Tag: Meghan Markle

STARTUP DIGEST: Rajnish Kumar joins Bharatpe board as chairman, Gmail suffers outage in India, & Swiggy to explore social commerce biz, says report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Here are the top headlines from the startup space.

Paytm’s $2.2 bn IPO sees more global investors interest: Report

Paytm’s bumper Rs 16,600 crore IPO has now caught the eyes of new investors, including US-based asset manager Alkeon Capital and funds managed by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, sources told the Economic Times.

The new investors join a list of bidders that are in talks to invest in Paytm’s anchor investment as well as its IPO. Besides the new investors, funds from Europe have also evinced interest in the company’s $2.2 billion IPO, the report added.

Paytm is awaiting final approval for the IPO from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). Its ongoing conversation with investors indicates a valuation of $20-$24 billion.

Former SBI chief Rajnish Kumar joins Bharatpe board as chairman

BharatPe has appointed former SBI boss Rajnish Kumar as chairman of the board. Kumar will be involved in formulating the firm’s short-term and long-term strategies and will work closely with the board and executives on regulatory matters, the fintech startup said.

The industry veteran will also advise and counsel the management on matters around business performance and corporate governance, BharatPe said in a statement.

Kumar was the SBI chairman from October 2017 to October 2020 and has also served as the managing director and the managing director (Compliance and Risk) of SBI.

PhonePe continues to lead in UPI market

Digital payments apps PhonePe and Google Pay have yet again emerged as the market leaders in UPI transactions.

PhonePe continued to lead the stride and recorded 1,653.19 million transactions in September, as per data released by the National Payments Corporation of India

PhonePe and Google collectively processed 2947.75 million transactions during the month.

According to NPCI, the digital payments to financial services accounted for a 45 percent share of the volume pie and 47 percent of the value of the united payments interface (UPI).
Meanwhile, Google Pay, a digital wallet platform, has maintained its position with a 35 percent market share in terms of volumes and 38 percent in terms of value. The number of payment transactions processed were 129 crore, which amount to Rs 2.50 lakh crore.

Paytm Payments Bank remained the third-largest despite its market value dipping to 9 percent in September from an earlier value was 14 percent. The recorded payment transactions through Paytm was 53.8 crore, which equals Rs 60,094 crore.

After Facebook’s global outage last week, now Gmail down in India

Google’s free email service Gmail is reportedly down in some parts of India on Tuesday as users were unable to send or receive emails.

According to Down Detector, 68 percent users reported that they are facing issues on the website, 18 percent reported server connection and 14 percent mentioned login issues.

Users in India and in some other countries went to social media platforms to complain they were unable to access Gmail.

Social media giant Facebook also witnessed a global outage twice in the past week. Users were unable to load their Instagram feeds and couldn’t send messages via Facebook Messenger. WhatsApp was also down for over 22,000 users.

Swiggy may explore social commerce biz with Swiggy Bazaar: Report

In a bid to expand its offerings, foodtech platform Swiggy is planning to explore the social commerce vertical.

According to an Entrackr report, Swiggy plans to launch Swiggy Bazaar — a social commerce business— in a couple of months. The Swiggy Bazaar will focus on grocery, FMCG and fresh farm produce. The company is likely to bring a group-buying element and leverage the reseller model in Swiggy Bazaar.

The company plans to invest over $15-20 million in the social commerce business in the first phase. Besides grocery, Swiggy Bazaar will also explore segments such as lifestyle and fashion in the long haul, the report added.

Swiggy Bazaar will be launched as a pilot in a few cities including Bengaluru and Gurugram. This comes after the company has already ventured into grocery and package delivery through Instamart and Genie.

WeWork India announces company-wide 10-day extended Diwali break

Flexible workspaces operator WeWork has announced a company-wide 10-day extended break for its employees during Diwali.

The company has introduced various people initiatives to enhance its employee experience and overall company culture. This surprise holiday break was announced to help employees celebrate the festival with their family and loved ones and enjoy some much-needed downtime, WeWork said in a statement.

“As a gesture of gratitude towards the contribution and resilience of our people, we have offered a 10 day Diwali break. Behind every great employee is a family who has provided a strong support system and this is our way of saying thank you to the loved ones of our employees as well, and hope the festive season brings much joy and celebrations, in a safe way,” said Priti Shetty, Head of People, WeWork India.

