World

By Ashe O
Washington, Sep 10 (IANS) Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at age 96, leaves behind assets worth $88 billion of the British Monarchy as estimated in 2017. Where it now goes is the question.


The British Monarchy was valued at roughly $88 billion in 2017, according to brand valuation consultancy firm Brand Finance. The Queen's personal wealth is closer to $500 million from investments, art, jewels and real estate, according to a 2021 estimate from Forbes.

But the queen's true net worth has never been disclosed. The Guardian reported last year that the queen successfully lobbied the British government in the 1970s to change a draft law in order to conceal her private wealth from the public, claiming the disclosure would be embarrassing.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told BBC that "any assertion that the sovereign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect".

The castle is just one of the assets the queen leaves after 70 years on the throne. Her personal assets from investments, real estate, jewels and more have an estimated worth of $500 million, according to Forbes magazine.

The entire royal family was estimated to be worth at least $88 billion as of 2017.

The financing that makes up the wealth behind the crown is complex. Here's a breakdown of how much her majesty was worth, where the money came from and where it may go, USA today said in a report here.

How rich was the queen? What happens to the other royals under King Charles III and his new slimmed-down monarchy? How much is the British royal family worth?

These are questions often asked not just by just Britons but engaging the minds of the populations of the world especially the commonwealth countries of which she was the head. King Charles III is now officially the new monarch and head of the commonwealth after his installation by the privy council.

Brand Finance reported in 2017 that the British Monarchy's worth has grown "every year" since it began tracking in 2012. The $88 billion figure includes the Crown Estate, the Royal Collection (including the crown jewels) and other assets.

Who inherits the queen's fortune? King Charles III inherits the majority of the Queen's $500 million, according to Forbes.

How did Queen Elizabeth get the money? The royal family collects fees from The Sovereign Grant Act, a taxpayer fund that is used to maintain royal palaces and royal duties such as receptions and travel.

The Sovereign Grant for 2022 to 2023 is just under $100 million. Payments are based on profits from the Crown Estate, a property business that is owned by the monarch but runs independently, according to the BBC.

Starting in 2017, the queen began receiving 25 per cent of the Crown Estate profits from the previous two years, a deal that was set to last 10 years to help pay for the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace. The remainder of the money goes to the government.

The Crown Estate is also part of a $28 billion empire run by "The Firm," or a group of members of the House of Windsor.

Along with the Queen, members included King Charles and his wife the Queen Consort Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Anne, the queen's daughter; and the queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, Forbes says.

The crown holds, but cannot sell, various assets including:

* The Crown Estate ($19.5 billion)

* Buckingham Palace ($4.9 billion)

* The Duchy of Cornwall ($1.3 billion)

* The Duchy of Lancaster ($748 million)

* Kensington Palace ($630 million)

* The Crown Estate Scotland ($592 million).

The Firm, or "Monarchy PLC," pumps hundreds of millions of pounds into the United Kingdom's economy every year through tours of Commonwealth countries and other displays.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex's 2018 royal wedding, for instance, was expected to benefit the British Economy by over 1 billion pounds, according to Brand Finance.

The royal family doesn't personally benefit from the business, but Forbes reports that they do receive other financial benefits such as free media coverage, the USA today reported.

How much money did the queen get from taxpayers?

The Sovereign Grant was set at 86.3 million pounds (about $99 million) for 2021 to 2022, or about 1.29 pounds (about $1.50) per person in the UK, according to the BBC. This does not include security costs.

How much property did Elizabeth own?

Forbes reports that the queen's personal real estate assets include two castles: Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle.

--IANS
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By Ashe O
Washington, Sep 10 (IANS) Any further delay in delaying criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump and the records he kept at Mar-a-Lago Florida residence could put America's national security at risk, says the US Department of Justice.


The DOJ has made this claim in the wake of US District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed federal judge, granting the former president's request for a special master to review evidence seized during the raid independently.

The DOJ claimed that pausing the FBI's criminal investigation while separately continuing the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's damage assessment was essentially impossible, media reports said.

The DOJ said it would appeal the Trump Mar-a-Lago Special Master order.

