Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Paper Talk: Two more hostages released by Hamas
Tuesday’s front pages report on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Two more hostages have been released by Hamas and there is hope more negotiations could take place.
More hostages released
The i newspaper reports that the release of two more hostages by Hamas has raised hopes that a deal could be struck to secure the freedom of dozens of others being held captive.
The Guardian says, citing Middle East reports, that as many as 50 people could be released “imminently” as diplomatic efforts speed up. The Sun suggests hostages with dual citizenship are “said to have been earmarked for release.”
The Daily Telegraph reports that there will likely be more calls for a delay to the ground offensive in Gaza. The paper quotes local media as saying PM Benjamin Netanyahu is holding off a ground invasion – much to the frustration of his military chiefs. The paper also predicts there could be a clash between the UK and US on one side and the EU on the other. Whilst EU leaders are signing a draft statement calling for a “humanitarian pause” in fighting, British and American officials have refused to back calls for a ceasefire.
PM blasts Met chief
Several of the papers report on the discussion over police not acting on ‘jihadi chants’ at a London rally.
A video online appears to show a man chanting “jihad” during a rally by an Islamist group in London. It occurred at a separate event from the main march and was staged by Hizb ut-Tahrir.
It’s believed the Met did not act on the chants because the current laws make prosecutions difficult.
“PM blasts Met Police for not acting on ‘jihadi’ chants,” says the Daily Express. The paper praises the PM for insisting the police already have the power to arrest people who incite violence.
The Daily Mail says his comments put him “at loggerheads” with Met Police boss Sir Mark Rowley, who defended the decision of his officers not to arrest demonstrators shouting ‘jihad’ at a protest.
The Times’ leader column writes it was a “clear dereliction of duty” and an operational failure. The paper suggests cops have “turned a blind eye to antisemitic chanting”.
But the i newspaper quotes senior police officers as saying they are “sick” of the government pushing them to “reach beyond the law” to arrest protesters for “political gain.”
The Sun reports that Coronation Street actress Dame Maureen Lipman said she was offered security by ITV because of the rise in antisemitic attacks. Expressing surprise at the offer, Ms Lipman is quoted as saying: “This is where we are now.”
Storm Babet flooding ‘hell’
The Daily Mirror leads on Storm Babet. The paper echoes the pleas of people caught up in what it calls the “flooding hell” caused by Storm Babet. Residents told the paper they feel abandoned and say they were told after the 2007 floods that their homes would “never be hit again.”
The Financial Times reports on figures from the ONS which show that tenants in London spend 35% of their income on rent. It describes it as a UK “black spot” because it’s the only area with a rent-to-income ratio above 30%, which is considered unaffordable.
The Guardian highlights research which suggests the Moon could be older than previously thought – by about 40 million years. The paper says scientists examined crystals in lunar dust brought back from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, and found the Moon appeared to be 4.46 billion years old.