First Thing: Jeffrey Epstein advised Steve Bannon during 2018 pro-Trump media campaign | Steve Bannon

Good morning.

Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein served as a behind-the-scenes advisor to former Trump official and Maga influencer Steve Bannon during an August 2018 media campaign, apparently intended to defend Trump and his agenda and support Bannon’s media ventures.

Text messages released Wednesday by the House oversight committee detail a six-day meeting between the men between Aug. 17 and 23 and show Epstein coaching Bannon on television appearances and political messages.

One side of the conversation is sent from an iMessage account associated with the Epstein email address, and contextual clues make it clear that the other participant is Bannon.

• What else was revealed in Epstein’s latest spate of emails? Among many other things, one email shows an exchange between her and a co-worker in which they discussed “girls” and travel. The Justice Department continues to downplay the possibility that other men were involved in Epstein’s abuse of young girls.

• What’s going on? The rest of the Epstein files? Trump faces the prospect of a politically damaging congressional vote to release the files after unsuccessful attempts to pressure two members of Congress to withdraw their support.

Analysis reveals China and Saudi Arabia among countries receiving climate loans

China and wealthy petrostates such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the recipients of large amounts of climate finance, according to one analysis.

The Guardian and Carbon Brief analyzed previously unreported appeals to the UN and data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showing how billions of dollars of public money are being dedicated to the fight against global warming.

The research has revealed a widely operating system that shifts capital from wealthy polluters to vulnerable countries, helping them clean up their economies and adapt to a warmer world.

Russia attacks ‘every district’ of Kiev, sparks fires in Ukrainian capital

Russia launched a massive joint attack on Kiev earlier today, sparking fires and scattering debris in many parts of the capital, the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said. The statement stated that at least 11 people were injured as emergency teams responded to multiple attacks.

Five people, including a man and a pregnant woman in critical condition, were taken to hospital after a series of powerful explosions were heard in the city and the activation of air defenses.

Authorities stated that the attack on the capital continued and called on residents to stay in shelters until the air raid alert was lifted. Municipal authorities warned that electricity and water outages may occur.

• What did the Ukrainian president say? Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was “deliberately calculated” and “aimed at causing maximum damage to people and civilian infrastructure.”

• This is an evolving story. Follow our live blog here.

In other news…

• BBC apologizes to Donald Trump for editing of Panorama documentary This led to the resignation of the managing director and news chief, although they disagreed that there was a basis for the defamation charge.

• The Justice Department yesterday joined a lawsuit filed by California Republicans to block the state’s new congressional map.Some states are fighting over partisan redistricting to give Democrats or Republicans more seats in the House of Representatives.

• Man convicted of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in 1979 was executed It comes just hours after Florida yesterday granted a last-minute pardon to 46-year-old Tremane Wood, who was sentenced to death in Oklahoma.

• Bird flu wipes out half of South Georgia’s breeding elephant sealsThat’s according to a study that warns of “serious consequences” for the future of the genre.

Status of the day: Two hours a night: Japan Prime Minister’s sleep schedule raises concerns about work-life balance

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi said he could get by on only two to four hours of sleep a night; This has raised concerns about his commitment to achieving a better work-life balance among the country’s tired workers.

Don’t miss this: ‘I found it after 35 years and burst into tears’ – readers’ favorite photo booth moments

One hundred years ago, Anatol Marco Josepho, a Russian immigrant to the United States, invented the world’s first fully automatic, coin-operated photo booth. It was reported that 280,000 people queued to use the service in the first six months. To celebrate the centenary, nine writers shared their favorite photo booth snaps and we asked Guardian readers to show us their favorite images and tell us what they mean to them. Here are some of their stories.

…or this: Eight essential winter outfits that Scandinavians swear by, from heated socks to ‘allværsjakke’

Scandinavians know how to dress for harsh weather. The long Scandinavian winter, which generally extends from November to late March, requires layers of clothing and plenty of protection against the cold. Our team at Filter helped collect eight products from the streets and hillsides of the Nordic region to help protect you against the cold.

Last Thing: The great escape; Seal escapes killer whales by jumping onto photographer’s boat

A wildlife photographer on a whale-watching trip in the waters off Seattle captured dramatic video and photos of a pod of killer whales hunting seals. The seal only survived by climbing out of the water and onto the swim platform at the stern of the boat, next to the engine, which he claimed to be a life raft of sorts.

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