29 January 2020

Wednesday 29 January

2020-01-29

Events

 * British Airways suspends all direct flights to and from mainland China because of the coronavirus outbreak. Australia, Japan, the US and EU nations are also repatriating citizens. The virus has caused more than 130 deaths, spreading across China and to at least 16 other countries.
 * The BBC suspends the closure of its Red Button text service after protests, a day before it was due to have started being phased out.
 * The European Parliament's 751 representatives debate the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in Brussels before, it is widely expected, giving their backing to the UK-EU treaty. The approval is the final hurdle to be cleared for Brexit to go ahead.
 * Members of the EU Parliament sang "Auld Lang Syne" as the Brexit withdrawal agreement was approved. MEPs sing Auld Lang Syne after approving Withdrawal Agreement