DUBLIN — The Democratic Unionists dumped a lump of coal in the British government’s Christmas stocking Monday, declaring that their party will maintain its stubborn blockade of Northern Ireland’s cross-community government into the new year — a deadlock that could take billions in extra U.K. finance to break. Hopes were dashed of a pre-Christmas breakthrough … Read more
ROME — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak likened Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Margaret Thatcher as he called on European leaders to channel the old Conservative British leader’s “radicalism” and challenge decades-old rules around refugees. “Thatcher understood that ideas are only important if they can be implemented,” Sunak said in a speech at the … Read more
Finland’s government decided on Thursday to once again close the country’s entire eastern border with Russia — from Friday night until January 14 — due to another influx of asylum seekers mere hours after it had reopened two crossing points. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen told a press conference that “entry started faster than expected when the … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. BRUSSELS — One year into the biggest corruption scandal ever to hit the European Parliament and the Qatargate questions keep coming. Members of the European Parliament on Wednesday spent an hour discussing the cash-for-influence allegations during a debate in Strasbourg, with many suggesting they’re … Read more
LONDON — They may be bitter Tory rivals, but Rishi Sunak rose above it all Monday as he resisted several chances to take potshots at his predecessor Boris Johnson. Sunak, now the U.K.’s prime minister, spent Monday being grilled by the independent inquiry about his time as Johnson’s top finance minister during the coronavirus pandemic. … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. LONDON — In a strip-lit hearing room in central London this week, 1,353 days after his first COVID lockdown, Boris Johnson finally testified to the U.K.’s inquiry into the pandemic. The ex-prime minister’s allies believe he gave a competent account of himself to aid … Read more
