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The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
If the king of Belgium can speak the truth about Gaza, why can't Europe's cowardly politicians?
Just when it seemed that Europe's moral failure over Gaza was complete, the head of state of one EU country has stood up with a powerful message of moral clarity. King Philippe of Belgium, whose direct political statements are rare, condemned the grave humanitarian abuses in Gaza as 'a disgrace to humanity'. In a televised address to mark Belgium's national day on 21 July, Philippe said: 'I stand with all those who denounce the grave humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent civilians, trapped in their enclave, are dying of hunger and being killed by bombs.' The monarch said he fully supported the calls of the UN secretary general, António Guterres, to end 'this unbearable crisis'. From the royal palace in Brussels, the king added: 'The current situation has dragged on for far too long. It is a disgrace to humanity.' After a weekend in which at least 100 people across Gaza were killed as they sought food and water – violence that elicited no formal EU response – the monarch's message stood out. He spoke of a recent meeting with Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin – two fathers, one Israeli and one Palestinian, who had each lost a daughter in earlier outbreaks of violence in the Middle East. 'They have put aside any desire for revenge and have chosen to transform their pain into a message of peace,' he said. 'It is always human dignity that is at stake.' The king's speech resonated beyond Belgium. The Dutch national broadcaster NOS openly questioned why King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands had not made a similar statement. As a constitutional monarch, Philippe has limited formal powers. His two annual addresses – on Belgium's national day and Christmas Eve – are reviewed by the prime minister before broadcast. But this year's remarks stood in sharp contrast to the federal government and the prime minister, Bart De Wever, a Flemish nationalist. His party, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), Belgium's largest, includes several outspoken defenders of Israel's military operations in Gaza. De Wever has resisted calls to impose sanctions on Israel. He even questioned whether Belgium would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, as international law would require if the Israeli prime minister were to visit the country. Transcending domestic politics, Philippe issued a broader call to action: 'Europe must assert its leadership even more strongly. It must stand as a bulwark against – and a worthy alternative to – the brutal power struggles we are witnessing today.' Given the EU's intolerable silence on Israel's war crimes, human rights violations and the deepening humanitarian catastrophe, it was a relief to hear at least one head of state speak the truth out loud. EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels last week failed to take action against Israel, prompting an accusation of 'cruel and unlawful betrayal' of Palestinians from Amnesty International. Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would recognise Palestinian statehood in September, while important, remains symbolic in the absence of any economic, financial or diplomatic sanctions. The king, who was speaking just days after an audience with humanitarian organisations working in Gaza, highlighted the failure to uphold international law. 'For decades, international law was the cornerstone upon which states could rely,' he said. 'Today, that is being openly called into question. But when international law is trampled, the whole world suffers. Unpredictability and violence are then given free rein.' While praising collective efforts to meet challenges such as the climate crisis, digital transformation and defence cooperation, Philippe urged EU leaders to 'remain true to our values: democracy, justice and the rule of law'. In a political landscape increasingly dominated by realpolitik, here was a voice insisting on the ethical foundations of the European project. The Belgian king has a consistent record of opposing discrimination and upholding human rights. After a deadly terror attack on the Jewish museum in Brussels in 2014, he made an official visit to the site. In 2015, he invited a large delegation of rabbis and Jewish community leaders to the palace after the dismantling of Islamist terrorist cells in Brussels and Verviers. His moral stance has deep roots in the Belgian monarchy. His great-grandmother Queen Elisabeth was recognised by Yad Vashem as one of the Righteous Among the Nations. During the second world war, she used her position as queen mother to intervene on behalf of Jews facing deportation. According to Yad Vashem, 'these interventions by a member of a royal family in Europe on behalf of Jews were unparalleled'. Since its independence in 1830, Belgium has granted full civil rights to Jews – except during the years of Nazi occupation. Those rights, including freedom of religion, expression and the press, are enshrined in the Belgian constitution. More recently, in 2022, Philippe undertook his first visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the former Belgian colony that was founded and brutally exploited by his ancestor Léopold II. While visiting DRC, the king expressed his 'deepest regrets' for the suffering inflicted by Belgian colonialism. 'The colonial regime itself was based on exploitation and domination,' he said. It was 'marked by paternalism, discrimination and racism'. The fact that Philippe's defence of international law and his remarks on the suffering in Gaza felt like news shows how timid Europe's elected leaders have been. He was saying only what they should have said months ago. Of course, his remarks won't end the war. But they should remind Europe – and the world – that silence in the face of injustice amounts to complicity. And that in times of political cowardice, a constitutional monarch can still be a moral leader. David Van Reybrouck is philosopher laureate for the Netherlands and Flanders. His books include Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World, and Congo: The Epic History of a People
