‘Rafah offensive starts & reports of wider assault plans’ – Paper Talk
Editorial 8 May 2024.
Wednesday’s front pages cover a variety of stories with no one story dominating the news cycle this morning.
For some of the papers, the ongoing crisis in the Middle East leads the front pages, as Israel defies Western orders and invades Rafah – where more than 1 million people are sheltering.
Some papers find space for the story that the Garrick Club has voted to allow women to join. Other domestic stories include pubs will be allowed to stay open later if England reach the semis of the upcoming Euros and the UK’s plans to keep children safe online.
Several of the tabloids pick up Prince Harry’s return to the UK for a charity event.
Elsewhere, Donald Trump’s hush-money trial also gets some front-page coverage, as yesterday’s court proceedings got heated.
The UK back pages speculate on Erik ten Hag’s job as Man Utd manager and whether he’ll be sacked before the FA Cup final. There’s also room to cover last night’s Champions League match – as Jadon Sancho’s Dortmund knock out PSG to book themselves a place in the final at Wembley. Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich tonight to decide who will face Dortmund. Englishmen Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are expected to be in their respective lineups.
‘Rafah offensive starts & reports of wider assault plans’
The Financial Times leads on the Israel-Gaza war. The paper reports that Israel is threatening a wider assault on Rafah in southern Gaza. The US has halted bomb shipments to Israel amid the invasion, as Israel takes control of the Rafah crossing – a key point for humanitarian aid. The front page also notes that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a truce deal.
The i leads with reports that the UK government is warning Israel that it risks committing war crimes if it continues its offensive in Rafah without a “credible” plan for how to protect civilians.
The front page of the Guardian features an image of Israeli tanks near the Rafah border – Israel now has control of the border, a key humanitarian aid corridor.
The Daily Telegraph’s front page reports the US is pressuring Israel to accept a ceasefire deal with Hamas, saying the two sides should be able to “close the remaining gaps” in negotiations very soon.
‘UK plans to protect kids online’
The Times and the Telegraph both lead with plans to protect kids online. The Times says TikTok and Instagram will be told to “tame aggressive algorithms” pushing harmful content to children, under new rules. The Telegraph reports on plans to prevent under-13s using social media.
The paper says the firms risk being fined if they fail to comply. It carries an article by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, in which she says the government will no longer tolerate a “wild west”, where children are “force fed” violence and harmful online content.
In an editorial, the Times questions how effective the policy will be but it congratulates the government and the regulator for putting in place what it describes as the most thorough and balanced regime anywhere, to tackle the issue.
‘Pubs to stay open later for Euros’
The Daily Mirror leads on reports that pubs in England and Wales will be able to stay open until 1 am if England or Scotland reach the semi-finals of the summer’s EUROS.
The Metro also finds space for the story on its front page.
The Metro, Daily Mail and the Express report on Prince Harry’s return to the UK. Both papers note the prince won’t meet with his father, King Charles, due to the King’s busy schedule. The Mail says the announcement Charles is too busy to see his son is a “crushing blow” to Harry. The Telegraph claims Harry made no secret that he wanted to see his dad on the three-day trip.
‘Donald Trump’s hush-money trail’
Though no paper leads on the story, former US President Donald Trump’s New York hush-money trial is covered on several of the front pages. Stormy Daniels testified yesterday, in what was a fiery day in court.
The Daily Star picks up on comments made at the trial “You remind me of my daughter” is what the former president reportedly told porn star Stormy Daniels.
The Times highlights Daniel’s claims she took a hush money deal due to fears of safety. The Guardian is amongst several papers which report Daniels was ‘startled’ by her encounter with Trump.