Pope Leo XIV signals continuity on fighting abuse with new head of child protection board
Verny, 59, replaces American Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the retired archbishop of Boston. O'Malley was the founding president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, an advisory group Pope Francis established in 2014 to advise the church on best practices to fight abuse and protect children.
As the abuse scandal spread globally during Francis' 12-year pontificate, the commission initially lost influence and its crowning recommendation -- the creation of a tribunal to judge bishops who covered up for predator priests -- went nowhere. After many years of reform and new members, it has become a place where victims can go to be heard and bishops can get advice on crafting guidelines to fight abuse.
Verny, who is currently the bishop of Chambery, France, has been a member of the commission since 2022 and heads the child protection council of the bishops conference in France, where the church has been rocked by revelations of decades and abuse by priests and bishops. He was among commission members who met with Leo last month.
The bishop has been responsible for doing an annual audit of the French church's centers for receiving victims, an initiative that was started after a devastating 2021 report into the French scandal estimated 330,000 children in France had been sexually abused over the past 70 years by church personnel.
Cardinal O'Malley praised the appointment, saying Verny has developed in-depth experience helping victims and working with law enforcement and civil authorities to ensure accountability "for the serious failures of the church in France."
In a statement, O'Malley also praised Leo for continuing to consider the commission a priority.
"The Holy Father's words and deeds in these early months of his pontificate assure the world that the Church will not grow complacent in her efforts to as best possible ensure the protection of children, vulnerable adults and all people in our communities," he said.
Verny, for his part, praised O'Malley's leadership as courageous and having served as "a moral compass" for the church, a reference to O'Malley's occasional statements of outrage when even Francis bungled an abuse case.
"I am committed, together with the members and personnel, to building on that legacy," Verny said in a statement.
The American-born pope made the appointment the day before heading for a six-week vacation at the papal summer retreat south of Rome.
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Nikkei Asia
an hour ago
- Nikkei Asia
Trump threatens extra 10% BRICS tariff as leaders meet in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- President Donald Trump said the U.S. will impose an additional 10% tariff on any countries aligning themselves with the "Anti-American policies" of the BRICS group of developing nations, whose leaders kicked off a summit in Brazil on Sunday. With forums such as the Group of Seven and Group of 20 major economies hamstrung by divisions and the disruptive "America First" approach of the U.S. president, the BRICS is presenting itself as a haven for multilateral diplomacy amid violent conflicts and trade wars. In a joint statement from the opening of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro released on Sunday afternoon, the group warned the rise in tariffs threatened global trade, continuing its veiled criticism of Trump's tariff policies. Hours later, Trump warned he would punish countries seeking to join with the grouping. "Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Trump did not clarify or expand on the "Anti-American policies" reference in his post. Trump's administration is seeking to finalize dozens of trade deals with a wide range of countries before his Wednesday deadline for imposing significant "retaliatory" tariffs. The original BRICS group gathered leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates as members. Saudi Arabia has held off formally joining, according to sources, while another 30 nations have expressed interest in participating in BRICS, either as full members or partners. Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia's senior economic minister, is in Brazil for the BRICS summit and is scheduled to go to the U.S. on Monday to oversee tariff talks, an official told Reuters. India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In opening remarks to the summit earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva drew a parallel with the Cold War's Non-Aligned Movement, a group of developing nations that resisted joining either side of a polarized global order. "BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement," Lula told leaders. "With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again." BRICS nations now represent more than half the world's population and 40% of its economic output, Lula noted in remarks on Saturday to business leaders, warning of rising protectionism. Expansion of the bloc has added diplomatic weight to the gathering, which aspires to speak for developing nations across the Global South, strengthening calls for reforming global institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the International Monetary Fund. "If international governance does not reflect the new multipolar reality of the 21st century, it is up to BRICS to help bring it up to date," Lula said in his remarks, which highlighted the failure of U.S.-led wars in the Middle East. Stealing some thunder from this year's summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping chose to send his premier in his place. Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending online due to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court related to his war in Ukraine. Still, several heads of state were gathered for discussions at Rio's Museum of Modern Art on Sunday and Monday, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, there are questions about the shared goals of an increasingly heterogeneous BRICS group, which has grown to include regional rivals along with major emerging economies. In the joint statement, the leaders called attacks against Iran's "civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities" a "violation of international law." The group expressed "grave concern" for the Palestinian people over Israeli attacks on Gaza, and condemned what the joint statement called a "terrorist attack" in India-administered Kashmir. The group voiced its support for Ethiopia and Iran to join the World Trade Organization, while calling to urgently restore its ability to resolve trade disputes. The leaders' joint statement backed plans to pilot a BRICS Multilateral Guarantees initiative within the group's New Development Bank to lower financing costs and boost investment in member states, as first reported by Reuters last week. In a separate statement following a discussion of artificial intelligence, the leaders called for protections against unauthorized use of AI to avoid excessive data collection and allow mechanisms for fair payment. Brazil, which also hosts the United Nations climate summit in November, has seized on both gatherings to highlight how seriously developing nations are tackling climate change, while Trump has slammed the brakes on U.S. climate initiatives. China and the UAE signaled in meetings with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Rio that they plan to invest in a proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions about funding the conservation of endangered forests around the world.
