Exorcising the ills of the past: Scotland set to vote on pardoning ‘witches’
03 September 2022 |
6:57 am
To kick off a new season, Annette Young is in Scotland whose haunting beauty has served as a backdrop to many films and TV series about sorcery and witches such as "Harry Potter" and "Outlander". But in the 16th century, a true horror tale began as thousands of women were persecuted, tortured and killed after being accused of witchcraft. Now 400 years on, the Scottish Parliament is set to clear their names. Annette Young meets the two women who are behind the campaign to get Scottish authorities to pardon the accused.
Related
17 Dec
A global study shows that the belief in witchcraft is still alive and well among people in the 21st century.
15 Dec
A majority of MPs in the National Assembly have voted against adopting a report that could have seen impeachment proceedings begin. Cyril Ramaphosa has been under pressure over cash found at his private farm.
16 Dec
Slovakia's parliament has narrowly voted to oust the government of Prime Minister Eduard Heger. This could trigger early elections. A last-ditch offer of the finance minister's resignation did not assuage the opposition.
19 Dec
President Cyril Ramaphosa is tipped to retain his role as leader of the ruling ANC, but faces a wave of backlash from factions loyal to former president Jacob Zuma. Also in this edition: we speak to the head of the International Organization for Migration in Chad, where 27 people recently lost their lives in the Sahara.
24 Dec
The contentious law that would make it easier and faster for people to change their gender. Conservative opponents have blasted the bill, arguing it would give male predators access to female-only spaces.
9 Jan
The UN General Assembly has backed a Palestinian request to have the ICJ probe the occupation of the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government said Israel would "respond as necessary."
27 Jan
Father Victor Ntambwe is not content with just reciting psalms during mass on Sunday mornings in Congo's capital. With presidential elections just months away, he has more earthly concerns.
18 Feb
Voters returned to polling booths across the German capital after a botched 2021 election was declared invalid. More voters picked the center-right CDU than any other party, but its candidate may not get to be mayor.
15 Feb
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced her resignation as the leader of Scotland's national government after more than eight years in office.
23 Feb
The United States (U.S.) Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said Nigerians have a chance to make their voices heard on Saturday during the election.
23 Feb
Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Friday.
24 Feb
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, UN member states will vote on a German motion calling for "lasting peace." Though it's non-binding, organizers hope for symbolically broad support.
Latest
24 mins ago
It's a feat that hasn't been repeated by a French player since 1983. It's been exactly forty years since Yannick Noah thrilled the crowds at Roland Garros – and audiences across France – when he beat Sweden’s Mats Wilander in the final of the French Open. Our guest for Perspective is Benjamin Rassat, director of the documentary "Noah-ed", which features testimony from the seven competitors the then-23-year-old beat to become France's last home champion for decades.
25 mins ago
The Oscar-nominated "Juno" actor and star of "The Umbrella Academy" is Hollywood's most prominent trans man: Elliot Page explores the story of his life in his memoir, "Pageboy."
1 hour ago
Apple launches $3500 augmented reality headset as interest in metaverse wanes. Watch. Apple unveils its first new piece of hardware in nearly a decade: the $3,500 Vision Pro augmented reality goggles come as interest in the metaverse has been surpassed by buzz around artificial intelligence.
1 hour ago
It’s one of the most iconic motor races in the world. The "24 hours of Le Mans" race marks a centenary this year. Seven auto manufacturers will be fighting for overall victory with 16 teams represented. The unique race tests its participants' reliability and endurance and encourages innovation. The 13,626km track attracts hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world every year.
3 hours ago
An attack on a military base last month claimed 17 lives in Somalia, highlighting the country's long struggle to contain terrorist attacks. But what is al-Shabab and why is the group terrorizing Somalians?
3 hours ago
Washington and Beijing both said the talks were productive and agreed to maintain communication. The meeting was held between US official Daniel Kritenbrink and China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.