Moscow will expel British diplomats in response to London`s move to kick out 23 Russian officials over the poisoning of ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

&quot;Of course we will,&quot; Lavrov told journalists when asked whether Moscow will respond in kind to the expulsion of Russian diplomats announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Lavrov was speaking in the Kazakh capital Astana following talks on Syria with the foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey.&nbsp;

The Russian foreign minister on Thursday said Moscow would respond by expelling British diplomats &quot;soon&quot;.

He said his country had no motive to target Skripal, but suggested others could use the poisoning to &quot;complicate&quot; the World Cup.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said Vladimir Putin would ultimately choose the option that &quot;most suits Moscow`s interests&quot;.

In a rare joint statement, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and the US on Thursday condemned the attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia as an &quot;assault on UK sovereignty&quot;.&nbsp;

The escalating international scandal is unfolding as Skripal and his daughter remain in critical condition after exposure to the Soviet-designed chemical Novichok on March 4 in the English city of Salisbury.

 
&nbsp;

'Of course we will,' Lavrov told journalists when asked whether Moscow will respond in kind to the expulsion of Russian diplomats announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May

Moscow will expel British diplomats in response to London`s move to kick out 23 Russian officials over the poisoning of ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday. "Of course we will," Lavrov told journalists when asked whether Moscow will respond in kind to the expulsion of Russian diplomats announced by British Prime Minister Theresa May. Lavrov was speaking in the Kazakh capital Astana following talks on Syria with the foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey. The Russian foreign minister on Thursday said Moscow would respond by expelling British diplomats "soon". He said his country had no motive to target Skripal, but suggested others could use the poisoning to "complicate" the World Cup. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said Vladimir Putin would ultimately choose the option that "most suits Moscow`s interests". In a rare joint statement, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and the US on Thursday condemned the attack on Skripal and his daughter Yulia as an "assault on UK sovereignty". The escalating international scandal is unfolding as Skripal and his daughter remain in critical condition after exposure to the Soviet-designed chemical Novichok on March 4 in the English city of Salisbury.

Russia will 'of course' expel British diplomats: Sergei Lavrov

Russia has not responded to Britain&rsquo;s demand to explain by midnight how a Soviet-era nerve toxin was used to strike down a former Russian double agent, the Russian embassy in London said.

Prime Minister Theresa May had given Russia until the end of Tuesday to explain how Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet military, had been used on British soil.

&quot;Russia will not respond to London&rsquo;s ultimatum until it receives samples of the chemical substance,&quot; an embassy spokesman told Reuters.

Russia, the embassy said, was not involved in the nerve attack. Any punitive measures against Russia would elicit a response, he said.

A spokesman for the British Foreign Office declined to comment. 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Theresa May had given Russia until the end of Tuesday

Russia has not responded to Britain’s demand to explain by midnight how a Soviet-era nerve toxin was used to strike down a former Russian double agent, the Russian embassy in London said. Prime Minister Theresa May had given Russia until the end of Tuesday to explain how Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet military, had been used on British soil. "Russia will not respond to London’s ultimatum until it receives samples of the chemical substance," an embassy spokesman told Reuters. Russia, the embassy said, was not involved in the nerve attack. Any punitive measures against Russia would elicit a response, he said. A spokesman for the British Foreign Office declined to comment.

Russia says is not responding to British ultimatum on nerve attack

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			Prime Minister Theresa May&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;paid tribute to world-renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking as &quot;a brilliant and extraordinary mind&quot; whose legacy &quot;will not be forgotten&quot; after his death at the age of 76.

			 
			May wrote on her Twitter page that Hawking was &quot;one of the great scientists of his generation&quot;, adding that &quot;his courage, humour and determination to get the most from life was an inspiration&quot;.
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May wrote on her Twitter page that Hawking was "one of the great scientists of his generation", adding that "his courage, humour and determination to get the most from life was an inspiration"

Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday paid tribute to world-renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking as "a brilliant and extraordinary mind" whose legacy "will not be forgotten" after his death at the age of 76. May wrote on her Twitter page that Hawking was "one of the great scientists of his generation", adding that "his courage, humour and determination to get the most from life was an inspiration".

UK's May hails Hawking as 'brilliant and extraordinary mind'

Moscow on Wednesday called Britain&#39;s decision to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/britains-may-says-russia-responsible-for-attack-on-ex-spy-in-uk-35826" target="_blank">expel 23 Russian diplomats</a> over the poisoning of an ex-spy a sign that London was choosing confrontation with Russia, adding that retaliation would follow shortly.

&quot;The British government made a choice for confrontation with Russia,&quot; the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled the diplomats and suspended high-level contacts with Russia after Moscow did not respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed nerve agent came to be used to attack former spy Sergei Skripal on British soil.

May said there was &quot;no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable&quot; for the attack on Skripal and his daughter, who fell ill from exposure to a substance called Novichok in the city of Salisbury on March 4 and are currently in hospital.

The Russian ministry said May&#39;s statement was an &quot;unprecedentedly rude provocation which undermines the foundations of normal bilateral dialogue between our countries.&quot;

It accused London of pursuing a political agenda and choosing to &quot;aggravate relations,&quot; calling the announced measures &quot;hostile&quot;.

May also confirmed that neither members of the royal family nor ministers would attend the football World Cup in Russia this year.

&quot;Our response measures will not be tardy,&quot; the Russian foreign ministry said.

'The British government made a choice for confrontation with Russia,' the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement

Moscow on Wednesday called Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy a sign that London was choosing confrontation with Russia, adding that retaliation would follow shortly. "The British government made a choice for confrontation with Russia," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled the diplomats and suspended high-level contacts with Russia after Moscow did not respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed nerve agent came to be used to attack former spy Sergei Skripal on British soil. May said there was "no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable" for the attack on Skripal and his daughter, who fell ill from exposure to a substance called Novichok in the city of Salisbury on March 4 and are currently in hospital. The Russian ministry said May's statement was an "unprecedentedly rude provocation which undermines the foundations of normal bilateral dialogue between our countries." It accused London of pursuing a political agenda and choosing to "aggravate relations," calling the announced measures "hostile". May also confirmed that neither members of the royal family nor ministers would attend the football World Cup in Russia this year. "Our response measures will not be tardy," the Russian foreign ministry said.

Moscow says will retaliate soon to Britain's expulsion of diplomats

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 diplomats and suspended high-level contacts with Russia including for the World Cup, saying her government found Moscow &quot;culpable&quot; of a nerve agent attack on a former spy.

May said she would be pushing for a &quot;robust international response&quot; when the UN Security Council meets later Wednesday in New York to discuss the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement and its London embassy warned that May&#39;s response was &quot;totally unacceptable and shortsighted&quot;.

May told parliament that Russia had failed to respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed chemical, Novichok, was used in the English city of Salisbury.

&quot;There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian State was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter,&quot; she said.

&quot;This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the United Kingdom.&quot;

&#39;Hostile activities&#39; 
In measures drawn up at a meeting of her national security council earlier Wednesday, May announced that 23 Russian diplomats believed to be undeclared intelligence officers must leave Britain in a week.

She suspended all planned high-level contacts, which includes revoking an invitation for Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit but said she did not want to break off relations entirely.

May also confirmed that neither members of the royal family or ministers would attend the football World Cup in Russia later this year.

And she outlined fresh measures against people travelling to or living in Britain who were responsible for violations of human rights or planned &quot;hostile activities&quot;.

NATO allies, including the United States, have expressed their support for Britain following the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II.

Along with the UN Security Council meeting in New York, EU Council President Donald Tusk indicated that the issue would be on the agenda of next week&#39;s summit of the bloc&#39;s leaders in Brussels.

Russian &#39;defiance&#39; 
May said on Monday that it was &quot;highly likely&quot; that Russia was behind the attack, which left Skripal and his daughter in a critical condition in hospital, while a policeman was also hospitalised.

She had given Moscow until midnight Tuesday to explain whether it was directly responsible or &quot;lost control&quot; of the nerve agent, but said it has responded with &quot;sarcasm, contempt and defiance&quot;.

President Vladimir Putin&#39;s spokesman said again Wednesday that it had &quot;nothing to do with the accident in Britain&quot;, but warned it would not accept the &quot;language of ultimatums&quot;.

Lavrov has said the Kremlin is ready to cooperate with Britain but complained that its request for samples of the nerve agent had been rejected.

Moscow has also warned that it will take retaliatory measures, and on Tuesday threatened to expel British media from Russia if the licence of its state broadcaster RT was threatened in Britain.

May on Wednesday blamed Putin for a deterioration of relations between Moscow and London, saying it was &quot;tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in this way&quot;.

But the Russian embassy said the British government was responsible.&nbsp;

Allied support 
Britain is wary of acting alone and May has spoken to US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in recent days.

In a phone call late Tuesday, Trump and May &quot;agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms&quot;, the White House said.

In a joint statement by its 29 member states, the US-led NATO alliance said the attack was a &quot;clear breach of international norms and agreements&quot; and called on Russia to fully disclose details of the Novichok programme.

British experts say Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, who was visiting from Russia, were poisoned with a nerve agent from a broad category known as Novichok, which developed by the Soviet Union during the late stages of the Cold War.&nbsp;

The Russian chemist who first revealed the existence of Novichok, Vil Mirzayanov, said &quot;only the Russians&quot; developed the Novichok agents.

&quot;They kept it and are still keeping it in secrecy,&quot; he said from his home in the US, where he moved in 1995 after 30 years of working for the State Scientific Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology.

The Salisbury case has drawn parallels with the 2006 death by radiation poisoning of former Russian agent and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, which Britain blamed on Moscow.

In a further twist, former senior Russian executive Nikolai Glushkov, linked to late Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky, was found dead in London on Tuesday in unexplained circumstances, British and Russian media reported.

&nbsp;

May said she would be pushing for a "robust international response" when the UN Security Council meets later Wednesday in New York to discuss the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 diplomats and suspended high-level contacts with Russia including for the World Cup, saying her government found Moscow "culpable" of a nerve agent attack on a former spy. May said she would be pushing for a "robust international response" when the UN Security Council meets later Wednesday in New York to discuss the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4. Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement and its London embassy warned that May's response was "totally unacceptable and shortsighted". May told parliament that Russia had failed to respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed chemical, Novichok, was used in the English city of Salisbury. "There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian State was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter," she said. "This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the United Kingdom." 'Hostile activities' In measures drawn up at a meeting of her national security council earlier Wednesday, May announced that 23 Russian diplomats believed to be undeclared intelligence officers must leave Britain in a week. She suspended all planned high-level contacts, which includes revoking an invitation for Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit but said she did not want to break off relations entirely. May also confirmed that neither members of the royal family or ministers would attend the football World Cup in Russia later this year. And she outlined fresh measures against people travelling to or living in Britain who were responsible for violations of human rights or planned "hostile activities". NATO allies, including the United States, have expressed their support for Britain following the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II. Along with the UN Security Council meeting in New York, EU Council President Donald Tusk indicated that the issue would be on the agenda of next week's summit of the bloc's leaders in Brussels. Russian 'defiance' May said on Monday that it was "highly likely" that Russia was behind the attack, which left Skripal and his daughter in a critical condition in hospital, while a policeman was also hospitalised. She had given Moscow until midnight Tuesday to explain whether it was directly responsible or "lost control" of the nerve agent, but said it has responded with "sarcasm, contempt and defiance". President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said again Wednesday that it had "nothing to do with the accident in Britain", but warned it would not accept the "language of ultimatums". Lavrov has said the Kremlin is ready to cooperate with Britain but complained that its request for samples of the nerve agent had been rejected. Moscow has also warned that it will take retaliatory measures, and on Tuesday threatened to expel British media from Russia if the licence of its state broadcaster RT was threatened in Britain. May on Wednesday blamed Putin for a deterioration of relations between Moscow and London, saying it was "tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in this way". But the Russian embassy said the British government was responsible. Allied support Britain is wary of acting alone and May has spoken to US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in recent days. In a phone call late Tuesday, Trump and May "agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms", the White House said. In a joint statement by its 29 member states, the US-led NATO alliance said the attack was a "clear breach of international norms and agreements" and called on Russia to fully disclose details of the Novichok programme. British experts say Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, who was visiting from Russia, were poisoned with a nerve agent from a broad category known as Novichok, which developed by the Soviet Union during the late stages of the Cold War. The Russian chemist who first revealed the existence of Novichok, Vil Mirzayanov, said "only the Russians" developed the Novichok agents. "They kept it and are still keeping it in secrecy," he said from his home in the US, where he moved in 1995 after 30 years of working for the State Scientific Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology. The Salisbury case has drawn parallels with the 2006 death by radiation poisoning of former Russian agent and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, which Britain blamed on Moscow. In a further twist, former senior Russian executive Nikolai Glushkov, linked to late Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky, was found dead in London on Tuesday in unexplained circumstances, British and Russian media reported.

Britain expels 23 Russian diplomats over spy poisoning, May says Moscow 'culpable'

Russia warned Britain on Tuesday to expect reprisals if it announces sanctions over the poisoning of a former double agent, as the US and other allies joined London in demanding answers on how a Soviet-designed nerve agent was used in the attack.

British Prime Minister Theresa May says Russia was &quot;highly likely&quot; to be behind the attack, giving Moscow until midnight Tuesday to provide answers on the March 4 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted &quot;Russia is not guilty&quot;, saying it was ready to cooperate with Britain but complaining that its request for samples of the nerve agent had been rejected.

The Russian embassy said it had formally demanded the government allow a joint investigation, saying &quot;without that, there can be no sense in any statements from London&quot;.

In the first sign of the practical implications of the growing diplomatic crisis, Russia threatened to bar all British media if British authorities banned the Kremlin-backed RT broadcaster.

British regulator Ofcom has warned it could review RT&#39;s licence if Russia were found to have been responsible for the attack on Skripal, who came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap.

The United States, NATO and the European Union have all backed Britain in its stand-off with Moscow, following what is believed to be the first nerve agent attack in Europe since World War II.

In a phone call with May on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said Russia must &quot;provide unambiguous answers&quot;.

The two leaders &quot;agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms&quot;, the White House said.

Allies back Britain&nbsp;

May on Monday gave Moscow an ultimatum to explain whether Skripal&#39;s attempted murder was a state-sponsored attack, or whether it had &quot;lost control&quot; of the nerve agent.

She demanded Moscow disclose details of the development of the Novichok nerve agents programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

But addressing OPCW, Russian ambassador Alexander Shulgin accused British officials of launching &quot;vicious attacks&quot; against Moscow and &quot;fomenting hysteria&quot;.

Pharmacology experts said Novichok, a broad category of more than 100 nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union during the late stages of the Cold War, was &quot;more dangerous and sophisticated&quot; than sarin or VX.

May will gather her National Security Council on Wednesday morning &quot;to discuss the response from Russia&quot;, and will then give a statement to MPs, her spokesman said.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attempted to rally support on Tuesday by calling his counterparts and vowing that if Russian was responsible, &quot;this would be further reckless behaviour which threatens the international community and requires an international response,&quot; according to a Foreign Office statement.

Canadian ambassador Timothy Edwards told the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) the two scenarios outlined by May were &quot;deeply troubling&quot;.

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said the EU was united in &quot;unwavering&quot; solidarity, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was taking the British accusation &quot;extremely seriously&quot;.

French President Emmanuel Macron said for his part the attack was &quot;unacceptable&quot; and &quot;reaffirmed France&#39;s commitment to fighting impunity when it comes to chemical weapons use,&quot; his office said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the incident was &quot;of great concern&quot; amid reports that Britain was consulting NATO allies about possibly invoking its Article 5 principle of common defence.

They will not recover

Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain in critical condition in hospital after being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the southwestern city of Salisbury on March 4.

May said Moscow had previously produced a group of nerve agents known as Novichok, had a history of state-sponsored assassinations and viewed defectors such as Skripal as legitimate targets.

Vil Mirzayanov, a chemist who worked on the Novichok programme and now lives in the United States, said the nerve agent&#39;s effects were &quot;brutal&quot;.

&quot;These people are gone -- the man and his daughter. Even if they survive they will not recover,&quot; the 83-year-old told The Telegraph newspaper.

