United Kingdom

LONDON, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- British Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd resigned on Saturday and quitted the Conservative party, dealing one more blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is fighting an uphill battle to keep his Brexit plan intact despite strong criticism from his own party, opposition and the parliament.

In announcing her resignation, Rudd said she can not "stand by" while "loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled" for defying Johnson's government over Brexit.

LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers are preparing legal action in case Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries to defy legislation compelling him to seek a further delay to Brexit, the BBC reported on Saturday.

An opposition bill which would force Johnson to ask the European Union for an extension to Britain’s departure to avoid a no-deal exit on Oct. 31 was approved by parliament’s appointed upper chamber, the House of Lords, on Friday.

Queen Elizabeth is expected to sign it into law on Monday.

LONDON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Politicians in the unelected House of Lords passed a controversial bill Friday that will block Prime Minister Boris Johnson from taking Britain out of the European Union unless there is a deal in place with Brussels.

The decision by House of Lords paves way for the so-called no deal bill to become law on Monday when it receives Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth.

As the bill cleared through the House of Lords without any amendments it does not have to return to the elected House of Commons.

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted lawfully when he ordered the suspension of parliament for five weeks before Brexit, London’s High Court ruled on Friday, but it allowed the the legal challenge to be taken to the Supreme Court.

Johnson announced at the end of August that he would suspend parliament from mid-September to mid-October, just before Britain is due to leave the European Union on Oct. 31, so the government could announce a new legislative program.

LONDON (Reuters) - British opposition parties said on Friday that they would block Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s second bid to call a snap general election in mid-October, setting up showdown with the government over delaying Brexit.

Brexit remains up in the air more than three years after Britons voted to leave the bloc in a 2016 referendum. Options range from a turbulent no-deal exit to abandoning the whole endeavor.

6 Sep 2019; MEMO: France and the UK on Thursday criticized Iran’s recently announced intention to further reduce its level of compliance with the nuclear deal of 2015.

Iran’s plan to suspend limits on nuclear research and development is “deeply concerning”, said a statement by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

6 Sep 2019; MEMO: Protesters took to the streets of London today to stand up against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise visit.

Netanyahu announced yesterday that he would be visiting the UK to speak with the embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as both men’s political careers hang by a thread.

LONDON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that the NHS, the British national health service, is "not on the table" during any post-Brexit trade deal talks with the United States.

Johnson took the strong approach as he met visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Downing Street.

"Of course, we will do everything to increase free trade but the National Health Service is not on the table as far as our negotiations go," he said.

LONDON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is to make a second bid on Monday to call a general election is what will be a duel over Brexit between Britain's two political giants.

Johnson believes a mid-October election will allow the British public to decide whether he heads to Brussels, with his threat of a deal or no deal Brexit, or pave the way for main opposition Labour to negotiate a delay to Britain's departure from the European Union.

LONDON (AP) — The new American secretary of defense, Mark Esper, is cautioning European allies to be wary of China’s growing global influence.

In a speech to a British think tank on Friday, Esper said countries that grow too dependent on Chinese investment and trade become susceptible to coercion and retribution when they cross Beijing.