The backlash against Meghan and Stormzy shows that Britain is in denial about racism - CNN

People from ethnic minority backgrounds make up 19.5% of the population of England and Wales. But some people who identify with this community say that when they call out their experiences of racism, they are shut down. By white British people.

"The white person in this debate always centers it on themselves," author and broadcaster Afua Hirsch told CNN. "It would make more sense if somebody said: I haven't got a lived experience of racism. I would like to understand your perspective."

From as early as November 2016, Kensington Palace issued statements about the "abuse and harassment" that British media directed at Meghan, noting both the "racial undertones" and the "outright sexism and racism" she experienced as a result. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their shock decision to scale back their royal duties barely three years later, it was little wonder why.

But many of those who have dared to point out that racism is a factor in the Sussexes' recent move have been publicly slammed for doing so. On the BBC political debate show Question Time, university lecturer Rachel Boyle, who identifies as black, said the UK press "have torn [Meghan] to pieces" because of racism.

Her claims were deemed as "boring" by white panelist and actor Laurence Fox. He then said that Boyle was "being racist" after she described him as a "white privileged male." The audience applauded Fox, and the pair's altercation trended on Twitter.

Hirsch, a former barrister who is of African heritage, was abused online after writing an opinion piece for the New York Times on the racism directed towards Meghan. She was also berated on TV by Piers Morgan, host of the popular breakfast TV show Good Morning Britain.

"I am often requested to go into spaces where I'm the only person of color on TV debates and primetime shows," Hirsch told CNN, describing the experience as "entertainment" for viewers.

"[They] expect me to single-handedly show them what is racist, prove that racism exists. That in itself is a manifestation of white privilege."

Appearing on the This Morning TV show, lawyer and activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu was asked to give examples of racism in the UK; she explained that it was "exhausting" having to keep proving that racism exists.

But Hirsch believes it is important to keep educating people.

"People think racism is when somebody has in their mind that they hate people of color. [They] will say, 'I don't have a racist bone in my body,' while perpetrating racist narratives. This is an opportunity to show people what racism can look like."

In December, successful British rapper Stormzy came under fire when, after an Italian newspaper asked him if the UK was still racist today, he replied "definitely, 100%."

The musician added that racism in the country had worsened under the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has previously been criticized for making racist remarks.

Stormzy's comments were misinterpreted by a number of media outlets who suggested he had said that the UK was 100% racist.

Broadcaster ITV News later issued an apology for its characterization of the story, but the incident has added to a simmering debate on race that was already in full force.

While the musician got some support on Twitter, a derogatory hashtag soon took over.

In contrast, white English football coach and former player Gary Neville was showered with praise when he called out the problem with racism in football, around the same time as Stormzy expressed his views.

Some experts make the point that support from people in influential positions can encourage others to listen and to pay attention to an issue.

"What we really need is allyship," Frank Starling, global VP of WERKIN, a London-based tech company that advises organizations on inclusivity, told CNN. "People that understand that they may have a privilege or a voice over others and they're willing to share that platform ... It's definitely not just the responsibility of the victims ... to solve these challenges."

Harassment and victimization are a daily occurrence for many people from black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds -- and not just from ordinary people on the street.

In 1999, an inquiry into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, and the botched investigation that followed, found that there was "institutional racism" in the police.

Two decades on, black people in England and Wales are still 40 times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched under so-called "section 60" checks that allow police to search a person without suspicion, according to a 2019 report by civil rights charity Liberty.

Growing up in the 1980s, Starling said he would wear smart shirts instead of casual clothing at the weekend, after he was stopped by the police multiple times.

Even today, he says he is careful about what he wears on a wintry morning. "Because I've grown up in a society where the idea of wearing a hoodie as a black man may make people feel fear, I'm concerned about that," he told CNN.

'Racism is not a matter of opinion'

The UK is often praised as a melting pot of cultures. But research shows that multiculturalism is now under attack.

Omar Khan, director of the race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, points to a report that found 71% of people from ethnic minorities who were surveyed in early 2019 reported having experienced racial discrimination, compared with 58% before Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union.

Online racism has more than doubled to 51% since two years before the Brexit vote, according to the survey by Opinium. The same survey found that the number of people from ethnic minority groups reporting rants and negative comments about immigration or racist comments made to sound like jokes rose by about 50%.

