United Kingdom

Boris Johnson’s bombshell exit from Parliament leaves UK politics reeling

LONDON (AP) — Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson left chaos in his wake Saturday after quitting Parliament with a blast at fellow lawmakers he accused of ousting him in a “witch hunt.”

As opponents jeered, the Conservative government absorbed the shock of yet another Johnson earthquake, while a band of loyal supporters insisted Britain’s divisive ex-leader could still make a comeback. Two Johnson allies joined him in quitting the House of Commons, piling pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Boris Johnson quits as UK lawmaker over Partygate report, claims he is victim of 'witch-hunt’

London, Jun 10 (PTI) Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has abruptly resigned as a lawmaker, claiming he was the “victim of a witch-hunt”, after being told by a parliamentary committee that he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street during his premiership.

Johnson, 58, one of the main architects of Brexit, compared the Privileges Committee probe to a “kangaroo court” as he quit.

UK: De-dollarization has accelerated: media

LONDON, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The de-dollarization process has accelerated especially after Washington imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow following the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the London-based The New Arab news website has reported.

"The question is about when, not if, the hegemony of the U.S. dollar will end, with more countries across the Global South seeking alternatives," said the report on Wednesday.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the West's response marked "a major turning point" in the movement against the U.S. dollar, it said.

UK: Boris Johnson rewards allies, and a hairdresser, with honors as critics cry foul

LONDON (AP) — Several dozen allies of former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson received honors from King Charles III on Friday, a list that drew cries of cronyism from opponents of the ousted leader.

“Resignation honors,” bestowed by the monarch but chosen by the government, are an established but contentious way for departing leaders to reward loyal lieutenants.

Chinese airline launches new direct air route linking London, Beijing

LONDON, June 8 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines on Wednesday inaugurated a new direct flight service linking London and Beijing.

The newly opened route operates one flight daily, departing from Heathrow Airport at 10:30 p.m. local time and landing at the Beijing Daxing International Airport after approximately 10 hours of flying.

Upon arrival at the Daxing airport, passengers can connect with flights to various cities in China, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chongqing and Changsha, as well as international destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, Tashkent and more.

UK announces major visa change for Gulf countries to boost weak economy

07 June 2023; MEMO: The UK government has announced major changes to visa requirements for the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan. Nationals of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, UAE and Jordan will be offered an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) lasting two years for just £10 ($12), according to a report in Arabian Business.

UK: Prince Harry tells London court 'vile' press has blood on its hands

LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) - Prince Harry launched a fierce attack on the "vile" press on Tuesday, blaming tabloids for destroying his adolescence and later relationships, as he gave evidence for almost five hours in his lawsuit against a tabloid publisher.

As he became the first senior British royal to appear in a witness box in more than a century, Harry also said the thought of people unlawfully intruding into the private life of his late mother Princess Diana made him "feel physically sick".

Is it real or made by AI? Europe wants a label for that as it fights disinformation

LONDON (AP) — The European Union is pushing online platforms like Google and Meta to step up the fight against false information by adding labels to text, photos and other content generated by artificial intelligence, a top official said Monday.

EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said the ability of a new generation of AI chatbots to create complex content and visuals in seconds raises “fresh challenges for the fight against disinformation.”

Singer Dua Lipa slams UK officials' 'small-minded' stance on migrants

04 June 2023; MEMO: Famous singer Dua Lipa criticized British government officials' comments on migrants, slamming them as "shortsighted and small-minded," Anadolu reports.

Lipa, a Grammy-winning performer who was born to Kosovar-Albanian parents, expressed the personal "hurt" caused by the way the government has discussed Albanians and called for a greater sense of empathy.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Lipa warned such rhetoric has a negative impact.

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