Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 20 augusT 2019

UK PM Boris Johnson faces rising Brexit strategy criticism

By DANICA KIRKA in a speech in Northamp-
ANGELA CHARLTON tonshire. The public vote
Associated Press would include options on
LONDON (AP) — British both sides of the question,
Prime Minister Boris Johnson including the possibility of
is facing rising criticism of remaining in the EU.
his Brexit strategy at home “If MPs are serious about
as he increases pressure on stopping a no-deal crash
the European Union to re- out, then they will vote
open negotiations ahead down this reckless govern-
of key meetings with his ment,” Corbyn said. “And
French and German coun- it falls to the leader of the
terparts later this week. opposition to make sure
The prime minister’s office no-deal does not happen
said Monday that the right and the people decide
of EU citizens to work in their own future.”
the U.K. without restrictions Johnson and Corbyn are
would end on Nov. 1 if Brit- fighting for support in an in-
ain leaves the bloc without creasingly fractious country
a Brexit deal. where Brexit cuts across tra-
British government officials ditional party lines.
also rejected demands by After a 2016 referendum in
lawmakers for Johnson to Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with staff during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital which the public voted to
recall Parliament from its in Truro, south-west England, Monday Aug. 19, 2019. leave the EU, May spent
summer recess so that law- Associated Press more than two years ne-
makers can scrutinize the showing a little bit of re- his Brexit strategy. Caroline election as party leader. gotiating a Brexit divorce
prime minister’s Brexit strat- luctance at the moment Lucas, the Green Party’s Johnson became prime agreement with the bloc.
egy. to change their position,” only member of Parliament, minister after the Conser- It was repeatedly rejected
The developments came a Johnson told Sky News on said lawmakers should re- vative Party selected him by Parliament, primarily be-
day after a leaked report Monday. “That’s fine - I’m turn to Westminster be- as its leader. He replaced cause of concerns about
showed that the British gov- confident that they will - cause of the “impending Theresa May, who stepped keeping an open border
ernment is preparing for but in the meantime we national emergency” the down after Parliament between Northern Ireland
widespread shortages of have to get ready for a no- country is facing. three times rejected the and the Republic of Ire-
food, fuel and medicines deal outcome.” “MPs should be in Parlia- Brexit deal she had negoti- land.
in the event of a no-deal Johnson plans to meet with ment holding an increas- ated with the EU. Johnson wants to remove
Brexit. Since taking office German Chancellor Ange- ingly reckless prime minister Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Brexit agreement’s so-
last month, Johnson has la Merkel on Wednesday to account,” Lucas told the the opposition Labour Par- called backstop clause, an
pledged Britain will leave in Berlin and French Presi- BBC. “He’s putting his foot ty, vowed Monday to do insurance policy that could
the EU on Oct. 31 with or dent Emmanuel Macron on the accelerator, driv- “everything necessary” to force Britain to remain part
without a deal, saying the on Thursday in Paris, before ing the country off the cliff prevent the U.K. from leav- of the European customs
only way to force Europe- traveling to a summit of G-7 edge as if he had a huge ing the EU without a deal. union indefinitely to pre-
an officials to negotiate is leaders this weekend in Bi- mandate and overwhelm- This includes calling a no- vent the reintroduction of
to make sure that leaving arritz, France. ing support. Well, he has no confidence vote in John- checks along the Irish bor-
without an agreement is a Meanwhile, more than mandate for this.” son’s government and, if it der.
real possibility. 100 British lawmakers have Johnson’s government has succeeds, fighting the gen- Macron and other EU lead-
“Now, of course, our friends signed a letter asking John- a one-seat majority in the eral election with a pledge ers insist the bloc should
and partners on the other son to recall Parliament be- House of Commons and to hold a second public not renegotiate the hard-
side of the Channel are cause of concerns about he hasn’t faced a national vote on Brexit, Corbyn said fought Brexit agreement.q

Danish PM: Trump’s idea of buying Greenland is ‘absurd’

By JAN M. OLSEN commercial gain, “is be- far from ideal, due to the
Associated Press coming increasingly im- long winter with frozen
COPENHAGEN, Denmark portant to the entire world ports, 24-hour darkness
(AP) — Greenland is not for community.” and temperatures regularly
sale and U.S. President Don- Retreating ice could un- dropping below minus 20
ald Trump’s idea of buying cover potential oil and Fahrenheit (minus 30 Cel-
the semi-autonomous Dan- mineral resources in Green- sius) in the northern parts.
ish territory in the Arctic land which, if successfully Trump is expected to visit
from Denmark is “an ab- tapped, could dramatical- Denmark Sept. 2-3 as part
surd discussion,” Denmark’s ly change the island’s for- of his trip to Europe.
prime minister said. tunes. However, no oil has Trump said Sunday that he
Mette Frederiksen, who yet been found in Green- is interested in the idea, but
was visiting the world’s larg- landic waters and 80% of it’s not a priority of his ad-
est island to meet Premier the island is covered by an ministration.
Kim Kielsen, told reporters: ice sheet that is up to 3 ki- “Strategically it’s interesting
“Greenland is not Danish. In this photo taken late Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, homes are lometers (1.9 miles) thick, and we’d be interested,
Greenland is Greenlandic. illuminated after the sunset in Tasiilaq, Greenland. which means exploration is but we’ll talk to them a lit-
I persistently hope that this Associated Press only possible in coastal re- tle bit. It’s not No. 1 on the
is not something that is seri- Frederiksen said Sunday sources that Russia and gions. burner, I can tell you that,”
ously meant.” that the Arctic, with re- others could exploit for Even there, conditions are the president said.q