nobel

Kosovo Declares Nobel Laureate Handke ‘Persona Non Grata’

December 11, 2019 3:50 pm

Kosovo declared Peter Handke a ‘persona non grata’ on Wednesday in the latest protest against his induction as a Nobel literature laureate, barring the Austrian writer from a place he has visited numerous times.

The Swedish Academy’s pick for the 2019 prize has reopened old wounds in the Balkans, where many see Handke as an apologist for Serb atrocities during Yugoslavia’s bloody collapse.

One Nobel committee member resigned over the choice, while Tuesday’s award ceremony was boycotted by representatives of the embassies of Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Turkey.

“Today I have decided to declare Peter Handke as …

Ethiopia PM Abiy Urges Unity As He Collects Nobel Prize

December 10, 2019 3:29 pm

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed collected the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Tuesday, appealing for unity as ethnic violence flares in his country and reconciliation efforts with former foe Eritrea have stalled.

“There is no ‘Us and Them’,” he said in his speech at Oslo’s flower-bedecked City Hall. “There is only ‘Us’, for ‘We’ are all bound by a shared destiny of love, forgiveness and reconciliation.”

The Nobel committee honoured Abiy — Africa’s youngest leader at 43 — for the spectacular progress in the months after he took power in April 2018.

Just months into his premiership he …

China Irked By Nobel Peace Prize Nomination For Hong Kong

October 17, 2019 9:22 am

China called for foreign governments not to interfere in its affairs Thursday after a Norwegian politician nominated the “people of Hong Kong” for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.

Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has been hit by months of pro-democracy protests, which Beijing has portrayed as riots fuelled by foreign forces.

“Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and no foreign government or individuals have the right to interfere,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press briefing.

Geng called for the “relevant people to be objective and just” as well as “cautious.”

Activists say freedoms in the city are …

Trio Win Nobel Economics Prize For Work On Poverty

October 14, 2019 8:03 am

A trio of American economists on Monday won the Nobel Economics Prize for their work in the fight against poverty, including new approaches in education and healthcare, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

Indian-born Abhijit Banerjee of the US, his French-American wife Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer of the US were honoured “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty,” the jury said.

“This year’s laureates have introduced a new approach to obtaining reliable answers about the best ways to fight global poverty,” the jury said.

The three found efficient ways of combatting poverty by breaking down difficult issues …

Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Wins Nobel Peace Prize

October 11, 2019 9:26 am

The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who made peace last year with bitter foe Eritrea. He was awarded the prize for his efforts to “achieve peace and international cooperation”. Mr Abiy’s peace deal with Eritrea ended a 20-year military stalemate following their 1998-2000 border war.

He was named as the winner of the 100th Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, where he will receive the award in December. It is worth some nine million Swedish crowns (about £730,000; $900,000).

Following the announcement, Mr Abiy said he was “humbled and thrilled”.

“Thank you very …