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Pope Francis has met leading Vatican officials in hospital as he continues his recovery from pneumonia in both lungs.

The pontiff, 88, who is receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, met Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, the so-called Vatican “substitute” or chief of staff.

In its Tuesday lunchtime update on his condition, the Vatican said Francis, who was admitted earlier this month, approved decrees for five people for beatification and two new saints.

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Trump and Macron send message to Pope

He also agreed to call a formal meeting to set the dates for their canonisation during the audience on Monday.

Both the actions and the meeting are considered part of the normal papal routine.

In a later bulletin, the Vatican announced that Francis had additionally named a handful of new bishops for Brazil, named a new archbishop for Vancouver, and modified the law for the Vatican City State to create a new hierarchy.

The Pope “slept well, all night”, the Vatican’s earlier update said.

Thousands gathered in St Peter's Square on Monday night to pray for the Pope's recovery. Pic: AP
Image:
Thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square on Monday night to pray for the Pope. Pic: AP

On Monday evening, as thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray for him, doctors said that, while he remained in critical condition, he had shown a “slight improvement” in some tests, the most upbeat bulletin in days.

Francis had resumed work from his hospital room, calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began, officials said.

Doctors have said the condition of the Argentine pontiff, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility, and pre-existing lung disease before the pneumonia set in.

Francis has previously said he has written a letter of resignation, in case he becomes medically incapacitated.

Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga told La Repubblica he had seen “everything he [Francis] did for the church, with a great love of Jesus. Humanly speaking, I don’t think it’s time for him to go to paradise.”

Over the weekend, the pontiff suffered a “prolonged respiratory crisis” that required a high flow of oxygen, as well as an “initial, mild” kidney problem.

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The Vatican also said he had blood transfusions after tests revealed thrombocytopenia, which is associated with anaemia.

Doctors said on Friday that he was “not out of danger” and was expected to remain in hospital for at least another week.

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Trump shares AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

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Trump shares AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

Donald Trump has shared a bizarre AI-generated video on his Truth Social platform showcasing what appears to be a vision of Gaza under his proposed plan.

The footage, which the 78-year-old shared without comment, shows the war-ravaged territory before a caption appears: “Gaza 2025… What’s Next?”

It then goes on to show the area transformed into a Middle Eastern paradise with exotic beaches, Dubai-style skyscrapers, luxury yachts and people partying.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

It includes a “Trump Gaza” tower and a gigantic, golden statue of the US president – with miniature versions on sale in a souvenir gift shop.

A child is also shown walking in a street, holding a huge, golden balloon of the president’s head.

The video also features the world leader dancing with a scantily clad belly dancer in a bar – and sunbathing and sipping cocktails by a hotel resort pool with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elon Musk appears in the footage several times – sitting on a beach eating humous with flatbreads as bearded belly dancers perform on the sand.

The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX – who also leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has been tasked with cutting government spending – is also shown throwing dollar bills in the air for people.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


A song written for the video also plays in the background.

The lyrics go: “Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gaza’s finally here.

“Trump Gaza’s shining bright, golden future, a brand new life.

“Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.”

Sky News has established the video was first shared online in early February by accounts with no apparent connection to the White House.

Read more from Sky News:
Large bruise on Trump’s hand prompts speculation over health
What you need to know about Trump’s Gaza plan

Mr Trump announced his plan – for when the war between Israel and Hamas ends – earlier this year.

It includes relocating two million Gazans to neighbouring Arab countries and developing the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East“.

He described Gaza as a “demolition site” where “virtually every building is down”.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Laying out his idea of what would happen beyond an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, he proposed: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.”

He said America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site”, before it would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”, and “level it out”.

“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs,” he added.

The White House described the proposal as “out-of-the-box” and “visionary” – but it was condemned as the effective “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians from Gaza.

Hamas described the proposals as “ridiculous and absurd” in a statement from one of its officials.

Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, which as fellow Arab nations support the Palestinian cause, also rejected Mr Trump’s plan.

