Argentina's Fisheries Secretariat imposed a 400.000 Euros fine, (the highest possible) and the seizure of the cargo, some 550.000 Euros, to Galicia's Pesquerias Marinenses following the arrest of trawler Playa Pesmar Uno which was caught operating in Argentina's EEZ, in early February.
The Government of Gibraltar has stated that it is not surprised by the reference to Clause 24 in a footnote to the draft legal text on the Withdrawal Agreement published by the European Union27 on Wednesday. However, it nonetheless constitutes a disgraceful affront to a small British country that voted by 96% to remain in the European Union.
Former British Prime Minister John Major called on Wednesday for a free vote in parliament on whether to reject any deal negotiated with the European Union, warning the current plans are “bad politics” that will damage the economy.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet top EU official Donald Tusk this Thursday, 24 hours before a major speech on British relations with the bloc after Brexit. Her talks with the European Council president come amid tensions over the EU's draft withdrawal treaty.
Failing to strike a Brexit deal would put hundreds of thousands of jobs in the car industry at risk, MPs have said. The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee said continued close alignment with the EU would ensure the industry's survival. And it warned the introduction of trade barriers would leave the sector unable to compete with its European rivals.
The number of casualties from cold exposure continues to rise as most of Europe experiences freezing temperatures. Dozens of people have been reported dead across the continent - many of them rough sleepers. Among the casualties was a man, 75, in the Netherlands, who fell through the ice while skating on Wednesday morning. He was pronounced dead in hospital.
On 21 February, the First Academic Report on Climate Change was presented in Caracas with a conference by Dr. Antonina Ivanova, member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The recent statement entitled ‘Progress made towards establishing a second commercial Falkland Islands air link’ released by the Falkland Islands Government has met with a mixed reception in the Islands. While some have expressed favor others have reservations and questions.
By Gwynne Dyer
Why wait another month to report on the Russian election (March 18th) when we can wrap it up right now? Vladimir Putin is going to win another six years in power by a landslide — probably between 60% and 70% of the popular vote. The real question is what happens after that, because he will be 72 by the end of his next term and will not legally be allowed to run for president again.
The British government has dismissed any prospect of a return to a “hard border” on the island of Ireland after Brexit. It followed the leak of a letter from Boris Johnson in which he appeared to contemplate future customs border checks after the UK leaves the EU.