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No decisive progress in Brexit talks: EU negotiator

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Brussels, Aug 31 (IANS) The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator on Thursday said no decisive progress had been made in the discussions regarding the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the bloc.

Following a third round of Brexit negotiations, Michel Barnier told journalists gathered at the European Commission in Brussels that at the current state of progress, he was far from being able to advise the European Council on the future relationship between London and Brussels, Efe news reported.

“We did not get any decisive progress on any of the principal subjects,” Barnier said, adding, however, that talks on the future border situation between the Republic of Ireland — an EU member state — and Northern Ireland — a region of the UK — had been fruitful.

Maintaining a soft Irish border is one of the key EU principals in the bloc’s approach to the preliminary stages of the talks, as well as the fate of citizens’ rights and financial obligations on the part of the UK, the report said.

Barnier said he felt that the UK negotiation team, headed by Brexit Secretary David Davis, did not feel obligated to honour its legal commitments to several EU plans and initiatives, some of which are due to last until 2020.

“With such uncertainty, how can we build trust and start discussing a future relationship?” Barnier said.

Davis, whose job was created in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Cabinet following the Brexit referendum in June 2016, said the UK would examine its legal obligations to the EU “line by line”.

Contradicting Barnier’s criticism of slow progress in the talks, Davis said the UK’s approach so far had been more pragmatic than that of the EU and insisted that concrete progress had been made.

The British government has previously advocated for future UK-EU trade discussions to be held at the same time as the preliminary Brexit talks. However, the EU has insisted that its three key points — which include tallying up a UK divorce bill — must be agreed upon before a future relationship can be hammered out.

“Our discussions this week have exposed yet again that the UK’s approach is substantially more flexible and pragmatic than that of the EU as it avoids unnecessary disruption for businesses and consumers,” he said.

Barnier said time was flying and, for that reason, his negotiation team was willing to pick up the intensity of the talks.

The UK is due to be fully withdrawn from the EU by March 29, 2019, exactly two years after May triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty — the official mechanism to secede from the supranational organisation.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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