Read more:
Analysis: Trump’s Gaza plan is so outrageous it might be something bigger

There was a mixed reaction to the video in the comments section below.

One person wrote: “I don’t think that’s funny or cool. Sorry. Am I missing something??? I hope it’s a joke a bad joke..”

“I hate this. I love our president, but this is horrible,” said another.

One Truth Social user wrote: “Mr President while I appreciate what you do, is not about you. To God be the glory and the honor, for without Him, you couldn’t have accomplished anything. The statue is a symbol of the antichrist, please humble yourself to God. Jesus is king and only Him.”

“You’re doing great Mr President. But don’t let it get to your head. God put you in that position for His Glory, not yours,” said another.

“Can we transform our US cities to look like this 2025 vision first? Our cities are dumps with ugly buildings and homeless people,” wrote one user.

“Everything looks good, just stay away from these guys,” said another, reposting a screengrab of the bearded belly dancers.

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Trump posts AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

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Trump posts AI video of Gaza vision featuring golden statues, bearded belly dancers and Netanyahu on a sunbed

Donald Trump has shared a bizarre AI-generated video on his Truth Social social media platform showcasing what appears to be his vision of Gaza under his proposed plan.

The footage, which the 78-year-old posted without comment, shows the war-ravaged territory before a caption appears: “Gaza 2025… What’s Next?”

It then goes on to show the area transformed into a Middle Eastern paradise with exotic beaches, Dubai-style skyscrapers, luxury yachts and people partying.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump

It includes a “Trump Gaza” tower and a gigantic, golden statue of the US president – with miniature versions on sale in a souvenir gift shop.

A child is also shown walking in a street, holding a huge, golden balloon of the president’s head.

The video also features the world leader dancing with a scantily clad belly dancer in a bar – and sunbathing and sipping cocktails by a hotel resort pool with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elon Musk appears in the footage several times – sitting on a beach eating humous with flatbreads as bearded belly dancers perform on the sand.

The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX – who also leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has been tasked with cutting government spending – is also shown throwing dollar bills in the air for people.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


A song written for the video also plays in the background.

The lyrics go: “Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gaza’s finally here.

“Trump Gaza’s shining bright, golden future, a brand new life.

“Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.”

Sky News has established that the video was first shared online in early February by accounts with no apparent connection to the White House.

Read more from Sky News:
Large bruise on Trump’s hand prompts speculation over health
Trump: Zelenskyy to visit Washington to sign minerals deal

Mr Trump announced his plan – for when the war between Israel and Hamas ends – earlier this year.

It includes relocating two million Gazans to neighbouring Arab countries and developing the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East“.

He described Gaza as a “demolition site” where “virtually every building is down”.

Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Donald Trump Truth Social Gaza
Image:
Pic: TruthSocial/@donaldtrump


Laying out his idea of what would happen beyond an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, he proposed: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.”

He said America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site”, before it would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”, and “level it out”.

“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs,” he added.

The White House described the proposal as “out-of-the-box” and “visionary” – but it was condemned as the effective “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians from Gaza.

Hamas described the proposals as “ridiculous and absurd” in a statement from one of its officials.

Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, which as fellow Arab nations support the Palestinian cause, also rejected Mr Trump’s plan.

Read more:
What you need to know about Trump’s Gaza plan
Analysis: So outrageous it might be something bigger

There was a mixed reaction to the video in the comments section below.

One person wrote: “I don’t think that’s funny or cool. Sorry. Am I missing something??? I hope it’s a joke a bad joke..”

“I hate this. I love our president, but this is horrible,” said another.

One Truth Social user wrote: “Mr President while I appreciate what you do, is not about you. To God be the glory and the honor, for without Him, you couldn’t have accomplished anything. The statue is a symbol of the antichrist, please humble yourself to God. Jesus is king and only Him.”

“You’re doing great Mr President. But don’t let it get to your head. God put you in that position for His Glory, not yours,” said another.

