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Tusk: EU would be enthusiastic if Scotland applied to rejoin Former European council president’s remarks will boost SNP’s campaign for second independence referendumDonald Tusk, the former president of the European council, has said there would be widespread enthusiasm in the EU if Scotland applied to rejoin after independence.In remarks that will boost Nicola Sturgeon’s campaign for a second referendum, Tusk told the BBC he had great sympathy with the desire of many Scots to rejoin the EU after Brexit. Continue reading... Go to Source

Fury in China as footage appears to show officials taking doctors' face masks Local and central government officials face growing wave of anger over handling of coronavirus outbreakFootage of government officials in Wuhan appearing to take face masks intended for health workers battling the highly infectious coronavirus has fuelled a growing wave of anger over how Chinese authorities have handled the outbreak.Images of medical staff making protective equipment out of rubbish bags, sleeping in hospitals, and crying in frustration and exhaustion have dominated Chinese social media over the last two weeks, inspiring an outpouring of sympathy and donations of supplies. Continue reading... Go to Source

‘Give me a chance’: Emily Thornberry in last-ditch appeal to Labour members Shadow foreign secretary appeals for votes to avoid being knocked out of leadership raceEmily Thornberry has made an urgent plea for nominations as she faces the possibility of being knocked out of the race to become Labour’s next leader.The shadow foreign secretary made a lengthy appeal to party members on Sunday, arguing that she “raises the game” of the other candidates and asking twice for members to “give me a chance” and “get on and nominate me”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Law Society 'extremely upset' at fire damage to historic London offices Blaze broke out at six-storey building in Holborn while dinner was taking placeThe head of the Law Society said the organisation had been left “extremely upset” after a fire broke out at its offices in central London.Paul Tennant thanked the London Fire Brigade for its efforts in battling the blaze that damaged the building on Chancery Lane on Saturday night. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: 11 more UK nationals to be flown back from China Foreign secretary’s comments come as Philippines reports first death outside ChinaThe UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has confirmed 11 British nationals will be flown back from the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday on a French-chartered plane after they missed a UK evacuation flight on Friday.Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Raab said the government was doing everything in its power to help Britons who wished to leave but that the process posed serious challenges. Continue reading... Go to Source

Starmer shifts left in attempt to crowd Long-Bailey out of Labour contest Frontrunner pledges to follow Corbyn tax plans as leadership hopefuls clash over candidate selection and Brexit Related: Labour’s survival requires more than just discarding the Corbyn ideology Keir Starmer will today promise to endorse Labour’s commitment to increase tax on the highest-paid, as part of his pledge not to ditch Jeremy Corbyn’s legacy should he become the party’s next leader. Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit: Dominic Raab accused of 'sabre-rattling' over EU talks Criticism follows minister’s claim that following EU rules after 2021 ‘just ain’t happening’Dominic Raab has been accused of engaging in diplomatic “sabre-rattling” after rejecting legislative alignment with Brussels and dismissing claims by Michel Barnier that the Brexit agreement makes customs checks in the Irish Sea “indispensable” .The UK foreign secretary said following EU rules after 2021 “just ain’t happening” and said it was “wrong” for the EU’s senior negotiator to claim that goods entering Northern Ireland and Great Britain would be subject to extra paperwork once Britain leaves the post-Brexit transition period. Continue reading....

Australian Open men's singles final: Novak Djokovic v Dominic Thiem – live! Live updates from Melbourne ParkSalisbury and Ram celebrate Australian Open doubles gloryServes, sunsets and koalas – Australian Open 2020’s best photosFeel free to email Tumaini or tweet @TumCarayol 11.43am GMTFourth set: Novak Djokovic 6-4 4-6 2-6 3-2* Dominic Thiem: Djokovic keeps himself ahead with perhaps his best hold since the second set. He served much better and sealed it off with a dainty cat-and-mouse point in which he brought Thiem forward and then finished the point at the net. Perhaps most importantly, he seems to have figured out how he should hit his second serve now, forcing a return error with a very solid 145kmh second serve at 30-0. 11.39am GMTFourth set: Novak Djokovic 6-4 4-6 ...

Gender reassignment treatments for young people to get expert review NHS England announcement follows legal challenge to prescribing of puberty-delaying drugsThe use of hormone treatments for young people who want to undergo gender reassignment is to be examined by experts, it has emerged.The announcement by NHS England comes just weeks after the start of a landmark legal challenge to the prescribing of drugs to delay puberty. The case has been brought against the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust, which runs the UK’s only gender-identity development service (GIDS). Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit day one: Johnson goes for broke with hardline trade deal Prime minister pledges to make no concessions to EU as he salutes ‘a turning point in the life of our nation’No sooner had the union jacks been lowered in Brussels and Strasbourg, after 47 years of tortured British membership, than Boris Johnson was preparing to launch the UK into yet another uncompromising battle with the remaining 27 nations of the European Union.The morning after he had finally achieved his goal of removing the UK from the European club, Downing Street released photographs of the prime minister triumphantly striking a gong on the stroke of 11pm (midnight Brussels time) as this country took its leave. The text from a short speech he made as the clock struck 11 was also released. Continue rea...

Party, or hide under the covers? How we spent Britain’s last night in the EU Remainers and Brexiters tell the Observer how they marked the final hours of 31 JanuaryAsh SarkarContributing editor, Novara Media Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit trade talks: EU to back Spain over Gibraltar claims Territory’s economy at risk unless UK reaches agreement with Madrid over ownershipFollow the latest news - liveThe EU will back Spain over its territorial claims to Gibraltar in the next phase of Brexit negotiations by giving Madrid the power to exclude the British overseas territory from any trade deal struck with Brussels.The Observer has learned that the Spanish government has insisted on reference to the Rock in the EU’s opening negotiating position, which will be published in draft form on Monday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit: Britain wakes up to uncertain future after UK leaves EU – live news Follow the latest developments the morning after Britain’s EU exitCiao: 27 Europeans say goodbyeThe UK is not at ease with itself‘It feels surreal’: Britons board last Eurostar as EU citizens 11.48am GMTIn other – non-Brexit-related – news, one of two people in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus has just been confirmed to be a University of York student. The university is continuing to operate as normal, a university spokesman said. Related: Coronavirus: officials seek people with contact to UK cases as some airlines stop China flights – live news 11.25am GMTThe word “thick” is trending at No 1 on Twitter on the UK’s first morning outside of the ...

Brexit, the most pointless, masochistic ambition in our country's history, is done The magic dust of populism has blinded reason, and damage and diminishment lie aheadBrexit: Britain wakes up to uncertain future after UK leaves EU – live news It’s done. A triumph of dogged negotiation by May then, briefly, Johnson, has fulfilled the most pointless, masochistic ambition ever dreamed of in the history of these islands. The rest of the world, presidents Putin and Trump excepted, have watched on in astonishment and dismay. A majority voted in December for parties which supported a second referendum. But those parties failed lamentably to make common cause. We must pack up our tents, perhaps to the sound of church bells, and hope to begin the 15-year trudge, back towards some ...