlers, with a settler population growth exceeding 15 per cent in the last five years, according to Peace Now. Israel has also annexed East Jerusalem, considering the entire city as its capital. The international community widely regards the settlements as illegal, and Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem is not internationally recognised. This case marks the second time the UN General Assembly has sought an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the occupied Palestinian territory, following a 2004 ruling that declared Israel's separation wall in the West Bank violated international law, Al Jazeera reported.
—ANI

ICJ hearings on Israel's 57-year occupation of Palestinian territories. Palestinians seek legal redress, alleging violations of international law.

International Court of Justice to hold hearings on legality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories

Oslo: A volcano erupted on Thursday in southwest Iceland for the second time this year, the country's meteorological office said, making it the sixth outbreak on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021.
Live video from the area showed fountains of bright-orange molten rock spewing from fissures in the ground.  "Warning: A volcanic eruption started north of Sylingarfell," the Met Office said on its website.  The nearby geothermal spa Blue Lagoon had closed on Thursday, it said.  The previous eruption started on January 14 and lasted roughly two days, with lava flows reaching the outskirts of the Grindavik fishing town, whose nearly 4,000 inhabitants had been evacuated, setting some houses alight.  The Sylingarfell mountain is located a distance north of Grindavik, but it was not immediately clear if Thursday's outbreak would affect the village.  Icelandic authorities in November started building dykes that can help divert burning lava flows away from homes and critical infrastructure.  Despite downgrading the volcanic system's threat level, the local authorities have warned of further eruptions as land continued to rise in the area due to magma accumulating underground.  Iceland, which is roughly the size of the US state of Kentucky, boasts more than 30 active volcanoes, making the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism - a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers.
—Reuters

Iceland's meteorological office issues warning as a second volcano erupts in 2024. Live footage, evacuations, and ongoing efforts to manage lava flows.

