Major setback as peace talks postponed between Moscow and Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that a new round of US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place in Abu Dhabi next week.

The Ukrainian president said on Sunday that the next trilateral discussions will happen on 4 and 5 February.

“Ukraine is ready for a substantive discussion, and we are interested in ensuring that the outcome brings us closer to a real and dignified end to the war,” he added.

The comments came as Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s powerful Security Council, said that Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the nearly four-year war.

Medvedev, who served as Russian president from 2008 to 2012, told a Russian war blogger in an interview: “I would like this to happen as soon as possible”.

The former president sang Donald Trump’s praises as an “effective and original” leader who had improved contacts between Russia and the US.

He also said Russia never found the two nuclear submarines that Trump said he had ordered to “be positioned in the appropriate regions” in response to “highly provocative” comments from Medvedev last summer.

Swiss bar fire death toll rises to 41 as18-year-old dies one month on

A teenager who was caught up in a deadly bar fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has died, bringing the death toll to 41.

The 18-year-old victim passed away in hospital in Zurich on 31 January, a month after the New Year’s Eve disaster, according to the Wallis canton’s public prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud.

Pilloud said her office, which is investigating the tragedy, would release no further information at this stage.

News of the latest death comes a month after sparkling candles on champagne bottles are thought to have sparked the deadly blaze in Crans-Montana, injuring 116 revellers celebrating New Year’s Eve.

Many teenagers were caught in the inferno after flames tore through Le Constellation bar, where the drinking age is 16.

Those killed in the disaster were aged 14 to 39, with only four aged over 24. Many of those injured are still being treated in hospital for severe burns.

Switzerland’s Federal Office for Civil Protection told the AFP news agency on Friday that 44 patients were being treated abroad. They included 18 in France, 12 in Italy, eight in Germany and six in Belgium.

A further 37 patients were still in Swiss hospitals as of Monday, according to the Wallis health ministry.

Initial findings from an investigation suggest the fire began as sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproof foam that lined the ceiling of the bar’s basement.

Authorities have acknowledged that the bar had not undergone safety checks for five years.

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the bar owners – French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti – on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence.

Criminal proceedings have also been brought against the municipality’s head of public safety and a former council fire safety inspector.

A former British schoolgirl was previously named among those killed in the blaze.

Charlotte Niddam, who previously attended Immanuel College, a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire, celebrating the New Year in the ski-resort when the fire broke out in the packed bar at around 1.30am on 1 January.

Survivors, families and mourners gathered in nearby Martigny for an emotional memorial to those killed on 10 January.

Spurs find life out of nowhere as Man City own goal halves deficit

Tottenham have found a way back into their contest with Manchester City out of nowhere after Dominic Solanke forced an own goal out of Marc Guehi to halve the deficit.

Rayan Cherki fired the visitors in front following a tepid start in north London, with Radu Dragusin inviting the in-form midfielder to shoot by not closing him down after Yves Bissouma was robbed of possession.

With the atmosphere eerily quiet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs failed to kick into gear for the rest of the first half and saw their deficit doubled through Antoine Semenyo, a goal that again stemmed from sloppy play.

Spurs were once again booed off the pitch by their own fans at half-time with Thomas Frank’s side looking on course for a fourth home defeat in six games across all competitions, but Guehi’s misfortune may now have given the hosts a lifeline.

Follow all the action from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below:

Four British holidaymakers die after being struck by stomach bugs on Cape Verde

Four British holidaymakers have tragically died within four months of contracting severe stomach bugs while on trips to Cape Verde, with their families now pursuing legal action.

These four are among six Britons who have died following holidays to the West African islands since January 2023, according to law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is investigating the cases.

The recent fatalities include Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire, Karen Pooley, 64, from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man. All succumbed to severe gastric illnesses last year.

Mark Ashley’s wife, Emma, 55, expressed her family’s “complete shock” over his death.

“We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered,” she said.

Three days into their October holiday in 2025, Mr Ashley, a self-employed forklift truck driver, developed symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and extreme lethargy.

The couple had booked their £3,000 trip with Tui and stayed at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal.

Mrs Ashley reported her husband’s illness via the Tui app on 9 October 2025 and has since raised concerns about the hotel’s hygiene standards. Upon their return to the UK, Mr Ashley’s symptoms persisted.

The father-of-two, who managed diabetes with medication, collapsed at home in Houghton Regis and was rushed to hospital on 12 November, but was pronounced dead minutes later. His death has been referred to the coroner.

Part-time nurse and mother-of-one Elena Walsh died in August 2025 after falling ill while staying at the Riu Cabo Verde resort on the same island.

Karen Pooley, from Lydney, travelled with a friend to the Riu Funana resort in Sal on 7 October 2025 for a two-week holiday, also booked through Tui.

The retired mother-of-two became unwell on 11 October with gastric symptoms, including diarrhoea.

In the early hours of the following day, she slipped on water leaking from a fridge while going to the bathroom.

She was transferred to a local clinic, where she continued to suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting, alongside severe pain from a fractured femur. Ms Pooley was airlifted to Tenerife for urgent care on 16 October but died the next morning.

Her husband, Andy, 62, shared his devastation: “We’re utterly heartbroken. Karen was the kindest, loveliest person. She was a devoted wife and mum who loved swimming, walking the dog in the Forest of Dean, and volunteered at a local charity shop. She was also a wonderful friend who lit up every room she entered.”

He noted his wife appeared in “significant distress” during video calls and criticised the poor communication from the clinic and holiday provider. “We were desperate for updates while watching Karen get worse,” he added.

“We’re devastated and struggling to understand how she went on holiday and never came home.” Ms Pooley’s initial death certificate cited multi-organ failure, sepsis, cardio-respiratory arrest, and a broken left leg.

Irwin Mitchell is representing the families of all six deceased individuals, as well as over 1,500 other people who have fallen ill after visits to Cape Verde.

The other two Britons who died since 2023 are Jane Pressley, 62, of Gainsborough, who passed away in January 2023 after falling ill at the Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November, and a man in his 60s from Watford, who died in November 2024 after suffering gastric illness.

Jatinder Paul, a serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, highlighted the severity of the situation.

“The number of holidaymakers to Cape Verde being struck down with serious and debilitating gastric illnesses is truly staggering. Nothing brings the gravity of this situation into sharper focus than these recent deaths,” he stated.

“In my experience I’m used to supporting holidaymakers who have fallen ill at resorts across the globe, but I’ve never seen repeated and continued illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period of time.”

Mr Paul added: “It’s almost incomprehensible that holidaymakers continue to describe the hygiene issues at these Cape Verde hotels year-after-year. Each case isn’t a statistic; it’s a human story of how lives have been turned upside down.”

He urged tour operators to take “meaningful and decisive action” to address the reported hygiene problems, emphasising their responsibility for the safety of package holiday customers.

The families of all six deceased are pursuing personal injury claims for damages against Tui, which provided many of the package holidays to the island nation.

Tui has been contacted for comment.

Lucy Letby’s parents blast Netflix doc for ‘invading their privacy’

Lucy Letby’s parents have blasted a new documentary as a “complete invasion of privacy” for using footage of the former nurse being arrested in her pyjamas at their home.

In their first public statement, Susan and John Letby also claimed the senior investigating officer in the case against their daughter “seemed to have a deep hatred” of them.

The ex-neonatal nurse is the most prolific child serial killer in Britain, having been convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.

However there have been mounting calls for a retrial as the 36-year-old’s legal team has raised major questions about the safety of her convictions.

A trailer for The Investigation of Lucy Letby, due to be aired on Netflix on Wednesday, shows previously unreleased footage of officers arriving at Letby’s family home to arrest her.

Letby was arrested three times. On the first occasion, in July 2018, she was led out of her home wearing a blue tracksuit.

However, on this occasion, in 2019, they are seen entering her bedroom, where Letby sits up in bed looking confused, before officers tell her she is being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

She is heard sounding emotional and telling others “don’t look, just go in” as she is led outside by officers in her dressing gown.

Letby’s parents have said they will not watch the documentary and fear it will turn their home into a “tourist attraction”.

They told The Sunday Times: “The previous programmes made about Lucy, including Panorama and the almost nightly news showing her being brought out handcuffed in a blue tracksuit are heartbreaking for us.

“However, this Netflix documentary is on another level. We had no idea they were using footage in our house. We will not watch it; it would likely kill us if we did.

“We have, however, stumbled on pictures of her being arrested in her bedroom in our house and her saying goodbye to one of her beloved cats which are even more distressing. Heaven knows how much more they have to show.

“All this taking place in the home where we have lived for 40 years. It is in a small cul-de-sac in a small town where everyone knows everyone. It is a complete invasion of privacy of which we would have known nothing if Lucy’s barrister had not told us.”

They added: “What we go through every day is nothing to what Lucy goes through but we still have to live here. Will our house become a tourist attraction like Lucy’s in Chester? We will find out the following day when everything is plastered over the papers and the news will be full of it.”

During her trial Letby claimed she had been taken to the police station in her pyjamas. However, this was disputed by the prosecution, who accused her of trying to garner sympathy with the jury.

Dame Esther Rantzen this week joined calls for the evidence against Letby to be re-examined.

