&nbsp;A Conservative lawmaker at the centre of efforts to block a no-deal Brexit said on Saturday he was pessimistic about his chances because he and other party colleagues could not support a caretaker government led by opposition leader<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-opposition-leader-jeremy-corbyn-seeks-to-oust-pm-boris-johnson-to-avoid-no-deal-brexit-243201"> Jeremy Corbyn</a>.

With<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/is-anyone-really-going-to-buy-boris-johnsons-people-vs-politicians-election-campaign-242607"> Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> vowing to take Britain out of the European Union with or without a deal by Oct. 31, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-it-comes-to-a-hard-brexit-british-would-be-the-big-losers-european-unions-jean-claude-juncker-tells-britain-242089">anti-Brexit</a> politicians from all sides have been trying, and so far failing, to agree on a plan to stop it from happening.

Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, wants a caretaker government with himself as head, and then an election.

But other opponents of a no-deal Brexit worry that Corbyn, a staunch leftist, would not win enough support, prompting leaders of smaller parties to put forward their own suggestions as to who could lead a government long enough to delay Brexit.

Oliver Letwin, a lawmaker from Johnson's ruling Conservatives, was asked to lend his support to Corbyn this week, but he told BBC Radio on Saturday: "I don't think it's at all likely that a majority would be formed for that and I wouldn't be able to support that, no."

Asked to explain why, he said even an interim Corbyn-led government could do more damage than a disorderly exit from the world's biggest trading bloc.

Conservative opponents of a no-deal Brexit are deeply suspicious of Corbyn, whom they see as a dangerous Marxist intent on nationalising swathes of British industry and hiking state spending and taxes.

AGREEMENT ELUSIVE

"It's well worth having discussions with everybody across the House because there's probably a majority of MPs (Members of Parliament) who don't want to have a no-deal exit but the issue is can we get all of those MPs on some alternative proposition?

"I'm not terribly optimistic about all this because I don't see yet emerging an agreement on that," he said.

To form a new parliamentary majority with cross-party backing, Letwin said lawmakers would first have to agree on a strategy for Brexit, revealing the divisions that have hampered pro-EU politicians since they lost the 2016 referendum.

While some accept the result and want a negotiated withdrawal from the bloc to soften the economic impact, others are pushing for a second referendum in the hope of reversing the 2016 vote to leave the EU.

"There is a high likelihood, alas, that this country is going to leave without a deal on the 31st of October," Letwin said.

A Conservative lawmaker at the centre of efforts to block a no-deal Brexit said on Saturday he was pessimistic about his chances because he and other party colleagues could not support a caretaker government led by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.

A Conservative lawmaker at the centre of efforts to block a no-deal Brexit said on Saturday he was pessimistic about his chances because he and other party colleagues could not support a caretaker government led by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn. With Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowing to take Britain out of the European Union with or without a deal by Oct. 31, anti-Brexit politicians from all sides have been trying, and so far failing, to agree on a plan to stop it from happening. Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, wants a caretaker government with himself as head, and then an election. But other opponents of a no-deal Brexit worry that Corbyn, a staunch leftist, would not win enough support, prompting leaders of smaller parties to put forward their own suggestions as to who could lead a government long enough to delay Brexit. Oliver Letwin, a lawmaker from Johnson's ruling Conservatives, was asked to lend his support to Corbyn this week, but he told BBC Radio on Saturday: "I don't think it's at all likely that a majority would be formed for that and I wouldn't be able to support that, no." Asked to explain why, he said even an interim Corbyn-led government could do more damage than a disorderly exit from the world's biggest trading bloc. Conservative opponents of a no-deal Brexit are deeply suspicious of Corbyn, whom they see as a dangerous Marxist intent on nationalising swathes of British industry and hiking state spending and taxes. AGREEMENT ELUSIVE "It's well worth having discussions with everybody across the House because there's probably a majority of MPs (Members of Parliament) who don't want to have a no-deal exit but the issue is can we get all of those MPs on some alternative proposition? "I'm not terribly optimistic about all this because I don't see yet emerging an agreement on that," he said. To form a new parliamentary majority with cross-party backing, Letwin said lawmakers would first have to agree on a strategy for Brexit, revealing the divisions that have hampered pro-EU politicians since they lost the 2016 referendum. While some accept the result and want a negotiated withdrawal from the bloc to soften the economic impact, others are pushing for a second referendum in the hope of reversing the 2016 vote to leave the EU. "There is a high likelihood, alas, that this country is going to leave without a deal on the 31st of October," Letwin said.

Senior UK Conservative lawmaker says he could not back Jeremy Corbyn-led government

July 2019 temperatures were the hottest ever recorded globally, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Thursday, while satellite data showed polar ice shrank to its lowest levels.

July 2019 temperatures were the hottest ever recorded globally, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Thursday, while satellite data showed polar ice shrank to its lowest levels. According to the NOAA, the average global temperature for the month was 0.95 degrees Celsius (1.71 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 20th century average of 15.8 degrees Celsius (60.4 Fahrenheit), making it the hottest July in its records, which go back to 1880. "Much of the planet sweltered in unprecedented heat in July, as temperatures soared to new heights in the hottest month ever recorded. The record warmth also shrank Arctic and Antarctic sea ice to historic lows," the agency said. The findings confirmed data released by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service on August 5, though the margin of the new record compared to the last, on July 2016, was greater according to the US data. Searing heat waves saw records tumble across Europe last month, while in the US, nearly 150 million people struggled to stay cool from the Midwestern plains to the Atlantic coast and local media reported at least six deaths. The new high is all the more notable because the previous followed a strong El Nino, which boosts average global temperatures beyond the impact of global warming alone. El Ninos are naturally occurring weather events triggered by periodic warming every three to seven years in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Declining polar sea ice "Nine of the 10 hottest July have occurred since 2005 with the last five years ranking as the five hottest," the NOAA said, based on its data from weather stations, ship reports, and buoys. Alaska had its hottest July since it began keeping records in 2005, several countries in Europe saw their heat records smashed, and it was also the hottest month ever across Africa as a whole. There were some regions with cooler than average temperatures including parts of Scandinavia and western and eastern Russia, where temperatures were at least 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) below average or cooler. Average Arctic sea ice meanwhile set a record low for July, at 1.9 million square kilometres (726,000 square miles), 19.8 per cent below average, and surpassing the previous historic low of July 2012. Average Antarctic sea ice was 675,000 square kilometres (260,000 square miles), 4.3 per cent below the 1981-2010 average, making it the smallest for July in the 41-year record. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described global warming and the breaking of recent records as a "climate emergency." "We have always lived through hot summers. But this is not the summer of our youth. This is not your grandfather's summer." US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2017 from the Paris Climate Agreement, which seeks to cap global warming at below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. But a federal climate assessment released by the NOAA last November found that climate change "is affecting the natural environment, agriculture, energy production, and use, land and water resources, transportation, and human health and welfare across the US and its territories."

July 2019 hottest month on record for the planet: US agency

The leader of the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats party said on Friday two senior lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition have indicated willingness to lead an emergency government to prevent a no-deal divorce with the European Union.

Given Prime Minister<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uks-johnson-tells-civil-servants-their-top-priority-is-preparing-for-no-deal-brexit-sky-241873"> Boris Johnson</a> wants to take Britain out of the EU on October&nbsp;31, with or without a negotiated transition, foes are plotting how to bring him down and stop a no-deal Brexit they say would be disastrous for the economy.

The main opposition party Labour's leader<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-opposition-leader-jeremy-corbyn-seeks-to-oust-pm-boris-johnson-to-avoid-no-deal-brexit-243201"> Jeremy Corbyn wants a no-confidence vote</a>, caretaker government with him as head, then an election, while the Liberal Democrats prefer to find alternative leaders for a unity government.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson told BBC radio on Friday that former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman and ruling Conservative party veteran Ken Clarke had both told her they would be prepared to assume that role.

"They put public duty first and they don't want to see a no-deal Brexit," Swinson said.

"If the House of Commons asks them to lead an emergency government to get our country out of this Brexit mess and to stop us driving off that cliff to a <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/food-sector-is-absolutely-clear-that-a-no-deal-exit-is-a-disastrous-outcometrade-body-241342">no-deal</a>, then yes they are prepared to do that."

With Johnson staking his premiership on Brexit, the EU refusing to re-open a previously-negotiated withdrawal deal and a majority of lawmakers opposed to a no-deal divorce, Britain is heading for a parliamentary showdown and constitutional crisis.

Opponents of no deal say it would be a nightmare for what was once one of the West’s most stable democracies. A disorderly divorce, they say, would hurt global growth, send shockwaves through financial markets and weaken London’s claim to be the world’s preeminent financial centre.

Brexit supporters say there may be short-term disruption from a no-deal exit but that the economy will eventually thrive if cut free from what they cast as a doomed experiment in integration that has led to Europe falling behind China and the United States.

Labour wants a vote of no-confidence in the government shortly after parliament returns from its summer break on September&nbsp;3. Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News the government would win such a vote.

"I don't see Jeremy Corbyn being able to come together with the numbers, nor do I see any prospect of him leading a so-called national unity government," he said.

"He's the most unpopular leader of the opposition we've ever had and the idea that he's going to lead a unity government I think is ridiculous," he said.

The leader of the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats party said on Friday two senior lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition have indicated willingness to lead an emergency government to prevent a no-deal divorce with the European Union.

The leader of the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats party said on Friday two senior lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition have indicated willingness to lead an emergency government to prevent a no-deal divorce with the European Union. Given Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to take Britain out of the EU on October 31, with or without a negotiated transition, foes are plotting how to bring him down and stop a no-deal Brexit they say would be disastrous for the economy. The main opposition party Labour's leader Jeremy Corbyn wants a no-confidence vote, caretaker government with him as head, then an election, while the Liberal Democrats prefer to find alternative leaders for a unity government. Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson told BBC radio on Friday that former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman and ruling Conservative party veteran Ken Clarke had both told her they would be prepared to assume that role. "They put public duty first and they don't want to see a no-deal Brexit," Swinson said. "If the House of Commons asks them to lead an emergency government to get our country out of this Brexit mess and to stop us driving off that cliff to a no-deal, then yes they are prepared to do that." With Johnson staking his premiership on Brexit, the EU refusing to re-open a previously-negotiated withdrawal deal and a majority of lawmakers opposed to a no-deal divorce, Britain is heading for a parliamentary showdown and constitutional crisis. Opponents of no deal say it would be a nightmare for what was once one of the West’s most stable democracies. A disorderly divorce, they say, would hurt global growth, send shockwaves through financial markets and weaken London’s claim to be the world’s preeminent financial centre. Brexit supporters say there may be short-term disruption from a no-deal exit but that the economy will eventually thrive if cut free from what they cast as a doomed experiment in integration that has led to Europe falling behind China and the United States. Labour wants a vote of no-confidence in the government shortly after parliament returns from its summer break on September 3. Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News the government would win such a vote. "I don't see Jeremy Corbyn being able to come together with the numbers, nor do I see any prospect of him leading a so-called national unity government," he said. "He's the most unpopular leader of the opposition we've ever had and the idea that he's going to lead a unity government I think is ridiculous," he said.

