Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle, had planned to stay with a controversial aristocrat who runs a royal YouTube channel during his planned trip to Britain at the time of Queen Elizabeth II 's Platinum Jubilee . Lady Colin Campbell, a Jamaican-born British aristocrat and author turned reality television star, known for voicing her controversial opinions on members of the royal family, announced to her 144,000 YouTube subscribers on Thursday that Meghan's father was to stay at her castle home during his stay in Britain had it not been canceled owing to his ill health. It was announced on May 24 that Markle had experienced a stroke and had been hospitalized as a result, making his international trip impossible. Meghan's half-sister Samantha, who is suing Meghan for libel, told GB News that: "My father is recovering in hospital. We ask for privacy for the family, for his health and wellbeing." "He just needs peace and rest," she continued. "Godspeed. We are praying. He just … [Read more...] about Controversial Lady Colin Campbell was to host Thomas Markle for jubilee
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Authorities: 13 wells leaked methane near California homes
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — Crews have sealed 13 oil wells in California’s San Joaquin Valley that leaked methane, some reportedly at levels that risk an explosion, a state official said Friday. “The wellheads have been repaired," and there were no readings of methane emissions in a nearby neighborhood, said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, head of the California Geologic Energy Management, the conservation department division that oversees wells. Inspectors last week discovered that six idle oil wells near Bakersfield homes had been leaking methane, the conservation department announced earlier this week. Seven additional leaking wells were later discovered for a total of 13, the department confirmed Friday. The department didn't say how much methane had leaked but at least three of the original six wells found to be leaking had methane concentrations of 50,000 parts per million in the air surrounding them, according to a report from the state. Methane is potentially explosive at air … [Read more...] about Authorities: 13 wells leaked methane near California homes
You Are Going to Get COVID Again … And Again … And Again
Two and a half years and billions of estimated infections into this pandemic, SARS-CoV-2’s visit has clearly turned into a permanent stay. Experts knew from early on that, for almost everyone, infection with this coronavirus would be inevitable. As James Hamblin memorably put it back in February 2020, “ You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus .” By this point, in fact, most Americans have. But now, as wave after wave continues to pummel the globe, a grimmer reality is playing out. You’re not just likely to get the coronavirus. You’re likely to get it again and again and again. “I personally know several individuals who have had COVID in almost every wave,” says Salim Abdool Karim, a clinical infectious-diseases epidemiologist and the director of the Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa, which has experienced five meticulously tracked surges, and where just one-third of the population is vaccinated . Experts doubt that clip of reinfection—several times a … [Read more...] about You Are Going to Get COVID Again … And Again … And Again
Governor saw deadly arrest video months before prosecutors
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and his top lawyers privately watched a key video of Black motorist Ronald Greene drawing his final breaths in his deadly 2019 arrest six months before prosecutors even knew the footage existed. While the Democratic governor has distanced himself from allegations of a cover-up in the explosive case by contending evidence was promptly turned over to authorities, an Associated Press investigation found that neither Edwards, his staff nor the state police he oversees acted urgently to get the crucial footage into the hands of those with the power to charge the white troopers seen stunning, punching and dragging Greene. The video shows a bruised and bloody Greene going limp and drawing his final breaths — critical moments and audio that are absent from other footage turned over. It wouldn't reach prosecutors until nearly two years after Greene’s May 10, 2019, death on a rural roadside near Monroe. Now three years have passed and still no … [Read more...] about Governor saw deadly arrest video months before prosecutors
We must defeat Putin – the fate of civilisation depends on it
Since the last annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, the course of history has changed dramatically. Russia invaded Ukraine, shaking the European Union, which was established to prevent war from returning to the continent, to its very core. Even when the fighting stops, as it eventually must, the situation will never revert to the status quo ante . Indeed, the Russian invasion may turn out to be the beginning of World War III, and our civilisation may not survive it. The invasion of Ukraine did not come out of the blue. The world has been increasingly engaged over the past half-decade, or longer, in a struggle between two diametrically opposed systems of governance: open society and closed society. Let me define the differences as simply as I can. In an open society, the role of the state is to protect the freedom of the individual; in a closed society, the role of the individual is to serve the rulers of the state. Other issues that concern all humanity – … [Read more...] about We must defeat Putin – the fate of civilisation depends on it
