A new Scottish first minister will be named on Monday (27), with the leader facing the daunting task of reviving a faltering independence movement after Nicola Sturgeon's surprise resignation.
Members of the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) wrap up two weeks of voting at midday, with the result to be announced later in the day.
Finance secretary Kate Forbes and health minister Humza Yousaf are favourites in the three-way race, according to an Ipsos poll conducted March 17-21.
Ash Regan, a former minister in Sturgeon's cabinet, is an outsider in the three-way contest.
At her last session in the Scottish Parliament as first minister on Thursday (23), Sturgeon said her successor would be either the second woman in the post or the first from a minority ethnic background.
Whoever wins takes over as support stagnates for the SNP's central policy - independence for Scotland - that Sturgeon has championed.
Polling indicates that around 45 per cent of Scots are currently in favour of Scotland leaving the United Kingdom, after 55 per cent of Scots rejected such a move in a 2014 vote.
"I think many of us are disappointed that there hasn't been more of a sustained movement in support of independence," said Forbes, who at 32 would become one of the world's youngest political leaders if she wins.
"There is no path to independence without persuading no voters to vote 'yes'."
For Yousaf, 37, too much time had been spent pointing out the UK government in London's failures and not enough on creating a vision for an independent Scotland.
He promised a civic movement to drive the campaign.
Regan, 49, has proposed a commission to run the independence campaign separately from the Scottish government.
According to Ipsos, Forbes has the most support among the general public, with 27 per cent showing a favourable opinion of her compared to 22 percent for Yousaf and 14 per cent for Regan.
Among the SNP membership, which decides on the leader, 38 per cent view Yousaf favourably, compared to 37 per cent for Forbes and 22 per cent for Regan.
Forbes has come under the spotlight for her conservative views as a member of the Free Church of Scotland, which opposes same-sex marriage and abortion.
Yousaf, who has close ties with Sturgeon, has faced criticism over his record in successive roles in the Scottish government.
The commemoration event honoured two South Asian WW2 veterans who died this year, Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE and Sergeant Mohammad Hussain.
TWO South Asian Second World War veterans were honoured at a commemoration event in London on Wednesday, September 10. The ceremony paid tribute to Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE and Sergeant Mohammad Hussain, who both died this year.
The event, hosted by British Future and Eastern Eye with support from the Royal British Legion, also launched My Family Legacy, a project to raise awareness of South Asian contributions in the world wars and preserve family stories for future generations.
More than 2.5 million people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka served in the Second World War, forming the largest volunteer army in history. New polling by Focaldata, released alongside the launch, found that only half of the UK public – and fewer than six in ten British Asians – know that Indian soldiers served in the war.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said: “We should never forget what we all owe to those who won the second world war against fascism. South Asian soldiers were the largest volunteer army in history. Ensuring that their enormous contribution is fully recognised in our national story remains important work in progress. My Family Legacy aims to help people to find, document and tell these family stories of courage and contribution, service and sacrifice in the world wars.”
Gail Walters, Director of Network Engagement at the Royal British Legion, said: “Honouring the South Asian soldiers who served in Britain’s World Wars is about remembering their bravery and also gives a fuller picture of our shared history. The service and sacrifice of South Asian soldiers are integral to Britain’s national story and helped build the country we are today.”
Amrit Kaur Dhatt, granddaughter of Havildar Major Dhatt, said: “It is so important to capture stories of Commonwealth and ethnic minority soldiers, like my grandfather’s, because they were left out of mainstream history. I find that even the disparity and awareness between VE and VJ Day remains shockingly significant. But remembering isn’t just about the past. It is about shaping the future. And I fear that today’s society clearly hasn’t learnt enough from history. Baba Ji had always hoped that future generations would never have to see the devastation that they [war veterans] had to endure.”
Ejaz Hussain, granddaughter of Sergeant Hussain, said: “As the last soldiers of the war fade before our eyes, it remains imperative that we capture their stories. We - as a country and a people - are blessed to be here today, enjoying liberty and safety directly because of the sacrifices of those from the greatest generation, of which my grandfather was one.”
Journalist Sangita Myska said: “Honouring the service given by South Asian soldiers is vital to understanding the intertwined and complex relationship forged by our forebears with Britain.”