Iceland volcano erupts again, molten rocks spew from fissures

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was isolated, the sole holdout to a landmark European Union fund for Ukraine worth billions. As pressure mounted on him on the eve of an emergency EU summit last week, he needed someone to talk to.
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, who had long shared his antagonism to the EU, was that sympathetic ear.  Over drinks for an hour, Orban complained about being treated unfairly by the EU for his hard-right politics. A hard-right leader herself, Meloni told him that she too had felt the prejudice. But, she said, instead of attacking the EU, she had tried to work with it in good faith, according to a European official with knowledge of the discussion. That approach, she argued, obliged the EU to engage her, too, and in the end, it came through for her by agreeing that Italy had complied with requirements for the release of billions of euros in Covid relief funds.  Orban ultimately agreed to the Ukraine deal. It was a big moment for Europe. But it was also a big moment for Meloni — who sealed her credibility as someone who could play an influential role in the top tier of European leaders.  When Meloni became Italy’s leader in October 2022, many in Brussels worried she would be a disruptive force. Instead, as the Orban episode showed, she has positioned herself as a hard-right leader who can speak to those on the farther right. As Europe tilts more and more right, it is a remedy EU leaders may need more of in coming years.  “She likes to act like a bridge,” said Roberto D’Alimonte, a political scientist at Luiss-Guido Carli University in Rome.  D’Alimonte said Meloni had “made a radical change,” from being an anti-EU ideologue to a pragmatic pro-EU leader who understands she needs “all the help she can get” from the EU, with which Italy is by now inseparably intertwined.  But he said Meloni was moving mainstream only “to a point,” and still had a vision for Europe that rebalanced powers away from Brussels, and that she sought leverage in upcoming European elections in June to make that happen.  Even so, in many ways, Meloni has put the European establishment at ease. She has proved to be rock-ribbed on the question of Ukraine, aligned herself with the United States and NATO and withdrawn Italy from China’s vast plan of economic expansion into Europe.
She has toned down her anti-EU vitriol and muted any talk of leaving the euro or breaking with the bloc, as have some other hard-right parties and leaders in a post-Brexit universe where the option has shown itself to be far less appealing. The AfD in Germany, from which Meloni says she is separated by “insurmountable distances” is a notable exception.  On other issues, like migration, much of Europe has come around to her harder line. She worked with the EU to seek a deal with Tunisia to keep migrants from coming. In recent days, she hosted a summit of African leaders in Rome to both help find alternative energy resources for Europe and stop migration at the source.  Her burst of European activity does not seem to have tarnished her reputation with other right-wing leaders who are eager to show wary voters that they too can play nice with the establishment.  Marine Le Pen, a hard-right leader in France, has already toned down her support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and her own anti-EU language before new elections in 2027. Meloni has called the evolution of her position on Russia — which is to say her distancing from Putin — “interesting.”  Nicola Procaccini, a European Parliament member with Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, said that a rightward tilt of Europe would only make Meloni a more important center of gravity.  Procaccini, who is the co-chair of the group of right-wing parties in Brussels that Meloni leads, said it also helped her that “among the big European nations, the Italian government is perhaps the most stable.”  He pointed out that President Emmanuel Macron of France could not run again and argued that the left-leaning German government “is very weak,” he said, and the far-left government in Spain was “extremely weak.”  “So in this moment the Italian government is the most solid and this is an advantage,” he said.  Meloni’s growing footprint in Europe is rooted in strong support back home that has only grown stronger since she took office in October 2022. She has consolidated support in polls and influence within her own coalition.  The death of Silvio Berlusconi removed a mercurial partner sympathetic to Putin and fond of causing her headaches. Her other coalition partner, the once wildly popular Matteo Salvini, seems very much yesterday’s news as he scrambles to win support on the far-right margins where Meloni is viewed as a native daughter.  Her left-wing opposition is in disarray. It argued that she is still the same hard-right ideologue as ever — pointing to her proposal to make surrogacy a universal crime for Italians and to reform the constitution to give the prime minister greater powers. But it has failed to gain traction with voters.  Experts have bemoaned the general incompetence of the governing class around Meloni, pointing to embarrassing missteps like a windfall tax on the extra profits banks made from inflation, which was quickly walked back.  While they note that Meloni has done little in the way of real reforms, she has nevertheless, they also say, proved pragmatic, provided stability and moved away from her past populist and inflammatory rhetoric.  Despite an ideological background that loathes globalization, Meloni has paid heed to international markets. After years bashing the EU leadership, she is working closely with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.
Von der Leyen belongs to the European People’s Party, a large group of more mainstream European conservatives. Meloni instead leads the European Conservatives and Reformists, a rival group of hard-right parties including the Spanish hard-right party, Vox, and Poland’s Law and Justice party, which are both coming off humiliating electoral defeats which suggest the limited appeal of a far-right agenda.  Asked whether Orban’s party, which quit the EPP after the European Commission cracked down on him, is considering joining Meloni’s group, Procaccini said “It’s possible.” He added, “Meloni is one of the few people who can speak with Viktor Orban.”  Upcoming and important elections for Commission president, in which von der Leyen is expected to stand for reelection, will be an important measure of the ideological orientation of Europe, but also of Meloni’s ambitions in it.  She did not support von der Leyen in 2019, when she led a smaller and louder opposition party, but this time she has much to gain by working with the reelected commission president, and she is widely expected to either vote for, or not stand in the way of, von der Leyen’s reelection.  In that case, Meloni will almost certainly nominate an Italian ally to the powerful commission, earning more sway for Italy in Brussels, and more influence for herself.  Analysts say she is likely to emerge with more leverage, especially if her support for von der Leyen proves pivotal.  With a more leading role in Europe, Procaccini said, Meloni would work to roll back the European Green Deal, a set of sustainable policies against climate change that she has called “climate fundamentalism” and which is prompting protests by farmers across Europe.  She would keep pushing for tougher border controls and want Europe to work together on big strategic issues, but more often butt out of national affairs.  “She will use sovereignist rhetoric to rebalance the power between the union and member states and in favor of the states,” D’Alimonte said, “but not to the point of breaking up the union.”
—International New York Times

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a rising hard-right leader, navigates EU politics, influences key decisions, and reshapes Europe's power dynamics with pragmatism and vision.

Giorgia Meloni solidifies her credentials in Europe

Paris: According to the police three people were injured in a knife attack that took place at Pariss Gare de Lyon railway station on Saturday. The attacker has been. Is now in custody.  The incident occurred around 8;00 am (0700 GMT) within the station premises. Gare de Lyon is a transportation hub connecting various destinations such as Switzerland and Italy for both domestic and international trains.  As, per the police report one of the victims suffered injuries while the other two had minor wounds. It is worth noting that during the attack the assailant did not utter any slogans. The police source also mentioned that upon apprehension the suspect presented a driving license.  —Input from Agencies

Knife attack at Paris's Gare de Lyon leaves 3 injured. Swift arrest as police investigate the major railway station incident.

