Pakistan embassies in UK, Canada step up aid to terrorists.

ISI creating Alliance of Terror Group?

Will UK leave European Union by January 31? Watch video to know more.

Will UK leave European Union by January 31?

After delaying Brexit for the third time, will the UK finally leave European Union on 31st January 2020? Answer to that will be decided after the general elections on December 12, 2019.

WION Dispatch: Brexit-scrambled UK heads to polls

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes questions in the Parliament today. Watch this video to know more.

WION Dispatch: UK PM Boris Johnson takes questions in Parliament

UK PM Boris Johnson takes questions in Parliament

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 29th, 2019

Britain was on course for a December election Tuesday after the main opposition Labour party said it would support Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan, although a date has not yet been fixed.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said, "I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to a 'no deal' Brexit being off the table."

He said the decision by EU leaders on Monday to delay Brexit to January 31 meant that "for the next three months, our condition of taking No Deal off the table has now been met.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-election-johnson-makes-fresh-bid-to-break-the-deadlock-258648">Brexit election? Johnson makes fresh bid to break the deadlock</a>

"We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen," he said in a statement.

Johnson has called for an election on December 12 but Labour and other opposition parties are pushing for a date nearer to December 9.

"It will be a December election," a Labour party source told AFP.

The prime minister will on Tuesday bring forward a bill to legislate for the snap poll, which is expected to pass parliament in the next few days.

Britain was on course for a December election Tuesday after the main opposition Labour party said it would support Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan, although a date has not yet been fixed.

Britain was on course for a December election Tuesday after the main opposition Labour party said it would support Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan, although a date has not yet been fixed. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said, "I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to a 'no deal' Brexit being off the table." He said the decision by EU leaders on Monday to delay Brexit to January 31 meant that "for the next three months, our condition of taking No Deal off the table has now been met. Also read: Brexit election? Johnson makes fresh bid to break the deadlock "We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen," he said in a statement. Johnson has called for an election on December 12 but Labour and other opposition parties are pushing for a date nearer to December 9. "It will be a December election," a Labour party source told AFP. The prime minister will on Tuesday bring forward a bill to legislate for the snap poll, which is expected to pass parliament in the next few days.

UK's opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn agrees to December election

Britain has sent dossiers to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/majority-of-39-uk-truck-victims-likely-from-vietnam-priest-258278">Vietnam</a>, seeking its assistance in identifying four of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/39-bodies-found-near-london-in-truck-container-uk-police-257701">39 people found dead</a> in a truck container outside London last week, the government of the southeast Asian nation said on Monday.

Lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, is set to appear in court charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences, including conspiracy to traffic people, after the bodies were found last week in Grays, about 32 km (20 miles) east of London.

British police have said very few of the victims were carrying official identification and that they hope to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photographs from friends and relatives.

Vietnam`s government website quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son as saying the Ministry of Public Security had received files for four people from Britain, seeking "verification coordination".

Son told reporters, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing dossiers of possible victims, but until now there have been no grounds to confirm Vietnamese nationals are among the victims."

Police had initially said the dead were believed to be Chinese, but it later emerged that many were from Vietnam, where communities have been plunged into despair in the belief their missing loved ones are dead.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China`s embassy in Vietnam was in close contact with the Vietnamese government about the case, but did not elaborate.

China is also asking Britain to provide more information so as to ascertain the victims` identities, he added.

In Britain, police said a man was arrested in Dublin on Saturday. 
"A man arrested by the Garda at Dublin port on Saturday, 26 October, is a person of interest in our murder investigation," Essex Police said.

Three people arrested in connection with the investigation had been released on bail, British police said on Sunday. All three had been questioned on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people.

About 70 per cent of Vietnamese trafficking cases in Britain between 2009 and 2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail salons, the British government said last year.

The suspected victims in the most recent incident hail from Vietnam`s northern rice-growing areas of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, two of the communist-ruled nation`s poorest provinces.

Nghe An was identified as home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a US-based anti-trafficking organisation.

The other province, Ha Tinh, was ravaged by one of Vietnam`s worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan`s Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating fishing and tourism there.

Britain has sent dossiers to Vietnam, seeking its assistance in identifying four of the 39 people found dead in a truck container outside London last week, the government of the southeast Asian nation said on Monday.