A policeman was also taken ill, and police revealed Tuesday that 35 people were assessed at the time, all but one of whom were swiftly released. That person is being monitored as an outpatient.

The case has prompted comparisons with the 2006 radiation poisoning of former spy and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, which a British public inquiry blamed on Russia.

In a further twist, former senior Russian executive Nikolai Glushkov, linked to late Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky, was found dead in London in unexplained circumstances, British and Russian media reported.

British Prime Minister Theresa May says Russia was 'highly likely' to be behind the attack, giving Moscow until midnight Tuesday to provide answers

Russia warned Britain on Tuesday to expect reprisals if it announces sanctions over the poisoning of a former double agent, as the US and other allies joined London in demanding answers on how a Soviet-designed nerve agent was used in the attack. British Prime Minister Theresa May says Russia was "highly likely" to be behind the attack, giving Moscow until midnight Tuesday to provide answers on the March 4 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted "Russia is not guilty", saying it was ready to cooperate with Britain but complaining that its request for samples of the nerve agent had been rejected. The Russian embassy said it had formally demanded the government allow a joint investigation, saying "without that, there can be no sense in any statements from London". In the first sign of the practical implications of the growing diplomatic crisis, Russia threatened to bar all British media if British authorities banned the Kremlin-backed RT broadcaster. British regulator Ofcom has warned it could review RT's licence if Russia were found to have been responsible for the attack on Skripal, who came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap. The United States, NATO and the European Union have all backed Britain in its stand-off with Moscow, following what is believed to be the first nerve agent attack in Europe since World War II. In a phone call with May on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said Russia must "provide unambiguous answers". The two leaders "agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms", the White House said. Allies back Britain May on Monday gave Moscow an ultimatum to explain whether Skripal's attempted murder was a state-sponsored attack, or whether it had "lost control" of the nerve agent. She demanded Moscow disclose details of the development of the Novichok nerve agents programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). But addressing OPCW, Russian ambassador Alexander Shulgin accused British officials of launching "vicious attacks" against Moscow and "fomenting hysteria". Pharmacology experts said Novichok, a broad category of more than 100 nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union during the late stages of the Cold War, was "more dangerous and sophisticated" than sarin or VX. May will gather her National Security Council on Wednesday morning "to discuss the response from Russia", and will then give a statement to MPs, her spokesman said. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attempted to rally support on Tuesday by calling his counterparts and vowing that if Russian was responsible, "this would be further reckless behaviour which threatens the international community and requires an international response," according to a Foreign Office statement. Canadian ambassador Timothy Edwards told the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) the two scenarios outlined by May were "deeply troubling". European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said the EU was united in "unwavering" solidarity, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was taking the British accusation "extremely seriously". French President Emmanuel Macron said for his part the attack was "unacceptable" and "reaffirmed France's commitment to fighting impunity when it comes to chemical weapons use," his office said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the incident was "of great concern" amid reports that Britain was consulting NATO allies about possibly invoking its Article 5 principle of common defence. They will not recover Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain in critical condition in hospital after being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the southwestern city of Salisbury on March 4. May said Moscow had previously produced a group of nerve agents known as Novichok, had a history of state-sponsored assassinations and viewed defectors such as Skripal as legitimate targets. Vil Mirzayanov, a chemist who worked on the Novichok programme and now lives in the United States, said the nerve agent's effects were "brutal". "These people are gone -- the man and his daughter. Even if they survive they will not recover," the 83-year-old told The Telegraph newspaper. A policeman was also taken ill, and police revealed Tuesday that 35 people were assessed at the time, all but one of whom were swiftly released. That person is being monitored as an outpatient. The case has prompted comparisons with the 2006 radiation poisoning of former spy and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, which a British public inquiry blamed on Russia. In a further twist, former senior Russian executive Nikolai Glushkov, linked to late Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky, was found dead in London in unexplained circumstances, British and Russian media reported.

Russia warns of reprisals if UK acts over spy attack

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, backed United Kingdom&#39;s assessment that suggests Russia&#39;s involvement in alleged nerve attack in the UK. Tillerson lashed out at Russia &nbsp;calling it &ldquo;an irresponsible force of instability in the world.&rdquo;

Tillerson said the United States had &quot;full confidence&quot; in Britain&#39;s assessment that Russia was likely responsible.

&quot;We agree that those responsible - both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it - must face appropriately serious consequences,&quot; he noted in a statement.&nbsp;

Tillerson also expressed solidarity with the UK over the matter.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the incident and stated the possibility of Russia&#39;s involvement in the attack.&nbsp;

May, on Monday, said it was &quot;highly likely&quot; that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning in England of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter using a military-grade nerve agent.

&quot;Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom,&quot; she said, calling the attack a &quot;reckless and despicable act&quot;.

The Russian government has denied the allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Russian government has denied the allegations.

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, backed United Kingdom's assessment that suggests Russia's involvement in alleged nerve attack in the UK. Tillerson lashed out at Russia calling it “an irresponsible force of instability in the world.” Tillerson said the United States had "full confidence" in Britain's assessment that Russia was likely responsible. "We agree that those responsible - both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it - must face appropriately serious consequences," he noted in a statement. Tillerson also expressed solidarity with the UK over the matter. British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the incident and stated the possibility of Russia's involvement in the attack. May, on Monday, said it was "highly likely" that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning in England of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter using a military-grade nerve agent. "Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom," she said, calling the attack a "reckless and despicable act". The Russian government has denied the allegations. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia was likely responsible for UK nerve agent attack: Rex Tillerson

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday it was &quot;highly likely&quot; that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning in England of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter using a military-grade nerve agent.

May told parliament that either the Russian state was directly responsible for the poisoning or it had allowed the nerve agent to get into the hands of others. London has given Russia until the end of Tuesday to explain its use.

British officials had identified the substance as being part of the Novichok group of nerve agents that were developed by the Soviet military during the 1970s and 1980s, May said.

Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, have been in hospital in critical condition since being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the city of Salisbury on March 4.

&quot;Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom,&quot; she said, calling the attack a &quot;reckless and despicable act&quot;.

Russia&#39;s foreign ministry hit back immediately, saying May&#39;s comments were a &quot;circus show&quot; and part of a political information campaign against Russia.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States had &quot;full confidence&quot; in Britain&#39;s assessment that Russia was likely responsible.

&quot;We agree that those responsible - both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it - must face appropriately serious consequences,&quot; Tillerson said in a statement.&nbsp;

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the United States stood by America&#39;s &quot;closest ally,&quot; but she stopped short of blaming Russia for the attack.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the use of any nerve agent was &quot;horrendous and completely unacceptable&quot; and &quot;this incident is of great concern to NATO&quot;.

Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder in London of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after drinking green tea laced with radioactive polonium-210.&nbsp;

On Monday, May said the latest poisoning took place &quot;against a backdrop of a well-established pattern of Russian state aggression&quot; and that Britain was ready to take &quot;much more extensive measures&quot; against Russia than in the past.&nbsp;

Russia&#39;s ambassador to London has been summoned to explain to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson how the nerve agent came to have been used. &quot;On Wednesday we will consider in detail the response from the Russian state,&quot; May said.

Novichok agents are believed to be five to 10 times more lethal than the more commonly known VX and Sarin gases. They cause a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation, University of Reading pharmacology professor Gary Stephens said.

Russian tv: World cup spoiler plot

Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off a question about the affair while visiting a grain centre in southern Russia, saying British authorities should first &quot;get to the bottom of things&quot;, the BBC&#39;s Moscow correspondent wrote on Twitter.

Russian state TV accused Britain of poisoning Skripal as part of a special operation designed to spoil Russia&#39;s hosting of soccer&#39;s World Cup this summer.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Skripal worked for British intelligence and the attack happened in Britain so it was not a matter for the Russian government.

A British policeman who was one of the first to attend to the stricken spy was also affected by the nerve agent. He is now conscious in serious but stable condition, police said.

Skripal is a former colonel in Russia&#39;s GRU military intelligence who was convicted of passing secrets to Britain&#39;s MI6 intelligence agency and later exchanged in a spy swap.

The chairman of the British parliament&#39;s foreign affairs committee, Tom Tugendhat, said Russia&#39;s so-called oligarchs, who have amassed fortunes during Putin&#39;s 18-year rule, should be denied entry to the luxuries of London and the West.

The British capital has been dubbed &quot;Londongrad&quot; due to the large quantities of Russian money that have poured in since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

May said last year that Putin was seeking to undermine the West and the international order by meddling in elections, and promised to ensure corrupt money did not flow into Britain from Russia.

A British public inquiry found the 2006 killing of Litvinenko had probably been approved by Putin and carried out by two Russians, Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy - a former KGB bodyguard who later became a member of the Russian parliament.

Cordons remained in place in the centre of Salisbury and some police investigators wore full chemical and biological suits. The army was later deployed to help remove items from the scene.&nbsp;

Health officials said there was no wider risk to public health.

Jenny Harries, deputy medical director at Public Health England, suggested members of the public who had visited the same restaurant and pub as Skripal and his daughter on March 4 should wash their clothes, clean phones and bags with baby wipes and wash items such as jewellery and spectacles with warm water and detergent. 
&nbsp;

British officials had identified the substance as being part of the Novichok group of nerve agents that were developed by the Soviet military during the 1970s, May noted

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday it was "highly likely" that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning in England of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter using a military-grade nerve agent. May told parliament that either the Russian state was directly responsible for the poisoning or it had allowed the nerve agent to get into the hands of others. London has given Russia until the end of Tuesday to explain its use. British officials had identified the substance as being part of the Novichok group of nerve agents that were developed by the Soviet military during the 1970s and 1980s, May said. Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, have been in hospital in critical condition since being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the city of Salisbury on March 4. "Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom," she said, calling the attack a "reckless and despicable act". Russia's foreign ministry hit back immediately, saying May's comments were a "circus show" and part of a political information campaign against Russia. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States had "full confidence" in Britain's assessment that Russia was likely responsible. "We agree that those responsible - both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it - must face appropriately serious consequences," Tillerson said in a statement. Earlier, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the United States stood by America's "closest ally," but she stopped short of blaming Russia for the attack. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the use of any nerve agent was "horrendous and completely unacceptable" and "this incident is of great concern to NATO". Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder in London of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after drinking green tea laced with radioactive polonium-210. On Monday, May said the latest poisoning took place "against a backdrop of a well-established pattern of Russian state aggression" and that Britain was ready to take "much more extensive measures" against Russia than in the past. Russia's ambassador to London has been summoned to explain to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson how the nerve agent came to have been used. "On Wednesday we will consider in detail the response from the Russian state," May said. Novichok agents are believed to be five to 10 times more lethal than the more commonly known VX and Sarin gases. They cause a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation, University of Reading pharmacology professor Gary Stephens said. Russian tv: World cup spoiler plot Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off a question about the affair while visiting a grain centre in southern Russia, saying British authorities should first "get to the bottom of things", the BBC's Moscow correspondent wrote on Twitter. Russian state TV accused Britain of poisoning Skripal as part of a special operation designed to spoil Russia's hosting of soccer's World Cup this summer. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Skripal worked for British intelligence and the attack happened in Britain so it was not a matter for the Russian government. A British policeman who was one of the first to attend to the stricken spy was also affected by the nerve agent. He is now conscious in serious but stable condition, police said. Skripal is a former colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence who was convicted of passing secrets to Britain's MI6 intelligence agency and later exchanged in a spy swap. The chairman of the British parliament's foreign affairs committee, Tom Tugendhat, said Russia's so-called oligarchs, who have amassed fortunes during Putin's 18-year rule, should be denied entry to the luxuries of London and the West. The British capital has been dubbed "Londongrad" due to the large quantities of Russian money that have poured in since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. May said last year that Putin was seeking to undermine the West and the international order by meddling in elections, and promised to ensure corrupt money did not flow into Britain from Russia. A British public inquiry found the 2006 killing of Litvinenko had probably been approved by Putin and carried out by two Russians, Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy - a former KGB bodyguard who later became a member of the Russian parliament. Cordons remained in place in the centre of Salisbury and some police investigators wore full chemical and biological suits. The army was later deployed to help remove items from the scene. Health officials said there was no wider risk to public health. Jenny Harries, deputy medical director at Public Health England, suggested members of the public who had visited the same restaurant and pub as Skripal and his daughter on March 4 should wash their clothes, clean phones and bags with baby wipes and wash items such as jewellery and spectacles with warm water and detergent.

UK's May says 'highly likely' Russia behind nerve attack on spy

Prime Minister Theresa May defended Britain&#39;s links to security ally Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Queen Elizabeth for lunch on a high-profile visit that drew protests over Riyadh&#39;s human rights record.

A fiery exchange in parliament between May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn underlined tension in Britain over Prince Mohammed&#39;s trip, which was aimed at building a broader economic partnership between the two countries, but has sparked anger about alleged human rights abuses and the war in Yemen.

&quot;The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one, and it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in this country,&quot; May said, pausing her answer briefly as opposition lawmakers cried &quot;Shame!&quot;. She was alluding to intelligence-sharing on Islamist militant suspects.

The debate took place as Prince Mohammed lunched with the British monarch on the first leg of a trip packed with displays of diplomatic affection designed to help widen long-standing defence ties into a more far-reaching partnership.

May later met Prince Mohammed at her Downing Street office, extending a warm diplomatic welcome to the conservative kingdom&#39;s heir apparent and agreeing a 65 billion pound ($90.29 billion) trade and investment target.

Britain is looking for trading partners as it exits the European Union, and energy powerhouse Saudi Arabia needs to convince sceptical investors about its domestic reforms.

&quot;This is a significant boost for UK prosperity and a clear demonstration of the strong international confidence in our economy as we prepare to leave the European Union,&quot; a spokeswoman from May&#39;s office said after the meeting.

But demonstrators gathered outside May&#39;s office amid a heavy police presence to protest at both countries&#39; role in Yemen, where war has killed around 10,000 people. A Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in Yemen in 2015 and critics say Riyadh has been using British-supplied weapons in devastating strikes.

&quot;I don&#39;t believe that someone like Mohammed bin Salman should be welcomed in Britain,&quot; said Hassan Yassine, a 25-year-old customer service worker from London. &quot;It is definitely not ethical, bearing in mind what is going on in Yemen every single day, every single second, even as we speak.&quot;

Corbyn said British military advisers were &quot;directing the war&quot; in Yemen. May&#39;s spokesman said British personnel had no role in carrying out coalition air strikes, and were not involved in Saudi targeting decisions.

Strategic partnership

Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after an egg was thrown at a police vehicle as bin Salman&#39;s motorcade arrived in Downing Street.

Wednesday&#39;s first official engagement was a trip to Buckingham Palace to see Queen Elizabeth - a rare honour usually reserved for heads of state.

The Saudi delegation then met May at her offices to launch a UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council.

The meeting set out the mutual trade and investment target, which would include direct investment in Britain and new Saudi public procurement with British companies. This would be spread across sectors including finance, education, healthcare, renewable energy and defence, May&#39;s office said.

Britain is vying to land the stock market listing of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, but no decision is expected this week.

&quot;We would like the Aramco share option to be issued in the United Kingdom and we will continue to suggest the City would be the best place for it,&quot; junior foreign office minister Alistair Burt told parliament.

Later this month Prince Mohammed visits the United States, which also wants the lucrative listing, although sources said both countries might miss out.

British officials were privately delighted at the decision by Prince Mohammed, 32, to choose Britain as the major Western destination on his first foreign trip since becoming heir to the Saudi throne last year.

The British government is keen to develop a two-way trade and investment relationship, eyeing both an expanded market in Saudi Arabia for service sector exports, and attracting Saudi cash to finance domestic projects.

For his part, Saudi Arabia&#39;s ambitious heir wants to show that &quot;shock&quot; reforms have made his country a better place to invest and a more tolerant society.

Photographs posted online showed London taxis displaying advertising graphics welcoming Prince Mohammed, and electronic billboards around the capital promoted pro-Saudi messages with the hashtag #anewsaudiarabia.

Business deals are possible with British defence group BAE Systems and European weapons maker MBDA, and initial agreements could be concluded on gas exploration, petrochemicals and other industries, according to British and Saudi sources.

