| Guatemala bids goodbye to UN anti-graft body as it wraps up Posted: 03 Sep 2019 05:19 PM PDT  Guatemala said goodbye Tuesday to a U.N. commission that has helped investigate and prosecute hundreds of corrupt politicians, public officials and businesspeople over the last 12 years. The commission, known as CICIG for its initials in Spanish, ceased its operations after President Jimmy Morales refused to renew its mandate for another two years. Human rights prosecutor Jordán Rodas said CICIG was a nightmare for those long accustomed to getting away with brazen malfeasance.
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| Election bid looms as British MPs defeat Johnson on Brexit Posted: 03 Sep 2019 05:02 PM PDT  Prime Minister Boris Johnson raised the prospect of a snap election on Tuesday after he suffered a major parliamentary defeat over his Brexit strategy that could delay Britain's exit from the European Union. Just six weeks after taking office, the Conservative leader was hit by a huge rebellion among his own MPs that leaves him without a working majority in the House of Commons as he looks to take Britain out of the EU on October 31. Twenty-one Conservatives joined opposition MPs to begin the process of drafting legislation that could stop a "no deal" exit by delaying the departure date by three months.
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| Hurricane Dorian: officials worldwide seek aid amid 'historic tragedy' in Bahamas Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:43 PM PDT  Thousands left without shelter and likely to face food and water shortages, say UN, US and local authoritiesA family is escorted to a safe zone after they were rescued as Hurricane Dorian continues to cause rain in Freeport, Bahamas, on Tuesday. Photograph: Ramón Espinosa/APUS officials and counterparts around the world sent out an urgent call for help for the Bahamas after the northernmost islands in the archipelago were pulverized by Hurricane Dorian.Thousands of residents of Grand Bahama and Abaco islands are without shelter, stranded by flooding and are likely to suffer shortages of food, water and medicine that will worsen without quick action by the international community, according to coordinated messages from the United Nations, the US state department, the US embassy in Nassau and local officials."We are in the midst of a historic tragedy," said the Bahamian prime minister, Hubert Minnis. "The devastation is unprecedented and extensive."The dimensions of the humanitarian disaster began to emerge after the slow-moving storm, which took about 36 hours to cross the five-mile-wide Grand Bahama, finally left the country on Tuesday afternoon.The storm hit Abaco island on Sunday as a category 5 hurricane with wind gusts of up to 220mph – making it the strongest Atlantic storm ever to make landfall, tied with the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.In a country accustomed to harrowing encounters with fierce storms, Dorian registered as a disaster on another scale."Dorian will not really move away," said a tweet from the newspaper in Freeport, the main city on Grand Bahama, on Tuesday morning. "Heavy Rain. This hurricane will totally destroy this Island."The terrible consequences were visible from the first helicopter overflights of Abaco and Grand Bahama islands on Tuesday. Video footage showed lakes of seawater instead of streets, blasted debris where homes once stood, boats thrown inland like discarded bath toys, denuded trees and the occasional lone structure still standing. In many areas, life on the islands appeared to have simply been erased."It's total devastation. It's decimated. Apocalyptic. It looks like a bomb went off," Lia Head-Rigby, who helps run a local hurricane relief organization, told the Associated Press. "It's not rebuilding something that was there; we have to start again."Volunteers walk under the wind and rain on a flooded road after rescuing several families that arrived on small boats, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Tuesday. Photograph: Ramón Espinosa/APEmergency access was threatened by flooding at the Freeport international airport, where runways lay under 6ft of water. The main Freeport hospital was likewise flooded, and an estimated 13,000 homes destroyed.Flooding drove residents on to roofs, water lapping over second-story windowsills and water driving against shuddering glass. There was waist-deep water in the streets and higher, which residents were struggling to swim or wade through to safety.Freeport is about 70 miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida, and is a popular cruise ship and tourist destination boasting upwards of 1 million visitors a year."The Bahamas needs our help," Francis Suarez, the mayor of Miami, Florida, tweeted on Tuesday.Rising waters cover cars on a road in Freeport on Tuesday. Photograph: Kimberly Mullings/AFP/Getty Images"Our prayers are with our Bahamian friends as they confront the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian," tweeted the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo. The USAID relief agency put out a call for "urgently-needed humanitarian assistance".As of Tuesday afternoon, five people had been killed on the Bahamas by the storm, and the US coast guard airlifted at least 21 people injured on Abaco Island. Marvin Dames, the Bahamas' minister of national security, said the death toll was expected to rise."This was a crisis of epic proportions," he told reporters. "The reality of it all is, unfortunately, we will see more deaths. I can't see any way out of it."One radio station said it had received more than 2,000 distress messages, the Associated Press reported, including reports of a five-month-old baby stranded on a roof and a woman with six grandchildren who cut a hole in a roof to escape rising floodwaters. At least two designated storm shelters flooded.Queen Elizabeth sent a message of support for the country, which gained independence in 1973.US coast guard personnel wheel an evacuee on a stretcher, rescued from Abaco Island after Hurricane Dorian, in Nassau. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters"At this very difficult time, my thoughts and prayers are with those who have seen their homes and property destroyed, and I also send my gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are supporting the rescue and recovery effort," the message said.Abaco and Grand Bahama have a combined population of about 70,000 and have peak elevations of no more than 40ft above sea level.The storm caused flooding on other Bahamian islands as well, including in the capital of Nassau. The World Food Program estimated that 47,000 people would need food aid on Grand Bahama and another 14,000 on Abaco, and that emergency medical aid was likewise needed.The US coast guard, USAID relief agency and UN relief agencies joined efforts led by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) of the Bahamas.The US embassy in Nassau advised those in need of urgent assistance to call Nema at 322-6731 and send their locations to +1 (242) 557-5202 via WhatsApp. Officials advised those outside the Bahamas wishing to provide assistance to visit the Center for International Disaster Information.Speaking on a cellphone video shot from the heart of the disaster, the Bahamian member of parliament Iram Lewis sent a plea for assistance."We are going to need a lot, a lot of support after this hurricane is over."
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| Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:34 PM PDT ![Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day]( "Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day") (Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on what's moving Asian markets in your inbox every morning? Sign up here.Boris Johnson loses a key Brexit vote, Trump gives China another prod over trade and Beijing softens its tone on Hong Kong protests. Here are some of the things people in markets are talking about today.Brexit BacklashThe U.K. may be on course for a snap general election after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit strategy suffered a humiliating defeat in Parliament. Lawmakers voted 328 to 301 to take a crucial first step toward forcing Johnson to delay Brexit until Jan. 31 in an effort to stop a no-deal split. Earlier in the day, Johnson lost his ruling majority when a member of his party defected. The prime minister says delaying Brexit would undermine his negotiating hand and that he'd rather collapse the government and hold a fresh election. The pound see-sawed through the day as it became clear Johnson's attempt to stop Parliament from giving him instructions had backfired. These are the stocks to watch if an election is called.'MUCH TOUGHER!'U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be trying to goad China into doing a trade deal before the presidential election in November 2020. On Twitter, he suggested that negotiations will become trickier if he wins a second term. "Think what happens to China when I win," Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday. "Deal would get MUCH TOUGHER!" Trump also said that the U.S. is "doing very well in our negotiations with China," without offering any specifics. Officials have been struggling to agree on the schedule for a planned meeting this month after Washington rejected Beijing's request to delay tariffs that took effect over the weekend, according to people familiar with the discussions. Here's how the trade war got to this point. Softer ToneChina isn't budging on Hong Kong protesters' demands for direct democracy, but it is at least softening its tone on the demonstrations themselves. In a wide-ranging briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese officials overseeing Hong Kong sought to make a clear distinction between violent protesters who have thrown petrol bombs in running battles with police and others who have marched peacefully through the city. They also strongly backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam, saying an emergency law could be implemented if necessary and pledging support for the economy.Uniqlo's FutureThe 70-year-old billionaire behind clothing giant Uniqlo wants a woman to succeed him. Being CEO of parent company Fast Retailing "is more suitable for a woman," Tadashi Yanai said in an interview. "They are persevering, detail oriented and have an aesthetic sense." Japan has faced scrutiny over its lack of gender diversity in top management roles; only 4.1% of women in the country hold executive titles at publicly traded firms. In the U.S., women make up about a quarter of executive ranks, according to multiple studies. One possible successor to Yanai would be Maki Akaida, who was appointed this year to run Uniqlo's Japan operations — the company's most profitable unit.Australian OpportunitiesAustralian companies are cautious about the year ahead after 65% of the 134 companies that reported annual earnings in August missed their annual sales targets. With an economy that even Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded on Monday is "soft," new tariffs from the U.S. taking effect on around $110 billion of Chinese imports earlier this week and Brexit looming at the end of next month, not many companies are optimistic about their future. But some sectors are still looking good for investors. "I like energy, I like healthcare, I like materials," Dale Gillham, chief analyst at Wealth Within, told Bloomberg TV. What We've Been ReadingThis is what's caught our eye over the weekend.U.S. stocks fall as trade talks between the U.S. and China hit another stumbling block. An island of 50,000 people in the Bahamas is 70% under water. An Australian tech billionaire backs new climate action demand on BHP. South Korea's most popular hotel app is looking beyond love motels. The new iPhones and Apple's future: a preview. These are the world's most liveable cities.To contact the author of this story: Alyssa McDonald in Sydney at amcdonald61@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Alex Millson at amillson@bloomberg.netFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Wounded Johnson's Brexit Plan in Tatters as Election Fight Looms Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:33 PM PDT ![Wounded Johnson's Brexit Plan in Tatters as Election Fight Looms]( "Wounded Johnson's Brexit Plan in Tatters as Election Fight Looms") (Bloomberg) -- Follow @Brexit, sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, and tell us your Brexit story. