this is bbc news. i'm victoria valentine, with the latest headlines, for viewers in the uk and around the world. the australian tennis star nick kyrgios avoids conviction at a court in canberra, after admitting assaulting a former girlfriend. the us department of defence says it's tracking what's believed to be a chinese surveillance balloon that entered american airspace two days ago. as european union leaders prepare for a summit on ukraine later on friday, president zelensky says he believes ukraine deserves talks onjoining the eu this year. and could this song, by the former sex pistols frontmanjohn lydon,

written about his wife's alzheimer's, be chosen to represent ireland at the eurovision song contest? hello, and welcome to the programme. we start with breaking news. the australian tennis star nick kyrgios has admitted assaulting a former girlfriend, but has escaped conviction. his guilty plea in a court in canberra came after his lawyers failed to have the charge dismissed on mental health grounds. the court was told that kyrgios pushed his then partner to the ground, during an argument in december 2021. the magistrate called the incident "a single act of stupidity or frustration", when sparing him a criminal record. our correspondent phil mercer is outside the court in canberra.

take us through the facts of this case. well, next krygios�*s lawyer said that the assault, in january 2021 on his former partner, was completely out of character, and genuinely an isolated incident. his legal team had tried to have the charges against him overturned on mental health grounds. that failed, and the magistrate was quite sympathetic to nick krygios, not recording a conviction no good behaviour bond has been imposed either. the reason for that, the magistrate saying that this offence occurred two years ago, and in the intervening time, nick krygios has sought help for his mental health problems, and has not reoffended again, so what it means is that nick krygios doesn't have a criminal

record, and as a professional tennis player ranked 20th in the world, is free to travel the world, is free to travel the world, is free to travel the world competing without hindrance. a criminal record could for example have led to problems getting into countries such as the united states. nick krygios did issue a statement, saying he deeply regretted what had happened. he did reference his mental health problems, saying that life could often be overwhelming, but he arrived in court on crutches after knee surgery, he left court without making any other statement. just looking at his statement here, saying mental health is tough, life can seem overwhelming but i found that getting help and working on myself has helped me feel better, and to be better. tell me, just how common is it to someone who admits assault to avoid conviction?— avoid conviction? well, the magistrate. _ avoid conviction? well, the magistrate, beth _ avoid conviction? well, the| magistrate, beth campbell, avoid conviction? well, the - magistrate, beth campbell, was very sympathetic to nick krygios, appreciating that he had sought help for his mental

health problems, and she did address him directly, saying that she would be treating him, in her words, a person whojust happens to hit a tennis ball very well, as she would any other young man who comes before her here in canberra at the magistrates, so she was essentially saying that she is treating him just the same as she is treating everyone else, giving them essentially a second chance, after those indiscretions, which nick krygios has apologised for. we did here in a victim impact statement from his former partner, saying that she felt betrayed by nick krygios after the incident, and that the assault had left her in pain and in distress. so nick krygios now is free to pursue his rehabilitation and to pursue his tennis career without a criminal conviction to his name.—

the us department of defence says it's tracking what's believed to be a chinese surveillance balloon that entered american airspace two days ago. the military considered shooting it down over the state of montana but was concerned that falling debris could hit someone. the canadian authorities have also released a statement about a high—altitude surveillance balloon and say they are working with us partners. this is the first image we've received, believed to be of the balloon, but it's not been independently verified. the department of defence says it was "most certainly launched" by china but there's been no word yet from beijing. we're joined now by our north america correspondent, peter bowes. what has been said? what have we heard from president biden today? well, this is certainly _ president biden today? well, this is certainly an _ president biden today? well, this is certainly an unusual. this is certainly an unusual situation. it isn't unprecedented, though. this balloon, believed to be launched by china, but as you say there has been no

verification, that is simply hovering over the northern united states, having also hovered in a similar way, it seems, over canada. we are hearing similar statements from the canadian ministry of defence as we have from the pentagon, and that is that it is posing no danger to people on the ground, it isn't posing any danger to civilian aircraft as well. given its altitude, in the stratosphere, that this is so high up that commercial aircraft, the official say, are not in any danger, and there is not in any danger, and there is no danger in a civilian sense or a military sense to people on the ground, and it seems to be a wait and see situation. there was the thought given to perhaps shooting it down, which was seemingly dismissed because of the potential danger to people on the ground, and certainly we are hearing from the pentagon that they do not believe this to be a significant security threat,

