Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021

 

 TELEGRAPH

The Duke of Edinburgh, the longest-serving consort to a monarch in British history, has died at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace has announced. Prince Philip, whom the Queen described as her “strength and stay” during her record-breaking reign, passed away at Windsor Castle on Friday. The palace said in a statement: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”

THE TIMES

Leaders and monarchs the world over pay tribute to Prince Philip – Political leaders and royal families from across the world united to express their sorrow at the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh after his death on Friday. The duke made hundreds of overseas visits, including 229 journeys to 67 Commonwealth countries, and 408 appearances in 76 other countries during his life.

Boris Johnson’s statement on the death of Prince Philip death

The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh in Downing Street, hailing him as a “devoted” husband who “earned the affection of generations”. Boris Johnson said he “helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life”. He was the longest serving consort in history, one of the last surviving people in this country to have served in the second world war at Cape Matapan, where he was mentioned in despatches for bravery and in the invasion of Sicily.

 

IN OTHER NEWS:

 

MOD RUSSIAN – UKRAINE  GROWING CRISIS

The SUN reports that the  Russia-Ukraine crisis could “erupt into all-out war” within days after the Kremlin threatened to “end” Kiev as military tensions were pushed to breaking point. The terrifying news comes amid reports US nuclear bombers have been patrolling the skies after Moscow deployed tens of thousands of troops to the flashpoint border. It’s been reported senior British commanders and Whitehall officials are now on  high alert amid the simmering crisis and are said to be monitoring the escalating situation “with growing concern.” One source said the aggressive Russian troop movements towards the border have caused a great deal of concern within the Ministry of Defence.

NO PARAMILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN RIOTS SAY PSNI POLICE

The London Evening Standard reports that police in Northern Ireland have ruled out the involvement of loyalist paramilitary groups in orchestrating the violence seen in recent days. It follows a statement from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), an umbrella group representing the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, that none of its groups were involved in rioting “either directly or indirectly”. On Thursday Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said it was “clear there was a degree of organisation” to the violence.

VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The Independent reports that adults in Belfast applauded teenagers and young men rioting during a seventh successive night of violence in the city’s west end, police said. Older men – some suspected of being involved with paramilitary groups – encouraged the disorder, which has now seen a total of 74 police officers injured, according to assistant chief constable Jonathan Roberts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He spoke out after water cannons, armoured land rovers and dog teams had to be deployed as gangs of loyalist and nationalist youths clashed around the Lanark Way area on Thursday night. Fireworks, petrol bombs and bottles were once again pelted across the dividing lines. It’s clear some of those people are operating independently, some of them are being encouraged and supported by adults who are involving young people in the disorder.

FREE MONEY TO SPEND IN SCOTLAND

From the Independent: Scottish Labour are offering everyone in Scotland £75 to spend in non-food retail in an attempt to boost the high street recovery after coronavirus lockdowns. Party leader Anas Sarwar said the policy could help save the nation’s retailers from further pain, as he fights to oust SNP from power in the Holyrood election campaign. Under the £341m pledge, all Scots over the age of 16 would be given a prepaid card for use in a non-food store, which would be time limited for six months. Any cash left over from the scheme would be donated to food banks across Scotland, according to Scottish Labour. Mr Sarwar said the benefits would be felt by the public as non-essential retail reopens in the weeks ahead, while also supporting businesses forced to spend months shuttered over the past year.

NHS WORKERS DEMAND A NEW GREEN DEAL

The Morning Star reports that In a newly published  report on Friday health staff say decarbonising the economy to zero emissions by 2030, 20 years ahead of the government’s target, could create jobs and prevent nearly 14,000 pollution-related deaths annually in Britain.  The Public Health Case for a Green New Deal paper, written by health workers in charity Medact’s Climate & Health Research Group, calls for the NHS to play its part in systemic change to combat health inequalities and climate collapse. The report’s authors, who work in roles from nurses to GPs and public health academics, set out the links between public health, climate breakdown and economic policies, saying that our economy is making both people and the planet sick. Decarbonising the energy system and investing in green technology could save lives and create 46,000 jobs in the north of England alone, the report argues.

CAMPAIGNER  REFUSED SETTLED STATUS RIGHTS BY HOME OFFICE

The Guardian reports that a campaigner for EU citizens’ rights in the UK has said she is in a state of shock after the Home Office rejected her application for settled status despite her having lived in the country for more than half her life. Dahaba Ali, 27, moved to the UK at the age of 10. She was born in the Netherlands where her mother was granted refugee status after fleeing the conflict in Somalia. She works as a producer on BBC Newsnight and Politics Live as well as writing for various national print media. Ali is also a prominent campaigner with the organisation The3Million which campaigns for the rights of EU citizens in the UK.

BIDEN NUCLEAR  TALKS WITH IRAN RESUME

From the Guardian: Talks on the terms for the US and Iran to come back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal are to resume next week after making sufficient progress since Tuesday’s breakthrough agreement on a roadmap for both sides. The US has not been in direct talks with the Iranian delegation in Vienna this week but is relaying messages mainly to European members of the body that oversees the deal. Iran is insisting all sanctions imposed by the US since 2016, including those classified by the US as non-nuclear-related, must be lifted, and it is not clear whether Iran will take its steps to come back into compliance until it is satisfied that the lifting of the sanctions has had a practical impact on its ability to conduct business, including exporting its oil.

AND FINALLY

From the Daily Mail: ‘Manly’ men with typically masculine traits may be better fathers, a new study has claimed. Researchers from the Ohio State University found that characteristics such as competitiveness and adventurousness were linked to being better fathers to infants. While these traits are often seen as old-fashioned male stereotypes, the researchers say that they can result in more positive parenting behaviours. Professor Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, who led the study, said: ‘If fathers can preserve the best of these stereotypically masculine characteristics, without the negatives like hostile sexism, that would be good for families.’

 

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