Macron and Merkel hint at Brexit optimism as negotiators scramble for deal

The German statistics office said exports from Germany to the UK fell by almost a third in January, pointing to Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic as key drivers of the biggest slump since the 2009 financial crisis.

Here is why you should pick up a copy of The Guardian on Tuesday. Here are some of the stories to look out for when you grab a copy of The Guardian on the newsstands on Tuesday.⁣

A few months after the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, the Netherlands is emerging as an early economic winner, as trading of stocks and goods move across the Channel to the continent.

The vote is the final step toward ratifying the EU-UK agreement and marks the last chapter of the Brexit saga that began almost five years ago. Relations between Brussels and London have already begun to sour.

The EU has ratified the bitterly debated trade deal between the bloc and its former member, Britain. The bare bones deal was agreed last-minute in December last year.

Authorities in Brussels fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds of mainly young people who had gathered at a park to party in protest of coronavirus restrictions.

"The British government has left us out in the cold," says Terence Knott. He's the man behind EUBritizens, an action group of British people living in Europe whose lives have changed dramatically due to Brexit. They've lost their freedom of movement and their right to study, their professional qualifications no longer apply and some are even stuck at home unable to drive as their driving licenses are no longer valid. They're aiming long term to win back European citizenship, starting with a legal case to allow them the right to vote in Europe as they say they've been disenfranchised. Knott joined us for Perspective.

The Saint-Jean-Baptiste-au-Beguinage church in Brussels has been occupied by undocumented migrants since January 31st 2021. The group of men and women has been on a hunger strike since May 23 as they push for a government response to regularise their situation.

Foster stepping down has the potential to trigger a snap election. The province's power-sharing executive is at risk of falling apart.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison announce a new post-Brexit free trade deal between their countries. It follows similar UK trade deals reached with Japan and the European Union following London's divorce with Brussels. On 1 February 2021, the UK formally applied to join the CPTPP, a trade agreement among Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

It's been five years since the UK voted to leave the EU. The vote appalled those who saw it as economic self-sabotage. But those in favor of leaving were not swayed by economic arguments — and likely still aren't today.

Britain marks five years since its decision to leave the European Union, with economic impacts just beginning and worries of a divided UK enduring.