Anti-Brexit party reveals candidates for emergency UK government

American&nbsp;heavy&nbsp;metal&nbsp;band&nbsp;Metallica has donated&nbsp;250,000&nbsp;euros&nbsp;to a&nbsp;Romanian&nbsp;association building the country's first&nbsp;pediatric&nbsp;oncology&nbsp;hospital, they said on Wednesday.

The donation to Daruieste Viata (Give Life), founded in 2012, came ahead of the&nbsp;band's sold-out concert on Wednesday, it's fourth in the European Union state since 1999, the association said on its Facebook page.

The donation was made through the&nbsp;band's non-profit foundation All Within My Hands, it said in a statement.

Construction began in mid-2018 on the&nbsp;hospital&nbsp;in Bucharest, one of the few to be built in Romania over the last three decades.

The project is expected to be completed next year, with donations from 260,000 individuals and slightly fewer than 2,000 companies so far.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-champion-simona-halep-awarded-with-romanias-highest-distinctions-236307">Romania</a> has one of the EU's least developed infrastructure due to weak public administration, corruption, and bureaucracy, despite years of strong economic growth and billions of euros&nbsp;in EU funding.

The current government has repeatedly postponed plans to build three new regional&nbsp;hospitals for which the EU has allocated fund

American heavy metal band Metallica has donated 250,000 euros to a Romanian association building the country's first pediatric oncology hospital, they said on Wednesday.

American heavy metal band Metallica has donated 250,000 euros to a Romanian association building the country's first pediatric oncology hospital, they said on Wednesday. The donation to Daruieste Viata (Give Life), founded in 2012, came ahead of the band's sold-out concert on Wednesday, it's fourth in the European Union state since 1999, the association said on its Facebook page. The donation was made through the band's non-profit foundation All Within My Hands, it said in a statement. Construction began in mid-2018 on the hospital in Bucharest, one of the few to be built in Romania over the last three decades. The project is expected to be completed next year, with donations from 260,000 individuals and slightly fewer than 2,000 companies so far. Romania has one of the EU's least developed infrastructure due to weak public administration, corruption, and bureaucracy, despite years of strong economic growth and billions of euros in EU funding. The current government has repeatedly postponed plans to build three new regional hospitals for which the EU has allocated fund

Heavy metal band Metallica donates 250,000 euros for Romanian pediatric hospital

Britain's labour&nbsp;market&nbsp;showed unexpected strength in the second quarter, in sharp contrast with figures last week that showed the economy contracted over the same period as the country gears up for Brexit.

Total earnings growth including bonuses rose by an annual 3.7 per cent in the three months to June - the highest rate since June 2008 and up from 3.5 per cent in May, and line with forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists.

The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-is-a-massive-economic-opportunity-uk-prime-minister-johnson-238855">&nbsp;jobs&nbsp;market&nbsp;has been a silver lining</a> for the economy since the Brexit vote in June 2016, something many economists have attributed to employers preferring to hire workers they can later lay off rather than making longer-term commitments to investment.

Tuesday's figures showed Britain created 115,000&nbsp;jobs&nbsp;in the second quarter, bringing the level of employment to a record 32.811 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

"The&nbsp;jobs&nbsp;market&nbsp;remains a source of strength for the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;economy, though it may now be reaching its peak," said Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors.

Sterling showed little reaction to the data, which tends to lag broader trends in the economy and had also appeared healthy in the lead-up to the financial crisis.

Excluding bonuses, annual pay growth picked up to 3.9 per cent from 3.6 per cent, the ONS said, compared with the poll forecast for growth of 3.8 per cent.

A little of the strength in the pay data reflected the unusual timing of annual pay rises for public health workers in 2018 when a larger-than-normal increase was deferred until July.

Some details pointed to tougher times ahead after data last week showed the economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.2 per cent in the three months to June.

The unemployment rate rose to 3.9 per cent, against expectations for it to hold steady 3.8 per cent, and while employment growth far exceeded forecasts, part-time rather than full-time&nbsp;jobs accounted entirely for the increase.

Output per hour, the headline measure of productivity, fell 0.6 per cent in annual terms - the fourth quarter of decline in a row and the longest such run since mid-2013.

Poor productivity is one of Britain's biggest economic challenges and, until recently, had contributed to a decade of weak pay growth.

The number of job vacancies, an indicator of future employment, fell to 820,000 in the three months to July from 824,000 in the period to June, the lowest level in more than a year.

Some recent surveys of companies have suggested employers are turning more cautious about hiring as new Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to take Britain out of the European Union on October 31, with or without a deal.

The Bank of England said this month it saw signs of a softening in labour&nbsp;market&nbsp;indicators.

Britain's labour market showed unexpected strength in the second quarter, in sharp contrast with figures last week that showed the economy contracted over the same period as the country gears up for Brexit.

Britain's labour market showed unexpected strength in the second quarter, in sharp contrast with figures last week that showed the economy contracted over the same period as the country gears up for Brexit. Total earnings growth including bonuses rose by an annual 3.7 per cent in the three months to June - the highest rate since June 2008 and up from 3.5 per cent in May, and line with forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists. The jobs market has been a silver lining for the economy since the Brexit vote in June 2016, something many economists have attributed to employers preferring to hire workers they can later lay off rather than making longer-term commitments to investment. Tuesday's figures showed Britain created 115,000 jobs in the second quarter, bringing the level of employment to a record 32.811 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. "The jobs market remains a source of strength for the UK economy, though it may now be reaching its peak," said Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors. Sterling showed little reaction to the data, which tends to lag broader trends in the economy and had also appeared healthy in the lead-up to the financial crisis. Excluding bonuses, annual pay growth picked up to 3.9 per cent from 3.6 per cent, the ONS said, compared with the poll forecast for growth of 3.8 per cent. A little of the strength in the pay data reflected the unusual timing of annual pay rises for public health workers in 2018 when a larger-than-normal increase was deferred until July. Some details pointed to tougher times ahead after data last week showed the economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.2 per cent in the three months to June. The unemployment rate rose to 3.9 per cent, against expectations for it to hold steady 3.8 per cent, and while employment growth far exceeded forecasts, part-time rather than full-time jobs accounted entirely for the increase. Output per hour, the headline measure of productivity, fell 0.6 per cent in annual terms - the fourth quarter of decline in a row and the longest such run since mid-2013. Poor productivity is one of Britain's biggest economic challenges and, until recently, had contributed to a decade of weak pay growth. The number of job vacancies, an indicator of future employment, fell to 820,000 in the three months to July from 824,000 in the period to June, the lowest level in more than a year. Some recent surveys of companies have suggested employers are turning more cautious about hiring as new Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to take Britain out of the European Union on October 31, with or without a deal. The Bank of England said this month it saw signs of a softening in labour market indicators.

UK jobs market shines, but clouds on the horizon

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to all government employees on Friday to tell them that preparing for a no-deal exit from the European Union is his and their top priority, according to a copy of the email seen by Reuters.

Johnson has promised voters Britain will leave the EU on October 31 with or without an exit deal, demanding that Brussels drop parts of the existing proposed deal relating to the Irish border and negotiate a fresh exit arrangement.

But the EU is adamant that the legal terms of the deal cannot be rewritten, raising expectations among politicians and financial markets that Britain is headed for an unmanaged divorce from the bloc in less than three months.

"I would very much prefer to leave with a deal – one that must abolish the anti-democratic Irish backstop, which has unacceptable consequences for our country," Johnson said in the email.

"But I recognise this may not happen. That is why preparing urgently and rapidly for the possibility of an exit without a deal will be my top priority, and it will be the top priority for the Civil Service too."

Previously, pro-Brexit campaigners have criticised the ranks of Britain's civil service, which adopts a politically neutral stance while working to enact government policy, saying they were biased towards remaining in the EU and trying to obstruct the exit process.

Many investors say a no-deal Brexit would send shock waves through the world economy, tip Britain into a recession, roil financial markets and weaken London's position as the pre-eminent international financial centre.

"I know many of you have already done a great deal of hard work in mobilising to prepare for a No Deal scenario, so that we can leave on 31 October come what may," Johnson wrote in the email, first reported by Sky News.

"Between now and then, we must engage and communicate clearly with the British people about what our plans for taking back control mean, what people and businesses need to do, and the support we will provide."

Although advocates of a no-deal exit say that Britain would swiftly recover from any disruption and benefit over the long term from improved economic flexibility, sterling and other economic indicators reflect a broadly pessimistic outlook.

Data on Friday showed the British economy shrank unexpectedly for the first time since 2012 in the second quarter, dragged down by a slump in manufacturing.

Johnson, however praised the work of government employees in the 650-word bulletin issued on Friday afternoon, and promised a reforming agenda beyond Brexit, highlighting plans for improved public services.

"The Government I lead is fully committed to leaving the European Union by 31 October 2019 and getting a grip of the vital issues that affect people’s lives: the NHS, education and crime," he wrote.

