minister
New deputy minister’s youth, racy photos fire up criticism
When Anastasia Deeva, 24, was appointed deputy interior minister on Nov. 10, the Ukrainian press and social media users questioned the appointment because of Deeva’s age. News stories and social media posts criticized Interior Minister Arsen Avakov for appointing the 24-year-old woman to a high post, questioning both her...
Merkel to push ahead with EU army following Brexit vote, says German defence minister
ANGELA Merkel could press ahead with plans to create an EU army following Britain's decision to leave the EU, according to the German defence minister. Ursula von der Leyen, who has been tipped to take over Merkel as Chancellor, said Britain had "paralysed" European efforts for closer integration in military...
THE EXECUTIONER OF EUROPE: Greece blasts German finance minister over secret Brexit plan
GERMAN finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble has been mocked as the 'Mad Executioner of Europe' after Britain's vote to Leave the EU. His hardline approach to the Athens financial crisis a year ago turned him into a real figure of hate in Greece. And now Greek newspaper Demokratia has poured scorn on him once...
Outrage after French minister claims Brexit would give Britain ‘significance of Guernsey’
BRITAIN would become an isolated trading post with the "significance of Guernsey" if it left the European Union, according to a French minister. Emmanuel Macron, the economy minister for France, claimed a vote for Brexit would isolate the UK from its trading partners on Europe's borders. But his comments —...
Minister claims £250MILLION sum given to Nigeria in aid each year is ‘absolutely tiny’
A MINISTER has claimed giving hundreds of millions of pounds to Nigeria every year in aid is an “absolutely tiny” amount. Junior aid minister Nick Hurd told MPs the £250million-a-year fee given to the so-called “corrupt” African state was a drop in the ocean because its economy is so large. He...
Former Cabinet minister brands Cameron ‘PINOCCHIO’ & MOCKS PM over TV referendum grilling
DAVID Cameron has been branded a “Pinocchio” by Iain Duncan Smith after the Prime Minister claimed he would want to join the EU under Britain’s renegotiated terms. The former work and pensions secretary said it was “telling” that Cameron had failed to provide a timetable for meeting his ambition to...
Second minister in new Brazil government quits
The anti-corruption minister in Brazil's interim government has resigned, after a recording suggested he tried to derail an investigation into the state oil company, Petrobras. Fabiano Silveira is the second interim minister to step down, a week after the planning minister resigned following the release of a similar...
Brazil leaked tape forces minister Romero Juca out
A close ally of Brazil's acting President Michel Temer is stepping aside in a new political scandal. Planning Minister Romero Juca was caught on tape allegedly conspiring to obstruct the country's biggest-ever corruption investigation. In the tapes, leaked by a newspaper, he appears to talk of stopping the probe at oil...
How Australia stood up to minister’s ‘illiterate migrants’ comments
When Australia's immigration minister spoke out about the level of literacy and numeracy among migrants late on Tuesday, he was addressing what has become one of the hot potatoes of this election season. With the build-up to the 2 July vote now in full swing, Peter Dutton responded to proposals by the opposition Labor party...
Saudi Arabia government overhaul sees oil minister removed
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has removed the country's veteran oil minister as part of a broad government overhaul. Ali al-Naimi has been replaced after more than 20 years in the role by former health minister Khaled al-Falih. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, unveiled major economic reforms in April,...
Minister attacks Brussels bureaucrats desperate to to ‘create country called Europe’
THE European Union is a political project to create a “country called Europe”, according to a top minister. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers launched the scathing attack during a Vote Leave campaign event in Glasgow yesterday. The former Tory MEP branded Brussels as “unreformable” and the UK...
Cologne attackers were of migrant origin — minister
The men suspected of attacking women in Cologne on New Year's Eve were "almost exclusively" from a migration background, mainly North African and Arab, an official report says. Cologne police also made "serious mistakes" in not calling reinforcements and the way they informed the public. More than 500...