Queen Strips Prince Andrew of HRH Title and Military Roles - BBC News

Jan 13, 2022 • The Duke of York's military titles and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen, Buckingham Palace has said.

Prince Andrew, 61, will also stop using the style His Royal Highness in an official capacity, a royal source said.

It comes as he faces a US civil action over sexual assault allegations - claims he has consistently denied.

A source close to the duke said he would "continue to defend himself" against the case brought in New York by Virginia Giuffre.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "With the Queen's approval and agreement, the Duke of York's military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen."

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by royal correspondents Nicholas Witchell and Helena Wilkinson.

Prince Andrew Is Stripped of Military Titles as Sexual Abuse Case Proceeds

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Buckingham Palace said Andrew would not undertake any public duties and was defending his case as a private citizen.

Prince Andrew in 2019. The prince will no longer use the title “His Royal Highness.” | .John Thys/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
LONDON — Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, has been forced to relinquish his military titles and royal charities, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, a stinging rebuke by the British royal family a day after a federal judge in New York allowed a sexual abuse case against him to go ahead.

The palace said that Andrew, 61, who has been accused by Virginia Giuffre of raping her while she was a teenager, would also no longer use the title “His Royal Highness,” a prized symbol of his status as a senior member of the royal family. In a terse statement, the palace said that Andrew would “continue not to undertake any public duties” and that he “is defending this case as a private citizen.”

Andrew, who is also known as the Duke of York, has denied Ms. Giuffre’s allegations, which date from a period in which he was friendly with the financier and convicted sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. The duke’s lawyers tried to get her lawsuit dismissed, but the judge, Lewis A. Kaplan, ruled against him on Wednesday.

The decision by Buckingham Palace completes a stunning fall from grace for a man who was once one of the royal family’s most popular members — a dashing war hero and eligible bachelor — but who has since become a disgraced figure, left to explain why he associated with a convicted criminal like Mr. Epstein. » | Mark Landler | Thursday, January 13, 2022

‘Chucked under royal bus’: Prince Andrew’s demotion shows institution’s ruthlessness: Analysis: Duke of York’s loss of royal patronages and military titles reveals inner workings of family »

Prince Charles and William demanded Andrew's exile: Shamed Duke of York was stripped of titles at crisis summit with Queen in attempt to 'ensure the survival of the Royal Family at all costs' as he faces sex assault lawsuit: Palace sources said the 'ruthless and swift' decision had been 'widely discussed' within the Royal Family / Duke of York will be banned from using the styling 'HRH' in an official capacity, according to royal source / News is a further blow for Andrew as he considers whether to press ahead with trial or settle with accuser / Experts say the duke must do a deal 'for the sake of the Queen', who is entering her Platinum Jubilee year / He was spotted today in the back of a Range Rover while being driven from his home in Windsor Great Park »

George Michael : One More Try

Views on YouTube: 137,901,506

The 'Unwinnable War': Should Marijuana Be Legalised in Australia? | 60 Minutes Australia

Jan 13, 2022 – It is our biggest cash crop and worth a fortune - $5 billion a year. The massive resources used to eradicate it are also costing us a fortune. Marijuana is virtually impossible to avoid in this country. Nearly 50% of Australians say they have tried it or regularly use it. Marijuana sales are twice what Australians spend on wine. Millions indulge and millions of dollars are spent trying to wipe it out. In the hills surrounding Nimbin, on the north coast of New South Wales, Richard Carleton accompanied the police on a series of helicopter raids. It is a fight that has all the trappings of war - armed police, state of the art machinery and sophisticated battle plans. Yet, if it is a war, many also believe that it is simply unwinnable.

It makes no sense to me to make smoking tobacco, cigarettes, the bête noire of our day and charge an arm and a leg for a packet of twenty—here in the UK, a packet of twenty Marlboro Reds currently costs £12.50!—yet they want to legalize and make the smoking of cannabis legal! Go figure! When I smoke a cigarette, it does not bend my mind; it simply gives me pleasure. The same cannot be said for marijuana. Enough already! – © Mark

Bee Gees : Stayin' Alive | Official Video

Oct 27, 2009 • Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" official music video, remastered in HD. | Views on YouTube: 609,441,706

First Kiss

A screenshot taken from the video.
’First Kiss’ is a 84-minute kiss video between the artists Idan Bitton and Alfredo Ferran Calle. While the camera is still, the kiss is in motion provoking the viewer to stay and watch. Idan and Alfredo do not interact with the viewer, but offer a peek into their intimate moments of commitment. This long lasting, present and unapologetic kiss defines our current gay rights momentum. We are here, we love each other, and this is what it looks like.

