International

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 11:12 UTC

  EU stands firmly on its beef offer to Mercosur: 70.000 tons

  

  The European Union's offer on beef in Mercosur trade negotiations has not been revised according to the EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, who said a deal may happen in February. Speaking to journalists in Brussels on Wednesday, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said that the EU's offer on beef access for Mercosur countries has not been revised since December 5.

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 11:07 UTC

  Transition period after Brexit ends the last day of 2020, states EC

  

  The European Union wants a transition period after Brexit to end no later than the last day of 2020, according to the European Commission's negotiating directives agreed on Wednesday. That date, coinciding with the end of the EU's seven-year budget period and 21 months after Britain departs the EU, had long been expected as the target end point of the transition.

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 10:59 UTC

  Mrs. May reaffirms Gibraltar will be part of UK Brexit negotiations

  

  Gibraltar will not be excluded from any aspect of the UK’s Brexit negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May insisted again, after the European Commission appeared to indicate that Spain would have a veto on any transitional arrangements covering the Rock.

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 10:48 UTC

  “Unprecedented” absence of Royal Navy vessels on the world stage

  

  Britain has no major warships deployed on operations beyond home waters in what has been described as an “unprecedented” absence of the vessels on the world stage. All six of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers are docked in Portsmouth, while 12 of 13 Type 23 frigates are either at Portsmouth or Devonport.

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 10:32 UTC

  UN Jerusalem vote: Trump threatens to cut off financial aid to countries that support the resolution

  

  United States president Donald Trump has threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that back a United Nations resolution opposing the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Earlier this month, Mr Trump took that step amid international criticism.

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 10:23 UTC

  Catalonia hangover vote: challenge for a stable Spain, and for Europe

  

  As voters in Catalonia ready themselves for Thursday’s election results, they will not be alone in anxious anticipation. Nobody has bet more on the outcome than Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who has urged Catalans to step back from what he sees as an illegal, reckless insistence on independence.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2017 - 10:59 UTC

  Prince Harry appointed Captain General Royal Marines

  

  The Queen has given her formal approval to the appointment of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales as Captain General Royal Marines. Prince Harry will assume the role in succession to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2017 - 09:30 UTC

  EU support for Falklands at the UN in doubt, warns ex UK ambassador

  

  The European Union will refuse to back Britain in United Nations votes over the Falkland Islands after Brexit, a former ambassador has suggested. Other countries regarded the UK’s loss of influence since the Leave vote “as a shark would regard blood in the water”, Lord Hannay told a parliamentary inquiry.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2017 - 08:48 UTC

  Protecting UK (and Falklands) fisheries in a post Brexit scenario

  

  In the midst of the Brexit debate in the UK, and its expected consequences, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has anticipated EU fishing quotas referred to UK will be scrapped and if things go as planned by the cabinet member, French, Spanish, Danish and other nations fishing fleets will be chased form illegally fishing in UK waters.

• Tuesday, December 19th 2017 - 12:48 UTC

  May admits that during the Brexit transition period, UK would still be bound by EU rules

  

  Theresa May has acknowledged that Britain will be unable to implement any new trade deals during a Brexit transition phase, telling MPs that although the country would have left the customs union it would still be bound by its rules.