Knife Attack: 3 Injured at Paris Railway Station

Brussels: The European Union’s leaders are meeting in Brussels on Thursday to try to strike a deal with Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, who is blocking a multibillion-euro fund aimed at securing Ukraine’s financing for the next few years.
Talks are gridlocked and the mood toward Orban is negative, with European leaders, unusually united against one of their peers, fed up with his stance on Ukraine and his anti-EU bluster.  What’s at stake?  A 50 billion-euro ($54 billion) fund to support Ukraine through to the end of 2027.  Ukraine is facing one of is most difficult moments since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly two years ago, with US aid held up and virtually no progress on the battlefield.  Ukraine urgently needs fresh cash to keep basic services running. The EU aid, to be dispensed in the form of loans and grants over the next four years, would both cover immediate needs and allow Ukraine to plan its long-term budget.
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This money is part of auxiliary funds, still under negotiation, to supplement the EU budget and pay for things like emergency responses to natural disasters. If there’s no deal over the funding for Ukraine, the other parts of the budget will also be held up.  There are broader issues at stake. If EU leaders fail to agree on long-term support for Ukraine, it could undermine the bloc’s credibility. And a definitive rupture over Ukraine could be hard to recover from, reinforcing Hungary’s isolation.  Why is Hungary blocking the deal?  Orban has watered down or held up most EU decisions linked to Ukraine, including sanctions against Russia, which require the unanimous backing of all 27 EU countries.  The closest — and perhaps now only — ally of President Vladimir Putin in the EU, Orban says he believes Russia is not a threat to Europe.  Critics say Orban is simply angling to extend his power. The goal, they say, is to use Hungary’s veto as leverage to unfreeze billions of euros in EU funding that has been held up over Hungary’s breaches of EU rules.  Why is the EU-Hungary relationship so bad?  The EU and Hungary have long clashed over policies on the rule of law, corruption and minority rights, but their relationship has hit rock bottom since the outbreak of war in Ukraine two years ago.  The European Commission, which enforces the application of EU rules, believes that Orban’s policies at home have eroded democratic protections, and that he has diverted EU funds to benefit himself and his allies. It has punished Hungary by freezing money the country would normally be getting — and desperately needs — from the EU.  Orban and his officials reject the criticisms and say the EU is trying to impose liberal Western values on Hungary that run counter to his vision of his nation’s conservative Christian identity.  Can the EU change Orban’s mind?  Orban’s EU partners have committed to a robust annual review of how any money given to Ukraine is spent, but they say they won’t grant Hungary its demand for an annual vote.  If it is access to EU frozen funding that Orban is really after, that seems unlikely.  Late last year, the Commission concluded that Hungary had put in place judicial reforms, and unfroze 10 billion euros. But it said it would continue withholding the rest, 20 billion euros, because other issues remained unresolved.  While EU officials said the timing of the decision was coincidental, it came just before EU leaders officially opened talks that could lead to membership in the bloc for Ukraine. Orban had said he would veto such a move, but this time he left the room when the decision was being made, effectively abstaining.  A repeat of this scenario Thursday is highly unlikely. The commission has made clear that it believes Hungary has not made any fresh progress that would warrant releasing more of the frozen funds.  What’s the best-case scenario?  Orban and the EU leaders might still find room for compromise in the details of how the Ukraine fund will be operated. Hungary could, for example be given a financial incentive in the form of a reprieve from the small contributions it makes to the EU budget.  This would allow the EU to offer Ukraine predictable long-term funding. The rupture with Orban would be set aside. And leaders could focus on the victory of getting all EU member states behind Ukraine at a crucial moment.  What if Orban does not get on board?  If the talks break down and no Ukraine fund is announced, EU leaders will be forced to go home and work out what they’ll try next.  One option is to launch a special fund for Ukraine approved by 26 member states, leaving Hungary out.  That is cumbersome and risky, requiring the approval of each government, and in some cases parliamentary votes. And it would prolong uncertainty for Ukraine’s funding and put the division front and center, exactly what Putin wants.  A nuclear option would be for the 26 EU states to launch a fund for Ukraine without Hungary by legally stripping it of its vote. This is a lengthy procedure that has never been used, and would drastically escalate the rift between Orban and the rest of the bloc.  This option seems unlikely, as most EU countries are against it.
—International New York Times

Tense EU-Hungary talks on a 50 billion-euro Ukraine fund face Orban's veto. Geopolitical crisis, EU credibility at stake. Can a compromise be reached?

Hungary is blocking EU money for Ukraine, here's what you need to know

Vatican City: Pope Francis said in an interview published on Monday he is confident critics of his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples will eventually understand it, except for Africans who are "a special case".
Blessings were allowed last month in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which has caused widespread debate in the Catholic Church, with particularly strong resistance coming from African bishops.  "Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups," Francis told Italian newspaper La Stampa, adding: "A special case are Africans: for them homosexuality is something 'bad' from a cultural point of view, they don't tolerate it".  "But in general, I trust that gradually everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the 'Fiducia Supplicans' declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: it aims to include, not divide," the pope continued.  Already last week, Francis appeared to acknowledge the pushback the document unleashed, especially in Africa, where bishops have effectively rejected it and where in some countries same-sex activity can lead to prison or even the death penalty.  He said that when the blessings are given, priests should "naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it".  In the interview with La Stampa, Francis confirmed he is scheduled to welcome at the Vatican the president of his native Argentina, Javier Milei, on Feb. 11, and that finally visiting the country is a possibility.  He said his agenda for 2024 currently includes trips to Belgium, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.  Speaking about his health, which has taken some knocks in recent years with hospitalisations, mobility problems and cancelled trips or events, the 87-year-old said, "there are some aches and pains but it's better now, I'm fine."
—Reuters

Pope Francis defends same-sex blessings, faces African resistance. 'Fiducia Supplicans' aims for inclusion. Updates on health and 2024 agenda.

