Top story: All the president’s money
Good morning – Warren Murray waking you up to the best of the news.
One of Donald Trump’s tax returns came out overnight, providing a glimpse into the president’s wealth. He earned $150m and paid $38m in federal taxes in 2005 – but would have paid less if not for a levy on rich people that he wants to abolish.
There was apparent fury from the White House that MSNBC had “violated the law” by going through the papers on the air, but the network pointed out it was entitled to publish them under the first amendment.
The question now being asked: did Trump actually leak the return himself, to deflect attention from his troubles over groundless wiretapping claims and healthcare? For an administration that struggles to be coherent much of the time, it sounds ambitious – but distraction is one of his favourite tactics, and he could use one from the growing debacle of “Trumpcare”. The objective Congressional Budget Office forecasts the number of people without coverage could jump by 24 million under the supposedly superior replacement for Obamacare. A number of Republicans are walking away holding their noses.
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We cross now to Robert Kelly’s kids … The South Korea expert who was videobombed live on the BBC by his own children has explained how it all happened – and how his family are dealing with becoming viral internet stars.
Kelly left the door unlocked while he was Skyping with the BBC’s James Menendez. First his daughter Marion romped in (it was her birthday after all), then came his son James in hot pursuit in his baby walker, and it all went downhill for Kelly, uphill for the rest of us, from there.
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Let’s move to … Scotland! The SNP has sought to turn up the heat on Theresa May, warning time is running out to reach a compromise deal preserving Scotland’s place in the European Union or face a pre-emptive strike in the form of a fresh independence referendum. Angus Robertson, the senior SNP figure in Westminster, has said in an exclusive interview with the Guardian that a referendum would see voters choosing between a hard Tory Brexit or a split from the UK that leaves them with EU benefits like the single market.
Our Scotland editor, Severin Carrell, points out that there are uncertainties for first minister Nicola Sturgeon in playing this game, with no shortage of Eurosceptics north of the border these days. But George Monbiot encourages Scotland to cut the rope or be dragged under.
May will set out on what is being characterised as a consensus-seeking tour of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Reading John Crace’s sketch suggests her dismissiveness in the Commons doesn’t bode well for discussions with the Scots.
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Dinner at Jack’s? The social-commentating Guardian food writer and the abrasive MailOnline columnist sitting down over vegan toad in the hole – it’s an interesting prospect and something like what Jack Monroe is offering Katie Hopkins. Having won her Twitter defamation case against Hopkins, Monroe says they should get together for a more respectful exchange of views – “the world is a bit better when you are willing to give people chances”.
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Russian moon shot – Will cosmonauts finally set foot on the lunar surface? The Soviets tried but failed to match the achievements of the Apollo missions during the space race – but after the enormously over-budget space shuttle programme bled Nasa of money, Russia is today the only country that can put people into orbit, and has been doing so very reliably for decades. So a timeline to develop a new spacecraft, recruit cosmonauts and kick up some moondust by 2031 seems achievable.
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Strange end on Saddleworth Moor – David Lytton was found dead from a dose of rat poison outside Manchester in December 2015, soon after returning from Pakistan where had lived since 2006. But even after a coroner’s inquest, much is unknown about his life and motivations – a job as a croupier, then as a London Underground driver, a break with his family, an unfinished psychology course, a girlfriend he cut off after decades together. He was insular but “I can’t imagine any situation that would put David over the edge to want to commit suicide” says his brother Jeremy.
Lunchtime read: The Maine Hermit speaks
The picture of a bearded, balding man in handcuffs and prison uniform doesn’t really do justice to the remarkable story of Christopher Knight, who left the world behind and melted into the woods of Maine for 27 years.
In walking away from his parked car, his job and his life to become a hermit, subsisting in a secluded forest camp and stealing what he needed from civilisation, Knight was not taking some mystical journey or seeking enlightenment – by all accounts he simply preferred to be alone.
Sport
Kasper Schmeichel saved a penalty as Leicester City beat Sevilla, one of the best teams in Europe, 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Striker Jamie Vardy was “a smothering, driving influence but also awful, nasty and clever”, writes Barney Ronay.
England’s Owen Farrell, who faces his father and Ireland’s defence coach, Andy, in this weekend’s grand slam match in Dublin, says his mum “just wants everyone to do well”, with “3-0 England” her preferred scoreline.
In cycling, Team Sky have given further details of their doctor’s purchase of Fluimucil at a pharmacy in Switzerland, where he had prescription rights, again raising the question of why the medicine had to be flown from Manchester to be administered to Sir Bradley Wiggins. And the Guardian’s Daniel Taylor has won both news reporter and sports journalist of the year for his stories about child sexual abuse in football.
Business
Stock markets in Asia were down early on following losses on Wall Street. All eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting at which the US central bank is tipped to raise interest rates. Confused by what it all means? Here’s a Q&A on what could happen.
Overnight the pound was trading at US$1.22 and €1.15.
The papers
The front pages vary, with Brexit and the royals looming large. The Times leads on its own poll that appears to show Scottish voters are opposed to independence – and by some margin (57% to 43%). The Telegraph says Nicola Sturgeon’s referendum plans are “unravelling” after she (according to the paper) ruled out rejoining the EU immediately after a vote for independence.
The Sun appears to have it in for Prince William. After yesterday’s splash attacking him it follows up with “Throne Idle”, saying he is off skiing when he should be working for the nation like his grandmother.
The Mail also has a go at the prince, saying there are “VERY awkward questions” to be answered about the boozy ski trip. That’s half its front – the paper actually splashes with “Shaming of Web Giants”, saying MPs have attacked Facebook, Twitter and Google for not dealing properly with offensive content.
The FT leads with news that the German government is proposing a law to fine social networks up to €50m for not deleting hate speech or fake news. The Mirror leads on MP Craig Mackinlay being interviewed under caution by police investigating whether Conservatives overspent in his South Thanet constituency in the 2015 general election.
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