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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 28 January 2020

Irish leader says EU to have stronger hand in UK trade talks

By JILL LAWLESS before meeting EU Brexit
Associated Press negotiator Michel Barnier.
LONDON (AP) — Ireland's "And we have a population
prime minister warned Brit- and a market of 450 million
ain on Monday that Brexit is people. The U.K., it's about
far from finished -- and the 60 (million). So if these were
European Union will have two teams up against each
the stronger hand in up- other playing football, who
coming negotiations on fu- do you think has the stron-
ture relations between the ger team?"
two sides. Speaking after the meet-
Leo Varadkar said "we're ing, Varadkar added that
only at halftime on Brexit," the negotiations didn't
as the bloc's chief Brexit need to be a contest, and
negotiator visited Dublin could end in a "mutually
in a show of solidarity, five beneficial" deal.
days before the U.K. is due British Prime Minister Boris
to leave the EU . Johnson is adamant that
Britain's exit on Friday, which he won't agree to extend
will be the first time a nation the Brexit transition beyond
has left the bloc, will be the end of 2020, even if a
followed by an 11-month deal has not been struck.
transition period in which Varadkar, however, said it Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, left listens to Michel Barnier, the EU's Brexit negotiator, during a press
Britain will continue to fol- would be difficult to secure conference, outside the Government Buildings in Dublin, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020.
low EU rules while the two a comprehensive agree- Associated Press
sides work out new deals ment in time and there was
on trade, security and oth- a chance a deal might business very quickly try- who is battling to retain his partners.
er areas. need to be approved by ing to get that trade deal, job in an election on Feb. 8. Britain and the EU are com-
"The European Union is a parliaments in all 27 EU which is absolutely essential Ireland is the only EU coun- mitted to striking a wide-
union of 27 member states. countries -- any of which for the Irish economy, as try to share a land border ranging free trade agree-
The U.K. is only one coun- could hold it up. well as, of course, for Brit- with the U.K., and Britain is ment but appear to be on
try," Varadkar told the BBC "We need to get down to ain's as well," said Varadkar, one of Ireland's top trading a collision course. q

UK introduces new fast-

track visa to attract scientists

LONDON (AP) — British ers and doctoral students vest in talent and cutting
Prime Minister Boris John- whose work in math under- edge research,'' Johnson
son introduced a new fast- pins myriad developments said in a statement. "That
track visa to attract more such as safer air travel, is why as we leave the EU,
of the world's best scientists smart phone technology I want to send a message
to the U.K. in hopes of cre- and artificial intelligence. that the U.K. is open to the
ating a global science "su- The new visa route will have most talented minds in the
perpower." no cap on the number of world, and stand ready to
Johnson paired the an- people able to come to support them to turn their Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to
nouncement of the Global the U.K. under the program. ideas into reality." attend the weekley session of Prime Ministers Questions in Par-
Talent route program with It starts next month. Britain is facing its biggest liament in London, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020.
a pledge of 300 million "The UK has a proud history immigration shake-up in Associated Press
pounds ($392 million) for of scientific discovery, but decades after it leaves the
research into advanced to lead the field and face EU Friday. live and work in the U.K., That has sparked fears Brit-
mathematics. The money the challenges of the future After Brexit, EU citizens will and Britons to settle in the ain may face shortages in
will help fund research- we need to continue to in- lose the automatic right to bloc's 27 remaining nations. key job areas.q