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☆ How a teenager’s holiday romance became prison time in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-21 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Holiday romances are the stuff of rom-coms and chick-lit — but not for 18-year-old Marcus Fakana, who is facing a one-year prison sentence for his summer fling. But when the 17-year-old girl returned to the United Kingdom, her mother discovered the relationship and reported Fakana to Dubai police. I wasn’t allowed to call anyone, including my parents,” Fakana told CNN in a written statement shared by his legal advisory team, Detained in Dubai. Marcus Fakana, 18, was handed a one-year prison sentence in Dubai on December 11, 2024. Towey, who lived in Dubai for one year, says her partner became physically abusive after they moved in together.

Persons: Marcus Fakana, Fakana, ” Fakana, ”, “, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Radha Stirling, City of Gold, Stirling, Azaan Salahuddin, Salahuddin, David Lammy, Keir Starmer, Marcus, ” Tori Towey, Ann Flynn, Caroline, David Young, Tori Towey, ” Towey, Towey, wasn’t, “ It’s, Fakana’s, “ I’ve, it’s, ” Stirling, there’s Organizations: CNN, Dubai police, United, United Arab Emirates, monarchy’s, Al, Foreign, British, Dublin Airport, Emirates, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders, Dubai Central Locations: London, Dubai, British, United Kingdom, United Arab, City of, Stirling, UAE, Northern Irish, “, Fakana’s, Tottenham

☆ King Charles’ coronation: Britain forked out $91 million in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla held in May last year cost British taxpayers £72 million ($91 million), an amount some have labeled excessive. The £72 million spent on the coronation could have paid for 24 million free meals for schoolchildren in London, based on the city government’s current budget of £3.00 ($3.75) per meal. Some additional spending came from the Privy Purse, the monarch’s private source of income, a royal source told CNN. “Plans (for the coronation) were scaled back,” the royal source told CNN. The culture department, in its accounts, said it had underspent its budget on the coronation by £2.8 million ($3.5 million).

Persons: King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Queen Elizabeth II, Finnbarr Webster, ”, Graham Smith, Sovereign Grant —, Sovereign Grant, “, Elizabeth II’s, Max Foster Organizations: London CNN, Department for Culture, Media, Sport, Home Office, Volunteers, Republic, CNN, Sovereign, CNN’s Royal Locations: United Kingdom, Weymouth , England, British, London, Lancaster, London’s Westminster

☆ King Charles and Keir Starmer brace for reparations debate at Commonwealth summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Rob Picheta | Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Britain’s government and King Charles III are bracing for a heated conversation about reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, as the issue looks set to overshadow a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Samoa. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters on his journey to the Pacific island nation: “I think we should be facing forward. Successive British governments have resisted calls to formally apologize for the slave trade, or to entertain the prospect of reparations. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, at a state banquet opening the summit on Thursday. Also in attendance in Samoa is King Charles III, who arrived in the capital of Apia on Wednesday from Australia, and will formally open the summit as head of the organization.

Persons: London CNN —, King Charles III, Keir Starmer, “ I’ve, Patrick Robinson, Anthony Albanese, Stefan Rousseau, Charles, ”, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, King Charles Organizations: London CNN, UK, National Archives, Brattle Group, University of West, Court, Britain's, Commonwealth, Reuters Locations: Commonwealth, Samoa, Pacific, Historic England, Caribbean, University of West Indies, Britain, Apia, Australia, British, Kenya, ’, Rwanda, Jamaica

☆ Young Thai activist’s death in detention after 65-day hunger strike sparks calls for justice reform
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Helen Regan | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

She had been in jail since January 26 and was awaiting trial, according to legal advocacy group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. While in detention, Netiporn went on a 65-day hunger strike until April to protest the jailing of political dissidents without bail, the group said. Panu Wongcha-Um/Reuters/FileThe activist faced seven criminal cases, including two lese majeste charges. Those attending included Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, a fellow activist who also faces lese majeste charges for her involvement in the 2020 protests. At least 270 people have been charged with lese majeste during that time, the group added.

