Brexit deal ‘realistic’ in 6 to 8 weeks: EU
AFP, Bled
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Monday it was “realistic” to expect an agreement on a divorce deal with London within the next eight weeks, striking an optimistic note as the clock ticks down to Britain’s departure from the bloc.
The pound rose against the dollar on Barnier’s comments, which come after weeks of increasing anxiety that an agreement to avoid Britain crashing out in a “no-deal” Brexit would not be reached in time.
Russia’s defense ties with China based
on trust: Putin
Reuters, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Moscow and Beijing’s relations were based on trust in areas ranging from politics to security and defense.
Putin made the comments ahead of talks with his Chinese counterpart which are being held on the sidelines of an economic forum in the city of Vladivostok in Russia’s far east.
Ban Ki-moon, Bill Gates head climate body
AFP, The Hague
Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and billionaire businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates will head an international commission on climate change to launch next month, the Dutch government said Monday.
The commission, to be co-hosted by the Global Center on Adaptation, hosted by the Netherlands in partnership with the World Resources Institute, seeks to “convince countries across the globe to take measures to arm themselves against the consequences of climate change,” the Dutch minister for infrastructure and water management said.
Venezuela vows ‘full coop’ with new UN rights chief
AFP, Geneva
Venezuela’s foreign minister hailed Tuesday the arrival of new UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet following a thorny relationship with her predecessor, vowing his country would cooperate fully with her.
“The Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner can count on the full cooperation of the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” Jorge Arreaza told the rights council.
2 militants killed in Kashmir
gunfight
Xinhua, Srinagar
Two militants were killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight erupted at village Galoora of Langate in frontier Kupwara district, about 80 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
“Two militants were killed in an overnight gunfight with joint contingents of army and police in Langate area of Handwara early today,” an Indian army spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.
