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  • Michel Barnier ‘strongly opposed’ to May’s Brexit plan Inquire From Me

    Michel Barnier Symbol copyright EPA

    The ECU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said he is “strongly” opposed to key parts of Theresa Might’s proposals for a future industry deal.

    This morning the top minister said she wouldn’t compromise at the UK executive’s Chequers plan.

    But Mr Barnier said plans for a “common rulebook” for goods but no longer services weren’t within the ECU’s pursuits.

    “Our personal ecosystem has grown over decades,” he mentioned. “you’ll be able to now not play with it by choosing items.”

    Whilst he has previously expressed criticism approximately Mrs May’s Chequers plan, assets with regards to Mr Barnier informed the BBC he has no longer been this specific prior to.

    In response, the united kingdom executive insisted its plans had been “actual and pragmatic” and might paintings for the united kingdom and the european.

    The negotiations among the uk and the ecu have an informal October cut-off date, however Mr Barnier stated this is able to be prolonged to mid-November.

    Brexit: All you wish to have to know At-a-glance: the uk’s 4 Brexit options

    In an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Mr Barnier mentioned Mrs May’s plans “could be the end of the single marketplace and the ecu undertaking”.

    “The British have a choice,” he stated.

    “they could stay in the unmarried market, like Norway, which is additionally not a member of the ecu – however they might then need to take over all the associated rules and contributions to European solidarity. it’s your selection.

    “but if we allow the British pick out the raisins out of our rules, that may have serious results.

    “Then every kind of other 3rd international locations could insist that we provide them the similar benefits.”

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    He mentioned any other problem was once that many items now come with services hooked up – which means they had been laborious to separate in a trade deal.

    “now we have a coherent market for goods, services and products, capital and those – our personal atmosphere that has grown over decades,” he mentioned.

    “you’ll not play with it by selecting pieces. there’s another reason why I strongly oppose the British notion.

    “There are products and services in each and every product. to your cell phone, for example, it’s 20 to 40 percent of the entire value.”

    Mr Barnier’s feedback had been published at the related day Mrs May wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that she was “confident” a “good deal” could be reached.

    However she stated it was right the federal government to prepare for a no-deal scenario – despite the fact that this would create “real demanding situations for each the united kingdom and the ecu” in some sectors.

    Overseas Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned a no-deal Brexit would be a “big mistake for Europe”, even though Britain “might continue to exist and prosper”.

    More Than A Few business teams have warned about the imaginable affect at the UNITED KINGDOM of no-deal Brexit.

    The Sector Trade Organization – beneath whose rules the ecu and UNITED KINGDOM could business if no deal was agreed – mentioned it “would not be finish of the arena… however it’s not going to be a walk within the park”.

    Media playback is unsupported to your software

    Media captionTheresa Would Possibly speaks after 12-hour cupboard meeting at Chequers in July

    Responding to Mr Barnier’s remarks, a central authority spokeswoman stated: “we’re assured that we have recommend an offer that is actual, pragmatic and that allows you to paintings for the united kingdom and the ecu.

    “This idea achieves a brand new stability of rights and obligations that fulfils our joint ambition to ascertain a deep and different partnership as soon as the united kingdom has left the european whilst holding the constitutional integrity of the united kingdom. there’s no different suggestion that does that.

    “Our negotiating teams have upped the depth, and we proceed to move at tempo to reach – as Mr Barnier says – an formidable partnership, so as to paintings within the mutual interests of citizens and companies in the united kingdom and in the ECU.”

    The so-called Chequers plan used to be agreed at the prime minister’s u . s . a . place of abode in July.

    Mr Barnier has previously criticised the proposals, ruling out permitting the uk to collect customs tasks on behalf of the ecu.

    the united kingdom is due to depart the european on 29 March but has yet to agree how its ultimate courting with the bloc will work.