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson began moves to trigger a snap general election after suffering a humiliating defeat for his Brexit strategy that left his ruling party in tatters.A fresh poll to choose a new government would mark the climax of the political chaos that has engulfed Britain for the past three years since the country voted narrowly to leave the European Union in a referendum in 2016.That Brexit vote ended the premiership of David Cameron and the failure to deliver on it saw his successor, Theresa May, forced out in July. Now after only six weeks in the top job, Johnson himself is staring into the abyss, with Brexit divisions shredding his Conservative administration.On Tuesday, he lost his ruling majority when one of his own Tory MPs defected to join the Liberal Democrats. Six hours later, Johnson's first test in a Commons vote ended in a heavy and damaging defeat. He retaliated by firing rebels from his party.Members of the House of Commons voted 328 to 301 to take a crucial first step toward forcing the prime minister to delay Brexit by three months in an effort to stop a no-deal split. It's a delay he has repeatedly rejected under all circumstances.What to Expect From the Brexit Showdown in Parliament: QuickTakeIn all, 21 Conservatives defied Johnson and voted against him, effectively sacrificing their careers in politics as his officials immediately began expelling the rebels from the party for failing to obey the premier's orders. Rebels punished in this way included former Chancellor Philip Hammond.Johnson warned his enemies that if they do not back down on Wednesday, he will go further and try to break up Parliament to trigger a general election.But that too could backfire: He needs the support of the opposition Labour Party for an election, and he may not get it. What happens now depends on events in Parliament in the hours ahead.On Wednesday, Johnson's opponents will seize control of the Commons agenda and put forward their own draft law that would force him to delay Brexit until Jan. 31. They are trying to stop him from carrying out his threat to take Britain out of the EU without a divorce agreement if necessary on Oct. 31, fearing that a no-deal split would be economically disastrous.Rapid EscalationJohnson says his critics are "on the brink of wrecking any deal that we might be able to strike."If the Commons votes to pass the Brexit delay law, there will be no choice but to go to the voters in the country and ask them to choose a new government to negotiate with the EU at a key summit next month, Johnson said."I don't want an election, the public don't want an election," he told Parliament on Tuesday. "But if the House votes for this Bill tomorrow, the public will have to choose who goes to Brussels on Oct. 17 to sort this out."To get an election, Johnson needs two-thirds of all MPs -- 434 of them -- to vote with him for a poll. Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn told the prime minister he could have the election if he first let the rebel bill pass into law. That's a deal that Johnson might well take: If he wins a majority in the election, he will be able to repeal the law.The pound see-sawed through the day Tuesday as it became clear Johnson's attempt to scare Conservatives into submission and to stop Parliament from giving him instructions had backfired.Read more: EU Fears Johnson Won't Come Up With Credible Brexit SolutionsJohnson insists he needs to keep the option of a no-deal divorce on the table as leverage during negotiations. But European officials say the U.K. has brought no credible ideas to the table and they worry that Johnson has an eye on the election and wants to scapegoat the EU.Tuesday evening saw emotional moments, as the rebels prepared to cast what they knew would be their final votes as Conservative MPs. Former minister Stephen Hammond shook hands with a colleague who wasn't rebelling before setting off to defy his leader. As the evening closed, Conservative Party whips were calling the 21 rebels and telling them they were no longer Tory MPs.Johnson, who started the day with 311 MPs and a majority of one, finished it with 289, very much the leader of a minority government. Even if there isn't a vote for an election this week, with numbers like this, a poll will have to come soon.To contact the reporters on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net;Tim Ross in London at tross54@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Robert Jameson, Flavia Krause-JacksonFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| U.K. Snap Election, Trump’s 2020 Threat, U.S. Factories: Eco Day Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:19 PM PDT ![U.K. Snap Election, Trump's 2020 Threat, U.S. Factories: Eco Day]( "U.K. Snap Election, Trump's 2020 Threat, U.S. Factories: Eco Day") (Bloomberg) -- Welcome to Wednesday, Asia. Here's the latest news and analysis from Bloomberg Economics to help get your day started:Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the U.K. on course for a snap general election after suffering a humiliating defeat for his Brexit strategy in ParliamentPresident Donald Trump sought to prod China into doing a trade deal before the U.S. presidential election in November 2020, or face even more difficult negotiations Meantime, economists are downgrading their forecasts for economic growth in China again, to below a level necessary for the Communist Party to meet its own goals in time for its centenary in 2021A key U.S. factory gauge unexpectedly contracted for the first time since 2016. Carl Riccadonna looks at the falloutFrench central bank Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau signaled skepticism over the need for renewed asset purchases by the ECBA decade on, has low interest-rates panacea turned poison? Carl Riccadonna and Yelena Shulyatyeva sift the evidenceBoston Fed chief Eric Rosengren said the U.S. economy remains "relatively strong" despite clearly heightened risks, leaving him unconvinced on the need for an interest-rate cut. Here's a summary of recent remarks by Fed policy makersIndonesia plans to cut tax on corporates and scrap a levy on dividends to help attract foreign investmentThe Bank of Canada is expected to open the door further to rate cuts at a decision Wednesday, amid worries U.S.-China tensions will curb a relatively robust expansionVenezuela Socialist Party Vice President Diosdado Cabello called former Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh "an example," at a ceremony in Caracas commemorating the 50th anniversary of his deathTo contact the reporter on this story: Michael Heath in Sydney at mheath1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Nasreen Seria at nseria@bloomberg.net, Chris BourkeFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| UK's Javid set to boost spending as prospect of election grows Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:01 PM PDT ![UK's Javid set to boost spending as prospect of election grows]( "UK's Javid set to boost spending as prospect of election grows") British finance minister Sajid Javid will announce increases in public spending on Wednesday, preparing the ground for a possible snap election call by Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is seeking a way to break resistance to his Brexit plans. Javid, in his first major speech since taking over the public purse strings in July, will promise more money for what he says are "the people's priorities" - education, health and the police - after a decade of tight spending controls that has frustrated voters. Johnson has promised the "most ambitious spending round for more than a decade" although Javid, a former Deutsche Bank managing director, says he will stick to the fiscal rules of his predecessor, at least for Wednesday's one-year spending plan.
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| Iran president insists he will not meet Trump for nuclear talks Posted: 03 Sep 2019 03:05 PM PDT  Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has said he will not take part in bilateral talks with Donald Trump. Last week Mr Rouhani said that would meet anyone if it served the national interest of his country - hinting at a meeting with the US president but without mentioning Trump's name. However, that statement did not play well among hardline factions in Iran, sparking a political backlash.Speaking in Tehran, Mr Rouhani insisted that no contact with Mr Trump would take place.
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| Boris Johnson Humiliated by Parliament in First Brexit Vote Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:57 PM PDT  REUTERSLONDON—Theresa May's abject humiliation over Brexit was three years in the making as she endured failed negotiations, misfiring political gambles, and a series of internal revolts. Boris Johnson got there in just one vote. The biographer of Winston Churchill entered Downing Street breathing rhetorical fire just one day before parliament was closed for the summer. On his very first day back in Parliament, he lost his majority in the House of Commons and was then defeated by his own side in a bitter battle over his trademark Brexit policy. The prime minister was reduced to begging the opposition parties to agree to a general election after he lost the power to deliver a Brexit of his choosing by 328 votes to 301. Lawmakers are expected to vote to rule out a hard, no-deal Brexit on Wednesday, which Johnson believes will destroy his ability to negotiate a good deal with the European Union.Kamikaze Boris Johnson Risks Becoming Britain's Shortest-Serving PMJohnson came to power boasting an ironclad, "do-or-die" commitment to deliver Brexit by Oct. 31. Braggadocious stories leaked to senior newspaper reporters explained that—after May's failure to deliver Brexit—the real men were now in charge and would channel the spirit of "Cocaine Mitch" to force through their plan using every mechanism or procedure in the book. Johnson appointed a notoriously spiky strategist as his chief of staff, and last week they broke with precedent and asked the queen to shut down parliament for five weeks until just before the Brexit deadline to prevent lawmakers thwarting Johnson's Brexit plan. The move was condemned as a constitutional outrage, and tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest in cities and towns across Britain.Instead of convincing opponents within his own Conservative party to back down, the extraordinary gambit only served to strengthen their resolve. When it looked as though there would be enough rebels for the House of Commons to seize control of parliamentary business from Johnson, No. 10 responded not with conciliatory overtures but by threatening to kick anyone who voted against him out of the Conservative Party and banning them from running for re-election under the party's banner. On Tuesday night, 21 members of the party disregarded the threats and voted to take away Johnson's control over Brexit. The so-called "rebel alliance" will use that control to hold a new vote on Wednesday that would force Johnson to seek a further Brexit extension from the European Union. The lawmakers who risked their own careers and were thus willing to be expelled from the Conservative Party in order to facedown their party leader included a former chancellor of the exchequer, a former attorney general and Ken Clarke, a veteran of Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet, who now holds the unofficial position of Father of the House, as the longest serving member of the Commons. Another of the rebels was Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Churchill, Johnson's cherished hero. Assuming the prime minister goes through with his threat to boot these Conservative stalwarts from the party, he will be reduced to presiding over the smallest minority government for 30 years.Philip Lee had already destroyed Johnson's majority earlier in the day when he quit the party and "crossed the aisle"—to sit with the Liberal Democrats—while the prime minister was speaking."This Conservative Government is aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways," Lee said. "It is undermining our country's economy, democracy and role in the world. It is using political manipulation, bullying and lies. And it is doing these things in a deliberate and considered way."Johnson challenged the opposition Labour party to back his calls for a general election to be held on Oct. 15, before the Halloween deadline he has pledged to meet. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would only agree to an election once the threat of no deal had been taken off the table.It is very likely that an election will be held in the coming months, and the only thing on Johnson's record will be the failure to deliver his only policy.Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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| Conservatives who voted against UK government will be expelled from party - spokesman Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:46 PM PDT ![Conservatives who voted against UK government will be expelled from party - spokesman]( "Conservatives who voted against UK government will be expelled from party - spokesman") British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's chief whip, or parliamentary enforcer, is speaking to Conservative lawmakers who voted in favour of a move to try to stop a no-deal Brexit and they will be expelled from the party, a spokesman said. "The chief whip is speaking to those Tory (Conservative) MPs (members of parliament) who did not vote with the government this evening.
