FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4038463

LEAD IN:

UK wine industry experts are eyeing the upcoming vote on whether to leave the European Union with mixed feelings.

With producers and suppliers heavily reliant on pan-European trade, many remain unsure how Brexit will impact upon business.

STORY-LINE:

Sparkling wine on a summer's day in the English capital.

Glistening flutes and bottles in abundance, and a crowd of happy lunchtime drinkers add to the atmosphere of excitement and discovery, along with an impromptu game of ping pong.

It must be London Wine Week.

This is the third year of the festival, and this year is the most popular to date.

Festival director Emma Murphy says "It's the largest self-guided wine tasting that there is across London. It's kind of the only event of its kind that we have over here. So we work with 125 bars, restaurants, independent merchants who all get involved" .

But although these flutes of fizz are English sparkling wine, much of the wine the festival goers here are tasting is from EU member states such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany.

The June 23 referendum on whether to quit the European Union is fast approaching. So is this something the industry should fear?

"I wouldn't have said so," says Murphy.

"Wine trade has been going for long enough, even long before the euro, so I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to be honest with you. Hopefully not anyway."

At the festival hub on London's Devonshire Square, there are pop-up bars featuring wines from across Europe.

These two young graduate trainees are enjoying wines from Portugal, and with their festival wristband, it costs them just five British Pounds for a flight of three.

Oscar Stenbom and Anna Rogers both agree that things may well be different if Britain leaves the union.

"If it's more expensive for them to send the wine here, if there's more tariffs, then yeah I guess it would be," says Anna, while Oscar is concerned about regulation and labelling:

"It would also be more difficult to know what you are drinking because there won't be as many restrictions on labelling the wine based on where it's actually from and the grape it's actually come from."

The New Street wine shop has been taken over by the wine festival. They sell wines from all over the world but today they are holding a tasting featuring wines from Ribera del Duero in northern Spain.

Most wine drinkers know about the region of Rioja, but Bettina Lemm is informing these festival goers about the region she represents.

"I think they (wines of Ribera del Duero) are still an emerging market, especially in the UK. The UK is an important market for Ribera del Duero, it's the seventh-largest export market for Ribera del Duero but I think that we're still establishing ourselves."

But if the UK is an important export market, is Brexit going to throw the proverbial spanner into the works? Lemm doesn't seem too worried "I think at the moment we're pretty confident as we've seen year to year that exports have grown. I think that's going to continue and I don't think it's a worry that we have at the moment," she says.

Wine used to have a rather old fashioned reputation and a comparatively elderly demographic, but this has changed enormously in recent years.

The prevalence of wine clubs popping up in the UK is an indicator of wine's increasing popularity.

Tom Harrow of Honest Grapes explains why this is "I think this is because people want to engage more with what's in the bottle. It's not just liquid, they want to know the stories behind it, they want to meet the people involved. And there's the sociable aspect, you know wine is fundamentally something which we do with other people," he says.

With 125 venues across the metropolis taking part in this festival, there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy it with friends.

But with such enthusiasm for wine spreading across the country, June 23 could bring disruption, according to Harrow "It's fair to say that we're a bit concerned about the possibilities of Brexit, I think the rising price of the euro against the pound will have a serious effect on quality wine. At the moment more than 60 percent of wine that comes into the UK is shipped in massive great tankers and bottled over here and that's not something we get involved with. But that becomes the only affordable way if the pound plummets against the euro. So I think that it won't be a good thing initially for the wine consumer because the prices of these small artisan wines will go up" .

However, the future might be bright in other, unexpected ways.

"All the English wine makers that I speak to say we are half a degree away from being a perfect climate for sparkling wines at least," says Harrow, and with apologies to climate change icon Al Gore, he adds that "global warming is a good thing for the UK sparkling wine trade."

Reports by the WSTA (Wine and Spirit Trade Association) suggest there is still some way to go as the UK comes in at number six on the list of sales of sparkling wine by origin - but it's rising year on year.

600 million bottles of wine are bottled in the UK.

This makes the UK wine market the sixth largest in the world, generating 173 billion British pounds of economic activity, according to the WSTA. 10 billion British pounds are made through sales.

Also being showcased here is one of the new kids on the alcohol block, Regal Rogue Vermouth.

According to brand founder Mark Ward, vermouth, by definition, is 75 percent wine. It must have wormwood and it must have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 15 to 24 percent. These three things have to be in place for a producer to put vermouth on the bottle or it flouts recent EU regulations.

Ward, who was brought up in hospitality, began the project in Australia where he worked closely with top Australian chefs who introduced him to indigenous herbs and spices.

"It seemed like a really obvious thing to do, marrying the herbs and spices with this abundance of Australian wine to create a New World style of vermouth. And you know the tradition of vermouth is really led by the European markets. You know, Italian, French, now Spanish - but now there are vermouths coming out of America, the UK, Germany and obviously Australia. So pretty much anywhere where you find wine now, you will find a vermouth of some sort." he says.

Ward is attempting to educate the wine drinking market which, he believes, is mostly unaware of the fact that vermouth is fundamentally a wine.

This can only be helped by a new pop up for 2016, the Vermouth Bar.

The parent company of London Wine Week is the aptly named "Drink Up London", and they're already preparing for the 2017 event - Brexit or no Brexit.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4038463

LEAD IN:

UK wine industry experts are eyeing the upcoming vote on whether to leave the European Union with mixed feelings.

With producers and suppliers heavily reliant on pan-European trade, many remain unsure how Brexit will impact upon business.

STORY-LINE:

Sparkling wine on a summer's day in the English capital.

Glistening flutes and bottles in abundance, and a crowd of happy lunchtime drinkers add to the atmosphere of excitement and discovery, along with an impromptu game of ping pong.

It must be London Wine Week.

This is the third year of the festival, and this year is the most popular to date.

Festival director Emma Murphy says "It's the largest self-guided wine tasting that there is across London. It's kind of the only event of its kind that we have over here. So we work with 125 bars, restaurants, independent merchants who all get involved" .

But although these flutes of fizz are English sparkling wine, much of the wine the festival goers here are tasting is from EU member states such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany.

The June 23 referendum on whether to quit the European Union is fast approaching. So is this something the industry should fear?

"I wouldn't have said so," says Murphy.

"Wine trade has been going for long enough, even long before the euro, so I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to be honest with you. Hopefully not anyway."

At the festival hub on London's Devonshire Square, there are pop-up bars featuring wines from across Europe.

These two young graduate trainees are enjoying wines from Portugal, and with their festival wristband, it costs them just five British Pounds for a flight of three.

Oscar Stenbom and Anna Rogers both agree that things may well be different if Britain leaves the union.

"If it's more expensive for them to send the wine here, if there's more tariffs, then yeah I guess it would be," says Anna, while Oscar is concerned about regulation and labelling:

"It would also be more difficult to know what you are drinking because there won't be as many restrictions on labelling the wine based on where it's actually from and the grape it's actually come from."

The New Street wine shop has been taken over by the wine festival. They sell wines from all over the world but today they are holding a tasting featuring wines from Ribera del Duero in northern Spain.

Most wine drinkers know about the region of Rioja, but Bettina Lemm is informing these festival goers about the region she represents.

"I think they (wines of Ribera del Duero) are still an emerging market, especially in the UK. The UK is an important market for Ribera del Duero, it's the seventh-largest export market for Ribera del Duero but I think that we're still establishing ourselves."

But if the UK is an important export market, is Brexit going to throw the proverbial spanner into the works? Lemm doesn't seem too worried "I think at the moment we're pretty confident as we've seen year to year that exports have grown. I think that's going to continue and I don't think it's a worry that we have at the moment," she says.

Wine used to have a rather old fashioned reputation and a comparatively elderly demographic, but this has changed enormously in recent years.

The prevalence of wine clubs popping up in the UK is an indicator of wine's increasing popularity.

Tom Harrow of Honest Grapes explains why this is "I think this is because people want to engage more with what's in the bottle. It's not just liquid, they want to know the stories behind it, they want to meet the people involved. And there's the sociable aspect, you know wine is fundamentally something which we do with other people," he says.

With 125 venues across the metropolis taking part in this festival, there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy it with friends.

But with such enthusiasm for wine spreading across the country, June 23 could bring disruption, according to Harrow "It's fair to say that we're a bit concerned about the possibilities of Brexit, I think the rising price of the euro against the pound will have a serious effect on quality wine. At the moment more than 60 percent of wine that comes into the UK is shipped in massive great tankers and bottled over here and that's not something we get involved with. But that becomes the only affordable way if the pound plummets against the euro. So I think that it won't be a good thing initially for the wine consumer because the prices of these small artisan wines will go up" .

However, the future might be bright in other, unexpected ways.

"All the English wine makers that I speak to say we are half a degree away from being a perfect climate for sparkling wines at least," says Harrow, and with apologies to climate change icon Al Gore, he adds that "global warming is a good thing for the UK sparkling wine trade."

Reports by the WSTA (Wine and Spirit Trade Association) suggest there is still some way to go as the UK comes in at number six on the list of sales of sparkling wine by origin - but it's rising year on year.

600 million bottles of wine are bottled in the UK.

This makes the UK wine market the sixth largest in the world, generating 173 billion British pounds of economic activity, according to the WSTA. 10 billion British pounds are made through sales.

Also being showcased here is one of the new kids on the alcohol block, Regal Rogue Vermouth.

According to brand founder Mark Ward, vermouth, by definition, is 75 percent wine. It must have wormwood and it must have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 15 to 24 percent. These three things have to be in place for a producer to put vermouth on the bottle or it flouts recent EU regulations.

Ward, who was brought up in hospitality, began the project in Australia where he worked closely with top Australian chefs who introduced him to indigenous herbs and spices.

"It seemed like a really obvious thing to do, marrying the herbs and spices with this abundance of Australian wine to create a New World style of vermouth. And you know the tradition of vermouth is really led by the European markets. You know, Italian, French, now Spanish - but now there are vermouths coming out of America, the UK, Germany and obviously Australia. So pretty much anywhere where you find wine now, you will find a vermouth of some sort." he says.

Ward is attempting to educate the wine drinking market which, he believes, is mostly unaware of the fact that vermouth is fundamentally a wine.

This can only be helped by a new pop up for 2016, the Vermouth Bar.

