International

Saturday, January 19th 2019 - 08:36 UTC
Leading Germans in an open letter ask UK to remain in the EU

Leading German figures have written to the UK asking it to stay in the European Union. The letter, published in The Times, is signed by 31 people, including the leader of the Christian Democratic Union - and likely successor to Angela Merkel - Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 10:01 UTC
EU prepares contingency plans for a UK disorderly departure

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said a no-deal Brexit looks “less and less unlikely” and has launched a contingency plan to prepare for it. After the UK Parliament rejected the withdrawal agreement, Mr Philippe said laws had to be passed and millions invested in French ports and airports.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:39 UTC
China moves in after Hitachi and Toshiba abandon nuclear plants' plans in UK

China’s General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) will bring forward plans to build a nuclear plant in Britain, it said on Thursday, helping plug a gap left by the failure of two Japanese projects.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:23 UTC
US investigating China's Huawei for “stealing trade secrets” from American partners

The United States is reportedly investigating Huawei for “stealing trade secrets” from American business partners in the latest action against the Chinese technology giant. The criminal inquiry was first reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:03 UTC
UK and Spain agree to guarantee reciprocal suffrage at municipal level post-Brexit

Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell announced this week that Madrid and London have agreed to guarantee electoral rights in local elections for British residents in Spain and Spanish residents in the UK post-Brexit.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
WHO statement on reports of alleged misconduct

World Health Organization (WHO) is aware of a news story published today about allegations of misconduct in the organization. The allegations are being investigated according to WHO’s established procedures, having been referred to WHO’s Office of Internal Oversight Services by the Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Friday, January 18th 2019 - 08:45 UTC
Speaker of UK Parliament John Bercow, next Brexit victim?

Such is the anger with the Speaker of the UK Parliament at senior levels of government, it has been suggested he could be blocked from getting a peerage when he retires. Ministers are furious at what they see as John Bercow's “bias” during Commons debates on Brexit.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 09:08 UTC
China injects US$ 83bn to the financial system hoping to prop a declining economy

China’s central bank injected a record US$ 83 billion into the country’s financial system on Wednesday, seeking to avoid a cash crunch that would put further pressure on the weakening economy. China’s policymakers are pledging to step up stimulus measures this year and do more to protect jobs as economic growth cools to 28-year lows.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 09:01 UTC
McDonald's defeated by Irish rival over the rights to the “Big Mac” name

McDonald's has been defeated in a trademark dispute over its rights to the “Big Mac” name brought by a tiny Irish rival called Supermac's. The European Union Intellectual Property Office, EUPO, ruled that McDonald's did not have the exclusive right to “Big Mac” trademark in Europe, after McDonald's tried to use it to stop the Irish chain from expanding into Europe.
Thursday, January 17th 2019 - 08:52 UTC
Goldman Sachs apologizes and blames former partner for Malaysia's major corruption scandal

Goldman Sachs new boss has apologized to Malaysia for the role an ex-partner played in the corruption scandal at one of the country's wealth funds. However, chief executive David Solomon also distanced the bank from the scheme, which saw billions embezzled from the state development fund, 1MDB.