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Pope Holds Meeting with Clerical Sexual Abuse Survivors in Portugal

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During his five-day visit to Portugal, Pope Francis held a private meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse. The Vatican described the gathering, which took place on Wednesday, as an occasion of intense listening. A recent report revealed that at least 4,815 children in Portugal had suffered abuse, and the Church had attempted to systematically cover up the issue.

At an evening service in Lisbon, Pope Francis acknowledged the need for the Church to heed the anguished cries of the victims. He emphasized the importance of a continual process of purification in response to the scandal, which had also led to a growing detachment from practicing the faith among believers.

The meeting was conducted at the Holy See’s diplomatic mission in Portugal and included 13 abuse survivors, lasting for over an hour. Representatives from the Portuguese Church responsible for protecting minors also attended the meeting.

In February, an independent commission established by the Catholic Church in Portugal released a report documenting the experiences of 564 individuals who reported abuse by priests or other Church figures. This study, similar to audits conducted in other regions, covered cases dating back to 1950 and suggested that the actual number of victims could be much higher.

The Pope’s visit to Portugal coincided with World Youth Day, a week-long event organized by the Church every few years in different cities worldwide, celebrating religious and cultural activities.

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Armed Drones Strike Grain Warehouses near Ukraine-Romania Border in Odesa Conflict

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A Russian drone strike targeted port facilities in Izmail, Ukraine, situated close to the River Danube and adjacent to NATO member state Romania. The attack resulted in the damaging of a grain warehouse, a passenger building, and a grain loading elevator. This comes after Russia abandoned a UN deal that allowed both countries to export grain safely across the Black Sea. The attack has sparked a large fire in the port area, with videos from the Romanian side of the Danube capturing the extent of the blaze.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned the continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure near Romania, stating that they are unacceptable. Odesa regional leader Oleh Kiper confirmed that emergency services were responding to the latest attack, but no casualties were reported.

Ukraine, a major exporter of wheat and corn, has been severely affected by the Russian attacks on its port facilities. The River Danube is now seen as an alternative route for exports, but the attacks are causing significant disruptions and logistical challenges. The continuous targeting of Ukrainian ports by Russia is viewed as an attempt to control Ukraine’s grain exports and exert influence in the region.

In addition to the attacks on port facilities, Russia has also launched drone strikes against Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, though no official response has been issued by Russia regarding these reported attacks.

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Ukraine war causes birth rate to slump

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According to official statistics, the war in Ukraine has led to a significant decline in the country’s birth rate, with a decrease of 28%. In the first six months of 2023, only 96,755 children were born, compared to 135,079 in the same period in 2021. This drop is the most substantial decrease in birth rates since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.

Even before the conflict, Ukraine’s birth rate had been steadily declining over the past decade. However, the war has exacerbated the situation, resulting in the largest decline in births on record. The ongoing conflict has also had a severe impact on the country’s population, with nearly six million people fleeing, according to the United Nations.

Data collected by the Ukrainian data analytics website Opendatabot aligns with the observations of demographic experts, who have noticed similar declines in birth rates during previous wars. The US-based Population Reference Bureau states that fertility rates typically drop by up to one-third during civil conflicts but tend to rebound quickly after the fighting ends.

Before the invasion by Russia, Ukraine used to witness around 23,000 monthly births, but this number has now fallen to approximately 16,000. However, the decline in birth rates has not caused a significant imbalance between male and female births. In the first half of 2023, the number of boys born was 49,626, while girls accounted for 47,129.

The last time Ukraine experienced such a significant drop in birth rates was in 2014 when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea. During that period, the number of babies born decreased by 12%.

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Repeat Drone Strike Targets Moscow Skyscraper Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

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Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has reported a second drone attack on a skyscraper in the city’s Moskva City complex within two days. Multiple drones were shot down during the overnight incident, but one managed to hit the same tower that was targeted on Sunday. The attack caused damage to the building’s glass facade, but fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

Russia’s defense ministry has attributed the latest attack to Ukraine, although Kyiv has not made any official comments on the matter. The tensions have escalated further, as Russia also claimed that three Ukrainian unmanned boats were destroyed while attempting to attack Russian naval ships in the Black Sea.

