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Newspaper headlines: Kate ‘lights up Christmas’ and MI5 focuses on ‘hostile states’

mnadeem3111914@gmail.com2 weeks ago

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Daily Mirror front page 7 December — “Royal festive return”, reads the Daily Mirror’s front page, as it features the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, George, Charlotte and Louis, singing “in harmony” at a Westminster Abbey carol service. Catherine told the congregation that “love is the light that shines bright, even in our darkest times”, the paper reports.

“Kate lights up Christmas”, the Sun says, alongside a picture of the Princess of Wales and her youngest child Prince Louis during the carol service, each of them holding a lit candle. The paper says the princess “smiles proudly” as she hosted the event.

The Sun front page 7 December — “Kate lights up Christmas”, the Sun says, alongside a picture of the Princess of Wales and her youngest child Prince Louis during the carol service, each of them holding a lit candle. The paper says the princess “smiles proudly” as she hosted the event.

The Times leads with a story about the boss of MI5 saying it is shifting its focus from counter-terrorism to “hostile states”, including Russia, China and Iran. The intelligence service’s director-general Ken McCallum, said Britain is facing “much, much more aggression” from some states and so they have had to make “uncomfortable choices”, such as paring back spending on countering terrorism. Many of Saturday’s papers feature pictures of the Princess of Wales – who hosted the Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday – with her children.

The Times front page 7 December — The Times leads with a story about the boss of MI5 saying it is shifting its focus from counter-terrorism to “hostile states”, including Russia, China and Iran. The intelligence service’s director-general Ken McCallum, said Britain is facing “much, much more aggression” from some states and so they have had to make “uncomfortable choices”, such as paring back spending on countering terrorism. Many of Saturday’s papers feature pictures of the Princess of Wales – who hosted the Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday – with her children.

“Labour drops NHS pledge to cut A&E waiting times to four hours” is the i weekend’s headline. It says the government is “abandoning” the commitment as No 10 Downing Street can no longer guarantee that the target can be met by 2029.

i front page 7 December — “Labour drops NHS pledge to cut A&E waiting times to four hours” is the i weekend’s headline. It says the government is “abandoning” the commitment as No 10 Downing Street can no longer guarantee that the target can be met by 2029.

The Daily Mail leads with an exclusive interview with the chancellor, who warns cuts need to be made to pay for an increase in the UK’s defence budget. The Mail says Rachel Reeves is going to launch the “biggest audit of government spending” in nearly 20 years to “slash waste and drive up efficiency”.

Daily Mail front page 7 December — The Daily Mail leads with an exclusive interview with the chancellor, who warns cuts need to be made to pay for an increase in the UK’s defence budget. The Mail says Rachel Reeves is going to launch the “biggest audit of government spending” in nearly 20 years to “slash waste and drive up efficiency”.

The Guardian leads with a story about rape trials collapsing due to “record court delays” with the backlog seeing a “doubling of victims pulling out of cases” in England and Wales. The paper’s analysis found that more than 280 rape prosecutions have fallen through after the alleged victim withdrew in the past year. A study of crown court cases also found that women who gave pre-recorded evidence – instead of in-person – during rape trials were 41% less likely to get a conviction, the paper adds.

The Guardian front page 7 December — The Guardian leads with a story about rape trials collapsing due to “record court delays” with the backlog seeing a “doubling of victims pulling out of cases” in England and Wales. The paper’s analysis found that more than 280 rape prosecutions have fallen through after the alleged victim withdrew in the past year. A study of crown court cases also found that women who gave pre-recorded evidence – instead of in-person – during rape trials were 41% less likely to get a conviction, the paper adds.

“Households could face higher energy bills”, the Daily Telegraph says, because the private companies who would build the nuclear reactors the government says are key to its “net zero plans” have called for help with construction costs. Earlier this week, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said nuclear power is “essential” to Labour’s plans. The Telegraph also reports that the Prince of Wales will be joining US President-elect Donald Trump for the reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris on Saturday.

