'in January or February' Brexit to be triggered by Theresa May

political correspondent(wp/es):
Theresa May has declared that she wants to begin the formal process of Brexit by February next year, according to one of Brussels' leading figures.
European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Minister told him during their meeting at Downing Street last week that she would be ready to trigger Article 50 to begin Brexit by February.
Formal negotiations between the UK and the EU cannot begin until she starts the two year process, which Brexit Secretary David Davis has insisted will be triggered without a parliamentary vote.
With Britain's withdrawal clouded in confusion and no clear signal on whether the country intends to stay in the single market or not, Europe's 27 other leaders gathered for an informal summit in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, without the Prime Minister.

Speaking about his meeting with the PM, Mr Tusk told a summit press conference: "Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me.
"She declared that it's almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it's quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January maybe in February next year."
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon vowed to block any proposals for an EU army while Britain remains a member of the union in a move likely to anger European leaders.

In his state of the union address on Wednesday, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker called for EU countries "to pool their defence capabilities in the form of a permanent structured co-operation", and proposed a European Defence Fund by the end of the year.
But Sir Michael said the UK would veto plans for any EU army that may rival Nato.
"That is not going to happen," he told The Times. "We are full members of the EU and we will go on resisting any attempt to set up a rival to Nato.
"We have always been concerned about unnecessarily duplicating what we already have in Nato."In Bratislava, Mr Juncker insisted Britain cannot get access to the European single market without accepting the free movement of workers.

The conundrum has become central to the Brexit debate and has caused friction within the Government as ministers weigh up how to maintain the benefits of the trading bloc while regaining full control of the UK's borders - a goal deemed by Mrs May as essential to properly implement the referendum result.
The PM slapped down Mr Davis for saying it was "very improbable" that the UK could be in the single market and end free movement, and then insisted the Government would not offer a "running commentary" on negotiations.
Commenting on the issue, Mr Juncker told the press conference: "There's a clear interlink as we made clear since the very beginning between the access to the internal market and the basic principles of the internal market, mainly the one of the freedom of movement of workers.
"We are sticking to that position and this is not a game between prime ministers leaving and prime ministers remaining, this is about people in Europe.
 "It's about the rights of ordinary people and workers, of those living in Europe, and so I can't see any possibility of compromising on that very issue."

Morrisons’ supermarkets enjoy first growth in five years to drive sales higher

Business correspondent(es/wp):
MORRISONS’ nascent recovery under new chief executive David Potts gained further momentum today after sales grew at bricks-and-mortar stores for the first time in five years.
Half-year sales at supermarkets were up by 0.3% on a like-for-like basis, the first black ink since 2011. Total like-for-like sales, excluding fuel and VAT, were up 1.4%. Morrisons has now recorded three consecutive quarters of growth after reporting 2% growth in the quarter to the end of July.
“It’s good news for all stakeholders but this is the start of the journey and we are in the foothills so I wouldn’t be calling the turn just yet,” Potts said.
Since taking over 18 months ago Potts has been trying to reverse a tide, which saw the group post  15 consecutive quarters of falling sales before a turnaround in the final quarter of last year.
Online growth has been the engine in recent quarters due to tie-ups with the likes of Ocado and Amazon, but that gap is closing thanks to a greater focus on boosting staff morale in-store.

It is spending millions on new uniforms and a laundry service for its army of butchers, bakers and fishmongers so they don’t have to wash their own overalls at home.
“This has been a team effort and a lot less to do with me and more to do with the team. It’s a beautiful company really and our staff have played an absolute blinder,” he added.

Man and woman shot dead in East Finchley north London

crime reporter(wp/es):
A man and a woman were found shot dead this morning at a flat in north London.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to a block of flats on Elmhurst Crescent in East Finchley at around 6:25am.
An investigation has now been launched by the Met police.
A Met police spokesman said: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 06.25hrs on Thursday, 15 September to reports of two people injured at an address in Elmshurst Crescent, N2.

"Officers attended and found two people - a man and a woman - suffering gunshot injuries.
"Both were pronounced dead at the scene."
The Homicide and Major Crime Command has been called in.no arrest have been made.

One nearby resident, Lizzy Holgrove, described the "crazy" events in a series of tweets.
She wrote at 7am: "Something absolutely nuts going down on my road. Road blocked off, 20 police cars, 8 ambulances and police talking about shots fired.
 "...keep hearing more sirens heading this way. Everyone I've heard walking past is talking about it being a shooting," she added.

