Author: News Desk

The Economist says IN HIS OWN inimitable style, President Donald Trump has identified something he dislikes and approached it with a wrecking ball. Deprived of American funding by an executive order, aid programmes around the world are on the brink of collapse. But for the intervention of a judge at the 11th hour on January 28th, large parts of America’s federal government might have suffered a similar fate.

The Financial Times says the Bank of England has halved its growth forecast, with a cut to rates powering the FTSE 100. The bank is expecting the economy to grow by just 0.75% this year in what the paper describes as a blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The Sun leads with an exclusive interview with the girlfriend of the late singer Liam Payne. Kate Cassidy tells the paper the star was “secretly considering” a reunion with his One Direction bandmates before his death last year. “One Direction was such a huge part of his life and he would have been more than happy in the future to do that. He was so proud of the boys. He loved them so much he looked at them as brothers. “It’s so heartbreaking that the fans will never get to see all five boys back on stage together.

The Daily Mail doesn’t mince words, directly blaming Reeves for what it calls a “new era of stagflation.” The paper argues that her recent budget has led to a dangerous combination of stagnant growth and rising inflation, a scenario that spells trouble for households and businesses alike. The front page reports on Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show.

The Daily Mirror leads on showbiz news reporting allegations have been made against TV chef Gino D’Acampo made “sexual and aggressive comments” to a “string of women at work.” He has denied the allegations. A review of the new BBC show Amandaland makes the front page as the paper interviews the star Lucy Punch.

The Daily Telegraph shifts the blame to the “bloated state,” arguing that the expansion of the public sector since the pandemic has not been matched by productivity gains. The paper highlights comments from Andrew Bailey, who pointed out that the addition of half a million public sector workers has failed to deliver the economic boost many had hoped for. Prince Harry is pictured at the top of the paper amid reports Trump could release his visa application. Harry has faced accusations he lied about not taking class-A drugs to get a US visa.

Meanwhile, The Times highlights the Bank’s warning of a new squeeze on living standards, calling it a setback for Reeves. The paper notes that the Bank has described growth as weak and productivity as “tepid,” painting a grim picture for the months ahead. US actress Angelina Jolie is pictured on the front page.

The Aga Khans claim to be part of the lineage of the Egyptian Fatimid dynasty [Getty]The late Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, who died on Tuesday in Lisbon after nearly seven decades as the spiritual leader of the global Ismaili Muslim community, will be buried in Egypt on Sunday, according to the Ismaili Imamat. After a funeral ceremony at the Ismaili Centre in the Portuguese capital on Saturday – to be attended by leaders of the community, Portuguese government members and foreign dignitaries – Aga Khan IV will be laid to rest at a private burial ceremony in Aswan,…

The Guardian echoes these concerns, noting that fears of stagflation are growing. The paper reports that Reeves’ growth plan has suffered a “double blow,” but it also quotes Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who insists that turning the economy around was never going to happen overnight. Starmer claims the challenging outlook only strengthens his resolve to push forward with the government’s agenda.   British actress Cynthia Erivo is pictured on the front splash. She is nominated for an Oscar for her role in the movie Wicked.

Friday’s front pages report on the Bank of England’s bleak forecast for the UK economy sparked widespread concern, with growth now expected to be just 0.75% this year.

Rachel Reeves is under fire with some of the papers speculating on her future in the role of chancellor and the fears of stagflation – a combination of stagnant growth and rising inflation—are dominating the narrative.

While the interest rate cut to 4.5% offers some relief, the overall economic outlook remains challenging. The papers say the government faces tough choices including potential tax hikes or spending cuts, to stabilise the economy.

Elsewhere, there’s some showbiz news dominating tabloids, including reviews of the new BBC TV series Amandaland, an exclusive interview with the former girlfriend of Liam Payne and coverage of recent allegations made against a TV star.

The back pages are dominated by Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Spurs to book their place in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.