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Russia's ‘Anti-Woke' Visa Lures Those Fearing a Moral Decline in the West
In a brightly lit conference room of a Moscow police department, a smiling officer flanked by Russian flags and gilded double-headed eagles handed over small blue booklets to an American family of five – asylum certificates granting them the right to live and work in Russia after fleeing Texas because they felt their way of life was under threat. 'I feel like I've been put on an ark of safety for my family,' 61-year-old Leo Hare said at the time. 'I want to thank President [Vladimir] Putin for allowing Russia to become a good place for families in this world climate.' 'In a small way it feels like I just got married to Russia,' echoed his wife, Chantelle Hare, 51. 'I look forward to building a future here with my family. I look forward to the opportunities that my sons will have here.' Footage of the ceremony, shared on the Interior Ministry's official media channels, was accompanied by a caption declaring that 'yet another American family choose our country to live in … understanding that in our country traditional values are protected by the state.' The Hare family, devout Christians who ran a farm in Texas, describe themselves as a family of 'moral migrants' and have emerged as the face of a small but growing trend of Westerners relocating to Russia in search of the traditional, conservative values they feel are eroding in the liberal West. Their journey reflects the ideological narrative Putin has spent years crafting: Russia as the guardian of family-centered traditions amid a Western world spiraling into moral and social decay. Stories of foreigners moving to Russia in pursuit of these values get extensive coverage on Russian state media and are woven into the broader narrative Moscow now exports internationally. But behind the headlines, some newcomers face serious challenges – running into legal and financial issues, grappling with frozen bank accounts, or getting lost in the country and its layers of bureaucracy – though criticism remains muted. Just a few days after the Hares received their asylum, Putin signed a decree in August 2024 that offers the so-called 'shared values' visa – also known informally as the 'anti-woke' visa – to people from 47 countries Russia considers unfriendly, including the United States, Britain and most of the European Union. Through this decree, 'providing humanitarian support to individuals who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values,' Russia offers a three-year residency permit with minimal requirements that can eventually be converted into citizenship. Since the beginning of the year, about 700 people have been issued this visa, while hundreds of others have come on work or student visas or as spouses of Russian citizens, according to lawmaker Maria Butina, who has become the champion of the program. 'LGBT and migrants, these are the two main reasons why people move,' she said. 'They feel that are too many migrants in Europe or they do not accept the LGBT values,' she told The Washington Post. Butina is familiar to Americans as the Russian political activist who was accused of infiltrating conservative political circles to promote Russian interests and convicted in 2018 of acting as an unregistered foreign agent. She was sentenced to 18 months in U.S. prison and later released and deported to Russia in October 2019. In addition to being a member of Russia's parliament, Butina also runs an organization called Welcome to Russia, where a team of about dozen people helps foreigners obtain the 'shared values' visa. In November 2024, Butina launched a new program on Russia's state network RT called 'Family – Russia,' focused on people who have chosen to leave the West and settle in Russia. Around the same time, RT introduced a multilingual website, Gateway to Russia, which provides information on relocation options and Russian-language basics. Foreigners are expected to have enough funds to support themselves, but the Russian government has set up initiatives to help with housing and job placement. Those who obtain a residency permit become eligible for pension and child payments, along with getting access to universal health care. 'Spiritual asylum' Butina insists that Russia is not actively recruiting disillusioned Westerners. 'The Russian state views it as a humanitarian mission. Our job is not to attract people. Let's be honest, it is quite difficult,' she said. 'You need to adapt these people, help them with work, find a school for their children. This is a very difficult process.' 'It would probably be more correct to call it as a spiritual asylum visa,' she added. 