Why Johnson’s Brexit Path Can’t Avoid Irish Border: QuickTake

Why Johnson’s Brexit Path Can’t Avoid Irish Border: QuickTake

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – It was the boundary between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland that sank former U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s efforts to engineer an orderly exit from the European Union. Now her successor, Boris Johnson, is bumping up against the same challenge — how to manage a historically fraught border when it becomes the dividing line between the U.K. and the EU. Johnson has made clear his willingness to do what May balked at: crash…

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EU Is Said to Seek a Road Map for Future U.K. Deal by December

EU Is Said to Seek a Road Map for Future U.K. Deal by December

LONDON (Capital Markets in Africa) – European Union countries are seeking to complete preparatory work on a future relationship with the U.K. before the end of the year, in a move intended to keep hope alive for Theresa May’s government as Brexit negotiations stall. The European Council, which represents member states, will start working with the European Commission as soon as this month on the key points, according to an EU government official familiar with the matter. The plan…

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Theresa May’s Dinner With Juncker Yields No Signs of Brexit Progress

Theresa May’s Dinner With Juncker Yields No Signs of Brexit Progress

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May’s attempt to unblock stalled Brexit talks by traveling to Brussels to see European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker yielded little, with both sides issuing a statement that entrenched their previous stances.  May made the journey, after calls to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron, to try to break a deadlock that has some senior ministers in her team doubtful that the rest of the European Union even wants a deal.  European…

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Frankfurt, Germany Doesn’t Want London’s Bankers

Frankfurt, Germany Doesn’t Want London’s Bankers

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – In the scramble to lure financial jobs from London in the wake of Brexit, Frankfurt is leading the pack—at least nine banks have said they’ll move positions there. That could ultimately mean 10,000 new jobs and well over $100 million annually in new tax revenue for the German financial capital, auguring an economic and cultural rebirth. Micha Hintz hates the idea. “Brexit will be very bad for people with a…

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EU Sanctions Nine Congolese Including Two Government Figures

EU Sanctions Nine Congolese Including Two Government Figures

CONGO (Capital Markets in Africa) – The European Union imposed sanctions on nine Democratic Republic of Congo citizens, including the interior and communications ministers, accusing them of undermining democracy and responsibility for human-rights abuses. The travel bans and asset freezes represent a significant escalation in EU action against President Joseph Kabila’s government since it failed to hold elections in November. While the EU sanctioned seven security officials in December, Monday’s move is the first time the EU has…

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