News

UK backs Brexit; it’s proved once again

By 971 0

Offering a befitting replay to the opposition, mainly the Labour, which tried to create a dark cloud around the matter of Brexit, and extending an assuring hand to the ruling which remains confident about leaving the economic union of European Union in the near future, the electorate of the United Kingdom has offered an astounding victory to the Conservative Party, increasing its number from around 317 to more than 364 – that is, at least 47 seats more than what they secured in the previous election.

Responding to the preliminary trends, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, visibly happy about the way the people of the country has responded his call for support, has promised, giving no space for the growth of any speculation or dark cloud, to take the UK out of the EU in the promised date itself.

The case of the Labour Party is pathetic, with its losses even in its traditional strongholds. The main task before them at this moment is to explain their supporters what that has gone wrong.

Literally, all those who opposed the Brexit have suffered the ire of the electorate. It is evident from the election result. Among those, the Labour, which had no clarity about the topic, is the one which has tasted the bitterest experience.

The United States President, Donald Trump, is the first leader who has come out to congratulate the winner.

He has appreciated Mr. Johnson for his victory and expressed his hope of forging a closer tie with the UK post the Brexit.

He, in his statement, has hinted about the depth of the deal the UK may reach with the US post the Brexit.

Apart from Mr. Trump, several other world leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel have congratulated Mr. Johnson.

What the verdict says is simple: The people of the state want Brexit and they want it now itself.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Art Trending

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art

By 1266 0

“Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art –
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors –
No – yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breadth
And so live ever – or else swoon to death.” – John Keats

Drawing a comparison with star, omitting all its qualities except its steadfastness, is extremely brilliant.

Here star is an unchangeable observer. He carefully and eagerly watches all beautiful things happen around him. His eyes are at snow-filled mountains. And, it is in running waters. He is aware of the purpose for which the aforesaid beauties exist. Yet, he keeps a safe distance from the said things, making sure he does not get trapped inside these beauties. He does not want to get lost in those beauties. What he wants is to stay constant. Importantly, he attempts to remain unchangeable.

Like that constant star, the protagonist wants to stay undisturbed besides his love. His only need is to stay immersed in the love of his love. He enjoys her softness. And, what fuels him is his love’s calm breadth.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

News Politics

UK in poll stations

By 1198 0

Today, it is a big day for the UK. The entire UK is at present in the polling stations across the country to decide who should rule their country in future. Along with the future of the present government, the British people today will also decide indirectly whether the UK should be allowed to pull back from the European Union. In that sense, the ongoing election is the second referendum on Brexit.

All the three main political parties, the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats, have attached their campaign close to the matter of Brexit. When the Conservatives has promised a swift withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the Labour has pledged to seek the opinion of the people of the country on the matter of Brexit again in the form of a second referendum on the hope that the ongoing political turbulence may have changed the mind of the people who earlier cleared the Brexit proposal with a narrow margin.

At the same time, the Liberal Democrats have taken an entirely different stand. It has stongly opposed the idea of Brexit and assured the scrapping on Brexit.

As per a preliminary report, no political party is likely to get a clear majority in the parliament in the latest election. The report also predicts the loss of strength of the Conservatives in the election.

At present, the Conservatives has more than 43 per cent vote share in the country and the Labour has less than 34 per cent. And, the Liberal Democrats has over 12 per cent vote share.

If the Conservatives’ strength comes down below the majority line, then the Brexit will be a much harder thing to achieve.

Anyway, speaking to the media personals, British Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson has expressed his confidence in winning the election with a huge majority.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Art Trending

Remembering Elizabeth Barrett Browning – How do I love thee

By 1568 0

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as man strives for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old grief and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints – I love thee with breadth,
Smiles, tears, of all my life – and, if God choose
I shall but love thee better after death.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Nothing defines the concept of eternal love better than these fourteen lines of Mrs. Browning. The poem portrays the depth of Mrs. Browning’s love towards her husband, Robert Browning.

‘How do I love thee’ is one of the truly heart-touching poems the British literature has ever witnessed.

The poem has a soul. It is simple, yet deep. It is eternal. Interestingly, it does not have a defined gender. In that sense, it is universal also.

The deeper you go into the poem, the purer your notion about eternal love becomes. In fact, that is the only thing this poem demands.

What the poet discusses is not the love that can only be experienced physically. Her love transcends everything – including the cycle of death and birth.

What she portrays is a love which is selfless. Her love does not expect praise either. It even fills the usual silence she experiences with her loved one, like it occupies their joyous moments.

Those who have not experienced this poem at least once are real losers. What they have missed is a rare opportunity to feel the taste of eternal love.

Enjoy Reading!

Stay with us for more interesting contents like this.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

News

Accounts used to leak sensitive US-UK trade talk documents taken down

By 1352 0

Those social media accounts used to leak some sensitive documents pertain to the UK-US trade talk has been taken down by the online platform which was used to do the act.

It was Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who brought the attention of the common public of the European country of the United Kingdom at first to the leaked documents.

He quoted the documents during a campaign session recently. He used the documents to justify his comment that the present UK government tries to sell the country’s National Health Service.

The documents had appeared in the social media platform at least a month before the Labour leader quoted those in the said campaign.

The social media platform has found the links the leaked documents have with some accounts based in Russia.

The majority of those accounts that has been taken down are those which have links with Russia. The social media suspects the action as a coordinated effort.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has called the leak a positive act.

The leak is expected to give a serious blow to the, already embattled, Conservatives.

