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Wednesday morning news briefing: PM moves to heal US rift

Danny Boyle
·5-min read

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Boris Johnson promises to end reliance on Huawei

The Prime Minister has moved to heal the rift with the US over Huawei. Boris Johnson told Donald Trump last night that he would never again allow Britain to become reliant on Chinese technology. After confirming that Huawei would be allowed to build parts of the UK's 5G network despite security fears, Mr Johnson told the President that Britain would work with the US to "break the dominance" of companies like Huawei. Whitehall sources said the pair agreed the UK and US should "put our brains together" to find ways to replace the firm by bringing other players into the 5G market. Political Editor Gordon Rayner explains why the PM defied the US to take a security risk. Read the pros and cons.

Some of Mr Trump's Republican allies reacted with fury to the Huawei decision, saying it was "like allowing the KGB to build Britain's telephone network during the Cold War". The extent to which it would affect intelligence sharing, the "special relationship" and the chances of a post-Brexit trade deal is likely to become clearer when US secretary of state Mike Pompeo arrives in London today. Follow our coverage.

Coronavirus: Do not to travel to China, Britons urged

The Foreign Office has urged Britons not to go to China as the country struggles to contain the coronavirus outbreak. "All but essential" travel to China was advised as health officials tried to trace 1,500 more people who have flown into Britain from Wuhan in the past fortnight and may be infected. On Wednesday morning, British Airways suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect.  See pictures of NHS medics in hazmat suits at the Birmingham home of a suspected coronavirus patient, who developed flu-like symptoms after returning from the Chinese city. With the death toll at 131, here is everything you need to know about the outbreak.

Radio 4 stars hesitate over a future without Parsons

Nicholas Parsons was planning the next series of Just a Minute when he died yesterday at 96. His death after a short illness has led to speculation surrounding the future of the Radio 4 panel game show, in which guests must speak on a single subject for 60 seconds without repetition, hesitation or deviation. Some guests suggested the BBC may be forced to cancel it because his presence was too important. Read a touching tribute by Barry Cryer - remembering his hilarious friend of 50 years.

News digest

Gallery: The big picture

Draught dodger | The Duchess of Cambridge was almost caught out by a gust of wind which threatened her modesty as she arrived for an event in London. View our gallery for more of the day's most striking images.

The Duchess rushed to smooth down the hem of her tweed suit - Credit: Samir Hussein /WIREIMAGE
The Duchess rushed to smooth down the hem of her tweed suit Credit: Samir Hussein /WIREIMAGE

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Business and money briefing

iPhone sales | Apple recorded its biggest ever quarterly profit last night as America's largest listed company defied forecasts that iPhone sales would fall. James Titcomb explains how revenues from the iPhone rose by 8pc in the final three months of 2019 to $56bn (£43bn).

Sport briefing

Aston Villa 2 Leicester City 1 | Aston Villa reached their first league cup final for a decade with a dramatic second leg of their semi-final at Villa Park. Trezeguet grabbed Villa's stoppage-time winner to send the five-time victors to Wembley. Read Sam Wallace's match report.

And finally...

£60 a mile | Uber charged a passenger £606 for a ten-mile journey after the driver dropped him off before driving around for nearly five hours. Rich Phillips, 27, ordered a cab from Coventry for a ten-mile trip, which usually takes about 28 minutes. He woke up the next day to see his account claimed he had gone on a 243-mile trip.