Britain has sent dossiers to Vietnam, seeking its assistance in identifying four of the 39 people found dead in a truck container outside London last week, the government of the southeast Asian nation said on Monday. Lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, is set to appear in court charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences, including conspiracy to traffic people, after the bodies were found last week in Grays, about 32 km (20 miles) east of London. British police have said very few of the victims were carrying official identification and that they hope to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photographs from friends and relatives. Vietnam`s government website quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son as saying the Ministry of Public Security had received files for four people from Britain, seeking "verification coordination". Son told reporters, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing dossiers of possible victims, but until now there have been no grounds to confirm Vietnamese nationals are among the victims." Police had initially said the dead were believed to be Chinese, but it later emerged that many were from Vietnam, where communities have been plunged into despair in the belief their missing loved ones are dead. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China`s embassy in Vietnam was in close contact with the Vietnamese government about the case, but did not elaborate. China is also asking Britain to provide more information so as to ascertain the victims` identities, he added. In Britain, police said a man was arrested in Dublin on Saturday. "A man arrested by the Garda at Dublin port on Saturday, 26 October, is a person of interest in our murder investigation," Essex Police said. Three people arrested in connection with the investigation had been released on bail, British police said on Sunday. All three had been questioned on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. About 70 per cent of Vietnamese trafficking cases in Britain between 2009 and 2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail salons, the British government said last year. The suspected victims in the most recent incident hail from Vietnam`s northern rice-growing areas of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, two of the communist-ruled nation`s poorest provinces. Nghe An was identified as home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a US-based anti-trafficking organisation. The other province, Ha Tinh, was ravaged by one of Vietnam`s worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan`s Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating fishing and tourism there.

Vietnam says UK seeks help to identify four truck victims

UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson will push for an early election in the parliament today. European Union leaders will be meeting to discuss yet another Brexit delay. Watch this video to know more.

UK PM Johnson will push for an early election in parliament today

The Chinese embassy in London on Thursday&nbsp;urged the local police to find out the truth "as soon as possible" after reports that police had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/39-bodies-found-near-london-in-truck-container-uk-police-257701">found 39 Chinese nationals</a> dead in a lorry.

They also added that British police have not yet been able to confirm that the 39 people found dead in the back of truck were Chinese nationals, in a statement posted on the embassy's website.

Paramedics and police found the bodies of 31 men and eight women on Wednesday (October 23) on an industrial estate at Grays in Essex, about 20 miles (30 km) east of London.

For years, illegal immigrants have stowed away in trucks while attempting to reach Britain, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover.

The Chinese embassy in London on Thursday urged the local police to find out the truth "as soon as possible" after reports that police had found 39 Chinese nationals dead in a lorry.

The Chinese embassy in London on Thursday urged the local police to find out the truth "as soon as possible" after reports that police had found 39 Chinese nationals dead in a lorry. They also added that British police have not yet been able to confirm that the 39 people found dead in the back of truck were Chinese nationals, in a statement posted on the embassy's website. Paramedics and police found the bodies of 31 men and eight women on Wednesday (October 23) on an industrial estate at Grays in Essex, about 20 miles (30 km) east of London. For years, illegal immigrants have stowed away in trucks while attempting to reach Britain, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover.

Essex lorry deaths: China's embassy urges UK police to 'find out the truth' about 39 bodies discovered in truck

U.K. Gives Its Nod To Another Anti-India Protest In London On The Kashmir Situation Another anti-India protest is all set to take place in London on Diwali.

Gravitas: Another Anti-india Protest Planned In London On Diwali

UK PM faces questions in Parliament; Johnson and Corbyn face each other. Watch video to know more.

UK PM faces questions in Parliament; Johnson and Corbyn face each other

UK Cops Speak after 39 bodies were found in Essex. Watch video to know more.

UK Cops Speak after 39 bodies were found in Essex

Candid Admissions From Prince Harry & His Wife Meghan Markle Hints At Fissures In The Royal Family A new documentary about the lives of the British Royal family is making waves.

Gravitas: Is The Spotlight Hurting The Royals?

