EU President Donald Tusk on Monday said that a deal to unblock stalled divorce talks between the European Union and Britain was closer than ever after a breakthrough on the thorny topic of Ireland.

"Encouraged after my phone call with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on progress on Brexit issue of Ireland. Getting closer to sufficient progress at December (EU summit)," Tusk said in a tweet, in a sign that EU leaders would agree to open trade talks with the UK.

Source: AFP