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Saturday, October 1, 2016

Prime Minister urged to speed up Brexit by Conservative ex-ministers

Tory former Cabinet ministers have ramped up pressure on Theresa May by presenting her with a "Brexit Blueprint" to take the country out the EU in less than two years.
The plan, which presses for a "take it or leave it" approach to Brussels, was circulated ahead of the Prime Minister making a speech on quitting the bloc at the Tory party conference on Sunday.
Iain Duncan Smith
Image Caption:Iain Duncan Smith is among the former ministers backing a swift EU divorce
Mrs May has previously said she would not rush to show "rapid progress" in Brexit negotiations, insisting the process should be "sober and considered".
She has already stated that Article 50, the formal mechanism for Britain leaving the EU, will not be triggered this year.
However, the so-called Route Map for Brexit, proposed by ex-ministers Iain Duncan Smith, John Redwood, Owen Paterson and Peter Lilley, presses for a swift divorce.
The blueprint, published by the Centre for Social Justice and the Legatum Institute think-tanks, calls for an immediate new law to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, which gave legal force to the country's membership of the then European Economic Community.
The Bill would convert EU law into British law to help ensure a smooth Brexit and minimise disruption to business.
The blueprint document stated: "Subsequently, it would be open to this government and its successors to scrap aspects of EU law not considered in the UK's interests."
It argued Britain could complete its withdrawal from the EU well within the two-year deadline set out in Article 50.
The plan also said Britain could either continue tariff-free trade with the EU after Brexit, but without accepting free movement of EU citizens, or trade freely under the "relatively light" World Trade Organisation standard tariffs. 
It proposes a work permit and cap system to control the number of EU migrants coming to the UK.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Redwood said: "We have offered a pretty comprehensive route map based on the plans we launched before the referendum to say, 'let's get it over with'."
He added: "I don't think you do need to negotiate very much for this at all, because you can't negotiate taking back control.
"You can't negotiate the result of the referendum.
"We voted to leave.
"It was very simple. That was what it said on the ballot paper.
"That was our decision, so now we need to do it."
The only thing that needed to be negotiated were trade relationships, Mr Redwood said.
But Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said: "There is a huge impetus on both sides to come up with a good deal and I think coming up with the best deal is better than rushing into a deal that might then be second best."
He added: "What we want to have is trade flowing as freely as possible, but also clearly one of the most important things that was said during the referendum campaign was that people want control over immigration.
"So there are clearly big negotiations in both those areas to be had and I don't think it is very sensible for anyone entering any negotiation to announce what their detailed position is before the negotiations start.
"That's normally not the best way to get the best deal."

Friday, September 30, 2016

Ex-beauty queen hits back after Trump attack

A former Miss Universe winner has said she will not be "bullied" or "silenced" after Donald Trump claimed she appeared in a sex tape.

Ms Machado is the focus of a high-profile row after Mr Trump's rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton, mentioned her on this week's TV debate.

The Democratic candidate cited disparaging remarks Mr Trump had made about Ms Machado as examples of his disrespect for women.

Mrs Clinton also aired a campaign advert following the 90-minute contest using Ms Machado's experience to highlight Mr Trump's struggle to appeal to female voters.

Shimon Peres funeral brings Abbas and Netanyahu together

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a handshake and a brief exchange of words at the funeral of Shimon Peres.
The sombre ceremony for the former president and prime minister of Israel was attended by world leaders and dignitaries from 70 countries.
Mr Abbas, who had taken part in peace negotiations with Mr Peres, was sat in the front row for the ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Nobel winner Shimon Peres
Image Caption:Shimon Peres: 1923-2016
Barack Obama, Prince Charles and Bill Clinton were also at Israel's national cemetery.
In Mr Obama's eulogy to Mr Peres said Mr Abbas's presence was "a reminder of the unfinished business of peace".  
"Shimon never saw his dream of peace fulfilled. And yet he did not stop dreaming, and he did not stop working," he added.
"It is that faith, that optimism, that belief, even when all the evidence is to the contrary, that tomorrow can be better, that makes us not just honour Shimon Peres, but love him. The last of the founding generation is now gone.
"Toda rabah haver yakar," he added - Hebrew for "Thank you so much dear friend".
The Nobel Peace laureate considered one of the founding fathers of Israel and his rich political career spanned seven decades.
Mr Netanyahu, who was a political rival to Peres, recalled a late-night discussion on Israel's future with Mr Peres discussing security and peace.
"Be at peace, Shimon, dear man, exceptional leader," he said.
"He was a great man of Israel. He was a great man of the world. Israel grieves for him. The world grieves for him," he said
Friday's ceremony was Israel's largest gathering of international dignitaries since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995.
Mr Peres' children described the personal side of their father, with his daughter Tzvia Walden reflecting on his "forbearance and infinite patience".
She said: "He measured long and short on a timeline of two thousand years of history when weighing the state of the nation, but in nanoseconds when waiting for a text to be printed.
"He was ready with his new corrections even before the ink was dry. A day after lending me a book, he was astonished to learn that I had not yet finished reading it."
Born in Poland in 1923, Mr Peres emigrated to what was then British mandatory Palestine when he was 11.
He held nearly every major office in Israel - serving twice as prime minister (1984-1986 and 1995-1996) and also as president (2007-2014).
He died at the age of 93, two weeks after suffering a stroke.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.


