<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nypd-responds-to-reports-of-prince-harry-and-meghan-markles-near-catastrophic-car-chase-in-nyc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prince Harry</a> and Meghan Markle lost a legal bid in the U.K. on Tuesday that would have allowed the royals to pay for police protection when their family is in Britain.
The London High Court rejected a judicial review involving one of two cases filed by the Duke of Sussex against the Home Office for denying his application to pay for such services, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/world/europe/prince-harry-security-uk.html">The New York Times</a> reported.
The Home Office argued that it would be improper for the police to be hired as private security guards, the outlet noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Prince Harry loses bid to legally challenge decision not to allow him to pay for police protection in UK <a href="https://t.co/DWyz1uZdKS">https://t.co/DWyz1uZdKS</a>
&mdash; BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/1660942283007557632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The duke and duchess lost their taxpayer-funded police protection when the couple stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020. They eventually relocated to southern California, where they are raising their two kids, son Prince Archie, 4, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 23 months.
While the royals live in the United States, they are protected by armed bodyguards, but when they are in the U.K., those same guards aren&#8217;t allowed to carry weapons, the outlet noted. The prince has argued that his family needs that extra level of protection while in Britain.
The second case against the Home Office has yet to be heard. It focuses on whether Prince Harry should have his state-sponsored security restored.
The duke first filed the cases in September 2021 after being in the country that year to honor his mother at the unveiling of his mother the late Princess Diana&#8217;s statue. While there, his security was reportedly &#8220;compromised due to the absence of police protection&#8221; while leaving a charity event, and his car was chased by photographers, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/15/prince-harry-presses-for-police-protection-to-visit-uk-with-family">Guardian</a> noted.
&#8220;The goal for Prince Harry has been simple — to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the U.K. so his children can know his home country,&#8221; a spokesperson for Harry told the Guardian.
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The court&#8217;s decision comes after a spokesperson for the duke and duchess claimed they were involved in a &#8220;near catastrophic car chase&#8221; in New York City involving &#8220;highly aggressive&#8221; paparazzi. However, the royal&#8217;s narrative has been widely disputed.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/it-is-not-possible-megyn-kelly-celebs-and-others-react-to-harry-meghans-near-catastrophic-car-chase-story">&#8216;It Is Not Possible&#8217;: Megyn Kelly, Celebs And Others React To Harry &amp; Meghan&#8217;s &#8216;Near Catastrophic Car Chase&#8217; Story</a>

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Attend UK Team Trials For The Invictus Games Sydney 2018

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Learn Court Decision About Police Protection

Celebrities

England

Entertainment

Meghan Markle

New York City

Police

Prince Harry

Royal Family

World

King Charles III celebrated his highly-publicized coronation over the weekend and it was every bit as regal as advertised. The media provided non-stop coverage in the weeks leading up to the event, which was enough to have many American citizens wondering: but why do we care?
The United States of America fought a bloody war to free themselves from rule of the British crown. This fact inspires many critics to wonder why, exactly, we’re so obsessed with the British monarchy. There are several reasons for this, but Charles’ coronation highlighted one of the most prevalent. In short, Americans are desperately missing the pageantry of a formal ceremony.
Yes, the reigning monarch is a figurehead. And yes, Charles technically became king upon his mother, Queen Elizabeth II’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-queen-elizabeth-ii-dead-at-96" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death in September</a>. But there’s no denying the beauty of a solemn, symbolism-heavy ceremony that’s steeped in centuries of tradition. This is true regardless of anyone’s personal opinions about King Charles or his politics.
The king was crowned at Westminster Abbey, a visually stunning Gothic style church erected in the 11th century. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican church’s most senior cleric, led the religious ceremony. Charles was the 40th monarch to be crowned there, following a long line of previous rulers starting with William the Conqueror on Christmas Day in 1066.
<div id="attachment_547203" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-547203" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-547203" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252749921-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Photo by VICTORIA JONES/POOL/AFP via Getty Images</div>
The royal family website described the coronation as a “solemn religious service” and a &#8220;ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power.”
&#8220;The coronation will reflect the monarch&#8217;s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry,&#8221; Buckingham Palace said in a statement earlier this year.
Since the late 14th century, coronations have followed the instructions laid out in the Liber Regalis or &#8220;royal book,&#8221; a medieval Latin manuscript that describes the order of service, per <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/king-charles-iii-coronation-plans/story?id=96848304" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News</a>.
In an increasingly secularized society, many Americans never experience these types of culturally significant moments during church services and other religious occasions. Ancient rituals are often replaced with more modern ceremonies that bear no connection to the past. Just a glance at the unadorned lines of modern architecture compared to the intricate details of Westminster Abbey clearly highlight these changes.
This is one reason an event like a coronation, even in a foreign nation, is so oddly appealing for someone who isn’t personally affected by the crowning of kings and queens in the slightest.
Numerous historical artifacts were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-to-know-ahead-of-king-charles-iiis-coronation-ceremony" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incorporated</a> into the coronation ceremony, including King Edward’s Chair, which has been used in these types of ceremonies for 700 years. This artifact houses the Stone of Destiny, which was built around 1300 and used for centuries to crown Scottish kings.
Another special item used in the ceremony is a coronation cross which includes shards of wood from the cross that’s believed to have been used to crucify Jesus Christ.
The outfits worn by the royal family were all befitting of the important occasion. The monarch arrived at the ceremony dressed in the crimson velvet Robe of State, which was also worn by his grandfather King George VI at his 1937 coronation, per <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/florals-hats-robes-colours-tradition-king-charles-coronation-2023-05-06/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.
King Charles changed into ceremonial regalia worn before being crowned, slipping on the gold-silk full-length Supertunica coat and Coronation Sword Belt, and over that, the gold cloth Imperial Mantle, which was originally made for the coronation of George IV in 1821. This was the oldest vestment included in the service. Charles was crowned with the historic St. Edward&#8217;s Crown that has been used since the coronation of King Charles II in 1661.
<div id="attachment_547223" style="width: 854px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-547223" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-547223" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252743656-844x576.jpg" alt="St. Edward's Crown" width="844" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252743656-844x576.jpg 844w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252743656-300x205.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252743656-768x524.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252743656-1536x1049.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1252743656-2048x1398.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 844px) 100vw, 844px" />Photo by Phil Noble &#8211; WPA Pool/Getty Images</div>
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, also wore formal robes and mantels over their outfits. Kate wore a visually stunning headpiece made of silver and crystal leaves. 
Charles was the longest-serving heir apparent in history, waiting over 70 years to be crowned king. Now he is reigning monarch but all eyes were on his oldest son, Prince William, who has become a favorite in the United Kingdom along with his wife Kate Middleton and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
George, who is 9, served as a page for his grandfather during the ceremony. This made him the youngest future king to play an official role in a crowning ceremony. King Charles and George’s great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth both attended their parents&#8217; coronations in 1953 and 1937 when they were children, but were only invited to watch the service and didn’t participate.
<div id="attachment_547231" style="width: 853px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-547231" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-547231" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1488336881-843x576.jpg" alt="Their Majesties King Charles III And Queen Camilla - Coronation Day" width="843" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1488336881-843x576.jpg 843w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1488336881-300x205.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1488336881-768x525.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1488336881-1536x1050.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1488336881-2048x1400.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 843px) 100vw, 843px" />Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images</div>
It’s true that King Charles is more progressive than his mother Queen Elizabeth, with a specific emphasis on environmentalism and climate activism. But for all his ideologies, Charles is still firmly rooted in tradition.
Prince William mentioned this during his speech at the coronation concert on Sunday.
“As my grandmother said, when she was crowned, coronations are a declaration of our hopes for the future, and I know she’s up there fondly keeping an eye on us, and she’d be a very proud mother,” the Prince of Wales said.
“My father’s first words, on entering Westminster Abbey yesterday, were a pledge of service,” he continued.
“It was a pledge to continue to serve, because for over 50 years, in every corner of the UK, across the Commonwealth, and around the world, he has dedicated himself to serve others, both current and future generations, and those whose memory must not be neglected,” William said.
As an increasingly noisy faction of Americans seek to tear down institutions and subvert tradition at every turn, seeing the beauty and tradition of King Charles’ coronation reminds them of why human beings are naturally drawn to beauty, truth, and tradition.