Persons: Thailand’s, ”, “, Netiporn, Thalu Wang, Thais, Panu, Panusaya, lese, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, Strettha, Mongkol Thirakhot, majeste, Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, Akarachai Organizations: CNN, ” Thailand’s Corrections Department, Thammasat University Hospital, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Thai Corrections Department, Bangkok Criminal Court, Thailand’s Ministry, Justice, Rights, United Nations Human Rights Council, European Union Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, lèse

“And, I think, Camilla, Queen Camilla, has certainly earned the respect that she’s receiving. Prince William also took time off to support his wife, though he is now back at work. Camilla has helped pick up the slack, demonstrating the importance of her rehabilitation to Charles and the royal family. But the public mood has softened since Charles married the woman then known as Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. I mean, Camilla has taken the lead in all of this and has performed admirably.”___Full AP coverage of Britain's royal family at https://apnews.com/hub/royalty

Persons: Camilla, King Charles III’s, Princess Diana, Charles, Kate, Princess, Wales, “ It’s, ”, Michael Cole, “, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Diana, Princes William, Harry, Camilla Parker Bowles, ″, Sally Bedell Smith, “ Prince Charles, ’ ’, Prince Harry, Camilla burnished, ” Harry, Smith, “ William, Edward Organizations: BBC, Foreign Press, CBS, Kindred Studios Locations: Windsor, Britain, Paris, Shepherd’s, London

☆ Thai court orders election-winning party to end its royal reform campaign in blow to voters who backed change
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Helen Regan | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“This would effectively mean that the lese majeste law would become untouchable,” said Munin Pongsapan, associate professor at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law. Sentences for those convicted under lese majeste can be decades long and hundreds of people have been prosecuted in recent years. Anyone – including ordinary citizens – can bring lese majeste charges on behalf of the king, even if they are not directly involved with the case. Protesters demanding royal reform wanted to abolish the lese majeste law, and to ensure the king is answerable to the constitution, with protesters scrutinizing Vajiralongkorn’s immense wealth and power. Move Forward’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party, came out of nowhere to win the third most seats in the 2019 election.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, lese, ”, Munin Pongsapan, “, Munin, Parit Wacharasindhu, Stringer, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, ’, Thitinan, ” Thitinan, lese majeste, Thais, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Anusak, turfing, Pita, Wednesday’s Organizations: Thailand CNN, Wednesday, Party, University’s, of Law, CNN, Anadolu Agency, Chulalongkorn University, Forward Party, Legal, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Lawmakers Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai

☆ Thailand sentences man to record 50 years in prison for insulting the monarchy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Sentences for those convicted under Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, or lese majeste law, can be decades long and hundreds of people have been prosecuted in recent years. A criminal court found him guilty of 14 violations of lese majeste and sentenced him in January 2023 to 28 years. At least 262 people have been charged with lese majeste during that time, the group added. Thailand’s lese majeste prosecutions continue despite a civilian government now being in power, following almost a decade of military-backed rule. The verdicts include a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether Pita sought to overthrow the monarchy through his election campaign to amend the lese majeste law.

Persons: Mongkol Thirakhot, Chiang Rai, ”, majeste, TLHR, Mongkol, Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, Akarachai, Anchan Preelert, lese, Arnon Nampa, Arnon, ” TLRH, Thailand’s lese, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita Organizations: CNN, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Facebook, Supreme, UN Human Rights, YouTube, Forward, Constitutional Locations: Chiang Rai, Thailand, TLHR, Thai

☆ Britain’s Royal Family Is Again Embroiled In Allegation of Racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Max Colchester | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

King Charles’s response to the latest commotion surrounding the British monarch has been to continue to keep quiet and turn up at public events. Photo: cameron smith/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesLONDON—Allegations of racism in the British monarchy were again thrust into the public domain this week after a translation of a book claimed that King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were the mystery royals who had allegedly discussed concerns about the skin color of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ’s son before his birth. The claim was made in a Dutch translation of “Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival,” which was quickly pulled by the publishers who said the names had appeared in error. On Friday, virtually every major British newspaper and broadcaster revealed the names.

Persons: King, cameron, King Charles, Catherine , Princess of Wales, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry ’ Organizations: Agence France, British

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —When King Charles III touched down for his four-day state visit in Kenya, it seemed inevitable the new monarch would have to grapple with Britain’s legacy of colonialism. But it was also that same year that Mau Mau freedom fighters – originating from the country’s largest ethnic Kikuyu tribe – rebelled against British colonialists. Mau Mau rebels held in a prison camp in Kenya in 1952. The King, accompanied by President William Ruto, receives a guided tour of a new museum dedicated to Kenya's history on Tuesday. The wounds and trauma inflicted during that dark period are still prevalent today, according to Evelyn Wanjugu Kimathi, the daughter of one of the leaders of the Mau Mau uprising, Dedan Kimathi.