Pope says Africans are 'special case' when it comes to LGBT blessings

Paris: Two climate change activists hurled soup at the protective glass in front of the world-famous "Mona Lisa" painting in Paris' Louvre museum on Sunday.
Video footage showed two women flinging red soup at Leonard da Vinci's masterpiece, to gasps from onlookers.  "What is more important? Art or the right to have a healthy and sustainable food system?" shouted the activists, speaking in French. They had ducked under a security barrier to get as close as they could to the painting and were led away by Louvre security guards.  The activists represented the French organisation "Riposte Alimentaire" (Food Response), which issued a statement saying the protest sought to highlight the need to protect the environment and sources of food.  In recent years, many activists have targeted art to raise awareness about climate change.  The glass in front of the "Mona Lisa" was smothered in cream in a protest in May 2022.  Other attempts have included throwing soup at Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery in October 2022, and in the following month campaigners glued themselves to Goya paintings in Madrid's Prado museum.
—Reuters

Disruptive climate activists target 'Mona Lisa' at Louvre, hurling red soup in protest. 'Riposte Alimentaire' advocates for a sustainable food system.

Climate change activists aim soup at 'Mona Lisa' in Paris Louvre

Paris: Emmanuel Macron's selection of Gabriel Attal, the 34-year-old Education Minister, as France's latest prime minister marks a significant moment in the nation's political landscape. Here's a glimpse into five key facets of Attal's journey: Youthful Record: At 34, Attal becomes France's youngest post-war prime minister, surpassing Laurent Fabius, who held the record at 37 when appointed by Francois Mitterrand in 1984. Breaking Barriers: Attal is France's first openly gay prime minister, his public acknowledgment stemming from an outing by an old school acquaintance in 2018. His relationship with Stephane Sejourne, Macron's former political adviser, came to light during his junior minister tenure in Macron's first term. Political Trajectory: Attal's early foray into politics began at 17 when he joined the Socialist Party. His prominence surged during the pandemic as government spokesman. Progressing through roles in finance and education ministries since 2023, Attal earned accolades for his adeptness in Macron's cabinet and adept communication skills. Bold Actions: Notably, as education minister, Attal gained traction among conservative voters by initiating a ban on the Muslim abaya dress in state schools, a move that sparked both praise and controversy. Personal Narrative: Attal recently shared his past experiences of being bullied in middle school during a notable TV appearance. He recounted being shamed on a blog critiquing classmates' appearances during the early days of the Internet. Gabriel Attal's ascent to prime minister represents a blend of youth, courage, and a dynamic political journey that promises to shape France's leadership landscape.
—Input from Agencies

Gabriel Attal, France's youngest openly gay prime minister, appointed by Macron, marks a historic shift in French politics.

Insights into Gabriel Attal: France's Youthful and Openly Gay Prime Minister – Five Key Facts

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly chosen Gabriel Attal, a trusted confidant, as the country's new prime minister, as revealed by RTL radio and BFM TV on Tuesday. Attal steps in to fill the shoes of Elisabeth Borne, who tendered her resignation on Monday.  An official announcement from the Elysee presidential office is anticipated later today, shedding more light on this significant political development.
—Input from Agencies

Emmanuel Macron appoints Gabriel Attal as France's new Prime Minister, succeeding Elisabeth Borne. Elysee to release statement soon.

Emmanuel Macron names Gabriel Attal as France's New Prime Minister: Reports

The Vatican: In a significant address to Vatican-accredited diplomats, Pope Francis urged a worldwide prohibition on surrogate parenting, denouncing it as a practice that gravely violates the dignity of both women and children. The pontiff labeled the use of surrogacy as "deplorable," highlighting its exploitation of vulnerable maternal situations.  The Pope's stance, likely to provoke controversy among pro-LGBT+ groups, follows his recent decision allowing priests to bless same-sex unions. He emphasized the need for an international effort to universally ban this practice, condemning it for its ethical concerns and the exploitation of women's material needs.  Surrogacy statistics remain elusive due to its illegal status in many countries globally and in certain U.S. states. Critics warn of a potential bias against financially struggling women who opt for surrogacy, while interest grows among those delaying pregnancy and same-sex couples seeking alternative family-starting methods.  Italy, neighboring the Vatican, has banned surrogacy, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition aims to reinforce this ban by penalizing couples traveling abroad for the procedure.  Additionally, Pope Francis reiterated the Vatican's stance against gender theory, emphasizing its perceived dangers in negating essential differences between genders in the pursuit of equality.
—Input from Agencies

Pope Francis advocates a worldwide surrogacy ban, citing dignity violations. Sparks debate on parenting ethics and rights in surrogacy.

