United News of Bangladesh

Britain’s charity regulator has opened an investigation into an African charity co-founded by Prince Harry, a week after the prince and other trustees resigned due to a dispute with the charity’s chairwoman. Sentebale, which provides support for young people in Botswana and Lesotho, has been wracked by controversy since Harry abruptly resigned on March 26, saying the relationship between the board and its chair was beyond repair. Chair Sophie Chandauka later accused the prince of orchestrating a bullying and harassment campaign to try to force her out. The Charity Commission said Thursday that it was in “direct contact” with parties on both sides to gather evidence in its compliance case. “The regulator’s focus, in line with its statutory remit, will be to determine whether the charity’s current and former trustees, including its chair, have fulfilled their duties and responsibilities under charity law,” the commission said in a statement. Chandauka took several shots at Harry in an interview with Sky News on Sunday, describing how the prince’s Netflix deal interfered with a scheduled fundraiser and how an incident with his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, became a source of friction. Harry co-founded Sentebale nearly 20 years ago in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana. UK foreign secretary urges Kosovo to make progress in talks with Serbia He said he hoped the Charity Commission would uncover “the truth” about what caused him to resign as patron of Sentebale. “What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal,” he said in a statement. “No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself.” Carmel Gaillard, Sentebale's executive director, said her team would cooperate with the probe. “We will also continue to work closely with the chair and the new board of trustees to ensure the smooth running of the organization, keeping our focus firmly on delivering for the young people and communities we serve,” she said.

US President Donald Trump has dismissed speculation about deporting Prince Harry, stating that he has no such intentions and remarking that the self-exiled royal already has "enough problems with his wife" Meghan Markle. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said, "I don’t want to do that. I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible." His comments come amid growing scrutiny over Prince Harry’s immigration status in the United States. Concerns Over Prince Harry’s Visa Application The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has raised concerns regarding Prince Harry’s visa application, suggesting that he may have failed to disclose past illegal drug use, as mentioned in his memoir. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is facing legal pressure to review his immigration status, though the issue remains under judicial consideration. Judge weighs next steps in Prince Harry’s immigration case Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior members of the British royal family in January 2020 and relocated to California. Since then, they have launched a non-profit organisation and undertaken various media and philanthropic projects. Trump’s History of Criticism Towards Harry and Meghan Trump has previously criticised Harry and Meghan, accusing them of receiving special treatment from the Biden administration. He has frequently ridiculed Harry, stating that he is "whipped" by Meghan. “I think poor Harry is being led around by the nose,” Trump told the New York Post. The Sussexes, in turn, have been outspoken critics of Trump. Meghan famously called him "divisive" and "misogynistic" during the 2016 US presidential election. Visa Scrutiny Amid Mass Deportations The debate over Prince Harry’s visa status unfolds against the backdrop of Trump’s stringent immigration policies. His administration has already initiated mass deportations, raising questions about the consistency of immigration enforcement. However, Trump’s latest remarks suggest that Prince Harry will not be targeted under these measures. Prince Harry, Meghan hope Kate and family can heal ‘privately and in peace’ While the DHS has yet to make a decision on Prince Harry’s visa, the controversy continues to generate political and public debate over whether the former royal is receiving favourable treatment in the US. Source: New York Post  

A US federal judge is deliberating on how to proceed in a lawsuit concerning the release of Prince Harry’s immigration records, which could potentially expose legal issues regarding his visa application. The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation is pushing for the disclosure to determine whether Harry misrepresented his past drug use or received special treatment upon entering the US. The case, overseen by US District Judge Carl Nichols, revolves around how Harry—King Charles III’s son—was granted entry when he and Meghan Markle moved to California in 2020. The Heritage Foundation sued after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied most of its Freedom of Information Act request seeking access to the documents. Harry himself is not involved in the lawsuit. “We believe Americans have the right to know whether Prince Harry was honest on his application,” said Nile Gardiner, director of Heritage’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom. The case gained attention after Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare detailed past drug use, including cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelics. US visa applications ask about drug history, and lying on the form can lead to deportation. However, truthful admissions do not automatically result in denial, as waivers can be granted. Stars and athletes bring buzz into New Orleans before big game in the Big Easy Attorney Samuel Dewey, representing Heritage, suggested Harry may have either secured a DHS waiver or obtained a diplomatic visa. Both are legal but could fuel claims of favouritism. Judge Nichols is assessing whether to release DHS officials' sworn statements explaining why the agency withheld records. He is also considering requesting additional government documents or consulting an outside expert. Meanwhile, Gardiner has called on former President Donald Trump to intervene and order the records’ release.

Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloids have issued a rare apology to Prince Harry in connection with his lawsuit over privacy violations, agreeing to pay him a significant amount as part of the settlement, his lawyer confirmed Wednesday.   News Group Newspapers (NGN) offered a “full and unequivocal apology” to the Duke of Sussex for the extensive invasion of his privacy by “The Sun” newspaper between 1996 and 2011, including unlawful activities carried out by private investigators, AP reports. David Sherborne, Harry's lawyer, read the statement in court, revealing that this marked the first acknowledgment of wrongdoing by NGN in relation to “The Sun”.  Trump defends pardons for rioters and suggests Proud Boys could have place in politics The apology included admissions of phone hacking, surveillance, and the misuse of private information against Harry, allegations NGN had previously denied. The statement even extended to acknowledge intrusions into the life of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.  “We acknowledge and apologize for the distress caused to the duke, and the damage inflicted on relationships, friendships, and family, and have agreed to pay him substantial damages,” the statement said.  The announcement was made in London’s High Court just before Harry’s trial was set to begin, accusing “The Sun” and the now-defunct “News of the World” of illegal surveillance over several decades. Harry, 40, and one other claimant were the only remaining individuals from a group of over 1,300 people who had settled claims against NGN related to phone hacking and unlawful privacy breaches.  This lawsuit had come closest to trial compared to others involving NGN since the phone hacking scandal that led to the closure of “News of the World” in 2011, following revelations that the tabloid had hacked the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.  As Harry’s trial was about to begin, his lawyer requested a brief recess, which ultimately led to a longer delay before the settlement was reached.  Elon Musk faces backlash after Nazi salute during Trump’s ceremony Harry’s legal battle with the tabloids includes three lawsuits, one of which he won against the “Daily Mirror” publisher, which was found guilty of widespread phone hacking. Harry’s feud with the British press is rooted in his childhood, with tabloids often reporting on his personal struggles. He has also blamed the media for the car crash that killed Princess Diana and for the ongoing harassment of his wife, Meghan Markle. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have wished Catherine, Princess of Wales, "health and healing" after she announced her cancer diagnosis. Prince Harry and Meghan expressed hope that Catherine and her family may heal "privately and in peace" in a brief statement, reports BBC. Catherine described the news as a "huge shock" after a "incredibly tough couple of months" on Friday. She stated that she was "well" and "getting stronger every day". The specifics of the cancer have not been disclosed. According to Kensington Palace, the princess is sure that she will fully recover, the report said. What is known about Kate's cancer diagnosis Catherine had abdominal surgery in January, although the presence of cancer was unknown at the time. Following testing indicated the presence of cancer. Harry and Meghan stood down as senior royals in January 2020. They moved to California in June, citing a need for more room to raise their son, Archie. Lilibet, the second child, was born the following year. King Charles was also recently diagnosed with cancer, and Harry went to London in early February to meet his father just one day after he began treatment. He did not meet his older brother during the trip. King Charles ‘proud of Catherine for her courage’ Harry's relationship with his brother is said to have deteriorated since he made the announcement that he was leaving his royal responsibilities, the report also said. Harry talked about his falling out with William in his book, “Spare”. In recent years, the brothers have rarely been seen together.

The memoirs of Britney Spears and the Duke of Sussex Prince Harry have been shortlisted for Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Prince Harry's Spare, the best-selling book in 2023, is nominated in two categories, reports BBC. It comes three decades after his father, the King, was crowned author of the year in 1990, the inaugural year for the awards. This is the actor Pierce Brosnan thinks would make a ‘magnificent’ Bond Other memoirs nominated include that of Star Trek's Sir Patrick Stewart and comic book figure Alan Partridge. Britney Spears' much-anticipated autobiography, The Woman in Me, released in October 2023, was one of the year's best-selling autobiographies. In the book, the pop sensation recounted her career and what it was like to be controlled by her father for 13 years while under conservatorship. Prince Harry and Meghan pursued in their car by photographers in New York She also discussed a medical abortion she had while dating Justin Timberlake in the early 2000s and the emotional impact it had on her. The shortlist reflects the growing number of author-podcasters, with Steven Bartlett garnering two nominations for The Diary of a CEO, named after his hit podcast, and former cabinet minister Rory Stewart nominated for Politics on the Edge. Yomi Adegoke's The List, which explores cancel culture and influencers, has also been shortlisted in two categories: Audiobook: Fiction and Debut Fiction. Several of the shortlisted writers have BookTok hits, a hashtag with over 200 billion views on TikTok that refers to a community of book fans sharing their favourite readings and reviews, the report said. Britney Spears' husband seeking financial support and attorneys' fees in divorce

