As fears over Putin’s intentions grow, Guy Kelly and Sarah Newey examine how eyes are once again turning to the network of underground shelters built in the Cold War
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Evening briefing: Today’s other essential headlines
Gavin Williamson knighted | Former education secretary Gavin Williamson has been given a knighthood, Downing Street said. Mr Williamson was widely criticised for the handling of his departmental responsibilities during the coronavirus pandemic, including online GCSE and A-level examinations chaos. Read on for details.
Around the world: Epstein ‘was factor in Gates divorce’
Bill Gates continued to meet with Jeffrey Epstein despite warnings that the financier was “evil and abhorrent,” Melinda French Gates has revealed, in her first interview since their divorce. Ms French Gates said that Bill’s relationship with the convicted paedophile was one of the contributing factors in their divorce, adding that she met Epstein once and had nightmares afterwards. Ms French Gates said she met with Epstein because she “wanted to see who this man was”. Read more.
Sport briefing: Chelsea an ‘opportunity like no other’
Marina Granovskaia, dubbed the most powerful woman in football, is facing a dilemma over her Chelsea future after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale. The Telegraph understands that groups interested in buying Chelsea would be open to the prospect of Granovskaia staying on under their ownership if she could cut her professional ties with Abramovich, which date back 20 years. Tom Morgan analyses why the chance to buy Chelsea is an opportunity like no other – and the Saudis must be kicking themselves. Meanwhile, Edwin Moses, the great American hurdler, does not hide his dismay with the sporting authorities for pandering to Russia, outlining why “sport is better off without them”.
Editor’s choice
- Surprise email | I reunited with my first love after 50 years – it was a disaster
- ‘It’s not socialism but stakeholder capitalism’ | Go Ape’s founders on selling up to their staff
- Shock estimates | ‘My energy bill costs more than my mortgage’
Business briefing: Legal elite face scrutiny over Russia
In Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, Atticus Finch describes the law as the great leveller of civilisation. To the most famous lawyer in literature, the court room is the “one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president.” Yet according to MPs, academics and transparency campaigners, a growing trend of “lawfare” in Britain risks turning this principle on its head. Matt Oliver examines how London’s top lawyers ushered a flood of Russian cash into Britain. Meanwhile, Russian planes and rockets risk being grounded within days after its airlines and space programme were shut out of the crucial Lloyd’s of London insurance market.
Tonight starts now
Henry V, review | Game of Thrones star Kit Harington echoes Volodymyr Zelensky as real life upstages art in this Donmar Warehouse production. The world we’re in now brings a grim contemporaneity to Shakespeare’s war play; we’re thinking not just about beleaguered Ukrainians but what may yet be demanded of us. Dominic Cavendish reviews how Harrington is in his element as a playboy-turned-king.
Three things for you
And finally… for this evening’s downtime
Servant of the People, review | Before he grew into a global statesman and war leader, Volodymyr Zelensky was a comic actor, satirising what is now his job. As Channel 4 prepares to air the comedy that made him famous on Sunday, Chris Bennion reviews the programme that predicted Ukrainian president’s destiny.
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