Alasdair Sandford

World News

What does a no-deal Brexit mean? Key players' views in their own words

For Boris Johnson it would be a 'good outcome'; for many in industry, farming and other walks of life, a disaster. Here's what they say failure to strike a post-Brexit deal would mean.

7 December 2020

Europe

Brexit talks endgame: Does the political will exist to strike a deal?

Brexit trade talks went into a near-blackout 'tunnel' several weeks ago. Whether there is light at the end of it, or a dead end, remains unclear. One EU source has even identified Thursday as decision day: "Either an accord is reached, or it will be the end".

2 December 2020

France

French government to 'totally rewrite' controversial security measure

Thousands of people took to the streets across France at the weekend to protest against the new measure, over fears that police violence would be harder to expose.

30 November 2020

Hungary

Hungary and Poland maintain united front blocking EU COVID-19 fund

Viktor Orbán and Mateusz Morawiecki met in Budapest to put pressure on EU leaders to abandon the plan linking EU funds to respect for the rule of law.

26 November 2020

World News

Brexit: Is there enough time left to ratify a UK-EU trade deal?

Even if the EU and UK succeed in striking a post-Brexit deal, a new race against time will begin to ratify it before the transition period expires.

26 November 2020

United Kingdom

UK minister resigns as plan to cut overseas aid sparks outcry

The UK is to cut its overseas aid budget, despite warnings from charities and politicians that the move will cost tens of thousands of lives.

25 November 2020

World News

Brexit: 'I can't say if there'll be a deal,' Von der Leyen tells MEPs

The European Commission President says the EU is ready to be 'creative' during 'these decisive days' in talks with the UK, but will not jeopardise the integrity of the Single Market.

25 November 2020

USA

Michigan move: Is Donald Trump seeking to subvert the US election?

The outgoing president, who refuses to cede power and continues to repeat baseless fraud claims, wants to overturn the Midwest state's vote for Biden.

20 November 2020

Culture news

Booker Prize 2020: Scottish writer Douglas Stuart wins for debut novel

Booker Prize 2020: Scottish writer Douglas Stuart wins for debut novel

19 November 2020

United Kingdom

No-deal Brexit 'bonanza' for organised crime, says N Ireland minister

UK MPs have heard that Brexit risks negative impacts on crime and trade in Northern Ireland when the transition period expires at the end of the year.

18 November 2020

United Kingdom

Brexit talks: Cummings goes but does it make a trade deal more likely?

Boris Johnson's office says his special adviser's abrupt departure does not change the government's insistence that an EU deal must respect UK sovereignty.

14 November 2020

United Kingdom

UK: Cummings to quit as Downing Street in-fighting clouds Brexit talks

A power struggle among Boris Johnson's top advisers has cast doubt on the government's focus on securing a Brexit trade deal and tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

13 November 2020

USA

US election security officials reject Trump claims of widespread fraud

Cybersecurity experts, federal and state election officials say they have seen no evidence to back the outgoing president's baseless claims of widespread fraud.

13 November 2020

World News

MEPs set to win extra €16 billion for EU budget in compromise deal

The compromise on the EU budget settles an internal spending row which threatened to hold up funding to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

10 November 2020

United Kingdom

UK stokes tensions with EU and US over contentious Brexit bill

Boris Johnson's government has vowed to reinstate parts of its international law-breaking Internal Market Bill, despite heavy defeats in the House of Lords on Monday.

10 November 2020

United Kingdom

COVID-19: UK's Sunak extends jobs support scheme throughout winter

The government will pay up to 80% of workers' wages to avoid mass layoffs during the pandemic until the end of March 2021.

5 November 2020

World News

No-deal Brexit back in play as stoppage time talks fail to bridge gulf

EU and UK negotiators agree that "divergences remain" on core issues after two weeks of intense talks behind closed doors.

5 November 2020

USA

US election: So what do the opinion polls say on the eve of the vote?

Several surveys suggest Joe Biden has a significant lead over Donald Trump in the popular vote. But the margin in swing states is tight and the pollsters have been wrong before.

2 November 2020

France

What has French president Macron said to outrage the Muslim world?

Emmanuel Macron staunchly defends freedom of expression amid the furore over caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, and seeks to isolate those who 'distort Islam' to justify violence from the majority who practise the religion peacefully.

2 November 2020

France

Nice attack: 'Islamist terrorist' stabbings leave three dead

The suspect is reported to have been arrested and taken to hospital after being injured as police intervened.

29 October 2020