Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Wednesday’s front pages lead with various stories. The major data breaches and results from a weight loss drug trial are two of the top stories.
Elsewhere, tributes are paid to Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor – who was laid to rest in her hometown yesterday. Many of the papers feature an image of the streets lined with fans paying their respects as her coffin past by.
Data breaches
Data breaches at the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Electoral Commission make several front pages, including the Daily Mail.
The paper says more than 40 million people could have had their details taken from the Commission and quotes the Police Federation as saying the PSNI breach, which exposed the names of the force’s entire staff, is of “monumental proportions”. The Mail says both breaches “defy belief”.
The Daily Telegraph says the UK intelligence services have already found evidence linking Russia to the Electoral Commission breach. The paper says the hack showed signs of ransomware – software blocking users from accessing some files – raising the possibility of the body responsible for elections in the UK being locked out of voter lists ahead of a ballot.
The Times says it has been told that evidence of Russian activity “had been detected”, though nothing pointed to the Kremlin itself.
Weight loss drug
The Times’ lead story is the successful trial of a new weight loss drug. More than 17,500 overweight people took part, and saw heart attacks and strokes cut by a fifth. The UK health secretary said the drug could be vital in easing pressure on the NHS.
The i newspaper leads on the same, saying about four million people could be eligible for the drug when it launches on the NHS.
The Daily Express reports on a deal with Turkey – which the paper calls a “landmark” – which will help Britain stop criminal gangs smuggling people across the Channel. The paper says the deal will allow more National Crime Agency officers to be deployed in Turkey – a hub for people smugglers.
Sinéad O’Connor tributes
The Daily Mirror reports Prince and Princess of Wales will pay tribute to the Queen next month, marking the first anniversary of her death.
The front page also reports and pays tribute to Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor who was laid to rest in her home town.
Most of the front pages feature an image of Sinéad O’Connor’s funeral as the singer was laid to rest and thousands turned out on the streets to pay their respects.
The Financial Times reports that Universal Music and Google are in early talks to find a way of licensing musicians’ voices and melodies for songs to be generated by AI – as a way of monetising one of the music industry’s biggest threats. There’s no imminent “product launch”, says the FT, but the discussions could pave the way for software to be developed allowing users to create tracks using artists’ voices legitimately.