Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 9 March 2023

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1. Obesity drugs breakthrough
2. New Russia offensive
3. 40cm of snow forecast
4. Hancock ‘warned on China claims’
5. Pandemic mental health crisis ‘limited’
6. Johnson ‘interviewed about Raab’
7. Tucker warned by White House
8. Children ‘on edge’ after earthquake
9. Arrest over Bulley footage
10. Bristol tops pothole chart

published 9 March 2023

1. Obesity drugs breakthrough

Putting weight loss drugs on the NHS could help reduce the government’s benefits bill, said The Times. Health officials believe that obesity drugs could ultimately be offered to up to 12m people after the approval of a “game-changing” weight-loss jab. Officials hope to persuade Jeremy Hunt and the Treasury to bankroll the initial cost of the move by arguing that the plans will get millions of people with joint problems and other illnesses caused by obesity back to work. However, some in government are said to be “thoroughly unconvinced” by the plan, according to The Times.

Russia has launched missiles at targets across Ukraine. Buildings and infrastructure were hit in Kharkiv and Odesa, and attacks on other areas, including the capital Kyiv, were also reported. Initially during the invasion, missile attacks took place weekly, “plunging the entire cities into darkness”, said Al Jazeera, but "became more spread out in time, with commentators speculating that Moscow may be saving up ammunition”.

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The current cold snap is expected to deteriorate, with power cuts and travel delays predicted across several regions. The heaviest snowfall is expected in northern and central England, with up to 40cm (15 inches) expected in an area stretching from Durham down to Stoke-on-Trent. Ice will be a widespread issue as temperatures fall after dark, according to Netweather. A level three cold alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for the whole of England.

The Cabinet Office told Matt Hancock to tone down claims that Covid-19 originated from a laboratory leak in China, according to The Telegraph. Leaked messages show that officials warned it would “cause problems” if Hancock repeated the claim in his memoir. “Global fear of the Chinese must not get in the way of a full investigation into what happened,” he wrote in the original manuscript. However, after reviewing the manuscript, the Cabinet Office wrote: “This is highly sensitive and would cause problems if released.”

A major study has found that the Covid pandemic has taken a relatively limited toll on the mental health of the majority of people around the world. Although some experts warned of a “mental health tsunami”, a global analysis of studies suggests those fears were “largely unfounded”, reported Metro. Canadian scientists led the review of 137 studies involving 134 groups of people from around the world, published in the BMJ. However, among women, older people, university students and those belonging to sexual or gender minorities, depression did become a little worse overall. .

Boris Johnson privately warned Dominic Raab about his conduct, according to The Telegraph. An independent lawyer who is investigating formal complaints against Raab about his treatment of staff has interviewed the former PM about his former deputy in No 10, said The Telegraph. The deputy prime minister and justice secretary strongly denies the bullying allegations against him but said last month he would resign from government if the claims are upheld by the investigation.

The White House “lashed out” at Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an “extraordinary rebuke” for his "false depictions” of the Capitol attack, said CNN. The reporter was given access to tens of thousands of hours of US Capitol security camera footage and has aired “carefully selected clips to portray the pro-Trump mob as peaceful patriots”, said the outlet. “Tucker Carlson is not credible,” said the White House. It comes as further allegations about the conduct of Fox News pundits have come to light due to a landmark litigation case in the US.

Children have been left “completely on edge” and fearing their “world is going to be turned upside down again” by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, a spokesperson for UNICEF has said. Joe English, a communication specialist at UNICEF who visited the two countries, told the Sky News Daily podcast that the scale of destruction “knocked me sideways” and he saw “buildings just completely flattened, pancaked, buildings ripped in half”. Nearly 52,000 people lost their lives in the disaster.

A man has been arrested over footage recorded from inside a police cordon on the day Nicola Bulley's body was found. Lancashire Police said a 34-year-old man from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences and perverting the course of justice in connection with the investigation to find Bulley. During the investigation, a “number of apparent content creators” arrived and “traipsed through the beauty spot, taking photographs to post on social media”, said The Guardian.

Bristol tops a list of the 10 worst locations for potholes in England, reported The Independent. According to new analysis of local authority data, nearly 78.5% of the city’s roads required maintenance. It was followed by Blackburn with Darwen (76%), Cheshire West and Chester (72%), and Derbyshire (71%). The research also found that although a “vast proportion of roads” are damaged across the country, current plans show that just 0.4% of England’s road network will receive strengthening, resurfacing, or surface dressing treatment by April.

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