Shimon Peres funeral brings Abbas and Netanyahu together

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a handshake and a brief exchange of words at the funeral of Shimon Peres.
The sombre ceremony for the former president and prime minister of Israel was attended by world leaders and dignitaries from 70 countries.
Mr Abbas, who had taken part in peace negotiations with Mr Peres, was sat in the front row for the ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Nobel winner Shimon Peres
Image Caption:Shimon Peres: 1923-2016
Barack Obama, Prince Charles and Bill Clinton were also at Israel's national cemetery.
In Mr Obama's eulogy to Mr Peres said Mr Abbas's presence was "a reminder of the unfinished business of peace".  
"Shimon never saw his dream of peace fulfilled. And yet he did not stop dreaming, and he did not stop working," he added.
"It is that faith, that optimism, that belief, even when all the evidence is to the contrary, that tomorrow can be better, that makes us not just honour Shimon Peres, but love him. The last of the founding generation is now gone.
"Toda rabah haver yakar," he added - Hebrew for "Thank you so much dear friend".
The Nobel Peace laureate considered one of the founding fathers of Israel and his rich political career spanned seven decades.
Mr Netanyahu, who was a political rival to Peres, recalled a late-night discussion on Israel's future with Mr Peres discussing security and peace.
"Be at peace, Shimon, dear man, exceptional leader," he said.
"He was a great man of Israel. He was a great man of the world. Israel grieves for him. The world grieves for him," he said
Friday's ceremony was Israel's largest gathering of international dignitaries since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995.
Mr Peres' children described the personal side of their father, with his daughter Tzvia Walden reflecting on his "forbearance and infinite patience".
She said: "He measured long and short on a timeline of two thousand years of history when weighing the state of the nation, but in nanoseconds when waiting for a text to be printed.
"He was ready with his new corrections even before the ink was dry. A day after lending me a book, he was astonished to learn that I had not yet finished reading it."
Born in Poland in 1923, Mr Peres emigrated to what was then British mandatory Palestine when he was 11.
He held nearly every major office in Israel - serving twice as prime minister (1984-1986 and 1995-1996) and also as president (2007-2014).
He died at the age of 93, two weeks after suffering a stroke.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.


Shimon Peres funeral brings Abbas and Netanyahu together

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a handshake and a brief exchange of words at the funeral of Shimon Peres.
The sombre ceremony for the former president and prime minister of Israel was attended by world leaders and dignitaries from 70 countries.
Mr Abbas, who had taken part in peace negotiations with Mr Peres, was sat in the front row for the ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Nobel winner Shimon Peres
Image Caption:Shimon Peres: 1923-2016
Barack Obama, Prince Charles and Bill Clinton were also at Israel's national cemetery.
In Mr Obama's eulogy to Mr Peres said Mr Abbas's presence was "a reminder of the unfinished business of peace".  
"Shimon never saw his dream of peace fulfilled. And yet he did not stop dreaming, and he did not stop working," he added.
"It is that faith, that optimism, that belief, even when all the evidence is to the contrary, that tomorrow can be better, that makes us not just honour Shimon Peres, but love him. The last of the founding generation is now gone.
"Toda rabah haver yakar," he added - Hebrew for "Thank you so much dear friend".
The Nobel Peace laureate considered one of the founding fathers of Israel and his rich political career spanned seven decades.
Mr Netanyahu, who was a political rival to Peres, recalled a late-night discussion on Israel's future with Mr Peres discussing security and peace.
"Be at peace, Shimon, dear man, exceptional leader," he said.
"He was a great man of Israel. He was a great man of the world. Israel grieves for him. The world grieves for him," he said
Friday's ceremony was Israel's largest gathering of international dignitaries since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995.
Mr Peres' children described the personal side of their father, with his daughter Tzvia Walden reflecting on his "forbearance and infinite patience".
She said: "He measured long and short on a timeline of two thousand years of history when weighing the state of the nation, but in nanoseconds when waiting for a text to be printed.
"He was ready with his new corrections even before the ink was dry. A day after lending me a book, he was astonished to learn that I had not yet finished reading it."
Born in Poland in 1923, Mr Peres emigrated to what was then British mandatory Palestine when he was 11.
He held nearly every major office in Israel - serving twice as prime minister (1984-1986 and 1995-1996) and also as president (2007-2014).
He died at the age of 93, two weeks after suffering a stroke.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.


