The Daily Telegraph leads on government proposals for police to expand the use of facial recognition to fight crime across the UK. The paper describes it as a “police plan for face ID in every town”. Labour wants to provide forces with access to Britain’s passport database to catch criminals and it “could be deployed in every city, town and village”. And the Telegraph joins many of Thursday’s papers in carrying photos of the state banquet for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Windsor – with Catherine, Princess of Wales, in a purple gown widely pictured.
For the Sun, it’s “Kate’s great herr do” at the state banquet that makes a splash. The paper also reports the home secretary wants to extend opening hours for pubs during next year’s World Cup. It is “sup for the cup”, says the headline.
The Times says a government review is to study rising diagnoses of ADHD and mental health conditions as it seeks a fresh crackdown on welfare spending. The paper reports the inquiry will ask if normal feelings and stresses are being “overpathologised”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s claim the government’s business rate rise means Sir Keir Starmer is on a “mission to crush” High Street hospitality businesses leads the Daily Express. A Treasury spokesperson told the paper it backs the industry and highlighted a £4.3bn support package and the 25% cap on corporation tax.
Thomas Markle, father of the Duchess of Sussex, is “fighting for life” after emergency surgery in the Philippines, reports the Daily Mail. His son, Thomas Jr, told the paper that the 81-year-old had undergone three hours of surgery and had been in an intensive care unit.
A culture of bullying that harmed patient safety was “allowed to flourish” at “scandal-hit” NHS hospital Blackpool Victoria, writes the Guardian after a report from the Royal College of Physicians. In political news, the paper reports Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he is aiming for a “reverse takeover” of the Conservatives by “winning over defectors” from the party.
The i Paper says Russian spies are “secretly entering UK on cargo ships” at docks in Torquay, Middlesbrough and Grangemouth. The men then visit areas with military bases and critical infrastructure, it writes in an investigation.
The Independent leads on its investigation with Channel 4 into formaldehyde, which it says thousands of NHS staff are being exposed to, putting their health at risk. It also says No 10 has derided a “war threat” from Vladimir Putin, with a spokesperson for the prime minister calling it “Kremlin claptrap”.
The Financial Times says bond investors have warned the US Treasury of the “risk” of picking Kevin Hassett as Fed chair. It says they feared “he would cut interest rates aggressively to please Donald Trump”. In British economic news, HSBC has appointed a new chair “ending a chaotic search process that left the crucial role vacant for months”, says the FT.
The Daily Mirror leads with a photo from inside Jeffrey Epstein’s “island lair”. The images of the convicted paedophile’s property were released by House Democrats.
The Daily Star headlines on evicted I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Kelly Brook’s reunion with her husband. “I hope walls aren’t thin” in the hotel, she has said.
Metro celebrate a “formula win” after the prime minister announced parents will save £500 a year” on baby formula. The paper had run a campaign called “Formula for Change” to tackle the “soaring cost” of baby milk.
