Paris, France | AFP | Thousands marched in cities around the world for a second week of rallies Saturday to support the US Black Lives Matter movement, but also to highlight racism and police brutality in their own countries. There were rallies in cities across Europe, with thousands demonstrating in …
Read More »UK PM defends history in statue row, as fears grow over protests
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday said a wave of anti-racism protests across Britain had been “hijacked by extremists”, as fears mounted about clashes between activists and far-right groups. In London, authorities boarded up several statues, including one of World War II leader Winston Churchill, …
Read More »UK’s Johnson says will not ignore anger over racial injustice
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged the “cold reality” behind angry protests against racial injustice, but warned he would not tolerate violence or the breaking of coronavirus distancing laws. Demonstrations have broken out across Britain following the death of George Floyd in the United …
Read More »UK anger at toppled slave trader statue but few want it back
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British politicians on Monday condemned the destruction of a statue to a leading slave trader during an anti-racism protest, but a leading heritage body said there was no need to reinstate it. Demonstrators pulled down the 18-foot (5.5-metre) bronze monument to Edward Colston in the …
Read More »Round Four: UK and EU back in the Brexit ring
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Trade negotiators from Britain and the EU embark on a fourth round of post-Brexit negotiations Tuesday but no-one in London or Brussels expects a breakthrough. Instead, once the latest cross-Channel video conferences are over, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will …
Read More »Britain takes its biggest step yet out of lockdown
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Younger children went back to schools in England on Monday and parliament geared up to resume normal service, as the world’s second-worst-hit country in the coronavirus outbreak took its biggest step yet out of a lockdown that police warned was becoming difficult to enforce. Outdoor …
Read More »Bad tempered post-Brexit talks enter crucial phase
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Britain and the EU will attempt to revive their imperilled trade talks on Tuesday, entering a crucial week of negotiations that could mark the final hope for a deal. Hundreds of officials will hold video talks all week from London and Brussels, the fourth and last …
Read More »Britain pushing US to form 5G club of nations to cut out Huawei
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain said Friday it was pushing the United States to form a club of 10 nations that could develop its own 5G technology and reduce dependence on China’s controversial technology giant Huawei. The issue is expected to feature at a G7 summit that US President …
Read More »UK minister quits over Cummings lockdown trip
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government was hit by its first resignation on Tuesday over the controversy surrounding his top aide Dominic Cummings’ cross-country trip during the coronavirus lockdown. Undermining attempts by ministers to try and move on from the crisis which has dominated British …
Read More »UK PM’s top aide Cummings defies calls to quit
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings defied calls to resign on Monday over allegations that he broke coronavirus rules and undermined the government’s response to the health crisis. The Brexit campaign strategist told reporters he had acted “reasonably and legally” when he …
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