The DOJ's motion was filed by Matthew Olsen, the assistant attorney general for the National Security Division, Jay Bratt, the chief of the DOJ's counterintelligence and export control section, and Juan Antonio Gonzalez, the US attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

"The government seeks a stay to the extent the Order (1) enjoins the further review and use for criminal investigative purposes of records bearing classification markings that were recovered pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant and (2) requires the government to disclose those classified records to a special master for review," the DOJ officials wrote.

The DOJ revealed that during the Mar-a-Lago search, the FBI seized 33 boxes that contained roughly 100 "classified" documents.

"The Intelligence Community's review and assessment cannot be readily segregated from the Department of Justice's and Federal Bureau of Investigation's activities in connection with the ongoing criminal investigation, and uncertainty regarding the bounds of the Court's order and its implications for the activities of the FBI has caused the Intelligence Community, in consultation with DOJ, to pause temporarily this critically important work," the DOJ said.

"Moreover, the government and the public are irreparably injured when a criminal investigation of matters involving risks to national security is enjoined."

An ODNI spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that "in consultation with the Department of Justice, ODNI temporarily paused the classification review of relevant materials and assessment of the potential risk to national security that would result from the disclosure of the relevant documents." The Office of the Directorate of National Intelligence (ODNI) is to lead the IC in intelligence integration, forging a community that delivers the most insightful intelligence possible. ODNI's National Centers integrate and coordinate the activities of the entire IC, or in some cases, broader US government in the IC's major mission areas: counterterrorism, counterproliferation and counterintelligence.

Alan Kohler, the assistant director of the FBI's counterintelligence division, also included a statement with the DOJ's filing.

Trump's winning Special Master (3rd independent person to review documents seized by FBI from Trump's Florida home) order from the Florida judge may be short lived, says the Washington Examiner in a report.

"The connection between the national security and criminal investigative aspects of this matter are grounded in the dual nature of the FBI," Kohler wrote.

"The IC assessments necessarily will inform the FBI's criminal investigation, including subsequent investigative steps that might be necessary.... The FBI is the only IC element with a full suite of authorities and tools to investigate and recover any improperly retained and stored classified information in the United States."

It comes after Cannon said Monday that she "temporarily enjoins the Government from reviewing and using the seized materials for investigative purposes pending completion of the special master's review or further Court order." But she said that her ruling "shall not impede the classification review and/or intelligence assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence."

Prosecutors argued late last month that the "appointment of a special master would impede the government's ongoing criminal investigation and -- if the special master were tasked with reviewing classified documents -- would impede the Intelligence Community from conducting its ongoing review of the national security risk that improper storage of these highly sensitive materials may have caused."

Trump's team countered: "The Government now has the temerity to argue that any involvement by a Special Master will 'interfere' with the now ongoing Intelligence Community review of the materials. Never has an argument against 'interference' better underscored the need for judicial involvement. "The judge ruled largely in Trump's favor.

--IANS
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Quetta, Sep 10 (IANS) Protesters stopped vehicles carrying imported tomatoes in Kalat district of Balochistan and some of them either looted or destroyed the merchandise, Dawn reported.

Several farm owners and growers gathered in Mangochar town and blocked the Quetta-Karachi national highway by putting boulders and barricades, suspending traffic.

An official said protesters intercepted a vehicle loaded with tomatoes imported from Iran and started looting or throwing tomato boxes on the road, Dawn reported.

The protesters, chanting slogans against the government, said they would not allow tomato imports from Iran and their crop was ready for shipment to the market.

The Balochistan Zamindars Associa­tion, which organised the protest, has condemned the destruction of tomatoes and disassociated itself from the incident.

"We have nothing to do with the incident," said Haji Abdul Aziz, a representative of the association, adding that "our protest was peaceful."

The association believed local growers would face significant financial losses amid imports of tomatoes and other vegetables from Iran and Afgh­anistan as their crop, ready to hit the market, would not fetch the right price.

It has asked the government to stop these imports until the local tomato crop arrives in the market.