and that whatever information could be gleaned by the chinese through using this balloon could also be gleaned by other spying methods, and in that respect it has seemed to have been dismissed, to some extent. nevertheless, it is still there, and still hovering somewhere over the united states. 50 somewhere over the united states. ., ~ ., ., states. so we do know that the us have been _ states. so we do know that the us have been tracking - states. so we do know that the us have been tracking this - states. so we do know that the us have been tracking this for. us have been tracking this for two days. interestingly, on thursday, the cia director william burns, he made no mention of this balloon but he did call tried of the biggest geopolitical challenge currently facing the us. i mean, how would you describe the nature of the relationship between the us and china at this moment in time? clearly, the relationship _ this moment in time? clearly, the relationship between - this moment in time? clearly, the relationship between the i this moment in time? clearly, i the relationship between the us and china at the moment is extremely difficult, on a number of fronts, but not least security, and for all, there is a lot of coincidence here that the cia director was making this speech as news of this

balloon emerged. also anthony blinken, secretary of state, is due to play —— due to speak to president xi on a visit to beijing in the next few days, so there is a confluence of different events here making it potentially quite awkward for that conversation to take place. but clearly it doesn't help that there is this now seemingly awkward, tense situation of the us authorities having to deal with this balloon that, although we don't have absolute confirmation, the role of it appears to be to spy on the us. role of it appears to be to spy on the us-_ we are in fact going to return to that story in a little while. we will be speaking to a fellow at the freeman's berkely institute at stanford university about exactly this, the nature of the relationship between china and the us, and the threat that china does pose to the world. so do stay with us for that. but in the meantime, some of the day's

avenues. commuters have been warned to expect another day of severe disruption on the uk's railways. more than 20,000 train drivers are walking out in their long—running dispute over pay and conditions. the government has urged the unions to play their part in bringing the dispute to an end. closing statements will be heard later today in the long—running inquiry into the uk's contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and �*80s. the hearings have examined why tens of thousands of people contracted hiv or hepatitis c, after being given unscreened blood products and transfusions. the biden administration says a thousand migrant children, who were separated from relatives at the us—mexico border under donald trump's migration policy, have yet to be reunited with their families. a task force, set up two years ago, has reconnected almost 700. a freight train has hit pedestrians in germany, killing one child and severely injuring a second. eyewitnesses in the town

of recklinghausen say the victims were dragged by the train for several 100 metres. rescue workers are at the scene. president zelensky says he believes ukraine deserves talks onjoining the eu this year. ahead of friday's eu—ukraine summit, mr zelensky said closer ties would inspire troops to resist russia. but eu officials say much still needs to be done before ukraine is ready for accession. they are likely to instead offer more arms and money, and better access for ukrainian products to the eu market. the meeting comes as russian forces step up their offensives in the south and east of the country. steve fish is a politics professor at the university of california, berkeley, and hejoins us from california now. thank you very much forjoining us today, professor. president zelensky believes that ukraine deserves to be in the eu. do you agree?

i certainly do. ukraine has certainly earned its place in the eu. it is really protecting europe from a menace to the east, and it is doing it, it is doing all the heavy lifting itself. it is getting aid from the west, from europe, but it is paying the highest price itself. it has certainly earned itself. it has certainly earned its way into the eu.— itself. it has certainly earned its way into the eu. what are the standards _ its way into the eu. what are the standards they _ its way into the eu. what are the standards they must - its way into the eu. what are l the standards they must reach in order to qualify for eu membership? ! in order to qualify for eu membershi? ! ' . ., , membership? ! officially there are three standards, _ membership? ! officially there are three standards, one - membership? ! officially there are three standards, one as i are three standards, one as they have to have a democracy, another is the applicant must have a functioning market economy, and the third is it it is to all this harmonisation, accession criteria, which is mainly helping to integrate into the eu. in this perspective, really the big obstacles are authoritarianism, but ukraine is a showing that it can be a thriving democracy. in fact, democracy and national