Clensta launches Smart Concentrates range to reduce single-use plastic pollution

IIT Delhi-backed personal care startup Clensta has launched a range of technology-based products under a new category termed ‘Home Hygiene Category with Smart Concentrates.’

Under the new category, Clensta will provide a base for technologically mastered consumer products to replace single-use plastic packaged liquid/spray formulation of consumer products in markets across the globe.

The patent-protected product range includes pigeon repellent, hand wash, floor cleaner, toilet cleaner, dish cleaner, car shampoo, glass and multi-surface cleaner, instant stain remover, vegetable cleaner, and room freshener with germ protection formula, the company said in a statement.

With this technology, the active ingredient will be compressed in the “Smart Concentrate” that can be poured in an infinity bottle, then add tap water and shake it well and there is a ready to use household cleaner.

The startup, households can save 67 percent on daily living using these products and they will also reduce single-use plastic pollution by 95 percent.

Yu launches instant meal bowls using lyophilization tech

Homegrown consumer foods brand Yu has launched ‘Instant Meal Bowls’ that contain zero preservatives, additives, artificial flavourings or colours.

Developed using advanced lyophilization technology, chef-curated artisan recipes and natural ingredients, Yu’s meal bowls offer a non-refrigerated shelf life of 12 months, the company said in a statement.
The brand has launched its products at a price range of Rs75 to 95 per bowl. The ‘clean-label’ consumer foods brand is also adopting sustainable practices by using eco-friendly paper packaging for its products, the startup said.

Global Technology and Startup News

Facebook’s oversight board to meet whistleblower Frances Haugen

The Facebook oversight board will meet with former employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen in the coming weeks, Reuters reported.

The body has been set up by the social network to give independent verdicts on a small number of thorny content decisions.

Haugen revealed last week she was the person who provided documents used in a Wall Street Journal investigation and a Senate hearing on Instagram’s harm to teenage girls.

Instagram testing feature to notify users of outage or issues in app

Instagram is testing a feature to notify users of outages or technical issues directly on the photo-sharing app days after two outages disrupted the social media giant’s services.

The test will run in the United States and will go on for a few months, Instagram said in a blog post.

On October 4, a six-hour-long outage prevented the company’s 3.5 billion users from accessing its social media platforms and messaging services, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger.

Earlier on Monday, many users faced problems with Instagram, according to user reports on web monitoring group Downdetector.

The company is also planning to roll out a feature that will help to make it easier for people to know whether their account is at risk of being disabled.

Amazon to take team-wise approach on remote work policy

Amazon will let individual teams decide for how many days corporate employees would be expected to work from the office in a week, CEO Andy Jassy said in a message to employees.

Earlier, Amazon’s policy required employees to return to the office from January 3 for at least three days a week.

In his message that was posted on Amazon’s blog, Jassy said the company’s corporate employees will be permitted to work up to four weeks per year fully remotely from any location within the country of employment.

Amazon, one of the largest private employers in the United States, would also require its employees to be close enough to their teams to be able to make it to meetings at a day’s notice.

The company, which started on-site vaccinations for its frontline employees in the US in March, has taken to a flexible approach to reopening like tech peer Microsoft, which said it would take a site-by-site approach to US office re-openings.

Harry and Meghan foray into finance: NYT

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are getting into the investment business.

They are joining Ethic, a fintech asset manager in the fast-growing environmental, social and governance space, as “impact partners” and investors, according to the New York Times.

Ethic has $1.3 billion under management and creates separately managed accounts to invest in social responsibility themes.

The couple could attract more attention to sustainable investing. Harry and Meghan can make E.S.G. investing part of pop culture, the report added.

Founded in 2015, Ethic runs screens on companies and sectors based on social responsibility criteria, including racial justice, climate and labour issues.

The move is the couple’s latest corporate partnership since relocating to the US. Harry and Meghan moved to Los Angeles last year and later gave up official royal family duties. Seeking financial independence, they have signed production deals with Netflix and Spotify. Harry also recently produced a documentary series about mental health for Apple TV+ in connection with Oprah Winfrey and is writing a memoir.