By Idan Bitton (idanbitton.com)
Performed by Idan Bitton & Alfredo Ferran Calle
Video: Runn Shayo

Watch the kissathon here.
I don’t believe that gay kisses come much longer, more beautiful, more sensuous or more sensational than this! This is a wonderful ‘kissathon’ to outdo all ‘kissathons’! A must watch for anyone with an open mind. (An absolute turn-off for the closed-minded and the fossilized!)

It is long, so I would recommend a cocktail or two to enjoy the sensual pleasure of viewing. A few snacks might be good, too. (Don’t forget that YouTube allows one to stop viewing at any time and return to where one has left off, at one’s convenience.)

Enjoy! – Mark

Two Young, Handsome, Liberated Men.

Zwei junge, gutaussehende, befreite Männer. / Deux jeunes hommes, beaux et libérés.
The lovely photo courtesy of The Man in Black on Pinterest.

Stifado : Beef and Shallot Stew

στιφάδο

Get the recipe here.

Seong-Jin Cho – Polonaise in A flat Major Op. 53 | Frédéric Chopin | Second Stage

Oct 9, 2015 • Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina / The Fryderyk Chopin Institute

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — January 13, 2022

Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on nearly 1,400 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday.

Catherine Deneuve: eine gewisse Vorstellung der Schönheit des Films | Blow Up | ARTE

Jan 13, 2022 • In unserer Rubrik über Vor- und Abspanne reden wir über Filmemacher, Genres oder auch Grafiker. Diesmal aber geht es um eine Schauspielerin, und zwar nicht irgendeine: Catherine Deneuve.

Chine : deux condamnés à mort pour trafic de drogue vers Taïwan

LE FIGARO : Un tribunal du Fujian (Sud-Est de la Chine) a condamné à mort deux personnes pour avoir tenté de faire passer par la mer 400 kg de méthamphétamine provenant d'Asie du Sud-Est vers Taïwan, ont rapporté mercredi 12 janvier des médias d'État. Dix autres personnes appartenant au même réseau de trafiquants ont été condamnées à des peines de prison allant de dix ans à la perpétuité, dans le cadre d'une opération de «grande envergure», selon l'agence de presse China News Service. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 13 janvier 2022

What Does Tory Rift Mean for Scotland and the Union?

Jacob Rees-Mogg called Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, a “lightweight”
ANALYSIS
THE TIMES: Tory prime ministers are used to friendly fire from Scottish Conservatives. Elected Tories north of the border tend to be more liberal and centrist certainly than the present cabinet but also many of their predecessors.

However, the past 24 hours have seen an unprecedented escalation of hostilities, and not only because Douglas Ross became the first leader of the Scottish party to call for a sitting Conservative to quit Downing Street.

It is the venom with which allies of Boris Johnson have pushed back that has shocked senior politicians and strategists in Edinburgh.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, called Ross a “lightweight” and sent spasms of anger through the Scottish Tory hierarchy. References have been made to Rees-Mogg’s first … » | Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor | Thursday, January 13, 2022 [£]

New Armed Conflict in Europe Is a Real Risk, Warns Nato

THE TIMES: Talks with Russia over Ukraine end without resolution

Nato is ready to send troop reinforcements to eastern Europe if Russia invades Ukraine, the alliance’s secretary-general warned after talks with Moscow broke up without resolution.

Jens Stoltenberg said there was “a real risk of a new armed conflict in Europe” after Nato allies unanimously rejected the Kremlin’s demands for a guarantee that Ukraine would never be admitted to the alliance.

During four hours of talks Russia reiterated its demands for Nato to halt any further expansion and to pull back from the post-Soviet states that joined the alliance in 1997, eight years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Stoltenberg, however, said Russia was in danger of achieving the opposite, warning that “if Russia once again uses force against Ukraine and further invades Ukraine, … » | Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent | Samantha Berkhead, Moscow | Wednesday, January 12, 2022 [£]

Prince Andrew: The Lengthy and Embarrassing Legal Ordeal Ahead

THE GUARDIAN: The lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre in Manhattan is likely to go to trial by jury, US legal experts say

When a Manhattan judge rejected Prince Andrew’s efforts to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him on Wednesday, it marked a victory for his longtime accuser.

Judge Lewis Kaplan’s ruling also means that the embattled royal will remain embroiled in lengthy – and embarrassing – legal proceedings for the foreseeable future.