Their Majesties King Charles III And Queen Camilla – Coronation Day

There’s A Good Reason Americans Loved Watching King Charles’ Coronation

There's A Good Reason Americans Loved Watching King Charles' Coronation

Great Britain

Kate Middleton

King Charles III

Prince William

Queen Elizabeth

Readers Pass

A British-developed COVID vaccine caused the death of a government psychologist in his 30s, a coroner&#8217;s court in London ruled.
Dr. Stephen Wright, 32, developed a blood clot in his brain after getting his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine in January 2021. Wright worked in southeast London as a clinical psychologist for the National Health Service (NHS) when he received the company&#8217;s jab, which was widely distributed around the world but not used in the U.S.
The inquest at London Inner South Coroner&#8217;s Court <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-65321937" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that Wright&#8217;s death was due to &#8220;unintended complications&#8221; of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the AstraZeneca vaccine used a more traditional adenovirus technology rather than mRNA technology.
Senior coroner Andrew Harris told the court that &#8220;Dr. Wright was a fit and healthy man who had the AstraZeneca vaccine on January 16, 2021, awoke with a headache on January 25 and later developed left arm numbness.&#8221;
&#8220;It is very important to record as fact that it is the AstraZeneca vaccine – but that is different from blaming AstraZeneca,&#8221; Harris told the court.
Harris called Wright&#8217;s case &#8220;very unusual and deeply tragic.&#8221;
The inquest heard that Wright developed &#8220;vaccine-induced thrombosis&#8221; as well as a brainstem infarction and bleed on the brain.
He quickly deteriorated, and he was deemed unfit for surgery due to the nature of the bleed.
&#8220;He attended an A&amp;E [accident and emergency] department just after midnight where was found to have high blood pressure and a sagittal sinus thrombosis,&#8221; Harris <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11990195/Psychologist-32-died-complications-AstraZeneca-Covid-vaccine-inquest-rules.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;He was transferred to King&#8217;s College Hospital at 6:39 a.m. but, due to the extent of the bleed and very low platelets, was unfit for surgery.&#8221;
One thrombosis expert <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/health/doctor-death-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the blood-clotting syndrome occurs in about one in 50,000 people under 40 and one in 100,000 over 40. However, one <a href="https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/study-sheds-more-light-on-rate-of-rare-blood-clots-after-oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> found blood clotting events to be more frequent — 11 blood clotting events per 100,000 vaccinations in a group of 280,000 people.
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Wright&#8217;s widow Charlotte was working to get the words &#8220;natural causes&#8221; changed on her husband&#8217;s death certificate.
She and dozens of others are <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-65321937" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pursuing</a> litigation against AstraZeneca.
&#8220;It was made clear that Stephen was [previously] fit and healthy and that his death was by vaccination of AstraZeneca,&#8221; Charlotte Wright said after the inquest. &#8220;For us, it allows us to be able to continue our litigation against AstraZeneca. This is the written proof.&#8221;
&#8220;Even with people in my life, there were questions and queries about whether I was actually telling the truth so, two years later, I can finally say it is the truth,&#8221; she told the BBC.
Wright and her husband had two boys together who are now nine and three. She was on maternity leave when her husband died and used food banks to support her sons before she received £120,000, or about $149,160, from the U.K. government&#8217;s Vaccine Damage Payment <a href="https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/what-we-do/vaccine-damage-payment-scheme-vdps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheme</a>.
&#8220;I find it very comforting that I have two boys that remind me of him every day. I&#8217;m just very thankful that I got to marry such a great man and raise our boys in his honor,&#8221; she said.
AstraZeneca responded to the coroner&#8217;s court ruling by saying that &#8220;the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.&#8221;
&#8220;We are very saddened by Stephen Wright&#8217;s death and extend our deepest sympathies to his family for their loss. Patient safety is our highest priority and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines,&#8221; an AstraZeneca spokesman <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-65321937" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.

