Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 19 OcTOber 2017
Russian TV star Sobchak declares her presidential bid

By V. ISACHENKOV March’s election in a You- critical of the Russian gov- against torpid veterans “I had an impression he
Associated Press Tube video, arguing that ernment. She joined anti- of past Russian presiden- didn’t like it,” she said of
MOSCOW (AP) — A Rus- Russia has grown tired of its Kremlin protests in Moscow tial campaigns, like Com- Putin’s reaction.
sian celebrity TV host shook current political elite and in 2011-2012 but has largely munist leader Gennady Some pundits, however,
up the country’s political needs a change. avoided criticizing Presi- Zyuganov, ultranational- said Sobchak’s candidacy
scene Wednesday by an- Sobchak, the daughter of dent Vladimir Putin, who ist Vladimir Zhirinovsky or should please the Kremlin,
nouncing her presidential Anatoly Sobchak, the re- once worked as her fa- liberal Grigory Yavlinsky. helping counter growing
bid, a move that would formist St. Petersburg mayor ther’s deputy. They have all signaled their voter apathy without pos-
likely boost public interest in the early 1990s, first be- Putin, 65, hasn’t yet said intentions to run again in ing a threat to Putin. An-
in the race but could fur- came known as a socialite whether he will seek re- 2018.Sobchak told Dozhd drei Kolesnikov, an expert
ther fragment the nation’s and a fashion icon before election on March 18 but TV that she had warned Pu- with the Carnegie Moscow
beleaguered opposition. she launched her success- he’s widely expected to tin that she planned to join Center, warned that Sob-
Ksenia Sobchak, 35, an- ful TV career. run. With approval ratings the race while interviewing chak’s bid would further
nounced her intention to Sharp-tongued and witty, topping 80 percent, Pu- him recently for a docu- fragment and weaken Rus-
become a candidate in Sobchak has been often tin would win in landslide mentary about her father. sia’s opposition.q
Talk of ‘no deal’ Brexit rises as divorce negotiations stall

By JILL LAWLESS But Prime Minister Theresa
Associated Press May also warned Wednes-
LONDON (AP) — As Brexit day that “it would be irre-
negotiations between sponsible of government
Britain and the European not to prepare for all pos-
Union stutter and stall, one sible scenarios” — includ-
question looms larger and ing no deal.
larger: What if there is no She said the government
deal? would not “accept a deal
It’s an increasingly plau- at any price to the British
sible prospect that stirs fear taxpayer, whatever the
in many U.K. politicians and damage that would do to
businesses — and hope in our economy.”
the hearts of staunch Brexit A deal — at least on the
supporters. divorce terms and a two-
Divorce talks between year transition period Brit-
Britain and the European ain is seeking — would
Union have limped through have to be clinched
five rounds without a months before the March
breakthrough, and Britain is 2019 deadline to give in-
due to leave the EU in less dividual EU national parlia-
than 18 months, on March ments time to ratify it.
29, 2019. Pro-EU supporters hold European Union flags with a Union flag across the street from the Houses of The impact of failure could
When it does, thousands Parliament in London, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. be profound. The flow of
of laws, agreements and (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) goods could be disrupted,
regulations covering ev- would cut U.K. growth by Leave Means Leave be- sible option for the U.K. is to imperiling thousands of
erything from trade to 1.5 percentage points in lieve such talk is merely de- go to World Trade Orga- jobs.
crime-fighting to aviation the first year, push down featism. nization rules from March Three million EU citizens
will cease to apply. Unless the already-devalued “The U.K. has been far too 2019 — and declare it living in Britain and a mil-
new arrangements are in pound, deter investment weak in the negotiations, now.” lion Britons elsewhere in
place, the U.K. will crash and trigger a downgrade far too accommodating,” Both Britain and the EU the bloc would be in lim-
out of the EU single market to Britain’s credit rating. said Longworth, a former downplay, though don’t bo. British finance minister
and trade with the bloc on “Only fantasists and fanat- head of the British Cham- rule out, the possibility of Philip Hammond has said
World Trade Organization ics talk up no deal,” U.K. bers of Commerce. a no-deal Brexit. U.K. Brex- it’s even conceivable air
terms, which would mean Labour Party Brexit spokes- “I think that the EU will string it Secretary David Davis traffic will be grounded —
tariffs on goods and uncer- man Keir Starmer said Tues- out the negotiations as said this week that “we though he insisted such an
tainty for services. day. long as they possibly can in are straining every sinew” outcome is highly unlikely.
The OECD economic think- But committed euroskep- order to extract the maxi- to reach an amicable di- Even the milder forecasts
tank forecast this week tics like John Longworth mum of benefit for them. vorce, followed by a new predict major economic
that switching to WTO rules of pro-Brexit lobby group In which case the best pos- free trade deal. fallout. q
Berlusconi backs autonomy referendums in 2 Italian regions

By COLLEEN BARRY Maroni, president of the resounding “Yes” votes will erendum in 2001. Berlusconi has become
Associated Press prosperous Lombardy re- give them political lever- In Veneto, the referendum more politically active in
MILAN (AP) — gion, to show his support age in talks with Rome to will not be valid unless more the run-up to next year’s
Former Italian Premier Silvio for its autonomy. Both Lom- gain more control over tax than 50 percent of voters elections, after a convic-
Berlusconi threw his politi- bardy and neighboring revenues and additional participate. tion of tax fraud kept him
cal weight behind a non- Veneto are voting Sunday powers in areas including “We hope this referendum from publicly campaigning
binding referendum on au- for greater autonomy. immigration and security. will have a great success,” during the last vote in 2013.
tonomy in his native region Asked if he planned to vote, Maroni said he would be Berlusconi said, adding that Berlusconi performed
of Lombardy — though he Berlusconi replied, “I asked satisfied with a voter turn- he planned to make great- about 10 months of public
said Wednesday he wasn’t my lawyers the same ques- out similar to that in previ- er regional autonomy part service as part of the sen-
sure whether he can vote tions and I don’t know.” ous referendums, citing a of the election platform for tence, and was banned for
himself. Maroni and his counter- 34 percent Lombardy turn- the center-right in upcom- two years for seeking pub-
Berlusconi joined Roberto part in Veneto hope that out on a constitutional ref- ing election campaigns. lic office, now expired.q