Even the United Nations has said more needs to be done about racism in the UK, including Brexit-era hate crimes.

"I got more racism last year than in the previous 25 years, all of it online on Twitter," Sunder Katwala, director of think tank British Future, told CNN. "We should protect free speech, but not racist abuse."

Social media squabbles also distract from the real problem.

"The racist stereotypes about different ethnic groups are always predictable," Omar Khan said, explaining that the roots of racism in the UK can be traced back to the days of the British Empire.

"They are part of our wider intellectual and cultural heritage," he said. "Frankly, it's embarrassing we still don't recognize this, and instead prefer social media or personality spats instead of actually tackling racism and its consequences."

Starling said that an overall lack of diverse representation in influential positions is a major reason why certain perspectives are less accepted.

Recent research reveals that members of ethnic minority groups only make up 6% of top management positions in the UK and the UK journalism industry is 94% white and 55% male.

While diversity in parliament has improved in recent years, in September 2019, just over 8% of members of the House of Commons were from non-white ethnic backgrounds.

Representation is not always welcome, though. Amnesty International's analysis of tweets mentioning female MPs in the lead-up to the 2017 general election found that almost a third of abusive tweets reviewed were targeting one woman: Diane Abbott, the black high-profile shadow home secretary.

British society is known for its traditional "stiff upper lip" and "reserved" attitude, but Starling says it must tackle this issue, regardless of how uncomfortable it might be to do so.

"Being called racist indicates that we might be a bad person," he says. "We might hold a bias and that's really scary and very uncomfortable."

But uncovering unconscious bias, innate stereotypes about certain groups of people that we are unaware of, is in dire need of discussion, he says.

Someone's lived experience of racism, though, should not be open to debate. "Racism is not a matter of opinion," says Khan, "but of evidence and reality."

In fact, like Meghan and Harry, Hirsch says some people subjected to racial discrimination are considering leaving the country too. "I'm not saying people should leave... [But] I don't feel this is a healthy place to be right now."

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2020-01-27 07:23:00Z
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The backlash against Meghan and Stormzy shows that Britain is in denial about racism - CNN

People from ethnic minority backgrounds make up 19.5% of the population of England and Wales. But some people who identify with this community say that when they call out their experiences of racism, they are shut down. By white British people.

"The white person in this debate always centers it on themselves," author and broadcaster Afua Hirsch told CNN. "It would make more sense if somebody said: I haven't got a lived experience of racism. I would like to understand your perspective."

From as early as November 2016, Kensington Palace issued statements about the "abuse and harassment" that British media directed at Meghan, noting both the "racial undertones" and the "outright sexism and racism" she experienced as a result. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their shock decision to scale back their royal duties barely three years later, it was little wonder why.

But many of those who have dared to point out that racism is a factor in the Sussexes' recent move have been publicly slammed for doing so. On the BBC political debate show Question Time, university lecturer Rachel Boyle, who identifies as black, said the UK press "have torn [Meghan] to pieces" because of racism.

Her claims were deemed as "boring" by white panelist and actor Laurence Fox. He then said that Boyle was "being racist" after she described him as a "white privileged male." The audience applauded Fox, and the pair's altercation trended on Twitter.

Hirsch, a former barrister who is of African heritage, was abused online after writing an opinion piece for the New York Times on the racism directed towards Meghan. She was also berated on TV by Piers Morgan, host of the popular breakfast TV show Good Morning Britain.

"I am often requested to go into spaces where I'm the only person of color on TV debates and primetime shows," Hirsch told CNN, describing the experience as "entertainment" for viewers.

"[They] expect me to single-handedly show them what is racist, prove that racism exists. That in itself is a manifestation of white privilege."

Appearing on the This Morning TV show, lawyer and activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu was asked to give examples of racism in the UK; she explained that it was "exhausting" having to keep proving that racism exists.

But Hirsch believes it is important to keep educating people.

"People think racism is when somebody has in their mind that they hate people of color. [They] will say, 'I don't have a racist bone in my body,' while perpetrating racist narratives. This is an opportunity to show people what racism can look like."

In December, successful British rapper Stormzy came under fire when, after an Italian newspaper asked him if the UK was still racist today, he replied "definitely, 100%."

The musician added that racism in the country had worsened under the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has previously been criticized for making racist remarks.