The parent company of London Wine Week is the aptly named "Drink Up London", and they're already preparing for the 2017 event - Brexit or no Brexit.

AP Television

London - 27 May 2016

1. Close of wine glasses

2. Bartender pouring sparkling wine

3. Tilt down on central courtyard at Devonshire Square, the hub for London Wine Week

4. Group of friends enjoying English sparkling wine

5. Men playing table tennis

6. Sign reading (English) "London Wine Week"

7. Set up shot of Emma Murphy, director of London Wine Week

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Emma Murphy, director of London Wine Week

"What's unique about it? It's the largest self-guided wine tasting that there is across London. It's kind of the only event of its kind that we have over here. So we work with 125 bars, restaurants, independent merchants who all get involved whether that's with offers, special menus or ticketed events across the week."

9. Two women with wine flight selection

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Emma Murphy, director of London Wine Week

(Responding to the question Do you think a Brexit will affect the wine industry negatively?)

"I wouldn't have said so, because I mean, I think, you know, wine trade has been going for long enough, even long before the euro, so I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to be honest with you. Hopefully not anyway."

11. Sign reading (English) "Pop into our pop up wine bars"

12. Various of Portuguese wine pop up

13. Mid of graduate trainees in insurance Oscar Stenpom and Anna Rogers

14. Flight of Portuguese wines

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Stenbom and Anna Rogers, Insurance Graduate Trainees:

(Responding to question Do you think a Brexit will mean it will be more difficult for people to access quality wine?)

Stenbom: "Yes,"

Rogers: "I guess so, I mean if it's more expensive for them to send the wine here, if there's more tariffs, then yeah I guess it would be."

Stenbom: "It would also be more difficult to know what you're drinking, because there won't be as many restrictions on labelling the wine based on where it's actually from and the grape it's actually come from."

16. Pull focus of Spanish wine labels

17. Vintage bottles of fortified wine

18. Side view of Spanish wine bottles

19. Set up shot of Bettina Lemm with wines from Ribera del Duero in northern Spain

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Bettina Lemm, Westbury Communications (which represents the Ribera del Duero region in the UK):

"I think they (wines of Ribera del Duero) are still an emerging market, especially in the UK. The UK is an important market for Ribera del Duero, it's the seventh-largest export market for Ribera del Duero, but I think that we're still establishing ourselves. A lot of people know some big names from the region, and we're just trying to bring attention to some other grape producers who might not yet have the same recognition."

21. Close of wine labels

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Bettina Lemm, Westbury Communications (who represent the Ribera del Duero region in the UK):

(Responding to the question are you worried about the possibility of a Brexit affecting your export market?)

"I think at the moment we're pretty confident, as we've seen year to year that exports have grown. I think that's going to continue and I don't think it's a worry that we have at the moment."

23. Pan from mediaeval knight sculpture to pop up courtyard

24. Mid of Provence wines pop up

25. Establisher shot of Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes Wine Club

26. Close of Harrow eyeing the wine

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes:

"There's been a real rise in wine clubs in London and the UK generally of late, and I think this is because people want to engage more with what's in the bottle. It's not just liquid, they want to know the stories behind it, they want to meet the people involved. And there's the sociable aspect, you know wine is fundamentally something which we do with other people."

28. Mid of woman laughing over a glass of wine

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes:

"It's fair to say that we're a bit concerned about the possibilities of Brexit, I think the rising price of the euro against the pound will have a serious effect on quality wine. At the moment more than 60 percent of wine that comes into the UK is shipped in massive great tankers and then bottled over here and that's not something we get involved with. But that becomes the only affordable way if the pound plummets against the euro. So I think that it won't be a good thing initially for the wine consumer because the prices of these small artisan wines will go up."

30. Woman at table with wine

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes:

"All the English wine makers that I speak to say we are half a degree away from being a perfect climate for sparkling wines at least - and even the whites, and to an extent the reds are really coming up. So I have to say it - sorry Al Gore - global warming is a good thing for the UK sparkling wine trade."

32. Various of English rose and white sparkling wines

33. Vermouth being poured into a glass

34. Various of "Regal Rogue" Vermouth bottle

35. Tilt up of Mark Ward, founder of Regal Rogue vermouth, and his produce

36. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Ward, founder of Regal Rogue vermouth:

"It seemed like a really obvious thing to do, marrying the herbs and spices with this abundance of Australian wine to create a New World style of vermouth. And you know the tradition of vermouth is really led by the European markets. You know, Italian, French, now Spanish - but now there are vermouths coming out of America, the UK, Germany and obviously Australia. So pretty much anywhere where you find wine now, you will find a vermouth of some sort."

37. Crowd of London Wine Week attendees at the Vermouth Bar

38. Mid of vermouth cocktails being made

39. Focus pull of sign reading (English) "Drink Up"

LENGTH: 6:02

LEAD IN:

UK wine industry experts are eyeing the upcoming vote on whether to leave the European Union with mixed feelings.

With producers and suppliers heavily reliant on pan-European trade, many remain unsure how Brexit will impact upon business.

STORY-LINE:

Sparkling wine on a summer's day in the English capital.

Glistening flutes and bottles in abundance, and a crowd of happy lunchtime drinkers add to the atmosphere of excitement and discovery, along with an impromptu game of ping pong.

It must be London Wine Week.

This is the third year of the festival, and this year is the most popular to date.

Festival director Emma Murphy says "It's the largest self-guided wine tasting that there is across London. It's kind of the only event of its kind that we have over here. So we work with 125 bars, restaurants, independent merchants who all get involved" .

But although these flutes of fizz are English sparkling wine, much of the wine the festival goers here are tasting is from EU member states such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany.

The June 23 referendum on whether to quit the European Union is fast approaching. So is this something the industry should fear?

"I wouldn't have said so," says Murphy.

"Wine trade has been going for long enough, even long before the euro, so I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to be honest with you. Hopefully not anyway."

At the festival hub on London's Devonshire Square, there are pop-up bars featuring wines from across Europe.

These two young graduate trainees are enjoying wines from Portugal, and with their festival wristband, it costs them just five British Pounds for a flight of three.

Oscar Stenbom and Anna Rogers both agree that things may well be different if Britain leaves the union.

"If it's more expensive for them to send the wine here, if there's more tariffs, then yeah I guess it would be," says Anna, while Oscar is concerned about regulation and labelling:

"It would also be more difficult to know what you are drinking because there won't be as many restrictions on labelling the wine based on where it's actually from and the grape it's actually come from."

The New Street wine shop has been taken over by the wine festival. They sell wines from all over the world but today they are holding a tasting featuring wines from Ribera del Duero in northern Spain.

Most wine drinkers know about the region of Rioja, but Bettina Lemm is informing these festival goers about the region she represents.

"I think they (wines of Ribera del Duero) are still an emerging market, especially in the UK. The UK is an important market for Ribera del Duero, it's the seventh-largest export market for Ribera del Duero but I think that we're still establishing ourselves."

But if the UK is an important export market, is Brexit going to throw the proverbial spanner into the works? Lemm doesn't seem too worried "I think at the moment we're pretty confident as we've seen year to year that exports have grown. I think that's going to continue and I don't think it's a worry that we have at the moment," she says.

Wine used to have a rather old fashioned reputation and a comparatively elderly demographic, but this has changed enormously in recent years.

The prevalence of wine clubs popping up in the UK is an indicator of wine's increasing popularity.

Tom Harrow of Honest Grapes explains why this is "I think this is because people want to engage more with what's in the bottle. It's not just liquid, they want to know the stories behind it, they want to meet the people involved. And there's the sociable aspect, you know wine is fundamentally something which we do with other people," he says.

With 125 venues across the metropolis taking part in this festival, there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy it with friends.

But with such enthusiasm for wine spreading across the country, June 23 could bring disruption, according to Harrow "It's fair to say that we're a bit concerned about the possibilities of Brexit, I think the rising price of the euro against the pound will have a serious effect on quality wine. At the moment more than 60 percent of wine that comes into the UK is shipped in massive great tankers and bottled over here and that's not something we get involved with. But that becomes the only affordable way if the pound plummets against the euro. So I think that it won't be a good thing initially for the wine consumer because the prices of these small artisan wines will go up" .

However, the future might be bright in other, unexpected ways.

"All the English wine makers that I speak to say we are half a degree away from being a perfect climate for sparkling wines at least," says Harrow, and with apologies to climate change icon Al Gore, he adds that "global warming is a good thing for the UK sparkling wine trade."

Reports by the WSTA (Wine and Spirit Trade Association) suggest there is still some way to go as the UK comes in at number six on the list of sales of sparkling wine by origin - but it's rising year on year.

600 million bottles of wine are bottled in the UK.

This makes the UK wine market the sixth largest in the world, generating 173 billion British pounds of economic activity, according to the WSTA. 10 billion British pounds are made through sales.

Also being showcased here is one of the new kids on the alcohol block, Regal Rogue Vermouth.

According to brand founder Mark Ward, vermouth, by definition, is 75 percent wine. It must have wormwood and it must have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 15 to 24 percent. These three things have to be in place for a producer to put vermouth on the bottle or it flouts recent EU regulations.

Ward, who was brought up in hospitality, began the project in Australia where he worked closely with top Australian chefs who introduced him to indigenous herbs and spices.

"It seemed like a really obvious thing to do, marrying the herbs and spices with this abundance of Australian wine to create a New World style of vermouth. And you know the tradition of vermouth is really led by the European markets. You know, Italian, French, now Spanish - but now there are vermouths coming out of America, the UK, Germany and obviously Australia. So pretty much anywhere where you find wine now, you will find a vermouth of some sort." he says.

Ward is attempting to educate the wine drinking market which, he believes, is mostly unaware of the fact that vermouth is fundamentally a wine.

This can only be helped by a new pop up for 2016, the Vermouth Bar.

The parent company of London Wine Week is the aptly named "Drink Up London", and they're already preparing for the 2017 event - Brexit or no Brexit.

LEAD IN:

UK wine industry experts are eyeing the upcoming vote on whether to leave the European Union with mixed feelings.

With producers and suppliers heavily reliant on pan-European trade, many remain unsure how Brexit will impact upon business.

STORY-LINE:

Sparkling wine on a summer's day in the English capital.

