Brexit
The EU and UK have agreed a draft agreement on their future relationship, paving the way for a Brexit deal to be finalised this weekend.
The political declaration – outlining how trade, security and other issues will work – has been “agreed in principle”, the European Council says.
London and Brussels have already agreed the draft terms of the UK’s exit from the EU on 29 March.
Theresa May will make a statement to MP’s later today,
Public Phones
The Spanish government is set to give the go ahead to remove the country’s public payphones from universal service obligations starting on 01 January. Earlier this year the government announced that Telefonica will continue to operate the payphone network and publish directories until 31 December this year after no operators applied for the contracts. However, the Council of Ministers will now approve a royal decree ending Telefonica’s obligation on the grounds that payphones have become obsolete
Sea Food
Authorities have halted the sale of certain seafood products in Galicia that cold pose a risk to human health.
The Guardia Civil seized more than 150 tons of Norway lobster in the second phase of an operation Norway lobster is also known as scampi, Dublin Bay prawn, or langoustine.
The Seized product did not have correct documentation so a health risk could not be ruled out.
The agency’s maritime section immobilized merchandise in a market estimated to be worth some €4.5 million
Officials said the operation is still ongoing due to the huge volume of shellfish to be inspected and difficult working conditions inside the cold rooms with temperatures of minus 22 degrees Celsius.
Science
Astronauts and scientists from the European Space Agency carried out tests with robots and moon walkers on the island of Lanzarote today in readiness for future plans to return to the moon.
An ESA team of scientists and astronauts were on the islands Volcanoes to test sophisticated equipment using artificial intelligence that would be used for a lunar mission set to launch in 10 years time.