Bangladesh SC rejects appeal of Jamaat leader accused of war crimes

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The Supreme Court in Bangladesh on Thursday upheld the death sentence to top Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam for committing war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War by siding with Pakistani troops.

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A four-member bench of the Appellate Division rejected Islam's appeal against the capital punishment handed down by a high powered tribunal.

Rejected, pronounced Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain as he read out the verdict summery of the apex court bench.

On January 28, 2015, Islam filed his appeal challenging the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) verdict that sentenced him to death for war crimes.

Earlier on June 18, the Appellate Division started hearing arguments on the appeal from both the state and the defence. However, the bench completed the hearing and deferred the matter as a Case Awaiting Verdict (CAV) on July 10.

Islam's case was the eighth one to reach the final verdict as Bangladesh's Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the process to expose to justice the suspected war criminals of 1971.

Six of the convicts were by now executed with five being leaders of Jamaat, which was opposed to Bangladesh's 1971 independence. The sixth was a leader of BNP of ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is now serving a 10-year imprisonment on graft charges.

A former Jamaat assistant secretary general, Islam was a top leader of notorious Al Badr militia force, manned mainly by the extreme right-wing party's youth and student wing siding with the Pakistani troops in 1971.

He was accused of presiding over the killing of over 1,400 people, rape of many women, abduction and torture.

The Tribunal sentenced him to death on December 30, 2014 for committing crimes against humanity while he subsequently challenged the verdict before the apex court.

According to the legal provisions, Islam could now seek a review of the judgment by the Appellate Division itself, and if rejected could beg a presidential clemency. President Abdul Hamid has binned such appeals in previous such cases involving the war crimes.

Islam was arrested from his Moghbazar home in Dhaka in 2012 on the war crimes charges and now languishes at the high security Kashimpur Jail on the outskirts of the capital. 

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US slaps $5 bn fine on Facebook for privacy violations

Facebook logo | Reuters

US regulators on Wednesday slapped a record $5 billion fine on Facebook for privacy violations in a settlement requiring the world's biggest social network to "submit to new restrictions and a modified corporate structure."

The Federal Trade Commission said the penalty was the largest ever imposed on any company for violating consumers' privacy and one of the largest penalties ever assessed by the US government for any violation.

"Despite repeated promises to its billions of users worldwide that they could control how their personal information is shared, Facebook undermined consumers' choices," FTC Chairman Joe Simons said.

"The magnitude of the $5 billion penalty and sweeping conduct relief are unprecedented in the history of the FTC. The relief is designed not only to punish future violations but, more importantly, to change Facebook's entire privacy culture to decrease the likelihood of continued violations."

The agreement establishes an independent privacy committee within Facebook's board of directors, "removing unfettered control by Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg over decisions affecting user privacy," the FTC statement said.

Two commissioners of the five-member FTC dissented in the settlement, saying the penalty was insufficient.

"The proposed settlement does little to change the business model or practices that led to the recidivism," FTC commissioner Rohit Chopra said.

"The settlement imposes no meaningful changes to the company's structure or financial incentives, which led to these violations. Nor does it include any restrictions on the company's mass surveillance or advertising tactics."

Facebook lawyer Colin Stretch said the agreement "will require a fundamental shift in the way we approach our work and it will place additional responsibility on people building our products at every level of the company."

In a separate agreement with stock market regulators, Facebook agreed to pay a $100 million penalty for making "misleading disclosures regarding the risk of misuse of Facebook user data" in an investigation into the hijacking of data by political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

"We allege that Facebook exacerbated its disclosure failures when it misled reporters who asked the company about its investigation into Cambridge Analytica," said Erin Schneider, head of the regional enforcement division of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Pulwama attack an 'indigenous' incident, Pakistan should not be blamed: Imran

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, DC | AFP

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives, was an "indigenous" incident that happened in Kashmir. Khan added that his country came into picture because Jaish-e-Mohammad, the terror group which claimed responsibility for the attack, is based in Pakistan.

Addressing the Washington-based think-tank US Institute of Peace, Khan stressed that Pakistan should not be blamed for the attack. Khan's justification was that although JeM is based in his country, it also has presence in Kashmir and thus the attack is an "indigenous thing" that happened in India.

