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World

Mexico’s president defends decision to barricade palace ahead of women’s march | Mexico

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The Mexican president has claimed that a metallic barrier to wall off the presidential palace ahead of a planned women’s march is intended to avoid provocation and protect historic buildings from vandalism.

In a country where femicides rose nearly 130% between 2015 and 2020, critics said the decision to erect the three-metre-high (10ft) barriers was symptomatic of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s apathy toward the crisis of violence against women.

Ahead of International Women’s Day on Monday, barriers were also installed around other buildings and monuments in downtown Mexico City, where a year ago tens of thousands of people protested rampant violence against women and impunity.

“We have to avoid provocation of people who only want to cause damage,” López Obrador said at an event in Yucatan. “Imagine, if we don’t take care of the national palace and they vandalise it. What image will this send to the world?”

López Obrador reiterated that women had the right to protest and cited his own movement in 2006 as an appropriate form of peaceful protest.

“The presidency was stolen from us … and we protested but never broke glass. … I walked two, three times all the way from Tabasco to Mexico City,” he said. López Obrador has repeatedly accused opponents of electoral fraud over the years.

At least 939 women were victims of femicide last year in Mexico, official data shows.

The interior minister, Olga Sánchez Cordero, said on Twitter that the barriers were “for the protection of the women”.

Anger among the women’s rights movement was stoked this year after Félix Salgado, who has been accused of rape, announced his candidacy for governor for the southern state of Guerrero. Salgado has denied the allegations.

López Obrador has said that those calling on him to drop support for Salgado, a member of the ruling Morena party, are politically motivated.

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Entertainment

Buckingham Palace to probe allegations that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, bullied UK staff

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The Times in the UK published an article on Tuesday citing sources who said that the complaint claimed the Duchess drove out two personal assistants from her Kensington Palace household and undermined the confidence of a third staff member. CNN has been unable to corroborate the claims.

The sources also said they approached The Times because they felt the version of the Duchess that had publicly emerged was only partially true and that they were concerned about how matters of bullying had been dealt with. The report said the sources believed the public “should have insight into their side of the story” ahead of the couple’s highly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey to air Sunday, their first sit-down appearance since leaving London for North America last year.

Buckingham Palace said it was “very concerned” about the allegations outlined in the report.

“Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned,” it said in its statement.

“The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.”

Prince Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they were stepping back as working members of the royal family and moved to North America soon afterward. Buckingham Palace confirmed last month that the couple had agreed with Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother, that they would not be returning as working royals.

The move sparked talk of a rift between the couple — who are settled in California and expecting their second child — and the British royal family.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes dismissed the Times report as “a calculated smear campaign” ahead of the couple’s interview with Winfrey.

“Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet,” the spokesperson said.

“The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”

The spokesperson said the claims made in the Times’ report were “defamatory” and that a legal letter of rebuttal had been sent to the media outlet.

The Times declined to comment when approached by CNN.

Harry touched upon the pressures of royal life during a conversation with fellow Briton James Corden for his “Late Late Show” last month.

“It was a really difficult environment,” the Duke said. “We all know how the British press can be … and it was destroying my mental health. I was like, ‘This is toxic,’ so I did what any husband and any father would do: I need to get my family out of here.”

Harry and Meghan have been mired in a long-running war of words and lawsuits with a large portion of the tabloid media, fighting multiple legal cases against publications and photo agencies that had printed details of their private lives.

Last month, Meghan won a privacy claim against the publishers of the Mail on Sunday after they published a letter she sent her father, and launched a stinging rebuke to “dehumanizing” media organizations after the verdict, saying the “damage they have done and continue to do runs deep.”

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Entertainment

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry didn’t consult with palace courtiers before agreeing to Oprah interview: source

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are eager to share their side of the story with Oprah Winfrey.

