Brexit

Authorities in the UK are planning to give preferential status to EU migrants up to 30 years after Brexit, informs Telegraph, citing the Independent Migration Advisory Committee.

Britons living all around the world are applying for Irish passports to "safeguard their positions" after Brexit, the country's UK ambassador has revealed, reported The Independent. 

Daniel Mulhall said many of a record 500,000 applications in the first half of 2017 had come from British people who fear losing their rights to live and work in the EU after withdrawal.

IllustrationPhoto: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

"I'm not in favor of the Western Balkans joining the EU soon," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said.

However, in his interview for Politico, Juncker revealed that he was also against "taking away European perspective" from the region.

The UK's divorce from the European Union could cause major disruption to flights from March 2019 as Brexit talks proceed, Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has warned, according to metro.co.uk.

The Government has promised to establish up to 20 public agencies in cities outside London to take on new work running the country after Brexit, reported The Independent.

Ministers say the agencies will be needed to deal with administrative tasks being moved from Brussels to the UK and will provide new careers for people living outside the capital.

Britain does not intend to lower taxes far below the European average in order to remain competitive after Brexit but rather expects to keep a recognizably European economic and social model, finance minister Philip Hammond said.

HSBC said profits were up in the first half of the year after a turbulent 2016 which saw huge writedowns and restructuring costs as it laid off thousands of staff.

The Asia-focused giant has been on a recovery drive over the past two years, streamlining its operations and exiting unprofitable businesses.

The British government appeared divided on July 30 over Brexit, with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox clashing with finance minister Philip Hammond over free movement of labor once the U.K. leaves the EU.

Fox said the cabinet had not agreed a deal on immigration once Britain is out of the European Union in March 2019.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has said any "transitional deal" in the immediate period after Brexit must end by the time of the next general election, reported BBC. 

He said there must be "business as usual, life as normal" for Britons as the UK exits the EU.

Britain will try to keep as many aspects of its EU membership in place as possible during a transition period of up to three years after Brexit, finance minister Philip Hammond said on July 28.