Bitesized Blighty: November 15, 2019
- The EU last night launched a legal action against Boris Johnson’s government over the UK’s failure to abide by the law and nominate a candidate for the new European Commission. Downing Street refused to put forward a British candidate to join the bloc’s 28-strong team despite knowing for weeks that the UK would stay in the EU beyond 31 October.
- Two paintings by 17th century Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn have been recovered in south London following an attempted theft at the country’s oldest public gallery, the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Flying squad detectives said the attempted theft was “audacious.” A thief escaped after spraying a policeman with a “noxious substance.”
- A plane has made a direct flight from London to Sydney for only the second time ever. The Qantas-operated Boeing 787 Dreamliner made the journey in 19 hours and 19 minutes with just 40 people on board. If the test flight had carried the usual 300 passengers, it would have been forced to stop to refuel. The airline is aiming to launch a regular commercial direct service in 2023.