Royal treatment

The three-day visit will include a second Royal audience - dinner with the Prince Charles and Prince William on Wednesday - and a prestigious visit to May&#39;s country residence on Thursday.

The prime minister intends to use the private dinner at Chequers, a 16th-century manor house 40 miles (60 km) northwest of London, to further press her concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, her spokesman said.

The Saudi-led coalition is fighting the Iran-allied Houthi movement in Yemen in a campaign to restore its internationally recognised government, generating what the United Nations said in January is the world&#39;s worst humanitarian crisis.

Demonstrators are protesting against Britain for licensing 4.6 billion pounds of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia since 2015.

May said all arms sales were strictly regulated, that Saudi Arabia&#39;s involvement in the conflict was backed by the UN&nbsp;Security Council and her government supported it.

&quot;The prime minister and crown prince agreed on the importance of full and unfettered humanitarian and commercial access, including through the ports, and that a political solution was ultimately the only way to end the conflict and humanitarian suffering in Yemen,&quot; the statement from May&#39;s office said.

A fiery exchange in parliament between May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn underlined tension in Britain over Prince Mohammed's trip

Prime Minister Theresa May defended Britain's links to security ally Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Queen Elizabeth for lunch on a high-profile visit that drew protests over Riyadh's human rights record. A fiery exchange in parliament between May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn underlined tension in Britain over Prince Mohammed's trip, which was aimed at building a broader economic partnership between the two countries, but has sparked anger about alleged human rights abuses and the war in Yemen. "The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one, and it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in this country," May said, pausing her answer briefly as opposition lawmakers cried "Shame!". She was alluding to intelligence-sharing on Islamist militant suspects. The debate took place as Prince Mohammed lunched with the British monarch on the first leg of a trip packed with displays of diplomatic affection designed to help widen long-standing defence ties into a more far-reaching partnership. May later met Prince Mohammed at her Downing Street office, extending a warm diplomatic welcome to the conservative kingdom's heir apparent and agreeing a 65 billion pound ($90.29 billion) trade and investment target. Britain is looking for trading partners as it exits the European Union, and energy powerhouse Saudi Arabia needs to convince sceptical investors about its domestic reforms. "This is a significant boost for UK prosperity and a clear demonstration of the strong international confidence in our economy as we prepare to leave the European Union," a spokeswoman from May's office said after the meeting. But demonstrators gathered outside May's office amid a heavy police presence to protest at both countries' role in Yemen, where war has killed around 10,000 people. A Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in Yemen in 2015 and critics say Riyadh has been using British-supplied weapons in devastating strikes. "I don't believe that someone like Mohammed bin Salman should be welcomed in Britain," said Hassan Yassine, a 25-year-old customer service worker from London. "It is definitely not ethical, bearing in mind what is going on in Yemen every single day, every single second, even as we speak." Corbyn said British military advisers were "directing the war" in Yemen. May's spokesman said British personnel had no role in carrying out coalition air strikes, and were not involved in Saudi targeting decisions. Strategic partnership Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after an egg was thrown at a police vehicle as bin Salman's motorcade arrived in Downing Street. Wednesday's first official engagement was a trip to Buckingham Palace to see Queen Elizabeth - a rare honour usually reserved for heads of state. The Saudi delegation then met May at her offices to launch a UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council. The meeting set out the mutual trade and investment target, which would include direct investment in Britain and new Saudi public procurement with British companies. This would be spread across sectors including finance, education, healthcare, renewable energy and defence, May's office said. Britain is vying to land the stock market listing of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, but no decision is expected this week. "We would like the Aramco share option to be issued in the United Kingdom and we will continue to suggest the City would be the best place for it," junior foreign office minister Alistair Burt told parliament. Later this month Prince Mohammed visits the United States, which also wants the lucrative listing, although sources said both countries might miss out. British officials were privately delighted at the decision by Prince Mohammed, 32, to choose Britain as the major Western destination on his first foreign trip since becoming heir to the Saudi throne last year. The British government is keen to develop a two-way trade and investment relationship, eyeing both an expanded market in Saudi Arabia for service sector exports, and attracting Saudi cash to finance domestic projects. For his part, Saudi Arabia's ambitious heir wants to show that "shock" reforms have made his country a better place to invest and a more tolerant society. Photographs posted online showed London taxis displaying advertising graphics welcoming Prince Mohammed, and electronic billboards around the capital promoted pro-Saudi messages with the hashtag #anewsaudiarabia. Business deals are possible with British defence group BAE Systems and European weapons maker MBDA, and initial agreements could be concluded on gas exploration, petrochemicals and other industries, according to British and Saudi sources. Royal treatment The three-day visit will include a second Royal audience - dinner with the Prince Charles and Prince William on Wednesday - and a prestigious visit to May's country residence on Thursday. The prime minister intends to use the private dinner at Chequers, a 16th-century manor house 40 miles (60 km) northwest of London, to further press her concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, her spokesman said. The Saudi-led coalition is fighting the Iran-allied Houthi movement in Yemen in a campaign to restore its internationally recognised government, generating what the United Nations said in January is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Demonstrators are protesting against Britain for licensing 4.6 billion pounds of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia since 2015. May said all arms sales were strictly regulated, that Saudi Arabia's involvement in the conflict was backed by the UN Security Council and her government supported it. "The prime minister and crown prince agreed on the importance of full and unfettered humanitarian and commercial access, including through the ports, and that a political solution was ultimately the only way to end the conflict and humanitarian suffering in Yemen," the statement from May's office said.

Theresa May defends Saudi ties as crown prince gets royal welcome in London

European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday dismissed as &quot;pure illusion&quot; the ideas floated by Britain so far on what sort of relationship it wants with the European Union after it leaves the bloc.

Tusk said he hoped to get more clarity when he meets Theresa May next Thursday, a day before the British prime minister is due to deliver a speech to outline London&#39;s vision of its future ties with the EU.

&quot;I am glad that the UK government seems to be moving towards a more detailed position,&quot; Tusk told journalists after 27 EU leaders - all apart from May - met in Brussels on Friday.

&quot;However ... I am afraid that the UK position today is based on pure illusion. It seems like the &#39;cake&#39; philosophy is still alive. From the very start it has been a key clear principle of the EU 27 that there can be no cherry-picking and no single market &#39;a la carte&#39;.&quot;

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has famously said he wants Britain to get the best of both worlds - to &quot;have its cake and eat it&quot;.

EU leaders have long been asking May for details of London&#39;s vision for future relations, but she has been hampered by divisions within her ruling Conservative Party, with some backing close trading ties and others seeking a &quot;clean break&quot;.

The cake problem

Tusk said the remaining 27 EU states would adopt their joint stance on that in March, whether London provided input or not. He said the bloc would be &quot;extremely realistic in our assessment of possible new proposals&quot;.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who saw May this week, echoed those comments in talking to reporters separately after the Brussels meeting.

&quot;I made it clear to Theresa May that I believe it is crucial for the UK to set out its position on the transition, on issues like the Irish border, and particularly on the future relationship,&quot; he said.

&quot;We don&#39;t like cherry-picking, so it will be difficult to come to a bespoke deal along the lines that some in the UK are suggesting.&quot;

The EU has rejected British ideas for a three-pronged deal in which Britain would stick to the bloc&#39;s rules after Brexit in some areas, diverge moderately in others and go for distinctively different solutions for the rest.

The issue of avoiding erecting a border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland after Britain leaves has emerged as the most sensitive in the divorce negotiations, as both sides fear a return to the violence that beset the region for decades.

The EU expects Britain to come up with proposals on that, adding that London&#39;s desire to leave the bloc&#39;s single market and customs union means a border would be virtually unavoidable.

&quot;I don&#39;t think the United Kingdom has yet squared the circle,&quot; Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told journalists. &quot;You&#39;re hearing this idea of three baskets. But that&#39;s not a significant step away from having your cake and eating it.&quot;

Tusk said he hoped to get more clarity when he meets Theresa May next Thursday, a day before the British prime minister is due to deliver a speech to outline London's vision of its future ties with the EU.

European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday dismissed as "pure illusion" the ideas floated by Britain so far on what sort of relationship it wants with the European Union after it leaves the bloc. Tusk said he hoped to get more clarity when he meets Theresa May next Thursday, a day before the British prime minister is due to deliver a speech to outline London's vision of its future ties with the EU. "I am glad that the UK government seems to be moving towards a more detailed position," Tusk told journalists after 27 EU leaders - all apart from May - met in Brussels on Friday. "However ... I am afraid that the UK position today is based on pure illusion. It seems like the 'cake' philosophy is still alive. From the very start it has been a key clear principle of the EU 27 that there can be no cherry-picking and no single market 'a la carte'." British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has famously said he wants Britain to get the best of both worlds - to "have its cake and eat it". EU leaders have long been asking May for details of London's vision for future relations, but she has been hampered by divisions within her ruling Conservative Party, with some backing close trading ties and others seeking a "clean break". The cake problem Tusk said the remaining 27 EU states would adopt their joint stance on that in March, whether London provided input or not. He said the bloc would be "extremely realistic in our assessment of possible new proposals". Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who saw May this week, echoed those comments in talking to reporters separately after the Brussels meeting. "I made it clear to Theresa May that I believe it is crucial for the UK to set out its position on the transition, on issues like the Irish border, and particularly on the future relationship," he said. "We don't like cherry-picking, so it will be difficult to come to a bespoke deal along the lines that some in the UK are suggesting." The EU has rejected British ideas for a three-pronged deal in which Britain would stick to the bloc's rules after Brexit in some areas, diverge moderately in others and go for distinctively different solutions for the rest. The issue of avoiding erecting a border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland after Britain leaves has emerged as the most sensitive in the divorce negotiations, as both sides fear a return to the violence that beset the region for decades. The EU expects Britain to come up with proposals on that, adding that London's desire to leave the bloc's single market and customs union means a border would be virtually unavoidable. "I don't think the United Kingdom has yet squared the circle," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told journalists. "You're hearing this idea of three baskets. But that's not a significant step away from having your cake and eating it."

UK ideas on post-Brexit ties are 'pure illusion', says European Council President Donald Tusk

Prime Minister Theresa May made her case on Saturday for a new security treaty with the EU from next year, winning support from EU and US&nbsp;officials who agreed the issue was too important to risk getting subsumed in broader Brexit negotiations.

In a speech to Western leaders and officials in Munich, May promised that London would continue to lead military missions and share intelligence if Brussels agreed to a pact &quot;effective from 2019&quot;, the year Britain is due to leave the bloc.

May`s government is using a series of speeches to set out its vision for Britain outside the European Union. But the loudest applause during her appearance came when the event`s organiser, German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, said: &quot;Things would be so much easier if you stayed.&quot;

But May was adamant: &quot;We are leaving the EU and there is no question of a second referendum or going back, and I think that`s important,&quot; she told the Munich Security Conference.&nbsp;

&quot;The partnership that we need to create is one that offers UK and EU way to combine our efforts to greatest effect where this is in our shared interest,&quot; May said of her security plan.

Britain is one of the top three users of data from European Union police agency Europol. But as it leaves the EU, there is a risk that it will be shut out of this cooperation, becoming more vulnerable to Islamist militants, officials say.&nbsp; 
Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU`s chief executive, welcomed a &quot;security alliance&quot; with Britain, adding that the issue should be separated from the rest of the Brexit debate.&nbsp;

Britain, along with France, is Europe`s biggest military power and leads two European Union military missions while sending troops to Estonia under a NATO flag.

With a host of issues still unresolved and infighting over Brexit dividing May`s government just over a year before Britain is due to leave, security is one of London`s biggest bargaining chips as it seeks a new deal with Brussels.

Britain`s interior minister last year told the EU it could &quot;take our information with us&quot; if it left the bloc without a deal on security.

May emphasised she was committed to European security, warned against competition between Britain and the rest of Europe and said that both sides should do &quot;whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security.&quot;

Juncker said security should not be conflated with &quot;other questions relating to Brexit,&quot; also quashing any British hopes that a security treaty might be a way into a free-trade deal.

&quot;I wouldn`t like to put security policy considerations with trade policy considerations in one hat. I understand why some would like to do that, but we don`t want to,&quot; he said.

Veiled threat

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed close security cooperation between Britain and the EU after Brexit, while Stoltenberg`s predecessor at the alliance, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told Reuters May`s was a strong speech.

&quot;I think that is what we should aim for, but any treaty is very time-consuming. The timeline is unrealistic,&quot; Fogh Rasmussen said.

A senior US&nbsp;official said: &quot;We know the goal, but I don`t know if this is the right vehicle.&quot;

But May`s call to set aside &quot;rigid institutional structures&quot; to enable a quick agreement on security was less well received.

&quot;What she meant was not specified and sounded like a veiled threat,&quot; said EU lawmaker Marietje Schaake, a Dutch centrist.

One senior EU official in Munich said that May would need to submit a formal negotiating paper to detail her ideas and then allow EU and British negotiators to move forward.

But the EU official said May`s proposal was essentially not new and could only come after Britain and the EU had agreed a divorce settlement. &quot;The European Union also wants a new security arrangement with Britain, but it can`t be done before we agree on other issues,&quot; the official said.

While the status of the Irish border and citizens rights were broadly settled in December, EU negotiators say they are now waiting for Britain to say what kind of future trade relationship it wants.

Agreement on that front would allow EU leaders to endorse the plan at a Brussels summit on March 22-23 and move on to a special transition arrangement ending in December 2020.

In a speech to Western leaders and officials in Munich, Theresa May promised that London would continue to lead military missions and share intelligence if Brussels agreed to a pact 'effective from 2019', the year Britain is due to leave the bloc

Prime Minister Theresa May made her case on Saturday for a new security treaty with the EU from next year, winning support from EU and US officials who agreed the issue was too important to risk getting subsumed in broader Brexit negotiations. In a speech to Western leaders and officials in Munich, May promised that London would continue to lead military missions and share intelligence if Brussels agreed to a pact "effective from 2019", the year Britain is due to leave the bloc. May`s government is using a series of speeches to set out its vision for Britain outside the European Union. But the loudest applause during her appearance came when the event`s organiser, German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, said: "Things would be so much easier if you stayed." But May was adamant: "We are leaving the EU and there is no question of a second referendum or going back, and I think that`s important," she told the Munich Security Conference. "The partnership that we need to create is one that offers UK and EU way to combine our efforts to greatest effect where this is in our shared interest," May said of her security plan. Britain is one of the top three users of data from European Union police agency Europol. But as it leaves the EU, there is a risk that it will be shut out of this cooperation, becoming more vulnerable to Islamist militants, officials say. Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU`s chief executive, welcomed a "security alliance" with Britain, adding that the issue should be separated from the rest of the Brexit debate. Britain, along with France, is Europe`s biggest military power and leads two European Union military missions while sending troops to Estonia under a NATO flag. With a host of issues still unresolved and infighting over Brexit dividing May`s government just over a year before Britain is due to leave, security is one of London`s biggest bargaining chips as it seeks a new deal with Brussels. Britain`s interior minister last year told the EU it could "take our information with us" if it left the bloc without a deal on security. May emphasised she was committed to European security, warned against competition between Britain and the rest of Europe and said that both sides should do "whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security." Juncker said security should not be conflated with "other questions relating to Brexit," also quashing any British hopes that a security treaty might be a way into a free-trade deal. "I wouldn`t like to put security policy considerations with trade policy considerations in one hat. I understand why some would like to do that, but we don`t want to," he said. Veiled threat NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed close security cooperation between Britain and the EU after Brexit, while Stoltenberg`s predecessor at the alliance, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told Reuters May`s was a strong speech. "I think that is what we should aim for, but any treaty is very time-consuming. The timeline is unrealistic," Fogh Rasmussen said. A senior US official said: "We know the goal, but I don`t know if this is the right vehicle." But May`s call to set aside "rigid institutional structures" to enable a quick agreement on security was less well received. "What she meant was not specified and sounded like a veiled threat," said EU lawmaker Marietje Schaake, a Dutch centrist. One senior EU official in Munich said that May would need to submit a formal negotiating paper to detail her ideas and then allow EU and British negotiators to move forward. But the EU official said May`s proposal was essentially not new and could only come after Britain and the EU had agreed a divorce settlement. "The European Union also wants a new security arrangement with Britain, but it can`t be done before we agree on other issues," the official said. While the status of the Irish border and citizens rights were broadly settled in December, EU negotiators say they are now waiting for Britain to say what kind of future trade relationship it wants. Agreement on that front would allow EU leaders to endorse the plan at a Brussels summit on March 22-23 and move on to a special transition arrangement ending in December 2020.

Britain's May wins backing for EU security pact, timing unclear

British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Berlin on Friday to meet German leader Angela Merkel, hoping to overcome near-deadlock in her attempts to negotiate a Brexit deal with the European Union.

German officials say they are frustrated with Britain&#39;s lack of clarity about what it wants after the split, including what new customs regime it wants and how closely it will stay aligned to the EU&#39;s rules for goods and services.

Earlier this week, Germany called on Britain to offer more &quot;concrete&quot; plans.

While Britain&#39;s politicians are consumed by Brexit, Germany is more preoccupied by the struggle to form the new government. Merkel is struggling to coax the Social Democrats to join her conservatives in a renewed &quot;grand coalition&quot;.

German officials have said there is no reason to expect Berlin to change its stance on Brexit when a new coalition government is finally formed.

The future of the euro zone and the governance reforms proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron are seen as more pressing items for Germany than Brexit. May will be the third European prime minister Merkel receives on Friday.

German officials believe that a failure to reach a deal with London before Britain&#39;s formal departure from the EU in March 2019 will have far more serious consequences for Britain than for the rest of the bloc.

Meanwhile, May&#39;s Conservative government remains split over what sort of relationship Britain should have with the EU.

Eurosceptics in her party, such as her foreign minister Boris Johnson, are putting pressure on May to move Britain away from EU rules. Others, including finance minister Philip Hammond, favour as little disruption as possible.

May is under growing pressure to agree a transition deal with the EU by the end of next month to reassure businesses worried that Britain could leave the bloc without a deal next year.

After Berlin, May will travel to a security conference in Munich on Saturday where she will give a speech on future security cooperation between Britain and the EU.

The British government, which has the largest defence budget among EU countries, hopes that offering to keep some of its security arrangements with the bloc will help it win concessions on future trading relations.

A Downing Street source said May would discuss security issues with Merkel on Friday.

German officials say they are frustrated with Britain's lack of clarity about what it wants after the split, including what new customs regime it wants and how closely it will stay aligned to the EU's rules for goods and services

British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Berlin on Friday to meet German leader Angela Merkel, hoping to overcome near-deadlock in her attempts to negotiate a Brexit deal with the European Union. German officials say they are frustrated with Britain's lack of clarity about what it wants after the split, including what new customs regime it wants and how closely it will stay aligned to the EU's rules for goods and services. Earlier this week, Germany called on Britain to offer more "concrete" plans. While Britain's politicians are consumed by Brexit, Germany is more preoccupied by the struggle to form the new government. Merkel is struggling to coax the Social Democrats to join her conservatives in a renewed "grand coalition". German officials have said there is no reason to expect Berlin to change its stance on Brexit when a new coalition government is finally formed. The future of the euro zone and the governance reforms proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron are seen as more pressing items for Germany than Brexit. May will be the third European prime minister Merkel receives on Friday. German officials believe that a failure to reach a deal with London before Britain's formal departure from the EU in March 2019 will have far more serious consequences for Britain than for the rest of the bloc. Meanwhile, May's Conservative government remains split over what sort of relationship Britain should have with the EU. Eurosceptics in her party, such as her foreign minister Boris Johnson, are putting pressure on May to move Britain away from EU rules. Others, including finance minister Philip Hammond, favour as little disruption as possible. May is under growing pressure to agree a transition deal with the EU by the end of next month to reassure businesses worried that Britain could leave the bloc without a deal next year. After Berlin, May will travel to a security conference in Munich on Saturday where she will give a speech on future security cooperation between Britain and the EU. The British government, which has the largest defence budget among EU countries, hopes that offering to keep some of its security arrangements with the bloc will help it win concessions on future trading relations. A Downing Street source said May would discuss security issues with Merkel on Friday.

UK PM Theresa May heads to Berlin to face tough German line on Brexit

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-this-is-how-nirav-modi-planned-his-safe-exit-from-india-33071" target="_blank">This is how Nirav Modi planned his safe exit from India</a>

A lookout notice was issued by the CBI against jeweller Nirav Modi and his associates last month in the&nbsp; <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-how-punjab-national-bank-fell-victim-to-countrys-biggest-bank-fraud-33009" target="_blank">PNB banking fraud&nbsp;</a>case but by then they had escaped from India.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-allahabad-bank-director-says-he-resigned-as-he-was-pressurised-to-give-loan-to-gitanjali-gems-33085" target="_blank">Resigned as I was </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-allahabad-bank-director-says-he-resigned-as-he-was-pressurised-to-give-loan-to-gitanjali-gems-33085" target="_blank">pressurised</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-allahabad-bank-director-says-he-resigned-as-he-was-pressurised-to-give-loan-to-gitanjali-gems-33085" target="_blank"> to give loan to Gitanjali Gems: Former Allahabad Bank director</a>

Even as the skeletons tumble out of closet in the Rs 11300 crore PNB scam, former Allahabad Bank director revealed that he resigned from his post after he was pressurised to give a loan to Gitanjali Gems.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/passports-of-nirav-modi-mehul-choksi-suspended-mea-gives-one-week-to-respond-33087" target="_blank">Passports of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi suspended, MEA gives one week to respond</a>

The external affairs ministry on Friday suspended with immediate effect the passports of diamantaire Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi for four weeks.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-deploy-troops-in-saudi-arabia-33091" target="_blank">Pakistan to deploy troops in Saudi Arabia</a>

In a major policy shift, Pakistan has decided to deploy troops in&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Saudi-Arabia" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-to-deploy-troops-in-saudi-arabia/articleshow/62945805.cms~Saudi Arabia-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Saudi-Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>under bilateral security cooperation with the kingdom which is involved in the ongoing civil war in neighbouring Yemen. 
The&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pakistan-Army" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-to-deploy-troops-in-saudi-arabia/articleshow/62945805.cms~Pakistan Army-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pakistan-Army">Pakistan Army</a>&nbsp;announced the decision after a meeting between Army Chief General&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Qamar-Javed-Bajwa" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-to-deploy-troops-in-saudi-arabia/articleshow/62945805.cms~Qamar Javed Bajwa-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Qamar-Javed-Bajwa">Qamar Javed Bajwa</a>&nbsp;and Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Saeed-Al-Maliki" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-to-deploy-troops-in-saudi-arabia/articleshow/62945805.cms~Saeed Al-Maliki-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Saeed-Al-Maliki">Saeed Al-Maliki</a>, at army headquarters in Rawalpindi yesterday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-theresa-may-heads-to-berlin-to-face-tough-german-line-on-brexit-33083" target="_blank">UK PM Theresa May heads to Berlin to face tough German line on Brexit</a>

British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Berlin on Friday to meet German leader Angela Merkel, hoping to overcome near-deadlock in her attempts to negotiate a Brexit deal with the European Union.

This is how Nirav Modi planned his safe exit from India A lookout notice was issued by the CBI against jeweller Nirav Modi and his associates last month in the PNB banking fraud case but by then they had escaped from India. Resigned as I was pressurised to give loan to Gitanjali Gems: Former Allahabad Bank director Even as the skeletons tumble out of closet in the Rs 11300 crore PNB scam, former Allahabad Bank director revealed that he resigned from his post after he was pressurised to give a loan to Gitanjali Gems. Passports of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi suspended, MEA gives one week to respond The external affairs ministry on Friday suspended with immediate effect the passports of diamantaire Nirav Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi for four weeks. Pakistan to deploy troops in Saudi Arabia In a major policy shift, Pakistan has decided to deploy troops in Saudi Arabiaunder bilateral security cooperation with the kingdom which is involved in the ongoing civil war in neighbouring Yemen. The Pakistan Army announced the decision after a meeting between Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki, at army headquarters in Rawalpindi yesterday. UK PM Theresa May heads to Berlin to face tough German line on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Berlin on Friday to meet German leader Angela Merkel, hoping to overcome near-deadlock in her attempts to negotiate a Brexit deal with the European Union.

WION Evening News brief, February 16, 2018

Government delays, uncertainty and under-resourcing have left the British borders and immigration system unprepared for Brexit, according to a parliamentary report on Wednesday.

Lack of clarity over immigration intentions is creating anxiety for EU citizens in the UK and putting already overstretched immigration officials in an impossible position, it added.

&quot;The government does not seem to appreciate the immense bureaucratic challenge they are facing or how much time and resources they need to plan on Brexit,&quot; it said.

The report by the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee criticised delays in publishing a so-called White Paper outlining the government`s post-Brexit immigration plans.

Prime Minister Theresa May`s office has said it is considering various options for the post-Brexit immigration system and will set out its initial plans &quot;as and when they are ready.&quot;

But the committee said failure to set out immigration objectives soon will deny parliament and those affected the chance to debate plans before they are finalised.&nbsp;

&quot;That is unacceptable,&quot; it added. &quot;We had expected these questions to be answered in the much-delayed White Paper but its publication has been delayed further and it may not now appear until the end of this year at the earliest.&quot;

May has warned that European citizens arriving in Britain after Brexit next year may lose some rights, setting up a clash with the EU over their treatment during any transition period before leaving the bloc.

Curbing immigration was a key reason why Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, following a large influx of EU citizens, especially from poorer countries in eastern Europe.

&quot;With little more than a year to go, the government is still failing to set out crucial details on the registration of current (EU) residents,&quot; the report said.

Failure to set out detailed plans for the registration of foreign nationals and the transition period soon will make it impossible for immigration and border officials to do their job properly, it warned. 
The government needed to clarify urgently whether it wants additional border checks after March 2019 when Britain leaves.

It should aim to agree transitional arrangements with the EU which involve no practical change to customs operations, it added. &quot;Removing border staff from security or immigration checks to do additional customs checks would be unacceptable.&quot;

&quot;Government drift is putting everyone in an impossible position,&quot; said committee chair Yvette Cooper. &quot;The lack of detail with just over a year to go is irresponsible.&quot;

Lack of clarity over immigration intentions is creating anxiety for EU citizens

Government delays, uncertainty and under-resourcing have left the British borders and immigration system unprepared for Brexit, according to a parliamentary report on Wednesday. Lack of clarity over immigration intentions is creating anxiety for EU citizens in the UK and putting already overstretched immigration officials in an impossible position, it added. "The government does not seem to appreciate the immense bureaucratic challenge they are facing or how much time and resources they need to plan on Brexit," it said. The report by the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee criticised delays in publishing a so-called White Paper outlining the government`s post-Brexit immigration plans. Prime Minister Theresa May`s office has said it is considering various options for the post-Brexit immigration system and will set out its initial plans "as and when they are ready." But the committee said failure to set out immigration objectives soon will deny parliament and those affected the chance to debate plans before they are finalised. "That is unacceptable," it added. "We had expected these questions to be answered in the much-delayed White Paper but its publication has been delayed further and it may not now appear until the end of this year at the earliest." May has warned that European citizens arriving in Britain after Brexit next year may lose some rights, setting up a clash with the EU over their treatment during any transition period before leaving the bloc. Curbing immigration was a key reason why Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, following a large influx of EU citizens, especially from poorer countries in eastern Europe. "With little more than a year to go, the government is still failing to set out crucial details on the registration of current (EU) residents," the report said. Failure to set out detailed plans for the registration of foreign nationals and the transition period soon will make it impossible for immigration and border officials to do their job properly, it warned. The government needed to clarify urgently whether it wants additional border checks after March 2019 when Britain leaves. It should aim to agree transitional arrangements with the EU which involve no practical change to customs operations, it added. "Removing border staff from security or immigration checks to do additional customs checks would be unacceptable." "Government drift is putting everyone in an impossible position," said committee chair Yvette Cooper. "The lack of detail with just over a year to go is irresponsible."

UK border and immigration system unprepared for Brexit, says Report

President Trump and British PM Theresa May spoke about the situation in North Korea on the phone on Tuesday.

The two leaders during their conversation agreed to put more pressure on North Korea to ensure it &quot;denuclearisation&quot;, the White House said.

Trump and May also agreed to put the data sharing agreement in place between the US and Britain. 
&nbsp;

Trump and May spoke on denuclearisation of North Korea

President Trump and British PM Theresa May spoke about the situation in North Korea on the phone on Tuesday. The two leaders during their conversation agreed to put more pressure on North Korea to ensure it "denuclearisation", the White House said. Trump and May also agreed to put the data sharing agreement in place between the US and Britain.

Trump, May discuss North Korea over phone call

Britain has ruled out staying in any customs union with the European Union after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May`s spokesman said on Monday as the government prepares for a crunch week of Brexit talks.

The extent of any British post-Brexit involvement in the EU`s customs union - which binds members into a trade bloc with common external tariffs - has become a major issue of contention inside May`s divided government and Conservative Party.

Membership of the, or a, customs union after Brexit, would prevent London from striking trade deals with countries outside the EU in future.

&quot;The key point, as the prime minister has said on many many occasions, is that we need to have our own independent trade policy and be able to strike trade deals with the rest of the world,&quot; May`s spokesman told reporters.&nbsp;

&quot;We will be leaving the EU and the customs union and it is not government policy to be members of `the` customs union or `a` customs union.&quot;&nbsp;

He said the official negotiating stance had been set out in a document published in August giving: &quot;two possible options and they are: a highly streamlined customs arrangement, and a new customs partnership with the EU.&quot;

The spokesman said Britain was still looking at both options, and no deadline for a decision on which one to pursue had been set.

With just a year left before Britain`s March 2019 exit from the European Union, May`s party remains deeply divided over what sort of relationship should be built between the world`s biggest trading bloc and the world`s sixth-largest economy.

Such are the divisions within May`s government, that the debate over the extent of Britain`s post-Brexit participation in a EU customs union has taken place in public with key ministers offering a range of views.

Brexit Tariff?

While May has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the customs union, some ministers had hoped that Britain could remain in some sort of bespoke customs arrangement with the EU after Brexit.

But supporters of Brexit say one of the main benefits of leaving the bloc will be the ability to strike trade deals with other, faster-growing countries around the world.&nbsp;

The Confederation of British Industry has called for Britain to stay in a customs union and finance minister Philip Hammond last month also left open the possibility of Britain joining a new customs union.

A customs union means that its members apply the same tariff to goods imported into their territory from elsewhere and apply no tariffs to goods from other members. It also limits checks and other bureaucracies at borders between members.

Unless Britain negotiates a new trade deal with the EU, its exports would run into the union`s external tariffs, which average about 5 percent across all goods, including 10 percent for cars and over 200 percent on certain types of poultry.

But May is under pressure from eurosceptic members in her party to quit the trading arrangement because for them the key prize is chance to sign new trade deals with other nations such as the US, China and India.

Britain and the EU are due to hold their first formal discussions about what their future relationship will look like after Britain leaves the EU this week.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier will meet his opposite number, Brexit Secretary David Davis, in London on Monday for the first time since EU leaders told Barnier to negotiate a post-Brexit transition period to ease Britain`s departure.&nbsp;

May will hold two cabinet meetings on Wednesday and Thursday at which she will try to heal the deep divisions among her ministers over the best way to leave the EU.

If no deal is reached by October of this year, many businesses fear Britain could face a disorderly exit that would weaken the West, disrupt the peace in Northern Ireland, imperil Britain&rsquo;s $2.7 trillion economy and undermine

London&rsquo;s position as the only financial centre to rival New York.&nbsp;

A disorderly Brexit as a result of Britain misjudging the &quot;self-preservation&quot; instincts of the European Union could lead to a further downgrade of the UK`s sovereign credit rating, S&amp;P Global also said on Monday.

