Europe

8 September 2019; AFP: The British government insisted Sunday that Boris Johnson would fight on as prime minister despite seeing a top cabinet ally quit and his do-or-die Brexit strategy blocked by parliament.

Johnson rose to power six weeks ago by injecting his trademark optimism into a ruling Conservative party that was cracking under the pressure of Britain's worst crisis in generations.

8 September 2019; AFP: Russians voted in local elections on Sunday that will test the popularity of President Vladimir Putin and his allies after a crackdown on opposition protests in Moscow.

Elections for municipal councils and regional governors took place across the country, but most attention was focused on Moscow, where tens of thousands took to the streets this summer after potential opposition candidates were barred from the vote.

MOSCOW, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russians vote Sunday in local elections after weeks of opposition protests that led to the biggest police crackdown on dissent in nearly a decade.

Elections take place after Moscow and Kiev carried out a long-awaited swap of 70 prisoners on Saturday, a deal hailed as a first step towards ending five years of conflict after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea.

MONTPELLIER (France), Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French police clashed on Saturday with anti-government protesters seeking to inject fresh momentum into demonstrations calling for social justice and the ouster of President Emmanuel Macron.

The “yellow vest” movement began last November but had tapered off over the summer, but its leaders hope to galvanise support for a fresh wave of rallies across the country as the government begins a reform of France’s retirement system.

BERLIN, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of demonstrators belonging to a group called “Stop the Coup” gathered in central Berlin on Saturday to protest against a no-deal Brexit.

The protesters, who collected signatures for a petition, said they wanted to defend British democracy following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s order to suspend parliament for five weeks before Britain is due to leave the EU on Oct 31.

PARIS, Sept 8 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — The French government announced on Saturday it has sent 38-strong firefighting brigade to Bolivia and will send three drones to help put out wildfires in the Amazon.

A joint communique from the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of the Interior adds that the firefighters and troops from Civil Security left from Vatry airport, in the northern department of Marne, with two tons of equipment that will be donated to fight the flames.

LONDON, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Amber Rudd, the British secretary of state for work and pensions and minister for women and equalities, resigned from the cabinet on Saturday. Her departure marks another setback for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Rudd tweeted late Saturday that she resigned and surrendered the Conservative Whip. “I cannot stand by as good, loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled”, she wrote, adding that she remained committed to “the One Nation values that drew me into politics.”

LONDON (Reuters) - Angela Smith, the former UK Labour MP, will join the Liberal Democratic party, the Times newspaper reported in its Sunday edition.

Smith was among the seven lawmakers to quit the Labour Party in February over leader Jeremy Corbyn’s approach to Brexit and a row over anti-Semitism.

LONDON, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- British Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd resigned on Saturday and quitted the Conservative party, dealing one more blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is fighting an uphill battle to keep his Brexit plan intact despite strong criticism from his own party, opposition and the parliament.

In announcing her resignation, Rudd said she can not "stand by" while "loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled" for defying Johnson's government over Brexit.

ATHENS, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Saturday pledged "growth for all", outlining his government's economic policy for the next 12 months, which includes tax cuts and reforms to support development in the post-bailout era.

"Currently we not only have a vision, but also the plan for a better Greece," he said, addressing the opening ceremony at the 84th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), Greece's largest annual trade fair held in the northern port city.