Tuesday evening news briefing: Drug shortage fears as coronavirus slows Chinese factories
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Drug shortages threat following coronavirus outbreak
The coronavirus outbreak may cause drug shortages as China's factories either shut down or operate at a drastically reduced capacity. An estimated 80pc of all of India's active pharmaceutical ingredients are produced in China, but with the country currently in the grip of an epidemic, production has slowed and stockpiles of common medicines are running low. It comes as the Prime Minister extended his sympathies to the President of China and those citizens affected by the outbreak of coronavirus in a call this morning. Our liveblog has the very latest.
Meanwhile the British couple who have gained notoriety for their social media updates about the two-week quarantine on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan have contracted the virus. The news was a bitter blow for David Abel, 74, and his wife Sally. And the director of a major hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in China, died of the disease today, as Chinese authorities introduced more restrictions to curb further transmission.
'This is not normal flooding,' says Environment Agency
Areas of the UK are in "uncharted territory" following record levels of flooding, with more heavy rain forecast later in the week. Ten severe flood warnings, indicating a danger to life, were in place this morning across England and Wales in the aftermath of Storm Dennis. It has left communities across the country counting the cost of the weekend's storm, which has left hundreds of properties flooded. Boris Johnson has faced criticism for not visiting affected areas. Click here for the weather forecast for the rest of the week and for pictures of the aftermath. And this aerial video shows the extent of the flooding around the River Wye.
The touching story of Caroline Flack's Strictly triumph
Millions tuned in to watch Love Island's tribute to Caroline Flack as the programme returned to TV screens last night. ITV insisted the "door was left open" for the presenter to return to the show and that she was offered support in the months leading up to her death at the weekend, aged 40. But it was her star turn on Strictly Come Dancing which truly catapulted Flack to the level of stardom that she so desired and dreaded in equal measure. Marianka Swain has the inside story on the show where Flack shone brightest, and why there has never been a funnier, harder working or more refreshingly human Strictly winner.
News digest
Aide 'racism' row | No 10 must look at hiring process, says minister
Rising abuse | NHS will refuse to treat sexist and racist patients
Sadiq Khan | Mayor urges Brussels to give Londoners EU citizenship
IVF risk | Babies born via IVF 45pc more likely to die in first year
Brit Awards | Where are all the women in tonight's nominations?
Video: Climate change activists dig up Cambridge lawn
Trinity College Cambridge said it "regrets the criminal damage done to its property" after climate activists staged a protest by digging up its lawn. Extinction Rebellion cited the college's "ties with fossil fuel companies" and its role in the development of Innocence Farm in Suffolk as reasons for the protest on Monday. Watch them digging up the turf. It comes as Extinction Rebellion protesters, including partially-sighted Paralympian James Brown, occupied an HS2 drilling rig in West London.
Comment
Jonathan Shalit | Pressure on women like Caroline Flack is unreal
Stephen Lynch | Project Fear won't keep Northern Ireland in the UK
Ben Habib | How Northern Ireland can become UK's tiger economy
Asa Bennett | PM's new Brexit sherpa symbolises new approach to EU
Paul Hayward | Boxing is the only authentic thing about Las Vegas
World news: The one story you must read today...
Scouts bankruptcy | Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection today in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the hallowed, 110-year-old organisation to carry on. Scores of lawyers are seeking settlements on behalf of several thousand men who say they were molested as scouts decades ago. Read on for details.
Editor's choice
Vaginal mesh scandal | I was forced to abandon my London Mayor dream - I'm furious
James Lovelock at 100 | 'The new generation of eco-warriors are too emotional'
Half term | 20 inspiring ideas to turn the school holidays into an adventure
Business and money briefing
Pay packets hit record high | Weekly pay hit a new record high in December as wages finally overtook price rises to take real-terms earnings back above 2007 levels for the first time. Read on for details.
Ben Marlow | HSBC 'bloodbath' may not be brutal enough
Plunging profits | Angry Nissan investors vent fury at new boss
On top of markets | Live stocks and shares updates 24 hours a day
Sport briefing
Six Nations | Mako Vunipola has not been named in England's 33-man squad to prepare to face Ireland this Sunday at Twickenham, after returning to Tonga for family reasons. Eddie Jones has named his three loosehead props ahead of this weekend's game. Read on for details.
Champions League | The 30 best players in the competition so far
Son fractures arm | Mourinho expects striker to be out for the season
Poor strikers | Lampard's tactics are working - attackers let him down
Tonight's TV
The Brit Awards 2020, ITV, 8pm | Comedian Jack Whitehall returns to host for a third time, while Sir Rod Stewart closes the show, having first played the event in 1993. Read on for more.
And finally...
Worth a few bob | Early adopters of the new £20 notes could be able to make a few pennies by watching out for rare serial numbers. Sam Meadows reveals how you can make thousands of pounds.
