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. 

'Theresa May Will Lose Tonight' - Liz Kendall

By Tino Okere

Theresa May (Source: AP: Alastair Grant)

In what has been dubbed 'the meaningful vote', Members of Parliament (MPs) will this evening vote FOR or AGAINST Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal.

Statistics from Sky News Analysis states that 192 of Conservative MPs indicated that they will vote for Mrs. May's deal but the rest 111 of her MPs would vote against it. Other MPs voting against are 10 of the Democratic Unionist Party, 248 from the Labour Party, 35 of the Scottish National Party, 11 Liberal Democrats, one from the Green and four of the Plaid Cymru. Others expected to vote for the deal are three rebel Labour MPs and three Independent, giving a defeat gap of 227 against Theresa May. 

The hugely resilient Prime Minister is not thought to resign after the imminent defeat with some political analysts saying she doesn't draw her strength form the parliamentarians but from the 'will of the British public who voted to leave the European Union'. 

On the brink of defeat, Theresa May this afternoon in Parliament asked MPs to, "give this deal a second look" but Labour MP Liz Kendall had earlier indicated that the EU and Brexit are "not the answers to people's genuine problems' but a second referendum is the answer.

Liz Kendall (Source: AP)

"The people's vote may be the only way out of the logjam because what is on offer now is completely different from what people voted for in the referendum," she said during an interview with Sky News. 

"You can't believe that what people are being offered in Brexit is the same thing they were promised by the leave campaign in 2016...it's completely different. We're not gaining greater sovereignty, we are actually giving it up, we're not getting billions (of Pounds) more in the National Health Service - we're actually giving that up so when the facts change, we have to give it back to the people", she added.

Kendall intimated that the Prime Minister was to lose the vote today. 

Political analysts and politicians alike feel that crucial legally binding assurances like Article 50 have not been met which are crucial if Brexit is to work in favour of the United Kingdom. 

The politics of Harare’s open spaces

By Aiden Musarurwa
Harare; Zimbabwe

Harare City Council bulldozing houses

The fear of open spaces is called agoraphopia. It is a strange sensation of feeling detached and alone, so various definitions go.

It appears some sections of the local authority and leading political players have a deep seated fear of open spaces, if the number of housing developments that went up in virtually every vlei, hill and open ground over the last five years or so is anything to go by.

How else could one explain where once there were restrictions on construction, housing projects now grace the land? From the ubiquitous two-roomed cement breeze block flat roof structures, to tiled houses that look like they cost a pretty penny to put up, these have strung up in Harare and Chitungwiza and are now the subject of hot debate involving the local authority, the house owners, so-called land barons and the inevitable politicians.

Some of the houses before demolition 

When the City of Harare announced plans to demolish the illegal structures there was a feeling that they would not follow through on their threat - mainly because the city councillors are largely from the MDC-T party, which is the opposition to the ruling Zanu PF party.

Letters sent out by City of Harare to warn residents to move off the land (Source: 263Chat)

The Mayor of Harare, Bernard Manyenyeni who has acquired a reputation as a straight talker, led from the front once his bulldozers got rolling. He is also in touch with today’s trends, announcing his council’s position on Facebook.

“We are very keen to protect the city’s superior town planning and in doing that, we discourage any form of unplanned settlements. Where this has gone ahead without authority, we first seek opportunities for regularising as many of the structures as we possibly can,” Manyenyeni said.

Mayor of Harare - Bernard Manyenyeni (Source: nehandaradio.com)

The council spokesman Michael Chideme weighed in.

“Harare residents should learn to respect land uses. There is land meant for schools, clinics and recreation. We should make sure we do not tamper with such land.”

Most of the land has been distributed by people with links to the ruling party. These are the so-called land barons. In Zimbabwe, you know you have acquired notoriety once you are a baron. In the mid 2000s anyone dealing in foreign currency as the Zimdollar plummeted to new depths was called a cash baron.

To the casual observer, these are a bunch of speculators keen to make a quick dollar off the residents, for whom ownership of property is a lifelong dream.

The reality seems to lie a bit deeper.

Sources close to the land developers have said there is a deliberate attempt to create pockets of people loyal to the ruling party in various constituencies in order to wrest control of Harare and Chitungwiza from the MDC-T.

In Harare South, for example, the ruling party has been winning the seat ever since thousands of people were resettled on Hopley Farm. The same scenario almost rang true in Harare East with the settlement of people on Caledonia Farms leading to a close race there, before eventually leading to Zanu PF winning the seat in a by-election.

