Nigel Dodds
The European Union's "intransigence" in Brexit negotiations is the reason for the real prospect of Britain leaving the EU without a deal, the deputy leader of the Northern Irish party backing Britain's minority government said on Friday.
"The Dublin government and the EU has weaponised the idea of an Irish backstop against the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland's position within it. Their intransigence is now causing the real prospect of a no deal," the Democratic Unionist Party's Nigel Dodds said in a statement, adding that nobody wanted that.
"We will judge any proposals about the way forward against the test of whether they preserve and respect the political, constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom with no part hived off into separate EU arrangements, and deliver a sensible overall Brexit deal for the United Kingdom."
Londoners fed up with Brexit can vent their rage with a special gym routine that includes high-intensity exercises like pummelling punchbags bearing photographs of some of the main players like Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker.The 30-minute circuit also features the "Theresa May Sack Race," "Jacob Rees-Logg lifts" and "Politico Headslammer" in which participants slam balls on to pictures of British Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn.There is also a "Cameron Quitters' Corner" named after May's predecessor David Cameron to take time out.The Brexfit classes are being offered by fitness company Gymbox, whose boss Marc Diaper said the theme was chosen by a members' poll of their main frustrations with living in the British capital.EU's Barnier says working for Brexit deal, close economic ties laterFifty two percent of respondents said Brexit, followed by rent prices and train delays."We thought well, what better way to actually release frustration and anger than actually put on a Brexfit class as we've called it, where you can actually punch your most hated politician in the face on a punch bag," he told Reuters.The course was designed with the help of an anger management expert, said fitness instructor Boriss Visokoborskis."Members are leaving our classes feeling relieved, lighter and they do something good for themselves, they work on their body," he added.German institutes warn of recession if trade conflict escalatesStudent Ania Jarzabkiewicz, 26, originally from Poland, said she felt "amazing" after the class."I have a problem to get my student loan because of Brexit, so today I really take out my frustration on this whole situation and I feel really good," she said.Fitness coach George, 25, said his favourite exercises were the sack races and punch bags. In this particular class, leading Brexiteer and former Foreign Secretary Johnson bore the brunt of his frustration.May calls for businesses to invest in post-Brexit UK"It'd be wrong to punch him in the face in real life so ... doing it on a punch bag there's nothing wrong with that, and it's definitely a great way to get your frustration out," he said.With six months until Britain leaves the EU, May has yet to reach a deal on the terms of the divorce, and her plan for future trade ties has been rebuffed by both the EU and many in her own Conservative Party.Corbyn said this week that Labour would vote against a Brexit deal based on May's proposals, the strongest warning yet to a prime minister whose plan to leave the EU is hanging by a thread. 
Boris and Theresa punchbags help Londoners vent their Brexit rage
The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Thursday he was working for a Brexit deal and a close economic relationship afterwards.Barnier said after meeting Spain's industry minister in Brussels: "The EU continues to work for an orderly Brexit and an ambitious future partnership with the UK that should include a close economic relationship." May calls for businesses to invest in post-Brexit UKEU negotiator seeks orderly Brexit, new partnership respecting UK sovereignty
EU's Barnier says working for Brexit deal, close economic ties later
Any escalation of trade friction involving the United States could cause a major recession in Germany and Europe, Germany's leading economic institutes said on Thursday.The institutes also said U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on car imports from the European Union would cost jobs and harm productivity and prosperity in Germany."Retaliatory measures by the EU would probably ease the economic downturn in the EU and cause a major recession in the United States," the institutes said in a report, which had been flagged by Reuters on Wednesday.The EU has said it would respond in kind if Trump imposed further car tariffs while the two sides discuss how they could cut trade barriers.China says does not interfere in other countries' internal affairsSignificant and widespread further tariff measures from Washington, meanwhile, "would probably trigger a major recession in Germany and Europe," the report states.The institutes gave no timeframe for that scenario.They cut their 2018 GDP growth forecast to 1.7 percent from 2.2 percent.The move comes after the BDI industry association cut its 2018 forecast to 2.0 percent from 2.25 percent on Tuesday, citing weaker demand for German exports due to U.S. trade policy and Brexit, as well a threat to the economy from xenophobia at home.Germany, where one in three jobs depend on exports, would be hard hit by any U.S. tariffs on car imports given the large size of its automotive sector. Tensions rose last month after Trump rejected an EU offer to eliminate auto tariffs.
German institutes warn of recession if trade conflict escalates