London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s spy chief warned Vladimir Putin on Monday that London would no longer take the Kremlin at its word as it fights Russia’s “perpetual confrontation” with the West. MI6 foreign intelligence agency head Alex Younger came out of the shadows to deliver only …
Read More »Nigeria seeks arrest, extradition of former oil minister
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s main anti-corruption agency on Monday filed for the arrest of former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke after a judge approved a request for her to be charged with corruption. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement the application for warrant of …
Read More »British couple get happy ending to engagement ring disaster in US
New York, United States | AFP | For many visitors to New York, Times Square is a must-see. For one British man, it was where his romantic marriage proposal went horribly wrong — the diamond ring fell through a grate. But don’t worry, thanks to the power of the internet, …
Read More »Hopes for second Brexit referendum reach fever pitch
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Hopes for a second referendum on EU membership are rising in Britain amid heightened uncertainty over Brexit, but big hurdles remain — from the timing to legal complexities on both sides of the Channel. Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to convince British lawmakers …
Read More »Russia poses bigger threat to UK than terror groups: army chief
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Russia “indisputably” now poses a bigger threat to Britain’s security than terrorist groups like Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda, the head of the British army said in an interview published Saturday. General Mark Carleton-Smith warned Moscow had shown a willingness to use its military …
Read More »May back to Brussels on Saturday for last-ditch Brexit talks
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would return to Brussels for further EU divorce talks on Saturday — 24 hours ahead of a planned summit set to seal a Brexit deal. May made a lightning trip to Brussels on Wednesday to lobby EU …
Read More »‘Shocked’ UK warns UAE of repercussions over spy student sentence
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned of “repercussions” after a United Arab Emirates court on Wednesday sentenced British student Matthew Hedges to life in jail having convicted him of spying. “I am deeply shocked and disappointed,” said Hunt. “Today’s verdict is not what we expect …
Read More »UAE court sentences British student to life for spying
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | A United Arab Emirates court sentenced British student Matthew Hedges to life in jail on spying charges on Wednesday, prompting a “shocked” Britain to warn of repercussions for relations with its longstanding Gulf ally. Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student, had protested his innocence …
Read More »May wins business support for draft Brexit deal
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday won support from big business for her draft Brexit deal ahead of “intense negotiations” with Brussels in the coming week. May told the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the UK’s main business lobby group, that she was “determined …
Read More »Bitcoin falls below $5,000 for first time since Oct 2017
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The value of bitcoin slipped Monday below $5,000 (4,367 euros) for the first time since October 2017 as volatility returned to the cryptocurrency market. Data compiled by Bloomberg showed the world’s most popular virtual currency losing about 10 percent of its value from Friday …
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