Three things for November 30
1. Barbados becomes a republic
Barbados officially severed ties to its British colonial past today when Barbados declared itself a republic. The nation originally won independence in 1966 but decided to continue recognizing the United Kingdom monarch as sovereign.
As Barbados cuts imperial ties 394 years after Britain claimed the island nation, Prince Charles is set to deliver a speech where he is expected to stress the relationship between the two countries will remain the same.
An excerpt from the speech reads, “As your constitutional status changes, it was important to me that I should join you to reaffirm those things which do not change. For example, the close and trusted partnership between Barbados and the United Kingdom as vital members of the Commonwealth,” according to The Hill
The country’s first president will be Sandra Mason, who was sworn in before dawn on Tuesday as the island marked its 55th anniversary of independence from Britain.
2. Composer Stephen Sondheim dead at 91
Composer Stephen Sondheim, one of Broadway’s historic songwriters, died early Friday at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut. Sonheim won many awards throughout his career, ranging from Tonys to a Pulitzer Prize and more.
Sondheim was best known as one of the very few major theater composers who wrote lyrics for their scores. Of the shows, he wrote both the music and lyrics for, “Forum” had the longest Broadway run at 964 performances.
Sondheim, while being renowned, struggled when it came to box office performance.
“The high-minded ambition, the seriousness of subject matter, the melodic experimentation, the emotional discord — Mr. Sondheim’s shows, though mostly received with critical accolades, were almost never popular hits. He suffered from a reputation that he didn’t write hummable tunes and that his outlook was austere, if not grim,” reports the New York Times.
Sondheim was known for his variety and diversity of music. While his music was always recognizable, it rarely resembled other pieces of his work.
“I have always conscientiously tried not to do the same thing twice,” Sondheim said in an interview with The New York Times Magazine in 2000.
3. Bill Cosby’s prosecutors ask Supreme Court to review case
Prosecutors in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, have petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review a ruling made by the state supreme court overturning the sexual assault conviction of Bill Cosby.
Cosby was found guilty in 2018 and spent nearly three years in prison before his conviction was overturned. In June of this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Cosby believed he was operating under an immunity agreement when he provided testimony incriminating himself.
“In short, the Montgomery County D.A. asks the United States Supreme Court to throw the Constitution out the window, as it did, to satisfy the [#MeToo] mob,” Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s spokesperson, said in a statement according to the Washington Post. “This is a pathetic last-ditch effort that will not prevail.”
The Supreme Court receives 7,000 to 8,000 petitions to review cases each term but only hears oral arguments for around 80.