“This is a huge development because it clears probably the biggest legal hurdle Virginia Giuffre and her team had to get her case to a jury,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers.

Giuffre, now 38, has long alleged that she was coerced into sex with the Duke of York at the age of 17 by two of his associates – the disgraced American financier effrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kaplan’s decision. » | Victoria Bekiempis in New York | Thursday, January 13, 2022

Im von Virginia Guiffre angestrengten Verfahren bleiben Prinz Andrew nur noch schlechte Optionen: Dem Herzog von York bleibt keine andere Wahl mehr, als auf die Missbrauchsvorwürfe des Epstein-Opfers Virginia Guiffre zu reagieren. Sowohl ein aussergerichtlicher Vergleich wie ein Prozess wären mit einem grossen Imageschaden verbunden. »

Prince Andrew civil case: What happens next?: It couldn't have been a worse result for Prince Andrew. »

Boris Johnson Is Doomed, But Rishi Sunak Might Not Be the Saviour the Tories Crave

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: Johnson’s likely successor as prime minister is inexperienced, and his popularity with voters may already be waning

‘Sunak’s popularity, which was very high when he was doling out public money to support the economy during the first phases of Covid, seems to be ebbing.’ Photograph: Tayfun Salcı/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock
Downing Street’s May 2020 bring-your-own-booze party has reignited the despair about Boris Johnson’s leadership that the remaining Conservative optimists hoped might disappear over the winter break. Now, though, the blaze has revived with a vengeance. Johnson’s apology to the Commons does not solve this in any way.

The apology merely confirms what was already clear: an astonishingly insensitive breach was committed at the height of the first lockdown. This dereliction did not just feature Johnson as a participant: it was marked by his very character. His apology, with its continued pretence about a work event within the regulations, lacks either moral worth or political credibility.

Conservative MPs are well aware their leader is a dodgy chancer. Some of them actively admire this. Others are happy to profit from it. Many loathe it while quietly despising themselves for permitting it. But the style works only while it succeeds. Most Tories had put Johnson on probation after his spectacularly disastrous December. The fresh explosion this week means they are now looking more urgently than before at the alternatives. » | Martin Kettle | Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Boris Johnson s’embourbe dans le «Partygate» : RÉCIT - L’avenir politique de BoJo est obscurci par le scandale des fêtes organisées dans sa résidence pendant le confinement. »

Sind Boris Johnsons Tage gezählt? Neue Lockdown-Party bringt den Premierminister in Rücklage: Boris Johnson hat während des Lockdowns an einer Gartenparty in der Downing-Street teilgenommen – angeblich im Glauben, es sei ein geschäftliches Treffen. Nun hat sich der Premierminister entschuldigt, doch in den konservativen Reihen rumort es gefährlich. »

Tories riven by infighting over Boris Johnson’s future: PM cancels trip after family member tests positive for Covid-19 »

The Guardian View on Same-sex Weddings in Church: The Zeitgeist Is Moving

THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: The Church of England should follow the example of Anglicans in Wales and Scotland, and give its blessing to gay and lesbian relationships

The church’s rigid stance on same-sex relationships is undermining its outreach efforts, particularly in relation to the young.’ Photograph: Maurice Savage/Alamy
For LGBT+ Christians, 2021 provided two significant causes for celebration. In June, the Methodist church became the largest religious denomination in the UK to allow same-sex marriage. Soon after, the Anglican Church in Wales voted to introduce special blessings for same-sex married couples. Across the border in England, the bishop of Liverpool, the Right Rev Paul Bayes, hailed the Welsh move, saying: “I trust that my own church will follow this creative and gospel-inspired lead, and I hope that this will happen soon.”

After more than a decade of bitter deadlock and hurtful division in the Church of England, there is a chance that this will be the year progress is made towards answering Bishop Bayes’ prayers. In April, a church-wide consultation on sexuality will come to an end, with its findings due to be published in the autumn under the title Listening to the Whole Church. The intention, according to the bishop of London, the Right Rev Sarah Mullally, is to find “a way forward for the church in relation to human identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage”. A commitment has been made to establishing a clear direction of travel at a General Synod in February 2023. » | Editorial | Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Prince Andrew Fails to Stop US Sexual Abuse Civil Case Brought by Virginia Giuffre

Jan 12, 2022 • Prince Andrew has long denied accusations he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, and had tried to use a settlement she reached years ago with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to stop a civil case before it started.

The prince's hopes were dashed today by a New York judge.

