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Boris and Stanley Johnson. AP  

Johnson wants to ennoble his father - sparks British anger  

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has nominated his father to be knighted by the King, The Guardian reports. 

Stanley Johnson is one of about a hundred names on the list that Johnson traditionally, but belatedly, submitted after leaving the prime ministership.  

The move has sparked outrage at Johnson, who during his time in power also gave his brother Jo Johnson the title of lord. 

Labor leader Keir Starmer calls it "ridiculous" and "typical of a man like Johnson". Wes Streeting, shadow minister for health, believes Johnson is "dishonouring the reward system and the office of Prime Minister". 

Olaf Scholz. TT  

Climate threatGlobal challenges 

Germany wants to build at least four wind turbines a day  

Germany's transition to a green economy means great challenges but also great opportunities. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that on Monday, according to AP. The transition will, for example, create so many jobs that "unemployment will become part of the past", according to Scholz. 

- Until 2030, we need to build four or five wind turbines a day and the equivalent of 40 football pitches with solar panels, said Scholz.  

At the same time, the country's Ministry of Economy warns of enormous costs if the country does not reduce its emissions. A new report predicts that the combined cost of various climate-related damages for Germany could be as high as €900 billion by the middle of this century. 

Robert Holzmann, Christine Lagarde. Press photo / Archive photo. Österreichische Nationalbank / TT  

ECB vs inflation 

ECB member: Raise interest rates by 50 basis points four times in a row  

The European Central Bank ECB should raise interest rates by 50 basis points in four consecutive meetings. This is the opinion of ECB member Robert Holzmann as well as Austria's central bank governor.  

In an interview with Germany's Handelsblatt, Holzmann, an outspoken advocate of tight monetary policy, says that core inflation in the eurozone is way too high. He expects only a slow return of prices. 

- If we want to get inflation back to two percent in the foreseeable future, we have to be restrictive. Otherwise, wage demands will be higher and development will take on a life of its own.  

The key interest rate in the euro area is 3 percent and the deposit rate 2.5. In order to deal with inflation, the latter must be up to at least 4 percent, according to the Austrian. 

The next interest rate decision will be announced on March 16.  

Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Burhan Ozbilici / AP  

The elections in Turkey 2023  

Ekot's expert on the Turkish challenger: "Seen as dry" 

During the evening, Turkey's unified opposition is expected to present the leader of the largest opposition party CHP, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as its joint presidential candidate. This since the nationalist party IYI finally stood behind Kilicdaroglu. 

- There has been speculation as to whether it is really a wise choice, because he is seen as a bit dry, says Ekot's Middle East correspondent Johan Mathias Sommarström about the choice. 

74-year-old Kilicdaroglu is retired but was previously a state-employed economist and he worked, among other things, with social insurance issues.  

The May 14 election has been painted as the opposition's best opportunity to bring about a change of power in many years. It is currently very even in the polls between the incumbent President Erdogan's AKP party and the united opposition bloc. 

Taliban soldier and a woman in Kabul. Ebrahim Noroozi / AP  

The situation in Afghanistan 

The Taliban may have committed crimes against humanity  

The treatment of women in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan may constitute crimes against humanity. This is what the UN Human Rights Council writes in a new report that was presented on Monday, Ekot reports.

- The abominable treatment of women and girls is unacceptable and unjustifiable on all grounds, including religion, says Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan.  

Since the Taliban took power in 2021, they have severely restricted women's freedoms and rights. Among other things, women are now stopped from education at a higher level than primary school. Women are also not allowed to work for aid organizations.

The church's trusses are being rebuilt. Francois Mori / AP  

The fire in Notre-Dame  

Notre-Dame will reopen in December next year  

The fire-ravaged Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris is believed to be open to the public at the end of next year, AP writes. Already this year, the building's iconic spire, which collapsed during the fire in April 2019, will be rebuilt. 

- The spire's return to the Paris sky is, in my opinion, the symbol that we are winning the battle for Notre-Dame, says army general Jean-Louis Georgelin, who is leading the work to rebuild the church.  

The renovation work itself started last year, after two years spent stabilizing the church and making it safe to work in. The plan is to recreate Notre-Dame as it looked before the fire.   

 

Larry Hogan with granddaughter Nora. Julio Cortez / AP 

 

The 2024 US election  

Larry Hogan does not challenge Trump - warns of cult of personality 

 

Heavy Republican Larry Hogan does not intend to enter the fight to become the Republican candidate for the presidential election in 2024. He writes this in a column in the New York Times.  

 

Many have believed that the former Maryland governor would run, writes The Guardian. But an excessively large starting field could mean an advantage for Donald Trump, something that Hogan has previously pointed out.  

 

That is also the reason why the politician now chooses to abstain. In connection with Hogan's announcement, he warned that the party may develop a cult of personality around Trump.