Britain ‘will remain in the EU’, says Austrian finance minister

Britain will not quit the European Union despite voting to do so in a June 23 referendum, Austria’s finance minister Hans Joerg Schelling said in an interview published on Tuesday.

“In five years there will still be 28 member states,” Schelling told German business daily Handelsblatt.

European leaders were discussing “all possibilities” — from Britain remaining in the EU to sealing “a free trade agreement on the Swiss or Norwegian model”, the former businessman said.

Schelling said that the United Kingdom could break up, with Scotland and Northern Ireland — where the majority of the electorate voted to stay — remaining members of the EU while pro-Brexit England goes its own way.

In the historic vote, 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the EU and 48 percent voted to remain.

The country has since been plunged into political turmoil.

(c)Punch

Nigerian Army yesterday foiled an attempt by three female suicide bombers to attack Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Monguno, Borno State. Two of the suicide bombers were killed while the third blew herself up when pursued by soldiers. Gallant Nigerian soldiers Gallant Nigerian soldiers This came as the Army said four Boko Haram terrorists were killed in Kukawa, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. A statement from Army headquarters said, “Today (Monday), at about 6.15am, three female Boko Haram terrorists suicide bombers attempted to attack innocent Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, fetching water at a borehole located about 3 kilometres, outskirt of Monguno town along Marte road. Our vigilant troops detected and gunned them down, killing both instantly. Unfortunately, the explosive they were strapped with exploded and injured two civilians nearby. “The injured persons have been evacuated and are receiving medical attention at the 8 Task Force Division’s medical facility. However, the third suicide bomber that followed a different route, detonated some distance before troops deployment along the same road at about 7.10am. Troops have cordoned off the general area and imposed restriction of movement into Monguno while they the general area and make it safe.” Similarly, the Army said aside the killing of four Boko Haram terrorists in Kukawa, 1, 440 litres of PMS and arms were recovered from the terrorists after a gun battle. The Army, in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman said, troops of 118 Task Force Battalion, 8 Task Force Division ambushed some elements of Boko Haram terrorists along Gerere Junction, Kukawa Local council on the northern part of Borno State.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/army-foils-female-bombers-attack-borno-idps-camp/