Leaked Excerpts Reveal Controversial Claims, Including Allegations Against Prince William

Prince Harry’s eagerly awaited memoir, Spare, has inadvertently gone on sale in Spain just days before its official release on January 10. The Spanish edition, titled En La Sombra (“In the Shadow”), features “Príncipe Harry” prominently on the cover along with a close-up image of the Duke.

According to The Sun, one Spanish shopper managed to purchase two hardback copies for around £20. A copy bought in Spain includes a dedication that reads, “Para Meg, Archie y Lili… y, por supuesto, mi madre” (“For Meg, Archie and Lili… and, of course, my mother”).

Images shared by The Sun display the book open to a page featuring a black-and-white photograph of a young Prince Harry with his mother, Princess Diana, accompanied by the text “Primera parte – Desde la noche que me envuelve” (“Part one – Since the night that surrounds me”).

Although the book was not scheduled for release until Tuesday, it made headlines worldwide after leaked excerpts revealed shocking allegations. One claim suggests that Prince William and Kate Middleton encouraged Harry to wear a Nazi costume for a 2005 fancy dress party, an incident that sparked significant outrage at the time. Harry reportedly states that when choosing between dressing as a Nazi or a pilot, it was William and Kate who suggested the former, laughing at his appearance.

In another revelation, Harry alleges that he was physically attacked by William during a confrontation over his marriage to Meghan Markle. According to The Guardian, which has reviewed the book, the altercation escalated with William grabbing Harry by the collar and throwing him to the ground, resulting in a shattered dog bowl.

As these allegations stirred public reaction, a new trailer for Prince Harry’s upcoming interview with ITV was released, scheduled to air this Sunday, just two days before Spare hits the shelves. In the one-minute clip, Harry tells ITV News presenter Tom Bradby that he continues to believe in the monarchy, though he is uncertain about his role in its future. He refrained from confirming his attendance at his father’s coronation in May, stating, “There’s a lot that can happen between now and then… But the door is always open. The ball is in their court. There’s a lot to be discussed, and I really hope that they’re willing to sit down and talk about it.”

Funeral Attendance Expected to Reach Tens of Thousands on Thursday

On Tuesday, thousands of mourners, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, paid their respects to former Pope Benedict as his body lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for the second day. Orban, following Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stood with his wife in prayer before Benedict’s remains.

The Vatican reported that approximately 25,000 visitors had paid tribute by noon on Tuesday, adding to the 65,000 who came on Monday. The passing of Benedict, who made history in 2013 as the first pope in 600 years to resign rather than serve for life, may influence Pope Francis’s own decisions regarding his papacy.

Pope Francis will officiate Benedict’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday, with Vatican police estimating attendance in the tens of thousands. Due to the fact that Benedict was no longer a reigning pontiff at the time of his death, official delegations are limited to those from Italy and Germany. However, several heads of state, including the presidents of Poland and Hungary, as well as the monarchs of Spain and Belgium, are expected to attend privately.

During the public viewing, Benedict’s body has not been adorned with papal regalia such as a crosier or pallium, which signifies the role of a pope as the shepherd of his flock. This decision appears to underscore that Benedict was no longer pope at the time of his passing.

The liturgy for the funeral Mass on Thursday will primarily follow that of a reigning pope, with some adjustments, as noted by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. Inside Benedict’s coffin, three palliums will be included along with coins and medals minted during his papacy, as well as a sealed lead tube containing a Latin document detailing his pontificate.

In keeping with tradition for popes, Benedict’s body will be placed in a cypress coffin, which will be transported from St. Peter’s Basilica to the square for the funeral service.

Celebrations Mark Transition to Euro and Inclusion in Schengen Area

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Croatia on Sunday to acknowledge the “immense achievements” of the nation, which is the latest member to join the EU. Croatia celebrated the New Year by adopting the euro and entering the world’s largest passport-free travel zone.

Von der Leyen met with Croatian and Slovenian leaders at the Bregana border crossing, which became redundant within moments of 2023 as Croatia joined the Schengen Area. At midnight, Croatia phased out its national currency, the kuna, in favour of the euro, now used by 347 million Europeans.