FRANCE-EU-HEALTH-VIRUS-VACCINE-ASTRAZENECA

Coroner’s Court Rules COVID Vaccine ‘Complications’ Caused Death Of Young Psychologist

Coroner's Court Rules COVID Vaccine 'Complications' Caused Death Of Young Psychologist

COVID

COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccine

London

Vaccines

Archeologists believe they have discovered the remains of a Roman bathhouse and a villa with a detailed, colorful brick mosaic in Olney, England, Oxford Archaeology, the group who conducted the dig, <a href="https://twitter.com/oatweet/status/1636755721072066562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> last week. 
During the process of preparing the area for the construction of an Aldi grocery store, archeologists were tasked with digging at the site because of its proximity to another Roman site in Olney, located in southeast England, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64918113" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The mosaic is colored red, white, and blue, and was described as being “intricate” and having “high significance.”
&#8220;Due to the site location we anticipated some notable Roman remains, but the discovery of this fantastic mosaic far exceeded those expectations,” John Boothroyd, senior project manager at Oxford Archaeology, said. “To be able to preserve remains of this quality and importance is a brilliant outcome.”
Pictures of the brick mosaic clearly show the “vibrant colors and intricate decorative patterns,” as the archeology organization describes it. A large portion of the mosaic and remains are reportedly buried under the nearby main road, limiting researchers’ ability to fully dig and examine the entire site.
&#8220;The uncovered sections, remarkably vibrant, show a blue and cream decoration on the outer border and a red, white, and blue pattern with typical Roman decorative elements in the infill,&#8221; a press release from Oxford Archaeology <a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-mosaic-supermarket-gbr-scli-intl-scn/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
There is a previously known Roman settlement at Olney <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/buckinghamshire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#buckinghamshire</a> so when work started, we knew there was the possibility to find some pretty cool structures and finds but&#8230;a mosaic! Wow! 2/3 <a href="https://t.co/sparswrWsb">pic.twitter.com/sparswrWsb</a>
&mdash; Oxford Archaeology (@oatweet) <a href="https://twitter.com/oatweet/status/1636755724830232576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 The mosaic was unearthed in what might have been described as a domus, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/roman-mosaic-aldi-buckinghamshire-archeology-b2304881.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Independent. The World History Encyclopedia <a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/article/77/the-roman-domus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">describes</a> a Roman domus as more than just living quarters, but a business center and place of worship. The mosaic was reportedly in a large room of the building. They could be small or as large as a luxurious mansion, according to the organization, and could have numerous rooms, including an atrium, a shrine, an office, a dining room, and a garden.
Also unearthed were multiple stone structures that may have been used for water collection in a bathhouse, which was located <a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-mosaic-supermarket-gbr-scli-intl-scn/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">near</a> the villa, according to The Independent.
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Oxford Archaeology <a href="https://twitter.com/oatweet/status/1636755721072066562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the remains likely belonged to the Durobrivan group from the East Midlands, which is one of nine geographical regions in England. This find, along with the <a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1006918" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous</a> Roman settlement discovered in the northeast part of the town, has shown that Olney is an <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/roman-mosaic-aldi-buckinghamshire-archeology-b2304881.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">important</a> archeological area in England.
Anthony Williamson, the executive director of developer Angle Property, who <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/roman-mosaic-aldi-buckinghamshire-archeology-b2304881.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commissioned</a> the excavation, stated the discovery would be “fully recorded” and said it had “taken us all by surprise.” The mosaic was preserved in situ, which means it was covered for protection, allowing construction of the Aldi to continue, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64918113" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the BBC.

Archaeological excavations

Archeologists Unearth Roman Villa With ‘Vibrant’ Mosaic

Archaeology

History

U.K.

A British woman who falsely accused multiple men of rape and claimed to have been a victim of an Asian grooming gang was <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11857499/Asian-grooming-gang-fantasist-jailed-eight-half-years.html?ico=related-replace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> this week to eight and a half years in prison.
Eleanor Williams, 22, was convicted in January of perverting the course of justice after her claims of victimhood and the pictures she posted to Facebook allegedly showing injuries caused by the grooming gang were proven false, the Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11854355/Three-men-tried-lives-false-rape-allegations-woman-court-hears.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Williams had previously made false allegations of rape before posting photos of her alleged injuries in May 2020, during the COVID lockdown.
The photos sparked outrage and led to protests in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, in England.
During her two-day sentencing hearing, her victims described what life was like after Williams’ false accusations. One of her victims said his life became “hell on earth” after Williams made her allegations.
“I still bear the scars to this day,” the victim, a business owner, said through tears as he admitted to trying to take his own life after he was falsely accused.
The victim added that his property had been damaged and his businesses had been “ruined,” following the allegations.
“I have had countless death threats made over social media from people all over the world because of what they thought I was involved in,” he said.
Williams claimed that the man had groomed her since she was 12 years old and sent her to brothels in Amsterdam, where she was sold at auction. But bank records showed the man was in Barrow-in-Furness while Williams was in Amsterdam. Williams was also shown evidence that she was actually with her sister and her sister’s boyfriend the entire time she was in Amsterdam, casting further doubt on her claims.
Another victim told the court that the word “rapist” had been spray painted on his house and that his window was smashed after Williams’ allegations. That victim was arrested and spent 73 days in prison based on Williams’ false accusation. He also tried to kill himself.
A third man also said he tried to kill himself after Williams accused him of rape.
“This whole period in my life has been totally overwhelming,” he said.
The photos of Williams with bruises on her face and her eye swollen shut were alleged to have been self-inflicted with a hammer, Superintendent Matthew Pearman said in a statement, according to the Daily Mail. Williams had claimed she received the injuries after being taken to a home and raped by members of the grooming gang. Investigators, however, found a hammer in her own home with her blood on it.
She was also accused of sending Facebook messages to herself disguised as sex traffickers or other victims, and allegedly manipulated real people into sending her messages that she then claimed were from her attackers.
Prosecutors at trial said some of the men she accused were real, but others didn’t even exist.
Williams maintained her innocence throughout her trial, with her attorney Louise Blackwell saying she “continues in her allegations against the various people in pretty much the same circumstances.”

Eleanor Williams court case

Three Men Tried To Kill Themselves After A Woman Falsely Accused Them Of Rape. She Was Just Sent To Prison.

Three Men Tried To Kill Themselves After She Falsely Accused Them Of Rape. She Was Just Sent To Prison.