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| FM says Germany working to end Sudan's pariah status Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:35 PM PDT  Germany's top diplomat said Tuesday his country has been working to readmit Sudan into the international economy after the military's overthrow of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in April amid mass protests against his three-decade rule. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas landed in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, in the first such visit to the African country by a top German diplomat since 2011. It came two weeks after the formation of a power-sharing government by the pro-democracy movement and the generals, which will rule Sudan for a little more than three years until elections can be held.
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| France explores a credit line for Iran, but needs Trump's buy-in Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:32 PM PDT  French officials hope the effort would encourage Iran to stay in its nuclear deal. Aides to the U.S. president are skeptical about the plan.
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| Boris Johnson Suffers Major Defeat As Conservative MPs Stall No-Deal Brexit Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:17 PM PDT  Conservative members of Parliament on Tuesday risked their careers to form a "rebel alliance" and take the Brexit timetable out of the party leader's hands.
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| UK PM Johnson says election is only option if lawmakers vote to delay Brexit Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:13 PM PDT ![UK PM Johnson says election is only option if lawmakers vote to delay Brexit]( "UK PM Johnson says election is only option if lawmakers vote to delay Brexit") British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday an election would be the only way to resolve the impasse over Britain's departure from the European Union if lawmakers vote to force him to seek a delay to Brexit. "I don't want an election but if MPs (Members of Parliament) vote tomorrow to stop negotiations and to compel another pointless delay to Brexit potentially for years then that will be the only way to resolve this," Johnson said after lawmakers voted to seize control of parliamentary time on Wednesday. Johnson said he would on Tuesday take the first step towards asking lawmakers to approve an early election.
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| British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffers critical defeat as lawmakers rule out no-deal Brexit Posted: 03 Sep 2019 02:13 PM PDT  The U.K. Parliament is set to extend the Brexit deadline once again in defiance of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, throwing the government's plans into chaos and increasing the likelihood of a general election. Lawmakers voted, 328 to 301, to take control of Parliamentary time Wednesday in order to pass legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit, with several members of Johnson's own party voting against him. If it passes by a two-third majority, a general election will be held to elect new members of Parliament.
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| France Seeks to Rescue Iran Nuclear Deal With Washington Talks Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:27 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire met with U.S. authorities in Washington as part of a plan to offer Iran a $15 billion economic lifeline and rescue the Iran nuclear accord, an idea a Trump administration official said was a non-starter.The scheduled talks were officially about a French digital tax that has riled President Donald Trump, but they've been extended to look at ways that Iran could receive waivers from U.S. sanctions, French officials said.The U.S. visit is part of a flurry of talks aimed at rescuing the 2015 nuclear deal after a series of maritime confrontations that have threatened shipping near Iranian waters. While the talks are a sign of progress, the French officials said Tehran would be sending the wrong signal if it went ahead with threats to ramp up its nuclear activities this week in a further violation of the accord.Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow Monday while his deputy Abbas Araghchi went to Paris with a team of economists and central bank officials. Araghchi discussed a French proposal for a $15 billion letter-of-credit to help restore Iran's oil exports, the backbone of its economy, according to Iranian press and officials. French officials wouldn't confirm the size or details of the letter of credit.Washington TalksLe Maire met his U.S. counterpart Steven Mnuchin and tweeted afterwards that he had constructive talks about the digital tax, without mentioning Iran. He's due to later meet with Trump's economic adviser Lawrence Kudlow, and chief U.S. trade negotiator Robert Lighthizer. According to a French official, Le Maire discussed waivers for companies that would allow Iran to sell oil. China, India and Japan would be the expected clients.A senior U.S. administration official, who asked not to be identified discussing internal deliberations, poured cold water on the idea, saying Trump has been clear that Iran won't receive any economic benefit from the U.S. for reverting back to the nuclear accord. The official said European nations are desperate to save what the administration believes is a terrible deal.Araghchi's talks in Paris lasted 10 hours, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported, without giving details. It was Araghchi's second trip to the French capital in less than six weeks, continuing the most substantive negotiations between Iran and a western power since Trump exited the nuclear accord last year and slapped a slew of crippling sanctions on Iranian oil and other sectors.According to an Iranian lawmaker, the French proposal -- hammered out in hours of telephone negotiations between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and French President Emmanuel Macron, and at a recent meeting with Zarif -- includes a $15 billion credit line to Iran for oil "pre-purchases," the semi-official Tasnim news reported, citing an interview with conservative lawmaker Ali Motahari.France has suggested the money be paid in three installments and in return, Iran would lift its threat to ramp up atomic activities on Sept. 6 and eventually revert back to full compliance with the accord, Motahari said. Macron and Rouhani spoke for two hours this weekend, French officials said.The difficulty the proposal will face is that any likely buyer of Iranian oil would need the U.S. to waive sanctions restricting such sales. But those sanctions have been a key part of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at forcing Iran back to talks to come up with a new nuclear deal.Rapprochement With Tehran"Iran's and France's points of view have grown closer," Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters at a news conference in Tehran, adding that Iran was "moving forward and advancing" in its efforts to resolve the crisis through talks.Araghchi said Saturday that discussions between Trump and Macron at the Group of Seven summit last week "have shown flexibility with regard to Iran's oil," according to the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency. Trump said at the meeting in Biarritz that he'd agree to have other countries extend a letter of credit to Iran, secured against oil sales.(Updates with U.S. government response in first, sixth and 10th paragraphs.)\--With assistance from Abbas Al Lawati, Arsalan Shahla and Nick Wadhams.To contact the reporters on this story: Gregory Viscusi in Paris at gviscusi@bloomberg.net;Helene Fouquet in Paris at hfouquet1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Bill FariesFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Ireland to up Brexit preparations as no deal risk rises Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:19 PM PDT ![Ireland to up Brexit preparations as no deal risk rises]( "Ireland to up Brexit preparations as no deal risk rises") Ireland will begin a new phase of no-deal Brexit preparations on Wednesday with a call to action encouraging businesses to increase their level of preparedness, the government said after its weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. "The government was this evening briefed on the latest position on Brexit negotiations between the EU and UK, and in that context, noted the increasing risk of a no deal Brexit on 31 October," a government statement said.
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| EU to help its firms, workers, farmers in case of no-deal Brexit - doc Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:15 PM PDT ![EU to help its firms, workers, farmers in case of no-deal Brexit - doc]( "EU to help its firms, workers, farmers in case of no-deal Brexit - doc") The European Commission on Wednesday will propose financial help for European Union businesses, workers and farmers if Britain crashes out of the bloc without any agreement, a document seen by Reuters said. British members of parliament on Tuesday triggered a vote that could allow them to stop Prime minister Boris Johnson pursuing a "no-deal" Brexit, a challenge that the government warned would prompt the prime minister to seek an election on Oct. 14. More than three years after the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union, the outcome of the Brexit crisis remains uncertain, with possible outcomes ranging from a turbulent no-deal exit to abandoning the whole endeavour.
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| Iran rules out direct US talks Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:12 PM PDT  President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday ruled out holding any bilateral talks with the United States and threatened to further cut Iran's commitments to a nuclear deal within days. Iran and three European countries -- Britain, France and Germany -- have been trying to save a landmark agreement reached in 2015 and meant to limit Tehran's nuclear programme after the US pulled out last year.
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| 58 arrests at Burning Man, an increase over 2018 Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:12 PM PDT  One death was reported this year— a man who apparently died in his car from carbon monoxide poisoning. Most of the arrests were primarily for drug possession, the Reno Gazette Journal reported . The most serious charge was a felony sexual assault filed during the pre-event activities for the counter-culture gathering that wrapped up on Monday after attracting more than 70,000 people about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Reno.
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| UPDATE 4-Churchill's grandson to be expelled from Conservative Party after defying Johnson Posted: 03 Sep 2019 01:10 PM PDT ![UPDATE 4-Churchill's grandson to be expelled from Conservative Party after defying Johnson]( "UPDATE 4-Churchill's grandson to be expelled from Conservative Party after defying Johnson") Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Britain's World War Two leader Winston Churchill, will be expelled from the Conservative Party after voting against Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Brexit. The move against the Conservative Party grandee marks one of the most bizarre turns in the three-year Brexit crisis that has gripped a country once touted as a confident pillar of Western economic and political stability. Soames was one of 21 Conservative lawmakers who rebelled, including Ken Clarke, 79, the longest continuously sitting British lawmaker in the House of Commons, and former finance minister Philip Hammond.
