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Messi’s Real Estate Trust Debuts on Spanish Market with €223 Million Valuation

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A real estate investment trust (REIT) owned by Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi made its debut on the Spanish stock market at €57.4 per share, giving it a market capitalization of €223 million ($232.12 million).

Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami and a former FC Barcelona forward, is listed as chairman of the board of Edificio Rostower Socimi in official documents from the Portfolio Stock Exchange, a European alternative market.

The REIT’s sole shareholder is Messi’s family investment vehicle, Limecu Espana 2010, according to the documents. However, the trust has indicated plans to open up to new investors, according to Santiago Navarro, CEO of the Portfolio Stock Exchange, who confirmed the development to Reuters.

The trust has not yet begun trading, as the exchange, which launched in 2023 and is overseen by the Bank of Spain, only permits trading when a company seeks to sell shares or raise capital. Navarro explained that this structure allows for greater flexibility, control, and lower costs compared to traditional IPOs, with any share purchase requests subject to shareholder approval.

Edificio Rostower did not respond to inquiries regarding its stock market debut, which occurred on Monday.

The company’s portfolio includes seven hotels in Spain and Andorra, three office spaces, and five apartments in Spain, as well as additional properties in London and Paris. Established in 2013, Edificio Rostower reported a €1.7 million loss in 2023, according to records from the Portfolio Stock Exchange.

Most of the company’s assets are located in Catalonia, the region where Messi, 37, moved in 2000 at the age of 13 to join FC Barcelona’s youth academy. He lived there until 2021, when he left the club to join Paris Saint-Germain after Barcelona was unable to meet financial fair play regulations.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has stated his intention to return to Barcelona with his wife and three children after retiring from soccer.

Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, serves as vice president of the board, while other board members include Alfonso Nebot, who manages Messi’s family office, and Ramon Adell, a board member of Spanish energy company Naturgy.

In November, Spain’s government announced plans to raise the corporate tax rate for real estate investment trusts, which currently benefit from a lower tax rate compared to other businesses. However, the proposal has yet to gain sufficient support in parliament.

reuters

Former Rebels Evict Assad’s Officers From Military Housing Near Damascus

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Families of military officers who served under Syria’s ousted president Bashar al-Assad are being evicted from subsidized housing at a compound outside Damascus to make room for former rebel fighters, according to residents and fighters at the scene.

The Muadamiyat al-Sham housing complex, home to hundreds of people in over a dozen buildings, was originally designated for Assad-era military officers. As Syria’s military restructures to incorporate former rebel forces and demobilize Assad-era officers, the evictions come as no surprise.

However, the swift replacement of these families by fighters who previously lived in impoverished, rural rebel-held areas highlights the dramatic shift in fortunes for supporters of both sides of the conflict.

The names of rebel factions aligned with the main Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which captured Damascus on Dec. 8, are spray-painted on the entrances to the buildings, marking them for fighters from each faction.

Three fighters at the compound, along with four women living there and a local official assisting those leaving, confirmed that officers’ families were given five days’ notice to vacate.

“We will start moving our children’s schools, starting our lives over. I am very sad, my heart is broken, it’s our lives, my children’s lives,” said Budour Makdid, 38, the wife of a former military intelligence officer. Her husband has signed papers recognizing the new authorities and returned to their family home in Latakia, a former Assad stronghold, where she and their children will join him.

Makdid and other families leaving the compound must obtain a document from local authorities to remove their belongings. Khalil al-Ahmad, a local administrator, stated that around 200 requests for such documents had been made.

Ahmad, who had not been officially notified by the new administration, said residents approached him for documents several days ago.

A spokesman for HTS did not respond to requests for comment.

**Displacement and Property Rights in Post-Assad Syria**

The handling of former Assad officers and their property rights will be closely monitored as Syria’s new administration takes shape. Millions have been displaced since the civil war began in 2011, and the future of these displaced families remains uncertain.

Earlier this month, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was seen in a video asking residents of his family’s former home in Damascus to leave, allowing his own family to return. Some former military families living near Muadamiyat al-Sham, but not in the subsidized housing, are also relocating.

Eidye Zaitoun, 52, was preparing to leave her two-room apartment and move to the coast, saying her son in the military had already relocated there, leaving no reason for her to remain.