'People are moving because they are looking for Noah's ark, not that Russia is seeking them.' But the effort to attract disenchanted Westerns is a calculated one. A recent investigation by the Russian-language outlet Important Stories revealed that the RT network – which is under both U.S. and E.U. sanctions – funds a network of bloggers who produce videos featuring relocated foreigners lavishing praise on Russia while criticizing the West. With titles like 'Russia Has No American Problems' and 'The West Is Trying to Demonize Russia,' these videos are part of a larger soft-power effort by Moscow to improve its image and portray the country as orderly, stable and poised to thrive despite international isolation. The channels add to the existing cohort of conservative Western influencers who have settled in the country and publish Russia-friendly content. In 2019, an Australian family – coincidentally sharing the surname Hare – relocated to Russia in protest over the legalization of same-sex marriage in their home country. They established a farm in Altai, a scenic region in southern Siberia, and run a popular video blog about their life that was prominently featured in RT and other state media coverage. The messaging in these videos often dovetails with an established MAGA worldview. Trans and LGBTQ+ rights are cast as signs of moral decline and opposed under the guise of protecting the interests of children. Feminism is rejected as a leftist project to erode masculinity and dismantle family institutions. Coronavirus vaccine mandates – cited by Butina as another common reason Westerners have chosen to relocate to Russia – are viewed not as public health measures but as instruments of authoritarian control, wrapped in conspiracy-laden skepticism. Russia is portrayed as a haven for traditional values: Single men are shown idealized visions of submissive, family-oriented Russian women aligned with the 'tradwife' aesthetic gaining traction in some American circles. The absence of gay pride events in Russia – thanks largely to severe anti-LGBTQ+ laws labeling the movement as extremist – is highlighted as a feature. One relocation service openly lists these laws as a key benefit, proudly advertising the country as 'family-focused.' For Stephen Webster, a pastor in Murmansk and a comic book artist, it was a move for religious and economic reasons. He first relocated to Russia from Oklahoma with his father, also a pastor, in the early 1990s and then returned in 2023, after about six years in the U.S. 'The first and foremost reason was kind of family and church-related reasons, but there are other things like education,' he said. 'I have four kids, and education for the kids is far, far, cheaper here than it is in the United States.' Webster pointed to Russia's material support for families, such as extended parental leave and the 'maternal capital' program, which provides first-time mothers with about $8,500 and bonuses for subsequent children. The Russian government has made improving the demographic situation a core effort against the backdrop of declining birth rates and wartime losses and is increasingly looking to incentivize young women to marry and have many children, forgoing education and career. Respect for Putin Before relocating, Chantelle Hare said she spent a lot of time watching YouTube channels run by foreigners who had already made the move to Russia, including Dan Castle's Wild Siberia and Tim Kirby's Travel. While these channels weren't named in the Important Stories investigation, they belong to a broader ecosystem of expat influencers promoting Russia in a favorable light. Documents obtained by a European intelligence service and reviewed by The Post show Kirby is part of a group of Western expat bloggers, including Kremlin propagandist John Mark Dougan, who receive instructions and financial support from the state-backed Center for Geopolitical Expertise to publish disinformation. Kirby declined to comment when contacted by The Post. Leo Hare said he became disillusioned with the U.S. after what he saw as President Donald Trump's failure to hold 'traitors' accountable following the 2020 election, which he believes was stolen. 'A country that does not punish its traitors is no longer really a country,' he said, painting a picture of a nation overtaken by intelligence agencies and plagued by corrupt elites. The Hares said they felt unsafe in Texas because of unregulated migration. Chantelle said she was worried her sons wouldn't be able to 'marry a real girl' and not a transgender person and deplored laws such those establishing buffer zones around abortion clinics. But the tipping point, and what finally drew them to Russia, Leo said, was Putin's persona. 'I … liked his policies, how he was trying to restore pride in Russia, restore patriotism,' Leo said. So far, Trump's reelection does not appear to have dissuaded Americans who have already set their sights on moving to Russia from still coming, according to Philip Hutchinson, a former British Conservative Party candidate who moved to Russia four months ago because his Russian wife could not obtain a U.K. visa. Hutchinson now runs Moscow Connect, which offers relocation packages, and has partnered with Butina's initiative. He said that even Trump's policies are not enough to persuade some American conservatives to stay in their home country. 'What happens when another administration comes in and tries to change that?' he said. 'In Russia, at least, you know you're going to get consistency.' Some families run into significant challenges during their move. The Hares have said that they were defrauded out of $50,000 of their savings and that law enforcement has not been responsive. Arend and Anneesa Feenstra, a Canadian farming couple with nine children, relocated to Russia in 2023 for reasons similar to those of the Hares and to set up a cattle ranch. Soon after they arrived, their bank accounts – filled with funds from selling their farm in Canada – were frozen due to 'suspicious' activity, leaving the family stranded and frustrated. In a since-deleted YouTube video, Anneesa, visibly upset, confessed that she was 'ready to jump on a plane and get out of here.' They later made a new a video titled, 'We are sorry and we will do better,' in which Arend retracted their earlier criticism, saying they had spoken in a moment of frustration brought on by language barriers. 'This was not a reflection of our views on Russia, its people, its government, its banks or its laws.'