The IQ-Quarter Tower 1 building suffered over 150 sq m of destroyed glazing during the drone attack. Additionally, two more Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down by anti-aircraft systems in other parts of the Moscow region, with Russia’s defense ministry claiming to have thwarted a “terrorist attack” from Ukraine.

This incident adds to the growing accusations by Moscow, alleging that Ukraine has been conducting drone strikes on Russian territory in recent months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not claimed responsibility for specific attacks but has expressed that such actions on Russian territory are seen as an “inevitable, natural, and absolutely fair process.”

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In the wake of these recent incidents, there have been casualties and damages on both sides, further escalating the tensions in the region.

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Unesco Proposes Including Venice on Endangered List

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Unesco recommends placing Venice on the list of endangered World Heritage sites due to the risks posed by excessive tourism, overdevelopment, and rising sea levels from climate change. The agency aims to prompt better preservation efforts for the iconic Italian city’s future.

The proposal will be carefully reviewed by the Venice municipality and discussed with the Italian government. The city’s former mayor criticizes Unesco, calling it an expensive and ineffective body. Previously proposed for inclusion two years ago, Venice avoided the list temporarily due to emergency measures, but the promised conservation plan was never implemented.

Unesco’s report highlights the lack of a strategic vision to address climate change threats, and the impact of tourism on the city’s infrastructure. The agency believes that high-rise buildings should be constructed far from the city center to avoid negative visual impacts. Venice’s vulnerability to rising sea levels is exacerbated by its popularity as a tourist destination, with around 28 million visitors annually.

Currently, 55 World Heritage sites are listed as “in danger,” with an additional 204 being closely monitored by Unesco due to various threats.

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Prigozhin: Wagner Shifts Focus to Africa and Belarus, Pauses Fighter Recruitment

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Head of Wagner Mercenary Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced in an audio message released by a Wagner-linked Telegram account that the group will continue its operations in Africa and Belarus but is currently not actively recruiting new fighters. Prigozhin stated that the majority of Wagner fighters are currently on leave due to a period of intense work. The group is in the process of determining its future objectives, which will be undertaken for the benefit of Russia.

While the group remains operational in Africa and maintains training centers in Belarus, Prigozhin did not provide specific details. Wagner is known for its presence in various African regions and its involvement in training Belarusian territorial defense forces. However, he emphasized that they do not plan to recruit new personnel at present. Nonetheless, if the country requires a new group to safeguard its interests, Wagner will initiate recruitment.

Prigozhin also mentioned that some fighters from the group have opted to transfer to other Russian power structures, a move that the group does not restrict. In June, Wagner fighters participated in a short-lived mutiny against Russia’s military leadership, and in the aftermath of the failed mutiny, President Vladimir Putin invited non-participating Wagner fighters to sign contracts with the Russian defense ministry.

In recent developments, on Monday morning, four people were killed in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, following Russian missile strikes. A drone attack was also reported in Russia’s border region of Bryansk, with a police station being hit. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin accused Ukraine of the drone attack on the Russian capital, resulting in damage to two office blocks. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that war was returning to Russia, and attacks on Russian territory were a natural consequence of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

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Defense Minister Criticizes Italy’s Decision to Join China’s Belt and Road Initiative

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Italy’s Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, criticized the country’s decision to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), calling it “improvised and atrocious.” Crosetto claimed that the initiative had not effectively boosted Italy’s exports, making China the primary beneficiary.

In 2019, Italy became the first developed economy to join the BRI, a move that was met with criticism from its Western allies. The BRI aims to connect China with Europe and other regions through infrastructure projects, but critics view it as a means for China to expand its influence.