Vroom to acquire auto lender United Auto Credit for $300M

Vroom has said it would buy automotive lender United Auto Credit Corp for $300 million in cash, as the online used car retailer seeks to offer financing options for its shoppers.

The company also said United Auto will retain its brand name and the deal is expected to close by the first quarter of 2022.

Crypto analytics firm Elliptic raises $60M from SoftBank & others

Cryptocurrency analytics firm Elliptic said on Monday it has raised $60 million from investors including SoftBank and Wells Fargo Strategic Capital, Reuters reported.
London-based Elliptic said the Series C round was led by Evolution Equity, with the SoftBank Vision Fund 2 investing for the first time. Other new investors include Japan’s SBI Group, Elliptic said in a statement, without disclosing its valuation.

Elliptic, established in 2013, tracks the movement of cryptocurrencies on blockchain – the technology underpinning them – to help financial crime compliance.

It plans to invest in its global network and team, as well as continue research and development, the company said.

Elliptic’s clients include traditional financial firms, fintech and crypto companies, as well as government agencies. Two-thirds of crypto volume worldwide passes through exchanges that use the firm’s software.

Samsung leader Lee admits in court to unlawful sedative use

Samsung conglomerate chief Jay Y. Lee admitted in court on Tuesday to unlawful use of a controlled substance, as the executive’s legal troubles continued despite his release on parole in August after a bribery conviction.

According to Reuters, Lee appeared at the Seoul Central District Court where, in a short first hearing, he said he received propofol – a sedative used in anesthesia – 41 times from 2015 through 2020.

His release in August had raised expectations of major decisions being taken at Samsung Electronics and its affiliates, including the location of a $17 billion chip factory being planned in the United States.

Prosecutors, who are seeking a fine of 70 million won ($58,327) and an additional fee of 17 million won, said that Lee had been administered propofol under the guise of skin treatment or unrelated to a legitimate treatment.

Lee’s lawyer told the court that Lee had received treatment for medical purposes, originally due to psychological pressure after the hospitalisation of his father and then as a result of the graft scandal and trial leading to his January conviction.

The court ruling is scheduled for October 26.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Queen ‘delighted’ after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcome baby Lilibet Diana

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family have congratulated Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the birth of their daughter Lilibet ’Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the monarch’s 11th great-grandchild. This is the second child for the couple, who have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

The royals, including Harry’s father Prince Charles and brother Prince William, were delighted with the news of the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby girl in Los Angeles on Friday, the Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Harry and Meghan’s second child is named after the Queen, who was affectionately nicknamed Lilibet by her family, and her late grandmother, Princess Diana, it said.

”Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana,” the statement said. ”The Queen, the Prince of Wales (Charles) and The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate Middleton) are delighted with the news,” it said.

William and Kate tweeted separately from their Kensington Palace Twitter account to say: ”We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also sent a message of goodwill through Twitter, saying: ”Many congratulations to the Duke & Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their daughter.” Lili is the first of the Queen’s great-grandchildren to be born outside the United Kingdom as Harry and Meghan relocated to California in the US last year after they stepped back as frontline royals. A statement from the couple’s press secretary said that their second child was born at 11:40 am on Friday.

”It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world. Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 am in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, the statement said. The newborn weighed 7 lbs 11 oz (3.48 kg), and both mother and child are said to be healthy and well and settling in at home, it said.

”Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty the Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, the Princess of Wales, the official statement from the couple said. Harry and Meghan, who live in Montecito, are now on parental leave, and on their official Archewell website, they have elaborated on the arrival of their baby daughter, it said. ”On June 4, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family,” the statement said.

Lilibet was first used when Princess Elizabeth was a toddler and unable to pronounce her own name properly. Her grandfather, King George V, would affectionately call her Lilibet’, imitating her own attempts to say Elizabeth and from then on she became Lilibet, including to Prince Philip, the Queen’s late husband.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Madame Tussauds relocates Prince Harry-Meghan Markle waxworks from Windsor to Hollywood

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A year after leaving their royal duties to move to Los Angeles, Madame Tussauds has now decided that waxwork models of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan now belong in the attraction’s Hollywood zone and not with the other members of the House of Windsor.

The couple, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, quit royal duties to forge new independent careers on the other side of the Atlantic, and have since signed deals to deliver and produce content for Netflix, Spotify and Apple.