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  • South African mainly white industry union to strike over ‘racial exclusion’

    South African petro-chemical company Sasol's synthetic fuel plant in Secunda, north of Johannesburg (file photo) Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Employees at Sasol’s South African operations are to strike over a new stocks possession scheme

    A South African trade union with principally white individuals is to begin strikes at a petrochemical company over a share scheme to be had handiest to black workers, which it says is “blatant discrimination”.

    Businesses in South Africa are required to meet black possession quotas underneath rules supposed to offset the impact of apartheid-technology policies.

    The Sasol company mentioned final year that it would build up black possession in its native operations to no less than 25%.

    The moves are due to start on Monday.

    Sasol converts coal and gas to gasoline.

    The Harmony Union has 6,300 individuals in Sasol’s South African operations and says it’s unfair that simplest black staff are eligible to obtain the shares.

    In a press release on its website, it described the planned three weeks of commercial action as “the primary time within the history of South Africa that white employees strike on account of racial exclusion”.

    “We intend to switch off a different portion of Sasol on a daily basis by technique of smartly-laid and strategic plans,” it added.

  • Seoul to check public toilets day-to-day for hidden cameras

    A member of Seoul's hidden camera hunting squad, and a police women, inspect a bathroom for spy cameras Symbol copyright AFP Image caption There are groups dedicated to looking public toilets for hidden cameras

    The South Korean capital, Seoul, has pledged to carry out daily exams in all public bogs for hidden cameras.

    Secret cameras in bogs and changing rooms are a significant downside in South Korea – with more than 6,000 circumstances of “secret agent cam porn” suggested closing yr.

    The movies are sometimes uploaded online with out the information of the sufferers.

    In Advance this yr, tens of thousands of women protested towards hidden cameras, carrying signs with messages like “my lifestyles is not your porn”.

    Activists say women reside in constant worry of being photographed or filmed without their wisdom.

    Symbol copyright Getty Images Image caption There were several protests towards undercover agent digicam porn this year

    Seoul’s public bogs are these days best inspected for hidden cameras approximately as soon as a month, Yonhap news agency reports.

    However, group of workers who deal with restrooms will now also be required to check public toilets for undercover agent cameras daily.

    Korean revenge porn web page proprietor arrested South Korea’s spy cam porn epidemic #MeToo takes grasp in South Korea

    Law enforcement officers have previously instructed the BBC that it is difficult to trap perpetrators – especially as they are able to install cameras, and take them down again inside quarter-hour.

    While greater than FIVE,400 other people were arrested for spy digital camera similar crimes last 12 months, fewer than 2% of these held had been jailed.

    Yonhap says that the 50 govt employees tasked in particular with finding hidden cameras have not discovered any for 2 years.

    Media playback is unsupported on your tool

    Media captionThe use of hidden and up-skirt cameras is a huge downside in South Korea

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  • Babies’ is still found dumped in Kolkata

    A BBC map showing the location of Kolkata (Calcutta) in West Bengal, India

    Police in Kolkata (Calcutta) are investigating after the our bodies of 14 small children and foetuses were found wrapped in plastic baggage right through development work.

    Local media said the is still have been discovered on Sunday when workers dug up a vacant plot of land within the Haridevpur neighbourhood.

    an actual estate corporate had purchased the land recently, the Hindustan Occasions mentioned.

    It isn’t yet clear what came about.

    “The 14 our bodies, wrapped one by one in plastic, were in two luggage,” Kolkata’s mayor Sovan Chatterjee stated.

    “An Intensive seek of all the area, including nearby waterbodies, will likely be conducted to see if there are more our bodies. it seems that the our bodies have been soaked in chemicals.”

    Skip Twitter publish by means of @ANI

    Condition of skeletons can also be made up our minds most effective after postmortem. We Will inspect. We’re additionally checking the CCTV pictures in the area. a complete seek can be done the next day morning: Nilanjan Biswas, DC (Behala) on skeletons of 14 babies found in Kolkata’s Haridevpur. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/QSFl6M3Uvv

    — ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2018

    Record

    Finish of Twitter post through @ANI

    An unnamed police officer quoted via the click Accept As True With of India urged an “abortion racket running nearby” could be responsible.