Several trucks loaded with tomatoes and onions reached Pakistan through Taftan and Chaman border crossing from Iran and Afghanistan, lowering the high prices of both vegetables in the local market.

Onion and tomato prices went through the roof after flash floods washed away large swathes of crops, prompting the government to allow imports from neighbouring countries to lower costs, Dawn reported.

--IANS
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London, Sep 10 (IANS) For the first time in a televised ceremony, King Charles III was on Saturday officially proclaimed the new British monarch following the demise of his 96-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II who reigned for 70 years on the throne.

Charles, the Queen's first born, became king immediately after her death on Thursday, but a historic meeting formally confirmed his role on Saturday during the ceremony at St James's Palace, says the BBC.

The Accession Council, a body made up of senior politicians, judges and officials, proclaimed him as the monarch in the State Apartments.

Following the proclamation, the King formally announced the death of his "beloved mother, the Queen".

"The whole world sympathises with me in the irreparable loss we've all suffered," he said.

"My mother gave an example of lifelong love and of selfless service. My mother's reign was unequalled in its duration, dedication and devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.

"I am deeply aware of this deep inheritance and of the grave duties and responsibilities which are now passed to me," the BBC quoted Charles as saying.

He then went on to thank Queen Consort Camilla, saying: "I am profoundly encouraged by the constant support of my beloved wife."

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Prime Minister Liz Truss, and former premiers Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Theresa May, as well as Archbishop Justin Welby and Prince William.

Before Charles was named the King, the death of the Queen was formally announced.

The 200 or so people gathered in the room all then said 'God save the King' before documents were signed.

Flags that were lowered in mourning for the late Queen will fly full-mast for a short time.

A wave of further proclamations will take place across the UK until Sunday.

--IANS
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Ottawa, Sep 10 (IANS) Health Canada has approved Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine to immunise children under the age of five.

The federal health department updated information of the approved vaccines on its website saying that available data supported the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine in preventing Covid in the age group of six months through four years, reports Xinhua news agency.

The benefit-risk profile of the vaccine was considered favourable in that age group for use as a 3-dose primary series with two doses given three weeks apart followed by a third dose given at least eight weeks after the second dose.

It's the second vaccine approved for that age group after Health Canada approved Moderna's Spikevax in July.

Last week, Health Canada approved an adapted version of the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine, known as a bivalent vaccine, to target both the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Omicron (BA.1) variant as a booster dose in individuals aged 18 and above.

--IANS
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Athens, Sep 10 (IANS) Tourism in Greece, a vital pillar of the country's economy, is on track to yield record high revenues this year, exceeding pre-Covid levels, according to officials.

"2022 has been an amazing year for Greek tourism... I'm very happy to say that both branded and alternative destinations, both on islands and the mainland, were full of travellers and tourists this year, and we are set to surpass this year the numbers recorded in 2019, which has so far been a record year in tourism," Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias told Xinhua news agency.

In 2019, Greece registered 32 million arrivals and some 18 billion euros in tourism-related revenues, according to Bank of Greece (BoG) data.

The data so far this year indicates a strong comeback.

Tourism-related revenues were 224.5 per cent higher in June and 329.3 per cent higher in January-June 2022 than in the corresponding periods of 2021, according to the latest BoG announcement.

Compared with 2019, tourism-related revenues increased by 2.3 per cent in June 2022.

A recent analysis by local lender Alpha Bank expects Greece's tourism-related revenues to reach 20 billion euros this year, thanks to a travel frenzy after travel restrictions were lifted, giving a significant boost to the Greek GDP.

"After two very difficult years for tourism, we had an extremely positive rebound this year that helps us a lot and helps the Greek economy a lot. As a sector we usually account for 25 per cent of the GDP, this is a very big number for a national economy," Alexandros Vassilikos, president of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH), told Xinhua on Friday.

Tourism was a key driver in Greece of the 7.7 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2021, according to data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

The impressive performance of Greek tourism -- despite prevailing challenges, such as the simmering Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the energy crisis -- is the result of good planning, hard work and collaboration among all players, according to Kikilias.

