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Belgium’s King Albert II named Flemish Christian Democrat Herman Van Rompuy as Prime Minister on Tuesday. This comes after months of political turmoil that has Belgium wondering if the country would split.
The last Prime Minister, Yves Leterme, stepped down earlier this month over allegations of political interference in the bailout of banking giant Fortis, that has left Belgium on the brink of recession.
King Albert named Van Rompuy prime minister-designate at the suggestion of ex-premier Wilfried Martens, who spent six days sounding out political leaders on how to quickly form a new government.
Considered a colourless but reliable leader, Van Rompuy is seen as providing a steady hand on the wheel after 18 months of squabbling among the Dutch and French-speaking coalition partners under Leterme.
Van Rompuy is a Dutch-speaking Christan Democrat.
He now faces the challenge of dealing with a troubled economy, and tensions between Belgium’s wealthier Dutch-speaking region, the Flemish, with the poorer French-speaking region of Wallonia.
The Royal Palace in Jordan released photos of Queen Rania donating her own blood to the victims of the Israeli offensive in  Gaza.
This may have been a personal moment for the Queen, herself of Palestinian origin.
“To be limited to expressing sympathies with the people of Gaza is shameful because they don’t need to be felt sorry for, they need us to act and help, and I know that we can do more,” Queen Rania wrote in an article published in Jordanian newspapers.
The Queen’s husband, King Abdullah II, also donated blood this past Monday. In addition, the King ordered the military to set up an hospital in Gaza.
It is said that 16 aid trucks Jordan sent on Monday have already arrived in Gaza.
Since Israel unleashed its massive aerial attack on Saturday following persistent rocket fire from Gaza, at least 363 Palestinians, including 39 children, have been killed and 1,720 wounded, according to Gaza medics.
Arab rulers from Jordan to Qatar are condemning Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, and are calling the rest of the world to do the same. 
Israel made raids into Gaza Saturday, which killed over 200 people. Israel said its attacks on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip were a response to rocket salvoes.
King Abdullah II of Jordan released a statement, condemning the attacks, and demanded an immediate stop to military action and to Israel’s “siege on innocent civilians and women and children”.
“Violence will only lead to aggravating the situation and will not deliver security to Israel,” the King was quoted as saying in the statement.
Many Jordanians are of Palestinian origin and thousands marched in the capital of Amman crying for the deaths in Gaza to be avenged with suicide attacks.
It was later reported that the Jordanian King got into contact with Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Both called for a unified Arab stance on the Israeli offensive.
The Emir also contacted various Arab leaders, included those in Yemen, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. There was discussion for an emergency Arab summit about the crisis.
 Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, another King Abdullah contacted out-going U.S. President Bush about the attacks.
The Saudi state news agency, SPA, reported that King Abdullah had discussed “the Israeli aggression against Gaza” and the “implications of continuing Israel’s policies of blockade, occupation and torture against the Palestinian people all over the Occupied Territories.”
The King also called for “the major countries to shoulder their responsibilities to stop this Israeli attack and save the lives of the innocent and remaining infrastructure in the Palestinian territories.”
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 The former King of Cambodia announced on his website that he is battling cancer for the third time. However, Norodom Sihanouk is optimistic, and believes he will beat the disease.
The 86 year old Sihanouk is being treated in China, and will not be returning to Cambodia in February as planned.
The former Cambodian King was once a giant in his country’s politics for sixty years. During that time, he saw Cambodia’s fight for independence from France, as well as the Khmer Rouge terror.
Sihanouk stepped down as King in 2004 due to health problems. He was succeeded by his son, Norodom Sihamoni.
While their families gathered for the major holiday, monarchs across Europe spoke to their subjects in their annual Christmas speeches. 
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden were among the royal heads of state assuring their people during tough holiday season, as war rages in other countries and the economy continues to fall.
Queen Elizabeth addressed that in her speech televised in the UK and around the Commonwealth.
“Christmas is a time for celebration, but this year it is a more somber occasion for many,” the Queen said.
“People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world. Whether it is the global economy or violence in a distant land, the effects can be keenly felt at home.”
However, the 82 year old monarch encouraged her subjects to keep their chins up.
“When life seems hard the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future,” she said, standing by a piano adorned with pictures of her family.
 Meanwhile, in Spain, King Juan Carlos I defended his country’s determination to play a larger role in world affairs.
“The current economic crisis shows how much we depend ever more on the rest of the world and we have to know how to skilfully manage the defense of our interests in the world,” he said in the televised address.
“For that, today more than ever, Spain’s international role is important, in our institutions, companies and professionals, to ensure our growth, well-being and security.”
Spain launched an intense and successful diplomatic lobbying effort to obtain a seat at the G20 financial summit in Washington in November, arguing that as the world’s eighth-largest economy it deserved to attend.
Up north in Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf took the radio to speak to his people. He also addressed the current economic crisis, and urged Swedes to remain optimistic.
“Even the financial crisis can promote something positive,” the King said in his afternoon speech.
“The world’s leaders have, with strength and decisiveness, acted together. There are no obvious solutions, but it is hopeful nonetheless to see such cooperation and dialogue between different states.”
One monarch who did not bring up the economy in her country was Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Instead, she talked about how the young must care for the aging Dutch population.
Queen Beatrix warned that each new generation must be made aware of their duty towards those who cannot take care of themselves. She also said that the trials of life help to people to grow and that we see the world differently through eyes that have cried.
After three days of closed door negotiations, Belgium’s King Albert II accepted the resignation of the country’s current government on Monday. Formerly led by Prime Minister Yves Leterme, the government had been in crisis for over a year, giving rise to the calls for the break-up of Belgium. 
