Top story: Two-fifths of children in poverty in 25 constituencies

Good morning. I’m Martin Farrer and these are the top stories this Wednesday morning.

The freeze on social security benefits introduced two years ago will lead to fewer and fewer children escaping the poverty trap, according to a study. The biggest increases in child poverty since the freeze in 2016 have occurred in areas already identified as deprivation hotspots, an analysis by the End Child Poverty coalition of charities has found. In four parliamentary constituencies – Bethnal Green and Bow, and Poplar and Limehouse in east London, and Ladywood and Hodge Hill in Birmingham – children are for the first time in recent years more likely than not to grow up poor.

In 25 constituencies, mostly located in London, Birmingham and Greater Manchester, more than 40% of children now live below the poverty line. On a local level the figures are even more damning, with 62% of children in Coldhurst ward in Oldham living in poverty. End Child Poverty says the government must end the benefits freeze which the group says is a major factor in an “emerging child poverty crisis”, along with rising prices.

Afghanistan attack – Gunmen have stormed the offices of Save the Children in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad in an ongoing attack that has left at least 11 people injured. Details are still emerging but witnesses said a car bomb exploded at the gates of a compound housing the charity’s offices at around 9.15am local time (4.45GMT). Attackers then ran into the building and opened fire. Mohammad Amin, who was inside the compound, said he saw gunman hitting the main gate with an rocket-propelled grenade.

Neville problem – The appointment of Phil Neville as coach of the England women’s football team has been overshadowed after dubious tweets he appears to have sent a few years ago began to circulate, with one making light of domestic violence. The message, which was posted via Neville’s Twitter handle @fizzer18 on 1 July 2011, reads: “Relax I’m back chilled – just battered the wife!!!” Another accused women campaigning for equal pay of being “hypocrites”. The former England and Manchester United player deleted the account on Tuesday night but has not confirmed whether he sent the tweets. Neville replaces Mark Sampson, who was sacked in September on grounds of unacceptable behaviour with a player in a previous job.

Doctors’ block – Doctors from overseas have been prevented from taking up posts at UK hospitals because they don’t earn enough to satisfy immigration rules. The Guardian has learned of at least 20 doctors who have fallen foul of the rules which require applicants to earn more than £55,000. A consultant who was hoping to recruit one of the doctors said the situation was “lunatic”. University Hospitals Birmingham confirmed 18 staff had been turned down for tier 2 visas in the past two months, while Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge said three had been knocked back.

Paradise revisited – The Paradise Papers leak has produced another twist after it emerged that the law firm at the centre of the leak provided offshore services to a bank accused of facilitating terrorist financing, transnational organised crime and the Syrian government’s chemical weapons programme. Appleby, a Bermuda-based offshore firm, represented the Cayman Islands holding company of FBME Bank for at least a year after the US Treasury published a roster of serious allegations against the bank. FBME, which the US said was “a financial institution of primary money laundering concern”, was banned from the US financial system last year. FBME denies all the allegation. Appleby, which is suing the Guardian over the Paradise Papers investigation, declined to comment on its relationship with the holding company of FBME.

The big dry – Residents in Cape Town have been warned that they will have to queue for water at standpipes from 12 April unless they reduce their consumption drastically in the face of the worst drought for 100 years. “Day Zero”, when the city officially runs out of piped water, has been brought forward nine days to 12 April after the latest drop in reservoir levels. If the emergency measures are needed, people will be limited to 25 litres a day. A typical shower uses 15 litres per minute, the country’s water watchdog says, while a toilet consumes 15 litres per flush.

Lunchtime read: Seven years after the Arab Spring, hope fades

Seven years ago, the series of revolutions that became known as the Arab Spring started in Tunisia. The autocratic government of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown and soon the movement spread to Egypt, Libya and Syria. It felt like the region was on the cusp of significant, epochal change. Sadly, as Emma Graham-Harrison finds, Tunisians are still waiting for the killers of hundreds of protesters to face justice and even for the new regime to recognise those who sacrificed their lives. Further east, the impact of the Arab Spring in Egypt is even more remote. Ruth Michaelson reports from Cairo on elections in March which president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi seems destined to win easily after crushing dissent, and along with it the hopes of thousands of protesters who once turned the capital’s Tahrir Square into the centre of the Arab awakening.

Sport

South Korea has its first tennis slam semi-finalist after Hyeon Chung beat controversial American Tennys Sandgren in straight sets at Melbourne Park. Sandgren, who has been linked to far-right websites, copped another blow in the shape of a searing put-down by Serena Williams. In a different semi, Bristol City went down fighting in their Carabao Cup second leg clash against Manchester City, losing 3-2 on the night and 5-3 overall. Back down under, all-rounder Sam Curran has been drafted into the England squad for the upcoming tri-series against Australia and New Zealand.

Business

Forget the bankers, Elon Musk might one day put all the fat cats in the shade. The US entrepreneur has agreed to work free for 10 years in exchange for a bonus of £40bn if he can turn Tesla into a $650bn company. Asian shares were mostly down overnight after huge gains in recent weeks. The FTSE100 is set to drop slightly at the opening bell. The pound is buying $1.402 and €1.138.

The papers

Don’t ya love the British press - so much variety today.

The FT leads with the news of the Murdochs’ hopes of an easy takeover of Sky being scuppered (for now) by the regulator. It also has an investigation into a “men only” charity dinner which makes for shocking reading.

The i splashes on “Fake news unit to fight web threat” while the Telegraph chooses news that Nicola Sturgeon has apparently ordered the Union Jack to be “eradicated” from Scottish government buildings and replaced with the Saltire.

The Guardian’s splash is the Paradise Papers – as outlined above – and the Mail’s headline is “Health risk of herbal pills”, saying millions are risking their health by combining them with prescription drugs.

The Mirror focuses on “taxi rapist” John Worboys who is set for early release from prison. It says police are investigating new allegations against him.

And finally the Sun has the most unusual story and best headline. “Apocalypse Cow” it screams. Not sure what to make of it all but apparently the Wetherspoon’s Tuesday Steak Club has been stunned – because steak has been pulled off the menu.

For more news: www.theguardian.com

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