    India u . s . a . profile

    “we have now no clue from the place they (the bodies) have come. Going by way of circumstantial proof, it seems that they were dumped there as the land used to be mendacity deserted,” the officer stated.

    Post mortems will now be conducted, and police will analyse CCTV footage from the area.

  • Russia pension protests: Contemporary anti-reform rallies held

    Russian communists take part in protest rally against a government proposed pension reform plan in Moscow, 2 September 2018 Image copyright EPA Symbol caption Communist demonstrators in Moscow held banners including ones that read “shame” over photos of United Russia politicians

    Further protests against pension reforms have taken positioned in Russia, despite the recent concessions offered by means of President Vladimir Putin.

    Independent observers say more than 10,000 other folks took phase in rallies in Moscow. Different towns also saw demonstrations.

    The initial thought was to raise the retirement age for girls to SIXTY THREE from 55, and for men to SIXTY FIVE from 60.

    On Wednesday he said the pension age for women would best be raised to 60.

    Mr Putin has said reform is a monetary necessity, but it has been met with a opposed reception and resulted in a steep fall in his recognition.

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption The outcry compelled Mr Putin to make a unprecedented cope with to the nation

    In a TV cope with closing week, Mr Putin stated the move to lift the retirement age for men and women had been behind schedule for years and risked inflicting inflation and extending poverty.

    Postponing it further may threaten the stability and safety of Russian society, he mentioned.

    “any more delay could be irresponsible,” he said. “Our choices must be simply and neatly-balanced.”

    Until his TV cope with he had tried to distance himself from the row, and had within the earlier promised that the pension age would never be raised on his watch.

    Who is protesting?

    Tens of lots have rallied across Russia in up to date weeks.

    Sunday’s Moscow protest saw many sporting the red flags and banners of the Communist Celebration, the primary organiser of the protest.

    A smaller protest was once held by means of the centre-left Simply Russia birthday celebration, which police stated attracted a few 1,500 people.

    Unusually for Russia, protesters against the reforms come from each side of the political debate.

    The initial assertion was once made on the comparable time because the Global Cup in Russia began, prompting criticism that the Russian executive used to be seeking to bury bad news.

    Why does Russia want to lift the pension age?

    So Much economists and plenty of Russians agree there’s an issue. The population is ageing and the state is spending more and more on pensions.

    After the economic chaos of the early nineties, Russia’s population plummeted. The start price has given that proven a few indicators of development, nevertheless it isn’t going down fast enough.

    Based on current developments, 20% of Russians will likely be over 65 via 2050, says the UN.

    President Putin has simply signed a brand new invoice on pension spending, envisaging a deficit of greater than 265bn roubles (£3.1bn; $4.2bn) in 2018. That Is 1.6% of all of the state budget expenditure.

    It is clearly no longer a sustainable situation, especially in tricky economic instances.

  • Brexit deal: Fox refuses to again Hammond’s caution

    Philip Hammond and Liam Fox Image copyright PA/BBC Symbol caption Philip Hammond used to be a Remain supporter in the ECU referendum, even as Liam Fox is an ardent Brexiteer

    World Trade Secretary Liam Fox has refused to again Chancellor Philip Hammond’s caution that a “no-deal” Brexit may just damage the economy.

    Speaking at the BBC’s Andrew Marr display, he stated: “this concept that we can are expecting what our borrowing would be 15 years prematurely is just just a little exhausting to swallow.”

    Treasury analysis estimates that by means of 2033 borrowing would be around £80bn a 12 months higher beneath a “no-deal” scenario.

    It additionally forecasts no deal may imply a 7.7% hit to GDP over the next 15 years.

