#trade-agreements
#trade-agreements

World politics

Spain's prime minister plans to visit Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping on China's peace framework.

MADRID The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, will travel next week to China for talks with President Xi Jinping, and intends to discuss China's framework for negotiating a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, he announced on Thursday.Mr. Sanchez, speaking to reporters at a European Union meeting in Brussels, said he intended to find out first hand what Mr. Xi's peace framework consists of and to transmit the message that Ukraine must establish the conditions for talks.

www.independent.co.uk

Varadkar disappointed' DUP will not return to Stormont

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he was disappointed to hear that the DUP is not willing to re-enter the Northern Ireland Assembly in its continuing protest against post-Brexit trade agreements.It comes after EU member states approved the Windsor Framework on Tuesday, and a key element of the EU-UK agreement the Stormont brake was endorsed by 515 votes to 29 in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

www.independent.co.uk

Scotland alcohol advertising ban could cost jobs' in whisky industry, warns MP

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Stricter alcohol advertising rules planned in Scotland are draconian and could have an impact on the whisky industry, a senior Scottish Tory has warned.Conservative former Scotland secretary David Mundell claimed that restrictions the Scottish Government is currently consulting on could cost jobs in Scotland.

The Independent

Farmers will 'empty chair' Liz Truss as she snubs rural hustings

Conservative leadership frontrunner Liz Truss will be "empty chaired" by farmers after she refused to turn up at a hustings event on rural issues organised by union leaders.

www.theguardian.com

UK accused of hollow national security rhetoric after Asian embassy cuts

British-based diplomatic posts for key Indo-Pacific countries have been cut by up to 50% in recent years, new figures reveal, sparking accusations that the headline aim of the government's national security strategy is hollow rhetoric.The numbers working for embassies and consulates in Pakistan, China and India have all been diminishing over the last seven years, despite those countries being identified as key places to deepen ties with over the coming decade.

www.independent.co.uk

Badenoch sets sights on US investment in first visit as Trade Secretary

Kemi Badenoch will hail the special relationship between the UK and the US when she travels to New York for her first overseas visit as Trade Secretary.

BBC News

Brexit: What trade deals has the UK done so far?

By Tom Edgington BBC Reality Check

Since Brexit, the UK has signed trade deals and agreements in principle with 69 countries and one with the EU.

The Independent

Michael Gove's memorable moments from cocaine confession to nightclub dancing

"Still trying to work out what happened.I hope Mr Gove is ok."

Those were the words of BBC presenter Dan Walker, following a bizarre interview Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary on Wednesday.

BBC News

BBC debate: Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak fact-checked

Here we look at some of the claims they made.

Ms Truss said this when asked how she would fund her plans for a series of tax cuts - one of the dividing lines between her and Mr Sunak.

the Guardian

TUC issues workers' rights warning over post-Brexit trade deals

Ministers have been accused of pushing for post-Brexit trade deals with more than a dozen countries around the world that do not guarantee workers' rights or systematically violate employee protections.

BBC News

2 years ago