International

• Sunday, February 3rd 2019 - 10:02 UTC

  Gibraltar's legal status is a matter of fact, not opinion

  

  In its proposal for post-Brexit, ‘visa-free travel’ the European Council on Friday has described Gibraltar as a “colony of the British Crown.” HM Government of Gibraltar is grateful to the Prime Minister for her comment that such a description is “completely unacceptable.”

• Saturday, February 2nd 2019 - 09:12 UTC

  EU members will support interim president Guaido, individually, and conditioned to elections

  

  European Union governments will move to recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president from next week, but using cautious language for fear of setting a precedent for political crises, EU diplomats said on Friday.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 14:09 UTC

  Religious Freedom: Human Rights Organizations calls for shutdown of the Korea’s Christian Council

  

  On January 27, 30,000 people gathered in at Seul’s Gwanghwamun Square in a rally coordinated by the Global Citizens' Human Rights Coalition. People from civil society organizations and religious groups came together calling the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) to be held accountable for their ”unconstitutional actions and ultimately shut down,” local media reported.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 11:15 UTC

  Italian economy in recession, and likely to continue during the year

  

  Italy's economy tipped into recession at the end of last year, according to latest figures. In the final three months of 2018, the economy shrank by 0.2%, following a 0.1% decline in the third quarter, the Istat statistics office said. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the contraction was likely to continue into 2019.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 11:08 UTC

  Argentina and EU reach an agreement over exports of biodiesel

  

  Argentina and the European Union (EU) reached an agreement to end a dispute over exports of biodiesel, the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The deal establishes price and volume limits to be announced next month, the ministry said in a statement.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:34 UTC

  France, Germany and UK agree on new channel to trade with Iran and avert US sanctions

  

  France, Germany and Britain have opened a new channel for non-dollar trade with Iran to avert U.S. sanctions, although diplomats say it is unlikely to allow for the big transactions that Tehran says it needs to keep a nuclear deal afloat. Washington’s major European allies opposed last year’s decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon the 2015 deal, under which international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for Tehran accepting curbs on its nuclear program.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:25 UTC

  EU Parliament recognizes Guaidó as de facto head of state: 90 days for Venezuela to hold new elections

  

  The European Parliament recognized Venezuela’s self-declared interim president Juan Guaido as de facto head of state on Thursday, heightening international pressure on the OPEC member’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro. EU governments, divided over whether to recognize Guaido, also agreed to lead an international crisis group with South American nations to seek new elections, setting a 90-day time limit, and threatening further economic sanctions.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 10:20 UTC

  Guaidó invites Russia and China to change sides: “your interests will be best served”

  

  Global jostling intensified on Thursday between countries that want Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in power and those trying to force him to resign, as opposition leader Juan Guaidó made overtures to his rival’s allies Russia and China.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 09:59 UTC

  Brazil and China prepare for first high-level political and economic talks since 2015

  

  Brazil and China are expected to hold their first high-level political and economic talks since 2015 later this year, Brazil’s agriculture trade secretary said on Thursday, in a move likely to boost farm trade between the two countries.

• Friday, February 1st 2019 - 09:56 UTC

  Summit with Xi, “soon”, should seal “the biggest deal ever made” forecasts Trump

  

  U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal as Trump and his top trade negotiator both cited substantial progress in two days of high-level talks.