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The UK has been called an illegal colonial occupier after it ignored a deadline to return control of an overseas territory to Mauritius.A UN resolution this year gave the UK six months to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands - but that period has now passed.Mauritius says it was forced to trade the small archipelago in the Indian Ocean in 1965 for independence. The UK says it does not recognise Mauritius' claim to sovereignty.Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) insists it has every right to hold onto the islands - one of which, Diego Garcia, is home to a US military airbase."The UK has no doubt as to our sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), which has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814," it said in a statement."Mauritius has never held sovereignty over the BIOT and the UK does not recognise its claim."The island community feeling 'lost' in SussexThe Chagos Archipelago was separated from Mauritius in 1965, when Mauritius was still … [Read more...] about Chagos Islands dispute: UK misses deadline to return control

The UK should end its control of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean "as rapidly as possible", the UN's highest court has said.Mauritius claims it was forced to give up the islands - now a British overseas territory - in 1965 in exchange for independence, which it gained in 1968. The International Court of Justice said the islands were not lawfully separated from the former colony of Mauritius.The UK Foreign Office said: "This is an advisory opinion, not a judgment." It added it would look "carefully" at the detail of the opinion, which is not legally binding.The UK has previously said it will hand the islands back to Mauritius when they are no longer required for defence purposes.Referencing that, the Foreign Office said: "The defence facilities on the British Indian Ocean Territory help to protect people here in Britain and around the world from terrorist threats, organised crime and piracy." UK 'threats' over Indian Ocean islands UK defeated in UN vote on Chagos Islands Judge … [Read more...] about Chagos Islands dispute: UK obliged to end control – UN

The UN has passed a resolution demanding the UK return control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.In the non-binding vote in the General Assembly in New York, 116 states were in favour and only six against, a major diplomatic blow to the UK.Fifty-six states, including France and Germany, abstained.Mauritius says it was forced to give up the Indian Ocean group - now a British overseas territory - in 1965 in exchange for independence.In a statement to the BBC, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said Britain did not recognise Mauritius' claim to sovereignty, but would stand by an earlier commitment to hand over control of the islands to Mauritius when they were no longer needed for defence purposes. Mauritius country profile UK 'threats' over Indian Ocean islands UK defeated in UN vote on Chagos Islands The US, Hungary, Israel, Australia and the Maldives were the states voting with the UK against the resolution.It comes months after the UN's high court advised that the UK … [Read more...] about Chagos Islands dispute: UN backs end to UK control

The UK government has accused Russia's military intelligence service of being behind four high-profile cyber-attacks.The National Cyber Security Centre says targets included firms in Russia and Ukraine; the US Democratic Party; and a small TV network in the UK.A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman described the accusation as a "rich fantasy of our colleagues from Britain".World Anti-Doping Agency computers are also said to have been attacked.Files later emerged showing how British cyclists Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome had used banned substances for legitimate medical reasons.At the time, some of the attacks were linked to Russia - but this is the first time the UK has singled out the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service.British police think the men who carried out the Salisbury poisoning in March worked for the same group. The risks of cyber-conflict with Russia Russia accused of net hack attacks Russian spy: What happened to the Skripals? Speaking on behalf of the … [Read more...] about Russia GRU claims: UK points finger at Kremlin’s military intelligence

The number of children and pensioners in absolute poverty increased in 2017-18 as inflation and accommodation costs took a bigger chunk out of household finances, according to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions. Inequality also jumped in response to rising incomes among the richest workers and the second year of a benefit freeze that hit low-incomes households, the DWP said. Anti-poverty groups called for government action to reverse the trend, which most analysts believe has worsened since last April. They expect it to worsen further under government policies, with poverty and inequality increasing until the middle of the next decade. The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said low pay, insecure work and the benefits freeze was trapping families below the breadline. “We need to redesign the economy to make it fair again. People need more control over their working lives and a fairer share of the wealth they create,” she said. A household is … [Read more...] about Poverty increases among children and pensioners across UK