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| Johnson’s Government Loses Majority Ahead of Crucial Brexit Vote Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:58 PM PDT ![Johnson's Government Loses Majority Ahead of Crucial Brexit Vote]( "Johnson's Government Loses Majority Ahead of Crucial Brexit Vote") (Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson lost his government's ruling majority ahead of a critical showdown with members of Parliament, as the Brexit crisis pushed the U.K. closer toward a snap election.The prime minister is battling political opponents who are determined to wreck his plan to deliver Brexit at all costs by Oct. 31, with the first parliamentary vote in the clash expected around 10 p.m Tuesday night. If he loses, Johnson's officials have said he will set in motion preparations for a poll to elect a new government on Oct. 14.The premier's chances of success were dealt a blow when one of his Conservative Party members of Parliament, Phillip Lee, dramatically defected to join the rival Liberal Democrats as Johnson got to his feet to speak in the House of Commons.Lee blamed his decision on the "bullying and lies" of Johnson's government, which he said was "aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways.""I don't expect to be the last person to make this decision," Lee said in an interview with Sky News. "I haven't left my party. My party has left me." The pound reclaimed $1.21 after dropping below $1.20 for the first time since 2017.Likely DefeatFor Johnson, losing his majority in Parliament jeopardizes his ability to stay in power. Theoretically, he can only be prime minister if he can command a majority and he's now at greater risk of losing a vote of no-confidence, that could bring about his downfall.In reality, Johnson is likely to survive at least a little longer. There are 20 independent members of Parliament, many of whom would be reluctant to oust Johnson and trigger an election that the opposition Labour Party might win.Johnson has been leading the country for only six weeks and already faces being forced to push for an election himself. He is fighting to keep his promise to leave the European Union by Oct. 31 -- with or without a deal -- alive.The premier is on course to suffer another humiliating defeat on Tuesday night, with his political enemies poised to strip him of his power to control proceedings in the House of Commons.What NextIf they succeed, Johnson's opponents will then seek to pass their own law on Wednesday forcing him to delay Brexit by another three months to avoid a no-deal split on Oct. 31. The prime minister has said he will never do this.Instead, Johnson stands ready to try to trigger a snap election and will put forward a motion to pave the way for a poll. That motion would likely be voted on later on Wednesday.In public, Johnson insists he still wants a deal and progress is being made. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and rebel Tory MPs intent on imposing another delay to the Brexit negotiating timetable could wreck his chances, he said.In Brussels, EU officials think the EU is being used by Johnson so that he can win a general election by blaming the bloc for being inflexible and causing no deal. They have come to the conclusion that the U.K.'s departure without agreement is now the most probable outcome."Enough is enough. This country wants this done," Johnson said. "I will never surrender the control of the negotiations in the way the Leader of the Opposition is demanding."\--With assistance from Alex Morales, Kitty Donaldson and Ian Wishart.To contact the reporters on this story: Tim Ross in London at tross54@bloomberg.net;Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Flavia Krause-Jackson at fjackson@bloomberg.netFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Iran oil tanker pursued by US turns off tracker near Syria Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:26 PM PDT  An Iranian oil tanker blacklisted and pursued by the U.S. turned off its tracking beacon off the coast of Syria, leading to renewed speculation Tuesday that its oil will end up there, despite earlier assurances it wouldn't. The disappearance of the Adrian Darya 1, formerly known as the Grace 1, follows a pattern of Iranian oil tankers turning off their Automatic Identification System to try and mask where they deliver their cargo amid U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's energy industry. Its disappearance comes after the British territory of Gibraltar seized the tanker and ultimately released it weeks later when officials there said they received assurances its oil wouldn't go to Syria, underscoring the challenges authorities face as a U.S. maximum pressure campaign against Iran continues.
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| Parliament Debates Plan to Block No-Deal Split: Brexit Update Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:25 PM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Follow @Brexit, sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, and tell us your Brexit story. Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his House of Commons majority as he faces a showdown with members of his Conservative Party that will determine the U.K.'s exit from the European Union and the length of his premiership.Johnson has vowed to leave the bloc on Oct. 31, but his political enemies are fighting to stop him from doing so without a divorce deal. Tonight is the first of a series of key votes in Parliament.Key Developments:MP Phillip Lee quit Tory party and joined Liberal Democrats, removing Johnson's majorityPound recovered losses after defection, having fallen below $1.20 for first time since 2017 earlierJohnson's ultimatum: back down or snap election on Oct. 14Vote in Commons expected around 10 p.m. in London on proposal for MPs to take control of parliamentary businessRees-Mogg Pits Parliament Against People (8 p.m.)Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg gave a lengthy defense of the government's position. He portrayed the ruling Conservatives as being on the side of the 17.4 million voters who opted to leave the EU in 2016.Rees-Mogg accused Oliver Letwin -- the Tory former cabinet minister who sponsored Tuesday's debate, of "stunning arrogance" for his assertion that the U.K.'s "sovereign Parliament of this country clearly deserves an opportunity to be able to decide whether it will accept a policy of no-deal exit."Some 40 minutes after he first stood up, Rees-Mogg wound up concluding that Parliament is setting "itself against the people.""Sovereignty comes from the people to Parliament," he said. "It does not come to Parliament out of a void. If Parliament tries to challenge the people, this stretches the elastic of our constitution near to breaking point."Tory Letwin Calls Johnson Strategy 'Irresponsible' (7:05 p.m.)Former Conservative cabinet minister Oliver Letwin said Boris Johnson's strategy on Brexit is "irresponsible," as he outlined four reasons why MPs should vote to seize control of the order paper in order to pass legislation to stave off a no-deal departure from the European Union.They are:The government hasn't produced a "viable" proposal for an alternative Brexit deal, making the likelihood "slight" he'll secure a revised offer from the EUThis is the last week Parliament can block a no-deal Brexit, because if it waits until Oct. 14 following Johnson's planned suspension, there won't be time to pass legislation and see it play out through any legal challenges from the governmentWithout a new deal or a court order for Johnson to delay Brexit, he'll lead the country into a no-deal BrexitThe government's "intentional willingness to lead the country into a no-deal exit is a threat to our country"Speaker Bercow Grants Emergency Brexit Debate (6:40 p.m.)As expected, Commons Speaker John Bercow said the emergency debate on whether to give rank and file lawmakers control of Parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday will go ahead. It will last for up to three hours if it starts before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, with a vote expected around 10 p.m. This is the first stage in MPs' attempts to delay Brexit and stop a no-deal split.All Tories Who Don't Back Govt to Be Expelled (5.30 p.m.)Johnson's spokesman told reporters that every Conservative MP who doesn't vote with the government tonight -- even those who abstain -- will be expelled from the party. Asked if the same rule would apply next month if the prime minister does get a deal, and some Tory Brexiteers rebel because they would prefer a no-deal split from the EU, the spokesman was less clear.Asked the same question in Parliament, Johnson offered this answer: "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," an old expression meaning they would be treated the same. That suggests that even without an election, the number of Conservative MPs could shrink considerably before Nov. 1.Gove Says No-Deal Plans Are for Worst-Case (5:10 p.m.)Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, who is in charge of no-deal Brexit planning, said the government's preparations are designed to mitigate risks, meet "significant challenges" and ensure the U.K. is ready for the eventuality.Addressing the House of Commons, he said that the planning -- under the codename "operation yellowhammer" represents preparations for a "reasonable worst-case scenario" and doesn't represent a "base case" or a "prediction."A leaked Operation Yellowhammer document last month suggested Britain faces shortages of fuel, food and medicine as well as job losses and disruption at its ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit.Lee Predicts More Tory MPs Will Defect (4:40 p.m.)Phillip Lee, whose defection to the Liberal Democrats cost Johnson his working majority, cited bullying from Johnson's advisers as one of his reasons for quitting. But he said the "straw that broke the camel's back" was Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg's dismissive treatment of a doctor concerned about patient mortality after a no-deal Brexit during a radio phone-in on Monday."I don't expect to be the last person to make this decision," Lee, a doctor himself, told Sky News. "I haven't left my party. My party has left me."Johnson Pledges to Obey Law (4:35 p.m.)Boris Johnson said the government "will of course uphold the constitution and obey the law." He was answering a question from Labour lawmaker Angela Eagle, who asked "if a bill passes which makes it illegal to leave without a deal, will he and his government abide by the rule of law?"Moments later, Joanna Cherry of the Scottish National Party asked for Johnson's word that he would respect legislation passed by the House of Commons and court decisions in England and Scotland. He replied by referring her to the answer he gave Eagle.How Much Does Lee's Defection Matter? (4.30 p.m.)Does it matter that Johnson no longer has a majority? Conservative whips must have been counting Phillip Lee as a lost cause for months, and the government was already unable to pass anything controversial.But losing an MP adds to the sense of chaos around the government this week. All political parties are coalitions of different factions, and Lee isn't likely to be the last departure this week.With Johnson promising to expel any Tory who votes against him tonight, he seems on course to lose from the party not only two former Conservative chancellors of the exchequer but Winston Churchill's grandson, Nicholas Soames.It's a clear sign that Johnson's honeymoon is over. He is, like Theresa May before him, hamstrung by Parliament.Hammond Asks Johnson to Publish Plans (4.15 p.m.)Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond asked Johnson to publish his alternative Brexit proposals before tonight's vote, to reassure Tory MPs that he has a plan.Johnson replied that he'd told Hammond privately this morning that there was no point in publishing plans as long as there was a danger of the government's negotiating stance being undermined by Parliament."As long as this house is proposing motions such as the ones tonight and tomorrow, I am afraid we have no chance of getting progress from our EU friends," Johnson told the House of Commons. "We are working flat out to secure it, but the measures, if passed tonight, are making the prospects of success less likely."Johnson Accuses Rebels of Adding to Delay (4:05 p.m.)Johnson accused Corbyn -- and Tory rebels -- of holding up Brexit and weakening the hand of U.K. negotiators by seeking to block a no-deal Brexit.Corbyn is "an agent of further delay, further confusion, further uncertainty for business in this country," Johnson said. "What this bill would mean is that unless we agree to the terms" of the EU "they'd be able to keep us in as long as they want and on their terms."Pound Recovers After Johnson Loses Majority (4 p.m.)The pound reversed earlier losses to reach the day's high as the U.K. Government lost its majority in Parliament. This is seen as reducing the chances of a no-deal Brexit by giving Johnson less room to maneuver.Show Us No-Deal Analysis, Corbyn Demands (3:50 p.m.)Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked Johnson to publish the government's analysis of its no-deal Brexit preparations."It's becoming increasingly clear that this government only has one objective - no-deal," he told the House of Commons, accusing Johnson's administration of "cowardice" and said no-deal puts the U.K. "at the mercy of Donald Trump" for a trade deal.Johnson to Speak With EU, Ireland About Border (3:45 p.m.)Johnson told the House of Commons that "there is a solution" to the Irish border conundrum and that he'll be raising possible ways through the impasse with the EU "shortly" and with his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Monday."There are practical arrangements that we can find which avoid anyone putting infrastructure on the Irish border," Johnson said. "These have been well worked out and involve measures such as trusted trader schemes, transit provisions, frontier zones, reduced bureaucracy for small and local traders and many others."The premier said he recognizes that agri-foods are "increasingly managed on a common basis across the island of Ireland." He said he's prepared to find a way forward that recognize that reality "provided it clearly enjoys the consent of all parties and institutions with an interest.""It is simply wrong to say that we are not making progress," he said. "There is a lot to do in the coming days but things are moving."The Math of Johnson's Majority (3:40 p.m.)Lee's defection means there are now 310 Conservatives, along with 10 members of the Democratic Unionist Party, who support the government: 320 MPs.Arrayed against them are 322 MPs from other parties. But two Labour MPs and one Tory serve as deputy speakers, and don't vote. That leaves 319 voting MPs supporting the government, and 320 MPs on the opposite benches.But it doesn't mean Johnson's government falls. There are 20 independent MPs, many of them uncomfortable with the idea of a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn. So though they oppose Johnson, they may well not act on it.Johnson Loses Majority After Lee Defects (3:35 p.m.)Johnson suffered another blow as Phillip Lee, an anti-Brexit Conservative, defected to the Liberal Democrats. Even with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, Johnson no longer has a Parliamentary majority.Signs Some Rebels Are Willing To Be Won Over (3:15 p.m.)Johnson has been holding meetings with potential rebels and there are signs that some are looking for reasons to back the government.One said privately that if the prime minister is willing to assure them that he is genuinely seeking a Brexit deal, then he would believe him.Another said there are still moves the government could make to win back support including publishing more detail about its no-deal plans and negotiating strategy, alongside letting MPs sit in October.May Says 'Wait and See' on Voting Intentions (3 p.m.)If former Prime Minister Theresa May is amused at her successor Boris Johnson's efforts to bring rebels round to his cause -- given that he previously voted against her deal with Brussels -- she isn't saying it publicly. Looking cheerful and relaxed after a summer walking holiday in Switzerland, she told Bloomberg she wouldn't comment on whether she might rebel in the vote later."I'm not telling anyone how I'm voting," she said. "Wait and see."Johnson's Outreach Falls Short With Rebels (2:55 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson's overtures to potential Tory rebels aren't working with all of them. Former minister Margot James said she's minded to vote against the government "because the chances of no deal are too great."Another former minister, Alistair Burt, told Bloomberg he was in the meeting between Johnson and about 15 other MPs this morning. While he described it as "constructive" -- Johnson gave them a lot of time and both sides were able to set out their positions -- he said some of the differences are irreconcilable and he will vote for the proposal to take control of Parliament on Tuesday night, and then for the bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit on Wednesday.Sturgeon: Election Seems Inevitable (2:50 p.m.)Meanwhile in Edinburgh, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reiterated her resistance to Johnson's suspension of parliament and a no-deal Brexit. An election now seems inevitable, she said, and her Scottish National Party will campaign against leaving the European Union and for another vote on breaking away from the rest of the U.K."The SNP's opposition to Brexit and a right to choose independence will be at the very heart of that contest," Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament, before setting out her semi-autonomous government's package of policies for boosting the economy and improving transportation and education.The SNP is the third-largest party in Westminster, with 35 parliamentarians. Should Johnson end up triggering an election, the nationalists will be gunning for the dozen seats they lost in 2017 to the Conservatives when some voters recoiled from supporting another independence referendum to see how Brexit panned out. The face of that Tory campaign in Scotland, Ruth Davidson, quit last week as leader of the party north of the border.EU Says U.K. Has Made No New Proposals (2:45 p.m.)In Brussels, Brexit diplomats from the EU's 27 remaining governments have been meeting for the first time since the summer break to discuss the latest developments.They were told by the European Commission's negotiating team that the U.K. hasn't made any new proposals to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, according to officials at the meeting. The British government insists that the so-called backstop fallback solution in the current deal must be removed.The Commission believes the U.K. wants to solve the border issue using so-called maximum facilitation, which would see technology and trusted trader systems remove the need for customs checks. But the EU has said there's no evidence that this would be ready in time.Prime Minister Boris Johnson's chief negotiator, David Frost, is due back in Brussels on Wednesday and the Commission reiterated that it's still open to proposals from the U.K.Pence Urges EU to Negotiate 'in Good Faith' (2:40 p.m.)On a visit to Dublin, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urged Ireland and the EU to negotiate "in good faith" with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson."The United States will look to play whatever helpful role we can play," he said, adding that the U.S. will be open to a trade deal with the U.K. after it exits the EU.Standing alongside Pence, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland must stand its ground on the backstop amid a "real risk" of a return to a hard border, and asked Pence to relay that message to Washington.Corbyn Says Stopping No-Deal Comes First (1:20 p.m.)Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party, refused to say if he would order his party to vote for a general election if Johnson proposes one to Parliament."The priority is to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU on Oct. 31," Corbyn said in a pooled TV interview when asked about an election. "Let's see what happens after this legislation goes through."Corbyn said he "fully expects" legislation to block a no-deal Brexit to be passed by Parliament this week. "I expect and hope that every Labour MP will support that legislation," he said.Rebel Tories Unconvinced After Johnson Meeting (1 p.m.)The group of Tories seeking to block a no-deal Brexit were unconvinced by Johnson's arguments after meeting with him in Downing Street this morning (see 12 p.m.), according to a person familiar with the group.The meeting was "professional" but Johnson didn't explain sufficiently how he still has enough time to get a deal before 31 Oct., especially since parliament will be suspended for five weeks, the person said. The prime minister didn't explain why the government hasn't yet given the EU a concrete alternative to the backstop, the person said.The group also challenged Johnson's argument that their plan to take control of the order paper is undermining his negotiations with the EU, saying he hasn't convinced them that any real negotiation is taking place. They reiterated that many of the rebels had voted for Theresa May's deal three times so are not trying to stop Brexit or hand power to Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party, the person said.Johnson Called Parliament a 'Rigmarole' (12:50 p.m.)A key legal test of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament got underway in Edinburgh, revealing a handwritten note from the prime minister in which he called the legislature a "rigmarole." An attorney for a group of lawmakers seeking to halt the suspension said the prime minister's move shows a "breathtaking" contempt for the U.K.'s constitution.Johnson's spokesman, James Slack, told reporters Tuesday the quotes in the court document were selective and didn't contradict the prime minister's position: that proroguing Parliament is necessary to supercharge his domestic political agenda, and not about Brexit.Read more: Johnson Called Parliament a 'Rigmarole' in Handwritten NoteJavid May Be Denied His Moment in the Sun (12:15 p.m.)Sajid Javid may once again be denied his first big speech as chancellor of the exchequer on Wednesday as a result of Brexit maneuvers in Parliament.The announcement of a spending round, due to take place Wednesday afternoon, could be reduced to a Written Ministerial Statement, depending on how events play out in the House of Commons, a U.K. Official said.If MPs succeed in taking control of the order paper, there's a chance they could not make time for government businesses. However, in previous cases, they have done so, according to the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.Last week, Javid canceled his first big speech, due to take place in Birmingham, and instead said he would be announcing the spending round this week.Johnson Had 'Cordial' Meeting With Rebels: Official (12 p.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson told rebel Tories their efforts to force the government to delay Brexit would damage the U.K.'s negotiating position with the European Union, according to a U.K. official, who described the meeting as "cordial."The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the proposed legislation to delay Brexit is referred to on private Downing Street documents as the "surrender bill." The official acknowledged that some Tory rebels would not change their position despite Johnson's attempts to persuade them.In the meeting, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond disputed the government's position that a new Brexit deal could be legislated in Parliament in 17 days after it was agreed with the EU, arguing the process would take eight weeks, the official said.Johnson's Office Denies Election Could Move (11:45 a.m.)Boris Johnson's official spokesman, James Slack, said any general election called by the government couldn't be put off until after Oct. 14, and that once Parliament has been dissolved, it'll be 25 days until the vote -- denying Labour claims that once he won Parliamentary approval for an election he could delay it until after Brexit on Oct. 31.Johnson's officials have privately briefed any election would be on Oct. 14. But publicly the prime minister has only said he doesn't want an election."The prime minister does not want to have an election. If MPs take that decision to destroy his negotiation position then -- if any election did take place -- it would be before the European Council, which takes place on Oct. 17 and 18," Slack told reporters.He also said talks with the EU are serious after the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the U.K. premier's top adviser, Dominic Cummings, referred to them as a "sham," citing two unidentified sources. Comments from EU leaders show they are serious, Slack said.Application Made for Emergency Debate (11:40 a.m.)The application for an emergency debate on preventing a no-deal Brexit has been formally submitted, the House of Commons said in a posting on Twitter. "The Speaker will consider it later today," it said.The signatures on the application include former Tory ministers Oliver Letwin, Philip Hammond and David Gauke, senior Labour politicians including Yvette Cooper and Hilary Benn, the SNP's Stephen Gethins and Liberal Democrat Tom Brake.EU Stays Quiet on State of Talks (11:30 a.m.)The European Commission's spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva, refused to say whether there has been any progress on substance in the Brexit negotiations. She reiterated the EU is waiting for "concrete proposals compatible with the withdrawal agreement" from the U.K, declining to say whether anything resembling such a proposal has come from the U.K side.Andreeva told reporters the fact the two sides are talking, which wasn't the case before the Group of Seven meetings, signaled progress "on process," while refusing to answer questions about substance. The EU's executive arm is due to unveil an updated set of contingency instructions to companies on Wednesday, with a no-deal Brexit "a concrete possibility" she said.Officials representing the EU's 27 member states are being briefed by the European Commission on Tuesday morning in Brussels about the state of play in talks and preparations for the U.K. leaving the bloc without a deal. The meeting is behind closed doors and diplomats aren't even allowed to take laptops or mobile phones in the room.Johnson Meets Rebel Tories (10:30 a.m.)Prime Minister Boris Johnson is holding a meeting with rebel Tories in Downing Street ahead of Tuesday evening's expected debate and vote on a proposal for members of Parliament to take control of the agenda, enabling them to pass legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit.The meeting comes as a second Conservative MP, after former Cabinet minister Justine Greening, announced their decision to step down ahead of any election. Keith Simpson, who represents the district of Broadland said on Twitter: "Decided that months ago but now feel like the first officer to man the lifeboats on the Titanic!"Attendees at the meeting with Johnson include former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and other ex-ministers including David Gauke, Alistair Burt, Caroline Nokes and Margot James, who all signed an August 12 letter asking Johnson to commit to reaching an agreement with the EU.Hammond: 'We Will Have the Numbers' (Earlier)Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond confirmed he will vote with other Conservative Party rebels to try to seize control of parliamentary business with the aim of passing legislation to force a Brexit Delay."I think we will have the numbers," Hammond told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday. "Many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so," he said, referring to the government's threat to withdraw the party whip from any MPs who rebelled.Hammond also said he wouldn't vote for a general election until legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit had passed. "My view has been that Prime Minister Johnson has always intended there will be an election, despite what he says."Raab: Government Will Not Delay Brexit (Earlier)Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab made clear the government will not delay Brexit again because it "would send the EU all the wrong signals." He told BBC Radio on Tuesday there was a "lot of positivity" from the bloc's negotiators."We want to get out of this rut," Raab said. Asked whether the government would accept legislation to block a no-deal Brexit if it passed, he replied: "We will always behave lawfully, but we have been very clear that we will not extend beyond the October deadline.""Our intention is to get Brexit delivered before any election," he said, but added the government "will have to think again" if it is blocked.Earlier:U.K. Election Looms as Johnson Raises Stakes of Brexit FightCarney Has Last Chance to Send No-Deal Brexit Message to PublicPound Drops to 2017 Level on Johnson Election Threat: Chart\--With assistance from Nikos Chrysoloras, Alex Morales, Justin Sink, Ian Wishart, Jessica Shankleman and Charlotte Ryan.To contact the reporters on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net;Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net;Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs, Thomas PennyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Syrian father who lost twins to poison gas uprooted again Posted: 03 Sep 2019 12:00 PM PDT  When Abdel Hamid al-Yousef lost his 9-month-old twins in the poison gas attack that hit the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun in April 2017, the world witnessed his heartbreak and grief in the video of him cradling their lifeless bodies in his arms, bidding them farewell in the chaotic aftermath of the attack. As Syria's civil war edges toward a bloody end, many displaced persons like al-Yousef fear that a government win will bring little relief — or sense of closure.
