Editorial 14 April 2024.

Iran launches drones at Israel & Australian stabbing attack kills 6 – the full perspective

Sunday’s papers feature various news topics, with most papers already going to print before Iran attacked Israel. Elsewhere, many of the papers feature images from the Australian stabbing attack at a shopping mall which left 6 people – five women and a man – dead and many injured – including a baby. Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by a lone police officer who bravely approached the man. His attack is not thought to be terror-related and it’s been reported that he was known to police.

Iran’s late-night drone strikes on Israel saw the Sunday Telegraph change its front page. The paper says the drones were seen flying low as they passed over Iraq, in an attempt to avoid radar detection. It adds that “a loud buzzing noise” was heard in videos posted online as the drone flew overhead.

The Sun says Royal Marines are ready for a “Dunkirk-style” evacuation to help British nationals in the Middle East if necessary. The paper says the operation would take place if the Foreign Office urges civilians to take commercial flights out of Israel and the government charter flights cease.

Australian stabbing attack at mall

Almost all the front pages leave some room to report on the stabbings in Australia.

The Mail picks up on William and Kate’s message of support, the i newspaper reports police say there is no link to terrorism whilst the Telegraph features an image of one of the victims and her baby. Ash Good was stabbed to death – and her baby was also stabbed in the rampage. The mother managed to throw her baby to a stranger as the knifeman attacked. The baby has undergone surgery.

The Sunday Express also features a picture of Ash, her partner and the baby. Elsewhere there is an image of people crying outside the mall.

Iran launches drones at Israel & Australian stabbing spree kills 6 - the full perspective — *Joel Cauchi, 40, stabbed to death six people – five women and a man. He was shot dead by police.*

Sunak hits out at ECHR

Most of Sunday papers’ leads are domestic political news.

The Sunday Telegraph says Rishi Sunak has hit out at the ECHR after it imposed a duty on governments to achieve net zero emissions. The paper says the PM’s criticism will add to speculation that he is considering a pledge in the Tory manifesto to pull out of the ECHR.

The Mail on Sunday continues its coverage of Angela Rayner. The paper says one of Rayner’s former aides has piled even more pressure on her to “finally come clean” over claims she breached electoral law. Her former adviser, Matt Finnegan, has told police she was living with her husband at a time when her main residence was registered elsewhere.

The Sunday Times quotes Finnegan saying the memory was “vivid” because Rayner was not at home, and he had to wait for her in his car.

Rayner says she followed the rules at all times.

The Sunday Times leads on a warning from business secretary Kemi Badenoch who says the battle over gender ideology is just the beginning. The paper says she’s set to call for “more bravery and less cancel culture” from UK institutions following the publication of a landmark review of child gender services, which recommends a more cautious attitude to social transitioning.

The Observer leads with its investigation, saying hundreds of extremely vulnerable children in England are being farmed out to illegal homes every year because of a chronic shortage of places in secure local authority units. Ofsted did not prosecute a single provider last year, despite launching more than eight hundred investigations. The regulator tells the paper it needs new powers to take action against illegal providers.