UK plans rehearsals for no-deal Brexit amid fears of road, port chaos
Britain will begin rehearsals for the possible chaos of a no-deal Brexit on Monday by testing how the road network copes with a tailback of around 150 lorries caused by disruption at its most important trading gateway to continental Europe.
Juncker had ‘friendly’ Brexit call with May, to talk again next week
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had a “friendly” telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Theresa May on her Brexit plans, a spokeswoman for the EU executive said on Friday.
Hamburg working with Irish authorities to stop spread of German data
The German city-state of Hamburg on Friday said it was working with Irish data protection authorities to stop the spread of German politicians’ data via the social media platform Twitter .
Brazil’s Bolsonaro signals weaker pension reform
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday called for minimum retirement ages significantly lower than those proposed by his predecessor, sparking concerns among investors that he will back watered down pension reform legislation.
U.N. calls for probe into Bangladesh elections
The United Nations on Friday called for an independent and impartial investigation into the Dec. 30 election in Bangladesh in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won a third straight term amid accusations of violence and voting irregularities.
Ireland intensifying preparations for a no-deal Brexit: PM
The Irish government is intensifying preparations for the possibility that Britain crashes out of the European Union without an exit deal even though it expects agreement in the coming weeks, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday.
Amid U.S. withdrawal plans, U.S.-backed forces still fighting in Syria
U.S.-backed forces are still retaking territory from Islamic State in Syria, U.S. officials said on Friday, even as President Donald Trump’s administration plans for the withdrawal of American troops from the country on the grounds the militant group h…
Palestine TV offices in Gaza ransacked, equipment destroyed
The Gaza offices of President Mahmoud Abbas’s official Palestine Television station were attacked and ransacked on Friday, adding to tensions between his Palestinian Authority and the Islamist Hamas movement which rules the territory.
Congo’s internet shutdown after election could cause violent backlash: U.N.
The United Nations’ human rights office warned on Friday that Democratic Republic of Congo’s decision to cut internet access and block some media outlets after the Dec. 30 elections may cause a violent backlash when results are announced.
Seven died in Monday’s militant attack in Burkina and 39 killed in reprisals: government
Seven people died in a militant attack on a village in central Burkina Faso on Monday and 39 died in reprisal attacks, a government spokesman said on Friday.
