European councils

The European Parliament has declined to set a date to ratify the Brexit trade deal following a row over the UK's action in relation to arrangements for Northern Ireland. Tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol, a key part of Britain's divorce deal with the EU , have flared again this week. It comes after the UK took unilateral action to extend grace periods for businesses such as supermarkets and parcel operators, before they have to comply with new post- Brexit rules. Light-touch regulation schemes on goods from the rest of the UK transiting to Northern Ireland had been due to expire at the end of March, but now they won't end until October. Amid the threat of legal action against London, the European Commission has accused the UK of seeking to breach international law and condemned Britain's "clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed up until now". Advertisement The Irish government accused the UK … [Read more...] about Brexit: European Parliament declines to fix date of EU-UK trade deal vote amid new row over Northern Ireland Protocol

Iran has given “positive signals” about starting informal talks on an international level, several sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. “Things are moving in the right direction,” a French diplomatic source said. “We have had positive signals this week and especially in the last few days." According to the source, the objective was to get Tehran and the UN Security Council members around the table before the start of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, on March 20, adding that the window would also narrow from mid-April due to Iran’s presidential election campaign. The source said that efforts are being made to ensure a meeting can take place “in the days or coming weeks.” Another European source also said there had been positive signals from Iran. The French source, however, said that Iranian internal politics are causing “constraints” for the government, which doesn’t want to sit at the negotiating table with Washington if there’s no reassurance that sanctions will be … [Read more...] about Iran Reportedly Sends ‘Positive Signals’ on Informal Nuclear Talks

FILE PHOTO: Demonstrators block a road during an anti-coup protest in Yangon, Myanmar, March 4, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer Myanmar’s junta lost a tug of war over leadership of its U.N. mission in New York and the United States unveiled new sanctions targeting military conglomerates after the deaths of dozens of civilians protesting against last month’s coup. With tussles over diplomatic loyalties overseas, pro-democracy activists held more demonstrations in Myanmar on Friday to oppose the Feb. 1 ouster of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. A big crowd marched peacefully through the second city of Mandalay chanting: “The stone age is over, we’re not scared because you threaten us.” There was no immediate sign of a police effort to block them but in the main city of Yangon, police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse protesters who had been joined by about 100 doctors in white coats, witnesses said. A crowd also gathered in the town of Pathein, to the west … [Read more...] about Myanmar diplomatic revolt against junta widens after violent crackdown

CENTRE WELLINGTON – Pedestrian-only areas in downtown Elora and Fergus are going ahead this summer. Mayor Kelly Linton confirmed in a phone interview Friday the county has given all necessary approvals for weekend street closures, similar to last year in Centre Wellington. Last summer in downtown Elora, most of Metcalfe Street and Mill Street were closed to vehicles starting Saturday morning to Sunday evening. Linton said this was made easier with Badley Bridge closed and a traffic detour already in place but this year the newly constructed bridge will remain open to traffic. “We need to keep that connecting link open and keep the traffic flowing,” Linton said. “This year, we’re not going through that whole detour process but we’re going to be making sure that we put in barriers going into Elora so that there’s lots of room for people to move around.” This means traffic coming from south of the river will have to turn right down East Mill Street, which will remain open to … [Read more...] about Pedestrian-only weekends returning to downtown Elora and Fergus this summer

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has issued a soft rebuke of an official who told a Western newspaper that Tehran would be prepared to resume talks on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal if the US agreed to lift its anti-Iran sanctions within a year. “Iranian policy is vibrant and officials express diverse opinions. But those opinions should NOT be confused with state policy,” Zarif tweeted Friday. “As Iran’s foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, I will shortly present our constructive concrete plan of action – through proper diplomatic channels,” the diplomat added. Iranian polity is vibrant & officials express diverse opinions #CommitActMeet — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) March 5, 2021 Iranian media including the Islamic Republic News Agency and Iran Front Page interpreted Zarif’s comments as a direct response to remarks made by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council, an advisory body to Iran’s supreme leader. In an … [Read more...] about Zarif Refutes Official’s Claim Iran Would Return to Nuclear Talks If US Lifts Sanctions Within Year