After several high-profile names and TV networks battled it out for the first sit-down interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it was the media mogul who received the honor. On Monday, CBS announced the couple will be interviewed by Winfrey, 67. The special, titled “Oprah With Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special,” will air on Sunday, March 7. 

And according to Katie Nicholl, royal correspondent for Vanity Fair, the couple has more freedom to detail their triumphs and struggles on camera.

“It is not known whether Harry and Meghan have discussed the TV interview with the Queen, but they did not consult courtiers at Buckingham Palace before agreeing to the interview,” Nicholl claimed on Tuesday. “A Palace source said that the couple is no longer obliged to inform the Royal Household of their plans now that they are non-working members of the Royal Family.”

While Markle is expected to discuss what it was like to marry into the royal family, as well as touch on the circumstances that drove her and Harry to step down as senior members last year, it is unlikely the duchess will reveal the full details out of respect for Queen Elizabeth II. 

The last televised interview Markle, 39, and Harry, 36, gave was for ITV’s Tom Bradby during their tour of South Africa in late 2019. It was during that interview where Harry revealed that he and his brother, Prince William, were on different paths and Markle admitted she was struggling in her new role as a royal.

“Meg’s on a high and so is Harry,” a friend revealed to the outlet. “They are very excited about everything and [are] looking forward to sitting down and sharing some of that happiness with Oprah. It’s a chance for them to give people a glimpse into their new lives and what they are hoping to achieve in the future.”

OPRAH LANDS MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY’S FIRST SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW SINCE ENGAGEMENT

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex currently reside in California.
(Reuters)

Former Palace spokesman Dickie Arbiter told the outlet that Markle and Harry will also be careful about any details they share concerning their son Archie, as well as the duchess’ strained relationship with her father Thomas Markle. 

Last week, the former “Suits” star won a High Court case against Associated Newspapers over a breach of her privacy and copyright over publishing a private letter she wrote to the former Hollywood lighting director, 76.

QUEEN ELIZABETH ‘DELIGHTED’ OVER MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY BABY NEWS

Prince Harry will be partnering with Oprah Winfrey to create a documentary series on mental health for Apple’s new streaming service.
(Getty)

“The Sussexes have an army of professional well-paid advisors so they will go into the interview well-rehearsed and prepared, but they will have to be careful particularly when speaking about their son and Meghan’s father,” Arbiter explained to the outlet. 

“Associated Newspapers will, I imagine, be watching the interview very carefully,” he shared. “They want their day in court so I can’t believe Meghan will talk in-depth about the court case and she should be careful when talking about the media because from what I have seen, she hasn’t been harassed by the British media.”

“Meghan is very smart, and I suspect this is more about getting their message out than what’s next for them and what they are going to do in LA,” he continued. “Harry and Meghan aren’t going to make any waves, it’s not worth them upsetting the apple cart.”

The special promises to be “an intimate conversation” with the couple.

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY EXPECTING BABY NO. 2

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently announced they were expecting their second child.
(AP)

“Winfrey will speak with Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, in a wide-ranging interview, covering everything from stepping into life as a Royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work to how she is handling life under intense public pressure,” a press release announced. 

“Later, the two are joined by Prince Harry as they speak about their move to the United States and their future hopes and dreams for their expanding family.”

The primetime special comes just a day after the royal couple announced they are expecting their second child. 

“We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child,” a spokesperson for the couple told Fox News on Sunday. The pair welcomed their firstborn in May 2019. 

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have stepped down as senior members of the British royal family.
(Getty)

As for Winfrey, the Emmy-winner attended their royal wedding back in May 2018. Harry is currently working on a docu-series with the legendary daytime host and businesswoman for Apple TV+.

Winfrey also lives in the same neighborhood as Markle and Harry in Southern California, the area they moved to in summer 2020. 

Since moving to the United States, the duke and duchess have struck up major production deals with Netflix and Spotify for exclusive content.

Fox News’ Jessica Napoli contributed to this report.