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| US imposes sanctions on Iran space program Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:57 AM PDT  The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on Iran's space program, saying that a recent explosion on a launch pad was a sign of missile work. "The United States will not allow Iran to use its space launch program as cover to advance its ballistic missile programs," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "Iran's August 29 attempt to launch a space launch vehicle underscores the urgency of the threat," he said.
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| Britain, US and France may be complicit in Yemen war crimes, UN says Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:55 AM PDT  Britain, the United States and France may be complicit in war crimes in Yemen, the United Nations has said.The western nations could be culpable because they arm and provide intelligence and logistics support to the Saudi-led coalition that has starved civilians as a war tactic.
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| UK's Rees-Mogg says bid to block no-deal Brexit is constitutionally irregular Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:42 AM PDT ![UK's Rees-Mogg says bid to block no-deal Brexit is constitutionally irregular]( "UK's Rees-Mogg says bid to block no-deal Brexit is constitutionally irregular") A bid by British lawmakers to take control of parliamentary time to try to stop Britain leaving the European Union without a deal is constitutionally irregular, leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg said on Tuesday. "What is proposed today is constitutionally irregular," Rees-Mogg said in a debate on the motion to make parliamentary time for a bid to avoid a no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31.
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| Mattis Stays Mum on Trump Even While Taking Aim at His Policies Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:09 AM PDT ![Mattis Stays Mum on Trump Even While Taking Aim at His Policies]( "Mattis Stays Mum on Trump Even While Taking Aim at His Policies") (Bloomberg) -- Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis criticized the polarized politics in Washington and America's failure to stand by its allies, all but indicting Donald Trump's policies even as he continued to refuse to single out the president by name."There will come a time when I speak out on strategic issues, on policy issues," Mattis, who quit his Pentagon post in December, citing policy differences with the president, said Tuesday. "But I need to give some period of time to those who have the responsibility to protect this country in a very difficult age."Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, the retired Marine general acknowledged that "I've frustrated everyone so far" with oblique criticisms as he promotes "Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead," a new book he co-wrote on leadership.While Mattis said Tuesday that he doesn't want to carp from "the cheap seats," some of his recent comments left little doubt that he disapproved of Trump's approach. In the Wall Street Journal, for example, he wrote that a "polemicist's role is not sufficient for a leader.""When we are done with an election, then we all need to at least, to roll up our sleeves and get to work governing," Mattis said Tuesday. "Elections are about dividing in order to get elected, I understand that. But governing is about uniting. And right now we seem to stay in a constant election mode, and I see it as 'lets just get together and figure out how to solve the problem together."'On Bush, ObamaBut Mattis also offered criticism of past presidents. He lamented the poor preparation leading up the Iraq war under Republican George W. Bush. He criticized Democrat Barack Obama for signing the Iran nuclear deal, saying its restrictions expire "too soon" and its "inspection regime fell short" for a nation that has used "denial and deceit for years to hide" its quest for nuclear weapons. Trump has quit the accord.While Mattis refused to criticize the Trump administration's current push for an accord with the Taliban that would let American troops come home from Afghanistan, he did so indirectly by slamming Obama's pullout from Iraq as a strategic blunder that let Islamic State terrorists flourish."We can declare the war over but the enemy gets a vote," he said. "The idea that we can now turn our back to this threat and that we're going to live in an island in the global community unaffected by it just doesn't match. We're going to have to learn from our past."Mattis resigned in December, after Trump announced he was pulling all U.S. troops out of Syria, a plan he later scaled back. In a two-page letter at the time, Mattis criticized the president's treatment of longtime U.S. allies and implied that Trump's approach to strategic rivals Russia and China has been ambiguous.In addition to completing and promoting his book, Mattis, 68, has rejoined the board of defense company General Dynamics Corp., reflecting what critics call the revolving door between the Pentagon and its top contractors.To contact the reporter on this story: David Wainer in New York at dwainer3@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Bill Faries at wfaries@bloomberg.net, Larry LiebertFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Israel claims to uncover Hezbollah missile plant in Lebanon Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:06 AM PDT  The Israeli military said Tuesday the militant group Hezbollah and Iran have built a precision-missile factory in neighboring Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The army issued a statement saying that "in fear of strikes" by Israel, Hezbollah had moved key equipment from the site to "civilian locations in Beirut." It didn't specify when this happened. The military said the factory was of "superior importance" to Hezbollah.
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| UK parliament faces last chance to block a no-deal on Tuesday -Conservative lawmaker Posted: 03 Sep 2019 11:02 AM PDT ![UK parliament faces last chance to block a no-deal on Tuesday -Conservative lawmaker]( "UK parliament faces last chance to block a no-deal on Tuesday -Conservative lawmaker") British lawmakers on Tuesday face their last opportunity to prevent a no-deal Brexit at the end of October, a Conservative lawmaker leading an emergency debate on Brexit said. Lawmakers will vote at the end of the debate on whether to seize parliamentary time on Wednesday to try and pass legislation which would force Prime Minister Boris Johnson to delay Brexit by three months. "This is parliament's last chance to block a no-deal exit on 31st October," Oliver Letwin told parliament.
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| Ukraine strips MPs of legal immunity in victory for populist president Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:55 AM PDT  Ukraine's parliament has voted to strip its members of immunity from prosecution in the first major victory for president Volodymyr Zelenskiy's populist reform programme. Supported by 373 of 450 MPs, the legislation removes from the constitution a guarantee that the chamber's members cannot be held criminally liable without a vote by parliament. It will come into effect at the start of 2020. The move gives weight to Mr Zelenskiy's promises to revitalise the reform process and root out entrenched corruption in Ukraine, where voters' trust in the government had dropped to single digits. Nearly nine out of 10 believe that political parties have been engaged in corruption. Critics have said the change could expose MPs to politically motivated cases. But speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Mr Zelenskiy argued that it would instead keep members from abusing their position, promising that they would not be prosecuted for their votes or political decisions. "If a deputy hits a person with a car, or covers for (illegal) amber mining or commits any other criminal offence, he should bear responsibility," he said. "This is parliament, not a lair where you can hide out under the cupola for five years." The pro-Russian Opposition Platform-For Life was the only fraction that didn't vote for the measure. The legislation to remove parliamentary immunity was actually introduced by Mr Zelenskiy's predecessor Petro Poroshenko last year. Although it was ruled legal by the constitutional court, it did not move forward until the new president's Servant of the People party won Ukraine's first-ever single-party majority in snap elections in July. As a result, his initiatives stymied by the previous parliament now have a green light. Mr Zelenskiy met with US vice president Mike Pence in Poland on Sunday Credit: Ukrainian presidential press service via Reuters The removal of immunity fulfils a central campaign pledge of the former comedian, who played a teacher-turned-president on television before sweeping into the office for real in April. He has promised to strip the president and judges of legal immunity and establish procedures for impeachment and nationwide referenda, in addition to business-friendly tax and legal reforms. He also said he would involve the United States and UK in new peace talks about the frozen conflict with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Negotiations of a prisoner swap with Russia, which began after Mr Zelenskiy called Vladimir Putin last month, have so far failed to bear fruit, despite Ukrainian officials' promises of an imminent trade in recent weeks. Also on Tuesday, parliament voted to send a bill to the constitutional court for review that would allow ordinary people to introduce legislation directly. One newspaper columnist said after Tuesday's vote that parliamentary immunity must also be removed from a law on MPs' status and from the criminal code to completely strip lawmakers of this protection. But given their parliamentary majority, Mr Zelenskiy's supporters are well positioned to do this as well. While the president has been vocal in his anti-corruption campaign, many have questioned his ties with oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, who owns the channel that broadcast Mr Zelenskiy's shows and has been trying to reverse the nationalisation of his bank.
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| China To File WTO Dispute Over Latest US Tariffs Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:39 AM PDT ![China To File WTO Dispute Over Latest US Tariffs]( "China To File WTO Dispute Over Latest US Tariffs") China will file a dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding U.S. tariffs across approximately $263 billion worth of goods from China in annual import value, China's Commerce Ministry said Sept. 2. The case will be the third dispute that China has brought against the U.S. at the WTO regarding Section 301 tariffs, after the first such proceeding was started on April 4, 2018. The latest measures break from a consensus reached by Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June, China's Commerce Ministry said.
