World News Briefs -- January 31, 2020

Daily Mail: 'Full steam ahead after Brexit': Boris Johnson gathers Cabinet in Leave-backing Sunderland as clock ticks down to quitting the EU at 11pm TONIGHT - with PM appealing for the country to unite after years of bitter infighting

* Boris Johnson will deliver a plea for country to move on from Brexit this evening as the UK leaves the EU
* The Prime Minister will insist that Brexit marks 'not an end but a beginning' in an address shortly before 11pm
* He will stress his belief that the referendum was a vote for lasting change in neglected areas of the country
* The Cabinet met in Sunderland this afternoon - the first city to declare for Leave at 2016 referendum
* Mr Johnson will host a reception in No10 for ministers and officials to make the historic Brexit moment

Boris Johnson insisted it will be 'full steam ahead' after Brexit today as he gathered his Cabinet in Leave-backing Sunderland hours before the historic moment.

After three-and-a-half years of turmoil, the UK's legal membership of the EU will come to an end on the stroke of 11pm - opening a new era for the country.

Mr Johnson took his senior team to the city in the north east this afternoon in a symbol of his desire to 'level up' every part of the country.

He told the meeting the UK is starting a 'new chapter' and he would be 'going full steam ahead to bring the nation together', according to Downing Street.

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MIDDLE EAST

Syria: pro-Assad forces batter Idlib and spark fears of fresh crisis.

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Pressure mounts on Iraq to choose PM as cleric calls for new protests.

U.S. sanctions Iran's atomic power chief for nuclear violations.

‘I’m never coming back’: Lebanon crisis fuels brain drain.

Israeli forces hit Hamas in retaliation for rocket attack.

'Not an inch': Palestinians at Al-Aqsa vow to fight Trump's plan.

ASIA

South Korea confirms 11 coronavirus cases.

Coronavirus: first human transmission in Thailand as Russia and UK confirm cases.

18 S.Korean evacuees hospitalised after returning from Wuhan.

Mongolia bans Chinese, foreigners arriving from China.

Australia fires: Canberra declares state of emergency.

Afghanistan violence soars amid US-Taliban talks: Watchdog.

Deadly gunfight between police and rebels in Kashmir.

AFRICA

Coronavirus: Liberia monitoring Chinese nationals.

Nigerian nurses worried about coronavirus.

Gambian journalists startled as President Barrow rolls back press freedom.

Sudan accused of failing men who say they were duped into working in Libya.

Trump says deal on giant Ethiopian dam is near.

US appoints special envoy for S. Sudan crisis.

Clashes in diamond hub shed light on C.Africa's ethnic tensions.

EUROPE

Coronavirus: Two cases confirmed in UK.

First two persons infected with coronavirus identified in Russia. First two cases of coronavirus confirmed in Russia, both Chinese citizens.

French citizens evacuated from virus-hit Wuhan arrive in France.

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Eurozone economic growth in 2019 was slowest in 6 years. Eurozone economy barely growing at all.

Pompeo pledges unwavering support for Ukraine ahead of Zelenskiy meeting.

AMERICAS

Trump told Bolton to help his Ukraine pressure campaign, book says.

Trump denies asking Bolton to put Zelensky and Giuliani in contact.

GOP warns impeachment trial could spill over into next week.

Murkowski to vote 'no' on witnesses, dashing Democrats' hopes of extending trial.

Bloomberg surges past Warren into third place in new national poll.

Coronavirus: US advises against all travel to China.

Canada gets China nod to bring home citizens amid epidemic.

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House votes to curb Trump’s military action on Iran.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

AFRICOM commander: My top fear is another deadly attack like Manda Bay.

Guantanamo Bay interrogator accuses Obama CIA chief John Brennan of throwing him 'under the bus'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

3 main US airlines suspend flights between US and China over coronavirus.

China’s US soybean imports soar in wake of phase one trade war deal.

Think tank: U.S. trade deficit with China cost 3.7M jobs since 2001.

Airbus to pay record £3bn in fines for 'endemic' corruption.