The extent of any British post-Brexit involvement in the EU`s customs union has become a major issue of contention inside May`s divided government and Conservative Party

Britain has ruled out staying in any customs union with the European Union after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May`s spokesman said on Monday as the government prepares for a crunch week of Brexit talks. The extent of any British post-Brexit involvement in the EU`s customs union - which binds members into a trade bloc with common external tariffs - has become a major issue of contention inside May`s divided government and Conservative Party. Membership of the, or a, customs union after Brexit, would prevent London from striking trade deals with countries outside the EU in future. "The key point, as the prime minister has said on many many occasions, is that we need to have our own independent trade policy and be able to strike trade deals with the rest of the world," May`s spokesman told reporters. "We will be leaving the EU and the customs union and it is not government policy to be members of `the` customs union or `a` customs union." He said the official negotiating stance had been set out in a document published in August giving: "two possible options and they are: a highly streamlined customs arrangement, and a new customs partnership with the EU." The spokesman said Britain was still looking at both options, and no deadline for a decision on which one to pursue had been set. With just a year left before Britain`s March 2019 exit from the European Union, May`s party remains deeply divided over what sort of relationship should be built between the world`s biggest trading bloc and the world`s sixth-largest economy. Such are the divisions within May`s government, that the debate over the extent of Britain`s post-Brexit participation in a EU customs union has taken place in public with key ministers offering a range of views. Brexit Tariff? While May has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the customs union, some ministers had hoped that Britain could remain in some sort of bespoke customs arrangement with the EU after Brexit. But supporters of Brexit say one of the main benefits of leaving the bloc will be the ability to strike trade deals with other, faster-growing countries around the world. The Confederation of British Industry has called for Britain to stay in a customs union and finance minister Philip Hammond last month also left open the possibility of Britain joining a new customs union. A customs union means that its members apply the same tariff to goods imported into their territory from elsewhere and apply no tariffs to goods from other members. It also limits checks and other bureaucracies at borders between members. Unless Britain negotiates a new trade deal with the EU, its exports would run into the union`s external tariffs, which average about 5 percent across all goods, including 10 percent for cars and over 200 percent on certain types of poultry. But May is under pressure from eurosceptic members in her party to quit the trading arrangement because for them the key prize is chance to sign new trade deals with other nations such as the US, China and India. Britain and the EU are due to hold their first formal discussions about what their future relationship will look like after Britain leaves the EU this week. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier will meet his opposite number, Brexit Secretary David Davis, in London on Monday for the first time since EU leaders told Barnier to negotiate a post-Brexit transition period to ease Britain`s departure. May will hold two cabinet meetings on Wednesday and Thursday at which she will try to heal the deep divisions among her ministers over the best way to leave the EU. If no deal is reached by October of this year, many businesses fear Britain could face a disorderly exit that would weaken the West, disrupt the peace in Northern Ireland, imperil Britain’s $2.7 trillion economy and undermine London’s position as the only financial centre to rival New York. A disorderly Brexit as a result of Britain misjudging the "self-preservation" instincts of the European Union could lead to a further downgrade of the UK`s sovereign credit rating, S&P Global also said on Monday.

UK rules out being in a customs union with the EU after Brexit

Britain will not &quot;surrender&quot; in its fight to win a bespoke deal with the European Union that would offer tariff-free trade as well as control over immigration, a minister said on Sunday before a crunch week for the government in Brexit negotiations.

Interior minister Amber Rudd was one of several senior Conservative lawmakers to take to the airwaves to support Prime Minister Theresa May, under pressure from Brexit hardliners who fear she is diluting her plans for a clean break with the EU.

With reports in the local media suggesting that pro-Brexit ministers are being urged to get ready to replace May, Rudd tried to play down the deep divisions in government, saying there was more unity than so-called Brexiteers thought.

&quot;We want to have a bespoke agreement. Now we`re not going to surrender before we have that battle,&quot; Rudd told the BBC when asked whether ministers were pursuing what the EU has already ruled out as &quot;having its cake and eating it&quot; - demanding tariff-free access to the EU`s market while controlling immigration.

She also told the Andrew Marr Show she supported May in demanding that EU citizens arriving after Brexit Day in March 2019 should have settlement rights different to those who came before that date - something the EU has opposed.

Asked whether Brexit campaigners were right to say that some in her cabinet were trying to blunt prospects for a wholesale departure from with the EU, Rudd said: &quot;I have a surprise for the Brexiteers, which is the committee that meets in order to help make these decisions ... is more united than they think.&quot;

Her words come at the beginning of a week when the government will flesh out some of its demands in negotiations with the EU on their future relationship and Brexit negotiations start in earnest again.

The government`s Brexit sub-committee of ministers will also meet twice this week, Rudd said, adding: &quot;I think that we will arrive at something which suits us all.&quot;

Another new row

Other Conservative lawmakers backed her message, with junior housing minister Dominic Raab saying there wasn`t &quot;a fag (cigarette) paper&quot; between ministers on their stance on the future relationship.&nbsp;

But the choreographed display of unity did little to mask a growing dispute over a leaked document suggesting the economy will be worse off after Brexit whether Britain left with a free trade deal, with access to the EU`s single market, or with no deal at all.

The leak, which bolstered arguments from some lawmakers to stay in the EU`s customs union to protect the economy, prompted allegations from Brexit campaigners that the civil service was trying to undermine Britain`s departure.

A former head of the civil service, Gus O`Donnell, said the allegations were unfounded and offered up by those who did not like what they heard.

&quot;If you`re selling snake oil, you don`t like the idea of experts testing your product,&quot; he told ITV`s Peston on Sunday. &quot;And I think that`s what we`ve got - this backlash against evidence and experts is because they know where the experts will go.&quot;&nbsp;

Interior minister Amber Rudd was one of several senior Conservative lawmakers to take to the airwaves to support Prime Minister Theresa May, under pressure from Brexit hardliners who fear she is diluting her plans for a clean break with the EU

Britain will not "surrender" in its fight to win a bespoke deal with the European Union that would offer tariff-free trade as well as control over immigration, a minister said on Sunday before a crunch week for the government in Brexit negotiations. Interior minister Amber Rudd was one of several senior Conservative lawmakers to take to the airwaves to support Prime Minister Theresa May, under pressure from Brexit hardliners who fear she is diluting her plans for a clean break with the EU. With reports in the local media suggesting that pro-Brexit ministers are being urged to get ready to replace May, Rudd tried to play down the deep divisions in government, saying there was more unity than so-called Brexiteers thought. "We want to have a bespoke agreement. Now we`re not going to surrender before we have that battle," Rudd told the BBC when asked whether ministers were pursuing what the EU has already ruled out as "having its cake and eating it" - demanding tariff-free access to the EU`s market while controlling immigration. She also told the Andrew Marr Show she supported May in demanding that EU citizens arriving after Brexit Day in March 2019 should have settlement rights different to those who came before that date - something the EU has opposed. Asked whether Brexit campaigners were right to say that some in her cabinet were trying to blunt prospects for a wholesale departure from with the EU, Rudd said: "I have a surprise for the Brexiteers, which is the committee that meets in order to help make these decisions ... is more united than they think." Her words come at the beginning of a week when the government will flesh out some of its demands in negotiations with the EU on their future relationship and Brexit negotiations start in earnest again. The government`s Brexit sub-committee of ministers will also meet twice this week, Rudd said, adding: "I think that we will arrive at something which suits us all." Another new row Other Conservative lawmakers backed her message, with junior housing minister Dominic Raab saying there wasn`t "a fag (cigarette) paper" between ministers on their stance on the future relationship. But the choreographed display of unity did little to mask a growing dispute over a leaked document suggesting the economy will be worse off after Brexit whether Britain left with a free trade deal, with access to the EU`s single market, or with no deal at all. The leak, which bolstered arguments from some lawmakers to stay in the EU`s customs union to protect the economy, prompted allegations from Brexit campaigners that the civil service was trying to undermine Britain`s departure. A former head of the civil service, Gus O`Donnell, said the allegations were unfounded and offered up by those who did not like what they heard. "If you`re selling snake oil, you don`t like the idea of experts testing your product," he told ITV`s Peston on Sunday. "And I think that`s what we`ve got - this backlash against evidence and experts is because they know where the experts will go."

UK will not 'surrender' over bespoke Brexit deal with EU: Minister

Britain signed deals worth more than 9.3 billion pounds ($13.26 billion) creating over 2,500 jobs across the United Kingdom during Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s visit to China this week, the British government said on Friday.

&quot;The agreements signed this week, valued at more than 9 billion pounds, demonstrate a clear demand for British goods and services,&quot; International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said in the statement.

&quot;As an international economic department, we will continue to develop this valuable relationship, which already benefits British companies to the tune of 59 billion pounds in trade each year.&quot;

The figure is expected to rise as more agreements are signed, the statement added, representing commercial signings, market access agreements and future contract commitments within different sectors.

More than 1 billion pounds of deals and market access, and 890 jobs, were secured for Britain&#39;s financial services industry, it said.

May ended her three-day visit to China in the country&#39;s commercial capital Shanghai on Friday.

Britain is trying to reinvent itself as a global trading nation after a 2016 referendum decision to leave the European Union, but Brexit has unnerved Beijing, even as London hopes to sign a free trade deal with the world&#39;s second-largest economy.

Still, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told May on Wednesday that China&#39;s relations with Britain will remain unchanged through Brexit.

May ended her three-day visit to China in the country's commercial capital Shanghai on Friday.

Britain signed deals worth more than 9.3 billion pounds ($13.26 billion) creating over 2,500 jobs across the United Kingdom during Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to China this week, the British government said on Friday. "The agreements signed this week, valued at more than 9 billion pounds, demonstrate a clear demand for British goods and services," International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said in the statement. "As an international economic department, we will continue to develop this valuable relationship, which already benefits British companies to the tune of 59 billion pounds in trade each year." The figure is expected to rise as more agreements are signed, the statement added, representing commercial signings, market access agreements and future contract commitments within different sectors. More than 1 billion pounds of deals and market access, and 890 jobs, were secured for Britain's financial services industry, it said. May ended her three-day visit to China in the country's commercial capital Shanghai on Friday. Britain is trying to reinvent itself as a global trading nation after a 2016 referendum decision to leave the European Union, but Brexit has unnerved Beijing, even as London hopes to sign a free trade deal with the world's second-largest economy. Still, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told May on Wednesday that China's relations with Britain will remain unchanged through Brexit.

UK signs over 9 billion pounds in deals during PM's China trip

Prime Minister Theresa May has warned that European citizens arriving in Britain after Brexit next year may lose some rights, setting up a clash with the European Union over their treatment during any transition period.

Curbing immigration was a key reason why Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, following a large influx of EU citizens, especially from poorer countries in eastern Europe.

The European Union has warned Britain that it must accept all decisions of the trading bloc and that its citizens should be able to secure full residence rights during the two-year transition period after it leaves the bloc.

But May has suggested EU citizens coming to Britain after March next year will be treated differently.

&quot;People who had come to the UK when we were a member of the EU had set up certain expectations - they made a life choice and set up a certain expectation,&quot; May told reporters on her way to China.

&quot;I&#39;m clear there`s a difference between those people who came prior to us leaving and those who will come when they know the UK is no longer a member of the EU.&quot;

This is one potential obstacle Britain and the EU will need to resolve to reach a transitional deal, which will give the two sides time to prepare for the far-reaching impact of the end of 46 years of union.

Many Brexit backers are voicing concern that the referendum result may be betrayed with the plan to change little of the current relationship immediately after Britain formally leaves on March 29, 2019.

But May dismissed some of those concerns.

&quot;They did not vote for nothing to change when we come out of the EU,&quot; she said. &quot;What we`re doing now is doing the job that the British people asked the government to do which is to deliver on Brexit.&quot;

&nbsp;

Theresa May has warned that European citizens arriving in Britain after Brexit next year may lose some rights

Prime Minister Theresa May has warned that European citizens arriving in Britain after Brexit next year may lose some rights, setting up a clash with the European Union over their treatment during any transition period. Curbing immigration was a key reason why Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, following a large influx of EU citizens, especially from poorer countries in eastern Europe. The European Union has warned Britain that it must accept all decisions of the trading bloc and that its citizens should be able to secure full residence rights during the two-year transition period after it leaves the bloc. But May has suggested EU citizens coming to Britain after March next year will be treated differently. "People who had come to the UK when we were a member of the EU had set up certain expectations - they made a life choice and set up a certain expectation," May told reporters on her way to China. "I'm clear there`s a difference between those people who came prior to us leaving and those who will come when they know the UK is no longer a member of the EU." This is one potential obstacle Britain and the EU will need to resolve to reach a transitional deal, which will give the two sides time to prepare for the far-reaching impact of the end of 46 years of union. Many Brexit backers are voicing concern that the referendum result may be betrayed with the plan to change little of the current relationship immediately after Britain formally leaves on March 29, 2019. But May dismissed some of those concerns. "They did not vote for nothing to change when we come out of the EU," she said. "What we`re doing now is doing the job that the British people asked the government to do which is to deliver on Brexit."

UK and EU set for clash over citizens' rights during transition

International Development Minister and former Conservative MP Lord Bates submitted his resignation after he got late to the chamber.&nbsp;

Bates was meant to be in the House of Lords chamber for the oral questions at 15:00 GMT.

He admitted that he was &quot;thoroughly ashamed&quot; for not being able to arrive on time and was, therefore, offering his resignation to the Prime Minister.&nbsp;

&quot;I wonder if you permit me to offer my sincere apologies to Baroness Lister for my discourtesy in not being in my place to answer her question on a very important matter,&quot; Lord Bates said shortly after arriving at his place.

Bates was urged by his peers not to go saying that just an apology would have been sufficient.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Theresa May has rejected Bates&#39; resignation calling it &quot;unnecessary.&quot;

May&#39;s spokesperson lauded Bates as a hard-working and diligent minister &quot;who takes his responsibilities to Parliament seriously&quot;.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)

 
&nbsp;

Bates was urged by his peers not to go saying that just an apology would have been sufficient

International Development Minister and former Conservative MP Lord Bates submitted his resignation after he got late to the chamber. Bates was meant to be in the House of Lords chamber for the oral questions at 15:00 GMT. He admitted that he was "thoroughly ashamed" for not being able to arrive on time and was, therefore, offering his resignation to the Prime Minister. "I wonder if you permit me to offer my sincere apologies to Baroness Lister for my discourtesy in not being in my place to answer her question on a very important matter," Lord Bates said shortly after arriving at his place. Bates was urged by his peers not to go saying that just an apology would have been sufficient. British Prime Minister Theresa May has rejected Bates' resignation calling it "unnecessary." May's spokesperson lauded Bates as a hard-working and diligent minister "who takes his responsibilities to Parliament seriously". (With inputs from ANI)

British minister resigns for arriving late

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-the-union-address-us-president-donald-trump-bids-for-safe-strong-and-united-america-31271">State of the Union address: US President Donald Trump bids for &#39;safe, strong and united America&#39;</a>

Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-active-in-70-per-cent-of-afghanistan-bbc-study-finds-31274">Taliban active in 70 </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-active-in-70-per-cent-of-afghanistan-bbc-study-finds-31274">per cent</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-active-in-70-per-cent-of-afghanistan-bbc-study-finds-31274"> of Afghanistan, BBC study finds</a>

The BBC study said the Afghan government controlled 122 districts, or about 30 percent of the country. Still, it noted that did not mean that they were free from Taliban attacks.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/president-donald-trump-urges-us-parties-set-aside-differences-31272">President Donald Trump urges US parties set aside differences</a>

President Donald Trump gives his first official State of the Union Address from the United States Capitol in front of a joint session of Congress.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/im-not-a-quitter-says-uks-may-as-leadership-questions-stack-up-31270">I&#39;m not a quitter, says UK&#39;s May as leadership questions stack up</a>

May has come under fire in recent days from several factions within her own party.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/facebook-to-ban-cryptocurrency-related-ads-31275">Facebook to ban cryptocurrency-related ads</a>

The new policy will be implemented across its platforms, including Facebook, Audience Network, and Instagram, the company said.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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State of the Union address: US President Donald Trump bids for 'safe, strong and united America' Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America. Taliban active in 70 per cent of Afghanistan, BBC study finds The BBC study said the Afghan government controlled 122 districts, or about 30 percent of the country. Still, it noted that did not mean that they were free from Taliban attacks. President Donald Trump urges US parties set aside differences President Donald Trump gives his first official State of the Union Address from the United States Capitol in front of a joint session of Congress. I'm not a quitter, says UK's May as leadership questions stack up May has come under fire in recent days from several factions within her own party. Facebook to ban cryptocurrency-related ads The new policy will be implemented across its platforms, including Facebook, Audience Network, and Instagram, the company said.