The Daily Telegraph front page 7 December — “Households could face higher energy bills”, the Daily Telegraph says, because the private companies who would build the nuclear reactors the government says are key to its “net zero plans” have called for help with construction costs. Earlier this week, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said nuclear power is “essential” to Labour’s plans. The Telegraph also reports that the Prince of Wales will be joining US President-elect Donald Trump for the reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris on Saturday.

The Financial Times focuses on Romania’s top court scrapping Sunday’s presidential election run-off, after allegations that Russia used TikTok to promote the “pro-Putin” leading candidate, Calin Georgescu. Romanian authorities published papers this week suggesting Moscow’s involvement. Runner-up liberal candidate Elena Lasconi called the court’s decision “illegal, immoral” and said it “crushes the essence of democracy”, the paper adds.

FT front page 7 December — The Financial Times focuses on Romania’s top court scrapping Sunday’s presidential election run-off, after allegations that Russia used TikTok to promote the “pro-Putin” leading candidate, Calin Georgescu. Romanian authorities published papers this week suggesting Moscow’s involvement. Runner-up liberal candidate Elena Lasconi called the court’s decision “illegal, immoral” and said it “crushes the essence of democracy”, the paper adds.

The Daily Star says “sucking up” to the “head honcho” – your boss – is the way to succeed at work. “Forget about working hard”, the papers reads, adding that you may be more likely to get a pay rise or a promotion this way.

Daily Star front page 7 December — The Daily Star says “sucking up” to the “head honcho” – your boss – is the way to succeed at work. “Forget about working hard”, the papers reads, adding that you may be more likely to get a pay rise or a promotion this way.

PA Media (left to right) Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Princess Catherine standing in Westminster Abbey during the carol service. They are at the front and rows of people behind them.

The Daily Telegraph suggests households could face higher energy costs to pay for the nuclear reactors at the heart of the government’s net zero plans. The paper says it understands that industry bosses are pushing Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to be allowed to add the cost of building mini-reactors to consumers’ bills. It adds that the move could prove contentious at a time when there are already growing concerns about the costs to households of Miliband’s plans to overhaul the electricity system. Labour says the move to green energy will cut bills in the long run.

According to the Daily Mail, the chancellor has warned she will be able to boost the defence budget only if she cuts spending in other parts of government. Rachel Reeves tells the paper that extra money for the military would have to come out of the “same spending envelope” as other priorities such as schools, hospitals and police. She also reveals she is launching the biggest audit of public spending in almost two decades in a bid to slash waste.

The Guardian reports that a growing number of rape cases in England and Wales are collapsing before trial because victims are pulling out. The paper says it is largely because of delays in the court system. It says the number of people pulling out of prosecutions has more than doubled in five years.

The weekend edition of the i paper says that Labour is dropping a commitment to treat 95% of A&E patients within four hours. The promise was apparently made by Wes Streeting in June before he became health secretary and was not in the manifesto. According to the paper, No 10 can no longer guarantee that the target can be met in the lifetime of this parliament. A Downing Street spokesman said the manifesto pledged to return to meeting NHS targets and no timeframe had been given.

The Times reports that MI5 has been forced – in the agency’s words – to “pare back” on counter-terrorism because of the growing threat of sophisticated attacks from hostile states. The agency’s director general, Ken McCallum, said the attacks included sabotage, arson and even assassinations on British soil. He made the comments in a podcast being produced by the outgoing head of the civil service, Simon Case, which has been obtained by the Times. In it, Mr McCallum also reveals he kept his role in M15 secret for 25 years, and only told his children when he became director general.

The Financial Times carries a warning from the chairman of the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi that unless Labour revives the northern leg of HS2 – and the consequent need for trains – then the company’s UK train-making factory could be at risk. The Department for Transport said it remained fully committed to delivering HS2 from Euston to Birmingham, which is what Hitachi had been contracted for rather than the northern leg.

And many of the front pages feature photos of a smiling Princess of Wales returning to public life by hosting Friday evening’s Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. “Kate lights up Christmas” is the Sun’s headline, while the Daily Mirror quips “Kate’s Abbey Christmas”.