Glistening flutes and bottles in abundance, and a crowd of happy lunchtime drinkers add to the atmosphere of excitement and discovery, along with an impromptu game of ping pong.

It must be London Wine Week.

This is the third year of the festival, and this year is the most popular to date.

Festival director Emma Murphy says "It's the largest self-guided wine tasting that there is across London. It's kind of the only event of its kind that we have over here. So we work with 125 bars, restaurants, independent merchants who all get involved" .

But although these flutes of fizz are English sparkling wine, much of the wine the festival goers here are tasting is from EU member states such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany.

The June 23 referendum on whether to quit the European Union is fast approaching. So is this something the industry should fear?

"I wouldn't have said so," says Murphy.

"Wine trade has been going for long enough, even long before the euro, so I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to be honest with you. Hopefully not anyway."

At the festival hub on London's Devonshire Square, there are pop-up bars featuring wines from across Europe.

These two young graduate trainees are enjoying wines from Portugal, and with their festival wristband, it costs them just five British Pounds for a flight of three.

Oscar Stenbom and Anna Rogers both agree that things may well be different if Britain leaves the union.

"If it's more expensive for them to send the wine here, if there's more tariffs, then yeah I guess it would be," says Anna, while Oscar is concerned about regulation and labelling:

"It would also be more difficult to know what you are drinking because there won't be as many restrictions on labelling the wine based on where it's actually from and the grape it's actually come from."

The New Street wine shop has been taken over by the wine festival. They sell wines from all over the world but today they are holding a tasting featuring wines from Ribera del Duero in northern Spain.

Most wine drinkers know about the region of Rioja, but Bettina Lemm is informing these festival goers about the region she represents.

"I think they (wines of Ribera del Duero) are still an emerging market, especially in the UK. The UK is an important market for Ribera del Duero, it's the seventh-largest export market for Ribera del Duero but I think that we're still establishing ourselves."

But if the UK is an important export market, is Brexit going to throw the proverbial spanner into the works? Lemm doesn't seem too worried "I think at the moment we're pretty confident as we've seen year to year that exports have grown. I think that's going to continue and I don't think it's a worry that we have at the moment," she says.

Wine used to have a rather old fashioned reputation and a comparatively elderly demographic, but this has changed enormously in recent years.

The prevalence of wine clubs popping up in the UK is an indicator of wine's increasing popularity.

Tom Harrow of Honest Grapes explains why this is "I think this is because people want to engage more with what's in the bottle. It's not just liquid, they want to know the stories behind it, they want to meet the people involved. And there's the sociable aspect, you know wine is fundamentally something which we do with other people," he says.

With 125 venues across the metropolis taking part in this festival, there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy it with friends.

But with such enthusiasm for wine spreading across the country, June 23 could bring disruption, according to Harrow "It's fair to say that we're a bit concerned about the possibilities of Brexit, I think the rising price of the euro against the pound will have a serious effect on quality wine. At the moment more than 60 percent of wine that comes into the UK is shipped in massive great tankers and bottled over here and that's not something we get involved with. But that becomes the only affordable way if the pound plummets against the euro. So I think that it won't be a good thing initially for the wine consumer because the prices of these small artisan wines will go up" .

However, the future might be bright in other, unexpected ways.

"All the English wine makers that I speak to say we are half a degree away from being a perfect climate for sparkling wines at least," says Harrow, and with apologies to climate change icon Al Gore, he adds that "global warming is a good thing for the UK sparkling wine trade."

Reports by the WSTA (Wine and Spirit Trade Association) suggest there is still some way to go as the UK comes in at number six on the list of sales of sparkling wine by origin - but it's rising year on year.

600 million bottles of wine are bottled in the UK.

This makes the UK wine market the sixth largest in the world, generating 173 billion British pounds of economic activity, according to the WSTA. 10 billion British pounds are made through sales.

Also being showcased here is one of the new kids on the alcohol block, Regal Rogue Vermouth.

According to brand founder Mark Ward, vermouth, by definition, is 75 percent wine. It must have wormwood and it must have an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 15 to 24 percent. These three things have to be in place for a producer to put vermouth on the bottle or it flouts recent EU regulations.

Ward, who was brought up in hospitality, began the project in Australia where he worked closely with top Australian chefs who introduced him to indigenous herbs and spices.

"It seemed like a really obvious thing to do, marrying the herbs and spices with this abundance of Australian wine to create a New World style of vermouth. And you know the tradition of vermouth is really led by the European markets. You know, Italian, French, now Spanish - but now there are vermouths coming out of America, the UK, Germany and obviously Australia. So pretty much anywhere where you find wine now, you will find a vermouth of some sort." he says.

Ward is attempting to educate the wine drinking market which, he believes, is mostly unaware of the fact that vermouth is fundamentally a wine.

This can only be helped by a new pop up for 2016, the Vermouth Bar.

The parent company of London Wine Week is the aptly named "Drink Up London", and they're already preparing for the 2017 event - Brexit or no Brexit.

AP Television

London - 27 May 2016

1. Close of wine glasses

2. Bartender pouring sparkling wine

3. Tilt down on central courtyard at Devonshire Square, the hub for London Wine Week

4. Group of friends enjoying English sparkling wine

5. Men playing table tennis

6. Sign reading (English) "London Wine Week"

7. Set up shot of Emma Murphy, director of London Wine Week

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Emma Murphy, director of London Wine Week

"What's unique about it? It's the largest self-guided wine tasting that there is across London. It's kind of the only event of its kind that we have over here. So we work with 125 bars, restaurants, independent merchants who all get involved whether that's with offers, special menus or ticketed events across the week."

9. Two women with wine flight selection

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Emma Murphy, director of London Wine Week

(Responding to the question Do you think a Brexit will affect the wine industry negatively?)

"I wouldn't have said so, because I mean, I think, you know, wine trade has been going for long enough, even long before the euro, so I wouldn't have thought that would make much difference to be honest with you. Hopefully not anyway."

11. Sign reading (English) "Pop into our pop up wine bars"

12. Various of Portuguese wine pop up

13. Mid of graduate trainees in insurance Oscar Stenpom and Anna Rogers

14. Flight of Portuguese wines

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Stenbom and Anna Rogers, Insurance Graduate Trainees:

(Responding to question Do you think a Brexit will mean it will be more difficult for people to access quality wine?)

Stenbom: "Yes,"

Rogers: "I guess so, I mean if it's more expensive for them to send the wine here, if there's more tariffs, then yeah I guess it would be."

Stenbom: "It would also be more difficult to know what you're drinking, because there won't be as many restrictions on labelling the wine based on where it's actually from and the grape it's actually come from."

16. Pull focus of Spanish wine labels

17. Vintage bottles of fortified wine

18. Side view of Spanish wine bottles

19. Set up shot of Bettina Lemm with wines from Ribera del Duero in northern Spain

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Bettina Lemm, Westbury Communications (which represents the Ribera del Duero region in the UK):

"I think they (wines of Ribera del Duero) are still an emerging market, especially in the UK. The UK is an important market for Ribera del Duero, it's the seventh-largest export market for Ribera del Duero, but I think that we're still establishing ourselves. A lot of people know some big names from the region, and we're just trying to bring attention to some other grape producers who might not yet have the same recognition."

21. Close of wine labels

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Bettina Lemm, Westbury Communications (who represent the Ribera del Duero region in the UK):

(Responding to the question are you worried about the possibility of a Brexit affecting your export market?)

"I think at the moment we're pretty confident, as we've seen year to year that exports have grown. I think that's going to continue and I don't think it's a worry that we have at the moment."

23. Pan from mediaeval knight sculpture to pop up courtyard

24. Mid of Provence wines pop up

25. Establisher shot of Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes Wine Club

26. Close of Harrow eyeing the wine

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes:

"There's been a real rise in wine clubs in London and the UK generally of late, and I think this is because people want to engage more with what's in the bottle. It's not just liquid, they want to know the stories behind it, they want to meet the people involved. And there's the sociable aspect, you know wine is fundamentally something which we do with other people."

28. Mid of woman laughing over a glass of wine

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes:

"It's fair to say that we're a bit concerned about the possibilities of Brexit, I think the rising price of the euro against the pound will have a serious effect on quality wine. At the moment more than 60 percent of wine that comes into the UK is shipped in massive great tankers and then bottled over here and that's not something we get involved with. But that becomes the only affordable way if the pound plummets against the euro. So I think that it won't be a good thing initially for the wine consumer because the prices of these small artisan wines will go up."

30. Woman at table with wine

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Harrow, wine director of Honest Grapes:

"All the English wine makers that I speak to say we are half a degree away from being a perfect climate for sparkling wines at least - and even the whites, and to an extent the reds are really coming up. So I have to say it - sorry Al Gore - global warming is a good thing for the UK sparkling wine trade."

32. Various of English rose and white sparkling wines

33. Vermouth being poured into a glass

34. Various of "Regal Rogue" Vermouth bottle

35. Tilt up of Mark Ward, founder of Regal Rogue vermouth, and his produce

36. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Ward, founder of Regal Rogue vermouth:

"It seemed like a really obvious thing to do, marrying the herbs and spices with this abundance of Australian wine to create a New World style of vermouth. And you know the tradition of vermouth is really led by the European markets. You know, Italian, French, now Spanish - but now there are vermouths coming out of America, the UK, Germany and obviously Australia. So pretty much anywhere where you find wine now, you will find a vermouth of some sort."

37. Crowd of London Wine Week attendees at the Vermouth Bar

38. Mid of vermouth cocktails being made

39. Focus pull of sign reading (English) "Drink Up"

LENGTH: 6:02

British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke at length on his country's EU refendum on Thursday, reinforcing his party's call to remain in the European Union.

He stressed the threat to Britain is the Conservative government, not the European Union.

Speaking at a Remain campaign event in central London, Corbyn stated that his party was "overwhelmingly for staying in because we believe the EU has brought investment, jobs and protection for workers and consumers and the environment".

He also lauded the Union's ability to face international challenges like climate change, international tax evasion and avoidance, and the power of multinational corporations.

Corbyn also touched on the Translatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), pledging that he would oppose it if in power.

The left-wing leader of the Labour party has blamed the media for ignoring him during the campaign ahead of the referendum on 23 June, after he faced accusations of being "silent" on some of the key issues.

British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke at length on his country's EU refendum on Thursday, reinforcing his party's call to remain in the European Union.

