British Brexit minister David Frost resigned on Saturday over disillusionment with the direction of Boris Johnson’s government, dealing a major blow to the embattled prime minister as the Omicron variant sweeps the country. The resignation of Frost, a core architect of Johnson’s tumultuous Brexit strategy, raised questions about the future …
Read More »London declares ‘major incident’ over Omicron
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a ‘major incident’ in the UK capital over the quickly deteriorating epidemiological situation prompted by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. “Today I have declared a major incident in London because of the serious threat of Covid-19 to our city. This will help us avoid …
Read More »UK PM Johnson’s Conservatives suffer shock by-election defeat
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party has suffered a stunning defeat in a parliamentary by-election that was a referendum on his government. His ruling Tories had held the seat in North Shropshire, central England, by a massive majority just two years ago, but saw that wiped out by the …
Read More »France wants EU to start legal case against UK
The French government has said it will call on the EU to open legal proceedings against the UK over London’s alleged withholding of fishing licenses. Paris says 73 licenses are now outstanding. Speaking on Friday, Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune told reporters that France had obtained 93% of the …
Read More »UK’s Johnson faces political threat in virus rules votes
British lawmakers will vote Tuesday on whether to approve new restrictions to curb the spread of the omicron variant of coronavirus — and many will have more than public health on their minds when they say yes or no. The votes are also an opportunity to express unhappiness with embattled …
Read More »UK issues call to arms for Omicron booster drive
Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a “call to get jabs in arms” on Wednesday as Britain stepped up its COVID-19 booster programme to fend off the Omicron variant after another 10 cases of the new strain were identified. Britain has now recorded 32 cases of the Omicron variant, which appears …
Read More »Omicron variant spreads to Europe as UK announces countermeasures
Britain and Germany each detected two cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new steps to contain the virus, while more nations imposed restrictions on travel from southern Africa. The discovery of the variant has sparked global concern, a wave of …
Read More »Storm Arwen leaves two dead in UK, triggers power cuts
At least two people died and tens of thousands were left without power as Storm Arwen brought strong winds across many parts of the United Kingdom, with gusts of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kph). One man died in Northern Ireland’s County Antrim when his car was struck …
Read More »Two cases of Omicron coronavirus variant detected in Britain
Two linked cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in Britain connected to travel to southern Africa, health minister Sajid Javid said on Saturday. Omicron dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization on Friday, is potentially more contagious than previous variants of the disease, …
Read More »At least 27 die trying to cross Channel to UK, French mayor says
At least 27 migrants died after their dinghy capsized on Wednesday while trying to cross the Channel from France to Britain, a local mayor said. According to fishermen, more migrants left France’s northern shores than usual to take advantage of calm sea conditions, although the water was bitterly cold. One …
Read More »The US is seeking to expand its biggest overseas spy base. Why?
RAF Menwith Hill, America’s largest overseas spy base, located in the UK, is to be expanded, and for reasons, we can only guess at – although they’re unlikely to be positive. A planning application by the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) that was recently submitted to a borough council in …
Read More »Russia scrambles fighter jet to intercept British spy plane near annexed Crimea
Russia said on Thursday it had scrambled a fighter jet to intercept a British spy plane operating near Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Russia’s defense ministry said the British foray was part of a wider uptick in military activity by the United States …
Read More »UK’s Frost to EU: Stay calm and don’t threaten retaliation
British Brexit minister David Frost said on Wednesday that Brussels should stay calm and avoid embarking on “massive and disproportionate retaliation” if London follows through on its threat to escalate a post-Brexit trade dispute. Frost said he wasn’t yet ready to give up on talks aimed at finding a solution, …
Read More »John Major beats up Boris Johnson’s “politically corrupt” government
Former British Prime Minister John Major on Saturday attacked fellow Conservative Boris Johnson’s handling of a corruption row, calling the conduct “shameful” and saying this could undermine his popularity. Johnson was forced to make an embarrassing U-turn after he abandoned plans pushed through parliament to protect a lawmaker found to …
Read More »Britain warns France: Back down in 48 hours or face trade trouble
The UK warned France on Monday to back down in a fish row within 48 hours or face legal action under the Brexit trade deal amid an intensifying dispute between Paris and London. Tensions over fishing rights escalated on Thursday, when France seized a British trawler fishing in its territorial …
Read More »UK, French leaders to meet amid flare-up in post-Brexit fishing row
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet French President Emmanuel Macron this weekend amid a row over post-Brexit fishing rights in which France has seized a British boat and London has threatened to board French trawlers. The flare-up is part of a wider dispute over post-Brexit trade arrangements between Britain …
Read More »No action as UK ends probe into abuse claims in Iraq
Investigations into claims of abuse by British troops in Iraq have closed without a single prosecution being brought, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Tuesday. Allegations against British soldiers who served in the conflict — and elsewhere around the world — have dogged the government and military. But in June …
Read More »NHS warns UK health service facing growing winter pressures
The National Health Service is on the brink of being overwhelmed in many parts of the UK amid increasing pressure as winter approaches, the head of a healthcare system body has warned. Infections have been increasing markedly since the start of October, however, the government is resisting introducing the extra …
Read More »UK considers ways to boost lawmaker security after stabbing
Britain is considering a number of options to boost the security of lawmakers after a parliamentarian was stabbed to death during a meeting with constituents, interior minister Priti Patel said on Sunday. The killing of David Amess, from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party, took place five years after the …
Read More »UK puts in place security measures for lawmakers, says interior minister
Britain’s interior minister Priti Patel on Saturday said that security measures would be put in place for lawmakers so they could keep doing their job after an MP was murdered, adding that people who attacked democracy would not succeed. “All measures are being put in place for the security of …
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