There is another vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal refused. Now, the UK speaker also refused to allow the vote for the Brexit deal. Watch this video to know more.

Brexit Deal: UK speaker refuses to allow the Brexit vote

Is United Kingdom Seeking A Brexit Deadline Extension Or A Withdrawal From European Union?

Gravitas: Brexit & The Tale Of Three Letters!

Brexit will happen by October 31, British government minister Michael Gove said on Sunday, despite lawmakers forcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to send a letter on Saturday,&nbsp;to the European Union requesting a delay.

"We are going to leave by October 31, we have the means and the ability to do so," Gove, the minister is in charge of no-deal Brexit preparations, told Sky News.

The fractious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-urges-united-kingdom-to-explain-brexit-plan-as-soon-as-possible-256956">British parliament refused to vote on Johnson's new Brexit</a> withdrawal deal on Saturday, a move that forced him to seek a third postponement of Britain's departure from the bloc. It has so far been envisaged for October 31.

After the British parliament refused to endorse Johnson's deal at the first time of asking on Saturday, the prime minister sent a letter to the bloc requesting a delay, as required by a law passed earlier by parliament.

Gove said that Johnson had sent the letter because it was required by parliament, but "parliament can't change the prime minister's mind".

At a rare Sunday meeting of ambassadors of the 27 states that will make up the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-vote-to-delay-brexit-deal-decision-256944">EU after Brexit</a>, the diplomats decided to forward Johnson's deal to the European Parliament for its required approval. The EU chamber sits in Strasbourg next week.

Brexit will happen by October 31, British government minister Michael Gove said on Sunday, despite lawmakers forcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to send a letter on Saturday, to the European Union requesting a delay.

Brexit will happen by October 31, British government minister Michael Gove said on Sunday, despite lawmakers forcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to send a letter on Saturday, to the European Union requesting a delay. "We are going to leave by October 31, we have the means and the ability to do so," Gove, the minister is in charge of no-deal Brexit preparations, told Sky News. The fractious British parliament refused to vote on Johnson's new Brexit withdrawal deal on Saturday, a move that forced him to seek a third postponement of Britain's departure from the bloc. It has so far been envisaged for October 31. After the British parliament refused to endorse Johnson's deal at the first time of asking on Saturday, the prime minister sent a letter to the bloc requesting a delay, as required by a law passed earlier by parliament. Gove said that Johnson had sent the letter because it was required by parliament, but "parliament can't change the prime minister's mind". At a rare Sunday meeting of ambassadors of the 27 states that will make up the EU after Brexit, the diplomats decided to forward Johnson's deal to the European Parliament for its required approval. The EU chamber sits in Strasbourg next week.

Gove says United Kingdom will leave European Union by October 31, Farage calls for general election

Johnson defiant after British parliament votes to force Brexit delay. Watch video to know more.

Johnson defiant after British parliament votes to force Brexit delay

UK PM Boris Johnson tables Brexit deal with EU. Watch video to know more.

UK PM Boris Johnson tables Brexit deal with EU

UK PM Johnson address to the Parliament. He said, 'We won't impose regulations on Ireland without the consent. EU has very little appetite for another extension'. UK Parliament to vote for Brexit shortly.

UK PM Johnson address to the Parliament as the UK Parl to vote for Brexit shortly

Brexit Party's Nigel Farage urges MPs to reject the deal. Today is the 'Historical Saturday' in the history of Brexit as UK Parliament to vote today for the same. Watch this video to know more.

'Historical Saturday' in the history of Brexit, UK Parliament to vote

UK PM Boris Johnson tweeted that 'UK & EU agreed on a great new deal for Brexit'. But this deal still needs the approval of both UK & EU Parliament. European Union leaders reach Brussels for the make-or-break summit. The major showdown in the UK Parliament is on Saturday. Watch this video to know more.

Joint presser post EU summit meeting

UK PM Boris Johnson tweeted that 'UK & EU agreed on a great new deal for Brexit'. But this deal still needs the approval of both UK & EU Parliament. Let's listen to Boris Johnson...

Brexit: Deal done, biggest challange awaits

The British pound had a tumultuous session on Thursday as a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-johnson-says-great-new-deal-reached-on-brexit-256464">draft Brexit deal between London and Brussels</a> sparked both hope and scepticism in a volatile forex market.