identity, national sovereignty, an elf used in the minds of ukrainian so it is a good bet that democracy will actually be robust in ukraine. in fact, the eu probably wishes it had a mechanism for expelling non—democracies. when it was first formed, they never thought a country within the eu would become a non—democracy, and that has become what has happened with hungary. i think a lot of eu officials would like to trade hungry for ukraine right now. corruption is a big barrier but ukraine is very honestly taking major steps to deal with corruption, in response to the possibility that some of the aid money being used for arms is being squandered on corruption, and the government of zelinsky is doing a very good job of cracking down on that. state weakness is a problem as well for a candidate memberfor the for a candidate member for the eu for a candidate memberfor the eu but ukraine �*s state is growing stronger as it prosecutes this war. and poverty is an obstacle, and it is true the ukrainian economy has deteriorated and become more poor during the war, but

the eu is committed in any event to rebuilding ukraine after the war, and that will tether the ukrainian and eu economies very closely together, so i think across the board, the prospects for eu membership for ukraine are and should be very good. just membership for ukraine are and should be very good.— should be very good. just want to ick should be very good. just want to pick up _ should be very good. just want to pick up on — should be very good. just want to pick up on that _ should be very good. just want to pick up on that last - should be very good. just want to pick up on that last point, . to pick up on that last point, the poverty point, if ukraine were to become a eu country, i would the nature and the quantum of support, particularly economic support for the country, change as a eu country? for the country, change as a eu count ? ~ country? well, the entire eu would have _ country? well, the entire eu would have an _ country? well, the entire eu would have an interest - country? well, the entire eu would have an interest in - would have an interest in ukraine doing well economically, and it already well to some extent, but when a country becomes a member of the eu, all the member states agreed to integrate their economies with it, and that gives them a stake in that country �*s prosperity. what's more, it is important to note that one of the things that could keep ukraine out of the eu, or that earlier people thought could keep it out, would be that member states

would be that member states would be that member states would be afraid of a big load of workers from the ukraine, a relatively poor country come into the rest of the eu, but what we have seen as millions of ukrainian refugees have already left due to the war for europe, and they seem by all accounts to be fitting into european society is really very well. many of them are already employed, and in fact the prospects for them leaving, many of them living after the war are high, which is to say that europe and sort it out with a wave of ukrainians that are integrating themselves into the european economies, so ukraine has orally proved its ability to engage in that without upsetting eu member states �*s economies. without upsetting eu member states 's economies.— without upsetting eu member states 's economies. thank you for our states 's economies. thank you for your time — states 's economies. thank you for your time and _ states 's economies. thank you for your time and your - states 's economies. thank you for your time and your insight. | for your time and your insight. my for your time and your insight. my pleasure. stay with us on bbc news. still to come — because the singerjohn lydon go from six pistols front man eurovision song contest nominee? this is the moment that millions in iran have been waiting for. after his long years in exile, the first hesitant steps

of ayatollah khomeini on iranian soil. south africa's white government has offered its black opponents concessions unparalleled in the history of apartheid, and the anc leader nelson mandela is to be set free unconditionally. mission control: three, two, one. a countdown to a critical moment. the world's most powerful rocket ignited all 27 of its engines at once. and apart from its power, it's this recycling of the rocket, slashing the cost of a launch, that makes this a breakthrough in the business of space travel. two americans have become the first humans to walk in space without any lifeline to their spaceship. one of them called it, "a piece of cake." thousands of people have given l the yachtswoman ellen macarthur a spectacular homecoming - in the cornish port of falmouth after she smashed the worldl record for sailing solo around the world, non—stop.

this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the australian tennis star nick kygrios avoids conviction at a court in canberra after admitting assaulting a former girlfriend. the us department of defence says it's tracking what's believed to be a chinese surveillance balloon that entered american airspace two days ago. let's stay with that story. in the last few hours, the director of the cia william burns said china is the biggest geopolitical challenge currently facing the united states. doctor 0riana skylar mastro is center fellow at the freeman spogli institute for international studies at stanford university. she is also non—resident senior fellow at american enterprise institute, and shejoins us now from stanford. thank you very much forjoining us, doctor.