Shimon Peres funeral brings Abbas and Netanyahu together

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a handshake and a brief exchange of words at the funeral of Shimon Peres.
The sombre ceremony for the former president and prime minister of Israel was attended by world leaders and dignitaries from 70 countries.
Mr Abbas, who had taken part in peace negotiations with Mr Peres, was sat in the front row for the ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Nobel winner Shimon Peres
Image Caption:Shimon Peres: 1923-2016
Barack Obama, Prince Charles and Bill Clinton were also at Israel's national cemetery.
In Mr Obama's eulogy to Mr Peres said Mr Abbas's presence was "a reminder of the unfinished business of peace".  
"Shimon never saw his dream of peace fulfilled. And yet he did not stop dreaming, and he did not stop working," he added.
"It is that faith, that optimism, that belief, even when all the evidence is to the contrary, that tomorrow can be better, that makes us not just honour Shimon Peres, but love him. The last of the founding generation is now gone.
"Toda rabah haver yakar," he added - Hebrew for "Thank you so much dear friend".
The Nobel Peace laureate considered one of the founding fathers of Israel and his rich political career spanned seven decades.
Mr Netanyahu, who was a political rival to Peres, recalled a late-night discussion on Israel's future with Mr Peres discussing security and peace.
"Be at peace, Shimon, dear man, exceptional leader," he said.
"He was a great man of Israel. He was a great man of the world. Israel grieves for him. The world grieves for him," he said
Friday's ceremony was Israel's largest gathering of international dignitaries since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995.
Mr Peres' children described the personal side of their father, with his daughter Tzvia Walden reflecting on his "forbearance and infinite patience".
She said: "He measured long and short on a timeline of two thousand years of history when weighing the state of the nation, but in nanoseconds when waiting for a text to be printed.
"He was ready with his new corrections even before the ink was dry. A day after lending me a book, he was astonished to learn that I had not yet finished reading it."
Born in Poland in 1923, Mr Peres emigrated to what was then British mandatory Palestine when he was 11.
He held nearly every major office in Israel - serving twice as prime minister (1984-1986 and 1995-1996) and also as president (2007-2014).
He died at the age of 93, two weeks after suffering a stroke.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.


Shimon Peres funeral brings Abbas and Netanyahu together

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a handshake and a brief exchange of words at the funeral of Shimon Peres.
The sombre ceremony for the former president and prime minister of Israel was attended by world leaders and dignitaries from 70 countries.
Mr Abbas, who had taken part in peace negotiations with Mr Peres, was sat in the front row for the ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Nobel winner Shimon Peres
Image Caption:Shimon Peres: 1923-2016
Barack Obama, Prince Charles and Bill Clinton were also at Israel's national cemetery.
In Mr Obama's eulogy to Mr Peres said Mr Abbas's presence was "a reminder of the unfinished business of peace".  
"Shimon never saw his dream of peace fulfilled. And yet he did not stop dreaming, and he did not stop working," he added.
"It is that faith, that optimism, that belief, even when all the evidence is to the contrary, that tomorrow can be better, that makes us not just honour Shimon Peres, but love him. The last of the founding generation is now gone.
"Toda rabah haver yakar," he added - Hebrew for "Thank you so much dear friend".
The Nobel Peace laureate considered one of the founding fathers of Israel and his rich political career spanned seven decades.
Mr Netanyahu, who was a political rival to Peres, recalled a late-night discussion on Israel's future with Mr Peres discussing security and peace.
"Be at peace, Shimon, dear man, exceptional leader," he said.
"He was a great man of Israel. He was a great man of the world. Israel grieves for him. The world grieves for him," he said
Friday's ceremony was Israel's largest gathering of international dignitaries since the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by a Jewish nationalist in 1995.
Mr Peres' children described the personal side of their father, with his daughter Tzvia Walden reflecting on his "forbearance and infinite patience".
She said: "He measured long and short on a timeline of two thousand years of history when weighing the state of the nation, but in nanoseconds when waiting for a text to be printed.
"He was ready with his new corrections even before the ink was dry. A day after lending me a book, he was astonished to learn that I had not yet finished reading it."
Born in Poland in 1923, Mr Peres emigrated to what was then British mandatory Palestine when he was 11.
He held nearly every major office in Israel - serving twice as prime minister (1984-1986 and 1995-1996) and also as president (2007-2014).
He died at the age of 93, two weeks after suffering a stroke.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.
Mr Peres' casket lay in state on Thursday outside the parliament building, where some 30,000 people filed past to pay their respects.