Stormzy's comments were misinterpreted by a number of media outlets who suggested he had said that the UK was 100% racist.

Broadcaster ITV News later issued an apology for its characterization of the story, but the incident has added to a simmering debate on race that was already in full force.

While the musician got some support on Twitter, a derogatory hashtag soon took over.

In contrast, white English football coach and former player Gary Neville was showered with praise when he called out the problem with racism in football, around the same time as Stormzy expressed his views.

Some experts make the point that support from people in influential positions can encourage others to listen and to pay attention to an issue.

"What we really need is allyship," Frank Starling, global VP of WERKIN, a London-based tech company that advises organizations on inclusivity, told CNN. "People that understand that they may have a privilege or a voice over others and they're willing to share that platform ... It's definitely not just the responsibility of the victims ... to solve these challenges."

Harassment and victimization are a daily occurrence for many people from black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds -- and not just from ordinary people on the street.

In 1999, an inquiry into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, and the botched investigation that followed, found that there was "institutional racism" in the police.

Two decades on, black people in England and Wales are still 40 times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched under so-called "section 60" checks that allow police to search a person without suspicion, according to a 2019 report by civil rights charity Liberty.

Growing up in the 1980s, Starling said he would wear smart shirts instead of casual clothing at the weekend, after he was stopped by the police multiple times.

Even today, he says he is careful about what he wears on a wintry morning. "Because I've grown up in a society where the idea of wearing a hoodie as a black man may make people feel fear, I'm concerned about that," he told CNN.

'Racism is not a matter of opinion'

The UK is often praised as a melting pot of cultures. But research shows that multiculturalism is now under attack.

Omar Khan, director of the race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, points to a report that found 71% of people from ethnic minorities who were surveyed in early 2019 reported having experienced racial discrimination, compared with 58% before Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union.

Online racism has more than doubled to 51% since two years before the Brexit vote, according to the survey by Opinium. The same survey found that the number of people from ethnic minority groups reporting rants and negative comments about immigration or racist comments made to sound like jokes rose by about 50%.

Even the United Nations has said more needs to be done about racism in the UK, including Brexit-era hate crimes.

"I got more racism last year than in the previous 25 years, all of it online on Twitter," Sunder Katwala, director of think tank British Future, told CNN. "We should protect free speech, but not racist abuse."

Social media squabbles also distract from the real problem.

"The racist stereotypes about different ethnic groups are always predictable," Omar Khan said, explaining that the roots of racism in the UK can be traced back to the days of the British Empire.

"They are part of our wider intellectual and cultural heritage," he said. "Frankly, it's embarrassing we still don't recognize this, and instead prefer social media or personality spats instead of actually tackling racism and its consequences."

Starling said that an overall lack of diverse representation in influential positions is a major reason why certain perspectives are less accepted.

Recent research reveals that members of ethnic minority groups only make up 6% of top management positions in the UK and the UK journalism industry is 94% white and 55% male.

While diversity in parliament has improved in recent years, in September 2019, just over 8% of members of the House of Commons were from non-white ethnic backgrounds.

Representation is not always welcome, though. Amnesty International's analysis of tweets mentioning female MPs in the lead-up to the 2017 general election found that almost a third of abusive tweets reviewed were targeting one woman: Diane Abbott, the black high-profile shadow home secretary.

British society is known for its traditional "stiff upper lip" and "reserved" attitude, but Starling says it must tackle this issue, regardless of how uncomfortable it might be to do so.

"Being called racist indicates that we might be a bad person," he says. "We might hold a bias and that's really scary and very uncomfortable."

But uncovering unconscious bias, innate stereotypes about certain groups of people that we are unaware of, is in dire need of discussion, he says.

Someone's lived experience of racism, though, should not be open to debate. "Racism is not a matter of opinion," says Khan, "but of evidence and reality."

In fact, like Meghan and Harry, Hirsch says some people subjected to racial discrimination are considering leaving the country too. "I'm not saying people should leave... [But] I don't feel this is a healthy place to be right now."

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2020-01-26 07:05:00Z
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Brexit: US 'wants to reach trade deal with UK this year' - BBC News

The US wants to agree a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK this year, the country's treasury secretary has said.

After meeting Chancellor Sajid Javid in London, Steve Mnuchin said he believed the UK could negotiate trade deals with the US and EU at the same time.

