LONDON , United Kingdom (AFP) — Prime Minister David Cameron announced Friday he will resign after Britons voted to leave the European Union despite his campaign to keep it in the bloc. Cameron promised to try to “steady the ship” over the next months and did not give a precise timetable for his departure but said a new leader should be installed by early October. “I do not think it would be right for me […]
Europe
Marine Le Pen hails Brexit, calls for French referendum
PARIS, France (AFP) — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Friday hailed Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and called for a similar referendum in France. “Victory for Freedom! As I have been asking for years we must now have the same referendum in France and EU countries,” the National Front (FN) leader tweeted. The eurosceptic, anti-immigration FN has accused the EU of suffering a “democratic deficit” and has long urged all members […]
Winners and losers from Britain’s EU vote
by Alice RITCHIE LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Here are the winners and losers from Britain’s EU membership referendum, after the country voted to leave the 28-member alliance, according to national media forecasts Friday: Losers – DAVID CAMERON There was widespread agreement among experts before the referendum that the prime minister, who put his integrity on the line for a “Remain” vote, could not survive losing. He promised to call the vote in 2013 on […]
Armed man killed by police after storming German cinema
FRANCFORT, Germany (AFP) — A masked and armed man barricaded himself in a German multiplex cinema with dozens of people inside Thursday before being killed by police, officials said. No hostages were injured in the complex in the western town of Viernheim, 75 kilometres (50 miles) south of Frankfurt, Hesse state interior minister Peter Beuth said. “The assailant moved through the cinema complex, according to the information we have now, and appeared confused,” he said. […]
Trump breezes in as Britain learns of Brexit result
by Naomi O’LEARY TUMBERRY, United Kingdom (AFP) — Donald Trump arrives in Scotland on Friday for his first international trip since becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, touching down just as Britain hears whether it will leave the EU. Trump may be in for a chilly reception as he flies in for the ceremonial re-opening of his refurbished Trump Turnberry golf course on the picturesque southwest coast, where coach-loads of protesters plan to greet him. […]
Leave camp leads in early UK referendum count
(REUTERS) Early results from Britain’s bitterly contested referendum showed a lead on Friday for supporters of leaving the European Union, contradicting opinion polls and prompting wild swings in the value of the pound. With results in from the first 13 of 382 voting districts, those in favor of ending Britain’s 43-year membership were on 52.4 percent of the vote, while those wanting to stay were on 47.6 percent. But it was too early to […]
Gunman killed by police after storming German cinema
by Benoit TOUSSAINT VERHEIM, Germany (AFP) — A masked gunman barricaded himself in a German multiplex cinema with dozens of people Thursday before being killed by police on high security alert following a string of attacks around Europe, officials said. No-one else was injured at the complex in the western town of Viernheim, 75 kilometres (50 miles) south of Frankfurt, the interior minister of Hesse state, Peter Beuth, said. “The assailant moved through the cinema complex… […]
Early support for Brexit sends pound plunging
by Robin MILLARD LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Early results from Britain’s knife-edge referendum showed unexpectedly strong support for leaving the European Union on Friday, sending the pound plummeting as investors feared a historic blow against the 28-nation alliance. Just minutes earlier, global financial markets had been surging after two opinion polls gave them hope that Britons would choose to stay in bloc, born out of a determination to forge lasting peace after two world […]
Britain’s EU referendum
>> British voters will shape the future of the UK and Europe on Thursday 23 June when they decide whether to stay in the European Union. >> The ‘Vote Remain’ movement is led by PM David Cameron, who promised the referendum in 2013 under pressure from euroskeptic lawmakers in his own party. >> The ‘Vote Leave’ movement is backed by ex-mayor of London Boris Johnson and UKIP leader Nigel Farage. >> Investors, chief executives and […]
Factbox: How will Britain’s EU referendum vote count work on the night?
(REUTERS) Britain holds a referendum on whether to stay in the European Union on Thursday. Reuters will offer live coverage of the results throughout the night and carry UK Press Association results from each of the 382 counting areas. Following are details of how the ballot count will work on the night. All times in GMT, an hour before local UK time. WHEN WILL RESULTS COME? Votes will be counted by hand, starting as […]
PM David Cameron votes in British EU referendum
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prime Minister David Cameron cast his vote Thursday in Britain’s referendum on whether to remain in the European Union. Cameron, who has led the “Remain” campaign, went to a polling station in central London with wife Samantha to fill in his ballot, an AFP photographer at the scene saw. © 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse
Britain votes in historic referendum on EU
by Katherine HADDON LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Millions of Britons began voting Thursday in a bitterly-fought, knife-edge referendum that could tear up the island nation’s EU membership and spark the greatest emergency of the bloc’s 60-year history. A record 46.5 million voters were registered to decide Britain’s future in the 28-nation European Union, which was born out of a determination to unite in lasting peace after the carnage of two world wars. Across much […]