“It was a Kashmiri boy radicalised by the brutality of the Indian security forces. He blew himself up. But because this group (Jaish-e-Mohammad) claimed responsibility, which was in India as well, Pakistan suddenly came in the limelight,” Khan said.

Deflecting a question on Mumbai attacks mastermind and Jamaat-ud Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed, who was recently arrested for the seventh time, Khan said it was in the interest of Pakistan that “we do not allow any armed militant groups to operate in our country.”

“The country has had enough of militant groups. Pakistan is now determined. We would not be disarming them if the security forces were not behind this decision,” Khan said.

Speaking about the strained relations with India Khan said, “Pakistan at the moment, most of all needs stability” and thus “a good relationship with our neighbours."

Khan also said he has assured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that, “you come one step towards us, we will go two steps towards you—because the biggest problem India and Pakistan face is poverty. The best way we can reduce poverty is if we start trading with each other.”

Early this year, tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of terror group Jaish-e-Muhammad attacked the convoy of CRPF personnel in Kashmir's Pulwama district. Twelve days after the deadly attack, India conducted airstrikes deep inside Pakistan's Balakot area to destroy terror hubs of JeM.

The airstrikes led to further tension along the border and days later India and Pakistan engaged in an aerial dogfight with the respective air forces. While India maintained that Pakistan tried to attack the Indian Air Force (IAF) establishments with their fighter jets, Pakistan denied any such incident.

Khan, who is currently on a three-day official visit to the US, met President Donald Trump on Monday in the White House.

The meeting between the two leaders also snowballed into a controversy after Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought help from him to mediate in the Kashmir crisis with Pakistan. Khan said he welcomed the move, even as India issued a vociferous denial and was supported by several from within the United States.

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HERE'S HOW PRINCE WILLIAM WOULD REACT IF HIS CHILDREN CAME OUT AS LGBTQ+

Recently, Prince William revealed that he will support his children if they identify as LGBT in the future. He also opened up on his fears of a backlash they might face because of their roles in the monarchy. During a visit to the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT), a charity that helps LBGT homeless young people, William said that it would be “absolutely fine by me” if Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 4 or Prince Louis, one, later identified as LGBT. But the Duke of Cambridge spoke of his fears about a “backlash” and how “nervous” he would be about any “hate” and “persecution” they might face, because of their position.

William was officially opening AKT's new services centre in Hoxton, east London this morning, and began by taking part in a group chat with several young people, who are currently being supported by the charity. During what is thought to be the first time a member of the royal family has visited a dedicated LGBT organisation, William also took part in a group discussion with several AKT ambassadors young people who have been supported by the charity and now mentor others using its services.

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Ahead of the annual #prideinlondon parade and in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, The Duke of Cambridge visited Albert Kennedy Trust (akt) to learn about the issue of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, and the positive change that akt are enacting through their unique prevention and early action approach. The Duke met people supported by akt, and spoke to staff about the services they provide including the ‘Purple Door’ safe house, LGBTQ+ ‘host’ (or carer) services, in-person and online mentoring programmes and a range of youth engagement activities. Among the people The Duke met was Faz, an akt Young Ambassador and trans Muslim man. Faz lost his parents when he was younger and was living with extended family, but had to leave home after they reacted badly to him coming out as trans. akt helped support Faz, and he was one of the first people to move into Purple Door. Swipe to see Faz speak about how akt helped him, and see more from The Duke’s visit. Almost one quarter of the 150,000 young people facing or experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+, and 77 per cent of those cite rejection or abuse from their families as what has led them to being so. akt has provided over 250,000 nights off the street and supported over 50,000 LGBTQ+ young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Today The Duke officially opened akt’s new services centre in Hoxton, which will host drop-in sessions for young people and grow its youth engagement offering. The Stonewall uprising took place in New York on June 28, 1969, and is seen as the moment that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ movement around the world. Pride marches around the world will be recognising the anniversary, including Pride in London, where akt staff and supporters will be marching. @aktcharity #LGBTQ #Pride

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Jun 26, 2019 at 7:26am PDT

Faz Bukhari, 28, from east London, experienced problems at home from the age of 24 when he began to identify as transgender. He left home soon after and found support and accommodation through the charity’s Purple Door refuge scheme. He now works for a housing association in London and acts as one of AKT's ambassadors and mentors. He asked William, “You coming here is a great opportunity and platform, what would you think about it if one of your children was LGBT?” William answered, “I’ve only started thinking about it since becoming a parent, and it is something I’m nervous about, not of the fact if any of them were to be gay, but because of the pressures they’ll face, because of my family and the position we’re in. "I’d fully support the decisions they make. "It worries me how many barriers, persecution and hate they’d face. But that’s for all of us to try and correct.”