The Mainichi
6 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Israel launches airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, and Houthis launch missile at Israel
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Israel's military launched airstrikes early Monday targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks came after an attack Sunday targeting a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, later forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. Suspicion for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas immediately fell on the Houthis, particularly as a security firm said bomb-carrying drone boats appeared to hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The rebels' media reported on the attack but did not claim it. It can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in U.S. and Western forces to the area, particularly after President Donald Trump targeted the rebels in a major airstrike campaign. The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites during an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also was traveling to Washington to meet with Trump. Israeli strikes target Houthi-held ports The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. "These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies," the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. "Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities," the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed its air defense forces "effectively confronted" the Israelis without offering evidence. Israel has repeatedly atacked Houthi areas in Yemen, including a naval strike in June. Both Israel and the United States have struck ports in the area in the past -- including an American attack that killed 74 people in April -- but Israel is now acting alone in attacking the rebels as they continue to fire missiles at Israel. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes. "What's true for Iran is true for Yemen," Katz said in a statement. "Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions." The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries. Sirens sounded in the West Bank and along the Dead Sea. Ship attack forces crew to abandon vessel The attack on the Magic Seas, a bulk carrier heading north to Egypt's Suez Canal, happened some 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center first said that an armed security team on the vessel had returned fire against an initial attack of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, though the vessel later was struck by projectiles. Ambrey, a private maritime security firm, issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been "attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea." Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could be a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the ship was taking on water and its crew had abandoned the vessel. They were rescued by a passing ship, it added. The U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet referred questions to the military's Central Command, which said it was aware of the incident without elaborating. Moammar al-Eryani, the information minister for Yemen's exiled government opposing the Houthis, identified the vessel attacked as the Magic Seas and blamed the rebels for the attack. The ship had been broadcasting it had an armed security team on board in the vicinity the attack took place and had been heading north. "The attack also proves once again that the Houthis are merely a front for an Iranian scheme using Yemen as a platform to undermine regional and global stability, at a time when Tehran continues to arm the militia and provide it with military technology, including missiles, aircraft, drones, and sea mines," al-Eryani wrote on the social platform X. The Magic Seas' owners did not respond to a request for comment. Houthi attacks came over Israel-Hamas war The Houthi rebels have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The group's al-Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged the attack occurred, but offered no other comment on it as it aired a speech by its secretive leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. However, Ambrey said the Magic Seas met "the established Houthi target profile," without elaborating. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. Their campaign has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually. Shipping through the Red Sea, while still lower than normal, has increased in recent weeks. The Houthis paused attacks until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed launching an earlier missile at Israel which the Israeli military said it intercepted.