The constituency boundaries are getting murkier and murkier as once elite suburbs like Borrowdale are now joined with Hatcliffe, while Mandara is now linked with Caledonia.

The political hand was finally played last week when Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said the council should regularise the settlements and let people live on the land, while the political issues in the background were settled.

Local Government Minister - Saviour Kasukuwere (Source: nehandaradio.com)

“Harare City Council will take over this land and ensure that it is serviced and the houses here are not demolished,” Kasukuwere said after touring an area near Mufakose with businessman Billy Rautenbach, whose links to the ruling party are well documented and who was claiming ownership of the land.

Billy Rautenbach - Businessman (Source: www.newsday.co.zw)

A political show of strength was also exposed here as the land was allegedly traded between Rautenbach and a Zanu PF MP which has collected millions of dollars from the residents without passing on the money to the local authority.

"The councils are seized with issue. Whoever received cash will have to account for it and to explain on whose authority they carried out the allocation," he said.

The Chairman of the Council’s Environmental committee is in no doubt to blame.

Herbert Gomba trained his guns on residents and politicians.

“I have seen residents associations blasting council for acting but never heard them educating residents about good citizenship, which includes abiding by the laws of the country. I have heard council being asked questions like ‘why did you allow them to settle there?’ but never heard these illegal settlers being asked questions like ‘why do you do illegal things being misled by politicians?’” Gomba said in an interview with a local weekly.

It is enough to make one’s head spin, and this is just one of the areas where the background to open spaces runs deeper than the surface.

As the bulldozers ran through the community, the old saying about the grass suffering when elephants fight rings louder and truer.

All the residents’ interviews say they got documentation to prove they own the land and that council inspectors came and checked all stages of construction.

The City of Harare’s Head of Water, Engineer Christopher Zvobgo has been suspended pending an investigation into how settlements now being declared illegal were connected to the Council water supply.

City of Harare's Head of Water - Engineer Christopher Zvobgo (Source: www.herald.co.zw)

“We did not just bring ourselves here. Most of us spent over $40 000 building our houses. Money which was hard to get, and now we are sleeping outside. Surely someone must make up for this. Someone has to pay for this.

Remnants of demolished houses 

“At the moment nobody wants to be accountable. Council says it is the MP, MDC says it is Zanu and Zanu says it is MDC.

“This doesn’t help me. My family and household property are being rained on every day and nobody can tell me what I did wrong,” says Dickson Madamombe, fists clenched and eyes red with frustrated fury.

He is a victim of the apparent desire by some people to see any open space filled with housing and people, even if that comes at such a high cost to the people who give their all to populate these spaces.

Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour Leadership Race... things can and will change

Jeremy Corbyn (MP) - right with Tom Watson at the conference today (Source: www.itv.com)

MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn has today emerged as Labour leader. Corbyn garnered a overwhelming 251.417 votes which constituted 59.5%, which was 40% more than his closest rival Andy Burnham who got 19%. Following very closely was Yvette Cooper with 17% and last being Liz Kendall with just 4.5% of the votes.

In his victory speech, Corbyn spoke strongly against the current government's Trade Union bill that will be put forward on Monday. The bill, he said is designed to "shackle the unions who are working to defend the people's rights," and will stifle people's democratic rights to demostrate against unfair practices by employers towards employees. Corbyn highlighted that Labour is a party organically linked together between the unions and party membership and all the affiliated organisations - that is where it gets its strength from. 

Corbyn also attacked an unfair welfare system in Conservative's Welfare reform bill which he said "will bring such misery and poverty to so many of the poorest in the society." The newly elected Labour leader spoke of the party which is united and absolutely determined in its quest for a decent and better society for all.    

Jeremy Corbyn strongly shunned Britain's foreign policy which was destabilising many parts of the world - one such - being the war in Syria. He said, "Let us realise that going to war creates a legacy of bitterness and problems. Let us be a force for change, humanity, peace in the world realising that we cant go on with grotesque levels of inequality, threats to our environment all around the world without the rich and powerful governments stepping up to the plate to make sure our world becomes safer and better."

He said, "They should make sure these people  don't end up in poverty, refugee camps wasting away their lives who could be contributing so much to the good of all of us on this planet. We are one world."

For his first assignment as Labour leader Mr. Corbyn will go out this afternoon to support and demonstrate the way refugees must and should be treated in the UK. He said the immigrants are inter-generational and generational victims of war who have ended up in desperation and terrible places. He called for the government and all to deal with the refugee crisis with humanity, support and compassion because they are after all 'human beings like the rest of us.'