Now their waxwork models have been shifted from their place in the royal section of Madame Tussauds in London to join other celebrities, the famous attraction said on Thursday.

“Harry and Meghan have moved zones — Madame Tussauds London has moved its figures of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to their brand new Awards Party zone to reflect their move from Frogmore to Hollywood,” Madame Tussauds said in a statement, referring to the couple’s former British home Frogmore Cottage.

Later this month, a television documentary series on mental health issues co-created by Harry and US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey premieres on streaming service Apple TV+.

Ahead of the broadcasts, Harry appeared on the ‘Armchair Expert’ podcast hosted by US actor Dax Shephard, in which he likened his life as a royal to the ‘Truman Show,’ a film about a man who unwittingly grew up as the central character in a popular worldwide television reality show.

He also disclosed that when he first began dating Meghan, they met in a supermarket to avoid paparazzi photographers, and that the couple enjoyed more freedom after moving to California with young son Archie.

“Living here now, I can actually lift my head and actually I feel different, my shoulders have dropped, so have hers, you (we) can walk around feeling a little bit more free,” he said.

“I get to take Archie on the back of my bicycle. I would never have the chance to do that.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Prince Harry joins coaching startup BetterUp Inc as chief impact officer

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Prince Harry has joined the corporate world as employee coaching and mental health firm BetterUp Inc.’s Chief Impact Officer. The financial terms of his employment were undisclosed.

BetterUp, based in San Francisco, works with employees from companies including Mars, AB InBev and LinkedIn on coaching and mental health services. BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux said the Duke of Sussex is a good fit for the company because of “his model of inspiration and impact through action.”

Robichaux cited Harry’s efforts founding the Invictus Games, which gives sick and injured military personnel and veterans the opportunity to compete in sports, and founding Sentebale, an Africa-based charity supporting young people affected by HIV.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, have been working on detangling their lives from the British royal family and are living in California. They signed a deal to create content for Netflix and are creating podcasts for Spotify.

Also Read: Prince Harry tells Oprah Winfrey he worried history would repeat itself

In a blog post, Harry said he is joining BetterUp because he believes in the company’s mission of being proactive about mental health. “Being attuned with your mind, and having a support structure around you, are critical to finding your own version of peak performance,” he wrote.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Piers Morgan quits British TV program after Meghan comments

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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British television host Piers Morgan on Tuesday quit the Good Morning Britain program after making contentious comments about Meghan following her bombshell interview about the royal family. The UK’s media watchdog said earlier Tuesday that it was launching an investigation into the show under its harm and offense rules after receiving more than 41,000 complaints over Morgan’s comments about the Duchess of Sussex.

Morgan’s departure was announced shortly after Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying allegations of racism made by Prince Harry and Meghan during an interview with Oprah Winfrey were concerning.”

In the interview, which aired in the US on Sunday night and then in the U.K. on Monday evening, Meghan spoke about how she didn’t want to be alive anymore as she struggled to fit in with the monarchy. She also alleged that she faced racist attitudes from Buckingham Palace and British media and that her requests for help with her mental health were rejected.

Morgan, 55, said Monday on Good Morning Britain during a discussion about Meghan’s revelations that ”I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she says. I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report,” he said, adding the duchess had sparked an onslaught against the royal family. That drew criticism from many, including the mental health charity Mind, which said it was disappointed and concerned by Morgan’s comments on not believing Meghan’s experiences about having suicidal thoughts.

It is vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect, and empathy,” the charity said.

In Tuesday’s episode, Morgan addressed his own comments the day before, stressing that he believed mental illness and suicide are topics that should be taken extremely seriously. But he maintained he had serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what (Meghan) said.

Also Read: Royals’ comments raise race issue in Commonwealth nations

He then stormed off the set of the program as weather presenter Alex Beresford was criticizing his attitude toward Meghan. As Morgan walked away, he said I’m done.

ITV, which produces Good Morning Britain, said Tuesday: Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain. ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.

Morgan was a former judge on America’s Got Talent, and in 2011 he replaced Larry King’s primetime slot on CNN with his own talk show, which was canceled in 2014 after poor ratings. A former tabloid newspaper editor, he joined Good Morning Britain in 2015.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Harry-Meghan interview: Buckingham Palace breaks silence, says race issues concerning

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Breaking its silence over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, Buckingham Palace on Tuesday said it has taken ”very seriously” their revelations and those will be addressed by the family privately. On the couple’s reference to unnamed royals raising concerns over their son Archie’s mixed-race heritage, the palace said the concerning issues of race would be addressed privately as a family matter.

