Wednesday morning UK news briefing: French threaten to cut off power

The row over post-Brexit fishing rights between Paris and London has deepened, with France threatening to cut off Jersey's electricity supply in "retaliation".

French maritime minister Annick Girardin suggested they could shut down the underwater cables that supply the largest Channel island with about 95 per cent of its electricity. "We will do so if we have to," she said.

Since the Brexit deal came into force, France has accused London of dragging its feet over issuing licences to small French vessels in the UK's six to 12 nautical mile zone.

Europe Editor James Crisp explains why Jersey is now at the centre of the fisheries licensing row.

Sturgeon win on 'knife edge' - Scottish Tory leader

Nicola Sturgeon's target of winning an SNP majority in tomorrow's Holyrood election is on a "knife edge". That is the warning from the Scottish Tory leader, as he urged unionists not to split their votes. Douglas Ross told The Telegraph an SNP majority was a "very real threat" that Ms Sturgeon would use to push for another referendum, including a possible "wildcat" vote if the Prime Minister refuses her the legal powers. He warned this would be "devastating" for Scotland and urged Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters to tactically vote for his party. Scottish Political Editor Simon Johnson reports that his fears appeared to be borne out by two of three opinion polls, which showed Ms Sturgeon is on course for a majority of four or five seats. In the latest episode of the Chopper's Politics podcast, Alan Cochrane argues the SNP may need to work with Alex Salmond's Alba to keep a pro-independence majority.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will pound the pavements with three of his party's mayoral hopefuls on an England-wide tour on the eve of so-called "super Thursday". He pleaded for more time to turn his party's fortunes around ahead of an expected voter backlash in the Hartlepool by-election. Leaked Labour research said just 40pc of the party's previous voters in the town would turn out to support it again.

Inside story of Bill and Melinda Gates's shock divorce

Where did it go wrong for Bill and Melinda Gates? After 27 years of marriage, the couple are embarking on one of the most expensive divorce settlements in history. After they declared their relationship "irretrievably broken", property, artworks and land worth billions will have to be divided. Many had seen the couple as nailed-on till-death-do-us-part-ers. From lockdown blues to empty nest syndrome, Harry de Quetteville examines the pressures that even tech titans cannot escape.

At a glance: Coronavirus morning briefing

• Matt | View today's cartoon on the Covid era of travel

• Travel | Tourists may have to use paper Covid passports

• Revisionism | Imperial's pessimistic modelling proved wrong

• Vaccines | Military labs quadruple testing in variants battle

• India | Trainee medics on front line as health system buckles

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

Trial and error | The "witch hunt" of soldiers who served in Northern Ireland must stop, campaigners and military leaders said after the first of a series of murder trials collapsed in six days. Campaigners labelled the prosecution a "farce", demanding the introduction of legislation to stop hundreds more soldiers being taken to court. Read The Telegraph's view.

• Duke of Edinburgh | How cause of death was recorded

• George Floyd death | Derek Chauvin requests new trial

• China deal | EU puts agreement on hold as G7 talks begin

• Revealed | BBC's biggest names paid to host private events

• Angry dog study | Ranked: From barking mad to the gentle

Around the world: Taliban's deadly offensive

Taliban fighters swept to the edge of the capital of Afghanistan's Helmand province before being halted in heavy fighting just days after American troops withdrew from the area. Ben Farmer reports that thousands fled the fighting and dozens were killed in clashes on the city's edges. View more striking pictures of the day from around the world.

Comment and analysis

• Patrick O'Flynn | 'Level up' with a grammar in every town

• Philip Johnston | Politicians fail to defend British identity

• Reader letters | Take on Scottish nationalists' outlandish claims

• Allison Pearson | It is time for GPs to get back into the surgery

• Ian Botham | Dogs will go on killing if we ban electric collars

Editor's choice: Features and arts

1. The woman with the impossible waist | How Betty Brosmer inspired Billie Eilish

2. Best new season hits | 14 best spring wardrobe updates - all from the high street

3. Kate Silverton | What science tells us about how to raise a resilient child

Business and money briefing

Tax fears eased | Rishi Sunak suggested wealthy families will be spared from a US-style tax raid as he hailed the strength of Britain's recovery. The Chancellor said he was "cautiously optimistic" about growth and that his Budget measures should return the battered public finances to a level footing, suggesting he has backed away from a capital gains tax increase.

• Property | House prices paint distorted picture of the market

• Investment tip | How to buy Dogecoin - and why it is surging

• Alex | View today's cartoon strip on the world of finance

Sport briefing

Manchester City 2 PSG 0 | Man City are into their first ever Champions League final - and neither Paris Saint-Germain nor an unseasonal hail-storm could stop them. It sets up the possibility of an all-English final. Read Jason Burt's match report from the Etihad and our player ratings. Mike McGrath writes that PSG proved that money cannot buy class.

• IPL chaos | England players struggling to get home

• Football | Manchester United fans turn fire on sponsors

• Ryder Cup threat | $30m offers from Saudi 'Super League'

Tonight's dinner

Greek courgette and herb pie | Diana Henry says this delicious vegetarian dish is one of the best pies she has ever made. View the recipe and try our Cookbook newsletter.

And finally... for this morning's downtime

Kim Jong-il painted like Christ | An extraordinary new exhibition in Bern pairs contemporary art from either side of the demilitarised zone - and the differences are fascinating. Alastair Smart examines the curious case of the North Korean art show.