"While there are no grounds for complacency, there is every reason for optimism."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to all government employees on Friday to tell them that preparing for a no-deal exit from the European Union is his and their top priority, according to a copy of the email seen by Reuters.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to all government employees on Friday to tell them that preparing for a no-deal exit from the European Union is his and their top priority, according to a copy of the email seen by Reuters. Johnson has promised voters Britain will leave the EU on October 31 with or without an exit deal, demanding that Brussels drop parts of the existing proposed deal relating to the Irish border and negotiate a fresh exit arrangement. But the EU is adamant that the legal terms of the deal cannot be rewritten, raising expectations among politicians and financial markets that Britain is headed for an unmanaged divorce from the bloc in less than three months. "I would very much prefer to leave with a deal – one that must abolish the anti-democratic Irish backstop, which has unacceptable consequences for our country," Johnson said in the email. "But I recognise this may not happen. That is why preparing urgently and rapidly for the possibility of an exit without a deal will be my top priority, and it will be the top priority for the Civil Service too." Previously, pro-Brexit campaigners have criticised the ranks of Britain's civil service, which adopts a politically neutral stance while working to enact government policy, saying they were biased towards remaining in the EU and trying to obstruct the exit process. Many investors say a no-deal Brexit would send shock waves through the world economy, tip Britain into a recession, roil financial markets and weaken London's position as the pre-eminent international financial centre. "I know many of you have already done a great deal of hard work in mobilising to prepare for a No Deal scenario, so that we can leave on 31 October come what may," Johnson wrote in the email, first reported by Sky News. "Between now and then, we must engage and communicate clearly with the British people about what our plans for taking back control mean, what people and businesses need to do, and the support we will provide." Although advocates of a no-deal exit say that Britain would swiftly recover from any disruption and benefit over the long term from improved economic flexibility, sterling and other economic indicators reflect a broadly pessimistic outlook. Data on Friday showed the British economy shrank unexpectedly for the first time since 2012 in the second quarter, dragged down by a slump in manufacturing. Johnson, however praised the work of government employees in the 650-word bulletin issued on Friday afternoon, and promised a reforming agenda beyond Brexit, highlighting plans for improved public services. "The Government I lead is fully committed to leaving the European Union by 31 October 2019 and getting a grip of the vital issues that affect people’s lives: the NHS, education and crime," he wrote. "While there are no grounds for complacency, there is every reason for optimism."

UK's Boris Johnson tells civil servants their top priority is preparing for no deal Brexit: Report

Is it too late to hold an election before Brexit? Yes, probably

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italys-di-maio-says-government-to-survive-rules-out-alternative-majority-paper-236830">The Italian government</a> on Monday won a confidence vote in the Senate on a decree targeting charities operating migrant rescue ships, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-rescue-sailboat-defies-italys-salvini-docks-in-italy-233653">in a victory for Interior Minister Matteo Salvini</a> and his far-right League party.

The government of the League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement has been riven by internal strife in recent weeks but won the vote by 160 to 57.&nbsp;

It would have had to resign had it lost the motion. 
&nbsp; 
The decree drawn up by Salvini, who also serves as deputy prime minister, toughens sanctions on charity ships that seek to bring migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to Italy.

The decree had already been passed by the lower house and so now becomes law just a couple of days before parliament closes on Wednesday for the summer recess.

Some 5-Star politicians have expressed reservations about the decree, and some of its senators did not back it in Monday's vote.&nbsp;

Their defection was compensated by the fact the centre-right opposition party Forza Italia did not take part in the vote, saying they agreed with the aims of the decree.

Confidence votes are often used by Italian governments as a way of speeding legislation through parliament, truncating debate and sweeping away opposition amendments.

The decree hikes maximum fines for ships that enter Italian waters without authorization to 1 million euros ($1.12 million) from a previous 50,000.&nbsp;

It also provides for the arrest of captains who ignore orders to stay away and calls on naval authorities to seize their boats automatically.

Salvini has clashed repeatedly with humanitarian groups that pick up migrants off the coast of Libya to bring them to Italy, preventing them from docking until other EU countries agree to take in most of them.

In June, the German vessel Sea-Watch, captained by Carola Rackete, was seized when it entered the port of Lampedusa without permission.&nbsp;

Rackete was later freed from house arrest, prompting Salvini to denounce the judge who issued the ruling.&nbsp;

Salvini`s popularity has soared on the back of his uncompromising, anti-migrant position.&nbsp;

A poll by the Winpoll agency published on Friday in business daily Il Sole 24 ore put support for the League at 39 per cent, making it easily the country`s most popular party with more than double its share of the vote at last year's parliamentary election.

The Italian government on Monday won a confidence vote in the Senate on a decree targeting charities operating migrant rescue ships, in a victory for Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and his far-right League party.

The Italian government on Monday won a confidence vote in the Senate on a decree targeting charities operating migrant rescue ships, in a victory for Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and his far-right League party. The government of the League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement has been riven by internal strife in recent weeks but won the vote by 160 to 57. It would have had to resign had it lost the motion. The decree drawn up by Salvini, who also serves as deputy prime minister, toughens sanctions on charity ships that seek to bring migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to Italy. The decree had already been passed by the lower house and so now becomes law just a couple of days before parliament closes on Wednesday for the summer recess. Some 5-Star politicians have expressed reservations about the decree, and some of its senators did not back it in Monday's vote. Their defection was compensated by the fact the centre-right opposition party Forza Italia did not take part in the vote, saying they agreed with the aims of the decree. Confidence votes are often used by Italian governments as a way of speeding legislation through parliament, truncating debate and sweeping away opposition amendments. The decree hikes maximum fines for ships that enter Italian waters without authorization to 1 million euros ($1.12 million) from a previous 50,000. It also provides for the arrest of captains who ignore orders to stay away and calls on naval authorities to seize their boats automatically. Salvini has clashed repeatedly with humanitarian groups that pick up migrants off the coast of Libya to bring them to Italy, preventing them from docking until other EU countries agree to take in most of them. In June, the German vessel Sea-Watch, captained by Carola Rackete, was seized when it entered the port of Lampedusa without permission. Rackete was later freed from house arrest, prompting Salvini to denounce the judge who issued the ruling. Salvini`s popularity has soared on the back of his uncompromising, anti-migrant position. A poll by the Winpoll agency published on Friday in business daily Il Sole 24 ore put support for the League at 39 per cent, making it easily the country`s most popular party with more than double its share of the vote at last year's parliamentary election.

Italy government wins a confidence vote on decree targeting migrant rescue ships

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a project of, by, and for Pakistan's elites which completely lacks local ownership, says a researcher based in Brussels.

"Local communities got completely sidelined by the national decision-makers", said Dr Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF). There is widespread condemnation by the locals in Pakistan and Gilgit Baltistan of the multibillion-dollar development project.

"As such it does not come as a surprise, that the locals have to share most of the social, economic as well as environmental costs but at the same time get deprived of their fair share of the expected/envisaged revenues," Wolf said.

"Since the decisions regarding projects are exclusively done by the central government in coordination with China's leadership, the CPEC projects do not address local demands and needs," he added.

CPEC is a dream project Chinese President Xi Jinping as it will provide China easy access to the EU market.

"China spends tremendous efforts and money in public diplomacy to influence the opinions in media, academia, business circles and among political decision-makers in BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) as well as in non-BRI countries.&nbsp;However, one can also state that there is an increasing number of critical voices and reports on the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-attaches-great-importance-to-projects-taken-under-cpec-imran-khan-229067"> </a>CPEC and other BRI projects<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-attaches-great-importance-to-projects-taken-under-cpec-imran-khan-229067">, </a>indicating that these Chinese influence measures are only partly successful and losing their efficiency," Wolf further said.

In Pakistan, the locals are unhappy as it has not only displaced thousands of them but has also exploited their land and resources.

"The CPEC will lead to tremendous economic distortions in Pakistan, disadvantaging domestic entrepreneurs vis-a-vis Chinese companies and Pakistani military businesses. Large segments of local communities will suffer from negative impacts on their traditional livelihoods due to increasing environmental problems and displacements," he added.

"We will most likely witness a deterioration of the security situation due to an increase in growing militant resistance against the CPEC, as well as anti-Chinese activities conducted by domestic and international Jihadi groups in order to harm Beijing's interests and assets abroad," the researcher also said.&nbsp;

"The subsequent growing militarisation of areas dedicated to CPEC projects will lead to an increase of human rights violations and further truncation of political rights, freedom of the press and free expression of opinion. In consequence, the CPEC is turning into another threat for democracy in Pakistan," Wolf warned.&nbsp;

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a project of, by, and for Pakistan's elites which completely lacks local ownership, says a researcher based in Brussels.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a project of, by, and for Pakistan's elites which completely lacks local ownership, says a researcher based in Brussels. "Local communities got completely sidelined by the national decision-makers", said Dr Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF). There is widespread condemnation by the locals in Pakistan and Gilgit Baltistan of the multibillion-dollar development project. "As such it does not come as a surprise, that the locals have to share most of the social, economic as well as environmental costs but at the same time get deprived of their fair share of the expected/envisaged revenues," Wolf said. "Since the decisions regarding projects are exclusively done by the central government in coordination with China's leadership, the CPEC projects do not address local demands and needs," he added. CPEC is a dream project Chinese President Xi Jinping as it will provide China easy access to the EU market. "China spends tremendous efforts and money in public diplomacy to influence the opinions in media, academia, business circles and among political decision-makers in BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) as well as in non-BRI countries. However, one can also state that there is an increasing number of critical voices and reports on the CPEC and other BRI projects, indicating that these Chinese influence measures are only partly successful and losing their efficiency," Wolf further said. In Pakistan, the locals are unhappy as it has not only displaced thousands of them but has also exploited their land and resources. "The CPEC will lead to tremendous economic distortions in Pakistan, disadvantaging domestic entrepreneurs vis-a-vis Chinese companies and Pakistani military businesses. Large segments of local communities will suffer from negative impacts on their traditional livelihoods due to increasing environmental problems and displacements," he added. "We will most likely witness a deterioration of the security situation due to an increase in growing militant resistance against the CPEC, as well as anti-Chinese activities conducted by domestic and international Jihadi groups in order to harm Beijing's interests and assets abroad," the researcher also said. "The subsequent growing militarisation of areas dedicated to CPEC projects will lead to an increase of human rights violations and further truncation of political rights, freedom of the press and free expression of opinion. In consequence, the CPEC is turning into another threat for democracy in Pakistan," Wolf warned.

CPEC project for Pakistan's elites, lack local leadership: Researcher

Polish lawmakers have approved a measure that would exonerate most workers under the age of 26 from income taxes as the country seeks to stem the flow of its young people to other EU nations in search of better-paying jobs.

The lower house of parliament approved the measure introduced by the ruling conservatives in a vote late Thursday by an overwhelming majority.

The bill would exonerate workers under the age of 26 from Poland's 18 per cent personal income tax for those whose gross earnings don't surpass 85,500 zlotys (20,000 euros, $22,500) per year.

That level is higher than Poland's average income, estimated to be around 60,000 zlotys per year before tax.

The approval of the measure by the upper house of parliament and its signature by the president is widely expected.

Some two million people could benefit from the measure, according to supporters of the legislation, which should enter into force from August 1.

