The Papers: ‘Kyiv aid block’ warning and ‘run of a kind’

Image caption, The Daily Telegraph writes the foreign secretary will warn that the US is risking the security of the West by holding up a new package of aid for Ukraine when he visits Washington. Lord Cameron will meet the House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson to urge him to stop his Republican colleagues from blocking the aid. Also on the front is ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells seen in public for the first time since the ITV drama highlighting the scandal.

Image caption, The Times focuses on more than 150,000 patients waiting for more than 24 hours in A&E before getting a hospital bed last year – a tenfold increase on 2019. Speaking of the figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats, their party leader Sir Ed Davey called for more hospital beds. The Times also reports the UK can continue to sell weapons to Israel according to the deputy prime minister, amid pressure to publish the government’s legal advice about the war.

Image caption, “Punishment isn’t working” headlines the Metro as it reports on 280,000 hours of community service being written off, according to the Labour Party. The paper says thousands of criminals are getting away without completing unpaid work they have been ordered to do. Also on the front is Russell Cook, nicknamed “Hardest Geezer”, pictured as he crosses the finish line in Tunisia after running the full length of Africa.

Image caption, The Guardian reports tens of thousands of unpaid carers looking after relatives are being forced to repay huge sums to the government and are being threatened with prosecution after breaching earning rules. It says carer claiming £81.90 a week for carer’s allowance while working part-time are being forced to pay sums overpaid to them, in some cases running to more than £20,000. Russell Cook also appears on the Guardian where he is quoted as saying “I’m a little tired”.

Image caption, The i leads with homeowners being told they must sign non-disclosures agreement if they want to see details of their rising service charges. The legal contract would prevent the residents on a new-build estate in Newcastle from sharing the information. A government spokesperson told the paper the use of NDAs in these instances was “completely inappropriate”.

Image caption, “Rayner’s making a fool of you” headlines the Daily Mail as it reports the Conservative party’s chairman criticising Labour leader Keir Starmer’s “unwillingness” to probe claims over his deputy’s property dealings. Angela Rayner has denied any wrongdoing and said she has received legal advice no rules were broken. Actress Lily James is pictured in Milan at a Dolce and Gabbana exhibition.

Image caption, The Financial Times leads with Joe Biden set to warn China about its aggressive tactics in the South China Sea when the US president attends a summit with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines. US officials say Mr Biden will express concern about Filipino marines on a ship in the Spratly Islands that Manila is being prevented from resupplying due to the Chinese coast guard. The paper adds Washington is pushing for Japan to join the US, UK, Australia security pact.

Image caption, The Daily Express reports on the “care home crisis putting Britain to shame” with one in five sites ranked inadequate or requires improvement. The paper also asks: “Is this the best ever Premier League title race?” Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are set for a three-way battle for the title.

Image caption, The Sun reports on people being pressured into signing up for cosmetic surgery in roadshows at UK hotels. The tabloid found medics from Turkey were exploiting loopholes to offer consultations for discounted surgeries. A barrister told the paper their investigation found “serious clinical misconduct”.

Image caption, The Mirror also splashes on plastic surgery, saying Turkish clinics are offering cut-price deals combining pet treatment and plastic surgery. It observes this comes as vet costs sore in the UK. One clinic offers cat care and a nose job for £4,500. Also pictured is TV personality Gemma Collins and her new fiance. She tells the paper she wants three weddings.

Image caption, A terrier appears on the front of the Daily Star as the tabloid reports a dog who appeared to growl “sausages” on TV show That’s Life! only made the noise because its owner was annoying him by gripping his throat. Co-hosts of the BBC One show Dame Esther Rantzen, 83, and Paul Heiney, 74, said there were fears the stunt may have been cruel.

The Daily Telegraph says the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, is to warn the United States it is risking the West’s security by holding up a new package of aid to Ukraine.

The bill has faced delays due to opposition by Republicans in the House of Representatives. Lord Cameron is hoping to address this during his trip to Washington this week. He has also written an article for the paper, with his French counterpart, Stéphane Séjourné, which mentions the importance of backing Kyiv in its fight against Russia. “If Ukraine loses, we all lose”, they write.

The Times reports that more than 150,000 patients in England had to wait more than 24 hours in A&E before a bed was found on a ward last year. It says the figures are a ten-fold increase on 2019. The paper says NHS chiefs have acknowledged the problem, and they are trying to find other ways of treating people that avoid the need for admissions to hospital.

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Russ Cook salutes as he finishes running the entire length of Africa

The Financial Times looks ahead to the next phase of the public inquiry into the Post Office IT scandal, which gets under way this week. The paper says there will be a shift to “accountability”, as the latest stage focuses on the role company executives, government ministers and figures from Fujitsu played in handling the cases of sub-postmasters wrongly accused of fraud.

Many of the papers feature photographs of the British man who has completed his epic challenge to run the entire length of Africa. “Run of a kind” declares the Metro. “Victory” says the Sun. For the Mirror, the headline is: “No sweat”. Russell Cook, from Worthing in West Sussex, set off almost a year ago and crossed the finish line on Tunisia’s northern coast on Monday. The Daily Mail and the Guardian both highlight a comment the 27-year-old made as he completed his quest: “I’m a little bit tired”.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Volcano Etna has been sending steam rings into the sky

And the Telegraph says tourists have flocked to see Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna, blow “almost perfect circles of smoke” into the blue skies over Sicily. This is happening because gases are being pushed quickly through a new circular crater that has appeared on the summit. It began early last week, with the paper suggesting the volcano has now “emitted hundreds or thousands” of the rings since. Experts say even the locals are impressed. One person who lives in a town at the foot of Mount Etna is quoted saying they have never seen anything as “spectacular” or “beautiful”.