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| The Latest: French diplo warns against Iran deal retreat Posted: 03 Sep 2019 10:22 AM PDT  A French diplomat warns that Iran would send a "bad signal" if the country takes additional steps away from the 2015 nuclear agreement on Friday. France is leading diplomatic talks to try to save the nuclear deal — from which the United States withdrew — and get a de-escalation of tensions in the Gulf region. The French diplomat, who was speaking anonymously because he was not allowed to speak publicly on the sensitive talks, said Iran seeks to get $15 billion through oil exports.
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| Deripaska Says U.S. Fails to Prove He Acted as Putin Agent Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:44 AM PDT ![Deripaska Says U.S. Fails to Prove He Acted as Putin Agent]( "Deripaska Says U.S. Fails to Prove He Acted as Putin Agent") (Bloomberg) -- Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska wants a U.S. judge to lift sanctions against him because, he claims, the U.S. Treasury Department failed to prove he acted as an agent of Russian President Vladimir Putin.The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, known as OFAC, punished Deripaska last year in response to Russia's "worldwide malign activities," which included occupying Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, supplying weapons to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and attempting to subvert Western democracies.Deripaska sued the U.S. this year over the sanctions, claiming they unfairly caused his net worth to drop by $7.5 billion as banks withdrew credit and as other businesses refused to work with him. In support of that lawsuit, Deripaska filed papers Monday saying that a redacted version of Treasury records concluded that he supported Putin's projects, not that he acted on the leader's behalf."OFAC provides no explanation as to how it determined that support for a project associated with a specific individual is the equivalent of acting for or on their behalf," according to the filing in federal court in Washington. Deripaska is currently worth about $2.9 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment.On Aug. 2, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and OFAC asked a judge to dismiss Deripaska's lawsuit, arguing that as a foreign national, he can't argue that his constitutional rights to due process were violated.The filing on Monday said that eight of the nine paragraphs in an OFAC memorandum supporting the factual basis for the Deripaska sanctions were redacted, and that the Russian has no "alternative means to learn of the reasons" for the action. The Aug. 2 filing said that the redacted material was classified.The sanctions could be imposed only in response to a national emergency, but the U.S. has failed to make such a declaration, according to Deripaska's filing.Deripaska said in his lawsuit that he was "the latest victim" of "political infighting and ongoing reaction to Russia's purported interference" with the 2016 U.S. presidential election.Deripaska, the founder of aluminum producers En+ Group and United Co. Rusal, was among the most prominent tycoons hit with sanctions by President Donald Trump's administration. The move followed passage of a law to retaliate against Moscow for its election interference. In April 2018, the Treasury slapped sanctions on Deripaska and six other Russians it labeled oligarchs.In the filing, Deripaska said that the methodology for designating him as an oligarch was "unreasonable and unlawful."The case is Deripaska v. Mnuchin, 19-cv-727, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington).Earlier: Deripaska Says Treasury Response to Lawsuit Is Poorly Done (May 29)(Updates with no-comment from the Justice Department)To contact the reporter on this story: David Voreacos in New York at dvoreacos@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Jeffrey D Grocott at jgrocott2@bloomberg.net, David S. Joachim, Robert FriedmanFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Britain, US and France may be complicit in Yemen war crimes, UN says Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:42 AM PDT  Britain, the US and France may be complicit in war crimes in Yemen by supporting a Saudi-led coalition that starves civilians as a war tactic, the United Nations has said. UN investigators recommended that the UK and others, who have since 2015 been arming and providing intelligence and logistics support to the coalition, impose a ban on arms transfers to prevent them from being used to commit serious violations. The Court of Appeal in London ruled in June that the UK's arms sales to the kingdom were unlawful because they did not properly consider whether the weapons would be used to commit "serious violations of international humanitarian law." The latest UN report will likely be used by right groups and others demanding that the Government end weapons sales to Saudi for use in Yemen. A displaced child, who fled from fighting in Taiz, eats rice in a slum on the outskirts of Sanaa. Credit: Reuters "This shocking report should act as a wake-up call to the UK government," said Muhsin Siddiquey, Oxfam's Yemen country director. "It offers all the proof needed of the misery and suffering being inflicted on the people of Yemen by a war partly fuelled by UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other coalition members." Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the main parties in the coalition fighting against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls Yemen's capital, are two of the biggest buyers of US, British and French weapons. The report accused the coalition of killing civilians in air strikes and deliberately denying them food in a country facing famine. The Houthis, for their part, have shelled cities, deployed child soldiers and used "siege-like warfare", it said. Save the Children has reported that more than 85,000 children may have starved to death since the conflict began in 2015. Nurse holds a hand of malnourished two-month-old Jood Motaher two days before her death at a malnutrition treatment centre in Sanaa Credit: Reuters The UN experts compiled a secret list of more than 160 "main actors" among Saudi, Emirati and Yemeni government, as well as Houthi officials, for the first time. Investigators found potential crimes on both sides. "There are no clean hands in this combat, in this contest," said Charles Garraway, the only Briton on the panel. It found that a Joint Incidents Assessment Team set up by Saudi Arabia to review alleged coalition violations had failed to hold anyone accountable for any strike killing civilians, raising "concerns as to the impartiality of its investigations". "Of one thing we are pretty sure - things are going wrong in the (coalition) targeting process," Mr Garraway said. Neither the Saudi government communications office nor UAE officials responded immediately to requests for comment. The development came days after 100 people were killed in coalition air strikes on a Houthi detention centre in the city of Dhamar, south of Sanaa.
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| UPDATE 1-"No deal" Brexit would cost at least $16 bln in UK sales to the EU - U.N. Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:23 AM PDT  Leaving the European Union without a trade deal would cost Britain at least $16 billion in lost EU sales, and probably far more after accounting for indirect effects and other markets, a report by the U.N. trade agency UNCTAD said on Tuesday. "UNCTAD's research indicates that a no-deal Brexit will result in UK export losses of at least $16 billion, representing an approximate 7% loss of overall UK exports to the EU," it said. UNCTAD said the $16 billion figure was conservative, and only took into account a rise in EU tariffs from zero to the basic "most favoured nation" rate that it offers countries withouth preferential deals.
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| Johnson’s Prorogation Plan Set for Ruling in Scottish Court Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:13 AM PDT ![Johnson's Prorogation Plan Set for Ruling in Scottish Court]( "Johnson's Prorogation Plan Set for Ruling in Scottish Court") (Bloomberg) -- Follow @Brexit, sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, and tell us your Brexit story. Boris Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament in the run up to Brexit will get its first real test Wednesday morning when a Scottish judge rules on a challenge by a group of lawmakers opposed to leaving the European Union without a deal.Judge Raymond Doherty's ruling in Edinburgh will be the first on the merits of the challenge to the prime minister's controversial plan while similar cases are underway in Belfast and London. The U.K. Supreme Court is already planning to review any appeals on Sept. 17, days after Johnson wants to suspend Parliament.The ruling will come as members of Parliament themselves -- in the time available before a prorogation comes into effect -- prepare a bill to force Johnson to ask for an extension, with the PM in turn threatening a snap election if his negotiations with the European Union are undermined.Earlier Tuesday, lawyers for lawmakers told Doherty that Johnson's move shows a "breathtaking" contempt for the U.K.'s constitution."This prime minister says in his own words, in his own handwriting, that the further sitting of Parliament is only a 'rigmarole' to show that MPs are earning their crust," Aidan O'Neill, said, reading out an Aug. 16 note from Johnson in support of shutting Parliament that was disclosed to the court. In the letter, the prime minister continued: "I don't see anything especially shocking about this proposition."The Scottish case is the first full court hearing of Johnson's move to suspend debate in Westminster in the approach to the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline.Doherty brought forward the hearing in Edinburgh to Tuesday, saying it was in the interest of justice that the case be heard quickly. He allowed the Scottish government's request to intervene alongside the lawmakers.There are separate hearings slated for London and Belfast later this week, with claimants saying Johnson's plan prevents lawmakers from holding the government accountable. MPs Jess Phillips and Alex Sobel said Tuesday that they would seek to join the London lawsuit.David Johnston, a lawyer for the U.K. government, told Doherty that it disclosed the PM's handwritten document "in the interest of candor."Johnston said the case shouldn't be before a judge at all."It is politics," he said. "It is high policy, it is not law."The prime minister announced the decision to prorogue Parliament two weeks after his note, framing the plan as part of the normal course of government business. The length of the suspension -- set to last from Sept. 12 until the Queen's Speech on Oct. 14 -- appeared to blindside lawmakers.The scheduled Sept. 17 review of any appeals at the Supreme Court means a final decision won't occur until after the prorogation. Whether Parliament sits or not during that time will depend on the rulings from the lower courts, said Jolyon Maugham, the lawyer who spearheaded the Scottish case.He said that he won't be surprised if Doherty rules against the challenge Wednesday."I've always thought our case is more likely to succeed as we rise through the court system," he said.To contact the reporters on this story: Alastair Reed in Edinburgh at areed12@bloomberg.net;Jonathan Browning in London at jbrowning9@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Aarons at aaarons@bloomberg.netFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Sudan's PM calls for US to drop 'terror' blacklisting Posted: 03 Sep 2019 09:02 AM PDT  Sudan's new premier Tuesday called for the United States to drop his country from its state sponsors of terrorism list, insisting it was crucial to economic revival. The United States in late 2017 lifted economic sanctions that it had imposed on Sudan in 1997, but kept the country on its "terror" blacklist along with Iran, North Korea and Syria. Sudanese officials, including those from the now ousted president Omar al-Bashir's administration, consistently complained that this has hampered economic growth by discouraging foreign investment.
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| EU wants to see if lawmakers will block Brexit before striking new deal - UK's Johnson Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:59 AM PDT ![EU wants to see if lawmakers will block Brexit before striking new deal - UK's Johnson]( "EU wants to see if lawmakers will block Brexit before striking new deal - UK's Johnson") The European Union is waiting to see if British lawmakers block Brexit before giving Britain concessions to strike a new withdrawal agreement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Johnson, who has pledged that Britain will leave the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal, wants the Irish border backstop removed from the withdrawal agreement.