HTS fighters, who endured displacement themselves, showed little sympathy for the families leaving. One fighter remarked, “We were displaced out of homes, out of our regions on a moonless night with only the clothes we were wearing. Thank God they are now allowed to take out their belongings.”

REUTERS

71-Year-Old Catholic Priest in Belarus Sentenced to 11 Years as Crackdown on Dissent Intensifies

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A 71-year-old Catholic priest in Belarus was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Monday after being convicted of high treason for criticizing the government. The sentencing of Rev. Henrykh Akalatovich marks the first time since Belarus gained independence in 1991 that a Catholic clergy member has faced politically-driven charges. 

Rev. Henrykh Akalatovich

The conviction comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent by Belarusian authorities ahead of the January 26 presidential election, widely expected to secure a seventh term for President Alexander Lukashenko. 

The Viasna Human Rights Center reported that Akalatovich, 64, denied the treason charges. The organization has listed him among the 1,265 political prisoners currently held in Belarus. 

“For the first time since the fall of the Communist regime, a Catholic priest in Belarus was convicted on criminal charges typically used against political prisoners,” said Viasna representative Pavel Sapelka. “The harsh sentence aims to intimidate and silence hundreds of other priests ahead of the January presidential election.” 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko pose for a photo during the the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) meeting at the Igora resort in the Leningrad Region, about 54 km (33,75 miles north of St. Petersburg in Igora, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Akalatovich, from the town of Valozhyn in western Belarus, has been in custody since November 2023. Diagnosed with cancer, he underwent surgery shortly before his arrest. Authorities have reportedly denied him access to warm clothing and food sent by supporters, keeping him incommunicado since his detention. 

He is one of dozens of clergy members — Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant — who have been jailed, silenced, or exiled for opposing Lukashenko’s government. Clergy who criticized the disputed 2020 election, which gave Lukashenko a sixth term amid allegations of fraud, were particularly targeted. The government has since conducted a sweeping crackdown, arresting more than 65,000 people and violently suppressing mass protests. 

Religious leaders who supported protesters or offered refuge in their churches were singled out for repressive measures. Authorities have closely monitored sermons, conducted political “preventive” talks with clergy, and scrutinized their online activities. 

Belarus has a predominantly Orthodox Christian population, making up about 80%, while Catholics represent just under 14%, and Protestants account for around 2%. 

Lukashenko, in power for nearly 30 years, has described himself as an “Orthodox atheist” and has criticized clergy members who oppose his regime. During the 2020 protests, he urged them to “do their jobs” and refrain from political activism. 

The Belarusian president remains a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory to launch attacks on Ukraine and hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons. 

Global Population to Hit 8.09 Billion on New Year’s Day After Year of Growth

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The world’s population will reach 8.09 billion on New Year’s Day following a 71 million increase during 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Monday. This 0.9% growth marks a slight decrease from 2023’s 75 million person expansion.

Global demographic projections for January 2025 anticipate 4.2 births and 2.0 deaths per second worldwide. The United States will enter 2025 with 341 million residents after growing by 2.6 million people in 2024.

U.S. population dynamics for early 2025 forecast one birth every 9 seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds, with international migration adding one person every 23.2 seconds. These factors combine to increase the U.S. population by one person every 21.2 seconds.

The Census Bureau reports U.S. population growth has reached 9.7 million (2.9%) in the 2020s, significantly outpacing the 2010s’ 7.4% growth rate, which marked the slowest increase since the 1930s.

New York Convenience Store Shooting Injures 6, Including 12-Year-Old Girl and Mother

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Six people were injured Monday evening in a shooting at a Bronx convenience store, New York, including a 12-year-old girl and her mother, after one of the intended targets allegedly used the mother as a human shield, police said.

The 40-year-old mother was shot in the stomach, while the person who grabbed her was not injured, said interim Chief of Department John Chell. The condition of the mother and the other victims was not immediately released. Chell called the incident “a brazen and heartless attack on innocent New Yorkers and cowardly intended victims.”