Poland has long been haemorrhaging skilled workers to other EU states where they can find better-paying jobs, posing both a long-term demographic risk and short-term problem finding enough labourers to continue the country's streak of economic growth since the fall of communism in 1989.

The measure was one of the campaign promises made by the ruling Law and Justice party ahead of the European parliamentary elections in May, which it won, and legislative elections scheduled for later this year. 
&nbsp;

Polish lawmakers have approved a measure that would exonerate most workers under the age of 26 from income taxes as the country seeks to stem the flow of its young people to other EU nations in search of better-paying jobs.

Polish lawmakers have approved a measure that would exonerate most workers under the age of 26 from income taxes as the country seeks to stem the flow of its young people to other EU nations in search of better-paying jobs. The lower house of parliament approved the measure introduced by the ruling conservatives in a vote late Thursday by an overwhelming majority. The bill would exonerate workers under the age of 26 from Poland's 18 per cent personal income tax for those whose gross earnings don't surpass 85,500 zlotys (20,000 euros, $22,500) per year. That level is higher than Poland's average income, estimated to be around 60,000 zlotys per year before tax. The approval of the measure by the upper house of parliament and its signature by the president is widely expected. Some two million people could benefit from the measure, according to supporters of the legislation, which should enter into force from August 1. Poland has long been haemorrhaging skilled workers to other EU states where they can find better-paying jobs, posing both a long-term demographic risk and short-term problem finding enough labourers to continue the country's streak of economic growth since the fall of communism in 1989. The measure was one of the campaign promises made by the ruling Law and Justice party ahead of the European parliamentary elections in May, which it won, and legislative elections scheduled for later this year.

Poland moves to exempt young workers from income tax

Poland has introduced a new law in the country to keep a check on the rising brain drain.

The law aims at scrapping income tax for nearly 2 million young workers and&nbsp;will come into effect this week.

Poles under the age of 26 earning less than 85,528 Polish zloty ($22,547) a year will be exempt from the country's 18 per cent&nbsp;income tax starting August 1.&nbsp;

The country has been experiencing increasing brain drain since the past 15 years after it joined the European Union.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki claims that the&nbsp;law will bring new opportunities for the young citizens of the country.

&nbsp;

Poland has introduced a new law in the country to keep a check on the rising brain drain. The law aims at scrapping income tax for nearly 2 million young workers and will come into effect this week.

Poland has introduced a new law in the country to keep a check on the rising brain drain. The law aims at scrapping income tax for nearly 2 million young workers and will come into effect this week. Poles under the age of 26 earning less than 85,528 Polish zloty ($22,547) a year will be exempt from the country's 18 per cent income tax starting August 1. The country has been experiencing increasing brain drain since the past 15 years after it joined the European Union. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki claims that the law will bring new opportunities for the young citizens of the country.

Poland scraps income tax for young workers

Representatives of Iran, Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia and the European Union met in Vienna to discuss the 2015 agreement that restricts the Iranian nuclear program. Watch video to know more

EU, China and Russia meet Iran in Vienna

An Italian coastguard vessel stranded in the Mediterranean with more than 130 migrants aboard has been allowed to dock in the eastern Sicilian port of Augusta but Rome on Sunday refused to let them disembark until a deal is struck with the EU.

"The Gregoretti berthed in the port of Augusta overnight, as is normal procedure for a military vessel. Now the EU has to act because the migration question concerns the whole continent," Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a statement.

Some 140 migrants, who had set off from Libya in two rickety boats, were picked up by Italian patrols on Thursday night and transferred to the Gregoretti ship.

The operation took place on the same day that at least 115 other migrants were believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off Libya -- the Mediterranean's deadliest tragedy this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Several migrants aboard the Gregoretti have already been evacuated for medical attention, including a seven-month pregnant woman, her two children and her partner.

However, Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has reiterated that the remaining migrants would not be able to leave the vessel until other European countries agree to take them in.

Salvini, also deputy prime minister, has taken a hard line against migrants rescued at sea being brought to Italy, which he says bears an unfair burden in the crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced last Monday that 14 EU members had approved a plan to redistribute refugees rescued in the Mediterranean, and eight said they would actively take part.

The proposal drew Salvini's because it still involved allowing migrants to disembark on his country's territory.&nbsp;

He said the agreement underscored a demand that Italy "continues to be the refugee camp of Europe".

Pope Francis on Sunday called on the international community to "act swiftly" to help avoid further deaths.

"I have learned with sorrow the news of the dramatic shipwreck that happened in recent days in the Mediterranean where dozens of migrants including women and children have lost their lives," he said Sunday during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter's Square.

"I am renewing my call that the international community act swiftly and decisively to avoid that such tragedies repeat themselves and guarantee the safety and dignity of all."

An Italian coastguard vessel stranded in the Mediterranean with more than 130 migrants aboard has been allowed to dock in the eastern Sicilian port of Augusta but Rome on Sunday refused to let them disembark until a deal is struck with the EU.

An Italian coastguard vessel stranded in the Mediterranean with more than 130 migrants aboard has been allowed to dock in the eastern Sicilian port of Augusta but Rome on Sunday refused to let them disembark until a deal is struck with the EU. "The Gregoretti berthed in the port of Augusta overnight, as is normal procedure for a military vessel. Now the EU has to act because the migration question concerns the whole continent," Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a statement. Some 140 migrants, who had set off from Libya in two rickety boats, were picked up by Italian patrols on Thursday night and transferred to the Gregoretti ship. The operation took place on the same day that at least 115 other migrants were believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off Libya -- the Mediterranean's deadliest tragedy this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Several migrants aboard the Gregoretti have already been evacuated for medical attention, including a seven-month pregnant woman, her two children and her partner. However, Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has reiterated that the remaining migrants would not be able to leave the vessel until other European countries agree to take them in. Salvini, also deputy prime minister, has taken a hard line against migrants rescued at sea being brought to Italy, which he says bears an unfair burden in the crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron announced last Monday that 14 EU members had approved a plan to redistribute refugees rescued in the Mediterranean, and eight said they would actively take part. The proposal drew Salvini's because it still involved allowing migrants to disembark on his country's territory. He said the agreement underscored a demand that Italy "continues to be the refugee camp of Europe". Pope Francis on Sunday called on the international community to "act swiftly" to help avoid further deaths. "I have learned with sorrow the news of the dramatic shipwreck that happened in recent days in the Mediterranean where dozens of migrants including women and children have lost their lives," he said Sunday during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter's Square. "I am renewing my call that the international community act swiftly and decisively to avoid that such tragedies repeat themselves and guarantee the safety and dignity of all."

Dozens of migrants still stuck on vessel in Italy port

A no-deal Brexit could lead to a united Ireland as more people in Northern Ireland would "come to question the union" with Britain, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said.

His comments came after new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../ireland-says-uks-johnson-very-unhelpful-on- brexit-risks-no-deal-238672">current Brexit deal was unacceptable</a> and set preparations for leaving the EU without an agreement as a "top priority" for his right-wing government.

Tension around the withdrawal deal centres on the so-called Irish backstop -&nbsp;a mechanism designed to preserve the bloc's single market and prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Varadkar warned a no-deal Brexit could see more people in the North question the union with England, Scotland and Wales.

"People who you might describe as moderate nationalists or moderate Catholics who were more or less happy with the status quo will look more towards a united Ireland," Varadkar said Friday at a summer school in county Donegal, the Irish Independent newspaper and other media reported.

"And increasingly you see liberal Protestants, liberal unionists starting to ask the questions as to where they feel more at home.

"Is it in a nationalist Britain that's talking about potentially bringing back the death penalty and things like that? Or is it part of a common European home and part of Ireland?" said Vardakar, whose heavily trade-dependent nation stands to lose most from a messy EU-UK split.

Vardakar said there could be no Brexit deal without the Irish backstop, which Johnson is committed to abolishing.

Johnson has staked his reputation on bringing Britain out of the EU by the current deadline of October 31, meaning that if new negotiations are refused the UK would crash out without a deal in place.

"I think one of the things ironically that could really undermine the union is a hard Brexit, both for Northern Ireland and for Scotland. That's a problem they're going to have to face," Varadkar said, according to the Independent.

Separately, Ireland's foreign minister said on Friday that Johnson had deliberately set Britain on a "collision course" with the EU over Brexit negotiations.

"He seems to have made a deliberate decision to set Britain on a collision course with the European Union and with Ireland in relation to the Brexit negotiations," Simon Coveney was quoted by Irish state broadcaster RTE as saying.

European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker told Johnson on Thursday that EU officials have no mandate to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal agreement, and chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said eliminating the Irish backstop was "unacceptable".

A no-deal Brexit could lead to a united Ireland as more people in Northern Ireland would "come to question the union" with Britain, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said.

A no-deal Brexit could lead to a united Ireland as more people in Northern Ireland would "come to question the union" with Britain, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said. His comments came after new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the current Brexit deal was unacceptable and set preparations for leaving the EU without an agreement as a "top priority" for his right-wing government. Tension around the withdrawal deal centres on the so-called Irish backstop - a mechanism designed to preserve the bloc's single market and prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. Varadkar warned a no-deal Brexit could see more people in the North question the union with England, Scotland and Wales. "People who you might describe as moderate nationalists or moderate Catholics who were more or less happy with the status quo will look more towards a united Ireland," Varadkar said Friday at a summer school in county Donegal, the Irish Independent newspaper and other media reported. "And increasingly you see liberal Protestants, liberal unionists starting to ask the questions as to where they feel more at home. "Is it in a nationalist Britain that's talking about potentially bringing back the death penalty and things like that? Or is it part of a common European home and part of Ireland?" said Vardakar, whose heavily trade-dependent nation stands to lose most from a messy EU-UK split. Vardakar said there could be no Brexit deal without the Irish backstop, which Johnson is committed to abolishing. Johnson has staked his reputation on bringing Britain out of the EU by the current deadline of October 31, meaning that if new negotiations are refused the UK would crash out without a deal in place. "I think one of the things ironically that could really undermine the union is a hard Brexit, both for Northern Ireland and for Scotland. That's a problem they're going to have to face," Varadkar said, according to the Independent. Separately, Ireland's foreign minister said on Friday that Johnson had deliberately set Britain on a "collision course" with the EU over Brexit negotiations. "He seems to have made a deliberate decision to set Britain on a collision course with the European Union and with Ireland in relation to the Brexit negotiations," Simon Coveney was quoted by Irish state broadcaster RTE as saying. European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker told Johnson on Thursday that EU officials have no mandate to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal agreement, and chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said eliminating the Irish backstop was "unacceptable".

