UK

UK: Supreme Court rules that heterosexual couples can enter into a civil partnership

BBC: A heterosexual couple have won their legal bid for the right to have a civil partnership instead of a marriage. The couple wanted that the rights of civil partnerships given…

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UK singles chart to include online views in rankings

For more than 65 years, the UK singles chart has provided a rundown of the records we listen to. Now that is about to change. From July 6, the chart…

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British Parliament approves Heathrow Airport Expansion

MPs have voted 415-119 in favour of building a £14bn third runway at Heathrow Airport. Prime Minister Theresa May’s government agreed to the £14 billion (US$18.5 billion) plan earlier…

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The hottest day of the year so far in Britain at 29.4C

Britain has enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far, as temperatures reached 29.4C in St James's Park, London. Parts of the UK will be as hot as southern…

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Monday Morning Briefing

Good morning The EU Summit about Migration and the Turkish Elections are the main events which perhaps characterised the latest hours with developments taking place during the night and news…

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Iraqi Sister who fled Islamic State is denied entry to Britain for the second time

The Catholic Herald : An Iraqi Sister who was forced to flee Islamic State in 2014 has been denied entry to Britain for a second time. Sister Ban Madleen previously applied…

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Corbyn: UK would recognise Palestine as a state under a Labour government

The UK would swiftly “recognise Palestine as a state” under a Labour government, Jeremy Corbyn has said. The party’s leader said he would take steps towards “a genuine two-state solution”…

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Boris Johnson’s reaction to Business concerns on Brexit stuns diplomats and angers businesses

The Telegraph: Boris Johnson was embroiled in a diplomatic row with Brussels on Friday night after he was accused of using a four-letter word to dismiss an ambassador’s question about the post-Brexit needs…

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100,000 people took part in demonstration to support new Brexit referendum

At least 100,000 people took to the streets yesterday as part of the largest ever demonstration of support for a new referendum over Britain’s final Brexit deal. With more businesses poised to…

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Chicken shortages face UK after CO2 shortages

Sky News: First drinks producers were warning about beer - now chicken could also be at risk due to dwindling carbon dioxide (CO2) stocks. The British Poultry Council (BPC) has…

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Saturday Morning Briefing

Good morning, History repeats itself as a second vessel is rejected from docking – just days after the Aquarius was stranded for a week. This issue is the dominant story…

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Campaigner loses bid for gender-neutral passports

SkyNews: Campaigner Christie Elan-Cane has lost a High Court action against the government's policy on gender-neutral passports. Elan-Cane has been fighting for "X" passports for people who define as neither "M"…

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“We expect that the timetable will be adhered to” according to Germany

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany believes the timetable for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union can be kept to, a government spokeswoman said on Friday, adding that while some issues still…

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BMW line up task force for a worst case scenario Brexit

Auto Express: BMW has created a specialist task force to prepare for a worst-case Brexit scenario, one in which the UK leaves the customs union and the single market, as well…

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14,000 jobs at risk as Airbus warns it could leave UK after Brexit

Airbus has warned it could leave the UK if the country exits the European Union single market and customs union without a transition deal. The European planemaker said the warning…

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BREXIT – EU citizens living in the UK and their family members will need to apply to obtain a new UK immigration status

The UK Home Office has published much-awaited details of the settlement scheme for EU citizens after Britain exits the EU in March 2019. Under the deal, outlined on Thursday, EU…

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Brexit talks must intensify over summer

RTE: Brexit talks must intensify over the summer, particularly on the issue of the Irish border, or Britain risks being unable to withdraw smoothly from the European Union, Ireland's foreign minister…

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Corporate Dispatch Morning Briefing – Thursday 21st June 2018

Good morning, A rather eventful 24 hours which were dominated by the issue of immigration around the globe. We try to to summarise the eventful day in our Morning Brief. …

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May avoids damaging Brexit defeat with last-minute concession

The Telegraph: Theresa May has told MPs they must “trust the judgement” of the British people who voted to leave the EU as she saw off a rebellion over her flagship…

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Children should be banned from using their mobile phones (UK)

The Telegaph: Children should be banned from using their mobile phones at school, the culture secretary has said. Not content with merely barring them from being used in the classroom, Matt…

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Prince Louis to be christened on 9th July

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 8-week-old son will be christened on Monday, July 9, Kensington Palace confirmed on Wednesday. “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to announce that the christening…

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Groom’s ex-wife is ‘giving away’ former husband in first Royal same-sex wedding

The Mirror: The royal family is getting ready for its first same-sex wedding as Lord Ivar Mountbatten prepares to tie the knot. The Queen's cousin, who has three children, came…

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Boy to be given first ever cannabis treatment in the UK previously banned by Home Office

Sky News: A severely epileptic boy is to be allowed cannabis treatment after the Home Office backed down on banning it. Charlotte Caldwell attempted to bring in medicinal cannabis oil to…

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Saturday’s Morning Briefing – 16th June 2018

Good morning, Here's our morning briefing of the most salient news in the last hours as reported around the world. Have a good day. The Malta Independent reports that Italy’s…

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Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope blocks proposed upskirting law to cries of ‘shame’

Sky News: A proposed law to make upskirting a specific criminal offence has been blocked by a Tory MP. The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill was stopped in its tracks when Christchurch…

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New Brexit blueprint amendments respect public’s desire to leave the EU

Reuters: Prime Minister Theresa May’s government’s new amendment to her Brexit blueprint on giving parliament a greater role on the exit process respects the public’s desire to leave the European Union,…

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UK launches new ‘start-up’ visa for entrepreneurs