Actor Adil Ray OBE said: “This is the greatest war story that’s never been told. Millions of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs from India, today’s Pakistan and Bangladesh fought two world wars, fighting for our freedom. We owe everything to Major Dhatt and Sergeant Hussain and their fellow soldiers. Their history is our history.”
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IT WILL be a two-way contest between education secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons leader Lucy Powell for the post of Labour’s deputy leader after Emily Thornberry and Paula Barker withdrew from the race on Thursday (11).
Thornberry, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, had secured 13 nominations from Labour MPs while Barker, the Liverpool Wavertree MP, had 14, well short of the 80 needed to progress.
Their withdrawals follow that of housing minister Alison McGovern, who pulled out on Wednesday (10) and backed Phillipson. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, remains in the running but with 15 nominations is unlikely to make the threshold by the 5pm deadline.
Phillipson has already secured 116 nominations, well above the requirement, while Powell has 77 and is expected to cross the line with late support.
The contest was triggered by the resignation of Angela Rayner, who admitted underpaying stamp duty on a flat and stepped down as deputy leader and deputy prime minister last week.
Her departure has left a gap in Labour’s leadership at a time when prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is managing his first year in government.
Thornberry, announcing her withdrawal on social media, said she was “deeply grateful” for the backing she received and described it as “a privilege to take part in this race with such brilliant women”. Barker said the next deputy leader must be willing to challenge the government when necessary and later endorsed Powell as someone who could be “a constructive friend to the government”.
Phillipson, a long-standing MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, has presented herself as a candidate with experience in Cabinet and the ability to take on populist threats, while Powell, who was removed as leader of the Commons during last week’s reshuffle, has argued she can devote herself fully to the deputy leadership role without ministerial duties.
Supporters of Powell say she offers a voice more independent of the leadership, while Phillipson’s backers highlight her loyalty and strong performance as education secretary.
The next stage of the contest will see candidates who meet the MP threshold secure backing from either five per cent of local constituency parties or three affiliated organisations, including at least two trade unions, in order to make the final ballot.
Voting among Labour members and affiliated supporters opens on October 8 and closes on October 23, with the winner to be announced on October 25.
The result will not affect the role of deputy prime minister, which has already been filled by David Lammy, but it will decide who takes the deputy leadership of the Labour party at a time of internal debate about direction and priorities.
The race, widely expected to run through Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool later this month, is seen as a test of party unity and the balance between loyalty to the leadership and space for dissent.
Senior figures have said they want the next deputy leader to be a woman and from outside London to address perceptions of a male-dominated and London-centric leadership.
Both Phillipson and Powell fit that profile, raising expectations that the final outcome will be decided not on geography but on whether members prefer a loyal cabinet figure or an independent backbencher with more freedom to speak out.
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Sabin Tamang, 20, who works in a restaurant and participated in a Gen-Z protest, holds up a shovel while posing for a photograph next to graffiti as he takes part in a cleaning campaign following Monday's deadly anti-corruption protests in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
NEPAL is facing its worst political and social crisis in decades after deadly protests toppled prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli earlier this week, leaving parliament in flames, thousands of prisoners on the run and the country’s leadership in limbo.
The protests, led largely by young people and dubbed the “Gen Z” movement, erupted after a controversial social media ban and quickly spread across the country. Demonstrators accused the government of corruption, lack of opportunities and failure to deliver reforms.
Violence peaked on Tuesday (9) when at least 19 protesters were killed during clashes, prompting Oli, a four-time prime minister, to resign. Nepal’s health ministry later confirmed the death toll had risen to 34, with more than 1,300 people injured.
During the unrest, around 13,500 detainees escaped from prisons across the country. The army said on Thursday (11) it had recaptured 192 inmates in Rajbiraj, a southeastern city, while security forces also regained control in Ramechhap, east of Kathmandu, where clashes left two prisoners dead and 12 wounded.
India’s border security force confirmed it had detained about 60 fugitives trying to cross into Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal before handing them back to Nepali authorities. Security forces have also recovered nearly 100 weapons looted during the uprising.