Sterling soared to within a whisker of $1.30, striking five-month peaks, when news flashed across traders' screens that the European Union had reached a draft Brexit withdrawal deal with London.

The pound held on to most of those gains for a while, absorbing a bout of profit-taking, but then the currency plunged when it dawned on investors that there was no guarantee of UK parliamentary backing for the agreement.

"After the initial relief that the UK government and EU have done a deal, markets are worried that it still does not have enough support to get through parliament on Saturday," independent economist Julian Jessop told AFP.

By 1330 GMT, the currency was pretty much back to where it started from against the dollar.

'Still chance of no deal'

It is unclear how many of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative MPs will back the deal when he brings it to lawmakers for approval Saturday, and whether the opposition will try to vote it down or attempt to force a fresh referendum.

"There is still a chance for a no-deal Brexit – although the more likely scenario would be for the Prime Minister to follow the law and request the EU for a Brexit deadline extension, which then opens up more uncertainty," said Fawad Razaqzada at Forex.com.

Northern Ireland's DUP said Thursday it was "unable to support" the draft deal. A pre-emptive DUP announcement to the same effect issued before the draft deal had already weighed on sterling, before news from Brussels gave the currency wings, if not for long.

The London stock market, which usually moves in the opposite direction from sterling, enjoyed a rise Thursday, becoming the day's star performer in otherwise lacklustre European equity trading.&nbsp;

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones index rose at the start of business.

Earlier in Asia, most markets ended in the red, with traders unable to take advantage of weak US retail data that raised the chances of another Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

Comments in the Fed's Beige Book update on the economy also pointed to a slowdown in the world's biggest economy.

Oil prices fell as data pointed to a sharp rise in US stockpiles that reinforced worries about the impact on demand from the China-US trade war and the global economic slowdown.

Key figures around 1330 GMT

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2831 from $1.2832 at 2100 GMT

Euro/pound: UP at 86.68 pence from 86.28 pence

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1124 from $1.1033&nbsp;

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.62 yen from 108.76 yen

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 7,223.88 points

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 5,699.52

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.6 percent at 12,740.91

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 3,606.10

New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 27,078.39

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 22,451.86 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.7 percent at 26,848.49 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,977.33 (close)

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.7 percent at $59.03 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $52.93

The British pound had a tumultuous session on Thursday as a draft Brexit deal between London and Brussels sparked both hope and scepticism in a volatile forex market.

The British pound had a tumultuous session on Thursday as a draft Brexit deal between London and Brussels sparked both hope and scepticism in a volatile forex market. Sterling soared to within a whisker of $1.30, striking five-month peaks, when news flashed across traders' screens that the European Union had reached a draft Brexit withdrawal deal with London. The pound held on to most of those gains for a while, absorbing a bout of profit-taking, but then the currency plunged when it dawned on investors that there was no guarantee of UK parliamentary backing for the agreement. "After the initial relief that the UK government and EU have done a deal, markets are worried that it still does not have enough support to get through parliament on Saturday," independent economist Julian Jessop told AFP. By 1330 GMT, the currency was pretty much back to where it started from against the dollar. 'Still chance of no deal' It is unclear how many of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative MPs will back the deal when he brings it to lawmakers for approval Saturday, and whether the opposition will try to vote it down or attempt to force a fresh referendum. "There is still a chance for a no-deal Brexit – although the more likely scenario would be for the Prime Minister to follow the law and request the EU for a Brexit deadline extension, which then opens up more uncertainty," said Fawad Razaqzada at Forex.com. Northern Ireland's DUP said Thursday it was "unable to support" the draft deal. A pre-emptive DUP announcement to the same effect issued before the draft deal had already weighed on sterling, before news from Brussels gave the currency wings, if not for long. The London stock market, which usually moves in the opposite direction from sterling, enjoyed a rise Thursday, becoming the day's star performer in otherwise lacklustre European equity trading. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones index rose at the start of business. Earlier in Asia, most markets ended in the red, with traders unable to take advantage of weak US retail data that raised the chances of another Federal Reserve interest rate cut. Comments in the Fed's Beige Book update on the economy also pointed to a slowdown in the world's biggest economy. Oil prices fell as data pointed to a sharp rise in US stockpiles that reinforced worries about the impact on demand from the China-US trade war and the global economic slowdown. Key figures around 1330 GMT Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2831 from $1.2832 at 2100 GMT Euro/pound: UP at 86.68 pence from 86.28 pence Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1124 from $1.1033 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.62 yen from 108.76 yen London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 7,223.88 points Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 5,699.52 Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.6 percent at 12,740.91 EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 percent at 3,606.10 New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 27,078.39 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 22,451.86 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.7 percent at 26,848.49 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,977.33 (close) Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.7 percent at $59.03 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $52.93

