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NewsFix: Friday September 17, 2021

NewsFix: Friday September 17, 2021

Morning all,

Prince Philip’s will has been protected by the courts, Derek Chauvin is back pleading not guilty, and President Putin’s record is up for debate in the court of public opinion… kind of.

Until Monday,

Hilary


ON TODAY’S AGENDA…

In Russia, voting in local and parliamentary elections get underway today, and continue through Sunday.

Worth noting: Putin’s ‘United Russia’ party is expected to maintain its dominance. The Economist described it as a “given”. Many opposition figures have been barred from running.

So, why is it newsworthy then? What’s interesting is that Navalny allies have worked together to encourage people to vote for the anti-Kremlin candidate in each area. There is a ‘Navalny’ app whereby people can enter their address, and receive information about which candidate they should vote for.

Parliamentary dynamics: There are 450 seats in Russia’s Duma, which is the country’s lower house of Parliament.

Irish President Michael D Higgins is expected to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican today. The president has been in the headlines over his decision to decline an invite to an October ceremony in Armagh to mark the centenary of the partition of Ireland and creation of Northern Ireland.

Why did he decline the invite? Higgins said the event - which will be attended by the Queen - was politicised. It was also reported the invite incorrectly referred to him as the ‘president of the Republic of Ireland,” rather than his title “president of Ireland”.

  • In Northern Ireland, two men charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee - who was shot and killed while covering rioting in 2019 - will appear in court today. The men are 21 and 33 years of age.
  • Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutteis due to visit his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, in London today.

THE WILL OF THE HIGH COURT

The 50 Most Romantic Things That Ever Happened | Prince philip queen  elizabeth, Queen and prince phillip, Queen elizabeth ii

Prince Philip’s willis to remain secret for 90 years, the High Court ruled.

Why? Court documents say to protect the “privacy and dignity” of the Queen and the royal family. The judge said he has not actually read the contents of the late Duke of Edinburgh’s will.

Is this normal? Yes. A number of royal wills have been kept sealed. Most of those wills had been sealed indefinitely, but the High Court ruled 90 years was an appropriate length of time. After 90 years, the monarch’s private solicitor will read the will and can then decide whether or not it could be made public.

Worth noting: The first record of a royal will being sealed dates back to 1910. The brother of Queen Mary, Prince Francis of Teck, allegedly left valuable emeralds to his mistress.

Here is a link to the High Court judgement on Prince Philip’s will.


CHAUVIN PLEADS NOT GUILTY… AGAIN

Derek Chauvin- who is serving a 22.5-year sentence for the murder of George Floyd - pleaded not guilty to a separate charge from 2017.

Chauvin is accused of using “unreasonable force” on a 14-year-old, including hitting him repeatedly with a flashlight.


COVERING THE COVERAGE

Piers Morgan has joined Rupert Murdoch’s upcoming TalkTV station, which is set to launch early next year as a rival to GB News. The deal with Morgan also includes a column in The Sun, and a book for Murdoch-owned Harper Collins.

Speaking of GB News, Andrew Neil said he resigned from his positions at the recently-launched network because it was going in a different direction to what he wanted. During an appearance on the BBC, Neil said he was “in a minority of one,” but said viewers can decide whether they feel it leans too far to the right.


MOST READ


PANDEMIC

Source: John Hopkins University

The Italian government has agreed to implement a requirement for all workers to either show proof they are fully vaccinated, have recently recovered from coronavirus, or have tested negative. Reutersdescribed the move as “some of the strictest anti-COVID measures in the world”.

Worth noting: Workers who don’t fall under those categories cannot be fired, but they can be suspended without pay. Is is expected to come into effect from October 15.

  • In France, 3,000 unvaccinated healthcare workers have been suspended without pay. There was a deadline this week for them to be vaccinated. France 24 reported “several dozens” have handed in their resignation rather than get jabbed.

The UK Governmentare expected to announce changes to international travel later today, with some reports suggesting fully vaccinated people may not have to do a PCR test before returning.

Worth noting: Any changes would initially apply to England. Also, The Times reports “dozens” of countries are expected to be taken off the red list.


SATURDAY MARKS…

One year since the death of US Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

If you ever wanted to know more about the woman who became a liberal icon, we highly recommend this documentary - The Notorious RBG.


ON A LIGHTER NOTE…

The dress that should have been worn at The Met Gala.

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