Prince Harry has said he had enough material for two memoirs, but that he held back because he didn't think his father and brother would “ever forgive" him. In an interview with British newspaper The Telegraph published Saturday, he also said that releasing his memoir wasn't an attempt “to collapse the monarchy. This is about trying to save them from themselves." “And I know that I will get crucified by numerous people for saying that,” he said. Harry's candid autobiography, “Spare,” sold 1.4 million English-language copies on the first day it was published. Many of its revelations and accusations were splashed across the global media this week. In the book, the 38-year-old revealed how his grief at the death of his mother, Princess Diana, affected him, and saw Harry detail his resentment at being the “spare to the heir." “It could have been two books, put it that way,” Harry said in the interview. “But there are some things that have happened, especially between me and my brother, and to some extent between me and my father, that I just don’t want the world to know. Because I don’t think they would ever forgive me.” Harry also said in the interview that he worried about William's children, saying he felt “a responsibility knowing that out of those three children, at least one will end up like me, the spare. And that hurts, that worries me.” He said he felt this way despite William making it clear to him that “his kids are not my responsibility.” Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace haven't commented on Harry's book or his string of media interviews to publicize it.

In a book full of startling revelations, Prince Harry’s assertion that he killed 25 people in Afghanistan is one of the most striking — and has drawn criticism from both enemies and allies. In his memoir, “Spare,” Harry says he killed more than two dozen Taliban militants while serving as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner in Afghanistan in 2012-2013. He writes that he feels neither satisfaction nor shame about his actions, and in the heat of battle regarded enemy combatants as pieces being removed from a chessboard, “Baddies eliminated before they could kill Goodies.” Harry has talked before about his combat experience, saying near the end of his tour in 2013 that “if there’s people trying to do bad stuff to our guys, then we’ll take them out of the game.” But his decision to put a number on those he killed, and the comparison to chess pieces, drew outrage from the Taliban, and concern from British veterans. “Mr. Harry! The ones you killed were not chess pieces, they were humans; they had families who were waiting for their return,” prominent Taliban member Anas Haqqani wrote Friday on Twitter. The Taliban, who adhere to a strict interpretation of Islam, returned to power when Western troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said Harry’s comments “are a microcosm of the trauma experienced by Afghans at the hands of occupation forces who murdered innocents without any accountability.” In Britain, some veterans and military leaders said publishing a head count violated an unspoken military code. Col. Tim Collins, who led a British battalion during the Iraq war, told Forces News that the statement was “not how you behave in the Army; it’s not how we think.” Retired Royal Navy officer Rear Adm. Chris Parry called the claim “distasteful.” Some questioned whether Harry could be sure of the toll, but Harry said he reviewed video of his missions, and “in the era of Apaches and laptops,” technology let him know exactly how many enemy combatants he had killed. Read more: Prince Harry's memoir ‘Spare’ to narrate journey from ‘trauma to healing’ Others said Harry’s words could increase the security risk for him and for British forces around the world. “I don’t think it is wise that he said that out loud,” Royal Marines veteran Ben McBean, who knows Harry from their military days, told Sky News. “He’s already got a target on his back, more so than anyone else.” Retired Army Col. Richard Kemp told the BBC the claim was “an error of judgment” that would be “potentially valuable to those people who wish the British forces and British government harm.” Harry lost his publicly funded U.K. police protection when he and his wife Meghan quit royal duties in 2020. Harry is suing the British government over its refusal to let him pay personally for police security when he comes to Britain. Tens of thousands of British troops served in Afghanistan, and more than 450 died, between the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 and the end of U.K. combat operations in 2014. Harry spent a decade in the British Army, serving twice in Afghanistan. He spent 10 weeks as a forward air controller in 2007-2008 until a media leak cut short his tour. He retrained as a helicopter pilot with the British Army Air Corps so he could have the chance to return to the front line. He was part of a two-man crew whose duties ranged from supporting ground troops in firefights to accompanying helicopters as they evacuated wounded soldiers. Harry has described his time in the army as the happiest of his life because it let him be “one of the guys” rather than a prince. After leaving the military in 2015 he founded the Invictus Games, an international sports competition for sick and injured veterans. Read more: Prince Harry says William called Meghan “difficult, rude and abrasive” before physical attack Harry's memoir is due to be published around the world on Tuesday. The Associated Press obtained an early Spanish-language copy.

