Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, is dithering over the exit payment to be made to the EU and over the terms of an interim separation before the final ‘divorce’, says Clive Crook            

China has said it is closing off part of the South China Sea for military exercises this week.

YESTERDAY’S preliminary ruling, usually a first step towards complete vindication, by the European Court of Justice, supporting Government intentions to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products is very welcome — all the more so as it seems rulings against conglomerates, intended to protect ordinary citizens, are becoming as scarce as turkey teeth. The court’s advocate general said the standardisation of labelling and packaging is a “proportionate” measure and that it challenges the “coolness” of current packaging.

IRELAND will go to the United Nations tomorrow to argue that the Sellafield MOX Plant be shut down.

THE Government begins legal action today to demand full disclosure by Britain of top secret documents on the Sellafield nuclear fuel manufacturing plant.