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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 17 November 2020
EU, UK enter tension-filled week seeking post-Brexit deal

By RAF CASERT and JILL its rules. The EU fears Britain
LAWLESS will slash social and envi-
Associated Press ronmental standards, and
BRUSSELS (AP) — European pump state money into U.K.
Union and British negotia- industries, becoming a low-
tors on Monday entered regulation economic rival
yet another tension-filled on the bloc’s doorstep.
week as they sought a be- Britain says the EU is making
lated post-Brexit trade deal unreasonable demands
that needs to be vetted and is failing to treat it as
and get legislative approv- an independent, sovereign
al before a Jan. 1 cutoff state.
date. At some point, it will come
With both sides refusing to to EU and UK leaders to
blink on any of the three settle the final divisive is-
key outstanding issues, sues. And the EU expected
time is increasingly in short that Johnson’s self-isolation
supply, especially since the for two weeks because he
EU approval process would came into contact with
need to take around four someone who tested posi-
weeks. tive for the coronavirus
The U.K. already left the wouldn’t affect the talks
EU on Jan. 31, but a transi- he has had with European
tion period when EU rules Commission President Ur-
apply to trade and other sula von der Leyen.
issues runs until the end of “There have been regular
next month. Both sides had Britain’s chief negotiator David Frost, center, removes his face mask to talk to the media as he contacts in any case by
arrives for Brexit talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels, Monday, Nov. 16, 2020.
hoped to get a trade deal Associated Press phone,” Mamer said. “I am
by then to save hundreds sure they will continue to
of thousands of jobs that chief negotiator David Frost an independent state,” pressure. have these contacts.”
could be at stake if Brexit as he entered EU head- said Johnson’s spokesman, “Conditions will have to be If there is no deal, busi-
amounts to a brutal cliff quarters for more talks. James Slack. “There will right,” European Commis- nesses on both sides of the
edge divorce. Prime Minister Boris John- be no change in our ap- sion spokesman Eric Mam- English Channel will face
As top negotiators resumed son’s office, meanwhile, proach.” er said, adding that the EU tariffs and other barriers to
meetings in Brussels on again set out the strict con- If there is no change, how- had long-standing red lines trade starting on Jan. 1.
Monday, neither side was ditions. ever, the 27-nation EU insist- where it wouldn’t budge. That would hurt economies
ready to cede any ground “If we are to make prog- ed it wasn’t up to the bloc The bloc accuses Britain of on both sides, with the im-
just yet. ress in the coming days, to do all the compromising. wanting retain access to pact falling most heavily on
“We are working very hard we need to see more re- And the EU insisted that it the EU’s lucrative markets, the U.K., whose economy is
to get a deal, but there is alism from the EU on what wouldn’t be forced into much like any member, already reeling under the
quite a lot to do,” said U.K. it means for the U.K. to be any deal because of time without agreeing to follow coronavirus pandemic.q
Trump aide promises ‘very professional transition’ to Biden

By JON GAMBRELL that Trump did have out- made unsubstantiated
Associated Press standing court challenges, claims about the elec-
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- O’Brien’s comments sig- tion on Twitter. There is no
ates (AP) — President naled some of the firmest evidence of widespread
Donald Trump’s national statements yet from a se- fraud in the vote. Officials
security adviser promised nior administration official from both the Democratic
a “very professional tran- acknowledging Biden’s and Republican parties
sition” to the administra- win in the Nov. 3 vote. have said the poll went
tion of President-elect “If the Biden-Harris ticket well, as have international
Joe Biden in an interview is determined to be the observers. The federal Cy-
broadcast Monday, even winner — obviously things bersecurity and Infrastruc-
as Trump continues to look that way now — we’ll ture Security Agency also
falsely claim he won the have a very professional says: “The November 3rd
November election. transition from the Na- election was the most se-
Speaking to the Global Se- tional Security Council. cure in American history.” In this Oct. 22, 2020 file photo, National Security Adviser Robert
O’Brien speaks with reporters at the White House, in Washington.
curity Forum hosted in part There’s no question about O’Brien, Trump’s fourth Associated Press
by Qatar, Robert O’Brien it,” O’Brien said. “They’re national security adviser,
several times mentioned going to have very profes- previously served as his lever” to get him back the president would like to
the transition and referred sional folks coming in to special envoy on hostage home. see him back before he
to recent normalization take these positions.” affairs. Asked about Amer- “We are using every tool, leaves office.” Syria has
deals that Bahrain, Sudan He added: “We’ve passed ican journalist Austin Tice, whether it’s through al- not acknowledged hold-
and the United Arab Emir- the baton and had who disappeared cover- lies, whether it’s through ing Tice. A top Lebanese
ates struck with Israel as “a peaceful, successful tran- ing Syria’s civil war in 2012 adversaries,” O’Brien said. security official said Satur-
great legacy for the presi- sitions even in the most and is believed to be held “We would like to get him day that he visited Syria for
dent to have as he leaves contentious periods.” by Damascus, O’Brien said back and I’d like to see two days to speak with of-
office.” While caveating Since losing, Trump has the U.S. was using “every him him back and I know ficials there about Tice. q