He stressed the threat to Britain is the Conservative government, not the European Union.

Speaking at a Remain campaign event in central London, Corbyn stated that his party was "overwhelmingly for staying in because we believe the EU has brought investment, jobs and protection for workers and consumers and the environment".

He also lauded the Union's ability to face international challenges like climate change, international tax evasion and avoidance, and the power of multinational corporations.

Corbyn also touched on the Translatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), pledging that he would oppose it if in power.

The left-wing leader of the Labour party has blamed the media for ignoring him during the campaign ahead of the referendum on 23 June, after he faced accusations of being "silent" on some of the key issues.

++THIS EDIT CONTAINS NO CUTAWAYS. SOUNDBITES ARE SEPARATED BY SEVERAL SECONDS OF BLACK++

UK POOL

London - 2 June 2016

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, British opposition Labour party leader:

"The threat to the British people is not the European Union - it is a Conservative government here in Britain, seeking to undermine many of the good things the unions and other people have achieved in Europe and resisting changes that would benefit the ordinary people in this country". (applauses)

++BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, British opposition Labour party leader:

"A vote to leave means a Conservative government would then be in charge of negotiating Britain's exit. Everything they have done as a government so far means we could not rely on them to protect the workplace rights that millions of people rely on. A Tory Brexit negotiation would be a disaster for the majority of people in Britain who rely on many of these regulations to protect their rights."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, British opposition Labour party leader:

"We can reform to get a better deal for consumers; to strengthen workers' rights across Europe and prevent the undercutting of wages; to meet the challenges posed by migration and the refugee crisis. There has to be a humanitarian approach to the refugee crisis, not blame the victims."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, British opposition Labour party leader:

"Today we give this pledge, as it stands, we too would reject TTIP – and veto it in government. And there is a challenge to the prime minister, if it's not good enough for France; or good enough for other people, it's not good enough for us either, let's be clear about that. David Cameron makes clear now that if Britain votes to remain this month, I ask him will you block any TTIP trade treaty that threatens our public services, our consumer rights and employment rights and that hands power over to giant corporations to override democratically elected governments. "

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, British opposition Labour party leader:

"The EU's state aid rules, which limit the scope for governments to intervene to support our vital industries, also need to change. But so does how British governments interpret them. The steel crisis highlighted how Germany, Italy, France and Spain all did much better at protecting their steel industries. They acted within EU state aid rules to support their industries, whether through taking a public stake, investing in research and development, providing loan guarantees or compensating for energy costs."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, British opposition Labour party leader:

"We, the Labour party, are overwhelmingly for staying in because we believe the EU has brought investment, jobs and protection for workers and consumers and the environment. But also because we recognise that our membership offers a crucial route to meeting the challenges we face in the 21st century, on climate change, on restraining the power of global corporations and ensuring they pay fair taxes, both in Europe and chase down the tax havens all around the world."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, British opposition Labour party leader:

"Europe absolutely needs to change. I've outlined some area of progressive reform, but these changes can only be achieved by working with our allies. There is an overwhelming case to remain and reform so we build on the best Europe has achieved."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

'BFG' STARS DISCUSS BRITAIN'S EU REFERENDUM

The intense debate over Britain's future in or out of the European Union came to Hollywood Tuesday (21 June 2016) as the stars of Steven Spielberg's "The BFG" weighed in on the high-stakes issue at their film's Los Angeles premiere.

Academy Award winner Mark Rylance expressed his concerns about the EU referendum while remembering slain British lawmaker Jo Cox.

"It's a very big week and it's been really tragic to see the death of that wonderful woman, you know who such a compassionate campaigner. And just to see there are things about Europe that worry me. There are trade agreements. This horrible TTIP agreement is a terrible thing. I don't know why Obama is backing it. It gives corporations the right to sue us if we change our minds as a people. It's not democratic. But on the other hand, all the guys who are backing separation are so awful about refugees. They're all rather nasty businessman, like Rupert Murdoch. So it's a very complicated issue. But I think like here in America there is a real anger and a loss of identity. People don't know who they are and they feel betrayed by the government so have really sold out to business too often, too long. And so you're seeing some rather nasty characters, like Mr. Trump in my opinion. And in England also, some nasty characters being promoted just because people are angry. They don't know who they are and what's going on. But these big businessman, they ain't the answer. You know we've got to get together, I think, more. Or the refugees. The refugees are climate change refugees. You can't be making wars like England and America are and then drop your arms saying 'we're not going to accept your refugees' when you've bombed their countries and depleted uranium. You asked me a question that's not the right one to ask me tonight. But anyway, there's my answer. It's a personal question for people," said Rylance.

Cox, a Labour lawmaker who had championed the cause of Syrian refugees, was stabbed and shot to death outside a library in her constituency Thursday. The suspect gave his name in court as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

"Downton Abbey" actress Penelope Wilton said leaving would be a "disaster."

"I want to stay in Europe with all my heart. I want to stay in Europe. I think it would be a disaster. We've had peace in Europe for seventy years and there's a lot of right-wing factions building up all over and it's very important that we stick together. And we are a global economy now and we're a global world and can't afford to go back to being little England anymore. We've got to join in and learn to join in," Wilton said.

For actress Rebecca Hall the issue is a matter of identity.

"I don't want us to leave the EU. I feel very strongly about it and I don't think we should and I think it's … That is my belief. I think it's been a really important thing. I identify as European as much as English and always have and I think that's very important," she said.

Hall added that she has shied away from discussing politics in the past, but is moved to speak up about the referendum.

"I'm really torn about this because I've always thought my job is to do my job. I'm not a politician. I'm not a spokesperson. But on the other hand, I do appreciate that the things I say may get to people or might influence people. And I think when things get really confusing like they do now and you have a lot of people who are frightened and confused and not seeing things clearly and things are not communicating well then yeah, I suppose you do start wanting to speak up," she said.

British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it.

'BFG' STARS DISCUSS BRITAIN'S EU REFERENDUM

The intense debate over Britain's future in or out of the European Union came to Hollywood Tuesday (21 June 2016) as the stars of Steven Spielberg's "The BFG" weighed in on the high-stakes issue at their film's Los Angeles premiere.

Academy Award winner Mark Rylance expressed his concerns about the EU referendum while remembering slain British lawmaker Jo Cox.

"It's a very big week and it's been really tragic to see the death of that wonderful woman, you know who such a compassionate campaigner. And just to see there are things about Europe that worry me. There are trade agreements. This horrible TTIP agreement is a terrible thing. I don't know why Obama is backing it. It gives corporations the right to sue us if we change our minds as a people. It's not democratic. But on the other hand, all the guys who are backing separation are so awful about refugees. They're all rather nasty businessman, like Rupert Murdoch. So it's a very complicated issue. But I think like here in America there is a real anger and a loss of identity. People don't know who they are and they feel betrayed by the government so have really sold out to business too often, too long. And so you're seeing some rather nasty characters, like Mr. Trump in my opinion. And in England also, some nasty characters being promoted just because people are angry. They don't know who they are and what's going on. But these big businessman, they ain't the answer. You know we've got to get together, I think, more. Or the refugees. The refugees are climate change refugees. You can't be making wars like England and America are and then drop your arms saying 'we're not going to accept your refugees' when you've bombed their countries and depleted uranium. You asked me a question that's not the right one to ask me tonight. But anyway, there's my answer. It's a personal question for people," said Rylance.

Cox, a Labour lawmaker who had championed the cause of Syrian refugees, was stabbed and shot to death outside a library in her constituency Thursday. The suspect gave his name in court as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

"Downton Abbey" actress Penelope Wilton said leaving would be a "disaster."

"I want to stay in Europe with all my heart. I want to stay in Europe. I think it would be a disaster. We've had peace in Europe for seventy years and there's a lot of right-wing factions building up all over and it's very important that we stick together. And we are a global economy now and we're a global world and can't afford to go back to being little England anymore. We've got to join in and learn to join in," Wilton said.

For actress Rebecca Hall the issue is a matter of identity.

"I don't want us to leave the EU. I feel very strongly about it and I don't think we should and I think it's … That is my belief. I think it's been a really important thing. I identify as European as much as English and always have and I think that's very important," she said.

Hall added that she has shied away from discussing politics in the past, but is moved to speak up about the referendum.

"I'm really torn about this because I've always thought my job is to do my job. I'm not a politician. I'm not a spokesperson. But on the other hand, I do appreciate that the things I say may get to people or might influence people. And I think when things get really confusing like they do now and you have a lot of people who are frightened and confused and not seeing things clearly and things are not communicating well then yeah, I suppose you do start wanting to speak up," she said.

British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it.

Los Angeles, 21 June 2016

1. Wide of "The BFG" cast posing for photos

2. Medium of Mark Rylance speaking to reporters

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Rylance, actor:

"It's a very big week and it's been really tragic to see the death of that wonderful woman, you know who such a compassionate campaigner. And just to see there are things about Europe that worry me. There are trade agreements. This horrible TTIP agreement is a terrible thing. I don't know why Obama is backing it. It gives corporations the right to sue us if we change our minds as a people. It's not democratic. But on the other hand, all the guys who are backing separation are so awful about refugees. They're all rather nasty businessman, like Rupert Murdoch. So it's a very complicated issue. But I think like here in America there is a real anger and a loss of identity. People don't know who they are and they feel betrayed by the government so have really sold out to business too often, too long. And so you're seeing some rather nasty characters, like Mr. Trump in my opinion. And in England also, some nasty characters being promoted just because people are angry. They don't know who they are and what's going on. But these big businessman, they ain't the answer. You know we've got to get together, I think, more. Or the refugees. The refugees are climate change refugees. You can't be making wars like England and America are and then throw up your arms saying 'we're not going to accept your refugees' when you've bombed their countries and depleted uranium. You asked me a question that's not the right one to ask me tonight. But anyway, there's my answer. It's a personal question for people."

4. Medium of Penelope Wilton speaking to reporters

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Penelope Wilton, actress:

"I want to stay in Europe with all my heart. I want to stay in Europe. I think it would be a disaster. We've had peace in Europe for seventy years and there's a lot of right-wing factions building up all over and it's very important that we stick together. And we are a global economy now and we're a global world and can't afford to go back to being little England anymore. We've got to join in and learn to join in."

