The Telegraph ... Front Page AM
Telegraph Front Page
Friday March 18 2022 ... 3:59 AM (3 hours ago)
Davey cartoon
Good morning. Danny Boyle covers the ways Russian generals may have switched their objectives and targets - and how to get better sleep. See how closely you have followed the week's news with our latest quiz.
Get the full picture: Just £1 for 3 whole months | Ukraine podcast
Russian 'dirty tricks' video calls
Russians target Wallace and Patel with fake video calls
It was an apparent 'dirty tricks' operation to extract sensitive information. Russian 'impostors' have targeted two Cabinet ministers by posing as Ukrainian politicians in video calls. Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, and Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, held conversations before becoming suspicious and ending the calls. Mr Wallace ordered an inquiry into the video call, which he said had been 'properly set up' through a request to a government department via an email in the name of an aide at the Ukrainian embassy. He believed he was talking to Denys Shmyhal, the Ukrainian prime minister but Mr Wallace told The Telegraph that he became suspicious when the caller - in front of a Ukrainian flag - began to ask questions relating to UK security.
Meanwhile, military experts have warned that Russia is planning a lightning advance upwards from southern Ukraine to link with other battalions to encircle Volodymyr Zelensky's army and claim it has won the war. While Russia had initially planned a swift invasion to seize Kyiv last month, their sluggish advance thwarted by the spirited Ukrainian defence forces may mean generals have switched objectives and targets. Steve Bird and Colin Freeman report on Moscow's plan to trap the Ukraine army. Despite mounting carnage, punishing international sanctions and strong resistance, US diplomat Antony Blinken said he saw no sign that Russian leader Vladimir Putin 'is prepared to stop'. Early today, Russian missiles struck an area near the airport of Ukraine's western city of Lviv. Follow the latest in our live blog and our live conflict map shows the latest battlegrounds. In other developments:
one of Moscow's most senior military commanders was arrested;
Ukraine urged European leaders to brand Mr Putin a 'war criminal';
and Arnold Schwarzenegger made an impassioned plea to Russians.
The sheikh, the unions and the battle for P&O Ferries
The ruler of Dubai is locked in a battle with one of Britain's most militant trade unions after P&O Ferries, which is owned by his government, sacked 800 staff on board its ships. Workers barricaded themselves on ferries in Dover, Hull and Larne after a decision by the operator to make them redundant and replace them with cheaper agency workers. All the company's voyages have been cancelled for at least a week as a result, forcing holidaymakers and lorry drivers to use alternative routes. Our Q&A explains what to do if you have a booking. The dispute sets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, one of the world's richest men, up for a clash with the RMT led by Mick Lynch, who has previously called for unions to 'make a militant stand'. Chief reporter Robert Mendick has the full story on the sheikh, the unions and the battle for P&O.
How to eat your way to a better night's sleep
Did you have a good sleep last night? For most of us, our quality of slumber can probably be improved. Today is World Sleep Day, so it seems like a good time to perfect our sleeping routines and finally work on getting the full forty winks each night. Instead of buying weighted blankets or tracking your sleep, Boudicca Fox-Leonard explains ways that rethinking the supermarket shop could be the key to a better kip.
Daily dose of Matt
Cartoon
In today's cartoon, Matt finds humour in the P&O Ferries saga. And view Blower's latest political cartoon.
Comment and analysis
Fraser Nelson | Phoney war on woke fooled populist Right - and Left
Bob Seely | Ukraine is winning the war, but I fear it will lose peace
Madeline Grant | Is this how Tories knock Labour off high horse?
Judith Woods | Let the battle to be charitable commence!
Reader letters | Russia's difficulties disguise the failure of the West
Dispatch: 'Bodies in the street for three days'
Thousands of Mariupol residents are continuing their exodus, braving minefields, freezing weather and checkpoints to flee the devastation. The southern port city has suffered the worst humanitarian catastrophe of Vladimir Putin's war, as it has been cut off and pounded with artillery fire and air strikes. Its position between eastern territory controlled by Russia-backed separatists on one side and the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 on the other makes it a key target, as Ben Farmer and Tanya Kozyreva explain in their latest dispatch.
Mariupol
Citizens attempt to flee besieged Mariupol in cars bearing white flags. CREDIT: REUTERS
Also in the news: Today's other headlines
Filling Kuenssberg's shoes | The next BBC political editor is almost certainly going to be a woman, after the corporation settled on an all-female shortlist for the £260,000 a year role. A round of interviews will take place today, with the successor to Laura Kuenssberg due to be announced by the end of the month. Christopher Hope has the names expected to fight it out for one of the top roles in political journalism.
Pandemic | China locks down cities to stem resurgence of Covid
France | Macron to boost army and take control of energy firms
Victim not believed | Hospital finally admits 'trans rape' happened
Terrorism | Middle-class children lured 'through video games'
Royals | Camilla takes over Meghan's National Theatre patronage
Editor's choice
Peter Bowles
Smoothly did it | To The Manor Born made Peter Bowles a superstar - just not at the BBC
Ratcliffes
Allison Pearson | 'The Ratcliffes will have to take time to learn to be happy again'
Joanna Lumley
C’est si bon! | Joanna Lumley falling in love with Paris is pick-me-up TV we all need
Sport briefing: 'Dropping Rashford was easy'
Gareth Southgate will hold face-to-face talks with Marcus Rashford after dropping him from the England squad, which he deemed a 'straightforward' decision given the Manchester United forward's present torrid form. Rashford, who had a row with Manchester United fans after their defeat by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, has previously been an automatic selection. In cricket, Ben Stokes paid tribute to his late father after scoring his 11th Test ton against the West Indies.
Business briefing: Recession fears mounting
Soaring energy prices and diplomatic pleas to Saudi Arabia for oil and trade embargoes against Russia give the looming economic crisis a distinctly 1970s feel. After the Bank of England raised interest rates to pre-Covid levels of 0.75pc, Tim Wallace and Tom Rees report on recession fears as central banks try to stamp out an inflation inferno. Meanwhile, homeowners have raced to quit mortgage deals early to lock in cheaper terms - paying thousands in exit penalties in the process.
Tonight's dinner
Salmon risotto
Salmon and spinach risotto with poached egg and herb cream | This dish by Diana Henry makes a good, luxurious Friday night supper. View the recipe and try our Cookbook newsletter.
Sponsored
Hiring a veteran is the best decision your business could make
Travel: 20 last-minute holidays for Easter
The ever-changing date of Easter is always guaranteed to keep travellers on their toes. This year it offers some especially interesting opportunities - both for families with children and for those who are not tied to school holiday dates. To help you make the most of these happy coincidences and to guide you to the best destinations, Sophie Butler has come up with 20 brilliant (and different) holiday ideas.
And finally... for this morning's downtime
Postcard from Stalinville | In his Georgian hometown, Joseph Stalin - a man who was responsible for the deaths of millions - is still heralded as a hero. Jamie Fullerton reports from the small city of Gori where 'dark tourism' turns a blind eye to history.
Are you enjoying Front Page?
Thank you for being a reader. If you have any feedback, I would love to hear from you! If you have any problems, visit our help page.
Email Danny Boyle
Other newsletters you might like...
|
|