Silicon: The UK has launched a new “start-up” visa for entrepreneurs, in response to criticism from the tech sector over the effects of its restrictive immigration policies. Launched during London Tech Week, the…

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Parliament gets more power in Brexit negotiations as UK government avoids damaging defeat

Politico: The U.K. government has agreed to give parliament more power over its Brexit negotiations in a last-ditch bid to avoid a damaging House of Commons defeat. Rebel Conservative MPs, who…

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May under pressure on Brexit vote, UK Justice Minister resigns, Four more prepared to quit

The Daily Telegraph: Four more ministers are prepared to quit over Brexit after Phillip Lee's "warning shot" resignation, The Daily Telegraph has learned. A source close to Dr Lee said his resignation is…

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Two Years since Brexit vote and 292 days from the days and Brexit gets messier by the day

EuroNews: With only months to go until Britain leaves the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May faces a showdown with critics that could further undermine her fragile grip on power…

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Businessman financing Farage’s campaign had multiple meeting with Russian embassy, suggesting Russian interference during BREXIT

The Guardian - Arron Banks, the millionaire businessman who bankrolled Nigel Farage’s campaign to quit the EU, had multiple meetings with Russian embassy officials in the run-up to the Brexit…

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BREXIT – UK’s proposal for backstop doesn’t correspond to EU’s wishes

The U.K’s proposal for a “backstop” solution to Ireland “doesn’t correspond” to the EU’s wishes, Barnier said on Friday, adding that May had agreed on the need for it, and…

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Saturday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, Today's newspapers report that Malta will no longer get away with not accept- ing migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, Italy’s new Home Affairs Minister Matteo Salvini warned yesterday. UNHCR…

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Pippa Middleton, the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge reveals that she is expecting her first child

Pippa Middleton, the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, has revealed the "happy news" that she is expecting her first child. Pippa Middleton has used her Waitrose magazine column to announce…

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House of Fraser to close more than half its UK stores

House of Fraser is to close more than half its UK stores, putting a further 6,000 jobs at risk and dealing another hammer blow to the high street. The move…

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Amazon wins rights to show English Premier League

Amazon.com has won rights to show English Premier League soccer matches for the first time, granting members of its Prime Video service access to 20 matches per season. It secured…

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London Fire Brigade facing investigations over “stay put” policy in Grenfell Tower blaze

The Guardian reports that the "London Fire Brigade and its senior officers are facing a police investigation over the “stay put” policy which resulted in Grenfell Tower residents being told…

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May expresses concern about loss of Palestinian lives in meeting with Netanyahu

The Telegraph reports that the British Prime Minister Theresa May told Israel’s Prime Minister she is "concerned" about the loss of Palestinian lives during recent clashes at the Gaza border. During Benjamin…

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Blaze at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London

Around twenty five fire engines and 120 firefighters are tackling a fire at the historic Mandarin Oriental building in Knightsbridge. Huge plumes of smoke were seen coming from the five-star…

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Theresa May facing revolt from Eurosceptic Cabinet Ministers on ‘Irish backstop’ arrangement

The Telegraph reports that Theresa May is facing a revolt from Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers after disclosing plans which they fear could keep Britain tied to the Customs Union "indefinitely" after Brexit. The Prime…

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Monday’s morning briefing – 4th June

Good morning It might be cloudy, and despite the early hours, its 21degrees. The heat intends to persist as the temperature in Malta is expected to reach the 30degree mark.…

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British MPs claim Russia ‘abused’ of Interpol to target British critic of Putin

The Telegraph reports that MPs will urge the Home Secretary to intervene over Russia's "abuse" of Interpol to target a prominent British critic of Vladimir Putin. For a brief time Wednesday, Bill…

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Sunday’s Morning Briefing

Good morning, Malta's newspapers cover a myriad of topics. The salient points include the ongoing investigations in Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder and the investigations carried by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja on…

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UK: 30% of teachers and 11% of teaching support staff say they have suffered sexually inappropriate behaviour

The Guardian reports that more than one in 10 teaching support staff say they have experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour from pupils. The finding has triggered calls for schools to adopt…

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Theresa May should be replaced

Michael Gove should be installed as the new Tory leader because Theresa May has shown that she cannot “carry Brexit through”, Crispin Odey, a major party donor has publicly warned. The…

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Supermarkets might be forced to ban ‘guilt lanes’ in the UK to fight obesity

You're done with your shopping in the supermarket and waiting impatiently for your turn. You're hungry and there lies the temptation, a rack full of sweets and chocolates. The temptation…

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VISA’s payment network crashed across UK and parts of Europe

The Guardian reported that VISA’s payment network has crashed across the UK and Europe, sparking chaos as transactions are failing or being denied. The company confirmed that it is suffering an outage and…

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A man has been charged with smuggling after a child was found in a suitcase at the Port of Dover

A man has been charged with attempted smuggling after a Vietnamese boy was found in a suitcase in the boot of a car. The boy, believed to the 16, was…

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BREXIT: May warned by some of Europe’s biggest businesses that ‘time is running out’

The Telegraph reports that Theresa May has been warned by some of Europe's biggest businesses that "time is running out" and that a free trade deal after Brexit must be as "frictionless as…

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JCPOA remaining partners convene after US withdrawal from Iranian Nuclear deal. They welcome the fact that the (IAEA) has again confirmed the continued adherence by Iran to its nuclear-related commitments

China, Russia, France, the UK and Germany have expressed their commitment to maintain the Iranian nuclear deal, but a solution has not yet been found on how to diffuse and…

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