The US president has decided not to move forward with a “foundational” agreement prepared by the US Trade Representative’s Office, that would have included negotiations over 11 areas of trade and regulation, following opposition from his own party in the Senate.
Iceland volcano erupts after intense series of earthquakes
“It’s clear this is a considerable eruption,” Prime Minister of Iceland Katrin Jakobsdottir said early this morning as lava spewed across the Reykjanes peninsula at a rate of up to 200 cubic metres per second. The eruption was caught on a webcam — you can watch the footage and keep up to date with the latest developments on our live blog here.
Rescuers conduct search and rescue operations after the earthquake CREDIT: Visual China Group
Tuesday December 19 2023
No ‘firm date’ for stopping the boats, says Sunak
The Prime Minister was pressed repeatedly by Dame Diana Johnson, the Labour chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, on when he would deliver on the promise he made in January to “stop the boats”. Mr Sunak told the Liaison Committee that the Government had “made progress”, with the number of arrivals having fallen “by a third” this year.
Truss leads backlash against new trans guidance for schools
Trans activists will “exploit loopholes” in new guidance for schools, Liz Truss has warned amid a Tory backlash over the announcement. The former prime minister said the guidance, published by the Government on Tuesday, “does not go far enough” because it is not backed by the force of the law. You can read more about Ms Truss’ proposed new legislation here.
JK Rowling and Tony Blair among mourners for Alistair Darling
Former chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling was remembered at a memorial service in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Mourners including former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, and JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, gathered at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in the Scottish capital.
Farmers and tractors protest Germany’s ‘war’ on industry
Agricultural workers have accused Olaf Scholz of declaring “war” on their industry as they amassed in Berlin to protest against cuts to fuel subsidies and tax breaks. Some 10,000 agricultural workers brought traffic to a standstill as they gathered at Brandenburg Gate. Click here to see pictures.
US draws up plans for missile strikes on Houthis
“The cost offset is not on our side,” remarked a US defence department official, referring to the multi-million dollar naval missiles used to shoot down Houthi drones that cost only a few thousand each. Washington is thus considering striking targets in Yemen itself, our US Editor Tony Diver reveals.
Conservative backbenchers are mobilising to oppose the Prime Minister’s plan to introduce a “boiler tax” to fine boiler makers who do not meet heat pump installation targets. Manufacturers have responded to the proposals by increasing their prices. Craig Mackinlay, chairman of the The Net Zero Scrutiny Group, remarked that “the Government’s planned new boiler tax is another blow to hardworking families”.
EU strikes major deal to tighten immigration controls
The new agreement will make it easier to deport failed asylum seekers and hold families in detention centres on the bloc’s external borders. This new deal promises to overhaul how the bloc processes migrants.
Ireland to take UK to ECHR over ban on Troubles-era court cases
Micheal Martin, Ireland’s deputy premier, stated that the case would argue that the provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 are incompatible with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights.
UK to defend veterans from Irish attack on Troubles law
In an attack on Dublin’s leadership, the UK Government said it “profoundly regrets” the decision taken by Ireland to try to overturn Westminster legislation at the European Court of Human Rights. Military veterans along with senior Tory MPs joined the chorus of outrage, accusing the Irish of meddling in British politics in trying to overturn UK statute. You can read more about the legal action here.
Starmer helped hate preacher Abu Qatada fight his deportation in court
It has emerged that Sir Keir Starmer represented Abu Qatada in court as the notorious hate preacher fought to avoid deportation from the UK. Qatada, described as Osama bin Laden’s ambassador in Europe, was represented by Sir Keir at a hearing in 2008. For a decade, British authorities had fought legal battles to have Qatada extradited to Jordan, where he was wanted on terrorism charges.
BBC’s choice for Eurovision called Israel an ‘apartheid state’ responsible for genocide
The BBC has been urged to drop Britain’s entrant at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after it emerged he had signed a letter calling Israel an “apartheid regime” and criticising “Zionist propaganda”. Olly Alexander, who was announced as the UK entrant last week, endorsed a statement by an LGBT charity that also accused the country of genocide.
Grainy photographs quickly began to circulate online, showing a man in black clothing wielding an assault rifle on the roof walkway of the university building
Crime | A new Banksy artwork that appeared on a street in south London was taken down within an hour of the artist verifying the piece was a genuine installation.
A new Banksy artwork that appeared on a street in south London was taken within an hour of the artist verifying the piece was genuine CREDIT: PA
Israel blows up ‘subterranean city’ in Gaza where Oct 7 massacre was hatched
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) said it discovered “terrorist infrastructure” below Palestine Square in the city centre with lengthy tunnels, hiding places and offices belonging to Hamas’s senior military and political leaders.
Aerial footage released by the IDF late on Thursday night showed a series of explosions, destroying the underground infrastructure.
Go for growth | In an interview with The Telegraph, Sir James Dyson said “wealth generation” and “growth” had become dirty words as he praised the policies of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng and said current political leaders, be they Tory or Labour, were not “going for growth”. It comes as Rishi Sunak faced a Tory backlash on Friday over the Government’s backtracking on spousal visas. Plus: Sadiq Khan has backed down and said he supports a move to send to Ukraine 4x4s in response to a Telegraph campaign.
A joint effort of several authors who do find that nobody can keep standing at the side and that “Everyone" must care about what is going on in today’s world.
We are a bunch of people who do not mind that somebody has a totally different idea but is willing to share the ideas with others and to be Active and willing to let others understand how "today’s decisions will influence the future”. Therefore we would love to see many others to "Act today".
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3 thoughts on “In the news the Fourth week of December 2023”
Some View on the World 
3 thoughts on “In the news the Fourth week of December 2023”