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Entertainment

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to Be Stripped of All Remaining Royal Patronages as Palace Braces for Oprah

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry decided to give an interview to their friend Oprah Winfrey after becoming aware that they are going to be stripped of all their remaining royal links when the terms of their exit package from the royal family are reviewed on March 31, it was claimed Tuesday.

The Daily Mail says that insiders at Buckingham Palace believe that the interview, due to be screened on CBS on March 7, was organized by Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, because the couple could “see the direction of travel” in regards to their future royal roles.

The Mail, whose publishers Associated Newspapers last week humiliatingly lost a high-profile privacy action brought by Meghan, says that the couple are now almost certain to be asked by the Queen to relinquish their remaining links with any organizations which were passed down through the royal family.

Harry will have to give up his three remaining honorary military titles as well as his key role heading up royal support for the London Marathon. Meghan will be asked to step down as patron of the National Theatre, but the Mail suggests she may be able to negotiate another position with them.

Intriguingly, the Palace appears eager to show it is not behaving in retaliatory or vindictive fashion against Meghan, who is pregnant, and Harry, briefing that the move to strip the couple of their last remaining royal titles is not a reaction to the interview. The suggestion is that Harry and Meghan could simply sense which way the wind was blowing and got out ahead of it.

The Daily Beast understands that Buckingham Palace had not been informed of the interview in advance, but courtiers sought to dial down any sense of grievance Monday night, with sources saying that as the couple were no longer working royals, any decisions taken with regard to “media commitments are matters for them,” and that they were “under no obligation” to inform the palace of their plans.

While unlikely to impact the royals as badly as Prince Andrew’s 2019 interview with Newsnight and Princess Diana’s bombshell 1995 interview with Panorama, there is likely to be a certain dread at what Meghan may reveal in the interview. The palace is thought to be particularly nervous about possible allegations of racism or sexism and the settling of “old scores,” The Times reports.

Meghan and Harry sitting down with Winfrey is not, however, an unexpected development.

The talkshow host attended the couple’s wedding in 2018, having met Meghan just once before, and has assiduously courted the couple since then.

In 2019, it was announced that she and Harry were working together on a documentary about mental health and Winfrey was also photographed visiting Meghan’s mother, Doria, at her home in Los Angeles. They live near each other in Montecito and Winfrey has used her social media sway to plug a brand of coffee drinks that Meghan has invested in.

One source told the Mail that the forthcoming sit-down with Winfrey was “one of the most inevitable and, sadly, predictable consequences” of the couple leaving the royal family.

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World

Car bomb explodes near Somali presidential palace in Mogadishu

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“At 9:10 AM, a terrorist car loaded with explosives … rammed into a checkpoint near the Sayidka Junction. The security forces opened fire at the car while speeding to the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu,” a police statement read.

Police said the suicide car bomber also died in the blast.

“Thank God, the vigilance of the security forces has saved the people from the threat of terrorism to the innocent Somali people,” the statement added.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack that comes amid a political crisis in Somalia after the country’s president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s mandate expired on February 8 with no timely elections.

Saturday’s incident was he second major explosion in the Somali capital in recent weeks.

Five people, as well as four attackers, were killed at the Afrik Hotel on January 31. The deadly siege left 10 other civilians injured and ended after Somali security forces battled militants for eight hours.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for that attack through a statement broadcast by Andalus Radio, its mouthpiece channel. CNN has been unable to independently verify this claim.

The insurgent group seeks to turn Somalia into a fundamentalist Islamic state. It has previously claimed responsibility for other attacks in Mogadishu, including a truck bombing in December which killed 85.

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Science

Rendlesham Royal Palace Linked to Famous Sutton Hoo Burial Site

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In 2016 archaeologists unearthed an Anglo-Saxon royal palace and settlement at Rendlesham, located only 6 km (four miles) away from the famous Sutton Hoo burial site in Suffolk, England. Continued work over the years has unearthed a series of fascinating finds, revealing more about the East Anglian kingdom and a probable link between the palace and the well-known grave site.