6. Wide of Rebecca Hall speaking to reporters

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebecca Hall, actress:

"Yeah, I don't want us to leave the EU. I feel very strongly about it and I don't think we should and I think it's … That is my belief. I think it's been a really important thing. I identify as European as much as English and always have and I think that's very important."

8. Medium of Rebecca Hall speaking to reporters

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rebecca Hall, actress – on the role of celebrities in politics:

"I mean, I'm really torn about this because I've always thought my job is to do my job. I'm not a politician. I'm not a spokesperson. But on the other hand, I do appreciate that the things I say may get to people or might influence people. And I think when things get really confusing like they do now and you have a lot of people who are frightened and confused and not seeing things clearly and things are not communicating well then yeah, I suppose you do start wanting to speak up."

10. Wide of "The BFG" cast posing for photos

Freed from the "shackles" of Brussels, the UK could again become a "great global trading nation," Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday.

In a campaign speech in Middlesbrough just a week before Brits go to the polls on June 8, May laid out her post-Brexit vision for a country "that is stronger and fairer."

May also said that there are people in the EU who want to "punish" the UK and those who are "willing to sign up to a deal whatever the price of that deal - they would end up with the worst possible deal at the highest possible price".

Asked about US President Donald Trump's plan to announce on Thursday whether the U.S. would stay in a global climate pact, May reiterated Britain's commitment to dealing with climate change.

"It was only at the G7 last week that I was making clear to President Trump as were other leaders sitting around that table the importance we attach to Paris agreement," May said.

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

POOL

Middlesbrough - 1 June 2017

1. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May approaching lectern

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Theresa May, UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader

"Brexit is not a process, but an opportunity. It is this generation's chance to shape a brighter future for our country. So I want us to work together to fulfil the promise of Brexit too.

Because if we get Brexit right, then together we can do great things. We can build a Britain beyond Brexit that is stronger, fairer and even more prosperous than it is today. A Britain beyond Brexit that is more global and outward-looking. A Britain alive with possibilities, more confident in itself, more united and more secure. A country our children and grandchildren are proud to call home. If we get Brexit right, we can be a confident, self-governing country once again. A country that takes the decisions that matter to Britain here in Britain."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Theresa May, UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader

"And if we get Brexit right, I am confident the future will be bright. As we pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement between the UK and the European Union and as we get out into the world to do the new trade deals with old friend and new allies around the globe the opportunities for our economy will be great."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Theresa May, UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader

"Set free from the shackles of EU control, we will be a great, global trading nation once again bringing new jobs and new opportunities for ordinary working families here at home."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Theresa May, UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader

"We've got if you like two groups here, we've got people in Europe who are talking about punishing the UK and I think if we go down that route that will lead to a bad deal for us. On the other hand you have people here in the UK and other political parties who seem willing to sign a deal whatever the price of that deal and I think they would end up with the worst possible deal at the highest price. That would be bad for our country and families would pay the price."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Theresa May, UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader

"You've asked about (US) President Donald Trump and the Paris Agreement on climate change. We retain our commitment. We are a leading nation in the world in terms of dealing with climate change and it was only at the G7 last week that I was making clear to President Trump as were other leaders sitting around that table the importance we attach to Paris Agreement."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says a suggestion she made that a solution to the Brexit dispute could be solved in 30 days shouldn't be interpreted as a strict deadline.

Merkel told reporters during a visit to the Netherlands that "it would be better to say one can achieve that by October 31."

The German Chancellor said her remark during a news conference Wednesday with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was merely "an allegory for being able to do it in a short period of time."

Some commentators in Britain interpreted her comment as a deadline to Johnson, who wants to take Britain out of the European Union by the end of October — whether a solution to the Irish border issue is agreed or not.

Merkel and key Cabinet ministers met their Dutch counterparts Thursday to discuss ways of tackling climate change together.

The meeting at Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's official residence comes as Germany is set to miss its emissions goals for 2020 by a wide margin, even as Merkel's government acknowledges that it has to further ramp up its ambition by next year as part of its commitment under the 2015 Paris climate accord.

The Hague, 22 August 2019

1. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arriving at news conference

2. SOUNDBITE(German) Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:

"I said that what one wants to achieve in three or two years can also be achieved in 30 days. It would be better to say one can achieve that by October 31. This was an allegory for being able to do it in a short period of time. Because Great Britain has said it wants to leave the EU by October 31. And we have to, or we can work, if there's a will to do so on both sides, to find a regime for adhering to the Good Friday agreement on the one hand, which is the wish of the Republic of Ireland as it is the wish of Great Britain, while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the common market. Because Northern Ireland won't belong to the common market anymore but the Republic of Ireland will belong to the common market. So take the time period until October 31."

3. Cutaway of Merkel and Rutte standing at podiums

4. SOUNDBITE(German) Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:

"We in Germany have a national goal of reducing CO2 by 55 Percent by 2030. So for us a more ambitious European level (goal) would be no problem. But we're not there yet, we can say that we've already spelled this out, so we need to continue working on this. We want to say this on September 20. And then we have to listen to what other European countries are prepared to do. I can easily support the proposal of 55 percent, but over many years Germany, too, has contributed a large share of the total emissions reduction. And we have set out to do this. The second thing we support is that we will become climate neutral by 2050. And we have some (EU) countries that can't support that yet. And this will play a role in the medium-term financial outlook, where those countries say what investments they need to have a common European position on climate neutrality by 2050. It would be very important for us to be able to say that as the European Union."

5. SOUNDBITE (Dutch) Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister:

"It is a very broad subject. It touches the house and affects the industry. It's about transportation, it is about the entire society and that is why it is good that the trade ministers and state secretaries are among them today. This was a really successful meeting. Very substantive. We have exchanged experiences throughout the political process. How do you get society involved? How does Germany do that? How does the Netherlands do that? We can learn from each other and also watch. What does that mean for our cooperation in Europe? We are also working to make the 2050 goals in Europe very ambitious. Not all countries support this yet, but in the meantime 24 of the 28 countries have committed themselves to Climate Neutral Europe and a CO2 emissions neutral Europe in 2050."

6. Merkel and Rutte leave the press conference

Calling it "not good," US President Donald Trump said Monday he's "not happy about" the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine following a weekend naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean Peninsula.

Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels Sunday. Ukraine's parliament voted Monday to impose martial law in the country to fight Moscow's agression.

Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a campaign event in Mississippi, Trump said the U.S. "let our position be known and we're not happy about it."

"Either way, we don't like what's happening and hopefully it will get straightened out," Trump said.

The president also commented on a government climate report finding released Friday by his own administration warning that natural disasters are worsening because of global warming.

Trump rejected the central conclusion of the report, saying, "I don't believe it."

The National Climate Assessment, quietly unveiled Friday, says warming-charged extremes "have already become more frequent, intense, widespread or of long duration." The report notes the last few years have smashed U.S. records for damaging weather, costing nearly $400 billion since 2015.

Regarding British Prime Minister Teresa May's Brexit deal, Trump said it "sounds like a great deal for the EU," but added that it looks like the UK "may not be able to trade" with the United States.  

Trump said "that would be a very big negative for the deal," but said he believes it will be worked out.

Washington, DC - 26 November 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"(Reporter: Do you have a response to Russia firing on Ukraine, sir?)

Not good. I'm not happy about it at all. Not at all. We've let our position be known and we're not happy about it."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We, we do not like what's happening, either way, we don't like what's happening. And hopefully they'll get straightened out. I know Europe is not, they are not thrilled, they're working on it, too. We're all working on it together."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"(On climate report) I've seen it. I've read some of it and it's fine.

(Reporter: It says the economic impact could be devastating.)

Yeah, I don't believe it.

(Reporter: You don't believe it?)

No, no I don't believe it. And here's the other thing. You're going to have to have China and Japan and all of Asia and all of these other countries, you know, it addresses our country. Right now we're at the cleanest we've ever been. And that's very important to me. But if we're clean but every other place on earth is dirty, that's not so good. So I want clean air, I want clean water, very important."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Sounds like a great deal for the EU. And I think we have to do this, I think we have to take a look at seriously whether or not the UK is allowed to trade because you know right now, if you look at the deal, they may not be able to trade with us and that wouldn't be a good thing. I don't think they meant that. I don't think that the prime minister meant that and hopefully she'll be able to do something about that. But right now as the deal stands, she may not, they may not be able to trade with the US. And I don't think they want that at all. That would be a very big negative for the deal."

++BLACK BETWEEN SHOTS++

5. Trump waves and walks away

Calling it "not good," US President Donald Trump said Monday he's "not happy about" the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine following a weekend naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean Peninsula.

Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels Sunday. Ukraine's parliament voted Monday to impose martial law in the country to fight Moscow's agression.

Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a campaign event in Mississippi, Trump said the U.S. "let our position be known and we're not happy about it."

"Either way, we don't like what's happening and hopefully it will get straightened out," Trump said.

The president also commented on a government climate report finding released Friday by his own administration warning that natural disasters are worsening because of global warming.

Trump rejected the central conclusion of the report, saying, "I don't believe it."

The National Climate Assessment, quietly unveiled Friday, says warming-charged extremes "have already become more frequent, intense, widespread or of long duration." The report notes the last few years have smashed U.S. records for damaging weather, costing nearly $400 billion since 2015.

Regarding British Prime Minister Teresa May's Brexit deal, Trump said it "sounds like a great deal for the EU," but added that it looks like the UK "may not be able to trade" with the United States.  

Trump said "that would be a very big negative for the deal," but said he believes it will be worked out.

Washington, DC - 26 November 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"(Reporter: Do you have a response to Russia firing on Ukraine, sir?)

Not good. I'm not happy about it at all. Not at all. We've let our position be known and we're not happy about it."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We, we do not like what's happening, either way, we don't like what's happening. And hopefully they'll get straightened out. I know Europe is not, they are not thrilled, they're working on it, too. We're all working on it together."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"(On climate report) I've seen it. I've read some of it and it's fine.

(Reporter: It says the economic impact could be devastating.)

Yeah, I don't believe it.

(Reporter: You don't believe it?)