Crime

false accusations

Rape

Fundamental freedoms have been dealt an extreme blow by the Parliament of the United Kingdom with the passage of a new <a href="https://adf.uk/parliament-introduces-thought-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> on Tuesday rolling out so-called “buffer zones” around every abortion facility in England and Wales. The Public Order Bill puts into force 150-meter censorship zones banning any form of “influence,” including silent prayer and consensual conversations, wherever abortions are performed. The U.K., the birthplace of the Magna Carta and many of the foundational freedoms we enjoy in the West, is now leading the charge on a new era of thought-crime prosecution.
One need only look to recent arrests to understand the immense human rights ramifications of the new law. Where censorship zones are already in force, they have engendered severe violations of the right to free expression. Take for example the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/twitter-erupts-clip-uk-woman-arrested-silently-praying-across-abortion-clinic-terrifying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">viral</a> arrest of <a href="https://adf.uk/support-isabel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isabel Vaughan-Spruce</a>, whose case reveals the state of legal chaos that censorship zones generate. Isabel was first arrested in December for the “crime” of standing in peaceful silence, praying, on a public sidewalk classified as a censorship zone near a Birmingham, England abortion facility. In February, she was <a href="https://adf.uk/not-guilty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquitted</a> fully in court, only to be <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11830349/Moment-Catholic-woman-arrested-second-time-silently-praying-outside-abortion-clinic.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> once again for the imperceptible act of silent prayer on Monday of this week.
At the time of the second incident, the arresting officer <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/ADF_UK/status/1632820479131099136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commented</a>: &#8220;You&#8217;ve said you&#8217;re engaging in prayer, which is the offense.” To which Isabel counters: &#8220;Silent prayer.&#8221; His response says it all —&#8221;You were still engaging in prayer, which is the offense.” Censorship zones empower authorities to arrest peaceful individuals on the basis of their thoughts alone. This is a catastrophic failure for a democratic society where every person should have the right to peaceful expression, not to mention, their own thoughts, in the place of their choosing.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Woman Arrested for Silently Praying" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6E105a58p8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
And Isabel was not alone in what befell her. Catholic priest <a href="https://adf.uk/priest-legal-battle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Father Sean Gough</a> was criminally charged, and likewise found “not guilty,” for standing in silent prayer in the same zone as Isabel. Absurdly, he was also charged for having an “unborn lives matter” bumper sticker affixed to his car, which was parked in the zone. Army veteran <a href="https://adf.uk/army-vet-fined-for-praying/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adam Smith-Connor</a> was fined for silent prayer in Bournemouth, England. Bournemouth offers a particularly outrageous example of censorship zone lunacy. The city has in place an eerily specific <a href="https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Communities/PSPOs/documents/Signed-PSPO-Ophir-Road-and-Surrounding-Area.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordinance</a>, ominously posted on signposts listing prohibited activities. These include sprinkling holy water, kneeling, reading scripture, and prayer considered to be an “act of approval/disapproval” toward abortion.
Most egregiously, the debate over the new nationwide law revealed that pro-censorship Members of Parliament deem the specific targeting of <a href="https://twitter.com/LoisMcLatch/status/1633145686295302144/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">silent prayer</a> acceptable. It is no accident that prayer, in all of its forms, is captured by the new prohibitions. This triggered a Parliamentary vote on an amendment to exclude both prayer and consensual conversation from the bill, which <a href="https://adf.uk/parliament-introduces-thought-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed</a> with 116 votes in favor and 299 against. 299 British Members of Parliament think prayer should be an offense under the law in certain public places. Let that sink in.
No doubt the new law will give rise to countless more abuses similar to that of Isabel, Father Sean, and Adam. Peaceful citizens throughout the country are now under real risk of legal sanction for exercising their most basic right to pray, think, and act in accordance with their convictions. At the same time, parts of the U.K. are experiencing rapidly escalating <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/three-people-dead-12-rapes-26233686" target="_blank" rel="noopener">violent crimes</a> without adequate response from law enforcement. What happens when already stretched police resources are redirected to patrol for prayer?
Censorship zone aficionados are quick to cite harassment as justification for these draconian measures. But this is a severe distortion of their real, and intended, impact. Censorship zones don’t “buffer” women from harassment. Harassment is always wrong, which is why it is already fully criminalized under U.K. law. It is clear that these zones are not about the protection of women. What they do is give the state the power to stifle views that are deemed disagreeable—in this case the view that both women and their unborn children are worthy of protection.
Today, the silencing power of the state in the U.K. is being leveraged full-throttle against the pro-life view. Tomorrow, censorship zones could be deployed to target another issue altogether. Parliament has opened the door to ever-proliferating state censorship in the U.K. Who’s to say that the next push won’t be for censorship zones around schools, government buildings, or any other public spaces deemed to require a protective bubble of this sort?
Let this be a clear warning to all concerned with the protection of fundamental freedoms. In the U.S., we must robustly defend our First Amendment protections. The thought police are real and standing by across the pond. Prayer can never be a crime, and nobody should be punished for peacefully living, and thinking, according to what they believe.
Elyssa Koren is an international human rights lawyer and director of legal communications for <a href="https://www.adfinternational.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADF International</a>. Follow her on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Elyssa_Koren" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@Elyssa_Koren</a> 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Abortion clinic protest court case

‘Buffer Zones’: U.K. Parliament Affirms Ban On Silent Prayer Around All Abortion Facilities