firstly, what are your thoughts about those comments from the cia director? i think there is nothing surprising about that. china has been the threat for the united states for over a decade. what is really surprising is how we have the sense of urgency only now in 2023. i sense of urgency only now in 2023. ., ~ 2023. i mean, thinking particularly _ 2023. i mean, thinking particularly about - 2023. i mean, thinking. particularly about china, 2023. i mean, thinking i particularly about china, i mean, most world leaders, including president biden but the japanese prime minister, agree that things like the defence in taiwan is crucial for security in the region. do you believe we are going to see china take action at all and really attack taiwan? i think it is quite — really attack taiwan? i think it is quite possible. - really attack taiwan? i think it is quite possible. it - really attack taiwan? i think it is quite possible. it is - really attack taiwan? i think it is quite possible. it is not| it is quite possible. it is not only xijinping who has been very clear that he would like to resolve this once and for all, but xijinping did not wake up and decide that taiwan was important to china. his predecessors spent decades making the investments to building military capabilities he now has at his disposal. so,

the chinese government and in some cases even the chinese people see taiwan as a part of china and don't want to wait and understand that peaceful reunification is not possible, and for those reasons i think it is possible that china would try to attack taiwan and the only reason that xi jinping might be cautious in doing so is if he feels like a victory could not be easy and quick, and that is where the united states and its allies and partners could come in if they decided to make significant changes to theirforce decided to make significant changes to their force posture in the region. i changes to their force posture in the region.— in the region. i want to pick u . in the region. i want to pick up firstly — in the region. i want to pick up firstly on _ in the region. i want to pick up firstly on the _ in the region. i want to pick up firstly on the first - in the region. i want to pick up firstly on the first part . in the region. i want to pick| up firstly on the first part of your answer about the speed at which the world is witnessing this and responding. why do you think the world has been slow to react to the threat to taiwan? i to react to the threat to taiwan?— to react to the threat to taiwan? ~' , ., ., taiwan? i think there is a lot of wishful — taiwan? i think there is a lot of wishful thinking _ taiwan? i think there is a lot of wishful thinking and - taiwan? i think there is a lot of wishful thinking and a - taiwan? i think there is a lot of wishful thinking and a lot| of wishful thinking and a lot of wishful thinking and a lot of mirror imaging. the united states and china and countries tend to view other countries policies as they view their own, and so from a us

perspective we think, "well, taiwan is not important enough to risk able over. china should want prosperity and peace over all things." if ukraine has taught us anything it should be to reinstitute the lesson that countries and leaders often fight was over territory. actually, 80% of wars over the past of the past couple of hundred years have over territory. there is nothing new here. wejust territory. there is nothing new here. we just forgot what history should have taught us. which seems to happen an awful lot, doesn't it? in your view do you think it is possible that all of us can be averted? absolutely. the saddest thing about this tension is that it would actually be quite easy to deter china from taking taiwan. xijinping is pragmatic. he is not going to risk the rejuvenation of the chinese nation. he is not going to risk a protracted major war with the united states and its allies. the issue is that right now he could possibly take taiwan quickly and very little cost and as long as we take that

option off the table then we can continue to seek peace and stability in the taiwan strait. he will, of course, have been watching the developments in europe and the war in ukraine. what do you think he has witnessed from that and how do you think that might change his strategy, vis—a—vis, support and the speed of attack? i think the war in ukraine only solidified what the chinese already knew. when they were doing their training, preparations, military modernisation, they understood that — one — the war they wanted to fight needed to be quick and that certain areas of military modernisation like command and control and logistics and munitions were critical to success. so, xi jinping had a look at his troops and came to the conclusion that they had a lot of fancy stuff. they were not ready to fight. something that vladimir putin should have done before he invaded ukraine but china has now embarked on a ten

year reform programme to make sure that their troops do have the training that is necessary to do this successfully. so, i don't think caution is imposed from the fact that russia has performed poorly, but if anything the chinese probably just want to be 100% sure. even that they wanted to be sure already, that before they use force, they are ready to succeed. force, they are ready to succeed-— force, they are ready to succeed. ., ., ., ., succeed. doctor oriana skylar mastro, thank _ succeed. doctor oriana skylar mastro, thank you _ succeed. doctor oriana skylar mastro, thank you for - succeed. doctor oriana skylar mastro, thank you for your i mastro, thank you for your time. as we found out on tuesday the keys to eurovision are now in the hands of liverpool. over the next six weeks, the 37 countries will be confirming the acts they'll be sending to the song contest, and later in ireland the former sex pistols frontman, john lydon will find out if his track about his wife's alzheimer's will be chosen. 0ur eurovision reporter daniel rosney has more. it is quite a departure, isn't it? # god save the queen... when ou # god save the queen... when you listen _ # god save the queen... when you listen to — # god save the queen... when you listen to this, _ # god save the queen... when you listen to this, you - you listen to this, you probably are not thinking of

