Top story: Trump silent as security adviser faces pressure over Russia contacts
Hello, this is Martin Farrer bringing you today’s Guardian morning briefing.
A White House official refused to say whether national security adviser Michael Flynn has the support of Donald Trump after the former general reportedly discussed easing sanctions with Russian officials before the new administration took office. Stephen Miller, a key Trump adviser, avoided the direct question while doing the round of Sunday TV talk shows but the pressure is mounting on Flynn, who first denied discussing sanctions with Russia’s ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, and then said he “couldn’t be certain” whether he had or not.
The president is expected to be questioned about the situation by reporters on Monday.
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And the winner is ... It was a big night for showbiz with Adele having a triumphant outing at the Grammys by taking best album and song of the year (and three others) against some stiff homegrown competition led by Beyoncé. Meanwhile, La La Land moved to London for the Baftas with the musical paean to Tinseltown winning three big prizes at the Royal Albert Hall bash (best film, best director and Emma Stone, below, winning for best female actor). British veteran director Ken Loach muscled in on the self-congratulation fest, however, with an attack on the “callous” Tory government in his acceptance speech for best British film I, Daniel Blake.
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The war against air pollution – We begin a week of special reports into a scourge blamed for 6.5 million early deaths around the world every year, as well as contributing to heart attacks, strokes, mental illness and even the premature ageing of city dwellers. Find out how to beat the effects of pollution in your city and which city has the worst air in the world.
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Corbyn challenge? – The Labour leader faces a backlash as centre-left critics launch a systematic fightback aimed at preventing him from ensuring a leftist successor if he steps down before 2020.
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Whistleblowers face crackdown – The government’s advisers have been accused of a full-blown attack on whistleblowers with proposals to ramp up maximum prison sentences to 14 years for leakers who reveal state secrets. Downing Street believes the changes are needed to bring the law into the digital age, but critics say they are a “huge backward step”.
A Guardian editorial today says the proposals could herald a new journalistic ice age by discouraging officials to pass on information that is in the public interest.
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Carry on campanology – A bell ringer escaped with his life after an accident left him trapped 24 metres up in the air. He had caught his foot in a rope at Worcester cathedral. Ian Bowman had to be freed by the fire service.
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Lunchtime read: Hong Kong reels over bizarre disappearance of Chinese billionaire
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua has deepened amid reports he was removed from his hotel in Hong Kong in a wheelchair and covered in a sheet. The apparent abduction of Xiao, who has deep connections to China’s ruling elite, raises fears about the erosion of human rights in the former colony where he had been living for some time.
Sport
England rugby coach Eddie Jones has borrowed from Jose Mourinho’s tactical manual as his team continued their steamrollering of Six Nations opposition with Saturday’s thrilling win over Wales in Cardiff. France, meanwhile, needed late penalties to overcome Scotland 22-16 in Paris.
In the Premier League, Leicester City are setting records of the wrong kind after a fifth successive defeat – the first time reigning champions have done so since 1956.
And Britain’s heptathlon star Katrina Johnson-Thompson has started her build-up to the world championships in London in August with a best-ever season-opening long jump of 6.69 metres.
Business
Concerns about the impact of a Trump presidency on the global economy receded after a smooth meeting between the US leader and the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, at the weekend. Asian shares rose, helped by a strong finish to the week on Wall Street on Friday, with the FTSE also expected to rise on the opening this morning.
The pound is currently buying $1.25 and €1.17.
The papers
Everyone went La La over the Baftas, with images of either Emma Stone, who won best actress, or the Duchess of Cambridge, who wore an Alexander McQueen dress, gracing every front page.
Other than that, a mixed bag. The Daily Telegraph has Liz Truss asserting criminals won’t be shown leniency just to meet targets on prisoner numbers while the i says Labour is considering an immigration policy that would see different regions set their own migrant quotas.
The FT reveals bosses’ lucrative long-term incentives could be ditched at some of the UK’s biggest companies to even up the pay gap and the Times fears for high street pubs and restaurants facing a rate rise. The Mail blasts £5.5bn of Whitehall waste and the Sun can’t believe a deported Albanian criminal has turned out to be running a carwash in Leicestershire.
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