No, no I don't believe it. And here's the other thing. You're going to have to have China and Japan and all of Asia and all of these other countries, you know, it addresses our country. Right now we're at the cleanest we've ever been. And that's very important to me. But if we're clean but every other place on earth is dirty, that's not so good. So I want clean air, I want clean water, very important."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Sounds like a great deal for the EU. And I think we have to do this, I think we have to take a look at seriously whether or not the UK is allowed to trade because you know right now, if you look at the deal, they may not be able to trade with us and that wouldn't be a good thing. I don't think they meant that. I don't think that the prime minister meant that and hopefully she'll be able to do something about that. But right now as the deal stands, she may not, they may not be able to trade with the US. And I don't think they want that at all. That would be a very big negative for the deal."

++BLACK BETWEEN SHOTS++

5. Trump waves and walks away

The joint leader of the UK's Green Party told supporters the upcoming general election was "about so much more" than Brexit, pledging to place the climate emergency at the forefront of the party's priorities.

Speaking to party supporters in London at the launch of its election campaign, Sian Berry said "some things are even bigger than Brexit, this must be the climate election, the future won't get another chance."

Berry said the Greens would be campaigning up and down the country "to make sure that this election goes down in history as the turning point in our fight for climate justice."

Berry stressed taking action on climate change was not just about averting disaster, saying it was about "creating a brand new Britain."

Some 46 million people are eligible to vote in Britain's December 12 election, with all 650 House of Commons seats up for grabs.

UK POOL

London - 6 November 2019

1. Sian Berry, joint leader of the UK Green Party, approaching podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sian Berry, joint leader of the Green Party:

"(UK Prime Minister) Boris Johnson wants to make this the Brexit election, a rerun of the referendum, a fight on his terms, on his dodgy turf. But this election is about so much more. Yes, Greens are the strongest voice for remaining in the European Union because we must protect environmental standards and work with our neighbours to avoid climate chaos, because we must protect our precious freedom of movement, our human rights and our peace. Because we must remain and transform. But, some things are even bigger than Brexit. This must be the climate election, the future won't get another chance."

3. Mid of Berry during speech

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sian Berry, joint leader of the Green Party:

"That is why Greens like you will be coming to cities all over the UK, knocking on doors, getting out on the streets, fighting for every single vote we can, to make sure that this election goes down in history as the turning point in our fight for climate justice. Let's be honest about the situation we're in. We know these are dark times. It's easy to fear the future. The threat of Brexit hangs over our heads, the climate emergency rages from the Amazon to the Arctic, and our fragile democracy is under attack. But despite all this, Greens don't fear the future. We are the future. We stand at the threshold of what could be the most exciting and prosperous period of our country's history, because taking action on the climate emergency isn't just about averting disaster. It's about creating a brand new Britain."

5. Berry leaving podium

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday signed a climate change agreement with California's governor and met with Silicon Valley executives and investors on the first day of a five-day visit to the United States.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Sturgeon said she is visiting the U.S. to strengthen its trade and business relationships with "one of its most important markets."

As the United Kingdom negotiates to leave the European Union, Sturgeon said Scotland is planning to hold a referendum on Scottish independence sometime between fall 2018 and spring 2019, but the timetable could be impacted by the EU's decision to delay a trade deal with the UK.

Sturgeon said she respects the U.K's decision to leave the EU, but the majority of Scottish voters voted to remain, so they should be able to "have a choice about their own future."

On Monday, she signed a climate change agreement with California Gov. Jerry Brown in Sacramento, toured Tesla Motors' Silicon Valley facility and held a roundtable discussion on connecting Scottish women entrepreneurs with American investors.

On Tuesday, she plans to deliver a speech about "Scotland's Place in the World" at Stanford University before heading to New York.

Menlo Park, California – April 3, 2017

1. Nicola Sturgeon greets Gwen Edwards at investment roundtable event.

2. Sturgeon shakes hands with attendees at investment roundtable.

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"My trip to the United States is to focus very much on trade and business relationships. Scotland and the United States have a long-standing relationship. America is one of our most important markets, also the source of much of our foreign direct investment so this is an opportunity to try to strengthen those links."

4. Sturgeon speaking with people at event.

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"I think people in Scotland should have a choice about our own future. But it's important that before the choice is exercised, the terms of Brexit, the terms in which the U.K. will interact with the European Union in the future, are clear and also the terms of becoming an independent country are clear as well. So we've set out a timetable of sometime from the autumn of next year through to the spring of 2019. And that's a timetable that would allow people in Scotland to make an informed choice about the future."

6. Gwen Edwards introducing Sturgeon.

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"Well obviously if the timetable that the United Kingdom is working for just now slips, then yes that has implications for the timetable of the Scottish referendum. But we have to work right now on the basis on which the prime minister of the United Kingdom is working, and she has indicated her intention is to have trade deal agreed before the U.K. leaves the EU. Now that may slip, it may not work out like that and of course we have to monitor that and judge the implications for the people of Scotland making a choice, but at the moment we can only work on the basis of what the stated intentions of the prime minister are."

8. Sturgeon speaking with people at event.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"I don't think Brexit is good for the UK, but the UK overall voted to leave the European Union and I respect that. Scotland didn't vote to leave the European Union. The majority - the significant majority of people who voted voted to remain. The European single market is important to Scotland's economy. Being able to trade freely in that market is important for jobs and investment in Scotland and therefore I think it's important to seek to protect that. There's also an importance to independent countries cooperating on issues of mutual concern. I've been discussing here in California with the governor today the issue of climate change. Climate change is one area where cooperation across the European Union is really important. So for hardheaded economic reasons but also for reasons of cooperation I think Scotland should seek to stay in Europe and protect our place in Europe."

10. Sturgeon saying goodbye to attendees.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday signed a climate change agreement with California's governor and met with Silicon Valley executives and investors on the first day of a five-day visit to the United States.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Sturgeon said she was visiting the US to strengthen Scotland's trade and business relationships with "one of its most important markets."

As the United Kingdom negotiates to leave the European Union, Sturgeon said Scotland was planning to hold a referendum on Scottish independence sometime between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, but the timetable could be impacted by the EU's decision to delay a trade deal with the UK.

Sturgeon said she respected the UK's decision to leave the EU, but the majority of Scottish voters voted to remain, so they should be able to "have a choice about their own future."

On Monday, she signed a climate change agreement with California Governor Jerry Brown in Sacramento, toured Tesla Motors' Silicon Valley facility and held a roundtable discussion on connecting Scottish women entrepreneurs with American investors.

On Tuesday, she plans to deliver a speech about "Scotland's Place in the World" at Stanford University before heading to New York.

Menlo Park, California – April 3, 2017

1. Nicola Sturgeon greets Gwen Edwards at investment roundtable event.

2. Sturgeon shakes hands with attendees at investment roundtable.

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister:

"My trip to the United States is to focus very much on trade and business relationships. Scotland and the United States have a long-standing relationship. America is one of our most important markets, also the source of much of our foreign direct investment so this is an opportunity to try to strengthen those links."

4. Sturgeon speaking with people at event.

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister:

"I think people in Scotland should have a choice about our own future. But it's important that before that choice is exercised, the terms of Brexit, the terms in which the UK will interact with the European Union in the future, are clear and also the terms of becoming an independent country are clear as well. So we've set out a timetable of sometime from the autumn of next year through to the spring of 2019. And that's a timetable that would allow people in Scotland to make an informed choice about the future."

6. Gwen Edwards introducing Sturgeon.

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister:

"Well obviously if the timetable that the United Kingdom is working towards just now slips, then yes, that has implications for the timetable of the Scottish referendum. But we have to work right now on the basis on which the prime minister of the United Kingdom is working, and she has indicated her intention is to have trade deal agreed before the UK leaves the EU. Now that may slip, it may not work out like that and of course we have to monitor that and judge the implications for the people of Scotland making a choice, but at the moment we can only work on the basis of what the stated intentions of the prime minister are."

8. Sturgeon speaking with people at event.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister:

"I don't think Brexit is good for the UK, but the UK overall voted to leave the European Union and I respect that. Scotland didn't vote to leave the European Union. The majority - the significant majority of people who voted voted to remain. The European single market is important to Scotland's economy. Being able to trade freely in that market is important for jobs and investment in Scotland and therefore I think it's important to seek to protect that. There's also an importance to independent countries cooperating on issues of mutual concern. I've been discussing here in California with the governor today the issue of climate change. Climate change is one area where cooperation across the European Union is really important. So for hardheaded economic reasons, but also for reasons of cooperation I think Scotland should seek to stay in Europe and protect our place in Europe."

10. Sturgeon saying goodbye to attendees.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday signed a climate change agreement with California's governor and met with Silicon Valley executives and investors on the first day of a five-day visit to the United States.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Sturgeon said she is visiting the U.S. to strengthen its trade and business relationships with "one of its most important markets."

As the United Kingdom negotiates to leave the European Union, Sturgeon said Scotland is planning to hold a referendum on Scottish independence sometime between fall 2018 and spring 2019, but the timetable could be impacted by the EU's decision to delay a trade deal with the UK.

Sturgeon said she respects the U.K's decision to leave the EU, but the majority of Scottish voters voted to remain, so they should be able to "have a choice about their own future."

On Monday, she signed a climate change agreement with California Gov. Jerry Brown in Sacramento, toured Tesla Motors' Silicon Valley facility and held a roundtable discussion on connecting Scottish women entrepreneurs with American investors.

On Tuesday, she plans to deliver a speech about "Scotland's Place in the World" at Stanford University before heading to New York.

Menlo Park, California – April 3, 2017

1. Nicola Sturgeon greets Gwen Edwards at investment roundtable event.

2. Sturgeon shakes hands with attendees at investment roundtable.

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"My trip to the United States is to focus very much on trade and business relationships. Scotland and the United States have a long-standing relationship. America is one of our most important markets, also the source of much of our foreign direct investment so this is an opportunity to try to strengthen those links."

4. Sturgeon speaking with people at event.

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"I think people in Scotland should have a choice about our own future. But it's important that before the choice is exercised, the terms of Brexit, the terms in which the U.K. will interact with the European Union in the future, are clear and also the terms of becoming an independent country are clear as well. So we've set out a timetable of sometime from the autumn of next year through to the spring of 2019. And that's a timetable that would allow people in Scotland to make an informed choice about the future."