Professor Christopher Scull, an Honorary Visiting Professor at University College London and University of Cardiff and the academic leader of the project called Rendlesham Revealed: Anglo-Saxon Life in South-East Suffolk , said that “Setting Rendlesham and Sutton Hoo in their wider landscape promises new understandings of the early East Anglian kingdom , its people and its rulers, and the wider English and North Sea worlds of which they were a part.” That community archaeology project was set to run from 2020-2024 and has included the investigation of lesser known sites in the Deben valley, with the hopes of providing more context for the major discoveries at Sutton Hoo and Rendlesham.

Top: An incomplete copper-alloy Early Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) mount, dating to 450-700 AD. (Suffolk County Council/ CC BY 2.0 ) Bottom: An Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) silver sceat (proto-penny), dating to 680-710 AD. (Suffolk County Council/ CC BY 2.0 ) Both of the artifacts were found at Rendlesham.

The Royal Palace at Rendlesham and its Link to Sutton Hoo

The Suffolk Heritage Explorer website providing in-depth coverage of the excavations at the Rendlesham royal settlement reports that “After 12 years of archaeological investigation, we have identified the site of the early East Anglian royal settlement at Rendlesham, first mentioned in the 7th century by Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People.” Bede wrote, “Swithelm, the son of Seaxbald, was successor to Sigeberht. He was baptized by Cedd in East Anglia, in the royal village called Rendlesham, that is, the residence of Rendil. King Aethelwold of East Anglia, the brother of King Anna, the previous king of the East Angles, was his sponsor.”

Rendlesham is located close to the Sutton Hoo burial site, known for its undisturbed ship burial, magnificent Anglo-Saxon helmet, and the hoard of ornate artifacts of outstanding historical and archaeological significance. It is one of the most famous discoveries ever made in Britain and has recently been brought back to popular attention following the release of the film ‘The Dig’ on Netflix. Sutton Hoo is the speculated burial site of a king who resided at Rendlesham.

Replica of Anglo-Saxon mask discovered at Sutton Hoo. (Bill Tyne/ CC BY-SA 2.0 )

In 2016, the Rendlesham project coordinator, Faye Minter, reported that her team discovered the remains of a 23m (75ft) by 9m (30ft) structure, which could have once been a royal hall or palace. She concluded that it was possible that there are other royal burials similar to Sutton Hoo, which was excavated for the first time in 1939 and dated back to the 7th century. It consists of about 20 burial mounds and the excavations revealed many fascinating and impressive treasures. The researchers hope to find even more burials, which could have been placed along the River Deben.

This LIDAR survey shows the core Anglo-Saxon areas at Rendlesham, including the main residence area. (Suffolk Archaeological Service/ Colchester + Ipswich Museums )

“We have discovered what we think is a large Anglo Saxon Hall, which could be the palace itself, if you could call it that,” said Faye Minter [ via BBC ]. “We’re convinced we’ve found a royal settlement of very high status, and I suppose it would be a large hall rather than a palace as it would spring to mind to us.”

As the researchers announced during the conference in Bury St Edmunds in 2016, the remains of the palace cover a 120-acre (50 ha) site and were discovered through the analysis of the aerial photography and geophysical surveys.

More than 4,000 items, including intricate metalwork, coins and weights, have been found at Rendlesham to date. However, only about 1,000 of them are Anglo-Saxon. According to Dr. Helen Geake of the British Museum, the discovery of the palace was an “incredibly exciting” moment.

Finds of high quality jewelry indicate that Rendlesham was probably a royal residence. (Rendlesham Rediscovered )

More Hidden Archaeology in the Region

The researchers suppose that there may be a few more palaces or halls like the one at Rendlesham or burials dotting the surrounding area, which is why excavations have continued around the region. The king would have toured his kingdom in order to show his power, magnificence, and charisma, therefore, it seems logical to have lots of palaces for him to base himself around the area which belonged to him. Finds made during the excavations can also provide more context for the Rendlesham palace and Sutton Hoo in the early medieval communities and the local landscape to which they belonged.