Persons: King Charles III, Prince William, Charles, William Ruto, ”, ” King Charles, Queen Camilla, Rachel Ruto, Chris Jackson, ” Charles, It’s, Prince of, Kate Middleton, –, Mau Mau, contrition, Ruto, Ian Vogler, ” Ruto, Evelyn Wanjugu Kimathi, Dedan, Kimathi, “, we’ll, Victoria Jones, King Charles, Buckingham Organizations: CNN’s Royal, Kenya CNN, Caribbean, Kenyan, Kenyans ”, Getty, British, Kenyan Human Rights, Hulton, Uhuru, CNN, Commonwealth Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Buckingham, Britain, Commonwealth, Prince of Wales, Mau, Stroud, ”, British

Image The Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, Hawaii, last year. Image Shops and dining destinations along the sidewalks and streets in Lahaina, Maui. Mr. Hedani said the fabled beach areas on Oahu that Hawaii is best known for held nothing on Lahaina. “The sunset looks fake every time I see it.”Image Sunset in Lahaina, Hawaii. “What happens when you take away the most important street on Maui?” he said.

Persons: George Alan Freeland, Freeland’s, ”, Theo Morrison, Daejas, Baldwin, Ephraim Spaulding, Dwight Baldwin, Morrison, Mark Twain, “, —, Kiha Kaina, Patrick T, Kaina, Lee Anne Wong, Wong, Tony Novak, Clifford, Ronald Williams, Williams, it’s, Jared Hedani, Tommy Bahama, Hedani, “ You’re, Jim Wilson, Kamehameha the, Kaniela Ing, Ing, “ I’d, Amy Qin, David W, Chen, Mitch Smith Organizations: Lahaina Restoration Foundation, The New York Times, East Coast, ., Fallon, Agence France, French Culinary Institute, Hawaii State Archives, New York Times, Green New Deal Network Locations: Lahaina, British, Maui, Hawaii, “, United States, Lahaina , Hawaii, Massachusetts, East, Berkeley, Calif, ”, Papa’aina, New York City, Maui . Credit, Mexico City, Shaw, Paradise, Oahu, Waikiki

☆ The British Monarchy’s Surprising Benefit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Amanda Taub | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And history is full of examples of what happens when it tips too far in one direction or another. For most of history, the imperfect solution was to make power hereditary, because a ruler who expected to pass on the kingdom to their child would want to keep it healthy. But that had some obvious downsides, most glaringly that the job of king often didn’t go to the most qualified or skilled candidate around. Because there are regular elections, everyone expects their team to win some of the time and lose some of the time. But that gives the participants a reason to preserve and play by the rules: If you know you might lose, you want to know that you’ll get another chance at winning after that.

This is a special coronation edition of CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britain’s royal family. King Charles III stands on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the day of his coronation in London, England, on May 6. As we understand it, today’s staging was a little more impromptu – approved by the King but done so in the moment. Chris Jackson/Pool/APBeyond the balcony moment, ceremonially speaking, the day was note-perfect. Ultimately, Charles’ coronation wasn’t a celebration for everyone in the UK – many shrugged off the pomp with indifference, and plenty raised questions about holding the publicly-funded revelry in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

Prince Albert of Monaco said in an interview with People magazine that he and his wife, Charlene, would be attending. King Felipe VI of Spain, who ascended to the throne in 2014 after his father’s abdication, will attend, according to the Spanish news media. Crown Prince Fumihito of Japan and Crown Princess Kiko, on behalf of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, will attend, according to the Japanese news media. Credit... Clodagh Kilcoyne/ReutersSeveral members of Britain’s government will attend, as will about 100 heads of state from around the world, according to Buckingham Palace. British RoyalsImage Prince Harry, center, will be present at the coronation, though his wife, Meghan, and their children, will remain in California.

☆ Charles III to be crowned in once-in-a-generation ceremony
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

London CNN —Britain was waking up Saturday to a once-in-a-generation royal event: the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in a grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London. While Charles became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II in September last year, the coronation is the formal crowning of the monarch. In a ceremony that is expected to last at least two hours, Charles will be officially crowned, presented with an array ceremonial objects and be recognized as King by various representatives of the British state. Charles and Camilla will travel along the route to the abbey in a splendid coach drawn by six horses, accompanied by the Household Cavalry. Charles’ consort Camilla will also be crowned in a shorter, simpler part of the ceremony.

