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Former Pope Benedict XVI died at age 95, Vatican says

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Steph Deschamps / January 1, 2023

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, whose renunciation in 2013 took the world by surprise, died Saturday at age 95 in the monastery in the Vatican Gardens where he had retired.
 
“I have the pain to announce that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, died today at 09:34, at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican,” announced in a statement the director of the Holy See press office, Matteo Bruni.
 
The funeral of the former Bavarian pontiff will be held Thursday morning in St. Peter’s Square in Rome under the presidency of Pope Francis, an unprecedented event in the two thousand year history of the Catholic Church.
 
The health of the German theologian had deteriorated in recent days, but the Vatican had said Friday that his condition was “stationary” and that he had participated in the celebration of Mass in his room on Thursday.
 
The funeral of the 265th pope is expected to be celebrated by his successor Francis in Rome, an unprecedented event in the two thousand year history of the Catholic Church that could be attended by tens of thousands of people, including heads of state.
 
His death puts an end to the unusual cohabitation of two men in white: the German Joseph Ratzinger, a brilliant theologian not very comfortable with crowds, and the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio, a Jesuit with an incisive word who wanted to put the poor and migrants at the center of the Church’s mission.
 
After eight years of pontificate marked by multiple crises, Benedict XVI was caught up in early 2022 by the drama of pedocriminality in the Church. Questioned by a report in Germany on his management of sexual violence when he was Archbishop of Munich, he came out of his silence to ask for “forgiveness” but assured that he had never covered up for a pedocriminal.
His renunciation, announced in Latin on February 11, 2013, was a personal decision linked to his declining strength and not to the pressure of scandals, he had assured in a book of confidences published in 2016.
 
With this gesture, unprecedented in six centuries, the first German pope in modern history opened the way for his successors whose strength would decline. Francis, 86 years old and suffering from knee pain, has himself left this possibility “open ».
 
On Wednesday, Pope Francis called for a “special prayer” for his “gravely ill” predecessor and went to his bedside at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican gardens.
 
The Holy See had then confirmed the “aggravation” of the health of the German theologian because of his “advanced age”, specifying that he remained under permanent medical supervision. “It is his vital functions that are failing, including the heart,” a Vatican source told AFP, adding that no hospitalization was planned, as the residence of Benedict XVI has the necessary medical equipment.
 
Friday afternoon, the Vatican organized a mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome to pray for the former pope. Benedict XVI had appeared increasingly frail in recent months, moving in a wheelchair, but he continued to receive visitors. Photos from his last visit, on December 1, showed a frail and visibly weakened man.
  
Born in 1927, Joseph Ratzinger taught theology for 25 years in Germany before being named Archbishop of Munich. He then became the Church’s strict guardian of dogma for another quarter century in Rome as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and then pope for eight years (2005-2013), succeeding John Paul II.
 
As head of the Catholic Church, he has defended a conservative line, notably on abortion, homosexuality or euthanasia. His statements have sometimes shocked, as on Islam or the use of condoms against HIV. His pontificate was also marked in 2012 by the leak of confidential documents (“Vatileaks”) orchestrated by his butler. The scandal exposed a Roman Curia (Vatican government) plagued by intrigue and lacking in financial rigor. The last video of Benedict XVI, released by the Vatican in August, showed a thin man with a hearing aid who could no longer speak but still had a lively gaze.

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Moscow attack: Vladimir Putin promises those responsible will all be “punished”, EI says four of its fighters carried out the attack

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Moscow attack: Vladimir Putin promises those responsible will all be “punished”, EI says four of its fighters carried out the attack, Magnate Daily
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Eva Deschamps / March 23,

 

At least 133 people were killed on Friday evening in an armed attack followed by a huge fire at a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, which was claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State (EI).
 
The four perpetrators” of the attack were arrested “on their way to Ukraine”, said the Russian president on Saturday March 23.
 