”The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” the Buckingham Palace statement read. “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much-loved family members,” the statement noted.

It came a day after the interview was aired in the UK and sent the palace into turmoil, with crisis talks addressing the damaging claims around Meghan’s suicidal thoughts as a newly-married Duchess of Sussex. Harry and Meghan also revealed some racist undertones within royal ranks as unnamed royals raised concerns over the skin tone of their first-born son, Archie, even as they were told he would not be made a prince and therefore not provided with security.

“I have always had the highest admiration for the Queen and the unifying role that she plays in our country and across the Commonwealth,” said Boris Johnson, when asked about the allegations during a Downing Street briefing on Monday evening. “As for all other matters to do with the royal family, I have spent a long time now not commenting on royal family matters and I don’t intend to depart from that today,” he said, refusing to be drawn into the controversy.

Opposition Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said allegations made in the interview should be taken very, very seriously. “It is really sad to see the family in turmoil like this. The issues that Meghan has raised of racism and mental health are really serious issues,” said Starmer.

“It is a reminder that too many people experience racism in 21st-century Britain. We have to take that very, very seriously. Nobody, but nobody, should be prejudiced (against) because of the colour of their skin or because of their mental health issues,” he said, when asked about the controversy during a visit to a school in east London. “This is bigger than the royal family. For too many years we have been too dismissive and too willing to put these issues to one side,” he added.

Asked by Oprah Winfrey whether there were concerns among royals that her child would be “too brown” and that would be a problem, Meghan said: “If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one.” Harry and Meghan refused to name individuals behind the alleged racist comments but Winfrey later told CBS, the US network which broadcast the interview, that off-camera Harry had stressed that neither his grandmother (Queen) nor grandfather (Prince Philip) was part of that conversation. The allegations have prompted widespread speculation over which royal may have made the comments. In the two-hour interview shot near Harry and Meghan’s new home in California, Winfrey asked them about their decision to step back as frontline royals and whether they have any regrets about moving away.

While Harry said he felt relieved that he had been able to protect his wife and children, as the couple awaits the birth of a baby girl in the coming months, Meghan said she regretted that she had trusted the institution of the monarchy when they had assured her that they would protect her from false media attacks. The 39-year-old former actress’ revelations about her mental health struggles, which involved thoughts about not wanting to be alive anymore, have attracted the maximum reaction on social media and other channels.

“It’s vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy,” mental health charity Mind said, in response to attacks on Meghan’s interview. Prince Harry expressed hurt that none of his relatives spoke out in support of Meghan about the “colonial undertones” of news headlines and articles.

”No one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts,” he said. Meghan also told Winfrey she felt betrayed by her father Thomas Markle’s conduct in the run-up to their wedding in 2018. Thomas told ITV on Tuesday that the interview was the first time he had heard his daughter speak for several years.

”I’m very disappointed about it. I’ve apologised about this thing, what happened, at least 100 times or so,” he said. Opinion among the general public in the UK following the interview has been mixed. A new YouGov poll, carried out before the show was aired in full on British television, asked people whether they thought the interview was appropriate or inappropriate. Around 47 percent said it was inappropriate, while 21 percent said it was appropriate and 31 percent didn’t know.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Royals’ comments raise race issue in Commonwealth nations

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In countries with historic ties to Britain, allegations by Prince Harry and Meghan that an unnamed member of the royal family had concerns over the color of their unborn baby’s skin have raised a thorny question: Do those nations really want to be so closely connected to Britain and its royal family anymore?

It was expected the interview would expose more rifts in the royal family. Now it seems to be risking divisions within the family” of the Commonwealth an association of 54 countries, most of them former British colonies, held together by historic ties. For decades, Queen Elizabeth II has been the driving force behind the Commonwealth.

After the TV interview, shown in the US on the eve of Commonwealth Day, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull cited it as another reason for the country to sever its constitutional ties to the British monarchy.