"I'm quite optimistic," he told a Chatham House think tank event.

After Brexit happens on 31 January, the UK will be free to negotiate and sign new trade deals with countries with no existing EU deals - like the US.

At the same time, the UK will also be negotiating a free trade deal with the EU to ensure that UK goods are not subject to tariffs and other trade barriers once the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.

'Top of the list'

Mr Mnuchin, who met Mr Javid for breakfast on Saturday morning and posted an image of them on Instagram, said the US was "prepared to dedicate a lot of resources" to securing a trade deal with the UK this year.

He said: "We've said that our goal - your goal - is trying to get both of these trade agreements done this year. And I think from a US standpoint we are prepared to dedicate a lot of resources.

"If the UK and US have very similar economies with a big focus on services, and I think this will be a very important relationship."

Mr Mnuchin added President Donald Trump had previously said the UK would "be at the top of the list" for a deal.

'Discriminatory' tech tax

He also reiterated the US's objections to a new tax on the revenues of big tech firms, calling it "discriminatory".

He told the audience at Chatham House it was "not appropriate" and has "violations to our tax treaties and other issues".

"So, we're working through that and I think we have a good outcome of trying to give some room now in 2020 to continue these discussions."

Mr Javid intends to introduce a 2% levy on the revenues of search engines, social media platforms and online marketplaces which derive value from UK users.

He has said the digital services tax will only be a temporary measure until an international agreement is in place on how to deal with online giants such as Google and Facebook.

Earlier this week, Mr Mnuchin threatened new tariffs on UK carmakers after the chancellor defied US pressure to cancel the tax.

The issue of whether Chinese telecoms giant Huawei should have a role in the UK's 5G network was also raised.

The US recently warned the British government it "would be madness" to use Huawei technology in the UK's 5G network.

A decision is expected imminently on whether to allow Huawei to supply some "non-core" parts for the UK network.

Mr Mnuchin said "active discussions" about that were ongoing with UK government and others.

He also said his criticisms of climate activist Greta Thunberg earlier this week had been meant as a "joke".

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2020-01-26 00:18:41Z
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Article 13: UK will not implement EU copyright law - BBC News

Universities and Science Minister Chris Skidmore has said that the UK will not implement the EU Copyright Directive after the country leaves the EU.

Several companies have criticised the law, which would hold them accountable for not removing copyrighted content uploaded by users, if it is passed.

EU member states have until 7 June 2021 to implement the new reforms, but the UK will have left the EU by then.

The UK was among 19 nations that initially supported the law.

That was in its final European Council vote in April 2019.

'Terrible for the internet'

Copyright is the legal right that allows an artist to protect how their original work is used.

The EU Copyright Directive that covers how "online content-sharing services" should deal with copyright-protected content, such as television programmes and movies.

It refers to services that primarily exist to give the public access to "protected works or other protected subject-matter uploaded by its users", such as Soundcloud, Dailymotion and YouTube.

It was Article 13 which prompted fears over the future of memes and GIFs - stills, animated or short video clips that go viral - since they mainly rely on copyrighted scenes from TV and film.

Critics claimed Article 13 would make it nearly impossible to upload even the tiniest part of a copyrighted work to Facebook, YouTube, or any other site.

However, specific tweaks to the law in 2019 made memes safe "for purposes of quotation, criticism, review, caricature, parody and pastiche".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticised the law in March, claiming that it was "terrible for the internet".

Google had campaigned fiercely against the changes, arguing they would "harm Europe's creative and digital industries" and "change the web as we know it".

• Why Europe's original copyright plan was so controversial
• What is the controversial Article 13?

YouTube boss Susan Wojcicki had also warned that users in the EU could be cut off from the video platform.

Kathy Berry, a professional support lawyer at Linklaters, welcomed the government's stance on the law, claiming it will "allow the UK to agree to more tech-friendly copyright provisions in free trade deals with other countries".

The law sparked suggestions from its biggest critics that it would end up "killing memes and parodies," despite it permitting the sharing of memes and GIFs.

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2020-01-25 06:07:46Z
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Meghan Markle won’t be seen in the UK 'for a long time,' royal expert claims: 'Why would she come back now?' - Fox News

Is it possible Meghan Markle won’t be heading across the pond anytime soon? According to one royal expert, that seems very likely.

“The general feeling is that we won’t see Meghan here again for a long time, as she has nothing here to do,” UK-based broadcaster Neil Sean told Fox News. “Why would she come back now with no royal duties to perform?”

On Jan. 8, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they were taking “a step back” as senior members of the royal family and would instead work independently, splitting their time between the United Kingdom and Canada.

The former American actress and British prince said their decision came “after many months of reflection and internal discussions.” They will keep their royal titles.

Sean alleged that Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was disappointed by the couple’s decision.

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY WOULDN’T BE THE FIRST ROYALS TO BANK ON THEIR TITLES, EXPERTS SAY

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are stepping back from royal duties. (AP)

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY 'WERE BULLIED OUT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY,' AUTHOR CLAIMS

“The queen spoke warmly of Meghan in her statement, but the truth is she is baffled as to why she opted out, as the queen really gave her such a warm welcome and that is the thanks she got,” Sean claimed. “It has to be pointed out that Meghan also has never directly spoken with the queen about her unhappiness here in the UK... It’s more than rude to the monarch.”

“We all believe Harry will miss the love and support of his family and this will create tension as he adapts to his new life,” Sean continued. “But the clause inserted into the statement that it will be ‘reviewed in a year’ is very telling... quite frankly, all three could be back.”

A royal source had previously told People magazine that the new changes following the couple’s decision will last for a year. The royal family will then revisit the arrangement. According to the outlet, the review is likely to include Queen Elizabeth, 93, as well as Prince Harry, 35, his father Prince Charles, 71, and Harry's older brother Prince William, 37.

The outlet did note that Harry and Markle, 38, will continue to attend royal events at the invitation of the queen.

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY ‘ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING’ WITH ‘MEGXIT,’ ROYAL COUSIN CHRISTINA OXENBERG SAYS

In this, July 10, 2018 file photo Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and Meghan the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry watch a flypast of Royal Air Force aircraft pass over Buckingham Palace in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY WON’T HAVE 'PROTECTIONS' IN US AS THEY DO 'AT HOME' WITH PAPARAZZI, ATTORNEY SAYS

Despite earlier reports, Markle did not join the historic royal summit with the family, who met to discuss her and Harry’s future.

It was initially reported that the former “Suits” star would phone in to the meeting with Harry, Elizabeth, Charles and William. However, the Sussexes decided that ultimately “it wasn’t necessary” for Markle to join, People magazine reported.

Markle and Prince Harry’s bombshell announcement came just months after the pair opened up to host Tom Bradby in ITV’s documentary "Harry & Meghan: An African Journey,” which aired in October 2019 in both the U.K. and U.S.

While the special aimed to give audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the couple’s recent royal tour of southern African, the couple also spoke out about enduring ruthless tabloid rumors as new parents.

Markle and Harry welcomed a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in May 2019. The baby’s arrival came a year after the couple tied the knot in a televised royal ceremony in May 2018.

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY 'HAVE A DECENT SHOT' OF ESCAPING MEDIA SCRUTINY IN CANADA, ATTORNEY SAYS

Britain's Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle hold their baby son Archie as they meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town on Sep. 25, 2019. It was during this time when the couple spoke candidly about their experiences as a royal couple. (Getty)

PRINCE HARRY HINTED HE WANTED ‘OUT’ OF ROYAL LIFE LONG BEFORE 'MEGXIT,' AUTHOR SAYS

“I think the grass is always greener,” the former actress said in the interview. “You have no idea. It’s really hard to understand what it’s like. I know what it seems like it should be, but it’s a very different thing.”

Markle said she and her husband have had conversations about being in the spotlight and all the negativity that comes with it.

“I have said for a long time to H -- that’s what I call him -- ‘It’s not enough to just survive something,’” Markle said. “That’s not the point of life. You have to thrive. You have got to feel happy.’ I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a ‘stiff upper lip.’ I really tried, but I think that what that does internally is probably really damaging.”

She went on to tell Bradby that she would be more understanding of the scrutiny if it were fair.

“I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair,” Markle said. “And that’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile.”

KATE MIDDLETON ‘WILL HAVE TO REPRESENT THE FACE OF BRITAIN’S FUTURE’ FOLLOWING ‘MEGXIT,’ EXPERTS SAY

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex visit District 6 Museum on Sep. 23, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Getty)

PRINCES HARRY AND WILLIAM’S RELATIONSHIP IS ‘AT AN ALL-TIME LOW' FOLLOWING 'MEGXIT,' EXPERTS SAY

Markle said before she tied the knot with Harry, some of her friends warned her that becoming a member of the royal family would mean being under the constant glare of the public spotlight and losing her privacy.

“In all fairness, I had no idea, which probably sounds difficult to understand and hear,” Markle said. “But when I first met my now-husband, my friends were really happy because I was so happy, but my British friends said to me, ‘I’m sure he’s great but you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life.’”

“And I, very naively -- I’m American,” Markle continued. “We don’t have that there -- [I said], ‘What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not in any tabloids.’ I didn’t get it. So it’s been, yeah, it’s been complicated.”

Markle also pointed out that it’s been frustrating to see her name -- along with her family’s -- in headlines concerning stories she said just aren’t true.

“If things are fair, that completely tracks for me if things are fair,” Markle said. “If I do something wrong I’d be the first one to go, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I would never do that,’ but when people are saying things that are just untrue and they’re being told they’re untrue but they’re allowed to still say them, I don’t know anybody in the world who would feel that that’s OK. And that’s different than just scrutiny. That’s, what would you call that? That’s a different beast. It’s really a different beast.”

QUEEN ISSUES STATEMENT ON MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY AFTER FAMILY TALKS, AGREES TO PART-TIME MOVE TO CANADA

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet Beyoncé and Jay-Z at the London premiere of '​​​​​The Lion King.' (Getty)

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY’S ‘MEGXIT’: IS QUEEN ELIZABETH PARTLY TO BLAME FOR ROYAL CRISIS?

Markle also got candid with Bradby about the negative attention she has received from the media during her pregnancy and first months as a mom with Archie.

“Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging,” the 38-year-old said. “And then when you have a newborn, you know... and especially as a woman, it’s a lot.”

“So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed,” Markle continued while holding back tears. “It’s um... yeah. I guess, also thank you for asking because not many people have asked if I’m OK. But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”

When Bradby asked if it “would be fair” to say that she’s “not really OK, as in it’s really been a struggle,” Markle responded, “Yes.”

In the documentary, Harry also spoke out against the British tabloids for the “ruthless” treatment Markle has received “over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.”

WILL MEGHAN MARKLE RECONCILE WITH HER ESTRANGED FATHER AFTER STEPPING BACK FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY?

Meghan Markle's alleged request for privacy has sparked a fiery debate on social media. (AP)

MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY’S BOMBSHELL ANNOUNCEMENT BLINDSIDED PALACE AIDES, QUEEN IS ‘DISAPPOINTED’: SOURCE

“Look, part of this job and part of any job, like everybody, means putting on a brave face and turning a cheek to a lot of the stuff,” he explained. “But again, for me and my wife, of course, there’s a lot of stuff that hurts -- especially when the majority of it is untrue.”

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“All we need to do is focus on being real, focus on being the people we are and standing up for what we believe in,” Harry added. “I will not be bullied into carrying [on] a game that killed my mom.”

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2020-01-24 10:00:41Z
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US declines UK request to extradite American accused in teen's death - CNN

A State Department spokesperson cited Sacoolas' diplomatic status at the time of the accident and said granting such an extradition "would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent.

"The United States has a history of close law enforcement cooperation with the United Kingdom, and we value that relationship," the spokesperson said. "The United States government again expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for the loss of their son."

The US' decision to decline extradition comes after the UK's Crown Prosecution Service said last month that it had started extradition proceedings after Sacoolas was charged in the case of Dunn.

Dunn, 19, was killed August 27 in Croughton in central England, which is home to a Royal Air Force station controlled by the US Air Force. UK police say Dunn was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by a vehicle that was traveling on the wrong side of the road.

Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and left the country in the aftermath of the incident. In October, Sacoolas' attorney Amy Jeffress said officers had interviewed her in the UK twice before she claimed immunity.

The UK government said Friday it was "urgently considering" its options after the US announced its decision.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "I called the US Ambassador earlier to express the government's disappointment about this decision. We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options. I also explained that the UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US."

After Sacoolas was charged, a State Department spokesperson said they did not believe the decision to be a "helpful development."

"We express our deepest sympathies and offer condolences to the Dunn family for their loss. We will continue to look for options for moving forward. We are disappointed by today's announcement and fear that it will not bring a resolution closer," that State Department spokesperson said.

