By Charlotte GreenfieldWELLINGTON (Reuters) - Thousands of people held candlelight vigils in New Zealand on Wednesday to mourn a 22-year-old British woman who was killed while she was on a backpacking tour, as the national outpouring of grief focused attention on violence against women. gi Events were held in towns and cities across the country to mourn Grace Millane and other female victims of violence, four days after a man was charged with her murder. Auckland's iconic Sky Tower was bathed in white light to commemorate the backpacker, who went missing in New Zealand's largest city on Dec. 1 while on a world tour after finishing university.In the capital Wellington, the city's mayor and New Zealand's justice minister joined about 500 people who lit candles, sang and prayed in the indigenous Te Reo Maori language. They demanded action on gender-related violence."I've been Grace. I've been around the world, I've gone on dates...it really shook me," said Katie Brown, who attended the … [Read more...] about New Zealand holds candlelight vigils for murdered British backpacker
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Brexit could be poised to topple a 2nd British prime minister
LONDON -- Conservative lawmakers in Britain will hold a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday that could see her removed as the leader of her party, and the British government. The announcement throws Britain's already rocky path out of the European Union, which it is due to leave in March, into further chaos. If May loses the vote, with at least 148 members of her party casting a vote of no-confidence, she will be the second Conservative prime minister toppled by the tumultuous Brexit process. The first one, David Cameron, resigned after calling the public referendum that led to Britain's decision to pull out of the EU in the first place. Graham Brady, who heads a committee overseeing Conservative leadership contests, said he had received letters from at least 48 lawmakers asking for a vote on Prime Minister May's leadership. As a result, he said, "the threshold of 15 percent of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence in the leader of the … [Read more...] about Brexit could be poised to topple a 2nd British prime minister
Will the British Government Collapse? Prime Minister Forced Into Leadership Challenge by Party Civil War
World British Prime Minister Theresa May will face a leadership challenge from within her own party after dozens of Conservative MPs submitted letters of no confidence in the embattled leader, according to the BBC. Rumors of an internal party coup have been swirling for weeks as May has struggled to sell her contentious Brexit deal to Parliament and the country. Her deal was due to be voted on by Parliament Tuesday, but May cancelled the vote after it became clear the blueprint would be voted down. For an internal no confidence vote to be formally triggered, at least 48 Conservative Party MPs needed to submit letters of no confidence in the prime minister to Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee—the parliamentary group of the Conservatives. In a letter sent out Wednesday morning, Brady confirmed the threshold had been reached. The no confidence vote will thus be held between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time Wednesday. The is a developing story and will be updated as more … [Read more...] about Will the British Government Collapse? Prime Minister Forced Into Leadership Challenge by Party Civil War
Hundreds in New Zealand hold vigil for slain British tourist
Updated 11:40 pm PST, Tuesday, December 11, 2018 People lay flowers and light candles during a candlelight vigil for murdered British tourist Grace Millane at Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. People lay flowers and light candles during a candlelight vigil for murdered British tourist Grace Millane at Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Photo: Mark Baker, AP Photo: Mark Baker, AP Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Image 1 of 9 People lay flowers and light candles during a candlelight vigil for murdered British tourist Grace Millane at Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. People lay flowers and light candles during a candlelight vigil for murdered British tourist Grace … [Read more...] about Hundreds in New Zealand hold vigil for slain British tourist
Grace Millane murder: Family of British backpacker say their ‘whole world turned upside down’
The family of a murdered British backpacker have said their "whole world turned upside down" after the 22-year-old's death. Grace Millane's body has been formally identified and returned to her family, police in New Zealand said.The University of Lincoln graduate from Essex went missing from a hostel in Auckland on 1 December and her body was found in the Waitakere Ranges on Sunday.In a statement issued through police, her father David Millane and family said: "Grace went off to travel the world in mid-October and arrived in New Zealand on the 20th November."By the amount of pictures and messages we received, she clearly loved this country, its people and the lifestyle."After the disappearance of Grace on 1st December 2018 our whole world turned upside down."We all hope that what has happened to Grace will not deter even one person from venturing out into the world and discovering their own OE (overseas experience)."We would like to thank the people of New Zealand for their outpouring … [Read more...] about Grace Millane murder: Family of British backpacker say their ‘whole world turned upside down’