After the end of the queen’s reign, that is the time for us to say: OK, we’ve passed that watershed,” Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corp. ”Do we really want to have whoever happens to be the head of state, the king or queen of the U.K., automatically our head of state?

The value of the Commonwealth has been debated before, with critics questioning if countries and people once colonized and even oppressed should remain in such an association with a former colonizer. Its stated aim is to improve international relations, but Britains relationship with the members has been clouded by diplomatic missteps and the legacy of the empire. In a speech to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday, the queen spoke of the spirit of unity.

Charismatic royals like Harry and Meghan have been deployed in the past to Commonwealth-related events with young people, businesses and volunteer groups.

But their interview this week opens our eyes further on the merits of the Commonwealth, wrote Nicholas Sengoba, a newspaper columnist in the former colony of Uganda.

He cited unresolved issues in his country relating to the abuses of colonialism and questioned whether the heads of Commonwealth countries should still be proud to eat dinner with members of the British royal family, considering the accusations.

Meghan, who is biracial, had said in the interview that an unidentified member of the royal family had raised concerns about the color of her baby when she was pregnant with her son, Archie, and that the palace failed to help her when she had suicidal thoughts. Buckingham Palace said Tuesday the allegations of racism by Harry and Meghan were concerning and would be addressed privately by the royal family.

Reaction to the interview was especially fierce in Africa. It was encapsulated by one Twitter user in South Africa who wrote: Its Britain and the royal family. What did you expect? They oppressed us for years.

Meghan and Harry traveled to South Africa in 2019, where their impending split with the royal family became clearer and they even spoke of possibly living there.

Mohammed Groenewald, who showed them around at a mosque in Cape Town, was still digesting the interview, which was only shown in South Africa on Monday. But he said that, more than anything, it sparked memories of British colonial racism.

It comes out very clearly, he said.

In Kenya, a former colony where a young Princess Elizabeth was visiting in 1952 when she learned about the death of her father and thus that she would become queen, news of the interview also has begun appearing in the country’s newspapers.

We feel very angry seeing our fellow African sister being harassed because she is black,” said Nairobi resident Sylvia Wangari, referring to Meghan. She added that Kenyans in 1952 did not show Elizabeth any racism, and she stayed here without us showing her any discrimination.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to comment on the interview. He said many institutions in Canada are built around colonialism and systematic racism, including Parliament, and he said the answer is to listen to Canadians who face discrimination so that institutions can be fixed.

The answer is not to suddenly toss out all the institutions and start over, Trudeau said.

I wish all the members of the royal family all the best, but my focus is on getting through this pandemic. If people want to later talk about constitutional change and shifting our system of government that’s fine, and they can have those conversations, but right now I’m not having those conversations.

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the opposition New Democratic Party, said the monarchy ”is in no way beneficial to Canadians in terms of their everyday life.”

”And with the systematic racism that we’ve seen, it seems to be in that institution as well, he said.

The interview was not shown on TV in India, the Commonwealth’s most populous member country with 1.3 billion people, but it still was covered by the media and drew negative reactions from the public toward the royals.

Behind that whole elegant facade are thoughts that are not so elegant. said fashion writer Meenakshi Singh.

Lawyer Sunaina Phul said the Commonwealth is relevant to the royal family, of course, because it shows that they ruled so many places. I dont know why we are still a part of it.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau declines to comment on the Harry-Meghan interview

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to comment on the Meghan and Harry interview but said he’s not interested in conversations about getting rid of the British monarchy. Asked how he reconciles his support for the monarchy with his stated desire to rid Canada of a legacy of colonialism, Trudeau said many institutions in Canada are built around colonialism and systematic racism, including Parliament, and said the answer is to listen Canadians who face discrimination so that institutions can be fixed.

The answer is not to suddenly toss out all the institutions and start over, Trudeau said. I wish all the members of the royal family all the best, but my focus is on getting through this pandemic. If people want to later talk about constitutional change and shifting our system of government that’s fine, and they can have those conversations, but right now I’m not having those conversations. I’m focused on getting us this pandemic and getting our economy roaring back.

Queen Elizabeth II is head of state in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies, though Canadians are mostly indifferent to the monarchy.

