Political News
Fresh US sanctions loom large in Turkey's future as US pastor's appeal rejected
US pastor Andrew Brunson has seen his latest bid for freedom rejected by a Turkish appeals court, increasing the likelihood of a fresh wave of sanctions from the Trump administration.
Chinese bombers training to hit US targets, says Pentagon report
China’s air force is "likely" training for bombing strikes against the US and its allies, according to a Pentagon report released on Thursday.
No-deal Brexit 'material and growing possibility', warns Fitch
Rating agency Fitch warned of growing risk of a general election and a second Brexit referendum, due to deep divisions within the government that make a no-deal Brexit "a material and growing possibility".
Boris Johnson Afghan trip to avoid Heathrow vote cost taxpayer £20K
Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s trip to Afghanistan the day of a crucial vote on Heathrow’s third runway cost the British taxpayer at least £20,000, it was reported on Thursday.
Fitch says no-deal Brexit a 'material possibility'
An "acrimonious and disruptive" no deal Brexit had become "a material and growing possibility", ratings agency Fitch said on Thursday.
Elizabeth Warren to introduce bill that will 'reinvent US capitalism'
US Senator Elizabeth Warren will introduce a new government bill forcing big corporations to dedicate more of their earnings to employees and other priorities rather than the recent trend to "making the rich even richer".
Road hauliers says government has no plan for no-deal Brexit
Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling has no credible contingency plans for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, road haulage firms have warned.
Sector movers: Defensives find bid as Turkish lira bounces, analysts wary
Defensives were clearly in the lead on Tuesday, even as the top-flight index bounced back from its intra-day lows.
Tory Brexiteers challenge PM and lay out no-deal Brexit blueprint
Hardline Tory Brexiteers are to challenge Prime Minister Theresa May by publishing a positive blueprint for a no-deal Brexit and abandoning all support for May’s Chequers proposal, introduced last month.
UK Border Force failing to meet Heathrow passport check targets
Airlines and Heathrow airport management have criticised the UK Border Force for failing to process passengers within target times as it was revealed that some people have waited two-and-a-half hours to clear immigration.
UK firms lifting wages as EU migrant numbers fall
UK companies are being forced to lift wages to attract employees as fewer EU citizens come to seek work due to Brexit uncertainties, according to a survey of personnel managers.
UK commuters brace for 3.5% rail fare rise
Britain's long suffering commuters are bracing themselves for another large rise in rail fares, with a jump of 3. 5% expected from January 2019.
North, South Korean leaders plan third summit for September
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet for the third time after the countries on Monday agreed to a September summit in the North’s capital, Pyongyang.
UK voters want final say if EU negotiations collapse
UK citizens want a final vote on Brexit if the negotiations with the European Union break-down without securing a deal, YouGov has found in its latest survey published on Friday.
Russia threatens to ban rocket engine supply to US in response to sanctions
Russia has threatened to restrict the sales of rocket engines to the United States in response to sanctions over a former Russian agent’s poisoning in the UK in March.
UK businesses call for 'open but controlled migration' post-Brexit
British businesses have called for the UK government to pursue a more open immigration policy in Brexit talks to ensure European Union workers are not subject to non-EU visa rules.
EU nations debating Brexit concessions
Reports suggest that the EU is considering a Brexit deal which will allow Britain to remain in the single market for goods if the UK replicated all environmental, social, and customs rules in return.
Turkish lira withering under pressure from Washington
The souring of Turkish and US relations on Thursday sent the Turkish lira to a record low in London trading, with the currency plunging over 3% to 5. 4385 per US dollar, after an unnamed US official said that a Turkish delegation had on Wednesday refused to commit to the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is being held on charges of espionage.
US imposes sanctions on Russia over Skripal poisoning
The US government said it would impose sanctions on Russia by the end of August after determining that Moscow had been involved in the poisoning of former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England.
Beijing bites back at Trump with tariffs on $16bn of goods
China hit back at looming US tariffs on Wednesday, with the country's commerce ministry in Beijing announcing its intention to impose 25% import duties targeting $16bn-worth of US goods.