“There is no place in Europe where it is more evident that we are experiencing a season of new beginnings than here at the border between Croatia and Slovenia,” von der Leyen remarked. “This is indeed a day for the history books.”

Since joining the EU in July 2013, Croatia has taken on the responsibility of safeguarding the Schengen Area’s external borders, a duty previously held by Slovenia since its accession in May 2004. Following discussions with von der Leyen and Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic committed to managing the eastern borders with non-EU countries Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro.

Plenkovic assured that Croatia would not erect physical barriers with its eastern neighbours but instead leverage its EU integration experience to assist them in achieving similar goals. Pirc Musar echoed this sentiment, emphasising that the correct path for Western Balkan countries is to align their policies with the EU, expressing hope that Slovenia and Croatia would collaborate to support their neighbours in joining the bloc.

Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro are all pursuing EU membership at varying stages. Montenegro and Serbia have been in formal accession talks for several years, while Bosnia was granted candidate status in December.

The EU’s expansion efforts have faced challenges in recent years, but following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, EU officials have underscored the importance of strengthening engagement with Western Balkan nations to enhance Europe’s security.

Embattled Congressman-Elect Accused of Neglecting Property Before Campaigning

George Santos, the congressman-elect, has been accused by his former landlord of leaving substantial damage in his Queens apartment prior to embarking on his campaign. According to the landlord, Nancy Pothos, Santos and his sister, Tiffany Lee Devolder Santos, resided in the two-bedroom, 960-square-foot unit in Whitestone until three months ago. While the siblings reportedly never paid rent late, they did cause considerable damage to the property.

“They had four dogs and they did a lot of damage to the place, so they left,” Pothos told the New York Post.

The modest apartment, purchased in 1999 for $200,000, is now estimated to have a rental value of approximately $2,900 per month. Shortly after the Post’s report, Gothamist highlighted a separate incident involving Santos, claiming he was mugged while attempting to deliver a rent cheque to Queens Housing Court on January 15, 2016, related to another apartment issue. However, the New York City Police Department has no records of such an incident, with an NYPD spokesperson confirming there is nothing on file regarding Santos’s claims.

Santos, who stated he was “unable to provide a police report,” claimed he was instructed to return to the police later to retrieve one, as detailed in an affidavit he completed under oath. At that time, he owed $2,250 in back rent to landlord Maria Tulumba.

Court documents reviewed by Gothamist reveal that Santos signed a one-year lease that concluded in September 2015 but continued to occupy the property into November of that year, accruing a debt of $2,250. The landlord initiated eviction proceedings that month, and Santos agreed to vacate the apartment by December 24, 2015, along with settling any outstanding rent, though it remains unclear if he fulfilled this obligation.

Additionally, reports from the New York Times indicate that Santos faced two other eviction cases in 2014 and 2017. These revelations come amid a series of disclosed fabrications regarding his professional background and personal history, including false claims about his education, career, real estate holdings, and his mother’s death.

In November, voters in New York elected Santos to represent the state’s 3rd congressional district, which encompasses parts of Long Island and Queens.

Former Trump Aide Labels Ex-Press Secretary a ‘Liar and Opportunist’

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former aide to Donald Trump, has described her one-time colleague, Kayleigh McEnany, as a “liar” and an “opportunist” in recently released deposition transcripts from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. Farah Griffin, who served as Trump’s communications director, expressed her belief that McEnany prioritized her career over public service by promoting false claims about the election.

In her statements, Farah Griffin conveyed that she felt McEnany’s actions were driven by a desire for personal gain after her time in the White House. “I am a Christian woman, so I will say this; Kayleigh is a liar and an opportunist,” she said, adding, “She’s a smart woman. She’s a Harvard law grad. This is not an idiot.”

Farah Griffin contended that McEnany understood that Trump lost the 2020 election but chose to propagate conspiracy theories to maintain his favour and secure a prosperous future. “She made a calculation that she wanted to have a certain life post-Trump that required staying in his good graces,” Farah Griffin asserted. “And that was more important to her than telling the truth to the American public.”

When questioned by the committee about whether she believed McEnany knew her statements were false, Farah Griffin confirmed, “That is my assessment, yes.” She added that while she never directly confronted McEnany about it, she didn’t think it would have been productive.