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| RPT-Asked about rebel Brexit bill, UK PM Johnson says he will obey the law Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:53 AM PDT ![RPT-Asked about rebel Brexit bill, UK PM Johnson says he will obey the law]( "RPT-Asked about rebel Brexit bill, UK PM Johnson says he will obey the law") British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he would obey the law, when asked by a lawmaker if his government would abide by legislation blocking a no-deal Brexit. Lawmakers are planning to seize control of parliamentary time on Wednesday to pass a law forcing Johnson to seek a delay to Brexit, but at the weekend one of his senior ministers said that the government would only "look at" such legislation.
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| Carney to Face Lawmaker Who Wants Straight Talk on Brexit Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:49 AM PDT ![Carney to Face Lawmaker Who Wants Straight Talk on Brexit]( "Carney to Face Lawmaker Who Wants Straight Talk on Brexit") (Bloomberg) -- Bank of England Governor Mark Carney is set to face tough questions on Wednesday after Parliament's Treasury Committee named John Mann as interim chair.Mann and Carney have had colorful exchanges at committee hearings over the years. The MP previously told Carney he talks like an economist and to put his answers on the impact of a no-deal Brexit on food prices "as more of a human being."That exchange was late last year, but it's been a recurring theme. In 2013, just months after Carney took over the BOE, the Labour Party lawmaker asked whether the governor was selectively choosing data to politically "present a rosier picture" of the economy. In response, Carney said he was "more than mildly offended."Mann's appointment as Treasury Committee chair is temporary. He replaces Nicky Morgan, who left for a role in the cabinet, and an election for the role will likely take place later this month.The pro-Brexit lawmaker's first chance to grill Carney as chair comes Wednesday, when the governor appears along with BOE chief economist Andy Haldane and fellow policy makers Jonathan Haskel and Gertjan Vlieghe.The hearing will cover the August Inflation Report as well as the U.K.'s relationship with the European Union. The session may also give the central bank the opportunity to fulfill the committee's request for updated Brexit analysis, first released last year.While Mann, 59, has so far missed every Inflation Report hearing this year, he was present for the one on previous BOE scenarios in December 2018.At the time, he came to Carney's defense, thanking him for the analysis, which he said was "vital as part of this country's democracy." He also dubbed the criticism of the governor by Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg as "contemptuous of Parliament."That was after Rees-Mogg, a former member of the Treasury Committee, responded to the scenarios by calling Carney a "second-tier Canadian politician" and accused him of failing to understand his role.Still, Mann hasn't always been so kind to Carney. In the lead-up to the 2016 referendum, he said on Twitter that Carney is "reliant on fear factor alone" to promote the idea that banks could relocate if the country voted for Brexit.Mann's Twitter handle says he's "not scared to say it how it is."To contact the reporter on this story: Jill Ward in London at jward98@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Fergal O'Brien at fobrien@bloomberg.net, Brian SwintFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Pound Slides Below $1.20 After Boris Johnson Threatens Snap Election Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:48 AM PDT  (Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here.The pound rebounded after sliding to the lowest since 2016 in volatile trading as the prospect of a general election added an extra layer of complexity to the Brexit calculus.Sterling headed for its first gain in five days against the dollar after the defection of a Conservative party lawmaker removed a parliamentary majority for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, likely making it more difficult for him to win backing for a no-deal Brexit.Sterling has fallen nearly 20% since the referendum vote to leave the bloc in June 2016, with the currency a market barometer for political developments. Johnson said he would trigger a general election on Oct. 14 if lawmakers vote later Tuesday to force him to delay the Brexit departure date again beyond end-October."Johnson losing his majority will be seen by the market as reducing the chances of a hard Brexit," said Neil Jones, head of hedge-fund currency sales at Mizuho Bank. "Any political development that drives us away from a no-deal Brexit is good for the pound right now."The pound rose 0.2% to $1.2088, after earlier dropping as much as 0.9% to hit $1.1959, the lowest since October 2016. U.K. government bonds held a rally after 10-year yields fell to a fresh record. A no-deal Brexit may see yields slide to zero or even lower, according to Citigroup Inc.Overnight volatility on the pound has spiked up to the highest since April ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary vote, with a gauge of three-month price swings also climbing as the Brexit deadline nears. Speculation over an election before then has been rising as that could enable Johnson to change the parliamentary arithmetic to get his plans through."Recent polls are suggesting that the pro-Brexit Tory party, Brexit Party and the DUP could come close to winning a majority and thus be able to deliver Brexit with or without a deal," said Valentin Marinov, head of Group-of-10 currency research at Credit Agricole SA.The currency may drop to as low as $1.10 if an election is seen delivering a mandate for a no-deal departure from the EU, according to Lee Hardman, a strategist at MUFG. A Bloomberg survey of strategists carried out last month saw an election as a better scenario for markets than a no-deal Brexit, with a vote seen pushing the currency down to $1.19 versus $1.10 on a crash exit.Johnson's combative approach with parliament has also seen him ask the Queen to stop lawmakers from meeting for a month, and warn potential Tory rebels that they would be expelled if they voted against him over a Brexit delay. Yet he would still need two-thirds of MPs to vote for an election -- or 434 lawmakers. He has only 310, after MP Phillip Lee defected to the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats.The pound looks likely to remain under pressure for Morgan Stanley, with room for a fall to $1.15, strategists including Hans Redeker said in a research note. The bank now expects an election to be called either in October before the Brexit deadline or sometime in the fourth quarter, according to a separate note from its economists.\--With assistance from Ruth Carson, Vassilis Karamanis and Anooja Debnath.To contact the reporters on this story: Charlotte Ryan in London at cryan147@bloomberg.net;John Ainger in London at jainger@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Ven Ram at vram1@bloomberg.net, Neil Chatterjee, William ShawFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
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| Syrian Kurds to remove fortifications from Turkish border Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:25 AM PDT ![Syrian Kurds to remove fortifications from Turkish border]( "Syrian Kurds to remove fortifications from Turkish border") A U.S.-backed mostly Kurdish force in Syria on Tuesday carried out a patrol along with the U.S.-led coalition near a border town with Turkey to select fortifications to be removed as part of an agreement to set up a safe zone along the country's northwest border, a spokesman for the group said. Mustafa Bali of the Syrian Democratic Forces tweeted that the patrol occurred near the town Tal Abyad on the border with Turkey, which seeks to set up a buffer zone along its southern border. The SDF announced last week that it has begun withdrawing its fighters from the border towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn as part of a deal for the so-called safe zone in northeast Syria involving the U.S. and Turkey.
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| Asked about rebel Brexit bill, UK PM Johnson says he will obey the law Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:25 AM PDT ![Asked about rebel Brexit bill, UK PM Johnson says he will obey the law]( "Asked about rebel Brexit bill, UK PM Johnson says he will obey the law") British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he would obey the law, when asked by a lawmaker if his government would abide by legislation blocking a no-deal Brexit. Lawmakers are planning to seize control of parliamentary time on Wednesday to pass a law forcing Johnson to seek a delay to Brexit, but at the weekend one of his senior ministers said that the government would only "look at" such legislation.
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| Harvard student denied US entry arrives in time for classes Posted: 03 Sep 2019 08:13 AM PDT  A Palestinian student who was denied entry to the United States just days before he was scheduled to start classes at Harvard University has been admitted to the country. Ismail Ajjawi was on campus as classes began Tuesday, the university confirmed. "The last ten days have been difficult and anxiety filled, but we are most grateful for the thousands of messages of support and particularly the work of AMIDEAST," his family said, referring to the academic organization that provided their son a scholarship to attend Harvard.
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| UK PM Johnson says rebel Brexit law would destroy negotiations Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:50 AM PDT ![UK PM Johnson says rebel Brexit law would destroy negotiations]( "UK PM Johnson says rebel Brexit law would destroy negotiations") British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he had achieved "real momentum" in Brexit talks with the European Union over the summer and that a bid by lawmakers to pass a law to block a no-deal exit would destroy the negotiations. "If that happens, all the progress that we have been making will have been for nothing ... It would destroy any chance of negotiation," Johnson told lawmakers, urging them to reject the legislation.
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| UPDATE 1-U.S. vice president urges EU to negotiate "in good faith" on Brexit Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:45 AM PDT ![UPDATE 1-U.S. vice president urges EU to negotiate "in good faith" on Brexit]( "UPDATE 1-U.S. vice president urges EU to negotiate \"in good faith\" on Brexit") U.S. Vice President Mike Pence used a visit to Ireland on Tuesday to urge the European Union to negotiate "in good faith" with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and reach a Brexit deal that respects British sovereignty. The outcome of Brexit remains uncertain three years on from the vote to leave the bloc, with disagreement on how to keep EU member Ireland's border with Northern Ireland open and not jeopardise two decades of peace in the British-run region.
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| Syrian man suspected of IS beheading charged in Hungary Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:41 AM PDT ![Syrian man suspected of IS beheading charged in Hungary]( "Syrian man suspected of IS beheading charged in Hungary") Hungarian prosecutors say they have charged a Syrian man suspected of belonging to the Islamic State group with committing acts of terror, murder and crimes against humanity in his homeland in May 2015. Prosecutors said Tuesday that the 27-year old man identified only as Hassan F. participated in the beheading of a religious leader in the city of al-Sukhnah in Homs province and also took part in the killing of at least 25 people, including women and children. According to the indictment, Hassan F. was the commander of a small, armed IS unit.
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| GRAPHIC-Plotting sterling's latest lurch - just how low did it go? Posted: 03 Sep 2019 07:39 AM PDT ![GRAPHIC-Plotting sterling's latest lurch - just how low did it go?]( "GRAPHIC-Plotting sterling's latest lurch - just how low did it go?") Britain's currency tumbled below $1.20 on Tuesday, the first time it has breached that level since a "flash crash" in October 2016, as fears over Brexit and a possible general election escalated sharply. If that flash crash is excluded, sterling is now trading back at levels not seen since 1985, creating confusion on Tuesday about where the pound is now positioned historically and what new lows it clocked as UK political uncertainty deepens.
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