Pope Francis Advocates Global Ban on Surrogacy, Citing Dignity Violation for Women and Children

Copenhagen: Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, Europe's longest-serving monarch, will abdicate on Jan 14 after 52 years on the throne and will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik, she announced on Sunday.
The 83-year-old queen, who ascended the throne in 1972, made the surprise announcement on live TV during her traditional New Year's Eve speech, which is viewed by many in the country of 5.9 million people.  Referring to a successful back operation she underwent in February, she said, "The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future — whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation".  "I have decided that now is the right time. On 14 January 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as queen of Denmark," she said.  "I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik," she said.
The queen became the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. In July, she became the longest-sitting monarch in Denmark's history.  In Denmark, formal power resides with the elected parliament and its government. The monarch is expected to stay above partisan politics, representing the nation with traditional duties ranging from state visits to national day celebrations.  Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked the queen for her life-long dedication to duty.  "It is still difficult to understand that the time has now come for a change of throne," Frederiksen said in a statement, adding that many Danes had never known another monarch.
"Queen Margrethe is the epitome of Denmark and throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation," she said.  Born in 1940 to Denmark's former monarch King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, who are fond of her tactful and yet creative personality.  She is also known for her love of archaeology and has taken part in several excavations.  She became heir to her father in 1953 at the age of 13, after a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne.  In 1967, she married French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, who served as her royal consort until his death in 2018.  The couple's two sons are Crown Prince Frederik, who will become King Frederik X, and Prince Joachim. Frederik married Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, an Australian, in 2004.
—Reuters

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, Europe's longest-serving monarch, will abdicate on Jan 14 after 52 years on the throne and will be succeeded

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II announces surprise abdication on live TV

Capocastello Di Mercogliano: A church nativity scene which features two mothers of the Baby Jesus, instead of the conventional Mary and Joseph figurines, has sparked anger among conservative Catholics and politicians in Italy.
Nativity scenes are popular in the largely Catholic country, but in recent years they have been increasingly mired in culture wars as its society becomes more secular and multi-cultural.  The priest at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, in Capocastello di Mercogliano, a hamlet in the province of Avellino about one hour's drive east of Naples, has defended its depiction of the birth of Jesus.
"I wanted to show with this scene that families are no longer just the traditional ones," Father Vitaliano Della Sala told Reuters.  "In our parishes we see more and more children from the new types of families that exist and are part of our society, children of separated and divorced people, gay couples, single people, young mothers."  Father Della Sala, known in Italy for sympathising with LGBT and left-wing causes, says his attitude is in line with that of Pope Francis, who this week, in a landmark ruling, allowed priests to bless same-sex couples.  But Senator Maurizio Gasparri, of the co-ruling Forza Italia party, said the LGBT creche "offends all those who always had respect and devotion for the Holy Family".  The Pro-Vita &amp; Famiglia (Pro-Life and Family) group called it "dangerous, as well as shameful and blasphemous".  Pro-Vita, which launched an online petition calling on the bishop of Avellino to intervene, said the nativity scene contradicted the Church's teachings on the family and legitimised same-sex parenting and surrogacy.  The petition has so far attracted more than 21,000 signatories.  Having children through surrogacy is illegal in Italy, and parliament is discussing a government-sponsored law that would also criminalise couples who resort to the practice by going abroad.  This week, a senator from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party proposed another bill that would prevent school directors from halting Catholic-themed activities such as Christmas plays or the making of nativity scenes.
—Reuters

A church nativity scene which features two mothers of the Baby Jesus, instead of the conventional Mary and Joseph figurines

