Today’s Daily News | Winter strikes begin, Brittney Griner released and reaction to Harry documentary
The Royal Mail’s first winter walk-out has begun, as the country prepares for a wave of strikes this Christmas across many different public service sectors.
Elsewhere: US basketball star Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian jail, the UK is to announce a partnership with Italy and Japan to build a new fighter jet – a project that will bring thousands of jobs to the UK and France is to increase rescue boats to deal with small boat crossings to the UK.
The newspapers report on Harry and Meghan’s documentary and look ahead at England’s quarter-final game against France on Saturday.
Royal Mail workers walk out as strikes start
Royal Mail workers have begun their walk-outs – the first in a series of strikes for the Royal Mail this winter. The industrial action is in response to a row over pay and conditions as workers want a pay rise to match the soaring cost of living. The strikes are set to cause serious disruptions to the deliveries of letters and parcels. The CMU union and Royal Mail confirm there has been a breakdown in talks.
Royal Mail workers walk-out as wave of winter strikes start
UK, Italy and Japan team up to build new fighter jet
PM Rishi Sunak will announce a new partnership between Britain, Italy and Japan to build a new fighter jet. The new jet will use artificial intelligence and will have the ability to carry hypersonic missiles. The pact will bring thousands of new jobs to Britain and will help strengthen security ties. The inclusion of Japan in this partnership is vital as Britain is looking to build closer ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
UK, Italy and Japan team up to build next-generation fighter jet
Brittney Griner released and en route to the US after agreed prisoner swap
US basketball star Brittney Griner – who was arrested in Russia for carrying cannabis oil and last month was sentenced to a penal colony – has been released in a prisoner swap between Washington and Moscow. Brittney Griner is en route home to the US and Viktor Bout – widely known as the “merchant of death” has arrived back in Moscow. Saudi Arabia and the UAE claim to have been instrumental in the prisoner swap – the US has denied this claim. “The only countries that negotiated this deal were the United States and Russia.”
Brittney Griner released in Russian prison swap
What do the newspapers say?
Many of Friday’s newspapers react to Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary on their front pages. The right-wing papers frame the series as an attack on the royal family by Harry and Meghan, whilst the left-wing papers remain fairly neutral on the series – instead pointing out there were really no new claims in the series but a rehashing of what Harry and Meghan have already expressed.
The papers look ahead to Saturday’s England vs France World Cup quarter-final game as England are determined to go all the way and bring football home. But before that Brazil face Croatia and the Netherlands will take on Argentina later today.