One young gay man, who asked not to be identified, asked William, “If your child one day in the future said ‘oh I’m gay, oh I’m lesbian’ whatever, how would you react?” William replied, “Do you know what, I’ve been giving that some thought recently because a couple of other parents said that to me as well."I think you really don’t start thinking about that until you are a parent, and I think obviously absolutely fine by me." He went on to say, “The one thing I’d be worried about is how they, particularly the roles my children fill is how that is going to be interpreted and seen. “So Catherine and I have been doing a lot of talking about it to make sure they were prepared. "I think communication is so important with everything, in order to help understand it you’ve got to talk a lot about stuff and make sure how to support each other and how to go through the process. “It worries me, not because of them being gay, it worries me as to how everyone else will react and perceive it and then the pressure is then on them.”

During his conversation with the charity’s ambassadors, William joked about appearing on the cover of Attitude magazine in 2016. “I did my Attitude magazine cover which was a good day. But I’d seen some of the previous front covers and I was a bit nervous about what they might ask me to do,” he laughed. “Thankfully there were no small briefs for me!”After the chat, Faz said, “I thought his answer was so good, to hear him talk about having fears about what people might think of his children and how they might take to them if they were identified as LGBT. "That he recognises that, and is aware there could be a backlash, he understands the issues and hopefully with his comments we can get more awareness across to more parents of the issues.”

During his visit, William spoke of how “stifling” many young people find the burden of coming out to their families and also of his concerns about young LGBT people taking their own lives. “It’s a real pressure to live under,” he said during a conversation with Cath Hall, AKT’s founder. “I’ve been looking into issues around suicide and I imagine that the figures in the LGBT community are high, because of all the barriers and stigma around acceptance.” William also heard from Bridie Honour, 22, from Newcastle. Bridie, who identifies as non-binary, is currently in a relationship with a woman. She left home aged 18 due to troubles at home and was helped by AKT and given access to supported accommodation. She now studies psychology at Teesside University. Bridie said, “There’s a massive stigma around homelessness and LGBT and it brings a lot of mental health issues as you come to terms with who you are. "I was badly bullied at school, people told me they didn’t want to be around me. Even now, walking down the street holding my partner’s hand, I get nasty comments from older people, I’ve been spat at. Akt gives you so much support with all of that.

Shaking his head and looking angry, William said, “I’m so sad for you guys that persecution like that is still there. Things have progressed, but not nearly as much as they need to.” William also told the group how shocked he had been by the recent bus attack on the lesbian couple in London. “I was really appalled by that attack,” he said. “That stuff like that still happens.” After the visit, Claire said, “It was fantastic to get his input and hear him relating to his own life. He’s under a lot of pressure, being in the spotlight. "To hear him say “I’d support my own children if they were in the LGBT community” was great, and to hear how much awareness he has of how difficult things are, and the awareness he has of the suicide issue, which is a massive, massive issue for the community. To know that someone that important has your back is huge." William was visiting AKT’s new headquarters in Hoxton ahead of the annual Pride in London parade next weekend and to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. As patron of the homelessness charities Centrepoint and The Passage, he also heard more about LGBT issues and youth homelessness, and the work undertaken by AKT through its “prevention and early action” approach.

Akt is the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, providing safe homes and better futures for LGBTQ+ young people. Almost one-quarter of the 150,000 young people facing or experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+ and 77 per cent of those cite rejection or abuse from their families as what has led them to be so. The charity was founded in 1989 by Cath Hall, a foster carer, who named the organisation after a 16-year-old boy who died falling from a car park in Manchester after being chased by a gang. He had previously run away from a children’s home in Salford after suffering homophobia. It runs an online support service, with centres in London, the northwest and northeast, providing homes, mentoring and training for gay youngsters. Over the past 30 years, the charity has provided more than 250,000 nights off the street and supported over 50,000 LGBTQ+ young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