Irish PM says no-deal Brexit could lead to united Ireland

Britain's new Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/committed-to-leaving-eu-on-october-31-whatever-the-circumstances-pm-boris-johnson-in-parliament-238407">Boris Johnson urged the EU </a>on Thursday to "rethink" their opposition to renegotiating the current Brexit deal -- only to be immediately rebuffed by Brussels.&nbsp;

In a pugnacious parliamentary debut as leader, the former London mayor warned that the terms of the agreement struck by his predecessor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/buck-stops-here-prime-minister-boris-johnson-promises-new-deal-to-maximise-opportunities-of-brexit-238258">Theresa May were "unacceptable"</a> and would "sign away our economic independence".

"I hope that the EU... will rethink their current refusal to make any changes to the withdrawal agreement," Johnson told MPs.

"If they do not, we will of course have to leave the EU without an agreement," he added, vowing to "turbo-charge" preparations ahead of the latest deadline of October 31.

The former foreign secretary also threatened to withhold the £39 billion ($49 billion) divorce bill that Britain has previously said it owes the European Union and spend it instead on preparing for a no-deal outcome.

Just hours later, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that Johnson's demands were "unacceptable", in an email to member state ambassadors seen by AFP that described his speech as "rather combative".

"PM Johnson has stated that if an agreement is to be reached it goes by way of eliminating the backstop," Barnier wrote, referring to a contentious element of the current deal to keep the Irish border open under all scenarios.&nbsp;

"This is, of course, unacceptable and not within the mandate of the European Council."

With Britain's position appearing to harden, Johnson will talk by telephone with the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker later on Thursday.

A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment on Barnier's comments, adding: "It's day one."

Johnson addressed a raucous session of parliament, in which he was repeatedly shouted down by opposition MPs, a day after initiating a radical overhaul of the cabinet.

Purging more than half the ministers in May's team, he installed what some have described as the most right-wing British government in decades.

The 55-year-old has assembled a team of social conservatives and Brexit hardliners who argue that leaving the EU after 46 years without an agreement will be less painful than economists warn.

The markets were relieved by the appointment of former Deutsche Bank Sajid Javid as finance chief.

The pound held steady against the dollar and euro as traders waited for Johnson's first policy moves.

Other appointments were more divisive.

Brexit hardliner Dominic Raab became foreign secretary and Jacob Rees-Mogg -- leader of a right-wing faction of Conservatives who helped bring about May's demise -- as the government's parliament representative.

New interior minister Priti Patel has previously expressed support for the death penalty and voted against same-sex marriage.

Johnson argues that his threat of a chaotic end to Britain's EU involvement will force Brussels to relent and give London better terms that would let it pursue trade deals with powers such as China and the United States.

Brexit backers in Parliament had accused May of ignoring voters' wishes by promising to keep the UK tied to the bloc's economic rules if necessary to preserve a free-flowing border between EU member Ireland and Britain's Northern Ireland.

Johnson's solution for the frontier revolves around proposals that have been rejected as either unworkable or insufficient by both EU and Irish leaders.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar -- his heavily trade-dependent nation standing to lose most from a messy EU-UK split -- reiterated Thursday his call for compromise.

"I hope that the new UK prime minister hasn't chosen no deal," he said.

Johnson will have the backing of his governing Conservative party but not the nation in his first days in office.

He beat the now-former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt by a two-to-one margin in a vote held by fewer than 160,000 paying members of the Conservatives.

But a YouGov survey found his approval rating in Britain as a whole at just 31 per cent.&nbsp;Johnson is also immediately confronted by issues beyond Brexit.

Iran's seizure last Friday of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf thrusts him into the middle of the Islamic republic's escalating standoff with US President Donald Trump.

Johnson boasts a friendship with Trump that his doubters criticise but supporters say could boost Britain's chances of clinching a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States.

Britain's new Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the EU on Thursday to "rethink" their opposition to renegotiating the current Brexit deal -- only to be immediately rebuffed by Brussels.

Britain's new Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the EU on Thursday to "rethink" their opposition to renegotiating the current Brexit deal -- only to be immediately rebuffed by Brussels. In a pugnacious parliamentary debut as leader, the former London mayor warned that the terms of the agreement struck by his predecessor Theresa May were "unacceptable" and would "sign away our economic independence". "I hope that the EU... will rethink their current refusal to make any changes to the withdrawal agreement," Johnson told MPs. "If they do not, we will of course have to leave the EU without an agreement," he added, vowing to "turbo-charge" preparations ahead of the latest deadline of October 31. The former foreign secretary also threatened to withhold the £39 billion ($49 billion) divorce bill that Britain has previously said it owes the European Union and spend it instead on preparing for a no-deal outcome. Just hours later, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that Johnson's demands were "unacceptable", in an email to member state ambassadors seen by AFP that described his speech as "rather combative". "PM Johnson has stated that if an agreement is to be reached it goes by way of eliminating the backstop," Barnier wrote, referring to a contentious element of the current deal to keep the Irish border open under all scenarios. "This is, of course, unacceptable and not within the mandate of the European Council." With Britain's position appearing to harden, Johnson will talk by telephone with the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker later on Thursday. A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment on Barnier's comments, adding: "It's day one." Johnson addressed a raucous session of parliament, in which he was repeatedly shouted down by opposition MPs, a day after initiating a radical overhaul of the cabinet. Purging more than half the ministers in May's team, he installed what some have described as the most right-wing British government in decades. The 55-year-old has assembled a team of social conservatives and Brexit hardliners who argue that leaving the EU after 46 years without an agreement will be less painful than economists warn. The markets were relieved by the appointment of former Deutsche Bank Sajid Javid as finance chief. The pound held steady against the dollar and euro as traders waited for Johnson's first policy moves. Other appointments were more divisive. Brexit hardliner Dominic Raab became foreign secretary and Jacob Rees-Mogg -- leader of a right-wing faction of Conservatives who helped bring about May's demise -- as the government's parliament representative. New interior minister Priti Patel has previously expressed support for the death penalty and voted against same-sex marriage. Johnson argues that his threat of a chaotic end to Britain's EU involvement will force Brussels to relent and give London better terms that would let it pursue trade deals with powers such as China and the United States. Brexit backers in Parliament had accused May of ignoring voters' wishes by promising to keep the UK tied to the bloc's economic rules if necessary to preserve a free-flowing border between EU member Ireland and Britain's Northern Ireland. Johnson's solution for the frontier revolves around proposals that have been rejected as either unworkable or insufficient by both EU and Irish leaders. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar -- his heavily trade-dependent nation standing to lose most from a messy EU-UK split -- reiterated Thursday his call for compromise. "I hope that the new UK prime minister hasn't chosen no deal," he said. Johnson will have the backing of his governing Conservative party but not the nation in his first days in office. He beat the now-former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt by a two-to-one margin in a vote held by fewer than 160,000 paying members of the Conservatives. But a YouGov survey found his approval rating in Britain as a whole at just 31 per cent. Johnson is also immediately confronted by issues beyond Brexit. Iran's seizure last Friday of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf thrusts him into the middle of the Islamic republic's escalating standoff with US President Donald Trump. Johnson boasts a friendship with Trump that his doubters criticise but supporters say could boost Britain's chances of clinching a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States.

PM Johnson's backstop elimination unacceptable: EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier

Opponents of Britain`s exit from the EU hoisted a "Boris blimp" portraying the UK`s likely next prime minister as a crying child as they demonstrated outside parliament on Saturday.

Boris Johnson, a former London mayor, has been one of the figureheads of the movement to take Britain out of the EU and has pledged to complete the schism by the end of October.

Inspired by the orange blimp of a baby Donald Trump that mocked the US&nbsp;President during his visit to London last month, the balloon featured Johnson in a t-shirt emblazoned with a red bus and the figure 350 million pounds, referring to his promise of clawing back cash from Brussels to spend on Britain`s state health service instead.
<img alt="Blimp depicting Boris Johnson" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9345f465-4410-4cfb-b663-431239975a08" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2019-07-20T153858Z_1_LYNXNPEF6J0BE_RTROPTP_4_BRITAIN-EU-MARCH.JPG" /><img alt="Blimp depicting Boris Johnson" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c80a2e48-2b52-4adf-8a79-02c9bf3e5107" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2019-07-20T153858Z_1_LYNXNPEF6J0BG_RTROPTP_4_BRITAIN-EU-MARCH.JPG" />
Prime Minister Theresa May announced her resignation two months ago after failing to win parliamentary approval for the exit deal she had negotiated with Brussels and her successor will be announced next week.

Johnson, who is widely expected to replace her, has pledged to leave the EU with or without a transition deal on October&nbsp;31.

Brexit without a divorce deal would abruptly wrench the world`s fifth-largest economy away from the bloc. Critics say this would undermine global growth, buffet financial markets and weaken London`s position as the pre-eminent international financial centre.

Opponents of Britain`s exit from the EU hoisted a "Boris blimp" portraying the UK`s likely next prime minister as a crying child as they demonstrated outside parliament on Saturday.

Opponents of Britain`s exit from the EU hoisted a "Boris blimp" portraying the UK`s likely next prime minister as a crying child as they demonstrated outside parliament on Saturday. Boris Johnson, a former London mayor, has been one of the figureheads of the movement to take Britain out of the EU and has pledged to complete the schism by the end of October. Inspired by the orange blimp of a baby Donald Trump that mocked the US President during his visit to London last month, the balloon featured Johnson in a t-shirt emblazoned with a red bus and the figure 350 million pounds, referring to his promise of clawing back cash from Brussels to spend on Britain`s state health service instead. Prime Minister Theresa May announced her resignation two months ago after failing to win parliamentary approval for the exit deal she had negotiated with Brussels and her successor will be announced next week. Johnson, who is widely expected to replace her, has pledged to leave the EU with or without a transition deal on October 31. Brexit without a divorce deal would abruptly wrench the world`s fifth-largest economy away from the bloc. Critics say this would undermine global growth, buffet financial markets and weaken London`s position as the pre-eminent international financial centre.