Police believe two gunmen opened fire at around 5 p.m. on White Plains Road, a major commercial street in the Bronx, targeting a group of people standing outside the store. Surveillance footage showed the attackers running across the street and firing as their targets fled inside. At the store counter, one of the intended targets allegedly grabbed the mother and turned her into the line of fire, Chell said.

The victims, apart from the mother, suffered gunshot wounds to their arms or legs. Five were transported to local hospitals by emergency services, while the sixth reportedly found their own way to medical care. Among the injured were four men, aged 18 to 21, Chell said.

No arrests have been made, and investigators in New York are still working to determine a motive for the shooting.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Finalize Divorce Settlement After Eight-Year Legal Battle

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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have officially reached a divorce settlement, concluding one of the longest and most high-profile legal disputes in Hollywood history. However, some legal matters between the two remain unresolved.

The agreement, filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, states that Jolie and Pitt have finalized terms regarding their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by *People* magazine.

“More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt,” said Jolie’s attorney, James Simon, in a statement. “She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.”

The filing indicates that both parties have waived the right to future spousal financial support. Further details of the agreement have not been disclosed. A judge must still approve the terms of the settlement. Late Monday, Pitt’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were among Hollywood’s most recognized couples during their 12-year relationship, which included two years of marriage. The Oscar-winning actors share six children, though only two—16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne—are still minors.

The divorce proceedings began in 2016 when Jolie filed for divorce following an incident aboard a private jet traveling from Europe. Jolie alleged that Pitt physically abused her and their children during the flight. Subsequent investigations by the FBI and child services officials did not lead to criminal charges. Two months after the incident, the FBI stated it would not pursue further action.

An FBI report, obtained by The Associated Press in 2022, revealed that an agent had prepared a probable cause statement for prosecutors against Pitt. However, after discussions, it was determined that criminal charges would not be filed.

Jolie reportedly struggled with whether to press charges. Court documents later revealed that she chose not to proceed in an effort to protect the family.

In 2019, a judge declared Jolie and Pitt legally divorced and single, but disputes over property and custody persisted. A private judge initially awarded joint custody of their children, but Jolie successfully petitioned to remove the judge, citing a conflict of interest. The ruling was vacated, and the custody battle resumed.

While the divorce settlement resolves marital and property issues, separate legal battles continue. Pitt has filed a lawsuit over Jolie’s sale of her share of their jointly owned French winery, Château Miraval. Pitt alleges the sale to Tenute del Mondo was unlawful and damaged the property’s value. Jolie’s legal team has countered that Pitt demanded she sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the sale, which she claims was an attempt to silence her allegations of abuse.

Both Jolie and Pitt have largely avoided public commentary on their split. Pitt has previously acknowledged a drinking problem at the time of their separation but has since pursued sobriety and therapy. The couple’s divorce marks the end of a Hollywood power pairing that began in 2004 when they co-starred in *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*. Both actors have since continued their successful careers, with Jolie focusing on film direction and advocacy, and Pitt earning an Academy Award for his role in *Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood*

Gonzaga Men’s Basketball Team Jet Ordered to Halt to Avoid Collision at LAX

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an incident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) involving a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team. The jet, operated by Key Lime Air, was ordered to stop to avoid a potential collision with a departing Delta flight on Friday.

Air traffic controllers instructed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to halt before crossing a runway as a Delta aircraft was taking off. The jet, an Embraer E135, was close to crossing the runway when controllers instructed the pilots to stop. No injuries were reported, and the jet did not cross the runway edge line.

“Air traffic controllers directed Key Lime Air Flight 563 to hold short of crossing a runway because a second aircraft was taking off,” the FAA said in a statement. “When the jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, controllers ordered the pilots to stop. The aircraft did not cross the runway edge line.”

The incident, captured on a plane-spotting livestream, shows an air traffic controller urgently telling the flight crew to “stop, stop, stop.” The plane came to a halt and then proceeded after a brief delay.

The Gonzaga basketball team was in Los Angeles for a game against UCLA on Saturday. Gonzaga, ranked 19th, lost to the 15th-ranked Bruins 65-62 in the first college basketball game at the Intuit Dome, the new venue for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers.

Gonzaga University responded to the incident, saying, “We understand that the incident at LAX is under investigation and we will review this information as it becomes available. Our team members aboard the aircraft were unaware of the situation as it occurred, and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for all.”

