Brexit: France warns UK of bitter trade negotiations - BBC News

France has warned Britain to expect a bruising battle with the EU in post-Brexit trade negotiations.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian predicted the two sides would "rip each other apart" as they strove for advantage in the negotiations.

He also said it would be tough for the UK to achieve its aim of agreeing a free trade deal by the end of the year.

The UK government said it wanted a deal based on "friendly co-operation between sovereign equals".

The UK formally left the EU two weeks ago but still trades like a member under a transition period which ends on 31 December.

Speaking at a security conference in Munich on Sunday, Mr Le Drian said the two sides were far apart on a range of issues.

He said: "I think that on trade issues and the mechanism for future relations, which we are going to start on, we are going to rip each other apart.

"But that is part of negotiations, everyone will defend their own interests."

Mr Le Drian, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, is the latest senior EU figure to warn that the negotiations will be difficult.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and chief negotiator Michel Barnier have both cast doubt on Boris Johnson's aim to reach a comprehensive agreement by the end of the year.

The EU has repeatedly warned that the UK cannot expect to enjoy continued "high quality" market access if it insists on diverging from EU social and environmental standards.

There is expected to be a particularly tough fight over fishing rights, with the EU insisting continued access to UK waters must form part of any agreement.

Mr Johnson, in turn, has said the UK will act as an "independent coastal state" taking control of its own fisheries.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "Our approach is clear - we are not asking for anything special, bespoke or unique, but are looking for a deal like those the EU has struck previously with other friendly countries like Canada.

"We want a relationship based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, one centred on free trade and inspired by our shared history and values."

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2020-02-17 04:36:12Z
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Brexit: France warns UK of bitter trade negotiations - BBC News

France has warned Britain to expect a bruising battle with the EU in post-Brexit trade negotiations.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian predicted the two sides would "rip each other apart" as they strove for advantage in the negotiations.

He also said it would be tough for the UK to achieve its aim of agreeing a free trade deal by the end of the year.

The UK government said it wanted a deal based on "friendly co-operation between sovereign equals".

• What happens after Brexit?
• Brexit: What is a level playing field?

The UK formally left the EU two weeks ago but still trades like a member under a transition period which ends on 31 December.

Speaking at a security conference in Munich on Sunday, Mr Le Drian said the two sides were far apart on a range of issues.

He said: "I think that on trade issues and the mechanism for future relations, which we are going to start on, we are going to rip each other apart.

"But that is part of negotiations, everyone will defend their own interests."

Mr Le Drian, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, is the latest senior EU figure to warn that the negotiations will be difficult.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and chief negotiator Michel Barnier have both cast doubt on Boris Johnson's aim to reach a comprehensive agreement by the end of the year.

• Brexit: Will it be a Canadian or an Australian ending?
• Britain 'will not be aligning with EU rules' - Raab

The EU has repeatedly warned that the UK cannot expect to enjoy continued "high quality" market access if it insists on diverging from EU social and environmental standards.

There is expected to be a particularly tough fight over fishing rights, with the EU insisting continued access to UK waters must form part of any agreement.

Mr Johnson, in turn, has said the UK will act as an "independent coastal state" taking control of its own fisheries.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "Our approach is clear - we are not asking for anything special, bespoke or unique, but are looking for a deal like those the EU has struck previously with other friendly countries like Canada.

"We want a relationship based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, one centred on free trade and inspired by our shared history and values."

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2020-02-17 04:10:00Z
52780612712295

Storm Dennis strikes UK sparking flood warnings and evacuations - CNN

Storm Dennis has seen flood warnings across large parts of the country as the storm picked up Saturday and lasted into Sunday.

There were wind gusts as high as 91mph (146km/h) and more than half a month's worth of rainfall in some areas, according to a tweet from the Met Office.

More heavy rain and "very strong winds" are forecast through Sunday, said the UK's official weather forecaster.

By early Sunday morning there were 198 flood warnings in place across the country, reports PA Media, which mean immediate action must be taken. There were also a further 326 flood alerts, which warn the public to be prepared.

South Wales is one of the worst-hit areas and the situation is said to be "life-threatening." The Met Office has issued a red warning after heavy rainfall raised the risk of flooding.

"The forecast is for very significant levels of rain, especially in the eastern valleys of South Wales," said Jeremy Parr, head of flood and incident risk management for Natural Resources Wales.

"Impacts could be severe overnight, and everyone should take the warnings extremely seriously."

High winds are also possible on Sunday in Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany.