San Francisco Chronicle
23-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
How Alex the Great's owners are honoring legacy of ‘Rally Rabbit'
Most rabbits never set foot in a ballpark. For Alex the Great, a therapy bunny who was rescued from a meat farm, he called Oracle Park home. 'He'd come up to the stadium, and you could see it in just his body language. He would get excited because he knows he's going to the game,' one of his owners, Josh Row, said in a phone interview with the Chronicle. 'The more people he got to see, the more wild the crowd got, the more he got excited, because he felt the energy and he knew where he was at.' Alex died Monday due to complications from cancer treatment, Row and Kei Kato said. He was 4. The rare Flemish giant will perhaps be most remembered by his sporting arena legacy, but according to his owners, Alex's talents were most felt in comforting those who needed him. Rally Rabbit, as he was colloquially called, immediately emerged as a local celebrity at Oracle Park, making Jumbotron appearances and greeting fans as they entered the ballpark. After going viral during his ballpark debut on April 21, 2021, the San Francisco Giants announced that Alex had a lifetime welcome at Oracle Park. Alex became an international sensation almost overnight, quickly finding himself on television broadcasts and in newspapers in countries such as the U.K., Japan, China and Peru. For a rabbit growing up during the pandemic, socialization — for animals in addition to humans — wasn't easily attainable. Row says Alex the Great came into the world 'at just the right time.' With slowly easing restrictions and mandated capacity limits, the conditions at Oracle Park in mid-2021 were just right: Alex could ease into unfamiliar sounds and faces, a far cry from the lively crowds that pack the 42,000-seat ballpark in normal years. Those who met Alex were astounded by his love for people, as he would encourage pets and snuggles in their laps. Row said that Giants president Larry Baer came by their section on several occasions to say hello to Alex. The team even designed shirts for Alex in 2021, and like true fans, many players wore them during practice. 'He was always a part of the team,' Row said. Kato continued, 'When he was on the screen, people chant his name, or if he wasn't, people shout, 'Show us the bunny,' or 'Rally Rabbit!' … People always say, you know, he brings so much joy, and they always look forward to seeing him.' After falling for the Rally Rabbit, Oracle Park employees each chipped in on a championship ring replica — perhaps unsurprising, but marking the first therapy bunny to receive a championship ring. The ring features a bunny design and has 'Alex the Great' printed on the head. When he needed a break, Alex had his own stool at the Gotham Club — a private club level exclusive to ticket holders — to relax for a moment and stretch his furry legs. During games, children brought their Alex the Rabbit stuffed animals, thrilled for a chance to meet the Rally Rabbit and, if they were lucky, get a signature pet and photo. After one game, Josh recalled a woman who chased the trio down outside of Oracle Park. 'This lady literally just broke down into tears, because, you know, she had just lost her mother and was dealing with a lot of medical issues. And just seeing him, burst her into tears,' Row said. 'But then it's like, just everything, everything he does. He just touched everybody.' This wasn't the first time Alex provided comfort to someone battling the throes of humanhood. At Bay FC's inaugural game, Alex and his owners were in a suite with celebrities including Kristi Yamaguchi. 'One lady, I cannot tell you her name, but her husband is very famous, and Alex just kept running up to him in between his legs and laying down. And he keeps coming to him. And then she said, 'Please don't tell anyone, but my husband just got diagnosed with cancer, and it seems like Alex knows that,'' Kato said. '(If) he smells something wrong, he will make sure you're comforted. That's his superpower.' Alex's owners live near Family House, a nonprofit organization in San Francisco dedicated to providing temporary housing for children undergoing serious treatment at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Alex became a source of comfort for the children. Kato recalled a young girl who was walking through Spark Social in Mission Bay, describing a light igniting within her when she saw Alex. The girl had just undergone a round of chemotherapy treatment at the children's hospital. Due to contamination concerns, therapy animals are not allowed in the wing where she was receiving care. 'She got to pet him, and then, we didn't know she was staying at the Family House. So every time she's back in town and staying at Family House, we come and visit her,' Kato said. 'She will let us know, 'Hey, can you come over and meet us?' Because she had a long day at the hospital.' This was the Rally Rabbit's superpower. Row and Kato have made it their mission to continue his legacy. The two are in the process of signing a lease for a storefront in Ghirardelli Square where they will open Bunny Cafe SF. The cafe will rescue bunnies from kill shelters, offering customers some bunny comfort alongside their food and drinks. Bunny companions will also be available for adoption, the proceeds of which will be donated to foundations dedicated to rabbit rescue and care. 'I don't know if we can ever have another bunny the way that we love Alex,' Kato said, voice cracking. 'But at least we can help other bunnies out there.'