'Boris blimp' takes to the London skies in pro-EU protest

Ursula Von Der Leyen Becomes The First Woman To Hold European Commission's Top Job European Commission's new President Ursula Von Der Leyen has been breaking glass ceilings for years now. The former defence minister of Germany has become the first woman to become EU commission's President. Here's a profile charting the rise of Ursula Von Der Leyen

Gravitas: The rise & rise of Ursula von der Leyen, the new EU commission president

Tech giant Amazon is under the radar of the European Union. The antitrust regulators have opened up an investigation into Amazon. The probe will assess if Amazon misuses sensitive data of the independent merchants. Watch this video to know more.

EU to investigate Amazon marketplace

Boris Johnson has broken the record for the most money raised by a British politician in his bid to become prime minister, winning the backing of eurosceptic financiers after hardening his Brexit stance with a "do or die" pledge.

Hedge fund managers, the chairman of a football club, a director of companies based in tax havens, and a fox hunting enthusiast are among the donors who have poured hundreds of thousands of pounds into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-race-for-no-10-uks-johnson-and-hunt-vow-to-splash-the-cash-231797">Johnson's campaign</a>.

More than half the donations came from financiers and businessmen who funded the campaign to leave the European Union.

The two biggest backers are Anthony Bamford, the billionaire chairman of the construction equipment maker JCB, and Jonathan Moynihan, chairman of venture capital fund Ipex Capital, both vocal backers of Brexit.

Robin Birley, a private members’ club owner, has previously donated to Nigel Farage's former anti-EU group, UKIP.

The support means <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-prime-minister-hopeful-slam-donald-trump-tweets-but-refuse-to-call-them-racist-236277">Johnson has registered 702,000 pounds</a> in the last year, according to figures released by parliament, surpassing the previous fundraising record set by the former foreign minister David Miliband who raised 627,000 pounds for his bid to lead the Labour Party in 2010.

Johnson, a divisive politician known for his often bumbling persona and dishevelled mop of blond hair, looks poised for a landslide victory when votes are announced in the Conservative Party leadership contest next week, which by default will decide the next prime minister.

Current premier Theresa May was forced to resign after she failed to unite the nation behind her plan to leave the EU on schedule in March.

Johnson's pledge to leave the EU "do or die" -&nbsp;with or without a deal -&nbsp;on October. 31 looks set to deepen the three-year Brexit crisis by setting him on a collision course with the bloc's 27 other leaders and his own parliament

But this threat is resonating with Conservative supporters, who have grown frustrated by the government's failure to leave the EU so long after the 2016 referendum.

In the last two weeks, Johnson received 100,000 pounds from Moynihan, who chaired the official Vote Leave finance committee.

In a comment piece on the Brexit Central website in 2018, he described concerns around a border in Ireland as a "nonsense" that is designed to keep Britain in the EU's customs union to have "German goods and French produce stuffed down our throat".

He said then Britain should make clear it is willing to leave without a deal.

Ian Murray, an opposition Labour lawmaker and campaigner for a second referendum, said he worried about the process to select a new prime minister, with only Conservative members making the decision.

Johnson, he added, will be "financially dependent on an even smaller group of funders who are likely to back the most extreme Brexit or even no-deal."

Johnson's improved fundraising position reflects the lead he appears to hold over his rival, foreign minister Jeremy Hunt. He currently has the support of two thirds of Conservative voters, according to an opinion poll published over the weekend.

By comparison, Hunt's fundraising has stalled. He has not registered any new donations in the last month.

Overall, the sums raised in British politics are tiny compared to those for US&nbsp;political campaigns.

In the United States, presidential contenders criss-cross the country for months, through first the party nominating process and then the campaign for the actual election.

Boris Johnson has broken the record for the most money raised by a British politician in his bid to become prime minister, winning the backing of eurosceptic financiers after hardening his Brexit stance with a "do or die" pledge.

Boris Johnson has broken the record for the most money raised by a British politician in his bid to become prime minister, winning the backing of eurosceptic financiers after hardening his Brexit stance with a "do or die" pledge. Hedge fund managers, the chairman of a football club, a director of companies based in tax havens, and a fox hunting enthusiast are among the donors who have poured hundreds of thousands of pounds into Johnson's campaign. More than half the donations came from financiers and businessmen who funded the campaign to leave the European Union. The two biggest backers are Anthony Bamford, the billionaire chairman of the construction equipment maker JCB, and Jonathan Moynihan, chairman of venture capital fund Ipex Capital, both vocal backers of Brexit. Robin Birley, a private members’ club owner, has previously donated to Nigel Farage's former anti-EU group, UKIP. The support means Johnson has registered 702,000 pounds in the last year, according to figures released by parliament, surpassing the previous fundraising record set by the former foreign minister David Miliband who raised 627,000 pounds for his bid to lead the Labour Party in 2010. Johnson, a divisive politician known for his often bumbling persona and dishevelled mop of blond hair, looks poised for a landslide victory when votes are announced in the Conservative Party leadership contest next week, which by default will decide the next prime minister. Current premier Theresa May was forced to resign after she failed to unite the nation behind her plan to leave the EU on schedule in March. Johnson's pledge to leave the EU "do or die" - with or without a deal - on October. 31 looks set to deepen the three-year Brexit crisis by setting him on a collision course with the bloc's 27 other leaders and his own parliament But this threat is resonating with Conservative supporters, who have grown frustrated by the government's failure to leave the EU so long after the 2016 referendum. In the last two weeks, Johnson received 100,000 pounds from Moynihan, who chaired the official Vote Leave finance committee. In a comment piece on the Brexit Central website in 2018, he described concerns around a border in Ireland as a "nonsense" that is designed to keep Britain in the EU's customs union to have "German goods and French produce stuffed down our throat". He said then Britain should make clear it is willing to leave without a deal. Ian Murray, an opposition Labour lawmaker and campaigner for a second referendum, said he worried about the process to select a new prime minister, with only Conservative members making the decision. Johnson, he added, will be "financially dependent on an even smaller group of funders who are likely to back the most extreme Brexit or even no-deal." Johnson's improved fundraising position reflects the lead he appears to hold over his rival, foreign minister Jeremy Hunt. He currently has the support of two thirds of Conservative voters, according to an opinion poll published over the weekend. By comparison, Hunt's fundraising has stalled. He has not registered any new donations in the last month. Overall, the sums raised in British politics are tiny compared to those for US political campaigns. In the United States, presidential contenders criss-cross the country for months, through first the party nominating process and then the campaign for the actual election.

Boris Johnson raises record funds in campaign for PM race; Hunt's plan stalled

By Simon Usherwood

We’re talking a lot about Brexit in Britain. Whether it’s our hopes or – more likely – our frustrations, it’s the subject that we never quite seem to escape from.

But take a step back and think what those conversations focus on: outcomes. I’m guessing many people have a pretty good idea of what their family, friends and colleagues would like the end point of this process to be. It’s no coincidence that more people identify as Leavers or Remainers than as members of political parties.

Probably much less clear is how the potential outcomes – leaving the EU without a deal, leaving with a deal or remaining – are going to come about. The referendum was an exercise in ends, not means.

The two campaigns fought for votes with sweeping promises, but no fixed single plan. The vote wasn’t like a general election, where the winners have to take office and make good on their manifesto. Instead, the incentive was for campaigners to say whatever would get people to send votes their way, and if they won then they’d decide what that meant.

That’s why most of the second half of 2016 was spent with politicians arguing that they knew what the people wanted from Brexit.

Making It Up As We Go

The referendum also failed to produce any consensus about what happened next: it was a decision that lacked a rationale and a roadmap. It’s one thing to say we want to take back control, but quite another to translate that into a practical course of action. And so we’ve had to make it up as we go along.

Of course, all politics is like this. The vagaries of life mean we’re never quite confronted with what we expected. But usually that happens within a fairly well-defined range of parameters, with a political system that can make improvised decisions on the basis of generally-agreed principles.

Brexit hasn’t fitted into that mould, for three reasons.

First, its scope is so broad that its implications touch on every area of our political, economic and social lives. Second, its novelty means that we lack useful benchmarks to judge our actions: in legal terms it might simply be leaving an international organisation, but it clearly goes far beyond that.

And third, the division that the referendum exposed and reinforced between different sections of British society have made it very hard to find common ground.

The upshot has been a growing willingness, from all sides, to do whatever it takes to secure the outcome they want. The UK has gone from being one of the more sedate political systems of the world to one where ever more creative takes on the constitutional and parliamentary procedure are being suggested.

Conservative leadership contender Boris Johnson has not ruled out proroguing, or shutting down, parliament in order to push through a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve managed to get parliament to approve an amendment to a piece of legislation regarding Northern Ireland, which could make shutting down parliament more difficult. And the former prime minister, John Major, suggested he may take a future Johnson government to court to prevent parliament being shut down.

The Means Matter 
 
Brexit matters. The choice we eventually make will have profound implications for decades to come, both for the UK and for its place in the world. But that is precisely why it’s essential that the manner of taking that decision matters as much as the decision itself.

Already we see how distrust of the people and processes that have got us this far has poisoned our ability to progress. Whether you think campaigners broke the rules in the referendum or you think judges are enemies of the state or you feel the media is a cheerleader rather than a reporter of what’s happening, if we don’t trust the way we make the decisions, then we risk also losing trust in the decisions themselves.

All of which brings us to one of the bigger questions of politics: do the ends always justify the means?

History shows us that part of what makes a democracy work, and work in a sustainable way, is a consensus about rules. Constitutions embody and embed that consensus in a way that is different from other rules for precisely that reason.

But extraordinary exceptions have a habit of becoming the norm, as with the emergency powers given to governments post 9/11; the revolution justifies the counter-revolution. We can disagree on what to do, but we need to agree on how we make a decision between the choices facing us – leaving with a deal, leaving with no deal or remaining – otherwise we risk damaging everything that follows.

Usually, this is the point where the author offers a solution, but you’ll not get that here. It’s not for me to tell you what to do, beyond sitting down together and working together to see where our common ground lies. And if we find that our existing political processes won’t work to resolve this – for example, a general election – then we need to agree on new ones that do.

So as politicians and the public alike work on their plans this summer, they might want to reflect on not the “what” of Brexit, but also the “how”. Maybe that might make some of those Brexit conversations a bit more productive and enlightening.

(Simon Usherwood is Reader in Politics, University of Surrey)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/brexit-its-not-just-where-britains-going-that-matters-but-how-it-gets-there-120127">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

By Simon Usherwood We’re talking a lot about Brexit in Britain. Whether it’s our hopes or – more likely – our frustrations, it’s the subject that we never quite seem to escape from.