Pound goes on rollercoaster ride after Brexit draft deal

UK PM Boris Johnson tweeted that 'UK & EU agreed on a great new deal for Brexit'. But this deal still needs the approval of both UK & EU Parliament. EU summit to kick off in a few hours.

WION Dispatch: EU summit to kick off in few hours

UK PM Boris Johnson tweeted that 'UK & EU agreed on a great new deal for Brexit'. But this deal still needs the approval of both UK & EU Parliament.

UK & EU holds a new Brexit deal, both still need approval of their respective Parliaments

Clocking is ticking for the UK Parliament as 13 days is remaining for the UK to exit from the European Union.

Will EU, UK sign Brexit deal today?

Make-or-break week for Brexit deal as 14 days is remaining for the country to exit from the EU. Reaching a divorce deal between Britain and the European Union is still possible this week, even if it more and more difficult, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Tuesday. Watch this video to know more.

Make-or-break week for Brexit deal

By Simon Usherwood

If you’re looking to make sense of why Brexit is blocked, it’s worth considering that it has two basic dimensions. The first is the negotiation between the European Union and the UK on the terms for the latter leaving the former. The second is the negotiation – or, more often, the power plays – between the British government and the rest of the UK’s political system. If Theresa May’s premiership was focused on the first dimension, then Boris Johnson’s has shifted very much to the second.

As a brief reflection might demonstrate, neither approach has been particularly successful. The reason is that both, in their own ways, have assumed that if you’re able to secure a deal on one dimension, then the other will automatically snap into place. That misunderstanding has been especially evident since Johnson announced his more formal proposals for a new legal text on the Irish dimension of the withdrawal agreement.

In essence, the proposals sought to replace the Irish backstop, which was designed to ensure a permanent fall-back system would be in place after Brexit to preserve the Good Friday Agreement but provoked an insurmountable backlash against May’s original deal. Johnson instead proposed that Northern Ireland should continue to be aligned with the EU on regulations on goods and committed to discussing customs arrangements.

Number 10 has also suggested that the Northern Ireland Assembly should give its consent to the introductions of the new arrangements, and renew that consent every four years thereafter.

In so doing, Johnson was seeking to address a number of fundamental problems with May’s deal on the backstop. First, there had been opposition from Tory ranks about the maintenance of a customs relationship in the backstop, which would have covered the entire UK. This would have meant that the scope for concluding free trade deals with other parts of the world would be limited, since the UK would be bound by the EU’s rules.

Second, and more critically, the backstop was specifically designed to be “all-weather” – that is, it would kick in at any point that there wasn’t an alternative arrangement (agreed by both the UK and EU) in place. In practice, that meant once it was activated, the UK would not be able to deactivate it without the EU’s approval. Such a potential lock on British action raised very many hackles.

So Johnson’s team floated this alternative, taking a considerable amount of care to craft a document that could get the buy-in of the harder end of the Conservative party, the DUP and even some of the non-aligned rebels in parliament.

And, indeed, various figures have announced that they could live with the deal –maybe not a robust majority of MPs, but certainly something that reached parts May’s deal never had.

At this point, the price of that buy-in became clear: the EU is not minded to go for it. From its perspective, there has been very little to commend Johnson’s text. Crucially, the proposal is largely a promise to talk, but with nothing said about what happens if talks are inconclusive. This runs entirely contrary to the purpose of the original backstop.

