Harry's wife, Meghan, appears in public for the first time since her father's arrest

Prince Harry urged technology companies to be more transparent about issues related to children, in his first public appearance with his wife, Meghan Markle, on Tuesday, since her father was arrested on suspicion of possessing images of child sexual abuse.

Harry spoke in the European Parliament in Brussels, during the inauguration of a memorial to children who died as a result of the harm they suffered on social media, according to what was reported by the Associated Press. The memorial, called the “Lost Screen Monument,” includes miniature models of huge smartphones, with each screen bearing a picture of one of the deceased children.

Meghan, also known as the Duchess of Sussex, was scheduled to deliver a speech alongside Harry, but withdrew because she was not “emotionally strong enough,” according to what a source familiar with the reasons for her withdrawal said. However, she accompanied her husband to the event. The allegations against Thomas Markle Sr. surfaced last month. The father appeared in court in Florida last Friday, charged with possession of child pornography. The 82-year-old man had previously strongly denied these accusations, describing them as “sick lies.”

For his part, Harry appeared affected during his speech when he urged those in charge of social media companies to avoid showing children content that they would not show to their children, calling on these companies to be more transparent and to provide support to parents, especially those who seek to access their children’s devices and accounts on social media sites to understand what is happening to them on the Internet.

Bulgarian Health Minister Katia Ivkova announced today (Tuesday) that at least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in two mass collisions that occurred on a highway, amid heavy fog, according to the German News Agency. Ivkova said that heavy fog on the highway linking the capital, Sofia, to the Black Sea port of Burgas led to two mass collisions. She added that the two accidents resulted in the closure of the road in both directions.

Ivkova explained that 10 people “died at the scene of the accident,” while two other people died while being transported to the hospital. She added that 46 people were transferred to medical facilities to receive treatment. The two accidents, which involved dozens of vehicles, occurred in dense fog near the city of Yambol (southeast) on the highway linking the capital, Sofia, to the city of Burgas.

The governor of the Yambol region, Georgi Chalakov, told the official Bulgarian News Agency that about 50 cars and trucks were damaged in the collisions, while government officials rushed to the site. Pictures showed overturned and smashed cars and trucks, in addition to vehicles burned by fire. Prime Minister Rumen Radev had told reporters that “the toll so far is 11 dead and 48 wounded.” Radev was holding a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is visiting Bulgaria, but he canceled the official events that were scheduled for later Tuesday.

US envoy Jared Kushner called from Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to establish a new security framework for Ukraine, Russia and Europe to ensure peace, with the start of talks between Kiev and Moscow under the auspices of Washington. Kushner said, “I hope that today will not be limited to discussing bilateral issues between the two countries and how to put an end to the war... but also how we can establish correct security relations between Ukraine, Russia, and Europe in order to establish a new framework and not just end the war,” to ensure “decades, if not centuries, of peace,” according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.

Official Russian media reported that negotiators from Ukraine and Russia began the new round of talks in Abu Dhabi. Before that, Ukrainian negotiators met with Washington envoys and representatives of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The chief negotiator for Kiev, Rustam Umarov, said on social media, “The first meeting will be held with representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission, who will be joined by the special envoys of the United States, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.” He added: “We will work to unify our positions and coordinate our steps. In preparation for the next stage of negotiations,” according to what was reported by “Agence France-Presse.”

For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, on Tuesday, that the Europeans will attend the Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi, and that no discussions can be held with Russia about the security of Europe before reaching an agreement to cease fire and bring peace. Barot told Radio ⁠“France ⁠Info”: “Britain, Germany and France will already be in the meeting room.”