By Simon Usherwood We’re talking a lot about Brexit in Britain. Whether it’s our hopes or – more likely – our frustrations, it’s the subject that we never quite seem to escape from. But take a step back and think what those conversations focus on: outcomes. I’m guessing many people have a pretty good idea of what their family, friends and colleagues would like the end point of this process to be. It’s no coincidence that more people identify as Leavers or Remainers than as members of political parties. Probably much less clear is how the potential outcomes – leaving the EU without a deal, leaving with a deal or remaining – are going to come about. The referendum was an exercise in ends, not means. The two campaigns fought for votes with sweeping promises, but no fixed single plan. The vote wasn’t like a general election, where the winners have to take office and make good on their manifesto. Instead, the incentive was for campaigners to say whatever would get people to send votes their way, and if they won then they’d decide what that meant. That’s why most of the second half of 2016 was spent with politicians arguing that they knew what the people wanted from Brexit. Making It Up As We Go The referendum also failed to produce any consensus about what happened next: it was a decision that lacked a rationale and a roadmap. It’s one thing to say we want to take back control, but quite another to translate that into a practical course of action. And so we’ve had to make it up as we go along. Of course, all politics is like this. The vagaries of life mean we’re never quite confronted with what we expected. But usually that happens within a fairly well-defined range of parameters, with a political system that can make improvised decisions on the basis of generally-agreed principles. Brexit hasn’t fitted into that mould, for three reasons. First, its scope is so broad that its implications touch on every area of our political, economic and social lives. Second, its novelty means that we lack useful benchmarks to judge our actions: in legal terms it might simply be leaving an international organisation, but it clearly goes far beyond that. And third, the division that the referendum exposed and reinforced between different sections of British society have made it very hard to find common ground. The upshot has been a growing willingness, from all sides, to do whatever it takes to secure the outcome they want. The UK has gone from being one of the more sedate political systems of the world to one where ever more creative takes on the constitutional and parliamentary procedure are being suggested. Conservative leadership contender Boris Johnson has not ruled out proroguing, or shutting down, parliament in order to push through a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve managed to get parliament to approve an amendment to a piece of legislation regarding Northern Ireland, which could make shutting down parliament more difficult. And the former prime minister, John Major, suggested he may take a future Johnson government to court to prevent parliament being shut down. The Means Matter Brexit matters. The choice we eventually make will have profound implications for decades to come, both for the UK and for its place in the world. But that is precisely why it’s essential that the manner of taking that decision matters as much as the decision itself. Already we see how distrust of the people and processes that have got us this far has poisoned our ability to progress. Whether you think campaigners broke the rules in the referendum or you think judges are enemies of the state or you feel the media is a cheerleader rather than a reporter of what’s happening, if we don’t trust the way we make the decisions, then we risk also losing trust in the decisions themselves. All of which brings us to one of the bigger questions of politics: do the ends always justify the means? History shows us that part of what makes a democracy work, and work in a sustainable way, is a consensus about rules. Constitutions embody and embed that consensus in a way that is different from other rules for precisely that reason. But extraordinary exceptions have a habit of becoming the norm, as with the emergency powers given to governments post 9/11; the revolution justifies the counter-revolution. We can disagree on what to do, but we need to agree on how we make a decision between the choices facing us – leaving with a deal, leaving with no deal or remaining – otherwise we risk damaging everything that follows. Usually, this is the point where the author offers a solution, but you’ll not get that here. It’s not for me to tell you what to do, beyond sitting down together and working together to see where our common ground lies. And if we find that our existing political processes won’t work to resolve this – for example, a general election – then we need to agree on new ones that do. So as politicians and the public alike work on their plans this summer, they might want to reflect on not the “what” of Brexit, but also the “how”. Maybe that might make some of those Brexit conversations a bit more productive and enlightening. (Simon Usherwood is Reader in Politics, University of Surrey) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Brexit: It’s not just where Britain’s going that matters, but how it gets there

German minister Ursula von der Leyen was narrowly voted the new EU chief on Tuesday.

The 60-year-old ex-defence minister will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission after the vote in Strasbourg assembly.

"The secret to happiness is freedom. The secret to freedom is courage. Let's have courage together," she urged lawmakers, citing the ancient Greek historian Thucydides. &nbsp;

"A speech is just a speech, it's limited," she admitted, urging members to consult a hastily put together manifesto designed to answer demands from conservative, socialist and liberal pro-European parties.&nbsp;

She promised: "A climate-neutral Europe in 2015. A more social and competitive Europe. A Europe that makes use of its full potential.&nbsp;

"A Europe that has a new push on European democracy and a strong Europe that protects our European way of life."

Von der Leyen had&nbsp;had only a short time since the 28 EU leaders nominated her to win over the main centre-right EPP, socialist S&amp;D and liberal Renew Europe blocs she hopes will get her the necessary 374 votes.

The Brussels-born political blueblood and London School of Economics graduate is the only minister to have served with Merkel since the beginning of her marathon reign in 2005 and previously ran the family affairs and labour ministries.

A life-long high achiever, she has at times drawn envy and animosity for her best-in-class style. But she has played up the persona of a super-mum with iron discipline in her campaign for the top EU job.

She was once dubbed "the soloist" for her go-it-alone style, and a recent opinion poll by Bild am Sonntag newspaper rated her as the second-least popular member of Merkel's cabinet.

German minister Ursula von der Leyen was narrowly voted the new EU chief on Tuesday. The 60-year-old ex-defence minister will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission after the vote in Strasbourg assembly.

German minister Ursula von der Leyen was narrowly voted the new EU chief on Tuesday. The 60-year-old ex-defence minister will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission after the vote in Strasbourg assembly. "The secret to happiness is freedom. The secret to freedom is courage. Let's have courage together," she urged lawmakers, citing the ancient Greek historian Thucydides. "A speech is just a speech, it's limited," she admitted, urging members to consult a hastily put together manifesto designed to answer demands from conservative, socialist and liberal pro-European parties. She promised: "A climate-neutral Europe in 2015. A more social and competitive Europe. A Europe that makes use of its full potential. "A Europe that has a new push on European democracy and a strong Europe that protects our European way of life." Von der Leyen had had only a short time since the 28 EU leaders nominated her to win over the main centre-right EPP, socialist S&D and liberal Renew Europe blocs she hopes will get her the necessary 374 votes. The Brussels-born political blueblood and London School of Economics graduate is the only minister to have served with Merkel since the beginning of her marathon reign in 2005 and previously ran the family affairs and labour ministries. A life-long high achiever, she has at times drawn envy and animosity for her best-in-class style. But she has played up the persona of a super-mum with iron discipline in her campaign for the top EU job. She was once dubbed "the soloist" for her go-it-alone style, and a recent opinion poll by Bild am Sonntag newspaper rated her as the second-least popular member of Merkel's cabinet.

Lawmakers narrowly approve Von der Leyen as EU chief

European Foreign ministers meet to salvage Iran deal.

Europe leaders meet to save Iran Deal

Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday said Britain's next prime minister must put their Brexit plan to a second referendum on <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-brexit-minister-urges-european-union-to-reopen-withdrawal-deal-talks-234121&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjWts6X9qfjAhUn7HMBHSu2BDEQFjAIegQIBBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2cisH69I1RUe1Hp_6dpaoc">European Union </a>membership, saying his party would campaign to remain.

In an email to members, Corbyn said Labour would campaign to stay in the EU to stop a new Conservative Party leader, who will be chosen later this month, taking Britain out of the bloc without a divorce deal or to stop what he called a "damaging" <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-economy-shrinks-as-brexit-global-worries-mount-purchasing-managers-index-232725&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi_n5nQ9qfjAhWT6XMBHYFuC5sQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0SBY8A6E_YzS2LYTww-ZvV">Brexit</a>.

The move by Corbyn inches the opposition party closer to heeding demands from many Labour members and some lawmakers to unequivocally embrace a second referendum to break the impasse in parliament over how to leave the EU.

But it might not be enough to satisfy all in his party, falling short of campaigning for a second referendum in any circumstance - a position some wanted to adapt to counter a challenge from the pro-EU, smaller Liberal Democrats.

Brexit has brought down Prime Minister Theresa May, who failed three times to get the divorce deal she agreed with the EU ratified by parliament.

Former foreign minister and London mayor Boris Johnson is battling current foreign minister Jeremy Hunt to replace her as party leader and prime minister. Johnson, who says he will take Britain out of the EU with or without a deal, is favorite.

"Whoever becomes the new prime minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or no deal, back to the people in a public vote," Corbyn said.

"In those circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign to Remain against either no deal or a Tory (Conservative) deal that does not protect the economy and jobs."

What he did not say in his mail was what his party would campaign for in a parliamentary election - something the veteran socialist renewed his call for by saying:&nbsp;

"We need a Labour government to end austerity and rebuild our country for the many, not the few".

More than three years since voting 52% to 48% to leave the EU, Britain`s two main parties, its parliament and cities and towns across the country are still deeply divided over Brexit, opening the way for smaller parties to grab some share of the vote.

With Labour struggling in some opinion polls, some in the party want it to adopt a clearer message to tackle the twin challenges from the pro-EU Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party, led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage.

Corbyn, an instinctive critic of the EU, has so far resisted calls to make his party a wholesale supporter of a second referendum, keen to keep on board Labour Brexit supporters.

Chuka Umunna, a former Labour lawmaker who has joined the Liberal Democrats, said on Twitter: "Yet another fudge, where the Labour leadership keeps open the door to standing on a pro-Brexit platform in a general election or supporting it in government."&nbsp;

Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday said Britain's next prime minister must put their Brexit plan to a second referendum on European Union membership, saying his party would campaign to remain.

Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday said Britain's next prime minister must put their Brexit plan to a second referendum on European Union membership, saying his party would campaign to remain. In an email to members, Corbyn said Labour would campaign to stay in the EU to stop a new Conservative Party leader, who will be chosen later this month, taking Britain out of the bloc without a divorce deal or to stop what he called a "damaging" Brexit. The move by Corbyn inches the opposition party closer to heeding demands from many Labour members and some lawmakers to unequivocally embrace a second referendum to break the impasse in parliament over how to leave the EU. But it might not be enough to satisfy all in his party, falling short of campaigning for a second referendum in any circumstance - a position some wanted to adapt to counter a challenge from the pro-EU, smaller Liberal Democrats. Brexit has brought down Prime Minister Theresa May, who failed three times to get the divorce deal she agreed with the EU ratified by parliament. Former foreign minister and London mayor Boris Johnson is battling current foreign minister Jeremy Hunt to replace her as party leader and prime minister. Johnson, who says he will take Britain out of the EU with or without a deal, is favorite. "Whoever becomes the new prime minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or no deal, back to the people in a public vote," Corbyn said. "In those circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign to Remain against either no deal or a Tory (Conservative) deal that does not protect the economy and jobs." What he did not say in his mail was what his party would campaign for in a parliamentary election - something the veteran socialist renewed his call for by saying: "We need a Labour government to end austerity and rebuild our country for the many, not the few". More than three years since voting 52% to 48% to leave the EU, Britain`s two main parties, its parliament and cities and towns across the country are still deeply divided over Brexit, opening the way for smaller parties to grab some share of the vote. With Labour struggling in some opinion polls, some in the party want it to adopt a clearer message to tackle the twin challenges from the pro-EU Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party, led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage. Corbyn, an instinctive critic of the EU, has so far resisted calls to make his party a wholesale supporter of a second referendum, keen to keep on board Labour Brexit supporters. Chuka Umunna, a former Labour lawmaker who has joined the Liberal Democrats, said on Twitter: "Yet another fudge, where the Labour leadership keeps open the door to standing on a pro-Brexit platform in a general election or supporting it in government."

New United Kingdom Prime Minister must put Brexit plan to second referendum: Labour's Jeremy Corbyn

Hundreds of African migrants are banned from onward travel, but are also unable to return home. Watch our report to know more.

The struggles of migrants in Africa

European Council President Donald Tusk praised an agreement to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lagarde-temporarily-steps-down-as-imf-chief-american-economist-david-lipton-named-interim-leader-232570">assign two senior EU jobs</a> on to women for the first time.

"After all, Europe is a woman," he told a news conference after three day of tortuous talks between 28 EU leaders on assigning the bloc's top jobs exposed their deepening divisions.

Tusk said the appointment of Germany's defence minister Ursula von der Leyen to lead the next European Commission still needed approval from the European Parliament.

He also said he was "absolutely sure" that France's Christine Lagarde would be an independent new head of the European Central Bank.

European Union leaders agreed on Tuesday to name France's Christine Lagarde as the new head of the European Central Bank and sealed a deal on filling the EU's other top four jobs after marathon talks that have exposed deep divisions in the bloc.

Three days of summit negotiations that at times looked close to collapse ended with a deal that now must be approved by the European Parliament and was immediately rejected by the socialist and green bloc in the assembly in Strasbourg.

Leaders hope the decision to nominate two women, Lagarde and German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, to the top of EU decision-making for the first time will send a positive message and repair damage wrought by such a fractious summit, diplomats said.

Lagarde, once France's first woman finance minister and since 2011 head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is a strong advocate of female empowerment, although she has no direct, active monetary policy experience.

The biggest task for Lagarde, who had previously denied any interest in an EU job, will be to revive the eurozone economy.

"Christine Lagarde will ... be a perfect president of the European Central Bank," Tusk said. "I am absolutely sure that she will be a very independent president ..."

European Council President Donald Tusk praised an agreement to assign two senior EU jobs on to women for the first time. "After all, Europe is a woman," he told a news conference after three day of tortuous talks between 28 EU leaders on assigning the bloc's top jobs exposed their deepening divisions.

European Council President Donald Tusk praised an agreement to assign two senior EU jobs on to women for the first time. "After all, Europe is a woman," he told a news conference after three day of tortuous talks between 28 EU leaders on assigning the bloc's top jobs exposed their deepening divisions. Tusk said the appointment of Germany's defence minister Ursula von der Leyen to lead the next European Commission still needed approval from the European Parliament. He also said he was "absolutely sure" that France's Christine Lagarde would be an independent new head of the European Central Bank. European Union leaders agreed on Tuesday to name France's Christine Lagarde as the new head of the European Central Bank and sealed a deal on filling the EU's other top four jobs after marathon talks that have exposed deep divisions in the bloc. Three days of summit negotiations that at times looked close to collapse ended with a deal that now must be approved by the European Parliament and was immediately rejected by the socialist and green bloc in the assembly in Strasbourg. Leaders hope the decision to nominate two women, Lagarde and German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, to the top of EU decision-making for the first time will send a positive message and repair damage wrought by such a fractious summit, diplomats said. Lagarde, once France's first woman finance minister and since 2011 head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is a strong advocate of female empowerment, although she has no direct, active monetary policy experience. The biggest task for Lagarde, who had previously denied any interest in an EU job, will be to revive the eurozone economy. "Christine Lagarde will ... be a perfect president of the European Central Bank," Tusk said. "I am absolutely sure that she will be a very independent president ..."

After all, Europe is a woman, says EU president Tusk after top jobs deal

International Monetary Fund chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imfs-lagarde-warns-us-china-tariffs-to-slash-global-growth-in-2020-224804">Christine Lagarde on Tuesday</a> announced she would step down "temporarily" from the global crisis lender after being nominated to lead the European Central Bank.

EU leaders announced a deal to fill the top positions in the political and economic bloc, including picking Lagarde to succeed ECB chief Mario Draghi, whose single, eight-year term ends in November.

"I am honored to have been nominated for the Presidency of the European Central Bank," Lagarde said in a statement, adding that she would "temporarily relinquish my responsibilities as Managing Director of the IMF during the nomination period."

The nomination means <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imf-chief-christine-lagarde-says-us-china-tensions-threat-to-world-economy-216809">Lagarde will step down</a> two years before the end of her second five-year term at the helm of the IMF, which will open a search for her replacement.

The fund's executive board met Tuesday and named American economist David Lipton, Lagarde's chief deputy, as interim leader of the institution.

"We accept Ms Lagarde's decision to relinquish her IMF responsibilities temporarily during the nomination period," the board said in a statement.&nbsp;

"We have full confidence in First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton as Acting Managing Director of the IMF."

By tradition, since the institutions were created in the wake of World War II, a European has always led the IMF and an American has been at the helm of the World Bank, although emerging market nations in recent years have pressed for more representation.

When Lagarde was selected in 2011, it was the first time the fund had an open leadership search process, in which any board member or country representative could nominate a candidate. Lagarde was selected over Agustin Carstens, then the head of the Mexican central bank.

She has drawn praise for her role leading the IMF in the wake of the global financial crisis.

"She's been a tremendous ambassador for the fund, a great salesperson, a very good communicator," said Mark Sobel, a former US Treasury official and chairman of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum.

He told AFP that Lagarde has experience in monetary policy even if she has never led a central bank and, like US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, is not an economist.

"She's been involved in all the monetary debate and it's not like they don't discuss monetary policy at the fund."

Her second term in office coincided with the rise of US President Donald Trump and a wave of confrontations among major economies over trade, which the former French finance minister described as the major threat to the world economy.

Lagarde has at the same time acknowledged the strains caused by globalization, which has disrupted industries and marginalised some workers. 
&nbsp;

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde on Tuesday announced she would step down "temporarily" from the global crisis lender after being nominated to lead the European Central Bank.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde on Tuesday announced she would step down "temporarily" from the global crisis lender after being nominated to lead the European Central Bank. EU leaders announced a deal to fill the top positions in the political and economic bloc, including picking Lagarde to succeed ECB chief Mario Draghi, whose single, eight-year term ends in November. "I am honored to have been nominated for the Presidency of the European Central Bank," Lagarde said in a statement, adding that she would "temporarily relinquish my responsibilities as Managing Director of the IMF during the nomination period." The nomination means Lagarde will step down two years before the end of her second five-year term at the helm of the IMF, which will open a search for her replacement. The fund's executive board met Tuesday and named American economist David Lipton, Lagarde's chief deputy, as interim leader of the institution. "We accept Ms Lagarde's decision to relinquish her IMF responsibilities temporarily during the nomination period," the board said in a statement. "We have full confidence in First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton as Acting Managing Director of the IMF." By tradition, since the institutions were created in the wake of World War II, a European has always led the IMF and an American has been at the helm of the World Bank, although emerging market nations in recent years have pressed for more representation. When Lagarde was selected in 2011, it was the first time the fund had an open leadership search process, in which any board member or country representative could nominate a candidate. Lagarde was selected over Agustin Carstens, then the head of the Mexican central bank. She has drawn praise for her role leading the IMF in the wake of the global financial crisis. "She's been a tremendous ambassador for the fund, a great salesperson, a very good communicator," said Mark Sobel, a former US Treasury official and chairman of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum. He told AFP that Lagarde has experience in monetary policy even if she has never led a central bank and, like US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, is not an economist. "She's been involved in all the monetary debate and it's not like they don't discuss monetary policy at the fund." Her second term in office coincided with the rise of US President Donald Trump and a wave of confrontations among major economies over trade, which the former French finance minister described as the major threat to the world economy. Lagarde has at the same time acknowledged the strains caused by globalization, which has disrupted industries and marginalised some workers.

Lagarde 'temporarily' steps down as IMF chief; American economist David Lipton named interim leader

The European Parliament elected on Wednesday (July 3) Italian socialist lawmaker David Sassoli as its speaker for the next two-and-half years.

Italian socialist Sassoli elected president of EU Parliament

Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson said on Friday he took full responsibility for the role he played during the campaigning leading up to the 2016 referendum in which Britain voted to leave the European Union and for the political impasse that followed.

Boris Johnson: 'I take personal responsibility for the vote to leave the EU'

European Union leaders met on Sunday to decide who wins the bloc's top posts, with Dutch socialist Frans Timmermans in pole position to be named the EU's next chief executive, diplomats and officials said. EU leaders were also meant to choose the next president of the European Central Bank (ECB), but that decision seems now likely to be postponed for lack of consensus. The other main jobs up for grabs are the presidency of the European Council - grouping the EU governments - the EU's foreign policy chief. Leaders are seeking a balance of men and women in the top positions, and also a balance between eastern and western member states.

European Union leaders meet to decide on bloc's top jobs

The European Union and South American bloc Mercosur agreed a free-trade treaty on Friday, concluding two decades of talks and signalling their push for opening markets at a time of increased protectionism. The two regions launched negotiations exactly 20 years ago and intensified efforts to reach an accord after Donald Trump's presidential victory prompted the European Union to freeze talks with the United States and look for other global trading allies.

EU, Mercosur agree on draft free trade treaty after 20 years of talks

The European Union and South American bloc Mercosur agreed a free-trade treaty on Friday, June 26. Watch this video to know more.

EU-Mercosur trade deal: Two decades of talks over

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