World News

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay has completed its journey through Asia, meaning the Baton has toured 30 out of the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories.

The Relay began on 7 October 2021 during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. It has since travelled to Cyprus and Malta, 19 Commonwealth countries and territories in Africa, and most recently Asia with visits to Pakistan, The Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

Twenty-four years ago, a young elephant named Shankar was plucked from the wilderness of Africa, loaded onto a plane to India, and placed in Delhi zoo. Now, a plea in the city's high court seeks to send him back home.

The petition - filed by 16-year-old Nikita Dhawan, founder of the non-profit Youth For Animals - alleges that Shankar has been living in isolation for years.

During his visit to celebrate his country’s Expo 2020 Dubai National Day His Excellency Philip Davis QC, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, said he is proud to present the stunning archipelago to the rest of the world. The delegation included the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band and other Bahamian artists and performers, among them, Shaback, a choir led by Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Press Secretary Clint Watson, whose relatives also made up the delegation in other capacities.

International Day of Women and Girls In Science is set for February 11 as the United Nations recognised day, created during the inaugural World Women’s Health and Development Forum (held on 10-11^th February 2015) reflect the global inequalities in female development in the academic and industrial fields of science, and celebrate the importance and benefits of greater female participation.   

This year’s event is not just recognising the role of women and girls in science as beneficiaries, but also as agents of change – calling on women and girls to utilise their positions in business, politics and other walks of life in order to accelerate greater equality and diversity in the sciences.  

Noting the loss of over US$1 billion in 2021 because of a stagnation in travel between the region’s destinations, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) recommends a concerted effort by Caribbean government and private sector leaders to boost intra-regional travel, while fostering greater parity, clarity and consistency for travel.

While international travel to the region has rebounded to 75 percent of pre-pandemic levels, intra-regional business and leisure travel has dropped to around 30 percent, with smaller Caribbean economies and small businesses hit particularly hard, according to CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig.

Pakistani activist for female education Malala Yousafzai visited Expo 2020 Dubai where she underscored that not only must girls believe in their voices, but that the world needs to really listen.

Malala Yousafzai, aged 17 at the time, she was the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. In 2015, she was the subject of the Oscar-shortlisted documentary He Named Me Malala. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 issues of Time magazine featured her as one of the most influential people globally.

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation joins the rest of the Caribbean in mourning the loss of Dr Jean Holder, the father of regional tourism development. The late Dr Holder spent more than 30 years of his professional life leading the development and expansion of the sector that would become the region's main foreign exchange earner and the engine of economic growth.

Emilia Romagna’s UNESCO-city of Modena is getting ready to host the fourth edition of “Motor Valley Fest” from 26 to 29 May - a four-day motor extravaganza displaying the most beautiful cars of the past, present and future from the “Motor Valley” region.  

A passion for racing and motors runs through the veins of Emilia-Romagna. 

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is saluting the late Jean Holder for his pioneering work in establishing tourism as the major economic driver for the region. Nicola Madden-Greig, President of CHTA, said Holder was a skilled diplomat who quickly recognized the importance of tourism to the fledgling economies of small island developing states in the region.

Sculptor Dan Medina took a statue of Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna to the site of their helicopter crash on the two-year anniversary of the tragedy. The 73kg bronze statue is temporary but Medina hopes a permanent version is sited in a prominent Los Angeles spot.

The Queen’s Baton Relay has been exploring the Commonwealth for 100 days and in that time, the Baton has visited 26 nations and territories and spanned three continents. Let’s take a look back at the highlights from the first 100 days.

Batonbearers took the plunge into the Mediterranean Sea to visit the Museum of Underwater Sculptures. It contains 93 pieces of art, all made from a special steel and concrete combination that helps promote underwater life.

The artillery shell fired during the historic unveiling of Wolverhampton’s Saragarhi Monument has been presented to the Gurdwara that commissioned the statue during a special commemoration evening. Members of the British Army paid an official visit to Wednesfield’s Guru Nanak Gurdwara to meet members of the local community and speak about the importance of the statue.

The Saragarhi Monument, which stands in Well Lane close to the Gurdwara, is the first UK memorial of its kind commemorating the bravery of 19^th century Sikh soldiers.

Major international aid organisations in the UK have teamed up for the first time to front a new campaign showcasing the positive impact UK aid has within lower income countries and the vital role the UK plays. Forming the Aid Alliance, the consortium, including organisations such as Care and ActionAid, will help to reignite belief in the power of ‘helping’ each other and the progress happening every day thanks to aid and the work we do with communities around the world.

The volcanic eruption in Tonga that triggered a tsunami was hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb the US dropped on Hiroshima during World War Two, Nasa says.

The eruption obliterated an island north of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, the agency said. Tonga says more than four-fifths of the population has been affected by the tsunami and falling ash.

Birmingham’s annual civic commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day was hosted at Millennium Point, where the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Muhammad Afzal, led this year’s theme of One Day.

One Day is the theme for this year’s event, in the hope there may be one day in the future with no genocide. It is also an opportunity to learn more about the past, empathise with others today and take action for a better future.

His Royal Highness Prince William will visit the UAE in February, with a programme that coincides with the country’s 50th anniversary and the UK National Day being held at Expo 2020 Dubai on 10 February. The visit is at the request of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and will be part of His Royal Highness’ first official visit to the UAE.

The National Day at Expo will see the UK showcase the extraordinary talent from across the country.