Following the new footage, Dame Esther, who was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in 2023, said: “This week a photograph was published of Lucy Letby being arrested when she was in her bedroom. But when she described being taken to a police station in her pyjamas, the prosecution alleged that this was untrue and that she had invented this detail in order to create sympathy for herself. But the prosecution was wrong. It was not an invention. It was the truth.”

Meanwhile senior Tory MP Sir David Davis, who has called for Letby to be retried, told Times Radio her original trial was an “exercise in confirmatory bias”.

The documentary comes after it was announced the child serial killer will face no further criminal charges over baby deaths and collapses at two hospitals where she worked.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had reviewed evidence following a 2025 investigation into allegations of murder and attempted murder against nine children, but concluded that “the evidential test was not met in any of those cases”.

In a rare step, Cheshire Constabulary spoke out publicly against the decision, which it said was “not the outcome that we had anticipated throughout our investigation”.

Letby has always maintained her innocence. Her case is currently being examined by the Criminal Cases Review Commission after her legal team compiled reports from a team of leading neonatologists, who concluded no crimes were committed.

Netflix and Cheshire Police have been contacted for comment. The Investigation of Lucy Letby is scheduled for release on Netflix on 4 February.

The smart moment to get ahead of your business budget

For businesses large and small, late January is when reality bites. For some, it’s the first chance to take a breath after the festive rush and early January sales. For others, it’s an opportunity to look at things afresh after time away from the office. Either way, it’s the moment when plans need to move off the page and into practice.

In a challenging business environment, budgets must work harder, workflows need to be optimised and spending requires clear oversight. This is where Amazon Business can make a tangible difference: helping teams start the year organised, keep costs under control and simplify everyday purchasing across essential business categories.

Stock Up and Save now: Business Savings Event Ends February 4

The Business Savings Event is your opportunity to secure exceptional deals and special prices on everything your business needs. Whether you’re stocking up on office essentials, upgrading equipment, or planning ahead for the quarter, now is the time to take advantage of significant savings across thousands of products. Visit the Business Savings Event page today and discover how much you can save before February 4.

Buy smarter, stay stocked

Feeling organised starts with knowing you have what you need. Amazon Business supports this by offering bulk buying options that help improve budget efficiency. From pallet-sized orders of cleaning products to everyday office supplies, buying in volume ensures businesses are paying the best possible price.

Registered Amazon Business customers also benefit from exclusive business-only pricing, alongside the fast and flexible delivery Amazon is known for. In some circumstances, same-day delivery is available, allowing businesses to stay agile and responsive without overstocking.

One platform, less paperwork

Switching to Amazon Business can also significantly reduce administrative burden. Rather than sourcing cleaning supplies from one provider, office technology from another and stationery from a third, Amazon Business acts as a one-stop shop for procurement.

This streamlined approach frees up valuable time, allowing business owners and teams to focus on delivering quality products and services, rather than managing multiple suppliers and invoices.

Control for leaders, autonomy for teams

Amazon Business combines the familiar Amazon interface with professional-grade tools designed specifically for organisations. Team members can order what they need quickly and intuitively – even without purchasing experience – all through a single, centralised account.

At the same time, business leaders retain full oversight. Multi-user accounts include built-in controls that define what different users can buy, ensuring transparency and compliance. Instead of juggling multiple supplier accounts, businesses gain instant insight into purchasing behaviour, helping to reduce rogue spend and keep budgets on track.

The platform’s analytics tools also enable deeper trend analysis, supporting smarter decision-making now and more effective planning for the future. Amazon Business integrates with more than 300 e-procurement and expense management systems, including Coupa, Concur Expense and SAP Ariba, and makes it easy to manage delivery preferences across multiple locations within a single workflow.

From fitting seamlessly into existing systems to keeping spending accountable, Amazon Business helps companies start the year as they mean to go on: with smarter, simpler and more business-focused buying.

Sign up for a free Amazon Business account to streamline your purchasing and take advantage of quantity discounts.

Live build-up from the biggest night in music, plus who’s performing

The biggest night in music returns tonight with the annual Grammy Awards at at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, which is set to welcome stars including Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Olivia Dean.

This is the first year since 2018 where a British artist hasn’t been nominated for three of the biggest categories – Album, Record and Song of the Year – but two UK stars, Dean and Lola Young, are vying for Best New Artist.

Ahead of the awards show, which will feature performances from Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Addison Rae and Tyler, the Creator, fans will get to see their favourite artists arrive on the red carpet.

Later, comedian Trevor Noah is hosting proceedings as stars such as Harry Styles, Carole King, Jeff Goldblum and Charli XCX hand out some of the biggest prizes of the night.

Follow live updates below…