Today's news from Britain - 9th February 2023

First up, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the UK seeking more arms against Russia following a surge of military deliveries and training for its pilots.

Since Boris Johnson resigned last year, PM Rishi Sunak has pledged to continue to support Ukraine, visiting Kyiv in November to tell the Ukrainian leader: “We are with you all the way.”

Britain has trained 10,000 Ukrainian troops brought to battle readiness and will train a further 20,000 soldiers this year.

Last week, Ukrainian troops arrived in Britain to learn how to command Challenger 2 tanks and Sunak will offer to provide Ukraine with longer-range capabilities.

London has so far refused to deliver fighter jets, saying it was not “the right approach” for now. But defence minister Ben Wallace has suggested that stance could change.

Next, Microsoft's 69 billion dollar takeover of Activision may be blocked by the UK watchdog, while the Call of Duty maker responds with claims that the regulator doesn't understand the gaming industry.

This is, of course, an absurd claim. Because, if the regulator could understand the gaming industry, he would get for himself a real and profitable job, instead of regulating things he has no idea about, and blocking innovation and progress as regulators normally do.

Because - and it’s time to say it straight and out loud - the real mission of regulators, as we all know, is to protect the establishment - which appointed the regulators - from innovation and progress that will enrich new companies and disrupt the Establishment's profitable status quo.

Now to Britain’s politics. In fact, nothing much new. The government keep changing, firing and hiring ministers faster then the ministers are changing their socks. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reshuffled his government's top posts ahead of an expected election, with Liz Truss' return to the political fray highlighting his weakness within his party.

But don’t worry. You can always count on the Tories to do the right thing ... after they've tried everything else.

Meanwhile, the EU corruption scandal has been labelled a 'socialist problem' by the conservatives’ boss Thanasis Bakolas, as if there is any difference between the socialists and the conservatives, as regards their predilection for bribery.

British Petroleum reported record annual profits as they scale back their climate targets, while Bill Gates defends his use of private jets amid the fight against climate change.

Britons may face a 20,000 digital pound cap under Bank of England plans and Rishi Sunak is reportedly merging the UK's trade and business departments in a Whitehall shake-up.

These are just a few highlights we’ve picked up for you today, from the London Daily edition of the CNNBC.

Stay tuned for the most interesting news about Britain and around the world, at CNNBC.com.
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