British Airways and easyJet grounded flights for safety reasons, with the budget airline confirming 230 cancellations on Saturday, according to PA.

Last weekend Storm Ciara caused hundreds of flights across Europe to be canceled, with two of Europe's busiest airports -- Frankfurt, Germany, and Amsterdam, Netherlands -- each grounding more than 100 flights due to the storm.

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2020-02-16 15:59:00Z
52780606533146

Storm Dennis strikes UK sparking flood warnings and evacuations - CNN

Storm Dennis has seen flood warnings across large parts of the country as the storm picked up Saturday and lasted into Sunday.

There were wind gusts as high as 91mph (146km/h) and more than half a month's worth of rainfall in some areas, according to a tweet from the Met Office.

More heavy rain and "very strong winds" are forecast through Sunday, said the UK's official weather forecaster.

By early Sunday morning there were 198 flood warnings in place across the country, reports PA Media, which mean immediate action must be taken. There were also a further 326 flood alerts, which warn the public to be prepared.

South Wales is one of the worst-hit areas and the situation is said to be "life-threatening." The Met Office has issued a red warning after heavy rainfall raised the risk of flooding.

"The forecast is for very significant levels of rain, especially in the eastern valleys of South Wales," said Jeremy Parr, head of flood and incident risk management for Natural Resources Wales.

"Impacts could be severe overnight, and everyone should take the warnings extremely seriously."

High winds are also possible on Sunday in Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany.

British Airways and easyJet grounded flights for safety reasons, with the budget airline confirming 230 cancellations on Saturday, according to PA.

Last weekend Storm Ciara caused hundreds of flights across Europe to be canceled, with two of Europe's busiest airports -- Frankfurt, Germany, and Amsterdam, Netherlands -- each grounding more than 100 flights due to the storm.

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2020-02-16 11:04:00Z
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Caroline Flack’s Death Prompts U.K. Petition Demanding Media Inquiry - Variety

A petition calling on the U.K. government to launch an inquiry into British media coverage of public figures has garnered 60,000 signatures overnight.

The death of former “Love Island” host Caroline Flack, one of the country’s most popular TV personalities, spurred the initiative, which asks government to investigate the press following “the maltreatment of those in the public eye including Caroline Flack, (Prince Harry) and Meghan Markle, to name a few.”

“The headlines, harassment and trial by media has to end and they must be held accountable,” reads the petition, which was created by user Joshua Anthony and addressed to Oliver Dowden, the U.K.’s newly installed culture secretary.

Flack was found dead by suicide in her London apartment on Feb. 15. The 40-year-old star was set to face trial on March 4, months after she was arrested and charged with assault in December following a domestic dispute with boyfriend Lewis Burton. Flack, who appeared in court in December, denied all allegations.

The Change.org petition was set up after news broke of Flack’s death on Saturday evening and, at time of publication, is well on its way to reaching its goal of 75,000 signatures. After 10,000 signatures, petitions receive a response from the government, and after crossing 100,000 signatures, petitions are considered for debate in Parliament.

Flack’s boyfriend Burton has spoken out about Flack’s death, saying his “heart is broken” and adding that he was “not allowed to be there this time. I kept asking and asking.” Flack had been banned from any contact with Burton before the trial.

British tabloids such as The Sun are being targeted for negative coverage of Flack in recent months, and The Sun has deleted at least one article about the TV host. The outlet posted a news piece as recently as Friday about a Valentine’s Day card mocking the presenter’s alleged assault of Burton, but that article is no longer available on its website.

“Caroline’s Law” has also been trending on Twitter in the U.K., with users calling for a new law preventing libellous coverage by the press.

A public inquiry known as the Leveson Inquiry was launched in 2011 on the back of the phone hacking scandal that led to the shuttering of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sunday tabloid News of the World. The inquiry looked to investigate the practices and ethics of the press, and ultimately recommended a new, legally recognized media regulator – the formation of which is still in process.

Tributes have poured in for Flack overnight, with “Miranda” and “Call the Midwife” star Miranda Hunt sharing a post on Twitter discussing media accountability.

“A celebrity status does not mean immunity from feeling and suffering. In fact, it is obviously something that comes with a degree of responsibility and vulnerability. It is not in any circumstances in the public interest to report that someone is looking tired, or fat, or thin, or a mess or ill,” wrote Hart.

“The reality is her death may not change accountability in journalism and the words behind the trolling and the bullying. But I think we can all agree that deep down no one wants anyone to suffer, certainly not to the level that they may take their own life.”

