BRUSSELS — Friday will mark a truly historic moment, but almost nothing will happen. A few Union Jack flags will be lowered from European Union buildings in Brussels, more will be waved in jubilation by Brexiteers in London at the moment of Britain's departure — at 11 p.m. in the...
Iraq President Rejects Iran-Backed Bloc's Nominee as PM
BAGHDAD — Iraq's president refused Thursday to designate the Iran-backed parliamentary bloc's nominee for prime minister after he was rejected by anti-government protesters, saying he was prepared to submit his resignation to Parliament. Barham Saleh said in a statement issued by his office that he would not name the governor...
Israeli Parliament Starts Dissolving Itself for 3rd Election
JERUSALEM — The Israeli parliament began voting to dissolve itself on Wednesday and pave the path to an unprecedented third election within a year. The preliminary vote passed without objections. Barring a nearly unfathomable about-face, three more measures are expected to pass and call a new election for March 2,...
EU Grants Brexit Delay to Jan. 31; UK Ponders New Election
LONDON — The European Union agreed Monday to delay Brexit by three months until Jan. 31, acting to avert a chaotic U.K. departure just three days before Britain was due to become the first country ever to leave the 28-nation bloc. The decision was welcomed by politicians in the U.K....
EU Envoys Agree That Brexit Extension Is Needed, No Date Set
LONDON — Less than a week before Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union, ambassadors from the bloc's 27 other nations agreed Friday to grant the U.K.'s request for another extension to the Brexit deadline — but they did not settle on how long that delay should be. As...
UK's Johnson Seeks Dec 12 Election to Break Brexit Impasse
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that the only way to break Britain's Brexit impasse is a general election, and he will ask Parliament to approve a national poll for Dec. 12. Johnson said he would ask lawmakers to vote Monday on a motion calling for an early...
Canada's Trudeau Wins 2nd Term but Nation More Divided
TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won a second term in a stronger-than-expected showing in Canada's national elections, claiming a "clear mandate" Tuesday despite a Parliament and nation increasingly fractured along regional lines. Trudeau's Liberal Party took the most seats in Parliament but lost its majority in Monday's balloting. That...
Israel's Netanyahu Gives up on Forming New Coalition
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that he had failed to form a majority government in parliament, marking a major setback for the embattled Israeli leader that plunges the country into a new period of political uncertainty. In a statement, Netanyahu said he had worked "tirelessly" to establish...
Saturday Drama: Brexit Battle to be Decided in UK Parliament
LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has lost every important vote in Parliament since taking office, faces a titanic struggle Saturday when he puts his Brexit deal with the European Union before suspicious legislators. Johnson is gambling his political fortunes on being able to win a majority in...
UK, Irish Leaders See 'Pathway' to Brexit Deal as Hopes Wane
LONDON — The leaders of Britain and Ireland said they spotted a "pathway" to an elusive Brexit deal Thursday, as hopes for a breakthrough dimmed just three weeks before the U.K.'s deadline to leave the European Union. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Irish leader Leo Varadkar provided a status...