It has been reported that the pop star Lady Gaga, who collaborated with William on the Heads Together campaign, flagged the charity to the Duke. He also spoke with the charity’s staff, who told him about AKT’s safe house “Purple Door”, LGBTQ+ “host” (or carer) services, the charity’s personal and online mentoring programmes and the youth engagement activities on offer. At the end of the visit, William unveiled a plaque, formally opening AKT’s new services centre in Hoxton which hosts drop-in sessions for young people. The services team is made up of caseworkers who support young people into better futures, including helping them with job hunting and interview preparation, ensuring they have food, clothes, and shoes, that their wellbeing is stable and that they know how to complete the right documentation for anything they might need.

After the visit, AKT’s chief executive, Tim Sigworth, said, “I was incredibly impressed. I was first impressed by his level of knowledge already but his empathy and appreciation of the struggles and challenges faced by LGBT people were incredible to me. “And just his willingness to learn from the young people, his willingness to challenge his own perceptions and his willingness to come out in support of LGBT people in such a personal way as to refer to his children - that will make a massive difference. Mr Sigswort, who is gay, said, “I was personally rejected by my mum and the idea that the future monarch is saying they would support their children if they came out as LGBT is a message to the whole of society really, a message that we need to support and we need to empower LGBT people.”

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Don't let Muslim Prabhakaran be born: Sri Lankan President Sirisena calls for unity

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena lamented that most politicians are focused on the elections later this year and not the country.

Warning against the emergence of a "Muslim Prabhakaran", Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has called for unity among all communities in the country which saw the worst terror attack on Easter Sunday.

Acknowledging that the country has now been divided, Sirisena, who spoke in Mullaitivu, a former bastion of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said on Saturday that religious leaders and politicians in the country were divided today.

The President urged the public "not to leave room for a Muslim Prabhakaran to be born," Colombo Gazette reported .

Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the LTTE or the Tamil Tigers, a militant organisation that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. The civil war in Sri Lanka that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people ended with the killing of Prabhakaran by Sri Lankan army in 2009.

"If we divide and fall apart the whole country will stand to lose. Another war will break out," he warned.

Following the Easter Sunday terror attacks on three Catholic churches and three luxury hotels by a local Islamist outfit with possible links to the Islamic State terror group, there were widespread attacks on the Muslim community.

Sirisena lamented that most politicians are focused on the elections later this year and not the country.

He said that the division is preventing the country from moving forward.

The President said that he understands the issues faced by the Tamils and will address some of them, the report said.

However, he said the past must be set aside and the country must unite to take the country forward.

He said that there should not be room for extremism to prosper.

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THERESA MAY'S WEIRDLY GENDERED GIFTS TO DONALD TRUMP AND MELANIA REVEALED

Theresa May's gifts to Donald and Melania Trump have been revealed and it seems like the PM decided she wasn't going to be challenging any gender stereotypes.  Mrs May will give Donald Trump a copy of one of the most significant documents in the history of the “special relationship” to mark his state visit.  FLOTUS Melania will get a tea set. It is perhaps not surprising that a PM who once boasted of separate 'boy' and 'girl' jobs went so traditional. Mrs May and her husband Philip will present Mr Trump with a framed typescript draft of the 1941 Atlantic Charter, agreed by president Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, setting out their vision for the post-war world. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Atlantic Charter was “one of the first steps towards the formation of the United Nations”.

The spokesman said, “It’s a copy of Churchill’s personal draft of August 12, 1941, with his amendments in red pencil. There were no further amendments made and Churchill kept the draft on his wall as a reminder. A copy has kindly been provided with the consent of Winston Churchill’s family.” First Lady Melania Trump's tea set is at least bespoke and made by designer Emma Bridgewater. When asked why Mr Trump was being given a historically significant gift, while his wife was being given a tea set, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “I think they are both gifts which have been carefully chosen.”  According to the spokesperson, the tea set was “a memento of a visit to Number 10 as part of what we hope will be a successful state visit”.