Key Lime Air has not yet responded to a request for comment. Los Angeles World Airports referred inquiries to the FAA, while a Delta spokesperson confirmed there were no issues with its flight, saying, “Delta flight 471 operated as normal, and we are not aware of any communication from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials on their investigation.”

Migrant Who Murdered Family Allowed to Stay in UK Due to ‘Anxiety’ Over Deportation

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A migrant who murdered his mother and brother in Bulgaria was allowed to remain in the UK after claiming anxiety over deportation. Dzhuneyt Shefket, 31, was convicted of killing his 36-year-old mother Nevdzhin and his six-year-old brother Yeniz in 2012. He served five years in prison in Bulgaria for the brutal murders.

Shefket, 18 at the time of the killings, moved to the UK in 2017 under EU free movement rules, failing to disclose his criminal convictions. A tribunal heard the murders were carried out with extreme violence and described the victims as “entirely defenceless.”

In 2019, Shefket applied to stay permanently in the UK, but the Home Office rejected his application and began deportation proceedings. The tribunal revealed Shefket deliberately withheld details of his past to improve his chances of remaining in Britain. He argued that the prospect of returning to Bulgaria, where he was known as a convicted criminal, made him “anxious.”

In 2023, Immigration Judge Moffat ruled Shefket was not a serious threat and allowed him to stay. However, that decision was overturned on appeal, and Shefket is now set for deportation.

12-Year-Old Girl Suspected in Fatal Stabbing of Father After Discipline Dispute

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A 12-year-old girl has been detained on suspicion of fatally stabbing her 55-year-old father following a disciplinary disagreement at their North Las Vegas apartment Friday night. Police discovered the victim’s bloodied body after responding to a welfare check at the Mercury Street residence around 9:30 p.m.

Though the girl initially claimed her father’s death resulted from a break-in, investigators found no signs of forced entry or significant injury to the child. North Las Vegas Police had previously responded to the address in December regarding a runaway child and domestic disturbance.

The juvenile suspect has been booked into Clark County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of murder with a deadly weapon. Authorities, who identify her as the sole suspect, note they had responded to the residence in December for a runaway child report and domestic disturbance.

Police have not released the identities of either the victim or the suspect as the investigation continues. The incident preceded an unrelated case where a 15-year-old boy allegedly shot his father Saturday evening in northwest Las Vegas after having his electronic devices confiscated.

Source: independent.co.uk

Gaza Babies Die from Cold as Winter Temperatures Plummet

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As temperatures in Gaza drop, newborns are succumbing to the bitter cold, with at least six infants dying from hypothermia in just two weeks. The victims, including 20-day-old Sila, are among the most vulnerable of Gaza’s population, suffering from the harsh conditions of overcrowded refugee camps and damaged infrastructure amid ongoing conflict.

Sila’s father, Mahmoud, described the extreme cold: “All night, we huddle together, curling up next to each other,” he said. “Our life is hell. It’s hell because of the effects of the war, and our situation is unbearable.” Sila died at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after developing severe hypothermia. Her mother, Nariman, recalled the difficulty of caring for her newborn in freezing temperatures, with water leaking into their tent and no proper shelter.

The region, facing deteriorating conditions due to Israeli military operations, has seen an increase in premature births, and many mothers are unable to breastfeed because of malnutrition. The scarcity of infant formula has exacerbated the crisis.

Gaza’s health authorities reported that babies, particularly premature ones, are at high risk for hypothermia, a condition exacerbated by the cold and lack of proper care. Dr. Ahmad al-Farra, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, confirmed the rise in hypothermia-related deaths, with another three-day-old baby and an infant under a month old dying from similar conditions.

“Touch him with your hand, he’s frozen,” said Yehia al-Batran, who lost his 20-day-old son, Jumaa, to the cold. His family struggles with limited resources, including only a few blankets for all eight members.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the worsening situation. Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s regional director, warned that with temperatures expected to drop further, more children are likely to perish due to the inhumane conditions.

In Khan Younis, Mahmoud buried his daughter in a makeshift grave, while his family suffers from illness and exhaustion. “If we don’t die from the war, we’re dying from the cold,” Nariman said.

A bbc story

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