this... at? probably are not thinking of this... ,, ., ., ,, ., this... # snowdrops and daffodils, _ this... # snowdrops and daffodils, butterflies... i this... # snowdrops and - daffodils, butterflies... john le den, daffodils, butterflies... john leyden. the _ daffodils, butterflies... john leyden, the most _ daffodils, butterflies... john leyden, the most fabulous i daffodils, butterflies... irrri�*i leyden, the most fabulous man in punk as a johnny rotten could represent ireland at eurovision with his band public image limited. tonight he will compete on irish tv with five other acts. after a bit of a press scrum, backstage he reflects why he flew from los angeles where his wife is staying with family. it angeles where his wife is staying with family.- angeles where his wife is staying with family. it is very hard to be — staying with family. it is very hard to be away _ staying with family. it is very hard to be away from - staying with family. it is very hard to be away from her- staying with family. it is veryj hard to be away from her but staying with family. it is very. hard to be away from her but i have to do this. i have to bring awareness to this problem. i miss her like mad, and yet i am in the middle of this competition, and so it is like win— lose both the same things for me at the same time. the song is personal. it is a love letter to hawaii, a special place for the couple. at? special place for the couple. as falling in special place for the couple. 3:1 falling in our hearts... 0ne

special place for the couple. 3:1 falling in our hearts... one of thejoys of doing falling in our hearts... one of the joys of doing this programme is i will be able to share the words and she can read them because she is fluent reading — loves to read still, and that will make it all the more poignant for us. she is aware that there is parts missing in her memory. and i don't make herfeel missing in her memory. and i don't make her feel guilty about that.— don't make her feel guilty about that. we are talking about that. we are talking about how _ about that. we are talking about how neurologically i about that. we are talking - about how neurologically music can trigger something in the neurons that allows people to remember, and that is what this is about and there is a very beautiful reason that he is here. he loves his wife. he wants her to be recognised. he wants her to be recognised. he wants her to be recognised. he wants her disease are to be spoken about and hopefully eventually cured. we spoken about and hopefully eventually cured.— spoken about and hopefully eventually cured. we have acts representing — eventually cured. we have acts representing all— eventually cured. we have acts representing all classes. - eventually cured. we have acts representing all classes. it - eventually cured. we have acts representing all classes. it is i representing all classes. it is like a — representing all classes. it is like a selection box. someone is going — like a selection box. someone is going to pick the right piece _ is going to pick the right iece. , ., .,, ., piece. island has one eurovision _ piece. island has one eurovision more - piece. island has one eurovision more than piece. island has one - eurovision more than any other country but it is not won since

1996. in liverpool it is hoping you can bring the lack of the irish. ~ ., , ~ irish. we need at this time. we have not won — irish. we need at this time. we have not won in _ irish. we need at this time. we have not won in a _ irish. we need at this time. we have not won in a few- irish. we need at this time. we have not won in a few years - have not won in a few years so we definitely need to get it. get someone like lyle haran. he is a great — get someone like lyle haran. he is a great singer. | get someone like lyle haran. he is a great singer.— is a great singer. i will have a to is a great singer. i will have a so myself- _ is a great singer. i will have a go myself. ok. _ is a great singer. i will have a go myself. ok. here - is a great singer. i will have a go myself. ok. here we l is a great singer. i will have l a go myself. ok. here we go. is a great singer. i will have . a go myself. ok. here we go. i can reveal— a go myself. ok. here we go. i can reveal the _ a go myself. ok. here we go. i can reveal the next _ a go myself. ok. here we go. i can reveal the next country - a go myself. ok. here we go. i can reveal the next country is i can reveal the next country is ireland! — can reveal the next country is ireland! ~ ., ., ,, , ireland! whatever happens the -rize ireland! whatever happens the rize for ireland! whatever happens the prize forjohn _ ireland! whatever happens the prize forjohn will _ ireland! whatever happens the prize forjohn will be _ ireland! whatever happens the prize forjohn will be flying - prize forjohn will be flying back to la and showing nora his performance. back to la and showing nora his performance-— performance. when i get back! will brin: performance. when i get back! will bring the _ performance. when i get back! will bring the tapes. _ performance. when i get back! will bring the tapes. that - performance. when i get back! will bring the tapes. that is - will bring the tapes. that is what we do. we sit down and have a family day out of it and watch it altogether. she cannot read the words. _ watch it altogether. she cannot read the words. johnny! - watch it altogether. she cannot read the words. johnny! just i watch it altogether. she cannot read the words. johnny! just to j read the words. johnny! just to remind you _ read the words. johnny! just to remind you of— read the words. johnny! just to remind you of our— read the words. johnny! just to remind you of our breaking i read the words. johnny! just to i remind you of our breaking news this our at the australian tennis start nick kyrgios avoids conviction at the canberra court after admitting assaulting a former girlfriend. this was after, of course, his

