Singapore charges individuals, firms over breaches of North Korea luxury goods sanctions
Singapore police on Thursday charged a citizen, a North Korean and three companies with supplying prohibited luxury items to North Korea, the latest example of sanctions breaches in the wealthy Asian city-state.
As tensions mount, Mattis seeks more resilient U.S. ties with China’s military
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis held high-profile talks with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday, as the United States seeks to forge to more resilient military ties that can withstand mounting pressure between the world’s two largest economies.
Too early to know cost of Brexit transition extension: minister
Britain’s Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said it was too early to estimate the cost of extending a Brexit transition period after the government indicated it would consider asking for one to break a deadlock in talks with the EU.
Luxembourg’s Bettel says on March 29, it’s ‘game over’ on Brexit
Talks on Brexit cannot extend beyond March 2019 when Britain will be out of the bloc whether or not a deal on its withdrawal is found by both sides, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said on Thursday at a summit of EU leaders.
Belgian PM says the ball in UK’s court on Brexit
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Thursday that it was for London to make the next move in talks over Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.
France open to extending Brexit transition period: finance minister
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Thursday left the door open for France to support the European Union negotiator’s offer of a one-year extension to Britain’s post-Brexit transition period.
UK’s May open to the idea of extending Brexit transition by a few months: BBC reporter
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May is open to the idea of extending the transition period “for a few months”, BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said on Twitter.
French finance minister to shun Saudi conference over missing journalist
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire added his name to a growing list of government ministers and prominent business executives cancelling their attendance at a Saudi Arabia investment conference over the fate of a Saudi journalist.
U.S. opposed to Koreas’ plan for no-fly zone over border: sources
The United States opposes a plan by South and North Korea to set up a no-fly zone over their heavily fortified border, the latest sign of a rift between Seoul and its top ally, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Turkish investigators search Saudi consulate premises again
Turkish investigators searched the Saudi consulate in Istanbul overnight as part of a probe into Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not want to abandon his Saudi ally over the missing journalist.