Abortion

Censorship

Prayer

British Intelligence agency MI5 had information that could have prevented the bombing outside <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ariana-grande" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ariana Grande&#8217;s</a> Manchester concert in 2017 that killed 22 people and injured hundreds more, a new inquiry has shown.
During the inquiry on Thursday, retired Judge John Saunders said MI5 had intelligence indicating the suicide bomber was a &#8220;possible national security concern,&#8221; but failed to discuss it with their colleagues fast enough, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mi5-manchester-arena-concert-bombing-inquiry-uk-3563d529056ae51e201ae8d379f930b5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a> reported.
&#8220;I have found a significant missed opportunity to take action that might have prevented the attack,&#8221; Saunders shared.
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Britain&#39;s domestic intelligence agency didn&#39;t act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the suicide bombing that killed 22 people at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in northwest England, an inquiry found Thursday. <a href="https://t.co/EgA4VFVnjd">https://t.co/EgA4VFVnjd</a>
&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/1631349963828387847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The judge also said that the spy agency could have possibly stopped the terrorist at Manchester Airport on his return from Libya four days before the attack with the intelligence it had received.
&#8220;I have concluded that there was at least a period during [the terrorist&#8217;s] journey to violent extremism when he should have been referred,&#8221; Saunders added, calling out authorities who he said failed to refer the bomber to the country&#8217;s counter-terrorism group, known as Prevent.
The bomber had been considered a &#8220;subject of interest&#8221; in 2014 by the British Intelligence agency, but his case was closed shortly after because he was deemed to be low-risk, the outlet noted.
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum shared in a statement that he was &#8220;profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack.&#8221;
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&#8220;Gathering covert intelligence is difficult, but had we managed to seize the slim chance we had, those impacted might not have experienced such appalling loss and trauma,&#8221; McCallum explained.
Caroline Curry, the mother of 19-year-old Liam Curry who was killed in the bombing at the Manchester Arena, said she would never forgive the agency for its failure.
&#8220;From top to bottom, MI5 to the associates of the attacker, we will always believe you all played a part in the murder of our children,&#8221; Curry told reporters.
Thursday&#8217;s inquiry was the third and final one into the deadly attack in 2017 that occurred during Grande&#8217;s closing set when the suicide bomber detonated near the venue&#8217;s exit.
A month later, the &#8220;7 Rings&#8221; hitmaker returned to England and put on a star-studded &#8220;One Love Manchester&#8221; benefit concert to raise money for victims and their families, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pop-stars-come-through-grande-cyrus-perform-amanda-prestigiacomo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported. The concert was said to have raised more than $2.5 million for victims and their families.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ariana-grande-sends-gifts-to-patients-in-manchester-more-than-five-years-after-concert-bombing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ariana Grande Sends Gifts To Patients In Manchester More Than Five Years After Concert Bombing</a>

Ariana Grande

MI5 Had Information That Could Have Prevented Bombing At Ariana Grande Concert, Report Says

Bombings

Terrorism

British <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/archaeology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">archeologists</a> are investigating a possible Viking boat buried under the parking lot of a pub to determine its exact age and origin, the University of Nottingham in England announced last week in a <a href="https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/nottingham-scientists-investigate-an-ancient-boat-buried-under-a-pub-car-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.
The boat was reportedly discovered in 1938 by workmen, but they were told to cover it back up. The story of the discovery has interested locals since. Luckily, one of the workers who discovered it took precise notes, including a <a href="https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/23336905.dig-lost-viking-boat-continues-wirral-pub-car-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">map</a> and a sketch outlining its design, allowing researchers to make guesses on its age, function, and condition.
“There has been intense local interest in this buried object for many years,” Dominga Devitt, chair of the Wirral Archaeology Community Interest Company, said. “It has been thought that the boat dates from the Viking era but no professional investigation has ever been carried out to establish the truth, so everyone is really delighted at the prospect of what we might discover.&#8221;
The boat is believed to be buried under the parking lot of The Railway Inn, located in the Wirral borough in northwest England. The dig <a href="https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/23304220.dig-lost-viking-boat-take-place-wirral-pub-car-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">began</a> on Saturday and is being conducted by Wirral Archaeology Community Interest Company with the permission of the pub owners, <a href="https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/23304220.dig-lost-viking-boat-take-place-wirral-pub-car-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Wirral Globe. Also involved is University of Nottingham professor Stephen Harding, who is a Viking expert in the Wirral region.
According to Harding, the worker’s description from the 1938 unearthing showed a clinker-built boat — a design that was favored by the Vikings and originated in Scandinavia. Clinker-built ships have overlapping planks, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/quarry-workers-unearth-16th-century-rare-elizabethan-era-ship-in-england" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opposed</a> to planks that are flush with each other in carvel-designed ships. The description also led researchers to believe that the boat was roughly 20 by 30 feet and was buried nine feet below the surface in waterlogged blue clay. Harding believes it is either a fishing or transport boat.
The clay is ideal for the boat’s preservation, Harding says, because it keeps bugs away, helping keep the wood intact. He also said that a find like this in this type of clay is extremely rare. The Nottingham press release says that archeologists plan on making 100 narrow boreholes down to the boat, which has been previously observed through radar scans. Nottingham explains that this type of dig helps preserve the vessel and minimizes damage, as opposed to exposing the whole boat through a full dig.
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Dig for lost Viking boat under Wirral pub car park this weekend<a href="https://t.co/OqvyqToWtX">https://t.co/OqvyqToWtX</a> <a href="https://t.co/FFQShYtjCd">pic.twitter.com/FFQShYtjCd</a>
&mdash; Wirral Globe (@WIRRALGLOBENEWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIRRALGLOBENEWS/status/1626582241156509696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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With the borehole samples, researchers will be able to perform an analysis of the wood and the environment surrounding it in labs at Nottingham and the British Geological Survey. They expect to do carbon-14 dating and dendrochronology, which uses growth rings to determine age. Harding hopes these tests will help confirm the type of boat and help “end the speculation.”
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“It is not impossible the vessel may have derived from the time the area was heavily settled by Norsemen, or if not the descendants of these people: an investigation we did jointly with the University of Leicester has shown a high proportion of Y-chromosomal DNA of Scandinavian origin in the admixture of people from old families (possessing surnames prior to 1600) in the area,” Harding said. “But in all honesty we just don’t know and are keeping an open mind.”
The efforts are expected to last all week, and Wirral Globe notes that the results are expected to be released in May. &#8220;Like everyone around here, we all want to identify just what is there and if it really does date back to Viking times,” the owner of the pub <a href="https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/23336905.dig-lost-viking-boat-continues-wirral-pub-car-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the outlet.

