Tag Archives: Britain

NPR reports: Britain’s House of Commons has given final approval to the bill authorizing the country’s departure from the European Union, paving the way for Brexit at the end of the month. Lawmakers voted 330-231 on Thursday to pass the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill. It will become law once it is approved by Parliament’s upper chamber, the House of Lords, …

The Washington Post reports: In his first big foreign policy test since his landslide election victory, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Monday that Britain will not support President Trump’s threat to target cultural sites in Iran. Johnson is trying to perform a balancing act. He is under pressure to support Trump and the United States, Britain’s closest ally. He very …

The Hill reports: Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut, said she believes in extraterrestrial life in an interview with The Guardian published Sunday. “Aliens exist, there’s no two ways about it,” Sharman told the newspaper. “There are so many billions of stars out there in the universe that there must be all sorts of different forms of life,” she said. “Will …

The Associated Press reports: An Indonesian man described as “the most prolific rapist in British legal history” has been sentenced to life in prison with a possible release after 30 years following his conviction for sexual offences against 48 men. Authorities said the evidence against Reynhard Sinaga, 36, indicates he had many more victims, with roughly 195 men apparently having …

Politico Europe reports: Britain ordered Royal Navy warships to accompany U.K.-flagged commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. killing of Iran’s top military leader, Qasem Soleimani. U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace [photo] tweeted the announcement on Saturday night, saying “the government will take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time.” Speaking to …

Politico Europe reports: Boris Johnson called on Britons to put aside their differences and “turn the page” in his 2020 New Year’s message. The U.K. prime minister said it was time to end the “division, rancor and uncertainty,” in an acknowledgment of the public divide over Brexit. “Let’s make this the moment when we put the divisions behind us,” he …

From the Russian state outlet RT News: Julian Assange sounded like a shell of the man he once was during a Christmas Eve phone call, British journalist Vaughan Smith told RT, noting the WikiLeaks founder had trouble speaking and appeared to be drugged. Assange was allowed to make just a single call from the maximum security Belmarsh prison in southeast …

The Associated Press reports: Queen Elizabeth II plans to acknowledge that both Britain and her family have endured a difficult year by saying during her Christmas message that it has been a “bumpy” time. The pre-recorded message will be broadcast in Britain and the Commonwealth nations on Christmas Day. She is thought to be referring both to Britain’s tortuous path …

Reuters reports: President Donald Trump has invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to visit him in the White House in the new year, British media reported on Sunday. Trump’s invitation was made after the British prime minister’s election win this month, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. Britain wants to strike a new trade deal with the United States after it …

The Guardian reports: The wife of a US intelligence officer has been charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of the 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced. Anne Sacoolas was flown out of the UK by the US embassy days after the fatal collision in late August, with the US claiming she was covered by …

The Independent reports: MPs have approved the government’s EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill at the second reading stage, with 358 votes in favour, and 234 against. Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal has cleared its first Commons hurdle with a thumping majority of 124, putting the UK on course to leave the EU on 31 January. Boris Johnson has been accused of breaking …

Reuters reports: The British parliament will vote on Boris Johnson’s deal to leave the European Union on Friday, a move the prime minister described as delivering on his promise to “get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas” after his landslide election victory. After suffering several defeats in the previous parliament, Johnson now enjoys a large majority and should face …

The Associated Press reports: Labour politicians have begun jostling to become the next leader of the British opposition party in the wake of its crushing defeat in last week’s national election. Keir Starmer, the party’s spokesman on Brexit issues, and senior lawmaker Yvette Cooper were among those suggesting Wednesday they were considering a run to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the …

Reuters reports: Prime Minister Boris Johnson will welcome 109 new Conservative lawmakers to parliament on Monday, promising to honour his election pledges to get Brexit done as soon as possible and boost funding to the state health service. After winning a commanding majority in last week’s election, Johnson will seek to speed up the approval by parliament of his withdrawal …

The New York Times reports: Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. conjured the prospect of headlines like, “Look what happens when the Labour Party moves so, so far to the left.” Former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that “Jeremy Corbyn’s catastrophic showing in the U.K. is a clear warning.” And Mayor Pete Buttigieg spoke of the need to “build …

The BBC reports: Three teenagers who used fake Grindr profiles to carry out robberies and homophobic assaults have been jailed. Muhammad Umar, Mohammed Sohail Khan and Qaasim Ahmad, all 18, used the gay dating app to lure four men on false dates. One of the victims was spat on while another was tied up, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. …

Reuters reports: Britain was speeding toward Brexit on Friday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a crushing election victory, ending three years of uncertainty since the country decided to leave the bloc. Johnson is now free to lead his country swiftly out of the vast trading bloc, but faces the daunting task of negotiating trade deals around the world, not …

NBC News reports: Jeremy Corbyn, the socialist leader of the opposition Labour Party, announced Friday he will step down after election results showed the party not only failed to oust the ruling Conservatives but also lost a swath of formerly dependable seats. Corbyn admitted it had been a “very disappointing” night as support crumbled in his party’s former heartlands, with …

The Guardian reports: Nicola Sturgeon has challenged Boris Johnson to give Scotland the powers to hold a second independence referendum after the Scottish National party won a landslide in the general election. The first minister said she had won “a renewed, refreshed and strengthened mandate” to call for a fresh independence vote after winning 47 of Scotland’s 59 Westminster seats, …

The Washington Post reports: Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to have won a large, decisive and potentially powerful majority of parliamentary seats in Thursday’s election, according to the exit poll released minutes after the voting ended. The Conservatives are expected to win 368 seats, according to the national exit poll. The party needs 322 seats to control Parliament — and …