WION Morning News Brief, January 31, 2018

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday defied critics calling for her to resign, saying she was not a quitter and that she has a long-term job to do: delivering Brexit and domestic reform.

May has come under fire in recent days from several factions within her own party. She has been accused by eurosceptics of watering down Brexit, by pro-EU lawmakers of risking Britain`s economy, and by others who say her domestic agenda is too timid.

&quot;I&#39;ve said to you before, I`m not a quitter and there is a long-term job to be done,&quot; she told reporters on her way to China for a trade visit when asked about the recent criticism of her leadership and reports of a potential attempt to oust her.

&quot;That job is about getting the best Brexit deal, about ensuring that we take back control of our money, our laws, our borders, that we can sign trade deals around the rest of the world. But it is also about our domestic agenda.&quot;

The leadership question dominated a briefing with journalists on board a Royal Air Force jet to China where she will meet President Xi Jinping, with an eye on securing better access to Chinese markets and an eventual free trade deal.

Media reports have said the number of `no confidence&#39;&nbsp;letters submitted by lawmakers from May&#39;s own party is nearing the threshold which would trigger a leadership contest. The committee which holds the letters does not comment on the actual number.

May&#39;s future as leader of the ruling Conservative Party has been subject to heightened speculation after she gambled on a snap election last year which went badly wrong and cost her party its majority in parliament.

During a similar trade-focused visit to Japan, last year May first used the &quot;I&#39;m not a quitter&quot; phrase, vowing to fight the next British election as leader in 2022.

Since then the pressure has been amplified by gaffes, scandals, and a growing concern among some that constant infighting over Brexit was drowning out attempts to win back the voters the party lost at the 2017 election.

Responding to one of more than 10 questions about her leadership during a 25-minute briefing, May defended her record by singling out housing, education and employment rates as areas where her government has made progress.

But, she acknowledged a need to make sure the messages are better heard by voters and her own party.

&quot;Are you asking me is there more for us to do, talk to people about, more generally about what we are achieving and what we are doing? ... Yes,&quot; she said.

&quot;There is always more for us to be able to do to talk to people about what we&#39;re achieving.&quot;

May has come under fire in recent days from several factions within her own party

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday defied critics calling for her to resign, saying she was not a quitter and that she has a long-term job to do: delivering Brexit and domestic reform. May has come under fire in recent days from several factions within her own party. She has been accused by eurosceptics of watering down Brexit, by pro-EU lawmakers of risking Britain`s economy, and by others who say her domestic agenda is too timid. "I've said to you before, I`m not a quitter and there is a long-term job to be done," she told reporters on her way to China for a trade visit when asked about the recent criticism of her leadership and reports of a potential attempt to oust her. "That job is about getting the best Brexit deal, about ensuring that we take back control of our money, our laws, our borders, that we can sign trade deals around the rest of the world. But it is also about our domestic agenda." The leadership question dominated a briefing with journalists on board a Royal Air Force jet to China where she will meet President Xi Jinping, with an eye on securing better access to Chinese markets and an eventual free trade deal. Media reports have said the number of `no confidence' letters submitted by lawmakers from May's own party is nearing the threshold which would trigger a leadership contest. The committee which holds the letters does not comment on the actual number. May's future as leader of the ruling Conservative Party has been subject to heightened speculation after she gambled on a snap election last year which went badly wrong and cost her party its majority in parliament. During a similar trade-focused visit to Japan, last year May first used the "I'm not a quitter" phrase, vowing to fight the next British election as leader in 2022. Since then the pressure has been amplified by gaffes, scandals, and a growing concern among some that constant infighting over Brexit was drowning out attempts to win back the voters the party lost at the 2017 election. Responding to one of more than 10 questions about her leadership during a 25-minute briefing, May defended her record by singling out housing, education and employment rates as areas where her government has made progress. But, she acknowledged a need to make sure the messages are better heard by voters and her own party. "Are you asking me is there more for us to do, talk to people about, more generally about what we are achieving and what we are doing? ... Yes," she said. "There is always more for us to be able to do to talk to people about what we're achieving."

I'm not a quitter, says UK's May as leadership questions stack up

The EU adopted red lines Monday for a transition period that binds Britain by the bloc&#39;s laws for nearly two years after Brexit without having any policy-making power.

The plan has sparked deep divisions in British Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s government, with eurosceptic lawmakers saying it leaves Britain a &quot;vassal state&quot; of Brussels.

European affairs ministers took just two minutes to green-light instructions for the EU&#39;s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on the transition, which the bloc wants to run from March 29, 2019 -- when Britain leaves the EU -- until December 31, 2020.

Barnier&#39;s deputy Sabine Weyand said a meeting of European affairs ministers in Brussels &quot;adopts guidelines for Brexit negotiations within two minutes: status quo transition without institutional representation, lasting... to 31 December 2020&quot;.

The so-called negotiating directives say Britain would retain access to the EU&#39;s single market during that time, but in return must follow EU rules &quot;as if it were a member state&quot;, without any voting rights.

Irish European affairs minister Helen McEntee meanwhile ruled out Britain having any power to vet EU laws passed during the transition, the Financial Times newspaper reported, saying London could not be allowed to undermine the single market.&nbsp;

&quot;When the UK leaves the European Union they will not be a voice around the table,&quot; she said.

Transition talks with Barnier&#39;s counterpart David Davis could begin as early as this week, with the aim of completing them by March so negotiations on future trade ties can start, European sources said.

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, whose country holds the EU&#39;s rotating presidency, meanwhile urged Britain to agree &quot;as soon as possible&quot; on the legal text of December&#39;s in-principle agreement on the terms of the divorce.

That deal paved the way for the EU and Britain to move on to discussing the transition.

Britain asked for a transition period of around two years to ease the impact of Brexit on people, public services and businesses, and to provide more time to conclude any eventual EU-UK trade pact.

But May&#39;s Downing Street office warned the talks could be tough.

&quot;This will be a negotiation and there will naturally be some distance in the detail of our starting positions,&quot; the prime minister&#39;s spokesman said.

With dangerous rifts emerging openly in May&#39;s government over the plan and eurosceptic MPs baying for blood, Davis and other top ministers tried to show a united front at the weekend.

Despite previous differences, Davis, finance minister Philip Hammond and business secretary Greg Clark wrote a joint letter saying the transition would be &quot;strictly time-limited&quot; and that Britain is still leaving the bloc.

But Jacob Rees-Mogg -- who leads a group of more than 50 Conservative Brexiteer MPs and made the &quot;vassal state&quot; comment -- warned that staying closely aligned to the EU risked reducing Brexit to a &quot;damage limitation exercise&quot;.

US President Donald Trump added to the pressure on May, saying in remarks aired Sunday that if he was in charge of the Brexit negotiations he would have &quot;negotiated it differently&quot; and taken a &quot;tougher stand&quot;.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian meanwhile touted his country as a post-Brexit alternative, telling Japanese businesses on Monday they must realise that Britain&#39;s EU days are &quot;over&quot;.

Some member states have called for the transition itself to be extendable if the EU and Britain have still not managed to sort out a future relationship deal when it ends in 2020.

But France has led opposition to the idea, and the guidelines say the transition must be &quot;clearly defined and precisely limited in time&quot;.

Davis is meanwhile on a collision course with the EU over his claim last week that Britain could negotiate and even sign its own free trade deals around the world during the transition period.

EU officials insist Britain can negotiate but not conclude any deals.

The plan has sparked deep divisions in British Prime Minister Theresa May's government, with eurosceptic lawmakers saying it leaves Britain a 'vassal state' of Brussels

The EU adopted red lines Monday for a transition period that binds Britain by the bloc's laws for nearly two years after Brexit without having any policy-making power. The plan has sparked deep divisions in British Prime Minister Theresa May's government, with eurosceptic lawmakers saying it leaves Britain a "vassal state" of Brussels. European affairs ministers took just two minutes to green-light instructions for the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on the transition, which the bloc wants to run from March 29, 2019 -- when Britain leaves the EU -- until December 31, 2020. Barnier's deputy Sabine Weyand said a meeting of European affairs ministers in Brussels "adopts guidelines for Brexit negotiations within two minutes: status quo transition without institutional representation, lasting... to 31 December 2020". The so-called negotiating directives say Britain would retain access to the EU's single market during that time, but in return must follow EU rules "as if it were a member state", without any voting rights. Irish European affairs minister Helen McEntee meanwhile ruled out Britain having any power to vet EU laws passed during the transition, the Financial Times newspaper reported, saying London could not be allowed to undermine the single market. "When the UK leaves the European Union they will not be a voice around the table," she said. Transition talks with Barnier's counterpart David Davis could begin as early as this week, with the aim of completing them by March so negotiations on future trade ties can start, European sources said. Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, meanwhile urged Britain to agree "as soon as possible" on the legal text of December's in-principle agreement on the terms of the divorce. That deal paved the way for the EU and Britain to move on to discussing the transition. Britain asked for a transition period of around two years to ease the impact of Brexit on people, public services and businesses, and to provide more time to conclude any eventual EU-UK trade pact. But May's Downing Street office warned the talks could be tough. "This will be a negotiation and there will naturally be some distance in the detail of our starting positions," the prime minister's spokesman said. With dangerous rifts emerging openly in May's government over the plan and eurosceptic MPs baying for blood, Davis and other top ministers tried to show a united front at the weekend. Despite previous differences, Davis, finance minister Philip Hammond and business secretary Greg Clark wrote a joint letter saying the transition would be "strictly time-limited" and that Britain is still leaving the bloc. But Jacob Rees-Mogg -- who leads a group of more than 50 Conservative Brexiteer MPs and made the "vassal state" comment -- warned that staying closely aligned to the EU risked reducing Brexit to a "damage limitation exercise". US President Donald Trump added to the pressure on May, saying in remarks aired Sunday that if he was in charge of the Brexit negotiations he would have "negotiated it differently" and taken a "tougher stand". French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian meanwhile touted his country as a post-Brexit alternative, telling Japanese businesses on Monday they must realise that Britain's EU days are "over". Some member states have called for the transition itself to be extendable if the EU and Britain have still not managed to sort out a future relationship deal when it ends in 2020. But France has led opposition to the idea, and the guidelines say the transition must be "clearly defined and precisely limited in time". Davis is meanwhile on a collision course with the EU over his claim last week that Britain could negotiate and even sign its own free trade deals around the world during the transition period. EU officials insist Britain can negotiate but not conclude any deals.

UK Brexit: European Union sets 2020 redline

France&rsquo;s president Emannuel Macron is having a busy week meeting two women: &nbsp;one who is going to sever their relationship and the other, looking to strengthen it. &nbsp;On a cold, blustery day straight out of the windblown scenes of the famous novel, &ldquo;The French Lieutenant&rsquo;s Woman&rsquo;&rsquo;, Monsieur Macron first met with UK PM &nbsp;Theresa May for the 35th Anglo-French Summit in Sandhurst. There were two subjects uppermost on their minds: the plight of refugees in the French town of Calais, which is the French transit point across the English Channel from the UK. And how Brexit will affect the UK-France relationship.

Le Touquet in French means a trivial sum, something of no consequence. But it&rsquo;s also the name of a 2003 agreement between the two countries which allows British officials to screen refugees in Calais &ndash; on French soil, before they can leave for the UK and that is proving to be a big deal. &nbsp;Calais officials are annoyed because the signatories didn&rsquo;t anticipate just how many refugees would arrive in the seaside town, 33 km across the sea from the UK. There were once 10,000 refugees here. The number has dwindled to 700 and yet, officials say that many arrive without papers and formal family reunification requests and &ndash; the numbers are reportedly mounting again.

The youthful Macron swore to amend the agreement and &ndash; the exquisite meal in a Michelin-starred pub that his 61-year-old U.K. counterpart invited him to, may have helped in striking a deal. The UK will offer France 62 million dollars to bolster security at French border controls and the two sides signed a new treaty to complement the agreement too. Ms May, of course, hopes that the gesture will soften Mr Macron towards the UK even after Brexit.

&quot;While this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we are and will remain a steadfast partner to our friends and allies, said Ms May at a joint press conference. &ldquo;And a strong and deep relationship between the United Kingdom and France remains in both of our interests. The president and I agree on the importance of the UK-France relationship, not just to our security but to European security.&quot;

When it came to the subject of Brexit and the EU, &nbsp;not even the finest partridge lunch seems to have helped. Macron was unmoved and continued to play hardball.

&quot;First of all, I&#39;m going to be very clear with you: I am not here to reward or punish, the French President said. &ldquo; I am here to do the utmost to make sure that our mutual interests are defended. But I have one demand and that is that the single market is preserved. It is one of the benefits of the European Union and one of the bases of the European Union. So now the choice in on the British side, it&#39;s not on my side. There cannot be a differentiated access to the single market of which financial services are part.&rdquo;

It was a bittersweet parting. &nbsp;And just like in the famous novel by John Fowles, Monsieur Macron returned to France &ndash; leaving a windblown Ms May gazing across the channel in despair and pondering over their joint future after the formal divorce &ndash; Brexit &ndash; is through.

But the flexible &quot;Mr Plexiglas&quot; - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady.&nbsp;

Her age is perfect &ndash; she&rsquo;s 64. She is just as powerful as he is, Europeans say even more so. And the stars seem right since she is finally going to give Germany a long-awaited coalition government. Chancellor Angela Merkel will spend an afternoon on the banks of the Seine on Friday to celebrate an even longer alliance: 55 years of fraternit&eacute; with France.

Merkel brings Mr Macron the news he has been waiting for: that five months after Germany&rsquo;s general election, the coalition between her conservatives and the Social Democrats will finally take shape. The two superpowers of the European Union are in synch: Macron is putting tough but necessary reforms in place - of the kind that have propelled Germany&rsquo;s economy back on track. Ms Merkel and Mr Macron will aim at strengthening the Eurozone and aim at closer cooperation over the three issues closest to their hearts: defence, migration and climate change.

But the flexible "Mr Plexiglas" - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady.

France’s president Emannuel Macron is having a busy week meeting two women: one who is going to sever their relationship and the other, looking to strengthen it. On a cold, blustery day straight out of the windblown scenes of the famous novel, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman’’, Monsieur Macron first met with UK PM Theresa May for the 35th Anglo-French Summit in Sandhurst. There were two subjects uppermost on their minds: the plight of refugees in the French town of Calais, which is the French transit point across the English Channel from the UK. And how Brexit will affect the UK-France relationship. Le Touquet in French means a trivial sum, something of no consequence. But it’s also the name of a 2003 agreement between the two countries which allows British officials to screen refugees in Calais – on French soil, before they can leave for the UK and that is proving to be a big deal. Calais officials are annoyed because the signatories didn’t anticipate just how many refugees would arrive in the seaside town, 33 km across the sea from the UK. There were once 10,000 refugees here. The number has dwindled to 700 and yet, officials say that many arrive without papers and formal family reunification requests and – the numbers are reportedly mounting again. The youthful Macron swore to amend the agreement and – the exquisite meal in a Michelin-starred pub that his 61-year-old U.K. counterpart invited him to, may have helped in striking a deal. The UK will offer France 62 million dollars to bolster security at French border controls and the two sides signed a new treaty to complement the agreement too. Ms May, of course, hopes that the gesture will soften Mr Macron towards the UK even after Brexit. "While this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we are and will remain a steadfast partner to our friends and allies, said Ms May at a joint press conference. “And a strong and deep relationship between the United Kingdom and France remains in both of our interests. The president and I agree on the importance of the UK-France relationship, not just to our security but to European security." When it came to the subject of Brexit and the EU, not even the finest partridge lunch seems to have helped. Macron was unmoved and continued to play hardball. "First of all, I'm going to be very clear with you: I am not here to reward or punish, the French President said. “ I am here to do the utmost to make sure that our mutual interests are defended. But I have one demand and that is that the single market is preserved. It is one of the benefits of the European Union and one of the bases of the European Union. So now the choice in on the British side, it's not on my side. There cannot be a differentiated access to the single market of which financial services are part.” It was a bittersweet parting. And just like in the famous novel by John Fowles, Monsieur Macron returned to France – leaving a windblown Ms May gazing across the channel in despair and pondering over their joint future after the formal divorce – Brexit – is through. But the flexible "Mr Plexiglas" - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady. Her age is perfect – she’s 64. She is just as powerful as he is, Europeans say even more so. And the stars seem right since she is finally going to give Germany a long-awaited coalition government. Chancellor Angela Merkel will spend an afternoon on the banks of the Seine on Friday to celebrate an even longer alliance: 55 years of fraternité with France. Merkel brings Mr Macron the news he has been waiting for: that five months after Germany’s general election, the coalition between her conservatives and the Social Democrats will finally take shape. The two superpowers of the European Union are in synch: Macron is putting tough but necessary reforms in place - of the kind that have propelled Germany’s economy back on track. Ms Merkel and Mr Macron will aim at strengthening the Eurozone and aim at closer cooperation over the three issues closest to their hearts: defence, migration and climate change.