Tube Workers on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines are due to start a 24-hour stoppage from 9pm tonight

staff reporter(wp/es):
More than 600,000 Tube commuters face travel chaos with train drivers on two lines set to walk out in a dispute dubbed the toilet break strike.
Workers on the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines are due to start a 24-hour stoppage from 9pm tonight, claiming their toilet breaks are being timed by stopwatch.
There will be no trains running on the Hammersmith & City line, while the Circle line will have far fewer trains than usual.
A spokesman for the RMT union, which ordered the strike, said: “The dispute is over heavy handed and aggressive management, including putting staff toilet breaks on a stopwatch and flagrant disregard for agreed policies and procedures.”
The stoppage comes after managers reportedly noticed a minority of drivers were spending so long in the toilets - allegedly to avoid work - that their train has had to be cancelled or a new driver found.

Only around 50 of 260 drivers are believed to have voted for the strike action, with the dispute said to be centered on the Edgware Rd and Hammersmith depots.
Peace talks to try and avert the strike broke down late yesterday at Acas, the conciliation service.
Behind the scenes efforts were being made today to try and get the walkout called off but there were no scheduled talks planned.
Services on other Tube lines will not be affected but are also expected to be far busier.
Transport for London (TfL), which is putting on extra buses, warned that some roads in west and central London could also carry more traffic that usual as commuters use alternative routes.

Passengers face more problems all weekend with the two lines closed between Hammersmith and Edgware Road due to engineering work.
Train drivers belonging to the rival union Aslef are not involved but some could refuse to cross RMT picket lines.
Steve White, operations director for London Underground, said: “If the strike goes ahead customers are advised to check our real-time travel information.


“All other Tube lines and TfL services will be operating as normal and we’ll be making sure that everyone has the information they need to re-plan their journeys is necessary.”
Of the “stopwatch” claim, a TfL spokesperson said: “We would refute that. Our staff are able to take reasonable toilet breaks.”
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “This dispute is about the basic issues of protecting working conditions of our members and defending agreements from attempts to drive a coach and horses through them.”

on London-bound train an 18 yr old woman sexually assaulted

crime reporter(wp/es):
Police are seeking witnesses after an 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted on a London-bound train.
The teenage victim was allegedly assaulted by a man while travelling with on a train from Southend to Fenchurch Street.
The incident took place between 8:55pm and 10:10pm on March 12 this year.
CCTV from the train showed three potential witnesses, although one has already been ruled out according to British Transport Police.
Detective Constable Andy Parkinson said: “Following the report, we examined CCTV from the train bound for Fenchurch Street and had uncovered images of three witnesses who we believed may have more information about what happened and can help us with our investigation.

"One witness has been ruled out from our enquiries. Officers are still looking to speak with the two men in the CCTV image who they believe can help in the investigations.
"I would urge any witnesses to come forward so we can establish the full circumstances behind this concerning incident.”

Man arrested in 'racist attack'

crime reporter(wp/es):
A man has been arrested after a woman lost her baby in an allegedly racist attack.
Police said a 37-year-old from Milton Keynes was taken into custody on suspicion of racially aggravated assault on Wednesday morning following the incident.
The victim, 34, was shopping in a Co-op near Milton Keynes when a man allegedly launched a tirade of racist abuse at her.
He is then said to have followed her to her car before kicking her hard in the stomach. She collapsed in agony and had to be rushed to hospital, where she was told her baby could not be saved.

A 40-year-old man also allegedly had a bottle and a bag of ice smashed against his head when he tried to intervene.
Both victims were taken to Milton Keynes General Hospital. They have both since been discharged.
Police had released a CCTV image of a man they wished to question in connection with the attack shortly after 9.30pm on August 6 in Water Eaton Road, Bletchley.

A woman was raped by three men on a street in Finsbury Park last night.

crime reporter(wp/es):

A woman was raped by three men on a street in Finsbury Park last night.

Police were called to Stroud Green Road at 8.34pm and arrived to find a woman in her 30s who was in distress.
The woman told officers she had been raped by three men in nearby Moray Road.
A Met Police spokeswoman said no arrests had been and enquiries were continuing.

She added: "Detectives from the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are investigating.
"The victim has been taken to a Haven and is being supported by specialist officers."


 Anyone with information is asked to come forward and contact police on 020 8733 5999 or via 101.