In a telephone call with the Ukrainian president, Joe Biden has warned there is a "distinct possibility" Russia might invade Ukraine next month. "He has said this publicly and we have been warning about this for months,” said White House National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne, confirming details of the call.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the US threatened to halt the opening of a key pipeline - that would send Russian gas to Western Europe - if Russia invades Ukraine. Nord Stream 2 runs from Russia to Germany. The 760-mile pipeline took five years to build, cost $11bn (£8bn) and is designed to double Russia's gas exports to Germany.
Russia denies any plans to invade - but last month made wide-ranging demands from the West, including that Ukraine never be allowed to join the Nato military alliance. The US rejected this demand - while offering what it called a "serious diplomatic path forward" to Moscow.
Read about the Nord Stream 2 line here; see our Q and A on the possible Russian invasion here; and learn why Russia doesn’t trust Nato here.

Some of the rules introduced in December in response to the rise of the Omicron variant are being relaxed in Wales and Scotland today.
In Wales, nightclubs can reopen; the rule of six in pubs and restaurants is lifted; and the legal requirement to work from home will also end. But mask mandates - which have ended in England - are staying in shops, hospitals and public transport.
In Scotland, face masks will no longer be required for adults taking part in organised activities with children under five. And face covering exemptions requiring two-metre physical distancing will be reduced to one metre. The exemptions apply in certain indoor settings - for example people leading religious services. Here's a reminder of the rules across the UK, and a look at the latest data.

The government needs to do "a lot more" to help people struggling with the cost of living, a minister has said, as some Tory MPs call for a rise in national insurance to be delayed. Defence Minister James Heappey said people were "feeling the squeeze" of rising prices and the government was in "listening mode". But he said the tax hike, to fund health and social care, was right. No 10 says there are "no plans" to scrap the rise, which is due in April. When asked about the increase on Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We have to fund the Covid backlog, we have to fix social care."

The Daily Mail reports that more than 600 civil servants now earn more than £150,000 a year – up 16% on two years ago. The Daily Telegraph says a work from home tax “loophole” – which allows people to pay less tax if they work just one day at home – will be closed as it’s too expensive. And the Daily Star claims the Loch Ness Monster has been spotted 600 miles from home, in Wimbledon. See Nessie – and all the front pages – here.

A model village in Great Yarmouth is celebrating after a model left by the artist Banksy sold at auction for £1m. One of the village owners, Frances Newsome, said: "The Banksy has been a life-saver for us as we've had to close so much due to the pandemic." Banksy's model was unnoticed for two days until a visitor pointed it out.
Meanwhile in Nottingham, a driver who was pulled over on Wednesday night told police he had been driving without a licence or insurance for 70 years. The man, in his 80s, said he started driving when he was 12, but had never had a crash.
And finally the castle in Barnard Castle - the County Durham town thrust into the spotlight in 2020 - had its best every year for tourists in 2021. The prime minister's ex-chief aide Dominic Cummins famously drove to the town to test his eyesight after self-isolating at his family's farm.

From elsewhere