Emannuel Macron meets Theresa May, Angela Merkel as UK prepares to leave the EU

British lawmakers voted in favour of the government&#39;s legislative blueprint for&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;on Wednesday, marking a victory for Prime Minister Theresa May over political opponents who want a softer approach to leaving the European Union.

But the legislation will now face scrutiny from parliament&#39;s largely pro-EU upper house, where May&#39;s party does not have a majority, which will intensify efforts to force a re-run of a 2016 referendum, and water down or even stop the divorce.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill was approved by a 324 to 295 vote in the lower house - a milestone on the long road towards cementing the legal foundations of Britain&#39;s departure from the bloc.

The bill repeals the 1972 law that made Britain a member of the EU and transfers EU laws into British ones.

&quot;This bill is essential for preparing the country for the historic milestone of withdrawing from the European Union,&quot;&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;minister David Davis told parliament before the vote.

&quot;It ensures that on day one we will have a statute book that works, delivering the smooth and orderly exit desired by people and businesses across the United Kingdom and being delivered by this government.&quot;

The bill has become the focal point for months of divisive debate about what type of EU divorce Britain should seek, severely testing May&#39;s ability to deliver on her exit strategy without a parliamentary majority.

But despite one embarrassing parliamentary defeat, several government concessions and rebellion from within her own party, May&#39;s Conservative lawmakers overcame opposition from the Labour Party and others.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn instructed his lawmakers to vote against passage of the bill because the government had not met conditions set out by the party, demanding safeguards on a range of issues including workers and consumer rights.

&quot;This bill has never been fit for purpose,&quot; said Labour&#39;s&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;policy chief, Keir Starmer, describing any attempt to persuade the government that the legislation needed to change as &quot;talking to a brick wall&quot;.

Lords scrutiny&nbsp;

The upper house, the House of Lords, will now begin months of scrutiny of the bill before it can become law. Any changes made by the lords will require approval from the lower house, and the whole process could take until May to complete.

The House of Lords contains a diverse, largely unelected, mix of political appointees, experts, and members who inherited their positions. Many lords are opposed to&nbsp;Brexit.

Some of those figures are expected to try to soften the&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;approach to include remaining in the EU&#39;s single market or a second public vote, but the most likely areas for changes involve technical and constitutional issues.

May has ruled out a second vote and says Britain will be leaving. Labour&#39;s Corbyn is also committed to following through with&nbsp;Brexit, albeit pushing for different priorities and aims.

Nevertheless, calls for a second referendum are expected to persist, particularly as both pro- and anti-EU politicians have mooted the possibility recently.

EU officials and some member states have said they would welcome a change of heart from Britain.

But, barring a major change of policy from one of the country&#39;s two largest political parties, Britain remains on course to leave the bloc in March 2019.

But the legislation will now face scrutiny from parliament's largely pro-EU upper house, where May's party does not have a majority, which will intensify efforts to force a re-run of a 2016 referendum, and water down or even stop the divorce.

British lawmakers voted in favour of the government's legislative blueprint for Brexit on Wednesday, marking a victory for Prime Minister Theresa May over political opponents who want a softer approach to leaving the European Union. But the legislation will now face scrutiny from parliament's largely pro-EU upper house, where May's party does not have a majority, which will intensify efforts to force a re-run of a 2016 referendum, and water down or even stop the divorce. The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill was approved by a 324 to 295 vote in the lower house - a milestone on the long road towards cementing the legal foundations of Britain's departure from the bloc. The bill repeals the 1972 law that made Britain a member of the EU and transfers EU laws into British ones. "This bill is essential for preparing the country for the historic milestone of withdrawing from the European Union," Brexit minister David Davis told parliament before the vote. "It ensures that on day one we will have a statute book that works, delivering the smooth and orderly exit desired by people and businesses across the United Kingdom and being delivered by this government." The bill has become the focal point for months of divisive debate about what type of EU divorce Britain should seek, severely testing May's ability to deliver on her exit strategy without a parliamentary majority. But despite one embarrassing parliamentary defeat, several government concessions and rebellion from within her own party, May's Conservative lawmakers overcame opposition from the Labour Party and others. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn instructed his lawmakers to vote against passage of the bill because the government had not met conditions set out by the party, demanding safeguards on a range of issues including workers and consumer rights. "This bill has never been fit for purpose," said Labour's Brexit policy chief, Keir Starmer, describing any attempt to persuade the government that the legislation needed to change as "talking to a brick wall". Lords scrutiny The upper house, the House of Lords, will now begin months of scrutiny of the bill before it can become law. Any changes made by the lords will require approval from the lower house, and the whole process could take until May to complete. The House of Lords contains a diverse, largely unelected, mix of political appointees, experts, and members who inherited their positions. Many lords are opposed to Brexit. Some of those figures are expected to try to soften the Brexit approach to include remaining in the EU's single market or a second public vote, but the most likely areas for changes involve technical and constitutional issues. May has ruled out a second vote and says Britain will be leaving. Labour's Corbyn is also committed to following through with Brexit, albeit pushing for different priorities and aims. Nevertheless, calls for a second referendum are expected to persist, particularly as both pro- and anti-EU politicians have mooted the possibility recently. EU officials and some member states have said they would welcome a change of heart from Britain. But, barring a major change of policy from one of the country's two largest political parties, Britain remains on course to leave the bloc in March 2019.

British lawmakers back Brexit legislation, stiffer tests yet to come

Britain has appointed a &#39;minister for loneliness&#39;&nbsp;to tackle public health problems caused by social isolation.

Tracey Crouch&#39;s official title is &#39;minister for sport and civil society&#39;&nbsp;as appointed by PM Theresa May.

Crouch will be responsible for making strategies to deal with &#39;social isolation&#39;&nbsp;in people.

The initiative was first recommended in a report from the Jo Cox Commission by the late Labour MP Jo Coz.

According to British Red Cross, more than nine million people in the United Kingdom reported having no social interaction for weeks and months altogether; one in ten people felt lonely &quot;always or often&quot; in the UK.

A study by the American Association of Retired Persons showed that 43.6 million adults over the age of 45 suffered from chronic loneliness.

A modern-day reality, loneliness in people is now receiving special attention from researchers.

Expert consider social isolation and prolonged loneliness to have severe health repercussions, almost as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 
&nbsp;

Tracey Crouch will be responsible for formulating strategies to deal with isolation in all ages

Britain has appointed a 'minister for loneliness' to tackle public health problems caused by social isolation. Tracey Crouch's official title is 'minister for sport and civil society' as appointed by PM Theresa May. Crouch will be responsible for making strategies to deal with 'social isolation' in people. The initiative was first recommended in a report from the Jo Cox Commission by the late Labour MP Jo Coz. According to British Red Cross, more than nine million people in the United Kingdom reported having no social interaction for weeks and months altogether; one in ten people felt lonely "always or often" in the UK. A study by the American Association of Retired Persons showed that 43.6 million adults over the age of 45 suffered from chronic loneliness. A modern-day reality, loneliness in people is now receiving special attention from researchers. Expert consider social isolation and prolonged loneliness to have severe health repercussions, almost as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

UK appoints 'minister of loneliness'

President Trump<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/theresa-may-says-trump-tweet-on-london-explosion-not-helpful-20269"> may pull out of the visit to Britain</a> next month amid concerns over mass protests when he arrives in London, British media reported.

Last month, PM Theresa May&#39;s cabinet minister Sam Gyimah had said he would feel &nbsp;&ldquo;deeply uncomfortable&rdquo; if President Trump&#39;s visit went ahead after May clashed with Trump over US president&#39;s retweets of far-right anti-Muslim propaganda, Britain First.

PM May had waded into the controversy, pointing out that Trump was &ldquo;wrong&rdquo; to have retweeted the post. President Trump had slammed May asserting that the British prime minister should &quot;not focus on me but on destructive radical Islamic terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom.&quot;

Several British ministers had opposed Trump&#39;s retweets openly as the trans-Atlantic spat had turned&nbsp;into a full-scale public debate.

However, after a phone call with Trump in December, Thresa May had said an invitation to come to Britain was &quot;extended and accepted by the President&quot;.

British media reports said no new dates have been offered for Trump&#39;s visit indicating the high-profile visit might be called off soon.

Trump&#39;s itinerary in Britain includes opening the new US embassy in London.

Thresa May had said an invitation to come to Britain was "extended and accepted by the President"

President Trump may pull out of the visit to Britain next month amid concerns over mass protests when he arrives in London, British media reported. Last month, PM Theresa May's cabinet minister Sam Gyimah had said he would feel “deeply uncomfortable” if President Trump's visit went ahead after May clashed with Trump over US president's retweets of far-right anti-Muslim propaganda, Britain First. PM May had waded into the controversy, pointing out that Trump was “wrong” to have retweeted the post. President Trump had slammed May asserting that the British prime minister should "not focus on me but on destructive radical Islamic terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom." Several British ministers had opposed Trump's retweets openly as the trans-Atlantic spat had turned into a full-scale public debate. However, after a phone call with Trump in December, Thresa May had said an invitation to come to Britain was "extended and accepted by the President". British media reports said no new dates have been offered for Trump's visit indicating the high-profile visit might be called off soon. Trump's itinerary in Britain includes opening the new US embassy in London.

Trump may cancel UK visit amid fears of mass protests: Report

British Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s long-awaited government reshuffle Monday was branded ineffectual and shambolic after she promoted few fresh faces to her top team and a minister resigned rather than accept a new post.

Education Secretary Justine Greening became the fourth minister to leave the Cabinet since November, after resisting a request to move to the welfare and pensions ministry.

Meanwhile, health minister Jeremy Hunt convinced May at the last minute to scrap plans to move him to the business department, according to media reports.&nbsp;

Most of her senior ministers also kept their jobs in the reshuffle, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Brexit minister David Davis and finance minister Philip Hammond.

The prime minister carried out what her office called a &quot;refresh&quot; of the government after sacking her deputy Damian Green last month in a row over pornography found on his computer in 2008.

His departure followed those of the defence and aid ministers in unrelated scandals the previous month.

May hoped the shakeup would help her reassert authority ahead of crunch Brexit negotiations this year, and following a torrid 2017 in which she lost her parliamentary majority in a snap election last summer.

An interim deal on Brexit in December appeared to give her new impetus, and the much-anticipated reshuffle was arranged.

But the day began in a farcical fashion when her Conservative party announced a new chairman on Twitter, only to delete the tweet and later name another lawmaker for the post.

&quot;No wonder Theresa May&#39;s struggling to negotiate Brexit -- she can&#39;t even organise a reshuffle,&quot; opposition Labour MP Stephen Kinnock swiftly tweeted.

Following Hunt&#39;s reported refusal to move and Greening&#39;s resignation later Monday, Britain&#39;s newspapers were quick to lambast May&#39;s reboot.

The Times&#39;&nbsp;front page called the reshuffle &quot;shambolic&quot; while The Daily Telegraph declared it the &quot;night of the blunt stiletto&quot;.&nbsp;

Some Conservative lawmakers appeared to agree, with Tory grandee Nicholas Soames tweeting: &quot;I don&#39;t mean to be rude or to be seen to be disloyal but there needs to be a major improvement to the reshuffle tomorrow.&quot;

May is expected to announce a reshuffle of her lower government ranks on Tuesday. Greening&#39;s resignation is likely to be viewed as a challenge to the prime minister&#39;s already fragile authority.

She was offered the welfare ministry &quot;but declined to take it,&quot; a Downing Street source said.

&quot;The prime minister is disappointed but respects her decision to leave the government&quot;, the source added.

For her part, Greening said in a tweet that educational issues like social mobility matter &quot;more than my ministerial career&quot;, and vowed to continue to work for young people as a member of parliament.

May&#39;s room for manoeuvre is limited by heading a minority government and the need to maintain a delicate Cabinet balance of eurosceptic and pro-European ministers as major Brexit decisions loom.

After starting the two-year withdrawal process in March last year, Britain struck a deal in December on the financial settlement with Brussels, as well as on expatriate rights and the Irish border.

Negotiations on a transition deal begin this month, while the toughest talks, on Britain&#39;s future relationship with the EU including trade, are set to start in March.

Johnson, a leading Brexit supporter, kept his job at the foreign office, despite challenging May&#39;s strategy last year, as did fellow eurosceptic Liam Fox, the international trade minister.

Finance minister Hammond and interior minister Amber Rudd, who campaigned to stay in the EU, continue as before.

Former justice secretary David Lidington took over the policy coordination role previously held by Green but did not inherit the title of May&#39;s deputy.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire, who failed to secure a deal to restore the power-sharing government in Belfast after it collapsed a year ago, stepped down for health reasons Monday and has been replaced by culture minister Karen Bradley.

The former Conservative party chairman, Patrick McLoughlin, lost his job after the disastrous snap election.

It was one of several low points last year for the prime minister, who took office in July 2016 after the referendum on leaving the EU and began her tenure strongly with a bold Cabinet reshuffle.

Education Secretary Justine Greening became the fourth minister to leave the Cabinet since November

British Prime Minister Theresa May's long-awaited government reshuffle Monday was branded ineffectual and shambolic after she promoted few fresh faces to her top team and a minister resigned rather than accept a new post. Education Secretary Justine Greening became the fourth minister to leave the Cabinet since November, after resisting a request to move to the welfare and pensions ministry. Meanwhile, health minister Jeremy Hunt convinced May at the last minute to scrap plans to move him to the business department, according to media reports. Most of her senior ministers also kept their jobs in the reshuffle, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Brexit minister David Davis and finance minister Philip Hammond. The prime minister carried out what her office called a "refresh" of the government after sacking her deputy Damian Green last month in a row over pornography found on his computer in 2008. His departure followed those of the defence and aid ministers in unrelated scandals the previous month. May hoped the shakeup would help her reassert authority ahead of crunch Brexit negotiations this year, and following a torrid 2017 in which she lost her parliamentary majority in a snap election last summer. An interim deal on Brexit in December appeared to give her new impetus, and the much-anticipated reshuffle was arranged. But the day began in a farcical fashion when her Conservative party announced a new chairman on Twitter, only to delete the tweet and later name another lawmaker for the post. "No wonder Theresa May's struggling to negotiate Brexit -- she can't even organise a reshuffle," opposition Labour MP Stephen Kinnock swiftly tweeted. Following Hunt's reported refusal to move and Greening's resignation later Monday, Britain's newspapers were quick to lambast May's reboot. The Times' front page called the reshuffle "shambolic" while The Daily Telegraph declared it the "night of the blunt stiletto". Some Conservative lawmakers appeared to agree, with Tory grandee Nicholas Soames tweeting: "I don't mean to be rude or to be seen to be disloyal but there needs to be a major improvement to the reshuffle tomorrow." May is expected to announce a reshuffle of her lower government ranks on Tuesday. Greening's resignation is likely to be viewed as a challenge to the prime minister's already fragile authority. She was offered the welfare ministry "but declined to take it," a Downing Street source said. "The prime minister is disappointed but respects her decision to leave the government", the source added. For her part, Greening said in a tweet that educational issues like social mobility matter "more than my ministerial career", and vowed to continue to work for young people as a member of parliament. May's room for manoeuvre is limited by heading a minority government and the need to maintain a delicate Cabinet balance of eurosceptic and pro-European ministers as major Brexit decisions loom. After starting the two-year withdrawal process in March last year, Britain struck a deal in December on the financial settlement with Brussels, as well as on expatriate rights and the Irish border. Negotiations on a transition deal begin this month, while the toughest talks, on Britain's future relationship with the EU including trade, are set to start in March. Johnson, a leading Brexit supporter, kept his job at the foreign office, despite challenging May's strategy last year, as did fellow eurosceptic Liam Fox, the international trade minister. Finance minister Hammond and interior minister Amber Rudd, who campaigned to stay in the EU, continue as before. Former justice secretary David Lidington took over the policy coordination role previously held by Green but did not inherit the title of May's deputy. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire, who failed to secure a deal to restore the power-sharing government in Belfast after it collapsed a year ago, stepped down for health reasons Monday and has been replaced by culture minister Karen Bradley. The former Conservative party chairman, Patrick McLoughlin, lost his job after the disastrous snap election. It was one of several low points last year for the prime minister, who took office in July 2016 after the referendum on leaving the EU and began her tenure strongly with a bold Cabinet reshuffle.