The Russian president spoke at a time of terrible tragedy in Russia. “The four perpetrators” of the attack near Moscow were arrested “on their way to Ukraine”, he said in a televised speech broadcast the day after the murderous attack. “According to initial data [from investigators], on the Ukrainian side, a passage had been prepared for them to cross the border”, he continued, notes Le Monde.
 
The attack, which killed at least 133 people near Moscow, was in the eyes of the Kremlin leader a “bloody and barbaric act of terrorism”. “Peaceful, innocent people […] including children, teenagers and women” were killed, he continued, adding, “I express my deepest and most sincere condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.” A national day of mourning will be observed on March 24.
 
“War”. In his speech, Vladimir Putin assured that “those behind these terrorists will be punished” and that they “will have no future”. On Saturday, the Kremlin announced that eleven people had been arrested, including the four suspects who carried out the attack.

 
As a reminder, the Islamic State (EI) claimed responsibility for the attack. Its Afghan branch, the Islamic State in Khorassan, known as “EI-K”, is suspected of being behind the attack. According to EI, the attack is part of a “raging war” between the organization and countries fighting Islam, its Amaq news agency said in a statement.
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Princess Kate announces cancer diagnosis

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Princess Kate announces cancer diagnosis, Magnate Daily
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Sylvie Claire / March 23,

 

After weeks of silence from the British royal family, cancer-stricken Princess Kate has announced that she has begun chemotherapy.

 
Princess Kate has been diagnosed with cancer, Kensington Palace announced on Friday evening. The wife of the heir to the British throne has begun chemotherapy. “I’m fine,” assured the 42-year-old princess after her cancer diagnosis was announced. In a video, the princess explained, “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding. While I was recovering from surgery, it was an incredibly difficult two months for the whole family. But I had the benefit of a fantastic medical team who took great care of me, for which I am very grateful. In January, I underwent a major domino operation in London and, at the time, my condition was not thought to be cancerous“.
 
She continues: “The operation was successful, but tests carried out after the operation revealed the presence of cancer. My medical team therefore advised me to undergo preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of this treatment. William and I have done everything in our power to manage this situation privately, in the best interests of our young family“.
 

Princess Kate explains that it has taken them some time to explain the situation to their children George, Charlotte and Louis. She concludes her message: “But for now, I need to focus on my full recovery. I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For anyone facing this disease in any form, don’t lose faith or hide. You are not alone.

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She underwent major abdominal surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic, where she was hospitalized for ten days. For weeks, rumors had been circulating about the princess’s state of health.
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Dragon Ball: a theme park inspired by Toriyama’s universe is coming soon!

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Dragon Ball: a theme park inspired by Toriyama’s universe is coming soon!, Magnate Daily
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Steph Deschamps / March 23,

 

The world’s first theme park inspired by the world of the famous Japanese manga and anime series Dragon Ball is to be built in a future leisure city in Saudi Arabia, the developer of this colossal project announced on Friday.
 
The planned opening date of this 500,000 m2 theme park was not specified, nor was its cost, as is usually the case for the Saudi kingdom’s tourism megaprojects.
 
Located in Qiddiya, near the capital Riyadh, the park will feature seven different zones from the Dragon Ball universe, around 30 attractions as well as hotels and restaurants, according to a press release from Qiddiya Investment Company, also issued by Japanese studio Toei Animation, producer of the franchise’s cartoons.
 
The death of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama on March 1 at the age of 68 provoked a worldwide wave of emotion, reflecting the immense popularity of his work.

 
First published in 1984, Dragon Ball is one of the best-selling mangas of all time, and has spawned countless animated series, films and video games. It recounts the adventures of Son Goku, a young martial arts prodigy in search of seven crystal balls to help him and his allies protect the Earth from evil enemies.
 
The new town of Qiddiya is one of the pharaonic projects in Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” program, designed to develop the country’s tourism industry and reduce its economy’s heavy dependence on hydrocarbons.
 
Qiddiya will eventually house several theme parks, sports facilities and cultural venues. Construction of the city began in 2019, but its completion date is not known.
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