“Can we transform our US cities to look like this 2025 vision first? Our cities are dumps with ugly buildings and homeless people,” wrote one user.

“Everything looks good, just stay away from these guys,” said another, reposting a screengrab of the bearded belly dancers.

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Brother of former hostage Eli Sharabi says he was tortured and starved while captive in Gaza

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Brother of former hostage Eli Sharabi says he was tortured and starved while captive in Gaza

The image of Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi being released from Gaza a little over two weeks ago, looking gaunt and weak, shocked and angered Israel and leaders around the world.

His brother Sharon, who fought for months to secure his release, has told Sky News that Eli was tortured by Hamas and barely saw daylight but is slowly recovering his strength after almost sixteen months in Gaza.

“Since day one, Eli was held in extremely difficult conditions, dozens of metres beneath the ground and the treatment he received from his captors was very, very humiliating and very threatening,” said Sharon.

Sharon, being an observant Jew, didn’t watch the live television feed of his brother’s release because it happened over shabbat, but he barely recognised his sibling when they were reunited a few hours later in hospital.

Eli Sharabi and family
Image:
Eli Sharabi and his family

Israeli captive Eli Sharabi, is escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross. Pic: AP
Image:
Eli being escorted by Hamas fighters before being handed over to the Red Cross. Pic: AP

“Eli was starved in an extreme way. He was humiliated, beaten. He didn’t receive minimal conditions for living. The most basic things a person needs for his health – to breathe clean air, to drink clean water.

“He was kept in very difficult conditions in captivity, which included extreme starvation, torture, humiliations, for 16 months in the tunnels of Hamas, I think his appearance says it all.”

Eli was taken from his home in kibbutz Be’eri on 7 October 2023.

More on Hamas

“I will be back, I’ll come back to you,” he had promised his British wife Lianne, and teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel as he was being dragged into Gaza.

Sharon Sharabi
Image:
Sharon Sharabi

They were murdered shortly after.

Read more from Sky News:
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As Eli was paraded on stage by Hamas before his release, he said he was looking forward to being reunited with them – it was only when he reached Israel that he found out they were dead.

“Only once he was in the safe arms of Israel, Eli received the news, when he was told that our mother and older sister were waiting for him [at the border],” explained Sharon.

The family had been given specialist advice to help them deliver the tragic news to Eli.

Eli Sharabi and his family
Image:
Eli Sharabi and his family

“Then he asked, ‘where are Lianne and the girls?’ And when they told him that they hadn’t survived October 7th, it broke his heart.

“We know that from this extremely low point, the lowest point possible, you cannot go down further. We are going to embrace Eli, and we are going to let him process this terrible loss.”

Eli’s release, after 490 days in captivity, was a bittersweet moment for the family.

Yossi Sharabi, Eli and Sharon’s brother was also kidnapped on 7 October 2023 and his body is still in Gaza.

Sharabi brothers
Image:
The Sharabi brothers

Hamas said Yossi had been killed by Israeli airstrikes, which an IDF investigation said was likely.

Though it couldn’t rule out the possibility he was murdered by his Hamas captors.

The family are campaigning to get him back so he can be buried properly. Any disruption to the ceasefire could threaten that.

“We’ve been in this struggle for 16 months now and I think that everyone deserves, at the very least, for their people to be brought back for a final resting place.

“If not on their feet and alive, then at least, even if that person lost his life, he should be brought back with dignity, he needs to be given the proper respect, to be brought back to his soil, to his land.

“Yossi is sorely missed, it’s a great loss to mankind in general, but especially to his family, his wife and daughters, who had survived Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7th.

“And my commitment, just as I fought for Eli, I’ll fight for Yossi, and for all the hostages, until the very last one, in order to try and process what happened to us and especially to try and return to my private ordinary life, the life I had before October 7th.”

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire is almost complete – four more bodies of hostages are due to be released on Thursday – but there has been little negotiation on the next phase.

Unless an agreement can be reached to temporarily extend phase one, then the war could resume, and with 63 hostages still being held in Gaza.

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