Liz Truss Shock Resignation

United Kingdom Prime Minister (PM) Mary Elizabeth Truss has resigned just after 45 days in office, making her the shortest-serving PM in UK history.

Speaking outside Number 10 yesterday afternoon, Liz Truss said the environment she is working in was not condusive to achieve the set goals.

She said, "We set out a vision on low tax and high growth economy that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit. I recognise now, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Consevative Party. I therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party."

A leadership election will be completed next week and according to the chairman of the influential 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady, the new Tory leader will be in office by next Friday.

The United Kingdom will now have at least four Prime Minsters in six years, signalling a tempestuous political system leading the country to an almost inevitable shipwreck. The casualties will be, as always, the ordinary person in the street.

Queen Elizabeth II Has Died At Balmoral

Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom's longest reigning monarch has died at Balmoral castle aged 96. She's been on the throne for 70 years. Buckingham Palace said the Queen "died peacefully" on Thursday afternoon at her Scottish Estate where she had spent most of her summer this year. The Queen was head of state of the U.K. and 14 other countries including Australia, Canada and Jamaica.

A total of 15 Prime Ministers served under the queen with her last being Liz Truss, whom she met just two days ago at Balmoral as opposed to the traditional Buckingham Palace.

Senior members of the royal family rushed to Balmoral earlier in the day, amidst the Queen's doctors expressing great concern for her health. Her first son King Charles; her grandson William and now heir to the throne and his brother Prince Harry also gathered there. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.

People have been gathering at Buckingham Palace in reverance of the monarch and expressing their deepest sympathies of the her passing. The country and the world at large are in great shock as for many, Queen Elizabeth II was the only British Monarch they knew. The United Kingdom and the rest of the Commonwealth brace up for a pendulum shift in the constitution.

King Charles III pays tribute to his 'beloved' and 'cherished' mother

The new king has paid tribute to his 'beloved' and 'cherished' mother saying her death "is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family."

The statement said, "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."

Amidst speculations on the title the new monarch will hold, Clarence House confirmed he will be known as King Charles III. He could have opted by didn't choose any of his other names such as Philip, Arthur or George. He also takes on other titles as Head of the Commonwealth, Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces, Supreme Governor of The Church Of England.

The Duke of Cambridge, also known as Prince William becomes the Duke of Cornwall and Cambrigde, as being Charles' eldest son, inherits the dukedom to now oversee the estate of the Duchy of Cornwall.

Catherine his wife will now be known as The Dutchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.

At some stage, with due processes from King Charles III, they will be known as the Duke and Dutchess of Wales.

Prince William also inherited the Scottish titles, The Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are now the Princes and Princess of Cornwall and Cambrigde to eventually become of 'Wales'.

Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is now technically a prince due to the rules made by King George V in 1917. This is by virtue of Archie being the son of a son of a sovereign.

Similarly, his sister Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor is now a princess and would be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Lilibet of Sussex.

Prince Edward, being the youngest child of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip of Edinburgh still, retains the title Earl of Wessex.

Their only daughter Princess Anne of Edinburgh is now 16th in line of succession to the British throne and has been Princess Royal since 1987.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York becomes eighth in the line of succession to the British throne. Picture Credits: King Charles III - insider.com; Queen Elizabeth II and family on balcony - mirror.co.uk; Prince Harry, Meghan and family - Alexi Lubomirski; Prince Edward - smoothradio.com; Princess Anne - brides.com; Prince Andrew - dw.com

Easter : A Revival Of Hope For Ukrainians

Ukrainian Easter Basket (Holidappy)

Eating sumptuous meals of meat, dairy and egg and beautifully decorated houses, was the order of a typical Ukrainian Easter celebration, but amidst the on-going crisis these celebrations are likely to be marred with grief, fear anxiety and uncertainty. 

In Ukrainian, Easter is called Velykden which means The Great Day. 

With a population of up to 40 million people, Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia. Eastern Orthodoxy is the majority religion in the country with between 65.4 percent to 76.6 percent of the population practising / identifying with it which accounts for between 27.8 million to 34.8 million people. According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), the level of religiosity in Ukraine is highest in Western Ukraine (91 percent) and the lowest in Donbas (57 percent) and Eastern Ukraine (56 percent). 

2019 statistics showed that 82 percent of Ukrainians were Christians out of which 72.7 percent declared themselves to be Orthodox, 8.8 percent Greek Rite Catholics, 2.3 percent Protestants and 0.9 percent Latin rite Catholics. Other Christians comprised 2.3 percent. 

Orthodox Easter falls a week after the conventional christian easter, meaning this year their Easter will be on the 24th of April as opposed to the conventional that falls on the 17th of April. This is because the Orthodox Church uses a different calendar called the Julian calendar which was originally designed by Julius Caesar in 45BC, basing a year on the time it takes the sun to go around the earth. The conventional calendar is Gregorian, created by Pope Gregory in 1582 to fix some of the shortcomings in the Julian calendar. Also in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Easter must take place after the Jewish Festival of Passover. 

The Easter season begins with Great Lent; which is 40 days of reflection, fasting and praying which starts on Clean Monday also known as Pure, Ash or Green Monday which refers to believers being cleansed of their sins during the lenten season. It is also known as Wet Monday  and ends on Lazarus Saturday which celebrates the raising of Lazarus at Bethany.

Orthodox Easter Traditions 

On Easter Sunday, families go to church and greet each other saying, 'Khrystos Voskres' which means Christ is Risen, and 'Volstynu Voskres' - which means Indeed He Is Risen.  The celebrations begin with a blessing in church of a special food basket. Depending on the schedule of the church, the blessing can also take place on Saturday night before the Easter Sunday.

Easter baskets ready for church blessing (Olena Senteno: Bilingual Kids Rock)

A priest blessing the Easter baskets (Suburban Grandma)

The following food items are a mandatory contents of the basket; and can add other food stuffs if you so wish, for example fruit and vegetables etc. 

Pysankas, which are nicely decorated hard-boiled eggs. They are symbolic of new life. 

Kiwi Pysanky (Pysanky.info)

Paska, which is sweet egg bread with raisins, elaborately decorated with a braided cross and rosettes. It symbolises the joy of the new life given to us by Jesus Christ.

Paska (Korena In The Kitchen)

Meat Products

This consists of sausages (mostly garlic ones), ham and smoked bacon. The Ham is symbolic of the great joy and abundance of Easter. It can at times also be lamb or veal.

Ham (Picante Cooking)

The spicy pork garlic sausages known as kielbasa are symbolic of God's love and generosity.

Sausages known as Kielbasa (European Specialties) 

Horseradish roots or horseradish with beets is symbolic of he passion and death of Christ.

Horseradish (Panning The Globe)

Dairy Products  

Cottage cheese or farmer cheese has a bland taste which reminds believers of the moderation they should cultivate in their lives.

Cottage Cheese (Cupcakes And Kale Chips)

Butter - often shaped into a lamb or a cross reminds believers of the goodness of  Christ and the importance of sharing with others.

Butter (Suburban Grandma)

Salt - reminds believers of their commitment to follow Christ and to do his word. 

Salt

The blessing ceremony is attended by all members of the family including parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren. The Food in the basket is then eaten for breakfast alongside other delicacies specially prepared of that day like mashed potatoes, gravy and desserts like cheesecake and meringue tortes. 

Perhaps this year's Easter for the Ukrainians will bring with it hope that God is still with them regardless of the war and instability in their country.