Prince Harry’s memoir, an object of obsessive anticipation worldwide since first announced last year, is coming out Jan. 10. The book will be called “Spare” and is being billed by Penguin Random House, as an account told with “raw, unflinching honesty” and filled with ”insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.” In a statement released Thursday, Penguin Random House summoned memories of the stunning death in 1997 of Prince Harry’s mother, Diana, and of Harry and his brother, William, “walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow — and horror.” “As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling — and how their lives would play out from that point on,” the statement reads in part. “For Harry, this is his story at last.” The memoir’s title is an apparent reference to Prince Harry’s being a royal “spare,” not the first in line to succession. William, Prince of Wales, is next in line. The 416-page book will come out in 16 languages, from Dutch to Portuguese, and also will be released in an audio edition read by Prince Harry. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will be using proceeds from “Spare” to donate to British charities. He has already given $1.5 million to Sentebale, an organization he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS. Penguin Random House identifies Prince Harry as “a husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist.” Read: Meghan addresses youth summit on UK visit with Prince Harry Royals watchers and the public at large have speculated endlessly since the book was first announced in July 2021, billed as “intimate and heartfelt” and tentatively scheduled for this year. The Duke of Sussex had already revealed a news-making willingness to discuss his private life when he and his American-born wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, were interviewed for a March 2021 broadcast by their neighbor in Santa Barbara, California, Oprah Winfrey. The couple spoke of Meghan’s deep unhappiness with her new life in England, the alleged racism within the royal family and Harry’s fear that his wife’s life might be endangered had they remained in his native country. In 1992, Diana worked with author Andrew Morton on her explosive memoir “Diana: Her True Story,” in which she described at length her unhappy marriage to the future King Charles, Harry’s father. Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties in 2020 and moved to the U.S. Harry told Winfrey that his family cut him off financially and that he helped pay for his security with money left to him by his mother. They have launched numerous initiatives, including a Netflix production deal and the “impact-driven non-profit” Archewell Foundation. The book’s delay led to rumors that Harry was hesitating to say too much about his family, or was perhaps revising the narrative after his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September. He has spoken of being estranged from his brother, William, although the siblings and their wives appeared in public together during the mourning period following the Queen’s death. “Penguin Random House is honored to be publishing Prince Harry’s candid and emotionally powerful story for readers everywhere,” the global CEO of Penguin Random House, Markus Dohle, said in a statement. “He shares a remarkably moving personal journey from trauma to healing, one that speaks to the power of love and will inspire and encourage millions of people around the world.”

Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Prince Harry hailed her Monday as a “guiding compass” and praised her “unwavering grace and dignity," as members of the public were to get the chance to pay their respects to the monarch when her coffin lies at rest at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. The personal statement, posted on Harry and his wife Meghan’s Archwell website, said he cherished their times together “from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren.” Amid acrimony in the House of Windsor, Harry quit as a senior royal and moved to the U.S. two years ago. On Saturday, there was a possible sign of a reconciliation as Harry and Meghan joined his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Catherine in meeting mourners outside Windsor Castle. Also read: Rules issued for paying respects to the queen Harry's statement came at the start of another day steeped in the historic pageantry and pomp that follows the death of a British sovereign. King Charles III was starting the day speaking to lawmakers at Parliament in London before flying to Scotland. Hundreds of lawmakers crowded into the 1,000-year-old Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament for a service in which Parliament will offer its condolences to the king, and he will reply. A trumpet fanfare greeted the king and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, as they entered the hall, which was packed with hundreds of legislators. Also read: Queen’s coffin leaves Scottish estate for last journey back to London The Speakers of the House of Commons and House of Lords were offering condolences on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and Charles will make a speech in reply. The hall, with its magnificent hammer-beam roof, is the oldest part of the parliamentary complex — a remnant of the medieval Palace of Westminster that once stood on the site. The ceremony was being held in Westminster Hall because monarchs are not allowed inside the House of Commons. That rule dates from the 17th century, when King Charles I tried to enter and arrest lawmakers. That confrontation between crown and Parliament led to a civil war which ended with the king being beheaded in 1649. On Sunday, thousands of people lined streets and roadsides as the oak coffin was borne from the late queen's beloved Balmoral Castle summer retreat, where she died on Thursday, to Edinburgh. The new king will fly to Edingburgh later and will walk behind his mother's coffin as it is slowly transported from Holyroodhouse to St. Giles' Cathedral, where the crown of Scotland will be placed on the coffin ahead of a service of prayer and reflection on the life and 70-year reign of the widely cherished monarch. The queen's coffin will lie at the cathedral for 24 hours, giving members of the public a chance to file past and pay their respects. On Tuesday, it will be flown to London where the coffin will lie in state at the Houses of Parliament Palace from Wednesday afternoon until the morning of the funeral on Sept. 19. Authorities already have issued rules and guidelines for people wanting to pay their respects in London, with a long queue expected. After visiting Scotland, Charles embarks on a tour of the other nations that make up the United Kingdom — he visits the Northern Ireland capital, Belfast, on Tuesday and Wales on Friday. Harry's statement ended on a poignant note alluding to the death last year of his grandfather, Prince Philip, saying that “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”