During the visit to Downing Street, the Mays and Trumps will view the Sussex Declaration - a rare copy of the American Declaration of Independence on sheepskin parchment. The document, dating back to the 1780s, is one of only two ceremonial manuscript copies written on parchment, the other is in the US National Archives in Washington. The US visitors will be treated to a three-course lunch in the state dining room at Number 10, consisting of Paignton harbour crab, turnip and chilled crab bisque, followed by dry-aged Lake District beef fillet, aubergine and miso puree, roasted garlic and ceps with an Eton mess with peach for dessert. While the official bilateral meetings between the US and UK delegations take place, Mr May and Mrs Trump will take tea together in the Terracotta Room, receive a tour of the staterooms from historian Sir Anthony Seldon, and attend a garden party for families of staff from No 10 and the US Embassy in London.

Details of the meetings Donald Trump will attend during his visit have also emerged. Theresa May will host business leaders to celebrate and strengthen economic links between the business in the UK and US. Theresa May will welcome the depth and future potential of transatlantic ties today as she and President Trump co-host a business roundtable on the second day of his State Visit to the UK. It comes after Donald Trump tweeted that conversations about a post-Brexit deal between the countries were already happening.

The event at St James’ Palace will bring together ten leading companies – five from the UK and five from the United States – to discuss the strength of our economic links and the sectors where expanding our cooperation further could benefit both sides. CEOs and senior representatives from BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, National Grid, Barclays, Reckitt Benckiser, JP Morgan, Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs International, Bechtel and Splunk are expected to attend. Discussions are expected to focus in particular on research, development and innovation, investment in infrastructure, and the scope for closer partnership in regulation and financial services.

Addressing the UK-US economic relationship the Prime Minister is expected to say, “It is a great partnership, but one I believe we can make greater still." Last night President Trump tweeted, "London part of trip is going really well. The Queen and the entire Royal family have been fantastic. The relationship with the United Kingdom is very strong. Tremendous crowds of well-wishers and people that love our Country. Haven’t seen any protests yet, but I’m sure the Fake News will be working hard to find them.  Great love all around. Also, big Trade Deal is possible once UK gets rid of the shackles. Already starting to talk!"

The United States is already the UK’s largest single trading partner in the world and trade between our countries, worth £190 billion last year, has grown by more than 70% over the last decade. We are also the largest investors in each other’s economies with mutual investments valued at as much as $1 trillion.

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TAYLOR SWIFT CONFESSES HER UNUSUAL HABIT OF SLEEP-EATING 'LIKE A RACCOON'

Taylor Swift has made a confession about an unusual habit - she eats when she's asleep. The Shake It Off singer made the startling revelation during an appearance on The Ellen Show, making a return after four years. During a segment titled 'Burning Questions', host Ellen asked the 29-year-old what she does if she can't sleep in the middle of the night.

Taylor admitted: "I go downstairs and rummage through the kitchen and eat what I can find. It's really less human being and more like a raccoon in a dumpster." Perhaps alluding to being accompanied by her boyfriend Joe Alwyn, she added that she doesn't even remember doing so. The next morning we walk downstairs and think 'what happened here?' It's not really voluntary."

A surprised Ellen went on to ask: "Does that help you sleep? Do you sleep eat?" Taylor replied: "I think so. I don't really remember it, but I know it happens because it could only have been me... or cats." Although Taylor didn't state she had been diagnosed with sleep-eating, it is a medically recognised parasomnia, called sleep-related eating disorder (SRED).

Sufferers will often have repeated episodes of compulsive binge-eating and drinking in the middle of the night. "The next morning we walk downstairs and think 'what happened here?' It's not really voluntary." A surprised Ellen went on to ask: "Does that help you sleep? Do you sleep eat?" Taylor replied: "I think so. I don't really remember it, but I know it happens because it could only have been me... or cats."

Although Taylor didn't state she had been diagnosed with sleep-eating, it is a medically recognised parasomnia, called sleep-related eating disorder (SRED). Sufferers will often have repeated episodes of compulsive binge-eating and drinking in the middle of the night. And Swift sure gave them plenty to go through - even revealing some exciting tidbits about her new music.

Taylor confessed that her seventh album (dubbed TS7 by fans), took less than three months to make and that she finished it on February 24 2019. She also confirmed that the record will include more songs than any of her previous releases. Taylor Swift's new single 'ME!' comes with epic snake put down of past feuds Swift's last album, Reputation, was released on November 10 and sold two million copies in its first week.

It quickly became the biggest album since Adele's 25 was released in 2015 breaking a number of records and garnering award nominations. It also went on to inspire the massive Reputation Stadium Tour, which was later named the highest-grossing US tour of all time.

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Iron Man Robert Downey Jr shares photo with entire Avengers cast and crew, calls it a village. See pic

Robert Downey Jr shared a picture with the entire Avengers cast and crew.

The spoiler ban on Avengers Endgame, the sequel to Infinity War, has been lifted and the stars have taken to sharing pictures and videos and behind-the-scenes footage.

Robert Downey Jr who played the role of Iron Man in the franchise, shared a picture with the entire Infinity War and Endgame cast and crew. He captioned the post, "Infinity war / Endgame cast and crew fully assembled ... #TeamStark #thankyou Where’s #waldo? It takes a village."

Spoiler ahead: Avengers Endgame ended on a painful note, as Iron Man sacrificed himself to save the universe from Thanos. Director Joe Russo has made it very clear that the beloved superhero would not be returning to the MCU and this was the final goodbye.

Just the other day,Iron Man completed 11 years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Downey Jr shared a video of the cast singing happy birthday.

Meanwhile, Avengers Endgame is busy breaking records with a Hulk-like strength, left, right and center. It has whooshed past 1997 film Titanic's record and has made Rs 15206 crore.

In India itself, it is already on its way to the Rs 350 crore club, and trade analysts expect that the film will make Rs 400 crore.

Avengers Endgame is the culmination of the 22 films in the MCU, where the surviving Avengers battle Thanos in a final take-down.

According to sources, Downey Jr even received back-end profit on the series. The international publication also revealed that he earned 5 million dollars per day for a three-day work schedule on Spider-Man: Homecoming. In fact, he received a fat paycheque for Infinity War, the film before Endgame. He reportedly earned Rs 524 crore for the film.

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KATE MIDDLETON IS 'FEELING BROODY AND WANTS TO HAVE FOURTH CHILD'

As the world awaits the arrival of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's first child, the Duchess of Cambridge is claimed to be 'feeling broody and keen to have a fourth child'. Kate Middleton and Prince William have three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -  aged between five years old and a year old. But a friend of the royal couple told the Daily Mail that 'Catherine would like another baby'.

"She loves children and is prepared to put herself through another pregnancy even though they have been complicated by severe morning sickness in the past," the friend said. The 37-year-old Duchess is claimed to have previously dropped a similar hint when she met adorable five-month-old, James Barr, with Prince William in Northern Ireland in February. She told James' father Alan: "He's gorgeous. it makes me feel broody." It's said the Duchess could be following the Queen's steps as she gave birth to her fourth child, Prince Edward, at the age of 37.

Prince William was said to be as keen on children as Kate although they have been concentrating much effort, particularly Kate, on official royal duties. Last month, the family celebrated Prince Louis's first birthday with an official photograph by Kate, showing him playing in the garden in Norfolk retreat, Anmer Hall. Meghan, who is five months older than Kate, is due to give birth any day now to her and Prince Harry's first child.

Earlier today, it was announced the Duke of Sussex was cutting his trip to the Netherlands short, only spending one day abroad and not the planned two. The couple has broken with tradition and decided to keep the details surrounding the birth a secret, which means nobody knows where they've decided to have the baby. The little royal will be seventh in line to the throne, and the Queen and Prince Philip's seventh great-grandchild - and fans are on the lookout for any sign that the time is finally here.

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NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN GETS ENGAGED TO PARTNER CLARKE GAYFORD

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is engaged to her partner Clarke Gayford, as per a statement released by her spokesperson. The couple have a 10-month old daughter named Neve Te Aroha. According to reports, Gayford runs a TV fishing show. Ardren is the second elected leader who gave birth while in office after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto in 1990.

In a conversation with the BBC during her visit to London, Arden was asked if she would consider asking Gayford to marry her, or simply wait it out till he pops the question. "Absolutely, I'm a feminist, but I want to put him through the pain and torture of having to agonize about that question himself. That's letting him off the hook, absolutely not," she had said. Reports said that the news of the engagement spread when reporters noted that the prime minister was wearing a ring while attending a public event.

