Many of Friday’s front pages report the collision between a passenger jet and military helicopter in Washington DC that killed 67 people. The story in the Times focuses on comments from US President Donald Trump that blamed diversity initiatives that were championed by former administrations. Trump, who acknowledged that there was no evidence to support his claim that people hired for air traffic control roles were not always qualified, responded with “it just could have been”, the paper reports. Earlier this week, the US president axed diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the military.
“Shameful”, reads the Daily Mirror’s headline as it covers Donald Trump’s blame for the Washington air collision on diversity hires. The paper calls it a “new low” for what is says is the deadliest air tragedy in the US since 2001. The paper quotes the former US transport secretary as saying: “Trump should be leading, not lying”.
“A nation of shoplifters”, reads the Metro’s front page, referring to the “nearly half a million” theft offences logged by the police in a year, which is the most on record, the paper says. It adds that the figures reflect a “rising trend” of repeat offenders who pile trolleys with goods and leave without paying. The Metro reports that the British Retail Consortium told the BBC that thieves have become more daring due to the low risk of arrest.
The Financial Times focuses on a warning from the European Central Bank (ECB) of “headwinds” to what the paper calls the Eurozone’s “stagnating economy”. It says the bank’s decision to cut its benchmark interest rate to 2.75% was a “unanimous decision”. The FT quotes the ECB president as saying the economy is “set to remain weak in the near term”.
An exclusive in the i paper reports that Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told health bosses to spend more money on treating elderly people at home to prevent them from being admitted to hospital or care homes unnecessarily. The paper says the NHS and councils have been told to use £9bn funding to cut emergency admissions for over 65s, the number of over 65s admitted to care homes, and delays to hospital discharges.
The Daily Telegraph says more than 10% farmland will be “axed for net zero” in what it calls a “fresh blow to rural life”. The plans – which will be announced by the environment secretary in a speech on Friday – will seek to replace that farmland with tree planting, solar farms and improving habitants for wildlife. The president of the National Farmers’ Union said it was “imperative” that the framework did not “further restrict farmers’ ability to produce the nation’s food”. Along with several other papers, the Telegraph features a photo of singer Marianne Faithfull, who has died at the age of 78.
The National Audit Office (NAO) has said the “epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG)” is getting worse in the UK despite years of government promises, the Guardian reports. The watchdog’s report comes four years after a government response to VAWG in the wake of the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa. According to the paper, the NAO said they found “disjointed” efforts to deal with it, with it currently affecting one in 12 in England and Wales.
“We need people who believe in Brexit”, reads Nigel Farage’s warning on the Daily Express. According to the paper’s exclusive, Farage has “vowed” to deliver Brexit to the millions who voted for it, if he becomes prime minister at the next election. The Reform UK leader said the UK needs a government that believes in existing outside of the European Union, so its full potential can be realised, the Express adds.
“Now prove your ‘growth agenda’ isn’t all hot air”, reads the Daily Mail’s headline, as opposition leader Kemi Badenoch challenges the prime minister to sign off on two North Sea oil projects that have been blocked by the courts. A court in Scotland ruled the previous government’s approval of the projects unlawful, after Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband withdrew Labour’s legal support for the companies involved. Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure to overrule Miliband and give the projects the “green light”, the paper adds.
“How Vladdy dare you”, the Sun asks with a play on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name, after the paper’s defence editor Jerome Starkey was “slapped” with a Russian arrest warrant. The paper says it was for his “fearless coverage” of the Russia-Ukraine war, and adding that he is also on a wanted list for reporting from Kursk. The Sun adds that No 10 has called the ruling “desperate”.
And the Daily Star takes a look at a 100m wide asteroid that it says could hit Britain at 05:23 GMT on 22 December, 2032.
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