Oscar Wilde’s stolen ring found by Dutch ‘art detective’

Amsterdam: A golden ring once given as a present by famed Irish writer Oscar Wilde has been recovered by a Dutch “art detective” nearly 20 years after it was stolen from Britain’s Oxford University. The friendship ring, a joint gift from Wilde to a fellow student in 1876, was taken during a burglary in 2002 at Magdalen College, where the legendary dandy studied. At the time it was valued at 35,000 pounds (40,650 euros, $45,000). – AFP

Sweden honours detained Gui Minhai despite Chinese threats

Stockholm: Sweden’s culture minister on Friday defied a Chinese threat of “counter-measures” by awarding a Swedish rights prize to detained Chinese-Swedish book publisher Gui Minhai. The serious mistake by the Swedish side undoubtedly creates serious difficulties to normal friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Sweden. A Chinese-born Swedish citizen known for publishing gossipy titles about Chinese political leaders out of a Hong Kong book shop, Gui Minhai (55), disappeared while vacationing in Thailand in 2015 before resurfacing in mainland China several months later. PTI

Meghan Markle awaits UK citizenship

London: Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle is still waiting to be granted a British citizenship despite applying for it two years ago and being married to Prince Harry for 18 months, a media report said on Saturday. “Meghan is not yet a British citizen,” a friend of the Duchess confirmed to The Daily Mail. “It might seem extraordinary, given that she’s been married to the Queen’s grandson (Prince Harry) for 18 months, but she accepts that it’s a slow process,” the friend added. The delay means that Markle won’t be able to vote in the December 12 general election. IANS