According to Bloomberg.com, the King chose veteran politician Wilfried Martens to clear the way for a new government.
“We’re in a very difficult situation,” said Xavier Mabille, head of Crisp, a Brussels research institute. “This government crisis comes at a very bad time. We’re in late December and we have no budget for the new year.”
Leterme’s offer to step down followed allegations from the highest court that the government sought to interfere in a court case on the bailout of the troubled Fortis bank.
It is likely the leading political parties will now seek to broker a coalition without immediately calling for new elections.
The government’s collapse prolongs an 18-month political stalemate, as tensions between the richer Dutch-speaking north and poorer French-speaking south put the survival of Belgium in doubt.
The Emperor of Japan celebrated his 75th birthday Tuesday by waving three times to the cheering crowds outside of the Imperial Palace. 
But that will be all, as he canceled some events and did not give his annual birthday press conference. This may be due to the ailing Emperor’s health, which has been causing him some problems recently.
Akihito suffered from an irregular pulse earlier this month, followed by a diagnosis of a stomach ulcer. Doctors say the ulcer is related to stress.
“I feel my physical condition is getting better,” Akihito said in a statement in lieu of a press conference, adding that it pains him that “matters concerning my and my family’s health have been worrying people.”
“I would like to continue to make efforts for the sake of the country and people and in search of a better form of the imperial household, while taking the advice of doctors,” he said.
What may be causing stress related illnesses for the Emperor is the issue of succession. His son and heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, has failed to produce a son along with his wife, Crown Princess Masako. The two have a 7 year old daughter, Aiko. But the young girl cannot succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne since females are not allowed to be reigning Empresses, under a post World War II law.
There was talk of changing the rules of succession. But that ended when the Emperor’s second son, Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko, had a son, Hisahito, 2 years ago.
However, there is speculation in the Japanese media that there is still talk of allowing Aiko to be in line to the throne, and it even is causing some divisions.
Emperor Akihito is not the first member of the Imperial family to suffer from stress related illnesses. His wife, Empress Michiko, suffered from ulcers last year due to stress. And Crown Princess Masako’s mental problems caused her to withdraw from public life for 5 years. She made a rare appearance earlier this year when the King of Spain made a visit to Japan.
High expectations and the rigors of life in Japan’s tradition-bound palace seem to have taken their toll on its members.
Though no longer revered as living gods, members of the imperial family live tightly regimented lives and are rarely allowed candid moments in public, making their appearances highly scripted and giving them little time to relax.
Speaking in a faint, hoarse voice, Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej swore in the kingdom’s new government and asked them to to “ensure happiness and public order” at a time of political and social turmoil. 
In a speech televised around the country, the 81 year-old King said, “”If you work well, the country will be in good order and it will be a blessing to the country. The country needs good care.
“Without it, public service will not be good enough,” he said, according to a translation on the Web site of The Nation, a daily newspaper. “If you can ensure happiness and public order, the country will go ahead well, just like what all Thais want.”
It was the first public appearance by the frail monarch since he canceled his annual birthday speech more than two weeks ago because of a throat infection.
Seen as semi-divine by many Thais, the King has limited constitutional powers but wields enormous personal influence in Thailand.
The new government King Bhumibol swore in, is under Prime Minister elect Abhisit Vejjajiva. He narrowly won the election, which was clouded by political turmoil in recent months. During the latest escalation, the monarch was thrust into the center of the fray by anti-government protesters who invoked his name in their fight with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which occupied Government House for three months and Bangkok’s main airports for over a week, ended its street campaign after a court sacked the pro-Thaksin government for electoral fraud.
Abhisit has made reviving the economy and national unity his top priorities.
“The country has faced quite severe hardship and nobody can get everything done alone, not the prime minister or the cabinet. It requires all of us to help,” Abhisit, 44, said after the 36-member cabinet was sworn in.
The Queen of Jordan delighted local children when she flipped the switch for the kingdom’s largest Christmas tree in the town of Fuheis. Her doing this task was a sure sign of unity between Jordan’s Christian and Muslim populations. This, especially with leaders from local churches – and mosques – were also in attendance for the tree lighting. 
Fuheis Mayor Jeryes Sweiss, who commemorated the lighting ceremony, said that this is the first annual festival and in the coming years he looks forward to welcoming more and more visitors from surrounding cities.
While in Fuheis, Queen Rania also met with over 200 orphans as well as school children from the area to enjoy past-times like face painting and balloon shaping.
She then paid a visit to the Orthodox Secondary School where community members were selling Christmas decorations and food products.
The Queen said she enjoyed spending time with the children and hopes the spirit of the holidays continues to spread throughout the Kingdom, bringing together Muslims and Christians who are all celebrating holy occasions – from Eid al Adha to Christmas – during this special time of year.
Parts of this article were taken from the Jordan News Agency
Norway’s Queen Sonja stopped by the Ullevaal University Hospital in Oslo on Thursday, to meet with the hospital’s child patients. 
It is part of a annual tradition for a member of the royal family to take time to visit those in need in the days leading up to Christmas.
The Queen was greeted by a young girl in a wheelchair upon her arrival. Then, she was taken to a classroom, where the rest of the young patients sat and chatted with her. Queen Sonja also got a briefing on how the children’s clinic is faced with many challenges as of late. One of them is the increasing number of patients who are multicultural and bilingual.
The clinic at Ullevaal University Hospital is the country’s largest with 92 beds.
Queen Sonja has been to Ullevaal before, and she talked about her last visit.
“I was here among the others during the opening ten years ago, and it’s very nice to come back. It seems as if the children are taken very good care of the school terms and also with play. It is joy, laughter and the expectation that characterizes the entire department,” said the queen told NTB.
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