☆ Why Nearly All the King’s Realms Want to Say Goodbye and Good Riddance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For countries still constitutionally joined to the crown, Charles’s coronation arrived with little fanfare, and some cringing discomfort. In the wave of decolonization that followed World War II, dozens of independent countries climbed out from under British rule, including India, Pakistan and Nigeria. The 14 nations yet to do so stretch from Australia and Papua New Guinea to Canada and Jamaica. In some places that call the new 74-year-old sovereign their king, like the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, there seems to be little interest in severing royal bonds. Oaths of allegiance have already been switched from queen to king in the courtrooms of remote capitals where wigs are still worn as if in 1680s London.

☆ Opinion: The King’s coronation is a rare moment of togetherness
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Opinion Sunder Katwala | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Sunder Katwala Courtesy Sunder KatwalaMy parents came to the UK from Ireland and India – both became republics after securing their independence from Britain. A “democratic monarchy” may sound like a paradox – but a “constitutional monarchy” like ours does have democratic legitimacy, as long as it retains broad public consent. The monarchy’s limited constitutional role is fixed, but its civic role can evolve. In a fast-changing society, symbols of tradition can be important sources of reassurance, especially if there is a proactive effort to reach across society. Join us on Twitter and FacebookA constitutional monarchy needs broad consent, not universal acclaim.

☆ Three days of events planned for the coronation of King Charles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — Buckingham Palace plans a weekend of community events and voluntarism to mark the coronation of King Charles III, looking to highlight the monarchy’s links to the nation when Britain crowns a new sovereign for the first time in 70 years. The plans were revealed Saturday when the palace released the schedule for the three-day coronation weekend, which will begin with the crowning of Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, on Saturday, May 6. The next day, the palace is inviting people around the country to take part in ’’The Big Help Out,” encouraging them to volunteer in their own communities. “The Big Help Out will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas,” the palace said in a statement. “The aim of The Big Help Out is to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.’’

☆ Prince Harry's memoir, 'Spare,' which captures the ugly sides of royal life, hits bookshelves
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

“There was a new low every few minutes,” Harry wrote of the time after their relationship went public in November 2016. Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana at Kensington Palace in London on July 1, 2021. “I don’t think Harry and Megan’s public image is repairable in the U.K.; I think it’s gone beyond that,” she added. Regardless of the danger he felt his family was in, and the disappointment with his family, Harry said he would “forever support my queen, my Commander in Chief, my Granny. Even after she’s gone.”“My problem has never been with the monarchy, or the concept of monarchy.

☆ Final farewell: From Sidney Poitier to Pope Emeritus Benedict a look back at the influential figures who died in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +55 min

Other world leaders who died in 2022 include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who died in August. The final days of 2022 saw the loss of some exceptionally notable figures, including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2022 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Dan Reeves, 77. A Cuban-born artist whose radiant color palette and geometric paintings were overlooked for decades before the art world took notice. A prolific character actor best known for playing villains and tough guys in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Ocean’s Eleven” and other films.

☆ The Biggest Debates and Opinions in 2022 - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +30 min

Opinion The 22 Debates That Made Us Rage, Roll Our Eyes, and Change Our Minds in 2022Debating is what we do here at Times Opinion. To many, she was an icon: She ruled for 70 years, presided over the transition from empire to commonwealth and served as a living link to the generation that won World War II. (Though Ben Bernanke, a former Fed chairman himself, wrote in The Times that that wasn’t going to happen.) The United States and its European allies poured weapons and aid into Ukraine, but how was this going to end? As 2022 draws to a close, the fighting continues and peace talks look as distant as ever — which probably means that the debates will continue.

But whatever your feelings toward Elizabeth, it’s clear that the institution of the British monarchy is far from benevolent. Meanwhile, the exact worth of the British monarchy is very difficult to calculate. The Sunday Times' Rich List calculated the queen’s personal net worth as 370 million pounds (more than $420 million), while the author and royal expert David McClure estimated it at 400 million pounds (around $460 million). In 2021-2022, the royal household’s financial report calculated this as 86.3 million pounds ($98.5 million). (According to the BBC, this portfolio generates around 20 million pounds a year in profits.)

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II inspects a guard of honor at the Presidential palace in New Delhi during her visit to India in 1997. Queen Elizabeth II meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Buckingham Palace in London, England in 2015. “If you don’t see people mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth in India, (it is) because she doesn’t have that connection with the new generation of Indians,” Ravi Mishra said. Queen Elizabeth II meets Indira Gandhi at Hyderabad House in Delhi, India, in 1983. The proposition before this house is the principle of owing reparations … the question is: is there a debt?… As far as I’m concerned, the ability to acknowledge a wrong that has been done, to simply say sorry, will go a far, far, far longer way than some percentage of GDP in the form of aid,” Tharoor said.

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