British PM's cabinet reshuffle marred by resignation

Britain`s government is to undergo a reshuffle on Monday as Prime Minister Theresa May looks to reassert her authority following a string of high-profile departures, according to MPs.

Deputy prime minister Damian Green is set to be replaced after stepping down last month over a pornography scandal, following on from the departures of ministers Michael Fallon and Priti Patel embroiled in separate controversies.

&quot;Damian Green`s departure before Christmas means that some changes do have to be made, and I will be making some changes,&quot; May told BBC`s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.

A Labour MP who wished to remain anonymous told AFP that the reshuffle would take place on Monday, having received confirmation from Conservative colleagues.

May`s Downing Street office also said that widespread reports that cabinet ministers would discover their fate on Monday were not inaccurate.&nbsp;

Green`s resignation came as part of a broader scandal over sexual harassment at Westminster, which prompted defence minister Fallon`s departure in November.

His resignation was followed a week later by that of Patel, Britain`s overseas aid minister, who stepped down over unauthorised meetings in Israel.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is believed to be in line to take over Green`s role, while the Sunday Telegraph reported that education minister Justine Greening was facing the sack.&nbsp;

Leading figures such as foreign minister Boris Johnson, finance minister Philip Hammond and Brexit Secretary David Davis are expected to stay in their roles.

Justice minister Dominic Raab, an ardent Brexit supporter, is reported to be in line for a top job, while May is also predicted to promote more women and racially diverse members.

Deputy PM Damian Green will be replaced after stepping down last month over a pornography scandal

Britain`s government is to undergo a reshuffle on Monday as Prime Minister Theresa May looks to reassert her authority following a string of high-profile departures, according to MPs. Deputy prime minister Damian Green is set to be replaced after stepping down last month over a pornography scandal, following on from the departures of ministers Michael Fallon and Priti Patel embroiled in separate controversies. "Damian Green`s departure before Christmas means that some changes do have to be made, and I will be making some changes," May told BBC`s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. A Labour MP who wished to remain anonymous told AFP that the reshuffle would take place on Monday, having received confirmation from Conservative colleagues. May`s Downing Street office also said that widespread reports that cabinet ministers would discover their fate on Monday were not inaccurate. Green`s resignation came as part of a broader scandal over sexual harassment at Westminster, which prompted defence minister Fallon`s departure in November. His resignation was followed a week later by that of Patel, Britain`s overseas aid minister, who stepped down over unauthorised meetings in Israel. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is believed to be in line to take over Green`s role, while the Sunday Telegraph reported that education minister Justine Greening was facing the sack. Leading figures such as foreign minister Boris Johnson, finance minister Philip Hammond and Brexit Secretary David Davis are expected to stay in their roles. Justice minister Dominic Raab, an ardent Brexit supporter, is reported to be in line for a top job, while May is also predicted to promote more women and racially diverse members.

British government set for Monday reshuffle

British Prime Minister Theresa May was left weakened by the resignation Wednesday of her deputy Damian Green, the latest crack in her government as she faces tough Brexit talks.

Green agreed to step down as first secretary of state after a probe into his conduct found he had acted dishonestly.

&quot;It is therefore with deep regret, and enduring gratitude for the contribution you have made over many years, that I asked you to resign from the government and have accepted your resignation,&quot; the prime minister wrote in a letter addressed to Green.

May said she was &quot;extremely sad&quot; to ask her deputy to step down, describing him as a friend since their time at university and throughout their political careers.

The departure of one of her closest aides is the result of an investigation into Green&#39;s conduct following newspaper allegations published last month.

The Sunday Times reported that pornography was found on his parliamentary computer in 2008, while a journalist claimed Green acted inappropriately towards her in 2015.

In its report the Cabinet Office said Green had breached the ministerial code when he made &quot;inaccurate and misleading&quot; statements, by falsely claiming he was unaware that indecent material had been found on his computer.

London&#39;s Metropolitan Police had told Green about the pornography found, the Cabinet Office noted, without drawing conclusions on whether he had viewed the material.

In a summary of the report findings published by May&#39;s Downing Street office, the investigation did not draw definite conclusions on Green&#39;s behaviour towards the journalist Kate Maltby.

Scandal at Westminster 
 
In his resignation letter Green apologised for breaching the ministerial code, while denying that he downloaded or viewed pornography in parliament.

He also expressed his regret at the &quot;distress caused&quot; to Maltby, who claimed Green touched her knee and later sent her a suggestive text message.

&quot;I do not recognise the events she described in her article, but I clearly made her feel uncomfortable and for this I apologise,&quot; he wrote.

Green&#39;s resignation comes as part of a broader scandal over sexual harassment at Westminster, which erupted weeks ago and prompted the departure of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon last month.

Numerous other claims have been made against those working in politics, prompting the prime minister to call for rules on MPs&#39; behaviour to be toughened.

Weakened May 
 
Fallon&#39;s resignation was followed a week later by that of Britain&#39;s overseas aid minister, Priti Patel, who stepped down over unauthorised meetings in Israel.

The loss of two ministers in a matter of days cast doubt over May&#39;s authority, already challenged by divided opinions within her cabinet over Brexit.

May had been left fragile after a snap election in June backfired dramatically, leaving the Conservatives clinging onto power but losing their majority in parliament.

The premier dismissed calls to resign and vowed to lead Britain through its EU departure, although she faced a further challenge last week when a group of Conservative MPs rebelled against her in a key parliamentary vote on Brexit.

Her troubles appeared to have abated somewhat on Friday when European Union leaders agreed to open talks on a future relationship with Britain.&nbsp;

But Brussels warned that the next phase of talks will be even more difficult than the past six months of negotiations on the country&#39;s exit.

While May will enter the new year on unstable footing, the resignation of Green is not expected to mark her imminent departure from Downing Street.

She will however lose an important ally in Green, a former journalist who was first elected to parliament in 1997.&nbsp;

He rose through the ranks to become work and pensions secretary last year under May, before being appointed first secretary of state after the June election.

In his resignation letter Green indicated he would stay on as a lawmaker, thanking his constituents for their support and vowing to &quot;continue to argue for the modernising conservatism I have always believed in&quot;

Damian Green agreed to step down as first secretary of state after a probe into his conduct found he had acted dishonestly

British Prime Minister Theresa May was left weakened by the resignation Wednesday of her deputy Damian Green, the latest crack in her government as she faces tough Brexit talks. Green agreed to step down as first secretary of state after a probe into his conduct found he had acted dishonestly. "It is therefore with deep regret, and enduring gratitude for the contribution you have made over many years, that I asked you to resign from the government and have accepted your resignation," the prime minister wrote in a letter addressed to Green. May said she was "extremely sad" to ask her deputy to step down, describing him as a friend since their time at university and throughout their political careers. The departure of one of her closest aides is the result of an investigation into Green's conduct following newspaper allegations published last month. The Sunday Times reported that pornography was found on his parliamentary computer in 2008, while a journalist claimed Green acted inappropriately towards her in 2015. In its report the Cabinet Office said Green had breached the ministerial code when he made "inaccurate and misleading" statements, by falsely claiming he was unaware that indecent material had been found on his computer. London's Metropolitan Police had told Green about the pornography found, the Cabinet Office noted, without drawing conclusions on whether he had viewed the material. In a summary of the report findings published by May's Downing Street office, the investigation did not draw definite conclusions on Green's behaviour towards the journalist Kate Maltby. Scandal at Westminster In his resignation letter Green apologised for breaching the ministerial code, while denying that he downloaded or viewed pornography in parliament. He also expressed his regret at the "distress caused" to Maltby, who claimed Green touched her knee and later sent her a suggestive text message. "I do not recognise the events she described in her article, but I clearly made her feel uncomfortable and for this I apologise," he wrote. Green's resignation comes as part of a broader scandal over sexual harassment at Westminster, which erupted weeks ago and prompted the departure of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon last month. Numerous other claims have been made against those working in politics, prompting the prime minister to call for rules on MPs' behaviour to be toughened. Weakened May Fallon's resignation was followed a week later by that of Britain's overseas aid minister, Priti Patel, who stepped down over unauthorised meetings in Israel. The loss of two ministers in a matter of days cast doubt over May's authority, already challenged by divided opinions within her cabinet over Brexit. May had been left fragile after a snap election in June backfired dramatically, leaving the Conservatives clinging onto power but losing their majority in parliament. The premier dismissed calls to resign and vowed to lead Britain through its EU departure, although she faced a further challenge last week when a group of Conservative MPs rebelled against her in a key parliamentary vote on Brexit. Her troubles appeared to have abated somewhat on Friday when European Union leaders agreed to open talks on a future relationship with Britain. But Brussels warned that the next phase of talks will be even more difficult than the past six months of negotiations on the country's exit. While May will enter the new year on unstable footing, the resignation of Green is not expected to mark her imminent departure from Downing Street. She will however lose an important ally in Green, a former journalist who was first elected to parliament in 1997. He rose through the ranks to become work and pensions secretary last year under May, before being appointed first secretary of state after the June election. In his resignation letter Green indicated he would stay on as a lawmaker, thanking his constituents for their support and vowing to "continue to argue for the modernising conservatism I have always believed in"

Blow to British prime minister as deputy resigns

British Prime Minister Theresa May was set to avoid a damaging parliamentary defeat after rebels in her party appeared to strike a compromise over the exact timing of Brexit.&nbsp;The government is trying to pass major domestic legislation to implement Brexit and had wanted to enshrine the leaving date of March 29, 2019, in British law, two years after serving its intention to withdraw.&nbsp;

But Conservative rebel MPs, who helped deliver the government a stinging Brexit defeat in parliament on Wednesday, looked set to reject the plan over fears that Britain could crash out of the EU without a deal if talks overrun, heaping further worries on the vulnerable prime minister.

A senior EU official told AFP on Saturday that sealing a final deal by March 2019 was a daunting task, pointing out that the EU trade deal with Canada &quot;is 1,598 pages of legal text, and we have negotiated for nine months and have 19 pages of non-legal text.&quot;

May is therefore under pressure from MPs to avoid a &quot;cliff-edge&quot; divorce that would throw the economy into chaos.&nbsp;But at the same time, she is being pressed by Brexit voters and eurosceptic potential usurpers in her own party to deliver Brexit in March 2019, as stipulated by the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty.

As a result, the rebels late Friday backed a new, more conciliatory, amendment to the Brexit bill to avert another House of Commons vote loss for the government.&nbsp;While the original plan to leave in March 2019 will stay in the bill, a new amendment will give ministers the power to delay the date if talks overrun.

&#39;Time to move on&#39;

Tory MP Oliver Letwin, who tabled the new amendment, told the Guardian it would &quot;create a sensible arrangement in which the date for leaving is set&quot; while allowing &quot;a little extra time&quot; to reach a new deal if needed.&nbsp;

Rebel MP Sarah Wollaston backed the compromise, tweeting it was &quot;good to see this amendment&quot;, and attached text saying &quot;we are pleased the government has responded to our concerns and will support&quot;, although May&#39;s office would not confirm that it had officially backed the plan.

Fellow rebel Anna Soubry tweeted it was &quot;time to move on and build a consensus on Brexit&quot;.&nbsp;The two teamed up on Wednesday to help pass an amendment demanding MPs get a &quot;meaningful vote&quot; on the deal before Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.

It was May&#39;s first defeat over the legislation, which will formally end Britain&#39;s membership of the EU, as well as smooth its exit by transferring thousands of pieces of European legislation onto the UK statute books.&nbsp;It came as a body blow to May on the eve of a summit in Brussels, where EU leaders approved the terms of the interim Brexit deal agreed last week after months of tortuous negotiations.

May lost her parliamentary majority during June&#39;s snap election and had to strike a deal with Northern Ireland&#39;s DUP to stay in power.&nbsp;She has since struggled to assert her authority, with rumours swirling of a leadership challenge, but appeared to be on the more solid ground after agreeing to the interim Brexit deal.

But her domestic weakness was laid bare on Wednesday when it took only 11 rebels to defeat the government&#39;s powers to enact a Brexit deal without a parliamentary vote.

Theresa May is under pressure from MPs to avoid a "cliff-edge" divorce that would throw the economy into chaos. But at the same time she is being pressed by Brexit voters to deliver Brexit in March 2019, as stipulated by the EU's Lisbon Treaty

British Prime Minister Theresa May was set to avoid a damaging parliamentary defeat after rebels in her party appeared to strike a compromise over the exact timing of Brexit. The government is trying to pass major domestic legislation to implement Brexit and had wanted to enshrine the leaving date of March 29, 2019, in British law, two years after serving its intention to withdraw. But Conservative rebel MPs, who helped deliver the government a stinging Brexit defeat in parliament on Wednesday, looked set to reject the plan over fears that Britain could crash out of the EU without a deal if talks overrun, heaping further worries on the vulnerable prime minister. A senior EU official told AFP on Saturday that sealing a final deal by March 2019 was a daunting task, pointing out that the EU trade deal with Canada "is 1,598 pages of legal text, and we have negotiated for nine months and have 19 pages of non-legal text." May is therefore under pressure from MPs to avoid a "cliff-edge" divorce that would throw the economy into chaos. But at the same time, she is being pressed by Brexit voters and eurosceptic potential usurpers in her own party to deliver Brexit in March 2019, as stipulated by the EU's Lisbon Treaty. As a result, the rebels late Friday backed a new, more conciliatory, amendment to the Brexit bill to avert another House of Commons vote loss for the government. While the original plan to leave in March 2019 will stay in the bill, a new amendment will give ministers the power to delay the date if talks overrun. 'Time to move on' Tory MP Oliver Letwin, who tabled the new amendment, told the Guardian it would "create a sensible arrangement in which the date for leaving is set" while allowing "a little extra time" to reach a new deal if needed. Rebel MP Sarah Wollaston backed the compromise, tweeting it was "good to see this amendment", and attached text saying "we are pleased the government has responded to our concerns and will support", although May's office would not confirm that it had officially backed the plan. Fellow rebel Anna Soubry tweeted it was "time to move on and build a consensus on Brexit". The two teamed up on Wednesday to help pass an amendment demanding MPs get a "meaningful vote" on the deal before Britain leaves the EU in March 2019. It was May's first defeat over the legislation, which will formally end Britain's membership of the EU, as well as smooth its exit by transferring thousands of pieces of European legislation onto the UK statute books. It came as a body blow to May on the eve of a summit in Brussels, where EU leaders approved the terms of the interim Brexit deal agreed last week after months of tortuous negotiations. May lost her parliamentary majority during June's snap election and had to strike a deal with Northern Ireland's DUP to stay in power. She has since struggled to assert her authority, with rumours swirling of a leadership challenge, but appeared to be on the more solid ground after agreeing to the interim Brexit deal. But her domestic weakness was laid bare on Wednesday when it took only 11 rebels to defeat the government's powers to enact a Brexit deal without a parliamentary vote.

Brexit rebel MPs compromise with UK govt over key bill

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