1. Two remaining Isis ‘Beatles’ captured in Syria
Two members of an Islamic State execution cell dubbed the Isis “Beatles” because all four had British accents have been captured by Syrian Kurdish fighters. Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh were the last two still at large, after the US killing of “Jihadi John” Mohammed Emwazi in 2015, and the imprisonment in Turkey of Aine Davis.
2. Asian markets drop following US falls
Asian stock markets suffered heavy losses this morning, after another day of steep falls in the US yesterday. On Thursday, the Dow Jones index of US shares fell by more than 1,000 points – the second time in one week it has broken that threshold. Today, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell by 2.8%, while China’s Shanghai Composite dropped 4.1%.
3. No-deal Brexit ‘will lead to red tape for hauliers’
British drivers may need new licences and registration certificates to travel in Europe following Brexit, under plans to sign up to a 1968 UN convention on road traffic previously viewed as unnecessary and burdensome, The Guardian reports. The move is intended to tackle the possible outcome of failing to reach a deal with the EU, in which case the union would no longer recognise UK-issued driving licences. Experts warn that the new system would trigger a wave of red tape for hauliers, in particular.
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4. Human eggs grown in laboratory for first time
A team of scientists in Edinburgh have grown human eggs in the laboratory for the first time, using immature cells taken from human ovarian tissue. It took decades of work to find the right laboratory conditions in which to grow the eggs, says the BBC. However, only 10% were successfully taken to maturity.
5. Sport court upholds ban on Russian Olympians
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected an appeal by 47 Russian athletes who wanted to take part in the Winter Olympics in South Korea despite being banned over alleged doping. However, 169 athletes from Russia will be allowed to attend as independents. They will march under the Olympic flag and to the Olympic anthem.
6. HMRC acts to reduce unpaid internships
HMRC has written to more than 500 companies to remind them that the law requires that interns be paid at least the minimum wage, to encourage social mobility. Interns classed as workers – those who have contracts or can be sanctioned if they do not turn up for work – must be paid, while genuine volunteers do not have to be.
7. Lone US senator causes government shutdown
The US has embarked on its second government “shutdown” of the year, after just one Republican senator refused to agree a budget for federal services. Rand Paul demanded a debate on his amendment to maintain spending caps, says the BBC. Non-essential government employees are likely to find themselves on unpaid holiday.
8. British Hong Kong murderer denied appeal
Rurik Jutting, the British banker who tortured and murdered two women in Hong Kong, will not be given a new trial, after three judges ruled there was “no merit whatsoever” in his appeal. Jutting, serving a life sentence for killing Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih, had argued that he has psychiatric disorders and was therefore not in control of his actions.
9. Airline denies telling student to flush hamster
A US airline has denied suggesting to a 21-year-old student that she should flush her “emotional support hamster” down a toilet alive. That is exactly what Belen Aldecosea did on 21 November last year in Baltimore Airport. Aldecosea is considering suing Spirit Airlines, which would not let her board a flight with the pet.
10. Briefing: what are Freemasons and what do they actually do?
Reports that two Freemasons’ lodges are operating in the heart of Westminster, with MPs among their members, are a conspiracy theorist’s dream come true.
The suggestion that politicians, judges and police could be members of the secretive society has long raised concerns about corruption and nepotism.
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Who are the Freemasons?
