Thursday evening news briefing: Four treated for suspected coronavirus in Scotland
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Four treated amid fears coronavirus has reached UK
Four people are being tested for suspected coronavirus in Scotland, according to the head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Jurgen Haas said he believes there will be many more cases from other cities in the UK. Three cases are in Edinburgh and the other is believed to be in Glasgow. They all travelled to Scotland from Wuhan, where the outbreak is thought to have originated, within the past two weeks and are showing symptoms of respiratory trouble, a red flag for the virus. In a statement to the House of Commons this morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS was well-prepared but warned the situation was developing rapidly. Read on for the latest.
It comes as Chinese authorities have put three cities, home to 20 million people, on lockdown. So far there are about 600 confirmed cases and at least 17 people have died. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has updated its travel advice for China. Here is how to reduce your risk of infection. Sarah Newey has everything you need to know about the virus, from symptoms to treatment and how it spreads.
Prince Charles' warning at Auschwitz commemoration
The Prince of Wales warned "hatred and intolerance still lurk in the human heart" as he joined world leaders at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Prince Charles has flown to Israel for the commemoration and in a speech said "language is used which turns disagreement into dehumanisation" and society must remain "resolute in resisting words and acts of violence". His visit has added significance as the Queen has never made an official visit to Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories in her reign. Read the latest on his first day in the Holy Land.
PS - Belgium's "cursed prince" has backed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's so-called Megxit, saying he understands the feeling for royals of being an object rather than a real person. Read on for details.
Patrick Stewart 'sensational' in new Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek has struggled to boldly go anywhere ever since director JJ Abrams swung in with his deafening 2009 movie reboot. But now amid the darkness comes a twinkle of light. Sir Patrick Stewart is returning as Star Trek: the Next Generation's stentorian spaceman Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard on Amazon Prime. Can the most beloved baldie in show business, with his withering gaze and commanding voice, beam the saga back to the top of the ratings? Read Ed Power's first-look review.
News digest
Sir Keir Starmer | Campaigning halted as mother in law critically ill
Morrisons cuts | 3,000 managers face cull but food staff to be hired
Machete attack | Picture shows injuries of 'Britain's bravest cop'
Brexit deal | Boris Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement gets royal assent
Vesuvius eruption | Victims had more painful deaths than thought
Video: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband meets PM
Richard Ratcliffe and his five-year-old daughter Gabriella met the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to discuss his wife Nazanin's imprisonment in Tehran, which continues after nearly four years. Richard Ratcliffe spoke to the Prime Minister in Downing Street at midday as he re-doubles the pressure to free his wife, who has been detained since 2016. Watch him speak after their meeting.
Comment
Sir Iain Duncan Smith | US trade deal must be Britain's first priority
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | 'Fossil sinners' out to prove Greta wrong
Nicola McEwen | Brexit showing strains in the UK's family of nations
Andrea Hossó | For all Europeans, Big Ben should still bong for Brexit
Oliver Brown | Saracens cheated for three years - strip their titles
World news: The one story you must read today...
Rohingya tragedy | The International Court of Justice has ordered Myanmar to take urgent action to protect its Muslim Rohingya minority from genocidal acts, in a blow to Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s civilian leader, who has accused refugees of exaggerating atrocities. Read on for details of today’s interim measure, intended to protect the Rohingya during the course of a genocide case brought to the Hague.
Editor's choice
Is vegetarianism dead? | It seems you have to go full vegan to show you really care
Chinese New Year 2020 | Rats, luck and why you should avoid medicine and crying children
Thomas Markle: My Story, review | Ugly tittle-tattle about Meghan's 'handouts'
Business and money briefing
Davos live | German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the World Economic Forum saying meeting emissions-reduction goals could be a "matter of survival" for Europe. Follow the latest in our business liveblog.
Pent-up investment | EU dashes hopes for Boris bounce for business
Cashing in pensions | Why you might have to wait later than age 55
On top of markets | Live stocks and shares updates 24 hours a day
Sport briefing
A blunt attack and De Gea's struggles | Man Utd's problems run deep, with big changes needed to the way the club is run. Alistair Tweedale analyses how the team has regressed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Jim White | Man Utd performance was the worst I've seen in 50 years
Dina Asher-Smith | Athletes are empowered by their appearance
Six Nations | Finn Russell sent home by Scotland for 'protocol breach'
Tonight's TV
Inside the Crown: Secrets of the Royals, ITV, 9pm | This four-parter will pore over the last century of the British monarchy, with the opening episode given the timely theme of "love and duty". Read on for more.
And finally...
Tantra misconceptions | Tantra often stimulates a titter from those who have only heard the rumours. But a new exhibition at the British Museum will expose the ancient spiritual practice as more than the proclivity of potent pop stars. Craig Simpson reveals how curators are keen to dispel the myths surrounding the movement.