A civil trial will be humiliating for the Duke of York, and for his family. But if he settles out of court who will pay the bill?

Australian Republicans Claim Majority Now Want to Abolish the Monarchy

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen in Perth in 2011, her last trip to Australia. Her long reign is thought to be increasing support for the monarchy | LINCOLN BAKER/POOL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
THE TIMES: Australian republicans say that the majority of the public support ditching the British monarchy and have proposed a new system to elect a head of state.

In the proposal, called “the Australian Choice”, each of the country’s nine parliaments would nominate a candidate who would then be put forward to a national vote.

The Australian Republican Movement said that the system was designed to produce a list of distinguished Australians from whom the public would choose a replacement for the British monarch. “People don’t want a Trump-like figure and they don’t want Shane Warne [the cricketer]. They want an eminent person,” Peter FitzSimons, a former rugby player who is chairman of the movement, said on Wednesday. » | Bernard Lagan, Sydney | Wednesday, January 12, 2022 [£]

Extremes Wetter - Was kommt da auf uns zu? | SWR Doku

Jan 12, 2022 • Eigentlich ist gegen anhaltend schönes Sommerwetter nichts zu sagen. Und auch nichts gegen ein paar Regentage. Aber immer öfter werden aus Sommertagen Dürreperioden. Und aus Niederschlägen Flutkatastrophen. Das Wetter ist extremer geworden, auch im Südwesten. Was kommt da noch auf uns zu?

Den 29. Mai 2016 wird Bürgermeister Frank Harsch nie mehr vergessen. Er war gerade in seinem Büro im Rathaus. Draußen regnete es heftig. "Dann gab es so Geräusche, die ich erst gar nicht zuordnen konnte. Und dann habe ich gemerkt, wie das Haus vibriert hat", erinnert er sich. Der Blick aus dem Fenster war für ihn ein Schock: Eine Flutwelle tobte durch den Ortskern seiner Gemeinde Braunsbach bei Schwäbisch-Hall, Autos und Geröllbrocken schwammen in brauner Flut am Fenster vorbei. "Das sind Bilder, die lassen Sie nicht mehr los", sagt er im Rückblick.

Ein heftiges Gewitter mit Starkregen reichte aus, um aus dem Dorfbach ein Monster zu machen. Und aus dem Ort ein Katastrophengebiet. Solche extremen Unwetter mit Starkregen und Flut treten seit einigen Jahren häufiger auf. Wie auch das Gegenteil: Hitzewellen und Dürreperioden über Monate hinweg. Selbst im Sommer 2021 mit seinen Flutkatastrophen (nicht nur im Ahrtal) ist es in vielen Regionen im Südwesten einfach zu trocken.

Forstamtsleiter Bernhard Frauenberger kann ein Lied davon singen. Trotz tagelanger Niederschläge im Sommer 2021 sterben in seinem Revier im Soonwald die Bäume, sogar tiefwurzelnde Buchen. Sie vertrocknen einfach. Der Waldboden ist nur oberflächlich feucht, in wenigen Zentimeter Tiefe ist alles "furztrocken", wie er sagt. "Und das zeigt eben, wie gering die Niederschläge in den letzten drei Jahren eigentlich waren". Jetzt versucht er durch eine intelligente Wasserführung, die geringer werdenden Niederschläge so gut wie möglich im Wald zu nutzen.

Das Wetter war über die letzten Jahrhunderte relativ gleichmäßig und verlässlich. Doch jetzt scheint es aus den Fugen geraten. SWR-Autor Christoph Würzburger spürt dieser Entwicklung nach. Sein Film zeigt anhand von Betroffenen die Folgen von Fluten und Dürren. Er skizziert, was nach der Meinung von Wetterexpert:innen und Klimaforscher:innen noch alles auf uns zukommen wird. Doch bei allen düsteren Prognosen lässt sich dennoch festhalten, dass es längst Initiativen und Lösungswege gibt, die die Ursachen des Extremwetters bekämpfen. Der Film stellt Beispiele vor, wie dessen Gefahren entschärft werden können.

Diese Doku aus der SWR-Reihe "betrifft" trägt den Originaltitel: Extremes Wetter - Was kommt da auf uns zu?, Ausstrahlungsdatum: 12.1.22 #swrdoku #swr extremwetter

Ein Film von Christoph Würzburger
Kamera: Ralf Gemmecke , Schnitt: Frank Rosam, Sprecherin: Elke Schützhold, Mischung: Peer Hoffmann, Redaktion: Thomas Michel, Hans-Michael Kassel