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Oprah with Meghan and Harry. Where to watch the full interview?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Among the most highly anticipated interviews in years or perhaps decades was the recent interaction of Oprah Winfrey with Harry and Meghan Markle, who had stepped down from royal duties in March 2020. In a tell-all interview, lasting two hours, the Duchess of Sussex told Oprah that life for her at one point had become so difficult that there were occasions when she “didn’t want to be alive any more”.

Meghan added the lowest point was when a family member asked Harry “how dark” their son’s skin was going to be. During the same conversation, the couple announced their second child is due in summer and is a girl. These deeply personal and at times explosive revelations have made everyone want to watch it on TV or catch it somewhere on the internet. Social media is full of clips and teasers from the Harry-Meghan interview.

Here’s how you can watch the full interview:

The interview, titled Oprah With Meghan and Harry, was broadcast on CBS Primetime on Monday (March 8) at 7am IST. The ones who missed the interview can now watch it on CBS networks’ website CBS.com. While the TV interview was cut down to 90 minutes, the web version has been extended by half-an-hour and additional footage and dialogue. Footage originally cut due to time constraints have been added.

In the United Kingdom, ITV grabbed the rights to air Oprah’s interaction with Harry and Meghan. The same network will also broadcast the interview in Australia, Germany, Denmark and others.

What did they say?

According to excerpts of the interview available on BBC.com, Harry said that his brother and father were “trapped within the system” of the royal family. He added that last year his family cut him off financially and his father wasn’t taking his calls anymore. Harry also said that he loved his brother and would want his relationship with both his brother and father to heal.

In March 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to California after stepping down from royal duties. They announced last month that they won’t be returning as working members of the Royal Family.

When Oprah asked if the thought of self-harm or suicide ever crossed her mind, 39-year-old Meghan responded, “Yes.” This was very clear and very scary, Meghan said, adding, “I didn’t know who to turn to in that.”

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Meghan on racism in UK royal family, considering suicide and crying due to Kate

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan spoke to Oprah Winfrey in an interview aired on US station CBS.

Following are key quotes:

Meghan, on son Archie not being a prince or receiving a title:

”They didn’t want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and (said) that he wasn’t going to receive security.

”In those months when I was pregnant … we have in tandem the conversation of, you won’t be given security, not gonna be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.

Meghan declined to name who expressed those concerns: ”I think that would be very damaging to them.”

Meghan, on considering suicide:

”I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. And I remember how he (Harry) just cradled me.”

She said she went to senior people in the institution to ask for help.

”I remember this conversation like it was yesterday, because they said, my heart goes out to you because I see how bad it is, but there’s nothing we can do to protect you because you’re not a paid employee of the institution.

”This wasn’t a choice. This was emails and begging for help, saying very specifically I am concerned for my mental welfare.”

Asked if she was thinking of harming herself, or having suicidal thoughts, she said:

”Yes. This was very, very clear … and very scary.”

Meghan, on a newspaper story that she made Prince William’s wife Kate cry over flower girls’ dresses before Meghan and Harry’s wedding:

”That was a a turning point.”

Asked if she made Kate cry: ”The reverse happened. A few days before the wedding she was upset about something, pertaining to … the flower girl dresses, and it made me cry. And it really hurt my feelings.”

Also Read: It’s a girl, Meghan and Harry tell Oprah Winfrey – cnbctv18.com

”There wasn’t a confrontation and … I don’t think it’s fair to her to get into the details of that because she apologised, and I forgiven her. What was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didn’t do, but that happened to me.”

Meghan, asked if she was silent or had been silenced:

”The latter. Everyone in my world was given a very clear directive from the moment the world knew Harry and I were dating to always say no comment.”

Meghan said she believed she was being protected by the royal institution.

”It was only once we were married and everything started to really worsen that I came to understand that not only was I not being protected but that they were willing to lie to protect other members of the family. But they weren’t willing to tell the truth to protect me and my husband.”

Asked if she was not supported by the powers that be, she said: ”There’s the family, and then there’s the people that are running the institution, those are two separate things and it’s important to be able to compartmentalise that because the queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me.”

Meghan, about her wedding day:

”It was like having an out-of-body experience … I think we were both really aware, even in advance of that, this wasn’t our day, this was the day that was planned for the world.”

Meghan, on marrying into the royal family:

”I will say I went into it naively because I didn’t grow up knowing much about the royal family.”

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow