Global Slick

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who earlier pledged to take Britain out of European Union by the end of year 2020, is likely to break his promise as according to European Union Trade Commissioner, Phil Hogan, Brexit transition period would extend beyond 2020. In an interview with the Irish Times, published Monday, Hogan said, “In the past, we saw the way the prime minister promised to die in the ditch rather than extend the deadline for Brexit , only for him to do just that.” Johnson had previously committed to “die in a ditch” rather than extend an earlier deadline of October 31 to exit the bloc. “I don’t believe Prime Minister Johnson will die in the ditch over the timeline for the future relationship either,” Hogan said. The recently appointed EU Trade Commissioner, who playa key role in the EU-UK talks on their future relationship, said that it was ‘ very odd ’ to impose any restriction on the Brexit extension and that it all seemed more like a political stunt. ...

As Nepal is poised to sign a deal with Malaysia to ensure cost-free recruitment of workers, Qatar has expressed its interest in hiring Nepalis without charging them any money in the process. In Qatar, migrant workers represent about 90 per cent of its resident population, and Nepalis represent a significant number of its migrant workforce. As Nepal is poised to sign a deal with Malaysia to ensure cost-free recruitment of workers, Qatar has expressed its interest in hiring Nepalis without charging them any money in the process. Qatar, which hosts hundreds of thousand Nepalis, has proposed a ‘zero cost’ modality for employing migrant workers in the country. The developments come as another relief for Nepali workers who face a number of hassles before departing for the job destination and while working in a foreign country. Malaysia is due to sign a labour agreement with Nepal this week, sparing workers the huge expenses that they are currentl...

Iran is again trying to throttle the power of free expression as it turns to control access of Internet anticipating another outbreak of a mutiny.  The Iranian government has restricted mobile internet in several provinces. This comes as protestors take to the social media to announce a wave of demonstrations for the second time. Apart from this, state media has reported that Iranian intelligence ministry agents have seized a cache of 126 mostly U.S.-made guns smuggled to the central city of Isfahan from abroad. This might be indicative of some kind of violence coming through protests but there is no clarity over this as of now. Apart from control over Internet access, security forces have been on alert for any events that could spark more unrest after 1,500 people were killed in less than two weeks after protests erupted on Nov. 15, according to a Reuters report. Earlier on, protests had started over gasoline price hike. They later took in all the other aspects which...

The interim government of Bolivia has decided to join the Lima Group to help resolve the Venezuelan crisis.   This was announced on Sunday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia announces the entry of Bolivia into the Lima Group," the statement said.  As noted in the foreign ministry, in this way the republic "will contribute to the achievement of a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution to the crisis in Venezuela." The Lima group was formed on August 8, 2017 in the capital of Peru, where representatives of 12 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Chile) signed a joint declaration on the non-recognition of the Constitutional Assembly    Venezuela convened at the initiative of President Nicolas Maduro without a referendum.   Guyana and Saint Lucia later joined the group. The situation in Venezuela esca...

It all started as a way to get rid of the Syrian rebel forces. But at the worst receiving end right now, are the thousands of civilians that are running for their lives. Syria has become a mass exodus where UN has reported as many as 100,000 people have fled northwestern Syrian region running to the border. The Russian and Syrian government joint strike is leading to a humanitarian catastrophe, as Maarat al-Numan is being bombed repeatedly. Earlier it was Idlib province from where thousands of Syrians were displaced and moved towards the border into Turkey. The new exodus is creating the same situation and Turkey has made it clear that it has no capacity left to handle such a big exodus of civilians. It is now confirmed that 80,000 Syrians are already on the move towards Turkey. Sadly, this seems to be a political pressure game being played by Moscow to get Ankara to buy its terms, a week before both countries meet over a summit.   While Russia jointed hands with T...

Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill faces its first vote Friday in the House of Commons as the prime minister seeks to drive the legislation through Parliament and take the U.K. out of the European Union on Jan. 31. After Johnson’s Conservatives swept to victory in last week’s general election, the vote at about 2:30 p.m. is largely a formality, because all Tory candidates vowed to back it. The legislation will then be set to progress through the remaining parliamentary steps in January, after a Christmas recess. The Tories’ new 80-seat majority signals an end to the stalemate that’s hobbled the government since the 2016 Brexit referendum. By making progress on the divorce before Parliament breaks up, Johnson aims to show he’s moving quickly to deliver on pledges that swept his party to electoral wins in seats in northern and central England that haven’t voted Conservative in decades. “Today we will deliver on the promise we made to the people...

The prosecutor's office of Bolivia issued on Wednesday an arrest warrant for ex-President Evo Morales.   A photograph of the document was posted on Twitter by the Minister of the Interior of the South American Republic, Arturo Murillo.   According to the text of the document, the decision to issue a warrant was taken as part of a criminal investigation into incitement to rebellion, terrorism and the financing of terrorism.   According to the prosecutor’s office, this measure is necessary for the former head of state to “appear for questioning and testify” in the case.   The document also states that the detention of Morales can be carried out by "any competent civil servant."   Presidential elections were held in Bolivia on October 20.   According to the Supreme Electoral Court, Morales, the current head of state, received the majority of the votes.   His main rival, Carlos Mesa, said he did not recognize the opponent’s victory in the first ...