This is only amplified by the intention to give Stormont a vote on the arrangements. Quite apart from the absence of a functioning Northern Irish executive that might manage the discussions, the mechanism would raise the prospect of recurring debates about the durability of any provisions that were to be agreed. These problems are self-evident to those involved in the negotiations, which is a key reason in explaining why they didn’t get taken through the draft text agreed by May at the end of last year.

So why advance them now? The generous interpretation would be that Johnson hoped that the log-rolling of a majority in parliament would be enough to move the EU: the process has been stuck for nearly a year now and approval of the current text by the Commons looks all but impossible (remember it has voted against it explicitly on three occasions already), so why not go with a new text that would win the backing of MPs? There’s something to this, especially if the rumours of an EU concession to allow some role for Stormont turn out to be accurate.

But the broad thrust from Brussels and other EU capitals has been much more negative, not at all aided by the very negative briefings coming from Number 10. This points to a less generous view of Johnson’s approach. The looming general election – held back only by the need for an extension to Article 50 – has created an incentive for him to show that he has tried to secure a deal, only for it to be rejected by others: If returned to power, then he will be able to finally escape the constraints put on him, by parliament and by the EU, and make Brexit happen.

To put that back into our dimensions, it’s a renewed focus on the domestic competition. If it comes off, Johnson will find that the European dimension is still there, for any future deal he might want to do. And at that point, his recent actions might very well come back to haunt him.

(Simon Usherwood is Professor in Politics, University of Surrey)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-brexit-talks-have-stalled-over-boris-johnsons-plans-for-the-irish-border-125018">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

By Simon Usherwood If you’re looking to make sense of why Brexit is blocked, it’s worth considering that it has two basic dimensions. The first is the negotiation between the European Union and the UK on the terms for the latter leaving the former.

By Simon Usherwood If you’re looking to make sense of why Brexit is blocked, it’s worth considering that it has two basic dimensions. The first is the negotiation between the European Union and the UK on the terms for the latter leaving the former. The second is the negotiation – or, more often, the power plays – between the British government and the rest of the UK’s political system. If Theresa May’s premiership was focused on the first dimension, then Boris Johnson’s has shifted very much to the second. As a brief reflection might demonstrate, neither approach has been particularly successful. The reason is that both, in their own ways, have assumed that if you’re able to secure a deal on one dimension, then the other will automatically snap into place. That misunderstanding has been especially evident since Johnson announced his more formal proposals for a new legal text on the Irish dimension of the withdrawal agreement. In essence, the proposals sought to replace the Irish backstop, which was designed to ensure a permanent fall-back system would be in place after Brexit to preserve the Good Friday Agreement but provoked an insurmountable backlash against May’s original deal. Johnson instead proposed that Northern Ireland should continue to be aligned with the EU on regulations on goods and committed to discussing customs arrangements. Number 10 has also suggested that the Northern Ireland Assembly should give its consent to the introductions of the new arrangements, and renew that consent every four years thereafter. In so doing, Johnson was seeking to address a number of fundamental problems with May’s deal on the backstop. First, there had been opposition from Tory ranks about the maintenance of a customs relationship in the backstop, which would have covered the entire UK. This would have meant that the scope for concluding free trade deals with other parts of the world would be limited, since the UK would be bound by the EU’s rules. Second, and more critically, the backstop was specifically designed to be “all-weather” – that is, it would kick in at any point that there wasn’t an alternative arrangement (agreed by both the UK and EU) in place. In practice, that meant once it was activated, the UK would not be able to deactivate it without the EU’s approval. Such a potential lock on British action raised very many hackles. So Johnson’s team floated this alternative, taking a considerable amount of care to craft a document that could get the buy-in of the harder end of the Conservative party, the DUP and even some of the non-aligned rebels in parliament. And, indeed, various figures have announced that they could live with the deal –maybe not a robust majority of MPs, but certainly something that reached parts May’s deal never had. At this point, the price of that buy-in became clear: the EU is not minded to go for it. From its perspective, there has been very little to commend Johnson’s text. Crucially, the proposal is largely a promise to talk, but with nothing said about what happens if talks are inconclusive. This runs entirely contrary to the purpose of the original backstop. This is only amplified by the intention to give Stormont a vote on the arrangements. Quite apart from the absence of a functioning Northern Irish executive that might manage the discussions, the mechanism would raise the prospect of recurring debates about the durability of any provisions that were to be agreed. These problems are self-evident to those involved in the negotiations, which is a key reason in explaining why they didn’t get taken through the draft text agreed by May at the end of last year. So why advance them now? The generous interpretation would be that Johnson hoped that the log-rolling of a majority in parliament would be enough to move the EU: the process has been stuck for nearly a year now and approval of the current text by the Commons looks all but impossible (remember it has voted against it explicitly on three occasions already), so why not go with a new text that would win the backing of MPs? There’s something to this, especially if the rumours of an EU concession to allow some role for Stormont turn out to be accurate. But the broad thrust from Brussels and other EU capitals has been much more negative, not at all aided by the very negative briefings coming from Number 10. This points to a less generous view of Johnson’s approach. The looming general election – held back only by the need for an extension to Article 50 – has created an incentive for him to show that he has tried to secure a deal, only for it to be rejected by others: If returned to power, then he will be able to finally escape the constraints put on him, by parliament and by the EU, and make Brexit happen. To put that back into our dimensions, it’s a renewed focus on the domestic competition. If it comes off, Johnson will find that the European dimension is still there, for any future deal he might want to do. And at that point, his recent actions might very well come back to haunt him. (Simon Usherwood is Professor in Politics, University of Surrey) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why Brexit talks have stalled over Boris Johnson’s plans for the Irish border