"This was a tragic accident, a young man has lost his life, and his family is grieving. No one could hear about this tragic accident and not feel incredible sadness over this loss."

Sacoolas' legal team has not commented on Thursday's announcement, instead referring CNN to a statement from attorney Amy Jeffress earlier in January, which said in part: "Anne is devastated by this tragic accident and would do anything she could to bring Harry back. She continues to grieve for Harry and his family."

Jeffress has previously said that her client would not return voluntarily to the UK. "This was an accident, and a criminal prosecution with a potential penalty of 14 years imprisonment is simply not a proportionate response," Jeffress said last month.

Radd Seiger, a spokesman for the Dunn family, said they wouldn't "stand for it" in reaction to the decision to not extradite Sacoolas. He posted the comment to Twitter early Friday UK time.

"Don't you worry #HarryDunn supporters. Taking this in our stride. #annesacoolas is coming back. You wont stand for it. We won't. British Govt won't. Next steps to be discussed and agreed, and they will be ferocious," Seiger tweeted.

President Donald Trump previously said that he understands the Dunn family's anger and called it a "tragic accident."

"It happens in Europe, as the roads are opposite. It's tough if you're from the United States. You do make that right turn when you are supposed to make a left turn; the roads are opposite. She says that is what happened. That happens to a lot of people, by the way."

This story has been updated with reaction to the news and background on the accident.

CNN's Jackie Castillo, Tara John, Jack Guy, Lindsay Isaac, Doug Criss and Ivana Kottasová contributed to this report.

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2020-01-24 11:31:00Z
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Coronavirus: 'Increased likelihood' of cases in the UK - BBC News

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There is an "increased likelihood" of cases of the new coronavirus occurring in the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

However, he said there were no confirmed cases of the virus in the UK and the country was "well prepared and well equipped to deal with them".

There are more than 500 confirmed cases of the virus, which has killed 17 people in China.

The UK is monitoring flights arriving from China as a precaution.

The new strain of coronavirus, which has spread abroad, is believed to have originated in Wuhan - and the city has gone into lockdown.

Authorities have suspended planes and trains in and out of the Chinese city - which has a population of 11 million people - as well as all public transport within Wuhan.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said that it was a "rapidly developing situation and the number of deaths and the number of cases is likely to be higher than those that have been confirmed so far and I expect them to rise further".

He told MPs: "The chief medical officer has revised the risk to the UK population from 'very low' to 'low' and has concluded that while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them."

He added: "The UK is one of the first countries to have developed a world-leading test for the new coronavirus.

"The NHS is ready to respond appropriately to any cases that emerge."

In response to the outbreak, the Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Wuhan.

On Wednesday, Public Health England began carrying out enhanced monitoring of direct flights from China - including Wuhan, although flights from there have now been stopped by the Chinese government.

Passengers are receiving advice on what to do if they fall ill, which Mr Hancock said was the most important part of the monitoring as it can take days after infection before a patient develops symptoms, so physical checks were considered less useful.

He added: "We are working closely with our counterparts in the devolved administrations and the public can be assured that the whole of the UK is always well prepared for these types of outbreaks.

"And we'll remain vigilant and keep our response under constant review in the light of emerging scientific evidence."

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Authorities around the world have announced screening measures for passengers from China.

Thailand has confirmed four cases of the virus, the most outside of China. The US, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have all reported one case each.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) emergency committee is meeting on Thursday in Geneva to decide whether or not to declare a "global emergency" over the new virus.

A global emergency is the highest level of alarm the WHO can sound and has previously been used in response to swine flu, Zika virus and Ebola.

All the fatalities so far have been in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital. Most of the 17 victims were elderly and suffered from other chronic diseases including Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

The lockdown in Wuhan comes as millions of Chinese people travel across the country for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.

Similar measures will also take effect in nearby Huanggang, a city of more than seven million.

What do we know about the virus?

Currently known as 2019-nCoV, the virus is understood to be a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans. The Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus that killed nearly 800 people globally in the early 2000s was also a coronavirus, as is the common cold.

Authorities have said this new virus originated in a seafood market in Wuhan that "conducted illegal transactions of wild animals". The market has been shut down since the beginning of the year.

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2020-01-23 12:22:40Z
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