lawyers were unable to get the case struck out on mental health grounds. he has issued a statement saying that he has addressed his mental health and he is much better as a person for it. so, that breaking news, the australian tennis start avoiding the conviction at court after admitting assaulting a former girlfriend. do stay with us. we have got lots of business needs for you, including what is going on with the uk economy. ijust want to take you through some of the papers that you will be waking up papers that you will be waking up to. some of the statements coming up with regard to the uk economy — here, the daily express saying, "don'tjump for joy express saying, "don'tjump for joyjust yet, the slump is to extend next year." something similar from the extend next year." something similarfrom the daily telegraph. we are hearing from the financial times, however, that interest rates might be peaking as a result of inflation picking. 0f peaking as a result of inflation picking. of course, we saw a rate rise yesterday from the bank of england. also

from the bank of england. also from the bank of england. also from the ecb following the federal reserve earlier in the week on wednesday. so, do stay with us for the business news. i will be back with that in a moment. join me on twitter. i'm @vvalentinenews. i will see you soon. hello. weather change is on the way at the weekend — i'll detail in a moment. first, it's been a pretty wet 2a hours across parts of northern scotland — over 50mm of rain in places. over five hours of sunshine in the sunniest parts of kent on thursday, though much of the uk has been cloudy. some cloud, rain. we are all in the mild air at the moment. it's this that changes at the weekend. by sunday, the blue takes over. it will be turning colder but actually will be tipping the balance on sunday in favour of sunnier skies, once again with a big area of high pressure moving right across the uk. we're not there yet and there will be a lot of cloud to start off on friday. there'll be a damp start across parts of southern scotland, northern ireland and northern england. particularly mild here, though — double—figure

temperatures from the word go. now, any early rain will clear away from northern ireland and northern england and push north across scotland, so any early sunny spells here will be short—lived. for northern ireland, for england and wales into the afternoon, a lot of cloud around. you may still encounter some light rain or drizzle but there'll also be some brighter spells developing in a few places, too. and as for temperatures, they will be a little bit higher than they were on thursday — up to around 13, 1a degrees celsius for, say, hull and for london. now, on through friday night, we'll keep a good deal of cloud around. it's western areas that are most likely to get some further light rain or drizzle. an area of weather poised to move into scotland as we go on through saturday. another mild start to the day. so, here's the weekend under way. we've noticed a lot of cloud around. during daylight hours for england and wales, it'll stay mainly dry. there will be a few sunny spells here and there whereas for scotland and for northern ireland, we'll see this band of rain working its way southwards during the day and temperatures for many still in double figures.

it will be turning colder in those areas that see the back of the rain before the end of the day. and it's the rain along with this weather front that just moves its way southwards and weakens overnight, saturday night into sunday morning. and it's behind that — it is a cold front — the colder air moves in. but with a big area of high pressure across the uk — see the wind circulating around it here? — there will be loads of sunshine around on sunday. just parts of scotland, maybe the far south—west of england holding on to some cloud. temperatures are down, yes, and a frosty night to follow on sunday night.

this is bbc news, with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. ten rate rises in a row — but have uk borrowing costs finally peaked ? the bank of england is cautiously optimistic. we think inflation's going to come down rapidly, and a lot of thatis come down rapidly, and a lot of that is down to energy prices, which have fallen rapidly. but i'm afraid there are big risks out there, which may mean that it may not happen in that way. also coming up — delivering more bad news — amazon reports its ever biggest annual loss, as consumers feel the pinch. plus — missed call — apple's sales fall the most in three years, as china's covid lockdowns hit production, and customers around the world cut back on spending. and — multi—player mayhem —

33,000 people, 110 countries, and 48 hours to come up with the next generation