Business

LONDON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May ended speculation Sunday that a vote on her under-fire Brexit deal may be deferred again, insisting that the vote would go-ahead in the House of Commons as planned next week.

In an interview on the BBC's main weekly political program, May said "I want to see this deal go through. If the deal is not voted on, then actually we are going to be in uncharted territory."

The vote should have taken place last month, but it was deferred with May saying it was clear it would be defeated.

BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's express delivery sector handled 50.5 billion parcels in 2018, up 25.8 percent year on year, data from the State Post Bureau (SPB) showed.

Gross business revenue of the sector increased 21.2 percent year on year to hit 601 billion yuan (about 88 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to the SPB.

New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg will arrive here on Monday on a three-day visit during which she will hold talks with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on a host of issues with an aim to expand the multi-faceted bilateral partnership.

Solberg will deliver the inaugural address at the Raisina Dialogue and address India-Norway Business Summit during her visit.

She will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, besides holding talks with Prime Minister Modi.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expressing optimism about trade negotiations with China as U.S. officials are expected in Beijing for talks aimed at easing a trade battle.

Trump said Sunday he spoke recently to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump says: “I really believe they want to make a deal. The tariffs have absolutely hurt China very badly.”

After several tit-for-tat tariff increases, the leaders agreed Dec. 1 to postpone further hikes. American officials are due in Beijing Monday.

Both governments face pressure to reach a settlement.

06 Jan 2019; AFP: Hundreds of women on Sunday marched in Paris to reclaim France's "yellow vest" movement from violent activists, a day after protesters smashed their way into a government ministry.

The women, wearing yellow vests, turned out after 50,000 people returned to the streets of France on Saturday amid violent clashes with police.

Some of the women waved yellow balloons and pushed prams. Protests were also held in other French cities.

05 Jan 2019; DW: Germany's largest trade union has called for industrial action following a failed round of wage negotiations. The affected airports have warned of "severe disruption" for passengers on Monday.

Security personnel at Berlin's Tegel and Schönefeld airports are to go on a nearly four-hour strike on Monday, following a fourth round of failed wage negotiations between Germany's largest trade union, Ver.di, and the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS).

05 Jan 2019; DW: Protesters have braved a blizzard to demonstrate for a fifth week against President Aleksandar Vucic. Media freedom, an end to attacks against journalists and the opposition and electoral reform are among their demands.

05 Jan 2019; DW: Yellow vest protesters have gathered once again across France to call for tax cuts and pay increases. Some demonstrators clashed with police, with President Emmanuel Macron condemning the violence.

TOKYO, January 6. /TASS/. The signing of a peace treaty between Japan and Russia will have a positive impact on the security of the Asia-Pacific region and will also be beneficial for Washington, which signed a security treaty with Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the NHK TV Channel on Sunday.

When asked to comment on how the mutual obligations of Tokyo and Washington influence the Russian-Japanese peace treaty negotiations Abe said:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Senior Trump administration officials and Democratic congressional staffers met Saturday without achieving any breakthrough in ending a partial government shutdown and breaking a deadlock over funding for a proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall.

A readout provided by the office of Vice President Mike Pence, who led the administration's team, said "the conversation was productive" and both sides agreed to meet again Sunday afternoon.