In 2018, excavations provided archaeologists with the discovery of treasure in the form of Roman coins, gold jewelry fragments, and a solid silver ingot dating to either the Viking or Anglo-Saxon period. Those artifacts were found near Woodbridge. Minter told BBC News that the finds “add to the picture of what we have got for that high status 7th Century site [Rendlesham].”

Anglo-Saxon strap end with Borre style decoration and silver ingot providing evidence of metalworking at Rendlesham. (Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service/ Colchester + Ipswich Museums )

Top Image: Sutton Hoo burial mound ( Public Domain ). Insert: A gold and garnet bead discovered at the Rendlesham royal settlement. ( Rendlesham Rediscovered )

Updated on February 4, 2021.

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Entertainment

Meghan Markle left Palace ‘baffled’ by name-change remarks

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Meghan Markle left Buckingham Palace officials “baffled” by her statement saying they forced her to change her name on baby Archie’s birth certificate, Page Six is told.

Shortly after her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, Markle — who was born Rachel Meghan Markle — had her name officially changed to Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, we have confirmed.

This name is now believed to be on her passport and all official documents, as officially required by the Garter King of Arms and Senior Herald in England.

The Queen was the one to gift the Sussexes their titles upon their marriage.

But following Archie’s birth at London’s private Portland Hospital on May 6, 2019, his mom’s name was registered as “Rachel Meghan, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.” This was later amended to “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex” that June.

Meghan Markle is seen here in September of 2019 with her husband, Prince Harry, and their son, Archie.
Getty Images

After the story hit the headlines in recent days, Sussex reps released a statement Sunday saying, “The change of name on public documents in 2019 was dictated by The Palace, as confirmed by documents from senior Palace officials. This was not requested by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex nor by The Duke of Sussex.”

It claimed the story was an attempt to whip up a “calculated family ‘snub,’” adding, “There’s a lot going on in the world; let’s focus on that rather than creating clickbait.”

However, a well-placed source told us, “This is totally baffling. The Palace did not dictate anything, this amendment was made by staff within their former office at Kensington Palace and higher-ups at Buckingham Palace were always kept in the loop.”

Another source confirmed the Palace had nothing to do with it, adding, “The birth certificate was changed by the former Office of The Duke and Duchess to ensure consistency in the name and title of The Duchess of Sussex with other private documents.”

The Sussexes, however, did not request the change, we are told. It is believed to have been carried out by their former staff.

The couple stepped down from their “senior” royal duties last year, and have been living on their own with Archie at a multimillion-dollar estate in Montecito, Calif.

Reps had no comment.

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Entertainment

Meghan Markle says Palace is behind change to Archie’s birth certificate

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Meghan Markle is setting the record straight in regard to changes made to son Archie’s birth certificate.

In a statement Sunday to Page Six, a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex, 39, said the omission of her given name, “Rachel Meghan,” to Archie’s birth papers was a call made by The Palace.

“The change of name on public documents in 2019 was dictated by The Palace, as confirmed by documents from senior Palace officials. This was not requested by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex nor by The Duke of Sussex,” the statement read.

Over the weekend, an updated piece of Archie’s birth certificate surfaced online, with The UK’s The Sun highlighting the changes made to Markle’s name. She’s now listed as, “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex,” while Harry, 36, is regarded as, “His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex.”

The changes were made in June 2019, a month after the birth of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with son Archie in September 2019.
WireImage

A spokesperson for Markle also slammed speculation the edits were a dig at sister-in-law Kate Middleton, who shares three young children with Harry’s older brother, Prince William.

The Sussexes, who have been married since 2018, stepped down as “senior” royals last January. They currently reside in California.

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