6. Gwen Edwards introducing Sturgeon.

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"Well obviously if the timetable that the United Kingdom is working for just now slips, then yes that has implications for the timetable of the Scottish referendum. But we have to work right now on the basis on which the prime minister of the United Kingdom is working, and she has indicated her intention is to have trade deal agreed before the U.K. leaves the EU. Now that may slip, it may not work out like that and of course we have to monitor that and judge the implications for the people of Scotland making a choice, but at the moment we can only work on the basis of what the stated intentions of the prime minister are."

8. Sturgeon speaking with people at event.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister

"I don't think Brexit is good for the UK, but the UK overall voted to leave the European Union and I respect that. Scotland didn't vote to leave the European Union. The majority - the significant majority of people who voted voted to remain. The European single market is important to Scotland's economy. Being able to trade freely in that market is important for jobs and investment in Scotland and therefore I think it's important to seek to protect that. There's also an importance to independent countries cooperating on issues of mutual concern. I've been discussing here in California with the governor today the issue of climate change. Climate change is one area where cooperation across the European Union is really important. So for hardheaded economic reasons but also for reasons of cooperation I think Scotland should seek to stay in Europe and protect our place in Europe."

10. Sturgeon saying goodbye to attendees.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson used the launch of his Conservative Party platform to claim that his is the only party in next month’s election that will complete the Brexit process.

Johnson said rival parties - the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and others - would only bring more "dither and delay" and eventually betray the will of voters as expressed in the 2016 vote in favour of leaving the European Union.

Johnson spent more time ridiculing opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn than offering details about the plans laid out in the party platform, poking fun repeatedly at Corbyn’s plan to remain neutral if a second referendum is held next year.

“Let’s go carbon-neutral by 2050 and Corbyn-neutral by Christmas,” he said to appreciative chuckles from the crowd.

Johnson promised to bring his Brexit deal back to Parliament before Christmas, with passage likely assured if the Conservatives win a majority in the Dec. 12 vote.

UK POOL

Telford - 24 November 2019

1. Conservative Party members clapping

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister:

++INCLUDES CUTAWAY OF AUDIENCE++

"More united than ever, flying that red, white and blue union flag that represents the best of our values - from democracy and the rule of law, from free trade to free speech, to the freedom to love whomsoever you choose. From championing 12 years of quality education for every girl in the world, to protecting the planet's wildlife from the tragedy of habitat loss and extinction. And a Britain that is able to lead the world as we do in tackling climate change and reducing our CO2, as I say, to net zero by 2050. Not because we hate capitalism and want to destroy it and want pointlessly to make an enemy of enterprise. But because the private sector makes the brilliant technical breakthroughs that enable us to cut CO2 and pay for great public services and create great high skilled jobs. That is the vision that we are offering to make this country the greatest place to live, to breathe, to be, to raise kids, to start a business. The greatest place on Earth. And I propose, and that is now our vision, I propose we get on with it now. I don't want to waste 2020 in two more referendums. I want it to be an exciting and productive year. A year of prosperity and growth. Do you want to wake up on Friday 13 December (morning after Britain's general election) and find a nightmare on Downing Street? A (Labour party leader Jeremy) Corbyn-(Scottish National Party leader Nicola) Sturgeon coalition of chaos. I say let's go carbon neutral by 2050, and 'Corbyn neutral' by Christmas. Let's go."

3. Audience laughing and clapping

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister: ++SOUNDBITE INCLUDES CUTAWAYS++

"I think the biggest issue at this election is really whether people have any confidence in politics anymore. And I think the reason that confidence and trust in politics has been so undermined is because for three and a half years, they've seen politicians engaged in constant prevarication, procrastination, dither and delay when the people of this country voted to get Brexit done. And we are the only party in this election that has a prospectus to do that. We've got a deal, that I say, as I say is ready to go. Let's get on and do it. And that, I think, is the way to bring our country together and to enable us all to focus on the priorities that we care about, particularly the NHS."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister:

"Yes, it's true that we are not prioritising tax cuts for high earners at the moment. We are looking, of course, at the moment to do what we can to help people with the cost of living. And that's why we're lifting up the (UK) living wage by the biggest ever amount. That's also why we're cutting National Insurance contributions. And, look at the difference between us and the Labour Party, and who is the only other potential Prime Minister in this election, I'm afraid, is Jeremy Corbyn, supported by Nicola Sturgeon. And every independent analysis I have seen suggests that his pledges, which are being added to every day, would lead to massive tax increases for people across this country. We're cutting taxes, managing things sensibly, putting huge investments now into the NHS and into public services. We will continue to do that throughout this parliament."

6. Zoom-in on journalists as question is being asked

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister:

++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT++

(Reporter: "Can I ask about the Conservative Party's decision to change its online Twitter feed to FactCheckUK (during a recent televised election debate between Johnson and Corbyn) as an example of, it's been accused of being fake news, does that undermine trust in the Conservative Party?")

Johnson: "Well, Rowena (name of journalist) I'm afraid that the Twitter sphere is not really my province, but what I can say is that I'm informed that Labour have some sort of operation which is very similar to this, but what I can, well, I haven't followed this Twitter stuff with perhaps the attention that you would like, Rowena, I will apprise myself of the details of this."

8. Johnson exiting stage, MPs clapping

9. Johnson walking out, shaking hands with attendees

MOFA Briefing

Spokesperson: Hua Chunying

Date: 9 March 2017

Duration: 05:05

1. Do you have more details about the two Chinese citizens that the ISIS alleged have been killed in Pakistan?

Two Chinese citizens were kidnapped in Pakistan in the second half of May. Upon learning that, the Chinese government and diplomatic missions in Pakistan immediately activated emergency response mechanism and worked closely with the Pakistani side to rescue them with our upmost efforts.

According to the initial information from relevant departments of Pakistan, the two Chinese citizens kidnapped may have been unfortunately killed. We are highly concerned about that and will try our best to get more information on that through various approaches.

China strongly condemns all forms of terrorism and we support efforts by the Pakistani side to combat terrorism and ensure national peace and stability. We will continue to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation with the international community including Pakistan to maintain peace and tranquility of the region and the world.

As for details regarding the two Chinese citizens kidnapped, according to the preliminary investigation, they are not a couple and they are from different provinces of China. As for more details concerning the two citizens, we are stilling looking into that.

2. Do you think the report about two Chinese died in Pakistan could bring a negative impact on China's Belt and Road Initiative and the ongoing meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kazakhstan.

I think this abduction has no necessary connection with the Belt and Road Initiative and the ongoing SCO summit. Pakistan always pays great attention to the protection of Chinese citizens and institutions there and has made great efforts in this regard. Since this abduction took place, China and Pakistan have been in close communication. The Pakistani side has spared no effort to investigate the incident and search and rescue the hostages. The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan has also pledged to continue to take necessary means to protect the Chiense citizens and institutions there.

With regard to the Belt and Road Initiative, I would like to say that we should be prepared for risks if we want to go global . Over the past three years since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, it has been widely welcomed and supported by the international community, which is face with a broad prospect of developement. However, the world today is far from tranquil. In the process of promoting the Belt and Road, it is inevitable that we will encounter a variety of security issues. It is also what should be taken seriously and handle properly by all the countries in promoting international economic cooperations.

The building of the Belt and Road requires concerted efforts from all parties concerned because it is a project relies on joint contrition and brought common benefits. The smooth and secure construction of the project needs efforts by all side together. We would like to work together with the countries along the route and take effective means to create a sound and secure atmosphere for the construction of the Belt and Road.

3. What's your comment on the UK election and its possible impact on Brexit?

We have noted the result of the UK General Election. It is a domestic matter of the UK and thus we are not going to make a comment. What I want to stress is that China will continue to attach importance to the development of China-UK relations and work together with the UK to push the ties to make greater progress.

With regard to the Brexit, we hope the UK and EU can properly handle the issue through negotiation.

4. Do you have more information about the discussion between Premiere Li Keqiang and the EU over climate change?

China and the EU share a lot of common stances on climate change issue. We can still press ahead with the cooperation together in this respect even without issuing the joint statement. China would like to work together with the EU to carry on exchanges and cooperations in fields of tackling climate change, developing clean energy, and maintaining green and low-carbon development. We will follow the UN framework treaty of climate change, jointly promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement and ensure the global governance of climate can make positive progress.

5. North Korea accused China and the US of initiating sanctions and resolution against it, saying it is China and the US who pressured other countries to vote for resolution 2356. Any comment ?

Resolution 2356 passed by the UN Security Council demonstrates the opposition of the international community to the North Korean nuclear and missile program, as well as our determination in support of the international non-proliferation regime. The stipulation of the Security Council resolution requires North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile programs, which is also what the international community has long been calling for. We hope North Korea can take heed of the voice of international community, earnestly abide by relevant Security Council resolutions and stop nuclear and missile programs.

Greenpeace activists on Thursday scaled the European Union's new headquarters, unfurling a huge banner warning of a "climate emergency" hours before the bloc's leaders gather for a summit focused on plans to combat global warming.

Around 30 environmental activists clad in red and wearing climbing gear stood on ledges of the Europa building in Brussels as police gathered below and a helicopter circled overhead. Some fired red flares into the air as curious commuters watched on.

An Associated Press TV reporter said around 20 activists on the ground were detained. The group managed to climb the building by using the ladder of an old fire truck and has enough food to last for two days, according to Greenpeace spokesman Mark Breddy.

The EU leaders are set to debate ways for the 28-nation bloc to become carbon neutral by 2050. But poorer coal-dependent nations fear they could be hardest hit by the effort to transform their energy sources.

"The world is on fire and our governments are letting it burn," Greenpeace Europe Director Jorgo Riss told AP at the scene. He acknowledged that it's important to go carbon neutral, but said the leaders should not "leave it to future generations to take actions. They are in power today, they need to take action today."

Ironically, the Europa building, known locally as The Egg and about 13 storeys high, was constructed in an eco-friendly way. The facade the activists were lashed to is made of restored wooden window frames from renovation or demolition sites around Europe. It's roof is covered with solar panels and it recycles rain water.

The EU leaders are set to debate ways for the 28-nation bloc to become carbon neutral by 2050. But poorer coal-dependent nations fear they could be hardest hit by the effort to transform their energy sources.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled Wednesday a new "European Green Deal" with an offer of some 100 billion euros (130 billion US dollars) to help fossil-fuel reliant EU nations that make the transition to lower emissions.

