UK spells out Brexit transition demands as pressure mounts on PM May
TEESPORT, England (Reuters) – Britain wants to benefit from European Union trade deals and have a say over EU laws passed during its transition out of the bloc, Brexit minister David Davis said on Friday, seeking to defuse tension between senior minist…
Congo’s Kabila denies violence against protesters, silent on election date
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Friday rejected charges that his forces had violently broken up pro-democracy protests, stirred by his refusal to step down at the end of his mandate.
Freed Canadian hostage, facing assault charges, to get psychiatric assessment
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Former Taliban hostage Joshua Boyle, who faces a number of criminal charges including assault, sexual assault and forcible confinement, will spend up to 60 days in a psychiatric facility for evaluation, a court said on Friday.
EU and UK negotiators eye accelerated Brexit transition talks
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – British Brexit negotiators are expected to launch fortnightly rounds of talks in Brussels from as early as next week with the aim of agreeing a swift deal on a transition period, EU diplomats said on Friday.
U.S. hits Russian deputy minister and energy firms with sanctions
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States added Russian officials and energy firms to a sanctions blacklist on Friday, days before details of further possible penalties against Moscow are due to be released.
In rare press appearance, Congo’s Kabila denies repression
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Friday rejected charges that his forces had violently broken up pro-democracy protests, using his first press conference in six years to accuse demonstrators of attacking police and arson.
UK’s Davis confident of political agreement over Brexit implementation by March
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Brexit minister David Davis said he was confident a political agreement could be reached at a European Union council meeting in March to secure a time-limited implementation period after the country leaves the bloc in March…
Italy’s 5-Star says would respect EU’s 3 percent deficit limit
ROME (Reuters) – The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement said on Friday that if it wins power at Italy’s March 4 election it will respect the European Union’s budget deficit limit of 3 percent of gross domestic product, reversing an earlier stance.
Trump warns Davos on unfair trade, says U.S. ‘open for business’
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump took his “America First” message to the world’s elite on Friday, telling a summit of business and political leaders that the United States would “no longer turn a blind eye” to what he describe…
Parties aim to wrap up German coalition talks by next weekend
BERLIN (Reuters) – Negotiators thrashing out a new coalition deal between Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) aim to wrap up talks by next weekend, in a sign Germany’s months-long political limbo could be nearing an …
