Kamis, 16 Januari 2020

Prince Harry makes first -- and possibly last -- public appearance since Megxit - Page Six

Prince Harry was seen in public Thursday for the first time since his stunning Megxit announcement — making what could be his final official engagement as a royal, according to reports.

The Duke of Sussex was first spotted staring intently at his phone in the back of a car as he was driven into Buckingham Palace for his first formal event since last week’s stunning announcement that he was quitting the royal family.

The tired-looking prince, in a blue suit and silver tie, then joked around with young rugby players as he walked out onto the palace grounds before holding the draw for the Rugby League World Cup.

He appeared to hint at his current scandal when he teased the young players about playing on the palace grounds.

“Look after the grass though yeah? Otherwise I’ll get in trouble,” he joked, according to The Sun.

Once inside the draw, however, he seemed distracted and spoke in a faltering voice as he praised sports for “saving lives.”

Harry refused to answer any questions about his bombshell decision to quit the royal family.

“How are the discussions going on your future?” one reporter called out, with the prince remaining tight-lipped and merely smiling at one of his entourage, the Evening Standard said.

The rugby event is the last one Harry is known to have in the immediate future — meaning it could prove to be his last ever as a royal, The Sun said Thursday.

He is expected to stay in the UK for further meetings about his royal exit strategy before flying to Canada to reunite with wife Meghan Markle and their baby son Archie, according to the reports.

The 35-year-old prince has managed to keep a low profile in the week since the news, sneaking into a historic royal summit Monday — while wife Meghan has made public appearances at a series of women’s group meetings while in Canada.

Royal biographer Angela Levin had predicted to Sky News that the world would be seeing “a sad Harry who puts on a good face because of his sense of duty.”

Harry appeared inside the palace for the rugby tournament’s official draw, his voice reserved and faltering as he spoke of his passion for how sports are key in “changing lives [and] saving lives as well.”

The prince looked serious even as presenter Dave Woods said he felt “very privileged” to have the prince at the “historic” occasion, referring to him as “His Royal Highness.”

The Royal Family also notably referred to Harry as His Royal Highness in a tweet about the event.

Harry and Meghan’s titles and roles in the family are understood to be part of ongoing debate during the “period of transition” the Queen granted the couple who she says “wish to live a more independent life.”

Earlier in the day, Harry appeared in a video supporting a “Mental Fitness Charter” aimed at rugby players — with some potentially telling quotes that could relate to his own drama.

He called rugby a community that “takes care of its own” and advised players not to just “grin and bear it” and hide their feelings.

The global rugby tournament will take place during October and November in 17 cities across the UK.

Prince Harry hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws on Thursday in London
Prince Harry hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws on Thursday in LondonGetty Images

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2020-01-16 12:06:00Z
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Rouhani: Iran enriching more uranium than before 2015 deal - Al Jazeera English

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that his country is enriching more uranium than Tehran did before it agreed to a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015.

"We are enriching more uranium before the deal was reached ... Pressure has increased on Iran but we continue to progress," Rouhani said on Thursday in a televised speech.

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Iran has gradually scaled back its commitments under the nuclear deal, signed with the US, China, Russia, Germany, France and the UK, in retaliation for Washington's withdrawal from the pact in 2018 and its reimposition of sanctions that have crippled the country's economy.

Earlier in the week, the United Kingdom, France and Germany challenged Tehran over breaking the limits set out in the deal. 

Inside the base targeted by Iranian missiles

The European nations announced that they triggered the dispute mechanism provided for in the landmark agreement in order to force Tehran to honour its commitments under the accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

On Thursday the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell held "frank" direct talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New Delhi.

"In a frank dialogue, they discussed the latest developments around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," the European Union said in a statement.

The face-to-face talks on the sidelines of a conference were the first following a series of telephone calls since a US drone strike killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on January 3.

EU officials have said Iran already expressed anger at the European move by telephone.

'Prevent military confrontation'

Tensions in the region have simmered in recent months after a series of attacks in the Gulf region that the US blamed on Iran and aligned groups, despite denials from Tehran.

Fears of a military escalation soared in early January after the assassination of Soleimani in an air strike in Baghdad, prompting Iran to fire a barrage of missiles at a military base housing US troops in Iraq.

In his speech on Thursday, Rouhani said that the Iranian retaliation - which caused significant material damage but no casualties according to the US military - had strengthened Iranian deterrence against the "threats" of US President Donald Trump.

But despite the continuing tensions, Rouhani said Tehran was working daily "to prevent military confrontation and war" and that dialogue with the world remained "possible".

