Top story: Russia spotlight falls on Jared Kushner
Donald Trump’s apparent determination to run his administration as a family huddle has been underlined after he appointed his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to head something called the “Office of American Innovation”. Sabrina Siddique explains for you this morning how Kushner has quietly and shrewdly worked his way up through the Trump election campaign and into the corridors of power.
Kushner’s tenure may not be entirely cosy, though, as he faces having to testify to the Senate over his role in contacts between the president’s circle and Russia. Reports emerged overnight that Kushner also had contacts during the campaign with a Russian bank that is under sanctions over Moscow’s Ukraine incursions.
The famously discreet Kushner could perhaps give lessons to Devin Nunes – the beleaguered Republican who heads the House intelligence committee. Nunes is accused of fairly blatantly abusing his position to obstruct the House’s inquiry into the Trump campaign’s relationship with the Kremlin. Democrats are calling for him to quit the investigation.
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Beyond the blade – We begin special coverage today that seeks answers about knife crime in Britain. There have been nine deaths so far this year, from city to countryside. In England and Wales the rate of knife crime has gone up; in London more children have been taking the weapons to school. This year, the Guardian will endeavour to mark the death of every child and teenager from knife crime and tell you what we can about their lives. We also want to hear about your experiences and your views on this subject.
Gary Younge writes: “As a nation we are conscious that there is something out there known as ‘knife crime’ but as yet we lack any coherent or enduring national response.” Some corners of the media might portray it as an epidemic, he says, but factors like austerity and disadvantage must be considered as part of the problem.
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Prescription for savings – Gluten-free foods, haemorrhoid remedies and treatments for “upset tummies’ are among items that the NHS will make people buy over the counter in future. Travel vaccinations will also be removed from the list of items that GPs can prescribe. Simon Stevens, boss of NHS England, says waste must be tackled so money can be spent on promising new therapies instead. Omega-3 oils and the Viagra-like drug Tadalfil are among other items being cut in a £128m savings drive.
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Deal or no deal? On the eve of Theresa May sending the fateful Brexit letter to Brussels, her government is backing away from its threat to leave the EU without a trade agreement, senior European diplomats have told the Guardian. Patrick Wintour reports that UK officials have been sending conciliatory signals to the continent. Pro-EU Tories have called for May to settle any EU “divorce bill” quickly to boost the prospects of a trade deal. But Brexit secretary David Davis, on the BBC’s Question Time, rejected the idea of handing over up to £60bn – “I don’t think we’re going to see that sort of money change hands”.
Davis also put a softer complexion on Brexit last night. It will not mean the end of immigration, with foreign workers still coming and going to meet demand. Polly Toynbee says Brexit voters who wanted to stop immigration will feel the most betrayed as they come to terms with it “continuing for years and years”. Meanwhile cross-party remainers including Nick Clegg are publishing a list of Brexit promises they say ministers must keep.
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Lorde not on board – Fans at a mystery gig in Auckland, New Zealand, thought they were being treated to a performance by the homegrown pop star when she was actually in London eating Creme Eggs. The in-the-dark dance party at a public library was billed as having a “super ultra special guest” – the performance of Lorde’s new single, Green Light, seemed to make the identity obvious, and the crowd went away raving about it. The convincing impersonator has since been unmasked as Hannah Horsfield, a music student at Auckland University. Lorde tweeted that it was “deeply fake news but quite cute”.
Lunchtime read: How we made Comic Sans
“Dogs don’t talk in Times New Roman!” A typographer coming to this realisation might be regarded by some as a moment that lives in infamy. Vincent Connare tells how he was working on children’s software for Microsoft when he came up with the idea of giving words on the screen a more friendly look. He drew the letters himself, copying their shapes from the writing in comic books – and, love it or hate it, his Comic Sans font has endured as “the anti-technology typeface”.
Sport
England’s new Test captain Joe Root has welcomed the ECB’s grand plans for Twenty20 cricket but has underlined the need for it to be shown on terrestrial television.
Jermain Defoe has credited a recent switch to a vegan diet as being partly behind his continued excellence at the top level, while Gareth Southgate has revealed he made a late attempt to persuade Wilfried Zaha against choosing Ivory Coast before England but said he will not pick anyone unless they have an “inherent desire” to play.
Dustin Johnson, the world No1, may well have just won the WGC Match Play – his third title in a row – but no favourite has prospered at the Masters since Tiger Woods in 2005, writes Ewan Murray. And kind-hearted Kiwis have offered to host British & Irish Lions fans free of charge on the team’s tour to New Zealand later this year with most hotels already sold out.
Business
There has been a market rally in Asia following on from the previous day’s hefty sell-off. The rally appears to have stemmed from hopes that Donald Trump can push through his economy-boosting agenda despite the setback last week on his healthcare bill.
The pound was buying US$1.26 and €1.16 overnight.
The papers
The Times splashes with the news that civilians could soon become chief constables if a government plan to let “outsiders” run police forces gets the go ahead.
The Daily Mail’s splash about the NHS no longer paying for painkillers, cough remedies and gluten-free foods is rather overshadowed by the headline it has with a picture of Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon sitting together. “Never mind Brexit, who won Legs-it”. As many on social media have already pointed out – would they ever have written something like this about two men?
The Mirror majors on the attack at parliament, saying the killer Khalid Masood drove at up to 76mph while hitting pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
The Telegraph makes a call to “Cut the red tape choking Britain” saying a group of MPs have declared that Brexit offers up the opportunity to “sweep asides thousands of needless EU regulations”.
The Sun leads on an investigation into an energy price comparison website.
The FT leads with “Leading shareholders rebel over Tesco’s £3.7bn bid to buy Booker”, saying the deal to take over the wholesaler may be in jeopardy.
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