    Asked by Andrew Marr whether or not he prevalent the figures, Mr Fox mentioned: “Are You Able To think back in your entire time in politics the place the Treasury have made predictions that have been right kind 15 years out. i will not.

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption A 2nd referendum could be a “gross betrayal of our democracy”, writes Theresa May

    In a piece of writing for the Sunday Telegraph, Theresa Might has insisted she would not be pressured into watering down her Brexit plan throughout negotiations with the eu.

    The PM wrote that she may “not be pushed” into compromises that were not in the “nationwide interest”.

    But David Davis, the previous Brexit secretary who resigned over the Chequers settlement, said the caveat – “with the exception of within the national interest” – used to be an “incredible open sesame to all”.

    Also interviewed on the Marr show, he admitted he may vote against Mrs Would Possibly’s plan in any Commons vote, pronouncing it could be “almost worse” than staying within the EU.

    Have voters modified their minds? among the blue flags: Views from the pro-EU march What roughly Brexit do voters want?

    Some Other Conservative MP, Nick Boles – a former minister who sponsored Remain – mentioned the Chequers coverage had “failed” and he may now not fortify it.

    Also writing within the Sunday Telegraph, he mentioned the ecu used to be treating the plan as “a gap bid”, and the uk was once facing “the humiliation of a deal dictated by Brussels”.

    Symbol caption David Davis says the Chequers plan is “virtually worse” than staying in the ECU

    In his interview, David Davis said considerations over keeping up a comfortable border among Northern Ireland border and the Republic have been “heavily overemphasised” in the earlier.

    “this is a miles more straightforward issue to care for if we decide to, if we placed the political will in the back of it, we and the Irish Republic, the 2 together,” he stated.

    However he mentioned he did agree with Mrs May that a 2d referendum will not take place.

    In her article, she stated it can be a “gross betrayal of our democracy and… consider” to “provide in” to those calling for another vote.

    Her objection to it comes as a movement pressing for an additional referendum – the People’s Vote – continues to gather high profile backers, including Sir Patrick Stewart and BBC football anchor Gary Lineker – besides as donations.

    One supporter, Labour MP Chuka Umunna, mentioned the impetus had shifted towards a public vote over the summer and it can be a “betrayal of democracy” for Mrs May “to power a foul deal – or no deal – on Britain with out giving the public the danger to have a last say”.

  • Ukraine concern: Mass turnout for funeral of Donetsk insurrection Zakharchenko

    People wait in line to pay their last respects to rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko, 2 September 2018 Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Alexander Zakharchenko was once killed in a bombing at a restaurant in Donetsk

    Tens of thousands of individuals have accumulated in eastern Ukraine to mourn a Russian-sponsored separatist leader who used to be killed in a bomb attack on Friday.

    Alexander Zakharchenko, 42, died within the explosion at a restaurant in the rise up stronghold of Donetsk.

    He is probably the most senior Russian-backed fatality of the warfare so far.

    Russia’s foreign ministry said it suspected Ukraine of setting up the most recent killing, even if the Ukrainian govt has denied any involvement.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Mourners wait to pay their respects to the late separatist leader Image copyright Reuters Image caption A protect of honour stands by way of the casket of Alexander Zakharchenko

    Huge crowds have waited in line to pay their respects to the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, who was once killed at the side of his bodyguard in Friday’s attack. Twelve other people have been injured.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption Zakharchenko was once the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic

    On Saturday, Russia’s Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov said that world talks on Ukraine may now not be thought to be following Zakharchenko’s death.

    The talks, involving leaders from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, are known as the Normandy format.

    They had been based to hunt a payment to the struggle in japanese Ukraine, which began while rebels seized large swathes of territory within the region in an uprising in April 2014.

    Considering That then, hundreds of individuals have died in combating between the rebels and Ukrainian government forces.

    Moscow denies sending common troops and heavy weapons to the separatists, but admits that Russian “volunteers” are serving to the rebels.