The 2015 nuclear deal imposed restrictions on the Iranian nuclear programme in exchange for a reprieve from international sanctions.

After unilaterally withdrawing, the US has reimposed a range of sanctions on Tehran and called for negotiations over a new accord.

Iran has rejected the idea of negotiating a new deal while it is under sanctions.

In response to the US move, Tehran has begun enriching uranium above the cap agreed in the deal and taken further steps to enhance its nuclear programme, while also accusing the European parties to the deal of failing to live up to their own commitments to provide economic relief to Tehran.

Iran had been enriching uranium at 20 percent purity before it signed the deal, which capped enrichment at 3.67 percent.

Al Jazeera's Assed Baig reporting from Tehran said that Rouhani had sent a defiant message to the world, saying that Iran is reducing committments, but also adding that these reductions are reversible if European countries return to their obligations to that deal.

"He's saying to European countries that they need to stand up to the US," Baig said.

"These sanctions have hit Iran's oil sector, the banking sector and the economy and he accepted this - that Iran's oil exports have been reduced, but the economy is still working, according to Rouhani."

Rouhani defended the 2015 nuclear deal in his speech saying, "we have proven in practice that it is possible for us to interact with the world".

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2020-01-16 12:02:00Z
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Putin's political rival reacts to Russian government's resignation - CNN

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2020-01-16 10:27:44Z
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Will Meghan Markle Bring Back 'The Tig' Now That She's Stepping Back As a Royal? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry shook up the whole world when they recently revealed that they would be taking a step back and retiring as senior royals in order to focus on other projects. They revealed that starting their own charity is on the agenda, as well as taking steps towards becoming financially independent.

The royal couple did not state exactly how they plan to make their own income, leading royal watchers everywhere to do some serious speculation. Some believe Meghan will return to her former career, while others wonder if her special side-project will make a comeback in a monetized form.

Why are Meghan Markle and Prince Harry retiring as senior royals?

On January 8th, Meghan and Prince Harry posted a statement to their Instagram account. They announced their decision to “make a transition” by stepping back as senior royals.

Their statement revealed that they want to “work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.” They detailed how they plan to split their time between North America and the United Kingdom. This will, according to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will enable them to raise their young son, Archie Harrison, with an appreciation for both his heritage and the world at large.

It is clear they want to provide a better life for their son, but it is also likely that the relentless media pressure over the past year has had at least a hand in influencing their decision. Meghan has undergone intense scrutiny, with the British tabloids questioning her every move.

Prince Harry has tirelessly defended her, with his own reputation taking a hit in the process. By stepping back, the couple will be less obligated to speak to the media directly and will be able to share announcements via their Instagram page.

What is ‘The Tig’?

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the 91st Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Before she met and married Prince Harry, Meghan was an actress, who had a leading role in the TV series Suits. Meghan was also a leading influencer on social media and loved to interact with her fans and followers.

In 2014, Meghan launched her very own lifestyle website called The Tig. The site featured Meghan’s favorite things, such as wine and beauty products, and gave her followers a glimpse into her day-to-day routine. Frequently, Meghan would share her treasured recipes and her favorite places to visit while traveling, as well as interviews with other celebrities and influencers.

In early 2017, a few months after beginning her romantic relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan shut down the website. While sources close to Meghan denied that the website shutting down had anything to do with Prince Harry and that she wanted to devote more of her time to humanitarian causes, it was clear that her new involvement with the royal family was at least partially responsible. 

Will Meghan Markle bring back ‘The Tig’?

There has been a lot of speculation in recent days that Meghan could return to acting as a way to make money once she and Prince Harry officially separate from the royal family.

While Meghan hasn’t said anything regarding a future in film or television, it seems more likely at this point that she and her husband will concentrate their efforts on public speaking, writing, and other humanitarian outreach efforts. While Meghan has reportedly signed on to do voiceover work for a Disney project, it’s not a monetized endeavor: the voiceover work is in exchange for a donation to a charity called Elephants Without Borders.

Still, it is possible Meghan will make some sort of return to the online space, and once she is no longer a senior member of the royal family, the guidelines that she has to follow will become less strict. With her new reach, Meghan could make Tig even more successful and monetize it so its revenue can help charities that are important to her.

Even if she doesn’t re-open The Tig, she could establish some other sort of direct outreach to followers and fans. After all, their Instagram page has become incredibly popular, and the couple has proven that they prefer to directly share information themselves, rather than relying on some outside source to disseminate information. 