However, there are many challenges lying ahead, such as the upscale of tourism infrastructure to accommodate more visitors, which requires the implementation of a strong strategy, the minister said.

"Circumstances are still very peculiar, which leaves a lot of question marks for the future. Nonetheless, we are extremely positive about the future," Vassilikos said.

--IANS
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By Ashe O
Washington, Sep 9 (IANS) Queen Elizabeth II has the rare distinction of having received all but one of the 14 US Presidents during her 70 year reign, Lyndon Johnson being the exception. Johnson was never an elected president, he succeeded John F. Kennedy after his assassination.


All five of the former US presidents still living paid homage issuing statements praising her reign and her persona.

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, her summer retreat, at 96.

During her seven-decade reign, the Queen met 13 of the last 14 US presidents. This includes all five of the former presidents who are still alive: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.

When Queen Elizabeth was still a princess in 1951, she travelled to Washington, DC for the first time to meet President Harry Truman, and the two complimented each other's nations.

"Free men everywhere look towards the US with affection and with hope," she told Truman.

In the wake of her death, the former presidents have offered their condolences and reflected on their interactions with the late monarch.

"Her dignity, graciousness, and sense of duty have been an inspiration, and we join the millions around the world in mourning a remarkable leader," Carter said in a statement.

Clinton in a statement said that he and his wife, Hillary Clinton, "mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and we join with people across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and all around the world, in giving thanks for her extraordinary life."

Clinton said they "will always be grateful for the kindness she showed us through the years, particularly during our visits to Buckingham Palace in 1995 and 2000, and for all she did to deepen the Special Relationship."

Describing her 70-year reign as "remarkable," Clinton said Queen Elizabeth "led Britain through great transformations with unfailing grace, dignity, and genuine care for the welfare of all its people."

"In sunshine or storm, she was a source of stability, serenity, and strength," he added.

Bush said he and former first lady Laura Bush regarded the queen as a woman of "great intellect, charm, and wit."

In a statement, Bush said she "ably led England through dark moments with her confidence in her people and her vision for a brighter tomorrow."

"Spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty -- and her Corgis -- is among our fondest memories of the presidency," Bush said.

Barack Obama said that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were "lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us."

"Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity.

"Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humour and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance," Obama added.

In a post to Truth Social, Trump said he and former first lady Melania Trump "will always cherish our time together with the Queen." "What a grand and beautiful lady she was -- there was nobody like her!" Trump wrote, said the Business Insider.

--IANS
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New York, Sep 9 (IANS) NASA has announced that it is considering two dates, September 23 or September 27, to attempt the launching of Artemis I into the space.

Artemis I is NASA's uncrewed flight test which will provide a foundation for human exploration in deep space and demonstrate NASA's commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond.

On September 3, NASA attempted to launch Artemis I, however, it was called off after detecting a liquid hydrogen leak. The team is trying to work through a leaky fuel problem with the rocket, called the Space Launch System or SLS.

While the rocket is still on the Launch Pad, engineers are repairing the area where the leak was detected.

They have constructed a tent-like enclosure around the work area to protect the hardware and teams from environmental conditions.

Teams will check the new seals under cryogenic, or supercold, conditions in which the rocket's core stage and interim cryogenic propulsion stage will be loaded with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to validate the repair under the conditions it would experience on launch day.

Meanwhile, NASA has submitted a request to the Eastern Range for an extension of the current testing requirement for the flight termination system.

"NASA is respecting the range's processes for review of the request, and the agency continues to provide detailed information to support a range decision," the US space agency said in a statement.

It is also evaluating and adjusting launch opportunities and alternate dates based on progress at the pad and to align with other planned activities, including DART's planned impact with an asteroid, the West Coast launch of a government payload, and the launch of Crew-5 to the International Space Station.

--IANS
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Houston, Sep 9 (IANS) At least two juveniles were injured following a shooting at a park in Uvalde, a small town in Texas where a mass school shooting earlier this year had killed 19 students and two teachers.

The Uvalde Police Department said it responded to the shooting "with injured victims" at Uvalde Memorial Park around 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The injured were air-lifted to a San Antonio hospital.