Euronews
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Family reunification for migrants in the spotlight in Belgium
The Brussels Immigration office is an imposing building, spread over twelve floors of a concrete block constructed in the 1960s. It's here where the fate of migrants and their families is decided. And now, one service in particular being offered at the centre is in the political spotlight. Last week, MPs passed a government bill restricting access to family reunification. This scheme allows legally resident foreign nationals to bring in one or more family members. Under the new guidelines, refugees will only have six months to submit their application. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, those who do not have refugee status, will have to wait two years before they can submit their application. The text also requires greater financial resources. The minimum income required to submit an application has been increased. Migrants now need to earn around €2,300 per month, compared with the €2,100 under the previous regulations. This amount is increased by 10% for each additional family member. "If someone wants to bring in their partner and two children, they have to earn €2,700 net per month," explains Thomas Willekens, policy officer for the Brussels-based NGO Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen. This sum "is enormous and I would say that the average employee in Belgium does not even earn this amount," he adds. A virtual impossibility without a name The Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration, Flemish nationalist Anneleen Van Bossuyt, has defended these new measures. The minister who originally put forward the proposal said, "We need to reduce the influx of people. Our society is no longer able to bear this burden." The government wants to reduce the number of migrants arriving through family reunification. According to figures from the Immigration Office, last year 20,724 people from countries outside the European Union obtained visas for Belgium under this scheme. Belgian authorities have also decided to increase the application fee for naturalisation, up from €150 to €1,000. For Thomas Willekens, these new rules are above all a covert way of making family reunification impossible, at the risk of plunging these families into an even more dangerous situation. "The consequences for refugees in Belgium will be prolonged separation from their families, which will have an impact on their integration and inclusion in Belgian society. It's difficult to learn the language if you're worried about your partner in Afghanistan, for example," he explains. "As for refugees and countries of origin, while they used to be able to use this safe and legal route to come to Belgium, they no longer have access to it. They will therefore turn to smugglers to come to Europe." A European trend Belgium is not alone in Europe. Last week, Portugal also adopted more stringent measures for granting family reunification. German MPs approved the suspension of the family reunification scheme last month for people with "subsidiary protection," in other words those who do not have refugee status. While Austria has suspended family reunification for a period of six months. In practical terms, applications can be submitted to the Austrian authorities, but will not be processed.
