The EU is considering a fresh proposal on fishing rights from the UK as PM Boris Johnson aims to secure an 11th-hour trade deal. The latest suggestion from Britain would see the EU reduce the value of the fish it catches in UK waters by about a third. Last week the UK was insisting the EU accept a 60% cut.

The crews of two Italian fishing boats based in the Sicilian town of Mazara del Vallo who were taken captive early in September and had been held in Libya since then have been released, PM Giuseppe Conte and FM Luigi Di Maio announced on Thursday.

Britain said on Monday it was open to a “sensible” compromise on fishing and that there was goodwill on both sides to progress towards a Brexit trade deal as a new round of talks began in London, Reuters reported.