China trip: Blinken postpones diplomatic visit following balloon discovery February 3, 2023 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a planned high-stakes weekend diplomatic trip to China as the Biden administration weighs a broader response to the discovery of a high-altitude Chinese balloon flying over sensitive sites in the western United States, a US official said. The abrupt decision comes despite China’s claim that the balloon [...]
Brexit activist Gina Miller claims deputy PM Dominic Raab launched ‘abusive attack’ on her as bullying row rumbles on February 3, 2023 Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab is facing a fresh claim of bullying after an anti-Brexit campaigner alleged he launched an “abusive attack” on her. Gina Miller said Mr Raab, who was also appointed as Justice Secretary by Rishi Sunak, was “aggressive and intimidating” during an “aggressive encounter”. A source close to Mr Raab, who denies [...]
China ‘looking into’ accusations of sending spy satellite ballon to US airspace February 3, 2023 China said it is looking into reports one of its spy satellite has been flying in US airspace. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China is a “responsible country” which has “always strictly abided by international laws” and “has no intention to violate the territory and airspace of any sovereign countries”. She added: “As for [...]
Strikes: Labour MPs including Tarry, Lavery and Osborne defy Starmer’s order not to joint picket line – but no action taken yet February 1, 2023 A number of Labour MPs have joined picket lines to support striking workers, despite party leader Keir Starmer previously saying no MP should be on a picket line “if they want to be in government”. The official Conservative Party press office account shared tweets from 13 Labour MPs such as Richard Burgon, Ian Lavery and [...]
Johnson piles pressure on Sunak: No.10 insists ex-PM ‘acting in own capacity’ with plea to give Ukraine UK fighter jets February 1, 2023 Boris Johnson has piled pressure on Western leaders to supply fighter jets to Ukraine, setting up a clash with Rishi Sunak. The UK said it is not practical to provide sophisticated planes used by the RAF, such as Typhoons and F-35s, and US President Joe Biden has ruled out sending F-16 fighters. Downing Street stressed [...]
Lord Frost: Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated with the EU puts safety of Good Friday Agreement at risk February 1, 2023 The European Union is putting the safety of the Good Friday deal at risk by refusing to change their position on the Northern Ireland Protocol, Lord Frost, Boris Johnson’s Brexit negotiator has said. Lord Frost accused “poisonous politics” in late 2020 and 2021 of undermining the original Protocol, which he himself helped negotiate. In the [...]
Ukraine: Putin preparing major offensive in eastern region of Luhansk to mark anniversary of Russia’s war, officials say February 1, 2023 Russia is mustering its military might in the Luhansk region of Ukraine, local officials said, in what Kyiv suspects is preparation for an offensive in the eastern area as the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion approaches. The Kremlin’s forces are expelling local residents from their homes near the Russian-held parts of the front line so [...]
Taiwan scrambles fighter jets and puts navy on alert after Chinese incursions February 1, 2023 Taiwan has scrambled fighter jets, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations of 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships. The Chinese deployment is part of Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy. The large-scale manoeuvres come as Beijing increases preparations for a potential blockade [...]
UK unemployment figures could be three times higher than official figures with an ‘army of missing workers’ not accounted for – report January 31, 2023 The UK’s unemployment rate could be three times higher than government figures show due to widespread “hidden unemployment,” a report has warned. Official figures published by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there are just 1.2m unemployed people in Britain, leading to an unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent. However, the Centre for [...]
Sunak hails Britain’s “huge strides” since Brexit three years ago – though polls disagree January 31, 2023 Britain has taken “huge strides” in taking advantage of the opportunities opened up by Brexit to address the challenges facing the country, Rishi Sunak has said. In a statement to mark the third anniversary on Tuesday of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the Prime Minister said the country is confidently forging a new path as an [...]