It was a suspected gang-related shooting, said the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

"This information is preliminary, as the situation develops we will work with local law enforcement to provide updates," the DPS tweeted.

Authorities are looking for a juvenile suspect, San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT reported, adding that it's "not a dangerous situation for the general public".

An investigation is underway, said the report.

Students in Uvalde just returned to classrooms on Tuesday for their first day of the new school year, which was pushed back to give local schools extra time to take a number of new security measures in the wake of the May 24 shooting at the Robb Elementary School.

--IANS
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London, Sep 9 (IANS) Queen Elizabeth II became a cultural staple during her long and eventful reign. She was the most photographed woman in history -- gracing the cover of 'Time' magazine at age three, the first of several such appearances -- and was depicted on the big screen, the small screen, the stage, in music, and in art, says 'Variety' in a special report.

She is the subject of the Netflix original series 'The Crown', which follows the Queen from the 1940s to modern times and examines her relationship with the various prime ministers -- Liz Truss was the 15th she invited to lead Her Majesty's Government 48 hours before her passing -- as well as with other figures, both within the Royal Family and outside it.

Over the show's six seasons, each of which covers approximately a decade in her life, she has been portrayed by three different actors: Claire Foy, who won a Golden Globe for her portrayal, and Olivia Colman, who earned both a Golden Globe and an Emmy, and Imelda Staunton, who will portray the Queen in her 70s and 80s during the show's fifth and sixth (also believed to be its final) season. Season 5 will premiere on Netflix in November this year, notes 'Variety'.

Helen Mirren also memorably played the British monarch in the 2006 film 'The Queen', written by 'The Crown' creator Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Frears. The film was set in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death, a low point for the British royal family, and won Mirren a best actress Oscar for her performance, adds 'Variety'.

Mirren went on to play Elizabeth again in the West End and on Broadway, in the stage hit 'The Audience'.

The monarch also made an appearance in 'Spencer', played by Stella Gonet -- the film stars Kirsten Stewart as her daughter-in-law Princess Diana -- while the Queen's early childhood was portrayed in the Oscar-winning 2010 film, 'The King's Speech', starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham.

The 2015 British comedy drama film 'A Royal Night Out' offered a fictionalised glimpse of the night Elizabeth (played by Sarah Gadon) and her sister Princess Margaret (Bel Powley) were allowed secretly to slip out of Buckingham Palace to join the crowds celebrating V-E Day on the streets of London in 1945.

In 2016, the Queen, played by Penelope Wilton, was a character in 'The BFG', Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the book by Roald Dahl and 'The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!' also tackled the British monarch, according to 'Variety' -- literally.

In this 1988 comedy, Leslie Nielsen's character uses a running tackle to save the Queen from what he wrongly believes to be an assassination attempt. The actress who plays her in the film, Jeannette Charles, has made a career of royal impersonation, standing in as Elizabeth in about 20 movies and TV programmes over a 40-year period.

In animated form, notes 'Variety', the Queen in her Cinderella-like royal coach survived an attempted robbery of her crown in the 2015 film 'Minions' and a rear-ending by Homer Simpson in a 2003 episode of 'The Simpsons' (titled 'The Regina Monologues').

She wasn't so lucky in a 2012 episode of 'Family Guy', in which a high-speed chase of her carriage ends in a royal fatality, and in 2007, according to 'Variety', an episode of 'South Park' sparked outrage after it showed her dying by suicide on the throne. She also made an appearance in Gary Janetti's short-lived animated comedy 'The Prince', which ran for one season on HBO Max.

In 2022, the Queen delighted viewers around the world by guest-starring in a video with Paddington Bear. In the skit, which was filmed at Windsor Castle and broadcast before the Platinum Jubilee concert, Paddington is invited to the Queen's abode for tea where chaos ensues.

At one point in the video that went viral globally, the bear offers Her Majesty a marmalade sandwich fished out of his hat, as he tells her: "I always keep one for emergencies." In response, the Queen replies, "So do I" and opens her handbag to pull out a marmalade sandwich of her own.

--IANS
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