 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gets engaged to partner Clarke Gayford

Reports quoted Ardern’s spokesperson as saying that she was wearing the ring since Easter. However, he declined to provide any details of the proposal. According to reports, the couple met about six years ago when Gayford went to complain to a lawmaker about some proposed changes to security legislation. It was during that interaction that he met Ardern. They began living together soon after that.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gets engaged to partner Clarke Gayford (AFP Image)

"I'm very, very lucky," Ardern had once told Radio NZ. "I have a partner who can be there alongside me, who's taking up a huge part of that joint responsibility because he's a parent too, he's not a babysitter."

While Ardern runs New Zealand, her fiancé has a TV show called Fish of the Day. It takes him around the world in search of fish and recipes for the same. The series has been sold to 20 nations and has won awards as well.

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PRINCESS DIANA'S AIDE REVEALS WHY PRINCE WILLIAM REALLY WAITED SO LONG TO MARRY KATE

A former aide of Princess Diana has revealed why Prince William famously waited so long to marry Kate. The Duchess of Cambridge was infamously dubbed 'Waity Katie' due to the nine years it took the future king to pop the question. And his mum Diana's astrologer, Debbie Frank, believes 'sensitive' William didn't want to marry someone he couldn't depend on for strength. "Kate and William are opposites and they say opposites attract. I think William needs his own rock, his own steadying force, I think that's what Kate really is for him," she told Yahoo! UK's The Royal Box.

"He's very sensitive and I think he actively didn't want to marry somebody who was going to dissolve into a heap, and Kate's strength is a source of sustenance to him." As for Prince Harry and heavily-pregnant Meghan, Debbie says he is truly 'devoted' to his 'firecracker' of a wife.

Princess Diana's aide reveals why Prince William really waited so long to marry Kate

"Harry loves to do things for other people. He's a bit more like the royal servant even though he is the royal prince. But he would just love to do everything he can for her. He's very devoted," she said. She likened Meghan to the personality-packed Queen Mother and late Princess Margaret, and believes she and Diana would have bonded over their "desire to help save the world."

However, Debbie says Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate have little in common outside of the fact they married brothers and married into royalty. "Kate is much more a person who is careful and cautious. She's going to just do things properly and slowly and think about things," she said.

"Meghan is a tour de force in her own right, she is all about the Meghan Markle brand so we'll watch this space on that. "So we've got this big show-stopper there and a huge contrast with Kate who is very elegant, very dignified. "She's a very different person from Kate."

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MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY'S FANS CONVINCED SHE'LL GIVE BIRTH TO ROYAL BABY TODAY

The world is well and truly on royal baby watch as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 's first child is due any day now. Royal fans are eagerly awaiting any update from the couple, and many are getting very excited every time the couple post on their new Instagram page. But bookies seem convinced today will be the day, and a massive amount of money has been put on a very special announcement in the next few hours.

According to bookmakers.tv , bookmakers up and down the country have slashed the odds of Baby Sussex arriving today. Spokesperson Philip Trampe said: "The odds of Meghan and Harry sharing some happy baby news have taken another plunge.

"The latest betting definitely suggests there could be a baby announcement around the corner, perhaps even today, as bookies face the biggest royal betting frenzy of all time.

"Fans are so keen to speculate on every aspect of Baby Sussex and millions will be riding on the name, arrival date and sex among many other predictions.

"Bookies will be desperate for the pair go for an outside choice of name as if they follow tradition, royal watchers will cash in like never before."

Prince Harry joined other members of the Royal Family for a traditional Easter Sunday church service at the weekend, but unsurprisingly Meghan skipped the celebration.

He seemed to avoid brother Prince William, even though he was seen chatting to Kate, fuelling rumours of a rift between the men.

However the couple did post a sweet birthday message to the Queen on Instagram, referring to her as 'Granny'.

People seem certain that Meghan is having a girl, with three in every four bets on the gender favouring the outcome. Elizabeth, Diana and Victoria are the favourites for girls names, with Albert and Philip for a boy. The £8m Royal betting bonanza predicted by the bookies has already been met, meaning Baby Sussex has broken all previous novelty betting records.

Meghan and Harry have broken with tradition and decided to keep the birth details to themselves. This means that unlike with the Cambridge children, where Kate and Wills allowed people to wait for news outside the hospital, we won't know anything until we get an official announcement.

The couple revealed their decision with a statement earlier in the month. It read: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby.

"Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private.

"The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family."

SOURCE

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