Britain unveiled a £30bn (€34bn) economic stimulus plan to tackle the risk of a coronavirus recession, just hours after the Bank of England slashed interest rates in a double-barrelled response to the crisis.

The dilemma facing doctors when it comes to being upfront with patients is captured in a new survey which found that one in five has been in a situation where they felt unable to apologise — even when the patient or their family expected an apology.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned MPs the only "plan B" to the Brexit agreement is a crash out no deal, insisting it would be a "mistake" if anyone votes against the plan due to an assumption another offer will be made.

European Council president Donald Tusk has said the "punchline" in the Brexit deal drama will be whether British prime minister Boris Johnson "has done what he should" and passes the agreement through the House of Commons.

Latest: Boris Johnson has confirmed his desire to hold a general election on October 15 – as he looks set to be defeated on a crunch vote on his plan.

The former Soviet state recently held free-and-fair elections, but unless it can eradicate corruption it will not gain EU entry and may slip into Russia’s clutches, says John Bruton.

Sterling resumed its dive amid warnings that a crash-out Brexit in late October would sink the currency — and the prospects for many Irish firms.

With polls indicating Boris Johnson could win the Tory leadership battle by a landslide, the irony is that his hold on power may be extremely fragile, says Andrew Hammond.

The danger of a no-deal Brexit is the highest it has been for more than two years, Simon Coveney has told his Cabinet colleagues.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has again rejected calls for the party's Northern MPs to take their seats in Westminster, insisting this would just add to the Brexit chaos there.

Latest: Theresa May has described the delay to Brexit as a “matter of great personal regret”, adding: “It is now time for MPs to decide.”

Backing comes in exchange for movement on backstop measure Theresa May has been given a Brexit boost as key Tories signalled swinging behind her stance in exchange for movement on the backstop.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has called on Sinn Féin to take up its seats in Westminster given that the political situation is now on a “knife-edge”.

A deal to save powersharing at Stormont is achievable within the coming days, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said.

The EU will demand that European law continues to apply in the UK during the planned transition period after it leaves the bloc, according to the latest Brussels negotiating guidelines.

The Department for Health has called on Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire to clarify how much funding it will receive, after MPs voted to pass a Budget for the region via Westminster.

As Brexit talks continue to founder, the EU attacked a tax break designed to lure big companies to Britain in a clampdown that could trigger legal wrangling lasting long after the UK is scheduled to leave the EU.

The UK's Labour party will join forces with Tory rebels in an attempt to force Theresa May into giving MPs a veto on the final Brexit deal, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The British government has comfortably defeated attempts to derail its flagship Brexit legislation, amid warnings from senior Tories that changes will be required.

David Davis faces a grilling from MPs on Brexit following a summer of negotiations which the European Union claims has failed to deliver "decisive" progress on key issues.

Theresa May is facing renewed calls to cancel a state visit for Donald Trump over his response to deadly unrest in Virginia.

MPs in Spain's Balearic Islands have banned the killing or harming of animals at regional bullfights.

New Zealand MPs have apologised for the "tremendous hurt and suffering" they caused hundreds of men who were convicted of homosexuality more than three decades ago.

Downing Street has since confirmed that 11 blocks of flats in eight local authority areas in England have been found to have flammable facades.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s hopes and British Prime Minister Theresa May’s promise to maintain a seamless and friction free Irish border is unenforceable, it has been claimed.

Theresa May has accused Jeremy Corbyn of "not having a clue" over Brexit as she faced pressure to reveal if Britain will pay for single market access.

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Gangs of bikers and youths pelting fireworks caused Halloween chaos for emergency services across the UK and Northern Ireland.

An outright ban on the use of plastic microbeads in bathroom products must be introduced by the Government to reduce harmful marine pollution, MPs in the UK have said.

David Cameron signed off as British prime minister with advice for successor Theresa May to keep the UK “as close to the European Union as possible”.

Britain faces a potential political crisis as the House of Lords threatens to overturn the supremacy of the Commons.

In light of the defeat of a bill in England, the debate concerning assisted death for terminally ill people shows no signs of being resolved any time soon, writes TP O’Mahony.            

The Primate of All Ireland has waded into the row in Britain over the ‘Assisted Dying Bill’, which is to be debated in Westminster next week.

The embattled PM must convince parliament to vote in favour of deal and could face open mutiny, writes Kostas Karkagiannis

Suspected associates of the Tunisian beach gunman have been arrested, as it was announced that Britain will observe a minute’s silence for the victims of the massacre.

British chancellor George Osborne declared during his budget speech that Britain was “the comeback country”.

Three Labour MPs are suing a Ukip MEP over “sickening” allegations that they knew about child abuse in Rotherham.

Culling of thousands of ducks at a farm operated by the UK’s largest producer of duck products is expected to begin today after a bird flu outbreak.

The Bank of England’s deputy governor has apparently softened its stance on plans to jail reckless senior bankers after a City backlash.

Enhanced screening for ebola will begin at Britain’s biggest airport today as prime minister David Cameron insisted "vigorous steps" were being taken to prevent the deadly virus reaching the UK.

Doctors could be at increased risk of burnout after a survey indicated 95% of GPs experienced workplace stress in the past year.

Britain is still expected to face years of austerity despite official forecasts today showing that the economy will return to its pre-crisis peak during this year.

Uganda has passed a long-shelved law that punishes “aggravated homosexuality” with life imprisonment.

A fifth of major bank branches in the North have closed over the last two years, it was disclosed.

David Cameron ruled out UK involvement in military action against Syria after his authority and international standing were dealt a severe blow by defeat on the issue in the Commons.

Two men have been arrested as part of an investigation by British police into the horsemeat scandal, it was revealed today.