Fires set by protesters destroyed parliament, government offices, the Supreme Court and commercial buildings. A Hilton hotel in Kathmandu and hotels in Pokhara were among the businesses torched during the violence.
Soldiers remain deployed on the streets of the capital, where a curfew has been imposed and schools, shops and colleges are closed. Essential services are only slowly resuming.
President Ramchandra Paudel, 80, has appealed for calm and promised that efforts are underway to find a solution “as soon as possible” within the constitutional framework. “I am consulting and making every effort to find a way out of the current difficult situation in the country,” he said. “I appeal to all parties to be confident that a solution to the problem is being sought to address the demands of the protesting citizens.”
FILE PHOTO: Nepal's former Chief Justice Sushila Karki looks on during the launch of her autobiography "Nyaya" at a ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
With Oli’s resignation, Paudel is constitutionally required to invite the leader of the largest parliamentary party to form a government. However, protesters are demanding the dissolution of parliament altogether. They have instead put forward retired chief justice Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman to head the judiciary, as their preferred interim leader.
Karki, 73, served as chief justice in 2016 and is seen by many demonstrators as a symbol of integrity. “We see Sushila Karki for who she truly is — honest, fearless, and unshaken,” said Sujit Kumar Jha, a 34-year-old company secretary in Kathmandu.
A protest leader, Ojaswi Raj Thapa, said: “We will dissolve the parliament. We are not trying to dissolve the constitution. We may need some changes to the constitution but we don’t want to end it.”
Local media reported that Karki has already held talks with president Paudel and Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel. The army confirmed that “initial talks” are ongoing and that curfew orders will remain in place in Kathmandu and nearby areas for most of the day.
The demonstrations have been described as the most serious challenge to Nepal’s political system since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008. While Oli’s whereabouts remain unknown after his resignation, protesters insist they will not back down until their demands are met.
For now, the streets of Kathmandu remain under tight watch, and though international flights are still operating, the uncertainty has left the country of 30 million people at a standstill. As one young protester shouted near the charred remains of the parliament building: “This is our time. We will not be silent.”
(Agencies)
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Modi’s ruling coalition nominated Radhakrishnan, 68, who is the governor of the western state of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the post.
INDIAN lawmakers elected CP Radhakrishnan, a former parliamentarian from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the country’s new vice president on Tuesday. The election comes more than a month after the previous vice president resigned.
Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose term was to end in 2027, stepped down in July, citing health reasons.
Federal lawmakers voted in a secret ballot on Tuesday to elect the vice president, as required by the constitution.
Modi’s ruling coalition nominated Radhakrishnan, 68, who is the governor of the western state of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the post.
Radhakrishnan was widely expected to win because of the support the BJP and its allies have in parliament. He received 452 of the 752 valid preferential votes cast, according to PC Mody, secretary-general of the upper house of parliament.
Opposition parties nominated B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, as their candidate. Reddy received 300 votes.
The vice president holds the second-highest constitutional office in India and serves as the chair of the upper house of parliament. The vice president also acts as president if there is a temporary vacancy.
The president and vice president are largely ceremonial posts, while executive powers remain with the prime minister and cabinet.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Mandelson, 71, a veteran Labour politician and key figure in the party under former leader Tony Blair, had come under scrutiny after letters and emails to Epstein were published. (Photo: Getty Images)
PETER MANDELSON, the UK's ambassador to the United States, has been sacked over revelations about his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the government said.
"The Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as ambassador," a foreign ministry statement said, adding that new messages showed "the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein".
Mandelson, 71, a veteran Labour politician and key figure in the party under former leader Tony Blair, had come under scrutiny after letters and emails to Epstein were published.
A birthday book included a letter purportedly from Mandelson describing Epstein as "my best pal". Further emails showed Mandelson advised Epstein to fight for early release when he faced charges over soliciting a minor.
"In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the prime minister has asked the foreign secretary to withdraw him as ambassador," the foreign ministry said. "The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment."
The ministry added that Mandelson's suggestion that Epstein's first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged was "new information."
On Wednesday, Mandelson said he deeply regretted ever meeting Epstein and that he had carried on that association "for far longer than I should have done". Starmer later gave him his backing in parliament.