Three researchers on Wednesday won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

John Goodenough of the US - at 97 the oldest person to be awarded a Nobel prize - Britain's Stanley Whittingham and Japan's Akira Yoshino will share the $914,000&nbsp;prize sum equally.

"This lightweight, rechargeable and powerful battery is now used in everything from mobile phones to laptops and electric vehicles... (and) can also store significant amounts of energy from solar and wind power, making possible a fossil fuel-free society," the jury said.

"Lithium batteries have revolutionised our lives since they first entered the market in 1991," it said, adding they were "of the greatest benefit to humankind".

The three will receive the prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of scientist Alfred Nobel who created the prizes in his last will and testament.

Last year, the honour went to US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith and British researcher Gregory Winter for developing enzymes used for greener and safer chemistry and antibody drugs with fewer side effects.

Arnold was just the fifth woman to clinch chemistry's most prestigious honour since Marie Curie was honoured in 1911.

This year's Nobel prize season kicked off on Monday with the Medicine Prize awarded to Americans William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza, and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe.

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The 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NobelPrize?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NobelPrize</a> in Chemistry has been awarded to John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.” <a href="https://t.co/LUKTeFhUbg">pic.twitter.com/LUKTeFhUbg</a>
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) <a href="https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1181868876734324737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Peace Prize on Friday

They won for research into how human cells sense and adapt to changing oxygen levels, opening up new strategies to fight such diseases as cancer and anaemia.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peebles-mayor-and-queloz-win-2019-nobel-prize-for-physics-254501">On Tuesday, the Physics Prize honoured Canadian-American cosmologist James Peebles and Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for research on how the Universe evolved after the Big Bang, and the first discovery of a planet outside our solar system, known as an exoplanet.</a>

The Literature Prize will follow on Thursday, with two laureates to be crowned after a sexual harassment scandal forced the Swedish Academy to postpone the 2018 award, for the first time in 70 years.

Some names creating a buzz ahead of this year's literature prize are Canadian poet Anne Carson, Kenyan writer Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, Romanian poet and novelist Mircea Cartarescu and Polish writer and activist Olga Tokarczuk.

On Friday the action moves to Norway where the Peace Prize is awarded, with bookies predicting a win for Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg on betting sites such as Ladbrokes.

The Economics Prize will wrap up the Nobel prize season on Monday, October 14.

Three researchers on Wednesday won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. John Goodenough of the US - at 97 the oldest person to be awarded a Nobel prize - Britain's Stanley Whittingham and Japan's Akira Yoshino will share the $914,000 prize sum equally.

Three researchers on Wednesday won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. John Goodenough of the US - at 97 the oldest person to be awarded a Nobel prize - Britain's Stanley Whittingham and Japan's Akira Yoshino will share the $914,000 prize sum equally. "This lightweight, rechargeable and powerful battery is now used in everything from mobile phones to laptops and electric vehicles... (and) can also store significant amounts of energy from solar and wind power, making possible a fossil fuel-free society," the jury said. "Lithium batteries have revolutionised our lives since they first entered the market in 1991," it said, adding they were "of the greatest benefit to humankind". The three will receive the prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of scientist Alfred Nobel who created the prizes in his last will and testament. Last year, the honour went to US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith and British researcher Gregory Winter for developing enzymes used for greener and safer chemistry and antibody drugs with fewer side effects. Arnold was just the fifth woman to clinch chemistry's most prestigious honour since Marie Curie was honoured in 1911. This year's Nobel prize season kicked off on Monday with the Medicine Prize awarded to Americans William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza, and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe. The 2019 #NobelPrize in Chemistry has been awarded to John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino “for the development of lithium-ion batteries.” pic.twitter.com/LUKTeFhUbg — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2019 × Peace Prize on Friday They won for research into how human cells sense and adapt to changing oxygen levels, opening up new strategies to fight such diseases as cancer and anaemia. On Tuesday, the Physics Prize honoured Canadian-American cosmologist James Peebles and Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for research on how the Universe evolved after the Big Bang, and the first discovery of a planet outside our solar system, known as an exoplanet. The Literature Prize will follow on Thursday, with two laureates to be crowned after a sexual harassment scandal forced the Swedish Academy to postpone the 2018 award, for the first time in 70 years. Some names creating a buzz ahead of this year's literature prize are Canadian poet Anne Carson, Kenyan writer Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, Romanian poet and novelist Mircea Cartarescu and Polish writer and activist Olga Tokarczuk. On Friday the action moves to Norway where the Peace Prize is awarded, with bookies predicting a win for Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg on betting sites such as Ladbrokes. The Economics Prize will wrap up the Nobel prize season on Monday, October 14.

US-UK-Japan trio win chemistry Nobel for lithium-ion battery

Britain's Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay will meet European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Thursday, as talks on the country's exit from the bloc reach a critical stage, Downing Street said.

"They will discuss the state of play following a week of technical talks," the spokesman from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said on Wednesday.

Johnson is expected to meet&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irish-pm-says-very-difficult-to-secure-brexit-deal-by-next-week-254692">Irish Prime Minister</a> Leo Varadkar later this week to discuss the Irish border -&nbsp;the thorniest issue in the talks.

Brussels and London have only a few days left to secure agreement on Britain's exit terms before a crucial summit of EU leaders on October 17 and 18.

Britain is due to leave the EU on October 31 and Johnson insists he will keep to that deadline.

However, a law passed by rebel MPs would force him to ask to delay Brexit if he has not reached a deal in time -&nbsp;something he says he will not do.

The government is planning to hold a special Saturday session of parliament on October 19, the day after the EU summit, whether or note there is a deal.

Tempers frayed on both sides of the Channel on Tuesday after a testy phone call between Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Downing Street sources briefed that Merkel's intransigence meant the talks were close to breaking down, and European Council President Donald Tusk accused Johnson of playing a "stupid blame game".

Britain's Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay will meet European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Thursday, as talks on the country's exit from the bloc reach a critical stage, Downing Street said.

Britain's Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay will meet European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Thursday, as talks on the country's exit from the bloc reach a critical stage, Downing Street said. "They will discuss the state of play following a week of technical talks," the spokesman from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said on Wednesday. Johnson is expected to meet Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar later this week to discuss the Irish border - the thorniest issue in the talks. Brussels and London have only a few days left to secure agreement on Britain's exit terms before a crucial summit of EU leaders on October 17 and 18. Britain is due to leave the EU on October 31 and Johnson insists he will keep to that deadline. However, a law passed by rebel MPs would force him to ask to delay Brexit if he has not reached a deal in time - something he says he will not do. The government is planning to hold a special Saturday session of parliament on October 19, the day after the EU summit, whether or note there is a deal. Tempers frayed on both sides of the Channel on Tuesday after a testy phone call between Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Downing Street sources briefed that Merkel's intransigence meant the talks were close to breaking down, and European Council President Donald Tusk accused Johnson of playing a "stupid blame game".

United Kingdom Brexit minister to meet European Union negotiator on Thursday

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