Archeologists Investigate Possible Viking Boat Discovered Under Pub Parking Lot

vikings

Former British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/boris-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boris Johnson</a> said during a Fox News interview Tuesday evening that Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to mess with his mind when Putin allegedly suggested that he could kill Johnson.
Johnson said during a BBC documentary, &#8220;He threatened me at one point, and he said, &#8216;Boris, I don&#8217;t want to hurt you but, with a missile, it would only take a minute&#8217; or something like that.&#8221;
Johnson was asked about the remarks during an interview on &#8220;Special Report&#8221; with Bret Baier.
Baier noted that the Russians have pushed back strongly against that claim and that some in the U.K., like former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage, have doubted the story.
&#8220;As ever with Boris Johnson, lots of personality, lots of color, good story, but when it comes to facts, when it comes to detail, when it comes to the absolute truth, I think Boris Johnson&#8217;s relationship with those things is somewhat loose, to put it mildly,&#8221; Farage said.
When asked to respond to Farage&#8217;s claims, Johnson said, &#8220;Well, look, I think that the Kremlin &#8212; and I don&#8217;t know if Nigel&#8217;s speaking for the Kremlin, but the Kremlin are fabled for their complete refusal to tell the truth about anything that&#8217;s happening in Ukraine.&#8221;
&#8220;I think what Putin was trying to do that was creep me out and try to &#8212; what he was doing, Bret, was trying to reduce it to a story about a nuclear standoff between &#8212; between Russia and NATO. And so that&#8217;s why he talks about, &#8216;I don&#8217;t want to harm you with a missile,’” he continued. &#8220;He wants it to be about Russia vs. NATO, and he wants to drag in the whole nuclear issue. We have got to avoid being sucked down that rabbit hole. This is not what it&#8217;s about. It&#8217;s about the invasion of a completely innocent country, right, a European democracy, that was no conceivable threat to Russia.&#8221;
WATCH:
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On Special Report with Bret Baier. former PM Boris Johnson tackled Russia/Putin, claiming the world basically &quot;allowed him to invade Ukraine&quot; without real punishment. <a href="https://t.co/OAWMCVvf0c">pic.twitter.com/OAWMCVvf0c</a>
&mdash; Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1620591443579645954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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TRANSCRIPT:
<blockquote>BRET BAIER, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Russia claims to have captured a Ukrainian village north of Bakhmut, which is part of the Donbas region.
Air and missile strikes were reported in other parts of Ukraine. Ukraine&#8217;s defense minister says he&#8217;s optimistic more Western military aid could be on the way. This comes as President Biden says the U.S. will not be providing F-16 fighter jets.
Tonight, we&#8217;re pleased to welcome former Prime Minister of the U.K. Boris Johnson to &#8220;Special Report,&#8221; just returned from his most recent trip to Ukraine, where he had in-depth discussions with President Zelenskyy.
Mr. Prime Minister, thanks for the time.
BORIS JOHNSON, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Such a pleasure, Bret. And good to be on your show.
BAIER: You were the first Western leader to go into Ukraine and meet with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
As you look at the map now and what has transpired since that time, what do you see and what do you hear from President Zelenskyy?
JOHNSON: So, I was back in Ukraine just a couple of weeks ago.
And the situation is a bit better in Kyiv. But I saw the devastation around that city, the lives ruined, the totally destroyed apartment blocks. And that&#8217;s nothing compared to what&#8217;s happening in the areas that Putin is still attacking.
And so that the message I really have, Bret, for you, for all our viewers is, this is not the moment to delay any support for Ukraine. This is the moment to double down on our support. Give them what they need, whether it&#8217;s the tanks or the long-range artillery fires. They need to kick Putin out of the whole of the territory.
And I know how people in America have done an incredible job. The faster Putin gets out of Ukraine, the quicker we return to stability, and the more powerful the message we send to people like China that the West, that America, the U.K., the West will not tolerate aggressive attempts to change borders by force.
So, stick with it.
BAIER: You know, you wrote in an op-ed about Putin paved the way for Ukrainian entrance into NATO.
And then you write: &#8220;Instead of properly punishing him, Putin, we responded with a policy of craven appeasement. Ukrainians should be given everything they need to finish this war as quickly as possible.&#8221;
You think there is any lack of will? Do you sense that? You were just up on Capitol Hill.
JOHNSON: Yes, so I just &#8212; I just talked to Lindsey Graham. I talked to Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy &#8212; Speaker McCarthy, loads of others.
I find there&#8217;s a massive amount of bipartisan support. And look, I want to pay tribute to the Biden administration. What they did, what Joe did, what Joe Biden did, what all his people did in very difficult circumstances was, they stepped up to the plate and they gave Ukraine what it needed.
What I think we all need to do now is go further and save time, save money, save lives, and give the Ukrainians what they &#8212; what they need. And you mentioned the appeasement point. This all goes back to our failure in 2014 to punish Putin properly for what he had done. And we put on some sanctions, but they weren&#8217;t really very tough. But we basically allowed him to invade Ukraine, invaded &#8212; you remember, he took the Crimea and he took the eastern parts of the Donbas.
And then he kept twisting the knife in the wound, and we never really punished him for it.
BAIER: You said something in a British documentary about Putin, saying that you felt that he was threatening you at one of the conversations you had about &#8220;I could fire a missile,&#8221; essentially, &#8220;to take you out.&#8221;
JOHNSON: Yes.
BAIER: The Russians pushed back on that characterization very hard.
JOHNSON: Yes.
BAIER: Some of your own countrymen raised questions about it.
Here&#8217;s Nigel Farage on our air the other day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIGEL FARAGE, FORMER BREXIT PARTY LEADER: As ever with Boris Johnson, lots of personality, lots of color, good story, but when it comes to facts, when it comes to detail, when it comes to the absolute truth, I think Boris Johnson&#8217;s relationship with those things is somewhat loose, to put it mildly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSON: Yes. Well&#8230;
BAIER: Well, I wanted to get you to respond to that directly.
JOHNSON: Yes.
Well, look, I think that the Kremlin &#8212; and I don&#8217;t know if Nigel&#8217;s speaking for the Kremlin, but the Kremlin are fabled for their complete refusal to tell the truth about anything that&#8217;s happening in Ukraine.
I think what Putin was trying to do that was creep me out and try to &#8212; what he was doing, Bret, was trying to reduce it to a story about a nuclear standoff between &#8212; between Russia and NATO. And so that&#8217;s why he talks about, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to harm you with a missile.&#8221;
He&#8217;s &#8212; he wants &#8212; he wants it to be about Russia vs. NATO, and he wants to drag in the whole nuclear issue. We have got to avoid being sucked down that rabbit hole. This is not what it&#8217;s about. It&#8217;s about the invasion of a completely innocent country, right, a European democracy, that was no conceivable threat to Russia.
And what we&#8217;re doing is using conventional weapons to support the Ukrainians and to help them to protect themselves. Our problem is Ukraine. We should focus on helping the Ukrainians, and not worrying about what Putin is going to do next.
BAIER: A couple of quick questions about the U.K.
Why is there not a trade agreement specifically between the U.K. and the U.S. post-Brexit? And do you think that that hurts the relationship?
JOHNSON: Bret, I&#8217;m glad you said that.
And I think that there needs to be a free trade agreement as fast as possible. And our side is definitely on for it. I think one of the things that the world needs is more free trade. I&#8217;m afraid I&#8217;m on that side of the argument. I&#8217;m not a &#8212; I&#8217;m not an isolationist. I don&#8217;t believe in a mercantilist approach to the economy.
I&#8217;m delighted to say that the U.S. has lifted its ban on British beef. And I think you have lifted your ban on British lamb, which is fantastic. Wham, bam, thank you, lamb. You can have some of that.
(LAUGHTER)
JOHNSON: But where &#8212; why not do a big free trade deal?
All the evidence is that these deals increase growth, boost jobs, boost high-wage jobs. Let&#8217;s do it.
BAIER: Yes.
JOHNSON: I don&#8217;t think either side has anything &#8212; anything to fear.
(CROSSTALK)
BAIER: Let me end where I began. Just a few seconds left.
And that is on the weapons going in.
JOHNSON: Yes.
BAIER: Do you think Ukraine is getting these F-16 fighter planes, despite what the administration is saying and the president&#8217;s saying?
JOHNSON: Bret, all I will say is that every time we have said that it will be a mistake to give such and such an item of weaponry, we end up doing it, and it ends up being the right thing for Ukraine.
I remember being told that it was the wrong idea to give them the anti-tank shoulder-launched missiles. Actually, they were indispensable, and the United States, under Donald Trump, gave them the Javelins as well. They were indispensable in those battles to repel the Russian tanks.
People said that we shouldn&#8217;t give the HIMARS. I remember having arguments about the multiple-launch rocket systems, the MLRS. Actually, they proved invaluable for the Ukrainians.
BAIER: So, you think they&#8217;re going in?
JOHNSON: And the same with tanks, same with tanks, Bret. We said the same about tanks.
Look, all I&#8217;m saying is, save time, save money, save lives. Give the Ukrainians what they need as fast as possible. Get this thing done. Forget about Putin. Go for economic stability, long-term peace and prosperity. That&#8217;s what America&#8230;
(CROSSTALK)
BAIER: And for the people who say they&#8217;re worried about World War III, they&#8217;re worried about tactical nuclear weapons, they&#8217;re worried about Putin being backed up into a wall, and then we get&#8230;
JOHNSON: That&#8217;s &#8212; that&#8217;s what he wants you to think. That&#8217;s what he wants you to think.
And I will tell you why that&#8217;s not going to happen. It&#8217;s not going to happen for &#8212; because he would lose the Chinese immediately. He loses all his support from the swing voters, from the Indians, the sub-Saharan Africans, and so on, the Gulf states, people who are kind of cutting him too much slack at the moment. He absolutely terrifies his own population, who worry about reprisals.
You know what? He probably doesn&#8217;t even stop the Ukrainians if he did that. And we would put his economy into such a cryogenic paralysis that Russia would &#8212; wouldn&#8217;t come out of it for decades.
So, he&#8217;s not going to do that.
BAIER: Well, Prime Minister&#8230;
(CROSSTALK)
JOHNSON: What he needs to do is get himself out of this mess as fast as possible.
That means Ukraine winning, Putin losing. Let&#8217;s give the Ukrainians what they need.
BAIER: Former Prime Minister of the U.K. Boris Johnson, we appreciate your time.
JOHNSON: Thank you. Thank you.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-boris-johnson-resigns-as-great-britains-prime-minister" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Great Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson Resigns</a>

