Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Thursday’s front pages report on a variety of topics including details on who’s attending the May coronation of King Charles, UK politics, and the start of the Donald Trump rape trial. Several of this mornings papers leave space to report on Manchester City’s 4-1 win over league leaders Arsenal – in a game described at the title decider.
Anger over coronation invites
The Daily Telegraph expresses anger over China’s Vice-President Han Zheng’s upcoming attendance at King Charles’ coronation, as he is viewed as the “architect” of China’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The paper suggests that this move could potentially result in a diplomatic crisis. The Daily Mail reports that Conservative “China hawks,” led by former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, have denounced the invitation as “outrageous.” The Mail also questions the presence of Sinn Fein’s Vice President, Michelle O’Neill, while Lady Pamela Hicks, a bridesmaid to the late Queen, has been snubbed.
Conduct concerns
The Guardian reveals that Department of Health officials have raised concerns over the conduct of Health Secretary Steve Barclay. Sources allege that civil servants have informally complained about the mistreatment they and their colleagues have received, including “bullying” and other “bad behaviour.” A supporter of Mr Barclay denies these claims, and the Department of Health states that it has not received any formal complaints about ministers.
The Daily Express features a pledge from Home Secretary Suella Braverman to increase police numbers. Braverman promises “common-sense policing” with no political correctness or unnecessary bureaucracy but “proper police work,” which she believes is bad news for criminals but good news for the law-abiding majority.
‘A zombie deal’
The Times reports that nearly 60 former sub-postmasters and mistresses who were wrongly accused of stealing money due to a computer accounting error have died before the end of the public inquiry.
The Financial Times highlights the computer game company Activision Blizzard’s criticism of the UK competition regulator’s decision to block its acquisition by Microsoft. The paper notes that the move has drawn a “furious response” from the video games maker, which argues that the ruling contradicts the UK’s ambitions to attract technology businesses. A shareholder tells the FT, “It’s a zombie deal now.”
The Daily Mirror’s front-page story suggests that Milly Dowler’s murderer, Levi Bellfield, has signed a written confession admitting to killing Lin and Megan Russell in Kent in 1996. However, Michael Stone, who was convicted of the killings two years later, denies committing the crime.