British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held an anticipated phone call Saturday as the two sides race to secure a post-Brexit trade deal.

Von der Leyen tweeted: “Good phone call with Boris Johnson about the state of play in the [EU-UK] negotiations,

“While progress had been made, significant gaps remain. We agreed that it’s important to find an agreement as strong basis for a strategic relationship.”

Johnson had previously called for an agreement by Oct. 15 — less than two weeks away.

According to a joint statement released after the call, Johnson and von der Leyen “agreed on the importance of finding an agreement, if at all possible, as a strong basis for a strategic EU-UK relationship in future,

“They endorsed the assessment of both Chief Negotiators that progress had been made in recent weeks but that significant gaps remained, notably but not only in the areas of fisheries, the level playing field, and governance.”

The statement added that the two had “instructed their Chief Negotiators to work intensively in order to try to bridge those gaps.”

“They agreed to speak on a regular basis on this issue.”

This article has been adapted from its original source.

BRUSSELS The European Union said on Sunday that Belarus demand for Lithuania and Poland to reduce their embassy staff numbers in Minsk was unfounded and regrettable.The EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell criticized the move in a statement.

It goes against the logic of dialogue and will only further isolate the authorities in Minsk.

Attempts by the Belarusian authorities to target certain EU Member States will not succeed in weakening EU unity, Borrell said.

He added that it was clearly reaffirmed by the European Council on Oct. 1 when all EU Member States called on the Belarusian authorities to end violence and repression, release all detainees and political prisoners, respect media freedom and civil society, and start an inclusive national dialogue.

During the meeting, EU heads of state and government agreed to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials for their involvement in the violent repression of peaceful protests against Alexander Lukanshenko.

The long-serving president, in power since 1994, was left off the sanction list.

The EU does not consider Lukashenkos presidential election victory back in August to be legitimate.

According to Belarus electoral committee, the hardline ruler took 80 percent of the national vote.

Belarus opposition which has swelled with popular support in recent months, and the EU, believe the elections were rigged.

The EU continues to support the democratic right of the Belarusian people to elect their President through new free and fair elections, without external interference, Borrell said.

The Belarusian government has held consultations with its ambassadors in Poland and Lithuania, both of which border Belarus, over the two nations alleged destructive role in Minsks political crisis.

Foreign minister spokesman Anatoli Glaz told the official BELTA news agency that the ambassadors would return to Minsk on Monday.

The government has also asked Poland and Lithuania to reduce their diplomatic corps in the country.

Lithuania would have to reduce its diplomatic staff from 25 to 14 and Poland from 50 to 18, the spokesman said.

Poland and Lithuania have expressed their support for Belarus opposition politicians following the controversial Aug. 9 presidential elections.

Belarus most prominent opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is currently self-exiled to Lithuania, from where she coordinates the opposition council.

The European Union (EU) has allocated almost K3.4 billion humanitarian support to boost Malawi Government’s preparedness and response plan to coronavirus.

The 3 700 000 euros funding will support three projects to close critical gaps in the fight against Covid-19, which has claimed 179 lives from Malawi’s 4 263 confirmed cases by Monday.

The humanitarian community will work closely with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare to strengthen the national Covid-19 response.

The projects aim to reduce coronavirus spread by strengthening health facilities; improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and supporting national, district and community preparedness and response.

The funding will also ensure a rapid, gender-sensitive response to protect lives and livelihoods.

Two projects will be implemented in Mzimba North, Lilongwe, Dedza, Mangochi, Blantyre, Mwanza and Mangochi until October next year.

EU is channelling the funding through two NGO consortia led by Save the Children and Cooperazione Internazionale (Coopi) which are working together to collect data and lessons to assist all partners in these sectors.

Coopi’s partners are working in the Central and Northern regions while Savethe Children is leading non-governmental organisations working in the South.

The partners include Care, Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services, TroCaire, Goal, Concern Worldwide, United Purpose, Cadecom and Catholic Health Commission.

EU Humanitarian Aid head of office for southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, Alexandre Castellano, said the funding constitutes a significant step towards strengthening Malawi’s National Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan as well as capacity in the fight.

He explained. “The coronavirus pandemic has shaken even the most established health systems in the world.

“The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Malawi in the fight against the virus. Through this funding, we join hands with our partners in Malawi to beat this global problem and to strengthen local capacities to fight back.”

Save the Children country director Kim Koch said the investment is “a welcome opportunity” to contribute to national Covid-19 response.

“All partners are glad to be able to leverage our diverse capacities in this coordinated programme that will ultimately save lives,” she says.

Coopi disaster risk reduction programme manager Harry Guelker said the joint project will add to improved resilience of the country’s population of almost 18 million.

“Thanks to the diversity of activities under this project, the two consortia, in collaboration with the Malawi Government, are in a good position to flexibly respond to the rapidly changing situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in Malawi as well as getting prepared to respond to potentially upcoming emergencies such as drought, flood or storm.”

The details of an annual Daphne Caruana Galizia prize for journalism are set to be approved by the European Parliament on Monday.

The prize seeks to distinguish outstanding journalism revolving around the principles and values of the EU.

It will be open to journalists or teams of journalists of any nationality.

MEP Roberta Metsola described the creation of the annual prize, with a purse of €20,000, as an important moment for Malta and the EU.

“More than the prize money, it is a symbolic step that sends the message that the European Union stands with independent journalists and will support them.

“Daphne Caruana Galizia’s courage in holding power to account and in exposing corruption represents the very best of Maltese and European values and she will be remembered and honoured. Assassins may have stopped her pen  but her legacy will live on,” she said.

The European Parliament proved to be one of the key institutions ensuring international scrutiny of the murder investigation and the role played by former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s government in facilitating corruption.

Metsola said the EP will continue to demand justice over the stories the journalist was killed for. It expects all the people behind her killing and its cover-up to face justice.

The MEP expressed her hope that Malta will follow Europe’s example and launch a national effort to recognise Caruana Galizia’s contribution and permanently honour “one of the country’s most courageous daughters”.

The parliament had inaugurated a press room named after the journalist a month after her October 2017 assassination.

In contrast, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia this year vetoed a proposal to name a hall in Malta’s parliament after Caruana Galizia, saying the move could be seen as eroding the impartiality of the House.