British Brexit minister David Frost made an impassioned plea to the European Union on Tuesday to allow for “significant change” to post-Brexit rules governing trade with Northern Ireland, saying only that could draw the poison from their relations. A day before the EU is expected to present its proposals to …
Read More »More than 1,000 migrants cross English Channel to UK in two days
Britain has rescued or intercepted a total of 1,115 migrants attempting to cross the English Channel over just two days, the country’s interior ministry said on Sunday. Rising numbers of Channel crossings by migrants in small boats have contributed to growing tensions between the UK and France following Britain’s departure …
Read More »UK eyes ‘walk me home’ phone-tracker to protect lone women, after recent slayings
A top British government official is backing a phone company’s proposal for a new tracking service to help protect women walking alone, an idea pitched amid ongoing outrage over the slayings of two young women who were targeted near their homes in London. The chief executive of Britain’s biggest phone …
Read More »French envoy to Australia: Deceitful sub deal raises risks in Indo-Pacific region
France’s ambassador to Australia says Australian officials lied to his face and raised the risk of confrontation in Asia by crafting a secret submarine deal with the United States and Britain that undermined trust in democratic alliances. France is determined to protect its interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and to …
Read More »Dubai’s ruler ordered phones of ex-wife and lawyers to be hacked: UK court
Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum ordered the phones of his ex-wife and her lawyers to be hacked as part of a “sustained campaign of intimidation and threat” during the custody battle over their children, England’s High Court has ruled. Mohammed used the sophisticated “Pegasus” software, developed by Israeli …
Read More »Climate change activists are ‘irresponsible crusties:’ UK PM Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that climate change activists who blocked major roads into London were ‘irresponsible crusties’ who were hindering law-abiding people from going about their business, Reuters reports. “I think they’re irresponsible crusties who are basically trying to stop people going about their day’s work …
Read More »France threatens to cut power to UK’s Channel Islands in row over fishing licenses
France has said it could cut power to the British Crown dependencies in the English Channel to “pressure” London in a dispute over fishing licenses for French boats. Under the 2020 UK-EU trade deal, French boats are allowed to continue catching fish in British waters if they obtain a license. …
Read More »UK extends truck driver visa program as fuel crisis persists
The British government has extended an emergency visa program for truck drivers as fuel shortages showed few signs of abating Saturday, particularly in London and the southeast of England. In an announcement late Friday, the Conservative government said temporary visas for nearly 5,000 foreign truck drivers it hopes to recruit …
Read More »Ireland thinks Britain unlikely to trigger N.Ireland trade clause
Ireland does not expect Britain to trigger a clause in Northern Ireland’s fraught post-Brexit trading deal to unilaterally jettison some of its terms, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday it was possible the British government would trigger “Article 16” if the European Union did …
Read More »EU postpones trade talks with Australia amid sub deal controversy
Australia’s trade minister said on Friday talks with the European Union over a trade deal have been postponed, as a row over Canberra’s decision to cancel a $40 billion deal with France escalated. Australia last month cancelled a deal with France’s Naval Group to build a fleet of conventional submarines …
Read More »Britain says fuel crisis under control, but some gas pumps still empty
Britain said on Thursday that a gas station crisis caused by an acute shortage of truck drivers was back under control but many pumps remained closed in London leaving motorists searching or queuing for hours to fill their tanks. In a chaotic week where fights broke out at gas stations …
Read More »Behave normally, UK transport minister tells Britons queuing for fuel
Transport Minister Grant Shapps on Sunday called on Britons to behave normally when buying petrol, saying there was no shortage of fuel and the government was stepping in to ease a shortage of drivers bringing it to petrol stations. In recent days long lines of vehicles have formed at petrol …
Read More »Britain expected to ease visa rules as truck driver shortage bites
Britain is expected to announce plans to issue temporary visas to truck drivers to alleviate an acute labour shortage that has led to fuel rationing at some filling stations and warnings from retailers of significant disruption in the run-up to Christmas. As queues started forming outside filling stations early on …
Read More »UK PM Johnson to reshuffle his team of ministers
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reshuffle his team of ministers on Wednesday to put in place a “strong and united team” to deliver on his 2019 election promise to tackle regional inequality, a source in his office said. “The Prime Minister will be appointing ministers this afternoon with a …
Read More »UK PM Johnson to hold talks with Biden this month: The Times
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will attempt to patch up Britain’s frayed relationship with US President Joe Biden’s administration at a White House meeting between the two leaders this month, The Times newspaper reported on Monday, citing sources on both sides. Johnson is expected to hold talks with Biden during …
Read More »British monarchy could be gone in two generations, says novelist Mantel
The British royals, who trace their history back more than 1,000 years, could be gone within two generations, writer Hilary Mantel said in an interview published on Saturday. The monarchy traces its history back at least to William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066 but also claims ties to …
Read More »French officials rescue 126 migrants attempting to cross channel to UK
French maritime officials rescued 126 migrants attempting to cross the Channel to Britain as tensions escalated over record arrivals on England’s southern coast. At least 14,100 people have now crossed the Channel to the UK on small boats this year, according to Britain’s domestic Press Association news agency — some …
Read More »EU rejects reworking N. Ireland deal, urges calmer tone
The European Union rejected a British demand to renegotiate their deal governing the trading position of Northern Ireland, saying that to so would only bring instability and uncertainty. European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, who oversees EU relations with post-Brexit Britain, said on Friday that the Northern Ireland protocol needed to …
Read More »UK’s green and amber lists could be replaced in travel rules shake-up: Reports
British government’s traffic light system for international travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic could be replaced under a shake-up, UK media have reported, citing sources. The BBC has reported that the green and amber categories could be removed and replaced with a new system. A new system would allow vaccinated travelers …
Read More »France warns Britain against ‘blackmail’ over migrants
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Thursday that France would not accept Britain violating international maritime law or “financial blackmail” as London steps up efforts to prevent migrants crossing the Channel. “France will not accept any practice that breaks maritime law, nor any financial blackmail,” Darmanin wrote on Twitter. “Britain’s …
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