The big question that remains is whether the Labour Party will be able to use the leak in its favour in the upcoming election in the United Kingdom.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Trending

China releases UK embassy worker’s confession video

By 1153 0

China has released the confession video of an UK embassy worker, who was arrested a couple of weeks ago on the charge of soliciting prostitution.

It is alleged that the employee of the UK’s Hong Kong embassy was tortured and forced to give a confession against his wish. It is said that he was threatened with the serious charge of espionage.

Many see a clear connection between the arrest of the UK embassy official and the ongoing protest in Hong Kong against China.

In the recent past, the city of Hong Kong has witnessed several demonstrations in support of the UK embassy official.

The release of the confession video is seen as a tactics of China to avoid the ire of the United Kingdom, which is unhappy with the move of the Communist Country that has created serious difficulty to its embassy employee.

The situation in Hong Kong has matured from bad to worst. Many western powers, including the UK and the US, have warned China.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Crime Trending

Sweden drops rape charges against Julian Assange

By 955 0

Sweden has dropped the charge of rape registered against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whose website is famous for its explosive information leaks.

The incident led to the case happened in the year 2010. Shortly after the issuance of an arrest warrant in connection with the case, he sought political asylum in the Ecuadoran embassy situated in the UK.

Recently, he was pulled out of the embassy by the UK with the silent permission of the country of Ecuador.

Now, he is in a UK prison facing a minor punishment for violating his bail terms.

Sweden says that there is clarity in the statement given by the victim. But, the country feels it does not have enough evidence to prove the charge at this moment.

The statute of limitations in the case is about to end in the coming August.

Neither Mr. Assange nor any of his representatives have responded in the issue.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Politics Trending

UK sold Hong Kong to China, alleges emotionally disturbed pro-democratic activist

By 1215 0

A Hong Kong pro-democratic activist, who has found himself emotionally disturbed due to the ongoing confrontation between the pro-democracy camp and the Hong Kong administration controlled by the mainland, has alleged, in a footage appeared in a leading International Media website, that the United Kingdom sold out his city to the Communist Country of China during the 1980s.

Until the year 1997, the city of Hong Kong was under the UK. In that year, it was handed over to China – but, with a condition that it would not threaten the lifestyle and values the people of the city inherited from their colonial master.

But, the present reality is different. Now, there are many in the city who shares the same opinion as that of the aforementioned activist.

It is the China’s increased interference in the internal affairs of the city that has fuelled the formation of a strong anti-China sentiment in the minds of the youngsters of the city.

At present, China rules Hong Kong as per a one country two system policy. What the pro-democratic faction fears is the gradual transformation of this policy to a much-aggressive one country one system policy – which is capable enough to threaten the present lifestyle and values of the people of the city.

They consider some of the policies the pro-China Hong Kong administration have introduced in the recent past including the much opposed bill seeking the easy extradition of crime suspects from the city to the mainland as the predecessor of that possible transformation.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

International Relations News

West closely observes developments in Hong Kong

By 956 0

The western powers, such as the US, UK, Germany and France, are closely observing the developments in the Asian city of Hong Kong.

For the last few months, the city has been struggling under the clutches of violence. Several people have lost their life due to violence in the city.

Recently, an elderly man, who was working as a cleaning staff, lost his life when he accidently trapped between two protesting groups aggressively throwing stones against each other. He was struck by a stone. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in a hospital.

Similarly, a young protester has lost his life last week when he had fallen from a building while resisting a police action.

Protesters say that as the police use fatal weapons against them they find it important to upgrade the materials they use for their defence.

What the streets of the city have been witnessing for the last few days has been nothing less than an aggressive street war between the police and the protesters.

When the police have used real bullets against the protesters, the latter has increased the effectiveness of their defence materials, like petrol bombs and stones, considerably.

With China not ready to pay heed to what its integral part has to say, it is up to the west to decide whether this city deserves peace or not.

The west earlier urged the Asian country of China to take a humanitarian stand on the issue concerning to the city of Hong Kong.

What has China repeatedly proved is the country is not ready to consider the Hong Kong issue through the prism shown to them by the west.

Actually, the west is the backbone of the Hong Kong economy. For that reason, the opinion of the west on the issue cannot be dismissed that easily.


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Crime News

Shocking! Youth gunned down by Police

By 1192 0

A shocking report from Hong Kong has jolted the social media platforms today. It is the report about a young boy who has been gunned down by a policeman.

It is not the first time a report about police atrocity has come from the former British colony.

The region for last few months is in a disturbed state. In the recent past, several time agitated Hong Kongers have confronted the police.

The protesters want China to exercise less authority over the internal affairs of their region.

They are not of the opinion that Hong Kong is an integral part of China. And, they are not happy with the centralised government policy, but are in support of the two government policy – thus, the idea of greater autonomy to Hong Kong.

The continuing police atrocities mean that the Hong Kong government, which is under the control of China, is ready to go to any extent to suppress the protest against the government.

The government has recently attracted severe criticism from the west, especially from the European countries such as Germany.

The government knows very well that it cannot continue like this forever. It is also worried about the warned exist of multinational companies from the region.

The economy of the country heavily relies on the MNCs based in the region. If the MNCs leave this land, it will bring a huge disaster.

It was a bill, which seeks the easy extradition of criminals from Hong Kong to China, triggered the protest. The bill was later shelved permanently. But, the protesters were not ready to settle with that alone. Thus, the protest, emerged as a small agitation against an unwelcoming bill, transformed into a huge political movement aimed to achieve greater autonomy and less foreign (especially, Chinese) intervention.

The entire world is watching the developments in Hong Kong.

Are you in Hong Kong? If it is safe to do so, please share us about the present political situation in the region. The world wants to hear you!


Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright