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Your morning briefing: What you should know for Wednesday, January 29

Urgent plans to bring stranded Britons back from China virus zone finalised

Urgent plans to bring Britons back from the coronavirus-hit Chinese province of Hubei are being finalised by the Government.

The deadline for those stuck in the city of Wuhan and surrounding areas to contact the British consulate expressing their wish to leave passed at 3am.

Flights taking Britons back home could begin as early as Thursday, it was reported last night.

The UK Foreign Office updated its advice yesterday to warn against "all but essential travel" to mainland China.

It said it may become more difficult for British nationals in other provinces to leave.

More than 100 people have now died in the country, with confirmed infections surging to almost 6,000.

Brexit deal set to receive final seal of approval in historic vote

The European Parliament is set to pave the way for Britain's departure from the EU in a final vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

MEPs meeting in Brussels are expected to overwhelmingly back the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, meaning the UK will leave with a deal on Friday.

It follows the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the British Parliament at Westminster.

Man United chief's home targeted by protesters with flares

Manchester United chief Ed Woodward’s home was last night targeted by angry protesters with flares.

The executive vice chairman has been the subject of abusive chants from the club’s fans in recent weeks as tensions have risen.

United sources confirmed Woodward’s house was the subject of the alleged attack, which comes ahead of the club’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City later today.

Neither Woodward nor his family were home during the incident.

Murdered nanny's son claims he's tracked down missing Lord Lucan

The son of a murdered nanny has claimed he has tracked down her suspected killer Lord Lucan and that he is still alive.

Neil Berriman said Lucan, who vanished after the murder of Sandra Rivett in November 1917, now lives as a Buddhist in a shared house in Australia.

He believes Lucan is seriously ill and awaiting major surgery and said he approached Scotland Yard’s Cold Case Unit with his findings.

The 52-year-old told the Mirror: “I know he's still alive."

Ant and Dec pick up best presenter prize at NTAs for 19th time

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have said they want to win the National Television Awards (NTA) prize for best presenter for a 20th time.

The Geordie duo picked up the award for the 19th time in a row at the ceremony last night.

The Britain's Got Talent hosts saw off competition from Graham Norton, Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield to secure the gong.

On this day...

1856: Queen Victoria instituted Britain's highest military decoration, the Victoria Cross.

1886: Karl Benz patented the first practical car with a petrol-driven internal combustion engine. It had three rubber-tyred wheels and went at 9.3mph.

1916: Zeppelins bombed Paris for the first time.

1942: Desert Island Discs started on BBC Radio, presented by Roy Plomley. His first castaway was comedian Vic Oliver.​

1985: Oxford University dons refused to grant Margaret Thatcher an honorary degree.