West Bromwich East MP, Tom Watson is going to be deputising Corbyn.

The newly elected Labour leader also congratulated the newly elected mayor of London, Sadik Khan and promised that they will work together particularly on the housing issue in London. He said; "I'm fed-up with the social cleansing of London by the Tory government and its policies. We will ensure the end in sky-high rents in London and the insecurity of those living in the private rented sector."

Sadik Khan (MP) (Source: www.dailymail.co.uk)

Jeremy Corbyn also thanked former Labour leader Ed Milliband, and the acting leader Harriet Hammond as well as his contenders; Andy Burnham for his position as shadow health secretary 'who advocated for a free health service under the NHS at the point of use and his stand for a comprehensive education and to ensure that all children have a fair and decent start to life.'

He also showed his gratitude to Yvette Cooper for the part she played in the last few weeks in helping to shape and turn round public opinion to show sympathy and humanity towards refugees and the way they are treated. Cooper received a resounding standing ovation at this. Corbyn also thanked Liz Kendell for her friendship even if they both had 'some moderate differences'.

The Labour party has presented itself as representing the democratic rights of the people, justice, equality and peace.

Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s longest reigning monarch and British Head of State

HRM Queen Elizabeth II with her husband Prince Phillip - 2015 (Source: www.vogue.it)

After assuming her reign as queen of England on the 2^nd of February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II today becomes Britain’s longest reigning monarch. The Queen surpasses her great great grand-mother Queen Victoria’s record of 63 years 7 months and 2 days.

She is also the world’s oldest reigning monarch as well as Britain’s longest lived. Her coronation service in 1953 was the first ever to be televised.

Queen Elizabeth II's coronation - 1953 (Source: ABC News)

As the Head of State of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms, Queen Elizabeth has been quite a popular figure across the world. 

The Queen in Seychelles - 1971 (Source: www.dailymail.co.uk) 

The Queen was born to Albert Frederick Arthur George (George VI) and Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (Elizabeth I). She ascended the throne at the age of 25 after the death of her father who had reigned for 16 years.

During the Second World War, the queen undertook public duties where she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. 

Queen Elizabeth II in 1945 (Source: www.express.co.uk)

In 1947 she married Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh with whom she has four children; Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. 

Amidst her royal duties, the Queen has not forgotten her role as a wife and mother, seen in the pictures below with the Duke of Edinburgh and the kids including baby Andrew as they relaxed in the grounds of Balmoral in 1960.

The Duke of Edinburgh with the Queen entertaining the kids including baby Prince Andrew
as they relax in the grounds of Balmoral - 1960 (Source: www.businessinsider.my)

Spending time together at Windsor with young prince sat next to his mother &
father Prince Philip - 1968 (Source: www.dailymail.co.uk)

Queen Elizabeth II has seen through six decades of massive political, social and economic changes and reforms. She has seen major constitutional changes, such as devolution in the UK, Canadian patriation and the decolonisation of Africa. She has also reined through various wars and conflicts involving many of her realms.

Queen Elizabeth II on royal visit to Khyber Pass being escorted by
 Nawab of Kalabagh (on the right) - 1962 (Source: Syedih Husain)

The Queen with Jomo Kenyatta and his wife in Nairobi, Kenya - 1971

In 1982 Her Royal Majesty (HRM) became the first monarch since the reformation to welcome a Pope to Britain during John Paul II’s pastoral visit to the country and in 2010.

HRM The Queen with Pope John Paul II - 1982 (Source: www.telegraph.co.uk)

Queen Elizabeth attending Trooping the Colour on horse and took the salute of
The Household Guards at Horse Guard's Parade - 1985 (Source: www.dailymail.co.uk)

1992 was a year the Queen termed 'Annus Horribilis' a Latin phrase meaning 'Horrible Year'. She said, '1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an Annus Horribilis'. Here are some of the events to which she alluded; 

• In March 1992, it was announced that her second son, the Duke of York would separate from his wife, the Duchess of York. Later in the year, scandalous pictures of a topless Duchess of York being kissed on her feet by her friend, John Bryan, were published in the tabloids.
• Also in March 1992, the Mauritian Monarchy was abolished.
• In April, her daughter,the Princess Royal, divorced her husband, Captain Mark Philips.
• In June, 'the Princess of Wales' tell-all book, Diana, Her True Story, was published.
• In November, just four days before the Guildhall speech, one of the Queen’s homes, Windsor Castle caught fire. The castle was seriously damaged, and several priceless artifacts were lost. John Major, then Prime Minister, originally indicated that the government would fund the cost of repairs (Windsor Castle, like Buckingham Palace, being government-owned). Convention requires the monarch to accept the advice of his or her Prime Minister, but there was considerable public outcry against this plan. As an alternative to relying solely on the taxpayer, the government decided to open some publicly owned royal residences to tourists during the summer period when the Queen is not in residence, and the revenue from those tours was applied to the castle repair costs.