The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson: Putin Suggested That He Might Kill Me

Boris Johnson

Global Politics

The mystery of a shipwreck discovered in 2019 has finally been solved. Researchers studying the site off the coast of southern England discovered that the vessel was a Dutch warship used in “all major battles” of the second Anglo-Dutch war, Historic England <a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/identity-17th-century-dutch-warship-confirmed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Friday.
The Klein Hollandia was built in 1656 and owned by the Admiralty of Rotterdam, one of the five admiralties in the Dutch Republic. Initially labeled an anomaly after a hydrographic survey of the site was done in 2015, a diver confirmed it was a shipwreck four years later. It had since been known as the “Unknown Wreck Off Eastbourne,” until now. Teams from Historic England, the Nautical Archaeology Society, and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands worked on the find.
“From our very first dive on the wreck, back in April 2019, we have been fascinated by the range of material on the seabed,” Mark Beattie Edwards, CEO of the Nautical Archaeology Society, <a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/identity-17th-century-dutch-warship-confirmed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “The impressive amount of wooden hull structure, the ship&#8217;s cannons, the beautifully cut marble tiles, as well as the pottery finds, all point towards this being a Dutch ship from the late 17th century coming back from Italy. Now, after four years of investigation and research, we can confidently identify the vessel.”
Based on the perceived importance of the ship, the dive site received special protections under the United Kingdom’s Protection of Wrecks Act of 1973. Italian marble tiles, pottery, and cannons were found alongside a large portion of the wood hull 103 feet deep, according to Historic England. The group notes that the marble tiles would have been used for “high-status” homes in the Netherlands.
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“The identification of the &#8216;Klein Hollandia&#8217; offers a glimpse back into the seventeenth century, giving us a chance to learn more about the maritime history of this period and to uncover treasures which have been underwater for hundreds of years,” Lord Stephen Parkinson, the U.K. Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, said of the find.
The ship was a major asset in the second Anglo-Dutch war, which lasted from 1665-1667. Holding strong through the entirety of that war, it sank in March of 1672, shortly before the third Anglo-Dutch war. Historic England claims that the sinking of the Klein Hollandia contributed to the start of the third war, which began the same month as the sinking and lasted until 1674.
The ship was part of a squadron escorting a fleet traveling from the Mediterranean to the Netherlands. It entered the English Channel where it encountered a surprise attack from an English squadron, leading to a “fierce battle,” Historic England says. The commander of the ship was killed, and the English were able to board and conquer the ship. Finally, after taking on “severe damage,” the ship’s life came to an end, sinking with both English and Dutch sailors on board, researchers say.
Researchers used tree ring analysis of wood samples to help identify the ship and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/27/remarkable-eastbourne-shipwreck-identified-as-17th-century-dutch-warship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovered</a> through analysis using microscopes and mineral composition that the marble is from the Apuan Alps in Italy, an area that reportedly <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/27/remarkable-eastbourne-shipwreck-identified-as-17th-century-dutch-warship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boasts</a> some of the highest quality marble in the country.