'Blasphemous' same-sex nativity scene angers conservatives in Italy

Dec 22: Camelia Toldea has packed her family's suitcases ready for a quick exit from an abandoned building where she and dozens of other Roma live, fearful the squat will be next in a wave of evictions near Paris' 2024 Olympic Games facilities.
Romanian-born Toldea, her husband and three children are among thousands of migrants, asylum seekers and Roma caught up in evictions in the north Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis that are aggravating the city's homelessness problem ahead of the games.  More than half of the structures being built or renovated for the Summer Games starting in July are located in Seine-Saint-Denis, including the under-construction Olympic Village.  Spreading east from the river Seine and home to more than 1.6 million people, Seine-Saint-Denis is the poorest department in France. With asylum seekers and Roma taking shelter there, it has the largest number of squats and informally built slums of any department in the country, according to a 2021 report by the housing authority.  At least 60 squats in Seine-Saint-Denis were shut down in 2023, according to a Reuters tally based on administrative and court documents and interviews with more than 50 squatters, lawyers, prosecutors, social workers, activists and local politicians, in what advocates and some officials said appeared to be a policy aimed at beautifying the area for the sporting event.  The Seine-Saint-Denis branch of France's interior ministry, known as the prefecture, told Reuters the squat evictions were not connected to the Olympic games, but follow normal legal procedures. These were made faster by a new law passed in July that also imposes large fines and prison sentences for illegal occupation.  Last year, the prefecture said, there were just under 80 squat closures. The Reuters tally of 60 evictions this year is almost certainly an undercount, advocates said. The prefecture has not complied with a freedom of information ruling that it should provide data for squat evictions from 2018 to 2023.  The squat closures are pushing more vulnerable people into unstable living situations after the government reduced social hotel places used for emergency housing in the suburb by 1,000, roughly a 10 per cent cut, Valerie Puvilland, operational director of Interlogement 93, the operator that manages emergency housing for the state in the Seine-Saint-Denis region, said in an interview.  Reuters counted at least 3,000 people affected by the squat closures. Some are ending up on the streets of Seine-Saint Denis and other Paris districts, while others were sent to distant parts of France, advocates and squatters said.
"The Olympic Games are adding additional pressure because there are fewer hotels renting rooms for social cases," Lea Filoche, the deputy mayor of Paris in charge of housing, told Reuters, citing decisions by some hotels to be ready for an influx of visitors. Reuters could not independently confirm how many hotels were affected.  Of 32 closed squats for which Reuters was able to locate an address, 13 were within 2 km (1.2 miles) of a main Olympic site in the 236 sq km (91 sq mile) Seine-Saint-Denis according to the Reuters tally.  One, an old cement factory a stone's throw away from the future Athlete's Village and housing some 400 migrants mostly from Sudan and Chad, was closed by police in April, Reuters observed. A Roma camp of 700 people behind the North Paris Arena in Villepinte was also shut down, two witnesses said.  FROM SQUAT TO STREET  The evictions have exacerbated homelessness as the turfed-out residents add to already outsized demand for social housing and state-provided accommodation, Puvilland said.  Deputy mayor Filoche said she had never seen so many people on the streets on Paris, especially children.  "If their aim is to have the Games where we don’t see poverty, then the plan to evict squats is not a good plan - it is stupid, they are evicting people from squats and putting them in the public space," said Filoche, who called on the government to requisition empty buildings, including former hospitals and offices, to house the homeless.  Highlighting the situation, on December 13, Interlogement 93 said it had no shelter places available, leaving 665 callers on the street, including 54 pregnant women.  Interlogement 93 data shows that unmet demand on some days this month was almost double compared to last year. The emergency housing provider cited a number of overlapping issues including a reduction of available places and squat closures.  Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo warned in November that the city would not be "ready" to provide shelter for the homeless in time for the Olympics. The national government did not respond to request for comment.  The empty warehouse containing self-built wooden cabins that houses Toldea's family along with about 70 other Roma is located in Ile Saint Denis, about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the future Athletes' Village.  The family was evicted from a previous squat in the area in May, and earlier in the year police ran them out of a disused hotel they had participated in occupying just a few days earlier. Now, Toldea worries she won't find anywhere else to live in Seine-Saint-Denis, after a November mayoral decision to close the squat.  Victor Drot, an official in the Ile Saint Denis mayor's office said the looming eviction followed a fire at the warehouse. Citing the long backlog for social housing, Drot said "there is no solution in this town."  Toldea applied for social housing two years ago. The average wait time is eight years, Drot said.  "We can’t go anywhere else. The kids go to school here, we know the area," said Toldea, 31, who sells bric-a-brac at the Clignancourt flea market nearby.  UNCLOG PARIS  Reuters spoke with nineteen migrants evicted from four squats in the vicinity of Olympic-related infrastructures or urban development projects between April and August.  Two of them were assigned stable accommodation by the prefecture, but the others were left to themselves and went on to sleep rough or find space in other squats.  Interlogement 93 said that after evictions, most accommodation offered by Seine-Saint-Denis authorities only lasts a few days, echoing testimony of evicted people Reuters consulted.  The French government, the Paris police and the Seine-Saint-Denis prefecture did not respond to requests for comment on the clearance of squats and camps, and the care provided to the homeless in the Paris region.  Some of the nineteen moved into four other squats in the Paris region, all of which were themselves subsequently evicted or have been handed an eviction notice.  Many were offered places in other parts of France, following a push by the national government this year to “unclog” the Paris region, which has the highest demand for emergency housing in the country.  Speaking of the plan in May, then-housing minister Olivier Klein said homeless people would be relocated to other regions and linked the push to the Games, saying hotels were terminating government contracts so as to welcome tourists for the event.  Reuters spoke to four people who accepted transfers to Bordeaux, Toulouse and Strasbourg following squat evictions but returned to Paris due to lack of support or opportunities in the new locations, or because the accommodation offer was terminated.  By mid-December, 3,329 people had been transferred from Paris to temporary accommodation lasting three weeks, according to Paris authorities.  “SELLING THE IMAGE OF FRANCE ABROAD”  Another national government plan, for "Zero Delinquency" during the Olympics, included measures to dismantle squats, according to three local officials consulted by Reuters and a parliamentary report.  “People can’t see slums and shanty towns. With the Olympics, we are selling the image of France abroad,” said Sebastien Piffeteau, a prosecutor briefed on the plan who is coordinating Olympics-related affairs in the common law division of the Tribunal in Bobigny, which oversees Seine-Saint-Denis.  The Interior Ministry declined to provide Reuters with information about the plan, despite a freedom of information request being granted in September.
The broad outline of the plan can be found on the Paris police website, but few details have been made public.  Squatting in the city can be traced to 19th century working-class radicalism of the Paris Commune. In recent years migrants have also turned to disused buildings for shelter.  Advocates say squats are often the only option for housing, while critics say they are a dangerous nuisance.  The evictions this year were fanned by the law passed in July, which criminalises occupation of industrial and commercial properties, as well as residential, Eric Mathais, chief prosecutor of Bobigny tribunal, told Reuters.  As well as evictions from squats, data from Paris authorities show that they have been clearing camps set up by homeless people around the city with greater frequency. Paris prefecture said 35 camps were torn down this year, compared to 19 in 2022.  While in some cases accommodation has been offered, Paris authorities have noticed a "staggering" increase in homeless people sleeping near the town hall, deputy Filoche told Reuters.  Services for the homeless - including food banks, showers, domiciliation services, luggage storage - were "full and in the red," she said.  EMPTY PROMISES  Interlogement 93 received instructions this year from the prefecture to only offer accommodation to vulnerable people, including pregnant women, disabled people and victims of domestic violence, according to a letter seen by Reuters. They often don't even manage to do that due to lack of available places, Puvilland said.  Insufficient state investment in social housing over the last decade has led to a reliance on hotels to house people, making the system particularly vulnerable, said Eric Constantin, director of the Paris section of the Abbe Pierre Foundation, which advocates for secure accommodation.  "We are very scared. We know that with the Olympic Games there will be millions of people" seeking hotel rooms, Constantin said.  Aggravating the situation for migrants, the French parliament adopted a law on Monday that conditions access to housing benefits for non-EU citizens on 5 years residency in France.  In the longer-term, the public body in charge of Olympic infrastructure, the Solideo, says the Athletes' Village will be converted into nearly 3,000 homes, 17 per cent of which are general social housing units. Local groups say that this not enough and that prices to buy are out of reach for many from the area.  Abdallah Ali, a refugee from Sudan, and 27 other refugees and asylum seekers were among the 400 people evicted in April from the cement factory, less than 500 metres from the Athletes Village, near the river Seine.  Ali and the others were taken in grey coaches to a hotel in a sleepy suburb south of Paris. A week later they were all told to leave with no explanation, he said, showing a text message informing him that his stay at the hotel ended on May 4th.  Ali had been sleeping rough since leaving the hotel, he said in September.  The hotel and Seine-Saint-Denis prefecture did not reply to Reuters request for comment or confirmation of Ali's case.  “It’s not right to throw us out on the street like this. We work in France, we have more of a right to a place to live than the athletes coming in 2024,” said Ali, a waste collector, whose documents show has been on a waiting list for social housing since 2018.
—Reuters

Camelia Toldea has packed her family's suitcases ready for a quick exit from an abandoned building where she and dozens of other Roma live

Migrants, Roma evicted from squats ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics

Vatican City: Pope Francis on Thursday warned against inflexible ideological positions that can hinder the Church from seeing reality and moving forward, speaking days after a declaration allowing blessings of same-sex couples that conservatives have condemned.
Francis, who turned 87 on Sunday, made his comments in his traditional Christmas greetings to members of the Curia, the Vatican's central administration. In the early years of his papacy, Francis made the Christmas greetings an occasion for blistering critiques of the bureaucracy, highlighting what at the time he called its "illnesses" and "diseases". On Thursday, he mentioned the continuing debate between progressives and conservatives 60 years after the Second Vatican Council, which ushered the Church into the modern world.
"Let us remain vigilant against rigid ideological positions that often, under the guise of good intentions, separate us from reality and prevent us from moving forward," he said. "We are called, instead, to set out and journey, like the Magi, following the light that always desires to lead us on, at times along unexplored paths and new roads," he said. On Monday, he approved a ruling that priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples under certain condition and as long as they do not resemble marriage and are not part of Church rituals or liturgies. While the pope's opening to blessings for same sex couples was welcomed by many, conservatives said it could shake the foundations of the faith and even lead to a Church schism. Since fellow cardinals elected him 10 years ago, Francis has tried to make the Church more welcoming to people who feel excluded, such as members of the LGBT community, but without changing any part of Church teachings on moral issues. He told Thursday's gathering that Christians should always be restless and open to change. "The Christian faith – let us remember – is not meant to confirm our sense of security, to let us settle into comfortable religious certitudes, and to offer us quick answers to life’s complex problems," he said. Francis said that when God calls, "he sends us on a journey, draws us out of our comfort zones, our complacency about what we have already done, and in this way he sets us free."
—Reuters

Pope Francis on Thursday warned against inflexible ideological positions that can hinder the Church from seeing reality and moving forward

Pope decries inflexible ideologies after Vatican's landmark ruling about same-sex blessing

London [UK]: The UK High Court has ruled that the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, was subjected to 'extensive' phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) between 2006 and 2011, CNN reported. Justice Fancourt awarded Prince Harry Pound 140,600 (USD 179,000) after ruling that 15 stories published by MGN about him utilised unlawful information gathering methods, including voicemail hacking and the use of private investigators.
While 33 articles were initially considered, the judge concluded that phone hacking was not the sole journalistic tool used during that period, and Prince Harry's claims related to the other 18 articles did not withstand careful analysis, CNN reported. Prince Harry, suing MGN alongside three other claimants, called the ruling "a great day for truth, as well as accountability." His statement, read by his lawyer David Sherborne outside the London court, emphasized that the court found "unlawful and criminal activities" occurred across all three MGN newspaper titles--The Mirror, The Sunday Mirror, and The People--for over a decade. "The court has ruled that unlawful and criminal activities were carried out at all three of Mirror Group's newspaper titles (The Mirror, The Sunday Mirror and The People) on a habitual and widespread basis for more than a decade," the 39-year-old royal said.  The Duke urged regulatory bodies, including the Metropolitan Police, to investigate and bring charges against MGN and those involved in breaking the law. He emphasised the need for a free and honest press, stating that anything to the contrary poisons the profession. Prince Harry also appealed to the financial regulator, the Metropolitan Police and prosecuting authorities to "do their duty for the British public and investigate bringing charges against the company and those who have broken the law." He also called for a "free and honest press," in the UK and globally, asserting that "anything else is poisoning the well of a profession we all depend on." He added, "Today's ruling is vindicating and affirming. I've been told that slaying dragons will get you burned. But in light of today's victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press - it's a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues."  The prince's legal team said that he was unable to present his statement in person due to the "short notice" given by the court. The judgement also revealed that MGN began using phone hacking in 1996, and the practice remained extensive from 2006 to 2011. However, the prince's phone "was only hacked to a modest extent" during that period, according to the judge's summary. MGN welcomed the judgement, said an MGN spokesperson, acknowledging historical wrongdoing, offering unreserved apologies, taking full responsibility, and paying appropriate compensation. "Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation," the spokesperson added. Prince Harry's legal team noted that he was unable to present his statement in person due to short notice. This case marks Prince Harry as the first senior member of the British royal family to give evidence on a witness stand in over 130 years. In June, he detailed the distress caused by press coverage during his youth, emphasizing the destructive role played by MGN articles in his adolescence. The legal battle is one of several initiated by Prince Harry against major UK newspaper publishers, including Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers and Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers Limited, highlighting his commitment to addressing media practices that he views as intrusive and harmful.
—ANI

The UK High Court has ruled that the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, was subjected to 'extensive' phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN)

Prince Harry's phone was 'extensively' hacked by tabloid, UK High Court rules

Kyiv [Ukraine]: One person was killed and 26 others were injured after a deputy blew up grenades in the meeting of the Keretsky Village Council in Ukraine's Zakarpattia region on Friday, Ukraine's National Police said in a statement released on Facebook. In a statement, Ukraine's National Police said, "Today, at 11.37 pm, a message was received on the "102" line that one of the deputies blew up grenades in the building of the Keretsky Village Council of Mukachiv District during the session."
It further said, "26 people were injured as a result of the incident, 6 of whom are in serious condition. Medics perform resuscitation on the man who blew up grenades." According to the statement, the police investigation team are working at the site of the investigation and a preliminary investigation is being conducted. In the statement, Ukraine's National Police said, "The investigators qualified the event for ch. 1st century. 263 (unlawful handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives) CCU. In addition, the Security Service of Ukraine is reporting and investigating the event for ch. 1st century. 258 (terrorist act) kku, which is the pidslidnistu sbu." Earlier, Ukraine's National Police said that the bomber was killed and 11 others were injured in the incident.
—ANI

One person was killed and 26 others were injured after a deputy blew up grenades in the meeting of the Keretsky Village Council

Ukraine: One person killed, 26 injured as deputy detonates grenades in village council meeting

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his tough stance on defending India's national interests without being 'intimidated' by any pressure and said the policy pursued by him is the 'main guarantor' of the progressively developing bilateral ties.
Putin's comments came at the 'Russia Calling!' forum.  The Russian leader said he "cannot imagine that Modi could be frightened, intimidated or forced to take any actions, steps, decisions that would be at variance with the national interests of India and the Indian people".
He said relations between Russia and India are developing in all areas.  Putin, who on Friday announced his intention to run for the presidency again in 2024, said he can feel pressure on Modi from unfriendly countries.  Putin disclosed that he and Modi never even discussed this subject, the Russian News Agency TASS reported.  "I just look at what is happening from the outside, and sometimes, frankly speaking, I am even surprised at his tough stance on defending the national interests of the Indian state," the Russian president stressed.  India has been criticised by the Western countries for charting its own course in the face of Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and continuing its import of discounted Russian crude oil.
—PTI

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his tough stance on defending India's national interests

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