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2020-01-16 08:00:16Z
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Rabu, 15 Januari 2020

Rouhani warns foreign forces in Middle East 'may be in danger' - Al Jazeera English

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has told foreign powers to withdraw their forces from the Middle East, warning that they "may be in danger" if they remain in the region.

"Today, the American soldier is in danger, tomorrow the European soldier could be in danger," Hassan Rouhani said in televised remarks on Wednesday, without elaborating.

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The comments came a day after the United Kingdom, France and Germany challenged Tehran over breaking limits of a major nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers.

The European nations announced on Tuesday that they triggered the dispute mechanism provided for in the landmark agreement in order to force Tehran to honour its commitments under the accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018. 

Rouhani's comments mark the first time he has threatened European countries amid heightened tensions with the US.

Friction in the region escalated in recent months after a series of attacks in the Gulf region that Washington blamed on Iran and its proxies, over Iranian denials. Fears of an all-out war emerged earlier in January after a US air strike killed top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, prompting retaliatory Iranian missile strikes against US targets in Iraq.

Nuclear deal

Separately, Rouhani also dismissed a proposal for a new "Trump deal" to replace the JCPOA, saying it was a "strange" offer and criticising the US president for breaking promises. 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has praised Trump as a great dealmaker, called on Tuesday for Trump to replace the Iranian nuclear deal with his own new pact to ensure the Islamic republic does not get an atomic weapon - Iran has pledged that it does not seek the bomb.

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"Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, @BorisJohnson, stated, 'We should replace the Iran deal with the Trump deal,'" Trump said in a tweet. "I agree!" 

Trump in May 2018 withdrew the US from the deal, in which Tehran had agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for a reprieve from international sanctions. The US has since reimposed a range of sanctions on Tehran and called for negotiations over a new accord.

In response to the US move, Tehran has begun uranium enrichment again and enhancing its nuclear programme, while also accusing the European parties to the deal of failing to live up to their own commitments to provide economic relief to Tehran.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera's Assed Baig said Rouhani urged the European powers to live up to their commitments in the nuclear deal and not give in to US demands.

"Rouhani stressed that all the steps Iran took in response to the US withdrawal from the deal were reversible," Baig said.

"He said this is a good deal for Iran, but Tehran would keep fulfilling its commitments only if European parties to the deal do so as well."

Separately on Wednesday, Iranain Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the European parties to the deal of violating its terms.

"They are not buying oil from us, all of their companies have withdrawn from Iran. So Europe is in violation," Zarif told a conference in New Delhi, saying the future of the deal now "depends on Europe".

He added that the European Union "is the largest global economy. So why do you allow the United States to bully you around?"

Zarif also said that the US killing of Soleimani had served only to strengthen the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS) group.

"I think the war against Daesh [ISIL] just suffered a major setback, and Daesh just won a major victory," he said.

He also implied that the crisis sparked by the killing of Soleimani had contributed to Iran's accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.

"Why did it happen? Because there was a crisis. People make mistakes, unforgivable mistakes, but it happened in the time of the crisis," Zarif said.

Later on Wednesday, Iranian state media said the British ambassador to Iran had left the country, amid a dispute over his attendance at an anti-government demonstration. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that Robert Macaire had left Iran after being given "prior notice".

The British foreign office said that Macaire's trip to London was "routine, business as usual" and was pre-planned.

"It is quite normal for our ambassadors to come back to London to have meetings here," a foreign office spokesman said.

INTERACTIVE: US forces in the Middle East and Afghanistan

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2020-01-15 12:48:00Z
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Iran threatens Europeans soldiers, 'could be in danger' - Fox News

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned in a televised speech Wednesday that European soldiers – not just Americans – “could be in danger” after leaders in Britain, France and Germany began the so-called “dispute process” for the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal with world powers.

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: EUROPEAN POWERS SAY ISLAMIC REPUBLIC 'NOT MEETING' TERMS, THREATEN MORE SANCTIONS

"Today, the American soldier is in danger, tomorrow the European soldier could be in danger,” Rouhani said in a televised speech before his Cabinet. He did not elaborate.

The remarks came after Britain, France, and Germany, which signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, sent a letter to the European Union’s foreign policy chief that they are triggering its “dispute mechanism” – which begins a process that could result in the U.N. restoring sanctions it previously lifted under the deal.

Iran had gradually been rolling back its commitment after President Trump in May 2018 pulled U.S. support from the deal negotiated by his predecessor, President Obama. As part of its response to the U.S. airstrike that killed top Iranian Quds Force Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Iran announced that it would no longer respect limits set on how many centrifuges it can use to enrich uranium.