Sunak refuses to rule out new cost-of-living support next year
Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out a further emergency cost-of-living package next year despite alarm among some Tories at the impact on the public finances of the latest measures. The Chancellor responded to weeks of mounting pressure over soaring energy bills with the announcement of a £21 billion giveaway to households, partly paid for by a £5 billion levy on the profits of oil and gas companies. In the Commons on Thursday he told MPs the Government could not “sit idly by” while families across the country struggled to make ends meet. However there was anger from some Conservatives , who said the “windfall tax” on the energy giants – which Labour had been pressing for since the start of the year – was “throwing red meat to socialists”. There were also concerns that a £400 discount on energy bills for every household in the country, regardless of how well off they are, would further fuel inflation which is already heading towards 10%. Recommended … [Read more...] about Sunak refuses to rule out new cost-of-living support next year
‘Big bazooka’ support package will get UK through energy crisis, says PM
Boris Johnson has said the Government’s emergency cost-of-living support package is a “big bazooka” which will support families until the surge in energy prices abates. The Prime Minister acknowledged the country still faced a “bumpy time” due to the soaring costs of oil and gas, but said he was confident it would emerge in a “much, much stronger position”. Earlier, Chancellor Rishi Sunak – who on Thursday announced a further £21 billion of support for households – indicated that he could not rule out the need for further measures if global prices remain high. But speaking during a visit to Stockton-on-Tees, Mr Johnson appeared to suggest the measures set out in the Commons – with up to £1,200 for eight million homes across the country – should be enough. “What we are doing now is making sure we support people through tough times. It’s a big bazooka,” he said in a pooled clip for broadcasters. Recommended What Rishi Sunak announced to tackle the … [Read more...] about ‘Big bazooka’ support package will get UK through energy crisis, says PM
The difficult search for answers after Uvalde | Opinion
I find myself more shaken and stricken after this week's latest mass shooting, the elementary school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, that saw 19 children and two teachers slain in cold blood, than I did after other mass shootings in recent years. Part of that is biographical: As an ex-Texan, the son of an elementary school teacher and the owner of a rifle made by the same manufacturer as was the apparent murder weapon, this just hit home a little closer. And part of that, of course, is the sheer nature of the evil incarnate the likes of which decides to go shoot up a schoolhouse. The palpable nature of that profound evil in our midst is yet the latest reminder of the truism, contrary to modern convention though that truism may be, that man is by his nature inclined toward iniquity. As God Himself says in Genesis 8:21 , "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Naturally inclined toward tradition, conservatives—if perhaps no one else—intuit this. As the great conservative … [Read more...] about The difficult search for answers after Uvalde | Opinion
NRA convention 2022 attendees—Full list of Republicans appearing in Texas
A number of Republicans are still scheduled to attend a National Rifle Association event in Houston, Texas, just days after the Uvalde school shooting. The NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) Leadership Forum will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center from Friday to Sunday. The annual event by the pro-gun lobby group is being held as the debate on gun reform in the country has been reignited in the wake of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School , which left 19 children and two teachers dead, as well as criticism of the influence the NRA has over lawmakers in the country. As with previous years, the NRA meeting will feature a number of Republicans as guest speakers, as well as the NRA's head, Wayne LaPierre, and Jason Ouimet, the executive director of the group's lobbying arm. The biggest name scheduled to speak is Donald Trump , who confirmed he will still be attending the event despite it being held just days after the Uvalde massacre. … [Read more...] about NRA convention 2022 attendees—Full list of Republicans appearing in Texas
Donald Trump and the Rise of Plutocracy
Of the things Donald Trump has said since he began hinting at a presidential candidacy, the one that most requires challenging is his assertion that people keep asking him to run. Journalists are vigilant defenders of truth when the subject is President Obama's birthplace or OPEC prices. They are credulous when it comes to explaining populist movements. They assume the impetus always comes from the demand side. People are "fed up"! There is an "anti-incumbent sentiment" in the air! Such demand-side sentiments can explain a lot—but not why certain members of the public might wish to be governed by a billionaire yahoo. For that, it is just as important to look at the supply side. Trump's candidacy comes from a sociological fact—the steady rise of plutocracy over the last quarter century—as well as a public sentiment. The truth is not universally enough acknowledged that a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of political influence. Diversifying one's portfolio to include … [Read more...] about Donald Trump and the Rise of Plutocracy