The Queen visiting Windsor Castle after the fire - 1992 (www.dailymail.co.uk)

1997 was yet another sad year for the Queen, the royals and the rest of the world as it saw the death of the Princess of Wales; Princess Diana.

Queen Elizabeth II at Princess Diana's funeral - 1997 (Source: www.theguardian.co.uk)

Year 2002 marked the Queen's Golden Jubilee which she celebrated in a stylishly elegant orange outfit. She has constantly worn exquisitely bright colours, showing an up-to-date fashion sense.

The Queen returns from St. Paul's cathedral after a service of thanksgiving
to celebrate her Golden Jubilee - 2002 (Source: www.telegraph.co.uk) 

Her Majesty in green - 2002 (Source: aliveradio.net)

Queen Elizabeth posses with the three future monarchs; Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.

The three future monarchs inline with the Queen (Source: www.usmagazine.com)

HRM Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, marking 60 years of her reign.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrating her diamond jubilee - 2012 (Source:Times.com)

The Queen addressing the Lords and Members of the House of Commons - 2013
(Source: www.telegraph.co.uk)

Her Majesty in a rare public speech today, is expected to address the people of Britain and the Commonwealth in a short speech at the opening of a Scottish Borders railway in Tweedbank, which has been described as the longest domestic railway line to be built in the UK in over a century. She had originally wished to spend the landmark day in private; since celebrating it would be the same as celebrating her great great-grand mother's death - which would be morally wrong.

The Run for Labour Leadership

A few days after he announced to stand for Labour leadership, the charismatic Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna recalled his decision – stripping the party of one of its strongest contenders.

The reason he gave for reversing his decision was how uncomfortable he was with the amount of scrutiny his family faced as a result.

However, other critics believe Umunna was another victim of an elegant, silent old-fashioned Westminster character assassination. They cite reasons being of him not showing total allegiance to one party. When he entered into active politics, he was part of the anti-Blairite think tank run by former Gordon Brown aide Neal Lawson. Then as his parliamentary ambitions strengthened, he changed course and started building bridges with the Blairites. He then turned again by endorsing Ed Miliband which was against Blairites and still hit back on Ed by keeping his distance from the Ed team.

This gave the impression of an erratic and unpredictable Umunna and therefore could not be trusted. However some saw him as possessing acute political antenna.

To show the course which the wind was taking, the Blairite camp at the start of last year shifted its allegiance to Dan Jarvis.

Umunna’s race could have well played against him as some skeptics believe that the UK is not yet ready for a ‘black Prime Minister’ and this came at a time when most Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) were calling for tougher measures against immigration into the UK. One shadow cabinet minister is on record saying, ‘all MPs hate Umunna because they are jealous of him’. Since Umunna became an active politician, he has risen up the ladder faster than what would be deemed politically correct by Westminster. So Westminster’s unwritten rules were enforced.

Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn (MP)
(Source: iknowpolitics.org)

Seemingly now leading the race for labour leadership is the much contested MP for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn. His political career began in 1974 when he was elected to Haringey Council, a role which he kept until his election as MP in 1983. Corbyn describes himself as a democratic socialist and has advocated the renationalisation of public utilities and railways, combating corporate tax evasion and avoidance as an alternative to austerity, unilateral nuclear disarmament and cancellation of the Trident nuclear weapons programme.

Corbyn is a member of a number of trade union groups in parliament which include Unison and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. Corbyn was a well known campaigner against apartheid in South Africa and is a prominent member of Amnesty International.

Born on 26 May 1949 in Chippenham, Wiltshire, Corbyn attended Adams’ Grammar School and then briefly North London Polytechnic. In 1974 he married a fellow Labour party councillor in Haringey, Jane Chapman but divorced in 1979. He later married Chilean exile Claudia Brachitta in 1987 with whom he had 3 sons. After a disagreement on which school their son would attend, the couple divorced in 1999. This year, Corbyn married his long term domestic partner; 46-year old Laura Alvarez.