Farah Griffin further suggested that McEnany viewed the post-election period as an opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty to Trump, which she believed would pave the way for a lucrative career. “If I do this one last public-facing stand for Trump, I’m going to be set. This is going to work for me,” she noted, remarking on how McEnany secured a position at Fox News shortly after leaving the White House.

McEnany departed from her role as White House Press Secretary just days before the end of Trump’s presidency in January 2021, joining Fox News a little over a month later.

Wife of Supreme Court Justice Admits Limited Knowledge in Interview with January 6 Committee

Ginni Thomas, spouse of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has revealed that she was unaware of any concrete evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election while she was actively lobbying senior White House officials to overturn the election results. In a recently released transcript from her interview with the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack, Ms Thomas stated that she “wasn’t very deep” in her understanding of specific allegations at the time, relying instead on information from trusted sources and news reports.

The transcript sheds light on how Ms Thomas leveraged her access to Donald Trump’s inner circle to advocate for rejecting the election outcome. Following the election, she personally contacted White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, as evidenced by text messages obtained by the committee and shared with journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. In a message dated November 10, she urged Meadows to support Trump, claiming, “Help This Great President stand firm, Mark!!!… The majority knows Biden and the Left is attempting the greatest Heist of our History.”

During her interview with the January 6 Committee on September 29, 2022, she was pressed to provide evidence that justified her outreach to Meadows. Ms Thomas admitted, “I can’t say that I was familiar at the time with any specific evidence,” attributing her views to media reports and grassroots activists who expressed concerns about polling irregularities.

When Republican committee member Liz Cheney asked her if she had seen any list of fraud claims, Ms Thomas confirmed, “Right. I know. I wasn’t very deep; I admit it.” Her lobbying activities have raised alarms among Democrats regarding a potential conflict of interest, given that Justice Thomas might have been involved in rulings related to the 2020 election, an area where his wife was politically active.

In her opening statement before the committee, Ms Thomas asserted that she and her husband have an “ironclad” agreement to refrain from discussing Supreme Court matters at home. “It is laughable for anyone who knows my husband to think I could influence his jurisprudence,” she stated, describing him as independent and possessing strong character.

The committee also questioned Ms Thomas about a text exchange with Meadows that implied she had discussed the election with her husband. On November 24, 2021, she expressed her disbelief that Americans would accept the alleged fraud, stating, “the whole coup and now this … we just cave to people wanting Biden to be anointed?”

Meadows responded, framing the situation as a “fight of good versus evil,” encouraging her to remain steadfast. Ms Thomas was further queried about her feelings towards Vice President Mike Pence, particularly regarding her frustration that he might concede before President Trump. She explained that she wanted Pence to address perceived fraud more assertively, reflecting her frustrations with the media narrative at the time.

Falcon 9 Successfully Completes 61st Mission, Tying Historic Soviet Record

SpaceX has marked a remarkable milestone, completing its 61st rocket launch of 2022, nearly doubling its previous annual record. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California early Friday morning, successfully deploying a commercial imaging satellite from Israel into orbit.

The EROS C3 satellite, weighing 400kg and developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is designed to capture Earth images with a resolution of 30cm. This launch surpassed founder and CEO Elon Musk’s ambitious target of 60 successful missions, set in March, and significantly exceeded the previous record of 31 launches achieved in 2021.

Notably, this achievement ties SpaceX with a 42-year-old record established by the Soviet Union, when the R-7 rocket accomplished 61 successful launches out of 64 attempts. The majority of SpaceX’s launches this year were carried out by the Falcon 9, with only one mission conducted using a Super Heavy rocket.

Looking ahead, SpaceX aims to break this record in 2023, with plans to ramp up the frequency of its Starlink missions, which provide high-speed internet globally via satellite. Starlink missions alone accounted for 34 of the 61 launches in 2022.

The first launch of 2023 is scheduled for January 2, when a Falcon 9 rocket is set to take off from Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, weather permitting. Musk has set an ambitious target of 100 launches for the coming year, with contracts from clients including the UK’s OneWeb and the US space agency NASA.