International

Thursday, January 31st 2019 - 09:30 UTC
UK car industry on “red alert”: Brexit uncertainty had done enormous damage

Investment in the UK car sector almost halved last year and output tumbled as Brexit fears put firms on “red alert”, the industry's trade body said. Inward investment fell 46.5% to £588.6m last year from £1.1bn in 2017, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says.
Thursday, January 31st 2019 - 09:28 UTC
Barclays is transferring €190bn of assets from London to Dublin

Barclays is moving €190bn (£166bn) of assets to Dublin because it “cannot wait any longer” to implement its Brexit contingency plan. The High Court, which has approved the move, says the move involves 5,000 clients. However, few jobs in London are expected to be affected.
Thursday, January 31st 2019 - 09:22 UTC
German economy threatened by a chaotic Brexit, warns Berlin's economy minister

The clouds darkened over Europe's slowing economy on Wednesday as the German government slashed its growth forecast and said concerns about a chaotic Brexit and trade tensions were holding back the continent's powerhouse. Germany's Economy Ministry said Wednesday it was cutting its 2018 forecast to 1% from 1.8% in its previous outlook issued last fall.
Thursday, January 31st 2019 - 09:18 UTC
Poland and Germany inclined to strike a renewed Brexit deal with Britain

The Polish Prime Minister and senior German politicians have urged Brussels to strike a Brexit deal with Britain in the first sign of divisions within the European Union over its blanket opposition to offering fresh concessions to Theresa May.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 20:55 UTC
Venezuela: Socialist International recognizes Guaidó and calls Maduro “illegitimate”

The Council of the Socialist International (SI) approved a communique on Tuesday where they recognize deputy Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan National Assembly as the only legitimate power of leading a process of democratic transition in Venezuela.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
UN chief Guterres ready to facilitate dialogue and negotiations in Venezuela

Following a meeting with a delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has offered to facilitate discussion to help resolve the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:56 UTC
US farm lobbies want a post-Brexit UK food quality standard lowered

United States lobby groups for agriculture and pharmaceutical firms want UK standards changed to be closer to those of the US in a post-Brexit trade deal. The meat lobby wants the sale of growth hormone-fed beef, currently banned in the UK and EU, to be allowed in the UK.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:46 UTC
Russia and China criticize US sanctions on Venezuela: “they undermine confidence in the international financial system”

Russia and China strongly criticized U.S. sanctions placed on Venezuela, with the former pledging to support the beleaguered President Nicolas Maduro. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the sanctions completely undermined confidence in an international financial system that is dominated by the U.S., Russian news agency Interfax reported.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:41 UTC
Parliament instructs PM May to renegotiate Brexit's Irish border backstop

British lawmakers on Tuesday instructed Prime Minister Theresa May to demand that Brussels replace the Irish border arrangement known as the “backstop”, in a last-ditch attempt to renegotiate an exit treaty that the European Union says it will not change.
Wednesday, January 30th 2019 - 09:39 UTC
France rejects any EU/UK renegotiation deal and calls for credible proposals

France on Tuesday rejected any renegotiation of the EU-UK divorce deal and urged Britain to make credible proposals after British lawmakers passed a motion instructing their government to secure changes to a key element of the deal.