Month: February 2024

The front page of the London business newspaper, City AM, says Kemi Badenoch is under pressure from a top City group to revive a sweeping shake-up of audit rules after the government shelved many of its reform plans last year.

The front page of the Independent reports that Britain’s economy is worse off – by £100bn, since leaving the European Union, according to a think tank. The paper says businesses are preparing for more border red tape. It goes on to say businesses have struggled with border costs, leading to 30 per cent less trade than if Britain had stayed in the EU.

The Guardian says international students accused of cheating at English language tests are planning a fresh push to clear their names 10 years on. The paper says thousands are thought to have been victims of a gross miscarriage of justice.

The Metro reports a new battle has erupted between Donald Trump and Joe Biden after the former US president said he would “encourage” Russia to invade its neighbours if they hadn’t paid their share of NATO’s budget. Biden’s office has labelled the comments “unhinged”, the paper reports.

Alex Batty has spoken to the Daily Mirror about his life back in the UK after six years on the run in Europe, revealing he hopes his mum and granddad do not get caught by police after taking him abroad.

On the eve of his 18th birthday, Alex, who now lives with his Gran in Oldham, tells the paper he doesn’t expect to hear from his Mum and doesn’t want to because he doesn’t want her to get caught. He reveals he’s started a computer programming course, been on a few dates, and already enjoyed some birthday celebrations.

The Daily Express reports Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has pledged to end the “poisonous” woke culture which he says threatens to distract the military from its job of protecting the nation.

Also on the front page is the vigil to mark the first anniversary of teenager Brianna Ghey’s murder and a story about mobile coverage in rural areas.

The Sun says King Charles waved and looked relaxed as he made his first public appearance since revealing he has cancer. Charles and Camilla were en route to Church on the Sandringham Estate.

Arsenal’s 6-0 thrashing of West Ham also makes the front page, the paper summarises the game as ‘hammered.’

Monday’s front pages cover several different topics, with many domestic stories taking centre stage.

Comments from Defence Secretary Grant Shapps make several of the papers’ after Shapps attempted to stoke the culture wars again, with comments that the Army has gone ‘woke.’ 

Pakistan’s second and third political groups have agreed to collaborate following elections where imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s backers secured the lead.

The PMLN led by ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP released a statement announcing their intention to work together to establish political stability.

If they succeed in forming a government, it’s likely to provoke anger among Khan’s supporters.

Khan’s PTI party was disqualified from participating in the election, leading many of its candidates to run as independents.

Earlier, police dispersed a crowd of Khan’s supporters in Rawalpindi using tear gas.

The chief of NATO has criticised Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US wouldn’t protect NATO allies who don’t spend enough on defence, stating it undermines security and puts troops at risk.

Jens Stoltenberg emphasised that such remarks could endanger US and European troops.

Trump indicated he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO member not meeting the alliance’s 2% GDP defence spending target.