The Europeans felt compelled to act, despite objections from Russia and China, because every violation of the deal reduces the so-called “breakout time” Iran needs to produce a nuclear bomb, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Parliament.

Rouhani’s speech came amid days of widespread anti-government protests in Tehran that erupted in the capital city after Iran admitted “in error” it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner last week, killing all 176 onboard.

The British ambassador in Tehran was also detained for a few hours over the weekend for allegedly participating in demonstrations.

“In the last few nights, we’ve had people in the streets of Tehran demonstrating against the fact that they were lied to for a couple of days,” Iran's top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said at a conference in New Delhi before praising Iran's military for being “brave enough to claim responsibility early on."

In his speech Wednesday at the Raisina Dialogue in India, Zarif blamed U.S. “ignorance” and “arrogance” for “fueling mayhem” in the Middle East.

He added that he and Rouhani didn’t learn until Friday that an Iranian anti-ballistic had caused the crash that happened two days prior on Jan. 8 – something that, according to The Associated Press, raises questions over how much power Iran's civilian government has in its Shiite theocracy.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ALL-NEW FOXBUSINESS.COM

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which shot down the aircraft, knew immediately afterward its missile downed the airline.

The Guard is answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is expected to preside over Friday prayers in Iran for the first time in years over anger about the crash.

The plane crash happened hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting two bases in Iraq housing U.S. and coalition service members to avenge Soleimani’s death.

Fox News' Greg Norman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2020-01-15 10:12:08Z
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'Danger tomorrow': Iran's Rouhani makes veiled threat to US and EU troops in Middle East - CNBC

Hassan Rouhani, Iran's president, looks on during a news conference in Tehran, Iran, on February 6, 2018.

Ali Mohammadi | Bloomberg | Getty Images

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates ⁠— In an angry speech on state television, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lashed out at the U.S. and Europe for its presence in the Middle East and for what he described as the latter's failures in upholding the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.

U.S. troops are "insecure" in the region today, and EU troops "might be in danger tomorrow," Rouhani declared, according to a Reuters translation, marking the first time the leader has directed a threat toward European forces in the region. He also accused the U.S. of making the region insecure, saying it should "apologize to Tehran" for its "previous crimes."

The U.S. has significantly increased its troops presence in the Gulf in the past year as shipping and oil facilities have come under fire from attacks blamed on Iran, which Tehran denies. The U.K. has about 400 forces in Iraq, spread around Irbil, Baghdad and Taji, all locations that have been targeted by Iraqi Shiite militias backed by Iran's Quds Force, the external operations wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

EU forces are also stationed in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and France and Britain have small numbers of special forces in Syria. A number of EU countries have personnel in Operation Inherent Resolve, the anti-IS coalition, stationed in Iraq. 

Former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike on Jan. 3, the most dramatic escalation between Washington and Tehran in a series of tit-for-tat attacks. Western forces and embassies in the region have been on high alert since then.

Rouhani also used the Wednesday speech to slam the EU's "failure to keep its promises" under the nuclear deal, the multilateral agreement signed in 2015 designed to limit Iran's nuclear program while lifting economic sanctions.

"The EU should fulfill its commitments under the nuclear deal," Rouhani said, adding that the EU has failed to act as an independent bloc and should apologize to Iran for its failures to keep its promises. The U.S. should return to the deal, he said.

France, the U.K. and Germany in a joint statement on Tuesday announced the triggering of the nuclear deal's dispute mechanism to protest and "discuss" Iran's recent decision to fully cut compliance. Iran dismissed the European measure as ineffective, criticizing the countries for failing to compensate for all the trade it had lost due to U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. left the deal under President Donald Trump in May of 2018 and subsequently imposed heavy sanctions on Iran that have slashed its oil exports and crippled its economy.

After successive rollbacks in adherence to the deal's parameters over the past year in response to the sanctions, Iran announced on Jan. 5 that it was fully suspending all compliance and would no longer abide by limits on uranium enrichment levels, stockpiling, or number of centrifuges in operation. Tehran maintains however that it would still work with the UN's nuclear inspectors, and that the moves are reversible if sanctions are lifted.

Rouhani also ridiculed U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suggestion Tuesday that Trump should offer a new nuclear deal, calling it "strange" as "the U.S. president has always broken promises."

Trump has frequently offered to hold negotiations with the Iranians while continuously tightening the screws with more sanctions, the latest announced on Friday. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Wednesday said his country was "not interested" in negotiating with the Americans, while supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said last year that Tehran would "never" talk to the United States.

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2020-01-15 10:11:00Z
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