The U.K.’s intense media scrutiny of public figures has been keenly followed and debated in recent months following Meghan Markle’s lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday, which published a letter she wrote to her father, Thomas Markle. The media’s pursuit of Markle and husband Prince Harry contributed to the couple’s divorce from the royal family and relocation to Canada.

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2020-02-16 10:38:00Z
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Coronavirus: Couple quarantined on cruise ship criticise UK government - BBC News

A British couple quarantined on a cruise liner off the Japanese port of Yokohama have accused the UK government of ignoring their pleas for help.

The US is to airlift its citizens from the Diamond Princess, which has reported 285 cases of the coronavirus - the biggest cluster outside China.

In a video on Facebook, David Abel said he had little hope of a similar rescue.

The Foreign Office told the Observer it was "working around the clock" to ensure the welfare of Britons onboard.

But Mr Abel, who describes himself as a "staunch Tory", said he had "no confidence" in Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Speaking during a Facebook live video with his wife, Sally, he said: "When he [Johnson] just says 'keep calm, don't panic' - I'd like to see you in this situation, mate. I really would."

Mr Abel, who has become an unlikely celebrity as a result of his videos, went on to appeal to billionaire Richard Branson for help.

"So, Richard Branson, I want to ask you a question, pal," he said in a video posted on Valentine's Day.

"If you and your family were in this situation, what would you do? And please don't say 'chill out, stay calm', that's not what we want to hear.

"I'm asking, what would it cost to hire one of your smaller planes, put all the Brits on board, no flight attendants, packaged food?

"Take us to Brize Norton, take us straight into the medical facility and let us do our quarantine there by people who can speak our language."

Mr Abel added that his appeal was a reflection of "just how desperate some of the passengers are becoming".

He and his wife have previously said they have been given the option to leave and continue their quarantine ashore if they test negative for the virus, but have chosen to remain on board.

• Are cruise ships really 'floating petri dishes'?
• What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

On Saturday, NHS England said all but one of the nine people being treated for the coronavirus in the UK have been discharged from hospital.

Elsewhere, the first coronavirus death outside of Asia was confirmed as having happened in France.

The victim was an 80-year-old man from China's Hubei province, according to French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn.

On Sunday, China announced a drop in new cases of coronavirus for a third consecutive day.

In total more than 68,000 people have been infected in China, with the death toll at 1,665.

Outside of China there have been more than 500 cases in nearly 30 countries. Four people have died - in France, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan.

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2020-02-16 08:40:42Z
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Coronavirus: Couple quarantined on cruise ship criticise UK government - BBC News

A British couple quarantined on a cruise liner off the Japanese port of Yokohama have accused the UK government of ignoring their pleas for help.

The US is to airlift its citizens from the Diamond Princess, which has reported 285 cases of the coronavirus - the biggest cluster outside China.

In a video on Facebook, David Abel said he had little hope of a similar rescue.

The Foreign Office told the Observer it was "working around the clock" to ensure the welfare of Britons onboard.

But Mr Abel, who describes himself as a "staunch Tory", said he had "no confidence" in Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Speaking during a Facebook live video with his wife, Sally, he said: "When he [Johnson] just says 'keep calm, don't panic' - I'd like to see you in this situation, mate. I really would."

Mr Abel, who has become an unlikely celebrity as a result of his videos, went on to appeal to billionaire Richard Branson for help.

"So, Richard Branson, I want to ask you a question, pal," he said in a video posted on Valentine's Day.

"If you and your family were in this situation, what would you do? And please don't say 'chill out, stay calm', that's not what we want to hear.

"I'm asking, what would it cost to hire one of your smaller planes, put all the Brits on board, no flight attendants, packaged food?

"Take us to Brize Norton, take us straight into the medical facility and let us do our quarantine there by people who can speak our language."

Mr Abel added that his appeal was a reflection of "just how desperate some of the passengers are becoming".

He and his wife have previously said they have been given the option to leave and continue their quarantine ashore if they test negative for the virus, but have chosen to remain on board.

• Are cruise ships really 'floating petri dishes'?
• What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

On Saturday, NHS England said all but one of the nine people being treated for the coronavirus in the UK have been discharged from hospital.

Elsewhere, the first coronavirus death outside of Asia was confirmed as having happened in France.

The victim was an 80-year-old man from China's Hubei province, according to French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn.

On Sunday, China announced a drop in new cases of coronavirus for a third consecutive day.

In total more than 68,000 people have been infected in China, with the death toll at 1,665.

Outside of China there have been more than 500 cases in nearly 30 countries. Four people have died - in France, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan.

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2020-02-16 07:58:52Z
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