Crosetto expressed the need to find a way to withdraw from the BRI without damaging relations with Beijing. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had previously mentioned the possibility of talks with China about potential withdrawal. The deal is set to be automatically renewed in March 2024 unless Italy formally requests to withdraw by December of this year.

China has been actively campaigning to persuade Italy to renew the agreement, emphasizing the mutually beneficial cooperation and fruitful results achieved through the BRI.

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Central Volga Region Storm Claims 10 Lives with High Winds

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A severe storm struck central Russia, resulting in the death of at least 10 people and injuring 76 others, as reported by the Emergencies Ministry. Among the victims were eight individuals, including three children, who were killed when trees fell on their unregistered campsite in the Mari El region.

The storm impacted eight regions, leaving nearly 100,000 people without electricity and causing damage to almost 50 buildings. The Emergencies Ministry advised the public to avoid certain activities like being near trees, unstable structures, countryside walks, and swimming.

The incident occurred near Lake Yalchik, a popular tourist destination in the Mari Chodra national park, situated north of the Volga river and over 600 km east of Moscow. Pictures released by the ministry depicted extensive damage to cars and tents amid fallen trees. The storm caught several hundred people who were camping on the lake’s shores off guard. In response to the incident, Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case.

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Russian Missiles Strike Apartment Block and Security Service Building in Dnipro

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On Friday evening, Dnipro, an eastern Ukrainian city, experienced a missile attack that caused injuries to at least nine people, including two children, as reported by officials. A BBC team at the scene confirmed that the top floor of a large residential tower block was severely damaged in the strike. Additionally, a building belonging to Ukraine’s security services (SBU) was also hit, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attributed the attack to “Russian missile terror.” Zelensky shared a video on Telegram depicting the damaged buildings and a street-level fire.

Emergency meetings were convened by President Zelensky with the SBU, interior ministry, emergency services, and local officials in response to the incident. Fortunately, there have been no reported deaths from the attack. However, two children, aged 14 and 17, were among those injured and were receiving treatment at home, according to Regional head Serhiy Lysak. The missile strike occurred at 20:30 local time.

Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov revealed that this was the third time the SBU building had been targeted by Russia. Fortunately, both buildings struck were largely empty at the time. The residential tower had recently been completed, and units were being offered for sale.

In retaliation, Russia claimed that it intercepted two Ukrainian missiles over its southern Rostov region, resulting in 15 injuries from falling debris in the city of Taganrog. The Russian defense ministry stated that the first missile was directed at “residential infrastructure” in the city, while the second missile was downed near the city of Azov, causing debris to fall in an unpopulated area. Taganrog, a coastal city located about 25 miles (40km) from the Ukrainian border, is on the road leading to Mariupol, a strategic port city that had previously suffered significant damage from Russian shelling.

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Ukraine Shifts Christmas Day to Spite Russia

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Ukraine has officially changed its state holiday for Christmas Day from 7 January to 25 December, with the aim of distancing itself from Russian influence. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill into law to abandon the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations on the country. This move is part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to sever religious, cultural, and other ties with Russia and align itself more closely with Western values. The decision came in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The legislation also shifted two other state holidays – Day of Ukrainian Statehood and Defenders’ Day – to different dates. The Russian government has not issued any public comments on the matter.

Historically, imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union attempted to exert control over Ukraine, including imposing the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church over Ukrainian churches. However, in 2019, the newly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) gained independence from the Russian Orthodox Church, leading to tensions between the two branches. The OCU has now officially adopted the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world, resulting in the celebration of Christmas on 25 December instead of 7 January.

While many Ukrainian worshippers have joined the OCU in recent years, there are still millions who follow the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), the other established branch in the country. The UOC has not commented on Ukraine’s decision to move Christmas Day.

In addition to the change in Christmas Day, Ukraine has taken other measures to distance itself from Russia, such as renaming streets with links to Russian and Soviet historical figures, removing certain monuments, and banning Russian films made after 2014. These actions followed Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014.

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