The EU leaders will also discuss their long-term budget plans, the euro single currency and Brexit in the light of British election results.

Brussels - 12 December 2019

1. Wide of Greenpeace activists with flares and banners climbing up on European Council building (named Europa building) where EU leaders will meet later on Thursday

2. Various of flares

3. Wide of Greenpeace activists on the ground holding banners in front of European Council building

4. Wide of European Council building with Greenpeace activists climbing on it and with giant banners reading (English) "Climate emergency"

5. Various of activists

6. Wide of activists on the ground and police

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorgo Riss, Greenpeace Europe Director:

"The world is on fire and our governments are letting it burn. Greenpeace is here today because the heads of governments and states of the European Union member states are meeting at the Europa building. They are deciding about a long term climate target for the EU, whether the EU should go climate neutral by 2050 and that is important but that is not good enough for heads of governments and states to leave it to future generations to take actions. They are in power today, they need to take action today."

8. Close of activist on building

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jorgo Riss, Greenpeace Europe Director:

"Because the problem today is, if you are a citizen and you want to live sustainably you will find that most often it is cheaper to fly than take the train, that is perverse. It is cheaper to buy food that is produced in a destructive way with chemicals destructive to the earth, destructive to the animals rather than food from farmers who are producing in harmony with nature. Those are political decisions that need to change in order to make it easier for everybody to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. And that is why Greenpeace is protesting here because it is over there, in the Europa building where the heads of governments and states are discussing these issues."

10. Close of activists on the ground

11. Various of activists on the ground being arrested

++NIGHT SHOTS++

12. Various of Greenpeace activists climbing the European Council building

UK opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Conservatives of trying to provide security “on the cheap”.

In a speech in York on Sunday, Corbyn commended the emergency service workers who responded to Friday's terrorist attack on London bridge and sent his sympathies to the victims' "families and the friends".

He said that an increase in funding for local policing, the probation service, mental health, youth and social services was "vital" to ensure terror attacks become "less likely".

The Labour leader warned that it was time to "stop riding on US President Donald Trump's coattails" and said that Britain's involvement in the Iraq war and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East only exacerbated the problem.

"The war on terror has manifestly failed," he said.

Friday’s attack is dominating the political scene as the Dec. 12 election nears, shifting the focus, at least for the moment, from Brexit and the National Health Service to issues of security and criminal justice.

The argument centres over the early release from prison of Usman Khan, who served roughly half his sentence before being set free.

He was able to stab five people before being shot dead by police despite conditions imposed on his release that were supposed to protect public safety.

UK POOL

York - 1 December 2019

1. UK opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walking on to stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader:

"My heart goes out to the families and the friends of those who lost their lives in such an appalling act of terror. To the injured and to all those in shock at what they witnessed on London Bridge on Friday. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our emergency services, to the incredibly brave police officers who put their own lives on the line to save others. And to all of our emergency service workers, ambulance, fire crews and so many others who were involved in responding to this incident with such speed and such incredibly professional approach to their jobs."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader:

"I will always do whatever is necessary and effective to keep our people safe. First of all, the police who put themselves on the line to protect us will have the authority to use whatever force is necessary to protect and save life. If police believe an attacker is wearing a suicide vest, then they're right to take the action that they do and did. We have to understand that no government can prevent every attack. No one would believe any political leader who said they could. But the government can act to make such acts of terror less rather than more likely."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader:

"Community policing, the probation service, the mental health service, youth services and social services all have a vital part to play in this, as does our education service. When those public services are cut back, as they have been during the past decade of austerity, they leave behind huge gaps and that can lead to missed chances to intervene in the lives of people who go on to commit absolutely inexcusable acts."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader:

"You can't keep people safe on the cheap."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader:

"For far too long, our country's leaders have made the wrong calls on our security. Their mistakes in no way absolve terrorists of blame for their murderous actions. The blame for those lies with the terrorists, their funders and their recruiters. But if we are to protect people, we must be honest about what threatens our security. The threat of terrorism cannot and should not be reduced to questions of foreign policy alone. But too often the actions of successive governments have fuelled, not reduced, that threat. Sixteen years ago, I warned against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. I said it would set off a spiral of conflict, of hate, of misery and desperation that would fuel the wars and the conflict and the terrorism and the misery of future generations. It did. And we are still living with the consequences today of that decision in 2003."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader:

"The war on terror has manifestly failed. Britain's repeated military interventions in North Africa and the wider Middle East, including Afghanistan, have exacerbated rather than resolved the problems."

++BLACK FRAMES++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader:

"Real security requires calmly making the right calls at moments of high pressure, often against the grain of conventional wisdom. That requires the courage and strength to chart an independent course when we think our friends and allies are doing the wrong thing. So it is time for Britain to stop clinging to Donald Trump's coattails. Boris Johnson has been the world's leading sycophant towards the president from climate change, from climate change denial to unconditional support for Israel's far right, from racism to confrontation with China. Too many times we're being taken on a dangerous path by this process. Britain must make its own foreign policy, not from knee jerk subservience to another administration which doesn't accept our values."

9. Zoom out of Corbyn on stage, audience standing ovation

British political party leaders arrived on Thursday evening for a climate debate being televised by broadcaster Channel 4 in London.

With two weeks to go until election day, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Green Party Co-Leader Sian Berry and Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price were seen arriving at the broadcaster's headquarters.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage have declined the invitation to take part in a TV debate on climate change alongside other party leaders.

Broadcaster Channel 4 said Johnson and Farage, who also declined to appear, would be represented onstage by melting ice sculptures.

He is the only main leader not to have agreed - so far - to a one-on-one interview with BBC journalist Andrew Neil.

UK POOL

London - 28 November 2019

1. UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn arrives for the Channel 4 environment debate; AUDIO: People cheering ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

2. Corbyn talking to crowds outside Channel 4 News; UPSOUND (English): "We've got a debate tonight about the greatest issue facing this world and that is the danger to our natural world, through the danger of global warming."

3. Jeremy Corbyn walking into the building

4. Green Party Co-Leader Sian Berry being led into Channel 4 News

5. Various Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price is led into Channel 4 News

British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn rallIied his Labour Party by calling for a clampdown on unfettered capitalism, as he tried to refocus attention on domestic policies after an annual conference dominated by debates about Brexit.

Corbyn said a speech Wednesday that "the old way of running things isn't working anymore" and set out plans create 400,000 skilled jobs in a green economy.

Corbyn said that after the 2008 financial crisis, "the political and corporate establishment strained every sinew to bail out and prop up the system that led to the crash in the first place," as he vowed to banish inequality.

Labour's four-day conference has been overshadowed by divisions over Britain's exit from the European Union.

Many members want Labour to support a new referendum on EU membership, but Corbyn says the party must respect voters' 2016 decision to leave.

Corbyn said his party would vote down a deal that didn't include a customs union and returned a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

He added that if parliament rejected the deal his party would press for a general election.

Corbyn also addressed the accusations of anti-Semitism that have shaken Labour saying the party was a ally of the Jews and against anti-Semitism in all forms.

He accused the Conservatives of pointing a finger at the Labour party while endorsing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right wing government.

He added that "race hate is a growing threat that has to be confronted not just here in Britain but across Europe and the United States."

++PLEASE NOTE: NO CUTAWAYS AVAILABLE / SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

UK POOL

Liverpool - 26 September 2018

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"Ten years ago this month, ten years ago this month, the whole edifice of greed is good, deregulated financial capitalism, lauded for a generation is the only way to run a modern economy came crashing down to earth with devastating consequences. But instead of making essential changes to a broken economic system the political and corporate establishment strained every sinew to bail out and prop up the system that led to the crash in the first place. The price of that has not just been stagnation, wages falling for the longest period in recorded history and almost a decade of deeply damaging cuts to public services, it's also fueled a growth of racism and xenophobia and has led to a crisis in democracy both at home and abroad. People in this country know that the old way of running things is not working any more."

++BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"That failed free for all which led to the crash of a decade ago has also fueled the global environmental crisis and hamstrung international efforts to tackle it. There is no bigger threat facing humanity than climate change. Twenty one years ago, Labour's then deputy leader John Prescott played a prominent role in keeping the, and helping to secure the Kyoto Protocol. Thank you John, and thank you for being here today and supporting us."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"The contrast with the 'America First' posturing of Donald Trump and his decision to pull out of the Paris climate change accords could not be sharper. We only have one planet so we must re-engage with countries seeking to walk away from Paris. We must also lead by example. Yesterday, Rebecca Long-Bailey (shadow business, energy and industrial strategy secretary) set out our plans for energy, developed with our environment shadow secretary Sue Hayman. Plans that are ambitious, that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, that will make Britain the only developed country outside Scandinavia to be on track to meet our climate change obligations."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"I can announce this today that our programme of investment and transformation to achieve a 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 will create over 400,000 skilled jobs to ensure that comes about. Good jobs."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"I know that sounds ambitious and it is and will be delivered with the most far reaching programme of investment and transformation in decades. Labour will kick start a green jobs revolution that will help tackle climate change, provide sustainable energy for the future and create skilled jobs in every nation and region of this country."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"Let me say to the country, as it stands Labour will vote against the Chequers plan or whatever is left of it and oppose leaving the EU with no deal. And it is inconceivable, inconceivable that we should crash out of Europe with no deal, it would be a national disaster. That is why if parliament votes down a Tory deal or the government fails to reach any deal at all, we would press for a general election."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"If you deliver a deal that includes a customs union and no hard border in Ireland, if you protect jobs, people's rights at work and environmental and consumer standards then we will support that sensible deal, a deal that would be backed by most of businesses in the world and trade unions. But if you can't negotiate that deal then you need to make way for a party that can and will."

++BLACK FRAMES++

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader:

"So conference won't accept and I won't accept anything like that. When we're attacked by Tory hypocrites who accuse us of anti-Semitism one day then endorse Viktor Orban's hard right government the next day. Or when they accuse others of racism while they work to create a hostile environment for all migrant communities. We can never be complacent about the scourge of racism. Race hate is a growing threat that has to be confronted not just here in Britain but across Europe and the United States. The far right is on the rise doing what they always do blaming minorities Jews, Muslims, migrants for the failure of a broken economic system."

9. Corbyn waving to audience