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Alex the Great, sports' cherished therapy bunny, dead after cancer battle
SAN FRANCISCO — A beloved therapy bunny named Alex The Great, who provided snuggles and comfort from ballparks to NBA arenas, airports, farmers markets and even Easter egg hunts and NASCAR races, has died. He was 4. A floppy-eared Flemish giant who was larger than life in both size and spirit, Alex suffered complications from cancer treatment and died early Monday, his owners said. The rabbit had undergone care at the renowned UC Davis Veterinary Hospital in recent days. Alex appeared June 4 sporting his signature cap for Padres-Giants at Oracle Park. At 4 months old, he attended his first Giants game in April 2021 — believed to be the first bunny in the stands at the waterfront ballpark. Kei Kato and Josh Row pose with their therapy bunny Alex The Great during an Arizona Fall League Game at Scottsdale Stadium, Nov. 6, 2021. AP He loved wearing bow ties and riding in his remote-controlled car, which Alex did in November 2021 following an Arizona Fall League appearance at Scottsdale Stadium where he saw now-Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe as a rising prospect. Owners Kei Kato and Josh Row saved Alex from a slaughterhouse — but, really, it was the bunny who saved them. They took Alex on all their trips and he spent hours at San Francisco International Airport with a golden retriever friend offering travelers emotional support. 'He saved us and saved so many people,' Kato said via text message Monday. 'All the stories people are sharing are so overwhelming.' Fans stopped in awe when they saw Alex The Great wherever he went, often surprised by his size and always eager to snap a photo or selfie. Kato and Row were thrilled to share him with the world because Alex had brought them so much love and joy and they wanted to spread that to anyone who might need a lift or a smile. Or provide a chance to pet Alex's soft orange fur or give him a hug. 'We remember him well for his surprise frequent visits to the ballpark,' Giants CEO Larry Baer said in a text message. 'We remember the comfort he brought those who loved him and the joy he brought so many.' Kato lost her brewery restaurant during the pandemic and adopting Alex provided her with a new purpose. He helped Kato deal with the anxiety and stress of no longer having her main source of income and the fulfillment her business brought. 'I lost it all because of COVID, so I've been really stressed a lot,' Kato said at the ballpark that spring night in 2021. 'We support local. I was a local. He's well trained, too.' Alex, a Flemish giant therapy rabbit, waits in his jeep to greet travelers at San Francisco International Airport. MediaNews Group via Getty Images When Alex became such a hit on the big screen, quick-thinking Daniel Kurish of the Marlins' media relations staff went to find the bunny in the seventh inning to deliver some Miami gear. Less than a month later, in May 2021, Alex appeared at a Suns-Warriors game at Chase Center. Of course, they loved him there, too. He'd also pop up outside the arena in Thrive City every now and then to greet fans before games. 'Let his legend continue,' Kato and Row wrote on Alex's social media, 'he was very loved.'
San Francisco Chronicle
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Alex the Great, S.F.'s beloved influencer rabbit, dies after cancer battle
Alex the Great, the beloved 30-pound rabbit known for cruising around San Francisco in his toy Mercedes-Benz, has died after a months-long battle with cancer. The large Flemish rabbit underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on Thursday, July 17, according to his family, who provided regular updates on his health via social media. Though Alex made it through the procedure, he wound up in the Intensive Care Unit of UC Davis Veterinary the following day due to a complication that arose during treatment. Alex's owners, Josh Row and Kei Koc, said he 'crossed the rainbow' on the morning of Monday, July 21. 'This is the hardest news,' they wrote in an X post. 'The pain is unbearable.' The four-year-old rabbit was rescued by Row and Koc from a meat farm in Modesto when he was a small bunny. Alex attended his first San Francisco Giants game when he was four months old, and quickly rose to social media fame by serving as the team's' 'rally rabbit,' frequently charming attendees in the stands during games at Oracle Park. Alex also comforted travelers at SFO as one of its therapy animals. Last year, he even stopped by Outside Lands at Golden Gate Park, where he was invited to meet pop star Chappell Roan. According to his owners, Alex's health troubles began in May, when he had to undergo emergency surgery at SoMA Animal Hospital to remove a cancerous tumor. Though he was medically cleared to attend Giants games by the start of June, he returned to the hospital last week to get a second tumor removed. His family noted that Alex had several cardiac arrests during the procedure and 'just couldn't pull through.' Before he went into his second surgery, Alex's family held a meet-up at Mission Rock for fans to give him some good luck cuddles. They also put out an open call for donations to help cover his medical bills. Dozens of devastated fans took to social media on Monday to share their favorite moments with Alex and offer their condolences to his family, who have been reposting several of these messages to his Instagram stories. 'We will continue your legacy and spread joy and build a positive loving community,' his family wrote on Monday afternoon via Instagram. 'No words to describe the pain, no time would heal the big hole in our hearts.'