Mysterious Shipwreck Identified As 17th Century Warship That Sank After ‘Fierce Battle’

Netherlands

A new study found that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/prescription-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antidepressants</a> may make it more difficult for users to feel both positive and negative emotions.
New insights have emerged into the long-misunderstood function of antidepressant drugs, which may cause users to experience &#8220;emotional blunting,&#8221; according to a recent <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-022-01523-x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> in Neuropsychopharmacology.
“Emotional blunting is a common side effect of SSRI antidepressants,&#8221; said lead author Professor Barbara Sahakian of the University of Cambridge. &#8220;In a way, this may be in part how they work — they take away some of the emotional pain that people who experience depression feel, but, unfortunately, it seems that they also take away some of the enjoyment.&#8221;
&#8220;From our study, we can now see that this is because they become less sensitive to rewards, which provide important feedback,” she added.
Antidepressants are a $17 billion a year industry that is <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/10/13/2533775/28124/en/Depression-Drugs-Global-Market-Report-2022-Emergence-of-Novel-Techniques-for-the-Development-of-Antidepressants-With-Minimal-Side-Effects-Presents-Opportunities.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set to grow</a> to nearly $22 billion per year by 2027. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db377.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Figures</a> show that approximately 13% of American adults take antidepressants annually, but the rate is much higher for women, almost 18% of whom are prescribed the medication.
The study comes as researchers have been trying to understand exactly how antidepressants help people, after a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">systematic umbrella review</a> last summer finally put to rest the longstanding &#8220;chemical imbalance&#8221; narrative, which posits that depression is caused by serotonin abnormalities in the brain.
Doctors <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321140#The-Lancet-review:-The-final-word?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> witnessing improvement in some of their patients on the medication, but the mechanism responsible for the improvement, if any, is unclear. This new study provides insight into their function, which may be beneficial to people who struggle with mood regulation.
In the study, 66 volunteers were given either the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) drug, escitalopram, or a placebo for 21 days. Questionnaires were completed before and after the trial period, and neuropsychological tests were administered to study their cognitive function. Blood tests ensured the participants in the escitalopram group took the medicine.
In questionnaires, the participants taking the drug reported having more trouble achieving an orgasm while having sex — a side-effect often reported by antidepressant users. The findings could be useful for patients to make better informed decisions about their treatment plan, and whether or not the purported benefits of antidepressants may be worth the side effects.
“At least they can be aware of this,&#8221; Sahakian said. &#8220;Some people can be offered different forms of treatment, particularly if they’ve not come into hospital with severe illness.”
When the team administered a &#8220;learning task&#8221; test to participants, they found that those in the antidepressant group had a lesser response to positive and negative feedback than the control group, which suggested the drug affected their sensitivity to rewards.
In another battery of tests that assessed attention and memory, they found the drug made no difference. “The drug isn’t doing anything negative to cognition — from that point of view it’s very good,” said Sahakian.
Dr. Christelle Langley, another lead author on the study from the University of Cambridge, added: “Our findings provide important evidence for the role of serotonin in reinforcement learning. We are following this work up with a study examining neuroimaging data to understand how escitalopram affects the brain during reward learning.”

Prescription Medication

New Research Finds Antidepressants May Cause ‘Emotional Blunting’

Big Pharma

Depression

Prescription Drugs

Science

The Church of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/england" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England</a> said it will allow blessings for same-sex couples who marry, but will not allow its priests to officiate same-sex marriages in its churches and has decided not to redefine Holy Matrimony.
The Wednesday announcement comes after five years of heated debate “expected to be outlined in a report” ahead of the church&#8217;s General Synod that meets next month in London, per the Associated Press.
“This response reflects the diversity of views in the Church of England on questions of sexuality, relationships and marriage. I rejoice in that diversity and I welcome this way of reflecting it in the life of our church,” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, said in a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/anglicanism-england-wales-marriage-religion-5086b3376929156e5f41461193a67aa5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev&#8217;d Stephen Cottrell, also <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64313367" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> BBC Radio 4&#8217;s &#8220;Today&#8221; that &#8220;it&#8217;s not same-sex marriage,&#8221; but marked a &#8220;real step forward&#8221; for the church.
&#8220;What I want to emphasise is that with these proposals, people who have entered into a same-sex marriage or who are in a civil partnership will be welcomed into the Church at a service of dedication and acknowledgment of that relationship,&#8221; Cottrell added. &#8220;That is a change from where we are at the moment.&#8221;
The church&#8217;s compromise <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/bishops-propose-prayers-thanksgiving-dedication-and-gods-blessing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">position</a> will hold that &#8220;same-sex couples would still not be able to get married in a Church of England church, but could have a service in which there would be prayers of dedication, thanksgiving or for God’s blessing on the couple in church following a civil marriage or partnership.&#8221;
As part of the new announcement, the Bishops of the Church of England intend to issue an apology later this week to LGBTQ people over the &#8220;rejection, exclusion, and hostility&#8221; they have faced in churches.
The Church of England will urge all congregations in its care to welcome same-sex couples “unreservedly and joyfully,&#8221; according to its update.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in the U.K. since 2013, but the church&#8217;s teaching has remained unchanged. The new position by the Church of England will also stand at odds with the Church of Scotland, which already allows same-sex weddings.
LGBT activists have argued that the church&#8217;s announcement is insufficient.
“The discrimination embedded into these proposals is what concerns me. It’s very clear that there is a clear distinction in their minds between holy matrimony and civil marriage and that distinction is what causes so many young LGBT people to feel second class,&#8221; Jayne Ozanne, a prominent LGBT campaigner, said, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/18/church-of-england-gay-marriage-ban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>.
British evangelical leader Ian Paul took the opposing view. He argued that the decision will retain the traditional definition of marriage, but will cause problems as the church is calling leaders to &#8220;bless&#8221; a marriage that opposes church teachings.
“There is going to be no change to the doctrine of marriage. That’s very clear. But the waters have been muddied in quite an unhelpful way. Saying that the doctrine is not going to change and in the same breath saying we want to bless same-sex relationships is entirely incoherent, entirely contradictory,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/18/church-of-england-bishops-refuse-to-back-gay-marriage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a>.

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