Nicola Sturgeon quits to let new leader build case for Scottish independence
London, UKReuters Nicola Sturgeon resigned as Scottish First Minister on Wednesday, saying her dominance over her party and the country was no longer the asset it once was in the fight for an independent Scotland. In power since 2014, she said she had become too divisive – and too tired – to reach across the […]
Sri Lanka marks independence anniversary amid economic woes
Colombo, Sri Lanka AP Sri Lanka marked its 75th independence anniversary on Saturday as a bankrupt nation, with many citizens angry, anxious and in no mood to celebrate. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has started to improve some but not all of the acute shortages, acknowledged the somber state of the nation, saying in a televised speech, “We […]
Blow for Scottish nationalists as UK court rejects independence vote bid
London, UKReuters The Scottish Government cannot hold a second referendum on independence without approval from the British parliament, the United Kingdom’s top court ruled on Wednesday, dealing a hammer blow to nationalists’ hopes of holding a vote next year. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, had announced earlier this […]
Brazil to display heart of monarch who declared independence in 1822
Brasilia, BrazilReuters The heart of Portuguese monarch Dom Pedro I, who declared Brazilian independence from Portugal 200 years ago and was named “emperor” of Brazil, arrived from Portugal on Monday and will be put on display as part of independence anniversary celebrations. The heart has been kept in an urn with formaldehyde in the Portuguese […]
Modi says India aims to become developed nation in 25 years
New Delhi, India Reuters India will aim to become a developed nation within 25 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a national day address on Monday, with policies to support domestic production in power, defence and digital technology. Speaking from the 17th century Red Fort in Delhi as India celebrates its 75th year of […]
Split families still suffer after 75 years of India-Pakistan partition
Karachi, Pakistan/New Delhi, India Reuters Ali Hasan Baqai and Syed Abid Baqai, brothers split for 75 years by the partition of India and Pakistan, talk with their families on a video call, words and tears binding them but with no hope of reunion. Thousands of families like the Baqai brothers’ remain divided three-quarters of a […]
Essay: Three reasons for hope that South Sudan can find peace after 11 years of strife
In an article first published on The Conversation, Dr J GENG AKECH, adjunct assistant professor at the University of Juba, outlines why he’s hopeful Sudan will consign its instability and conflict to the past…
UK’s Prince William says he wants to serve after Caribbean criticism
London, UKReuters Prince William has said he is committed to service and “not telling people what to do” after a tour of the Caribbean that was marked by protests over the British empire and criticism that the trip reflected a throwback to colonial times. William released the statement at the end of an eight-day tour […]
Jamaica PM tells British royals island nation wants to be independent
Kingston, JamaicaReuters Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Wednesday told Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate that his country wants to be “independent” and to address “unresolved” issues, a day after protesters called on the United Kingdom to pay reparations for slavery. The royal couple arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday as part of a […]
Dutch apologise for violence in Indonesian War of Independence
Amsterdam, The NetherlandaReuters The Netherlands’ Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday offered a full apology to Indonesia after a historical review found the Dutch had used “excessive violence” in a vain attempt to regain control of their former colony after World War II. Rutte was addressing the study’s findings, which said the Dutch military had […]