The bromance cools as Kim and Don hit Hanoi
Olivia Colman steals our hearts at the Oscars, Michael Cohen brands Trump a ‘conman’ and Stacey Dooley sparks a race storm. Gerald Scarfe and Nick Curtis look back at the week that was
Monday
A Kim Jong-un lookalike is deported from Vietnam ahead of the real leader’s summit in Hanoi with US President Donald Trump. Theresa May announces the Commons will not get a meaningful vote on her Brexit deal until March 12. The founder of Momentum, Jon Lansman, admits Labour has a “major” anti-Semitism problem.
Olivia Colman is anointed a fully-fledged national treasure overnight after winning the Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Favourite. Best Actor Rami Malek falls off the stage. Nokia launches a phone with five rear cameras. A dead whale calf is found in the Amazon.
A former Army commando in a kayak saves a man who fell into the Thames from Westminster Bridge while taking a selfie. Junk food ads are banned from London public transport. Rail staff at Sutton station pour dirty water over a homeless man. Alan Partridge returns to the BBC.
Tuesday
Mrs May concedes that Brexit could be delayed if her deal is rejected again. Sterling immediately rallies. Film emerges of Labour MP Chris Williamson saying the party had been “too apologetic” over anti-Semitism. The sudden warm snap brings a high pollution warning in London.
India claims to have killed many militants in “terror training camps” in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, in the first air strikes across the border since 1971. It is revealed former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell has been found guilty of child abuse in Australia. Ariana Grande overtakes Selena Gomez as the most followed woman on Instagram.
The Royal College of Art and the University of the Arts London are named the best universities to study art at in the world. Buses will be rerouted to create a “public piazza” around Oxford Circus. UK Sport launches a plan for London to host the Olympics again as early as 2036.
Wednesday
Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, brands the President a racist, a conman and a cheat: his view on where bears defecate is not known. Pakistan claims to have shot down two Indian jets and captured a fighter pilot. Labour comes out in favour of a second referendum, among other possible options.
M&S buys half of Ocado’s retail business for £750 million to launch a home delivery service. The BBC and ITV are to join forces to create an on-demand service, BritBox, to rival Netflix. Domestic abuse offences in London have risen by 63 per cent in seven years, a Mayor’s office report reveals.
Wildfires break out on Saddleworth Moor in Yorkshire. A baby weighing under 10oz is born in Japan. Maurizio Sarri’s job as Chelsea manager looks — briefly — more secure after a 2-0 win over
Tottenham, days after the humiliation of “Kepagate” in the Carabao Cup Final.
Thursday
⬤ Donald Trump says he had to “walk away” from his summit with Kim Jongun without an agreement, although he claims he and the North Korean leader remain friendly. He also claims Cohen’s testimony is all lies, apart from the bit about there being no collusion between his election team and Russia. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says his country will free a captured Indian pilot.
EU migration to the UK fell to 57,000, its lowest level in 10 years, while net migration from outside
Europe is at its highest for 15 years. The so-called Momo Challenge — in which a spooky figure tells children to harm themselves via WhatsApp — is revealed to be a hoax.
Comic Relief claims Labour MP David Lammy refused to take part in a charity film in Africa, after he criticised Stacey Dooley (pictured) for promoting a “white saviour” mentality with the charity. Sally Challen, who claims her husband abused her for years before she killed him, has her murder conviction overturned. Composer Andre Previn dies aged 89.
Friday
The US offers a $1 million reward for the capture of al-Qaeda’s Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama. Chuka Umunna is named spokesman of the Independent Group of MPs but says: “We have no leader”. Just like the other main parties, then, eh?
Salisbury is to be declared decontaminated after a 13,000-hour cleanup following last year’s Novichok poisonings. Solange Knowles releases a surprise album. Gap is to close 230 stores, mostly in North America.
Uber and other private hire drivers are to sue Sadiq Khan for making them pay the congestion charge, when black cabs are exempt. Spurs’ Son HeungMin celebrates winning player of the year at the London Football Awards.