'Fiscal worries mount' and 'Meghan in Guy Ritchie talks'

3 hours ago

News image — "Fiscal worries mount for Burnham" reads the headline of the Financial Times, as it reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham's "pick" for chief economic adviser has "declined the role". Among other national money troubles, according to the FT, are the "bond turmoil" and a fiscal deficit of £1.8bn. Also on its front page, plans to set a "Greenwich Moon Time" come amid world powers' "lunar ambitions".

BBC "Fiscal worries mount for Burnham" reads the headline on the front page of the Financial Times. — "Fiscal worries mount for Burnham" reads the headline of the Financial Times, as it reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham's "pick" for chief economic adviser has "declined the role". Among other national money troubles, according to the FT, are the "bond turmoil" and a fiscal deficit of £1.8bn. Also on its front page, plans to set a "Greenwich Moon Time" come amid world powers' "lunar ambitions".

"Duchess and The Gentlemen" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror. — The "Duchess and the Gentlemen" tops the Daily Mirror as the paper announces that the Duchess of Sussex is "in Guy Ritchie talks". This comes after the "bombshell announcement" that Meghan and the Duke of Sussex are returning to the UK.

"Mandelson probe at risk of collapse" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. — For the Daily Telegraph, a picture of Meghan in pink serves to mark her "advanced discussions" to join the cast of the "gangster series" The Gentlemen. The paper also reports that the criminal investigation into Lord Peter Mandelson is "at risk of collapse". The inquiry into whether he passed confidential government information to the late Jeffrey Epstein could reportedly be hindered because US authorities are "unlikely to hand over key Epstein files". Lord Mandelson has denied wrongdoing.

"Meg's lock stock... and two moaning Royals" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Star. — The Daily Star also heralds the news of Meghan's possible role as "Meg's lock stock... and two moaning Royals".

"Harry and celebrities could face £34m bill" reads the headline on the front page of the Times. — Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and other celebrities "could face £34m bill" writes the Times, after their failed privacy action suit. The judge has ruled that the group presented their claims in a way that was "unreasonable to a high degree".

"Harry, Elton & co will have to pay millions to Mail", reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail. — The Mail marks the news that "Harry, Elton & co will have to pay millions to Mail" on its front page, calling it a "day of reckoning". It describes the ruling as a "disaster for Prince Harry".

"High Court orders Prince Harry and celebrities to pay huge legal bill" reads the headline on the front page of the i Paper. — The i Paper also leads on the "huge legal bill" for the prince and other celebrities including Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost. It carries a story suggesting that the UK is "planning new bid for men's football World Cup".

"MPs have already accepted £400k of freebies this year" reads the headline on the front page of the Guardian. — "MPs have already accepted £400k of freebies this year," according to the Guardian. It says they have been accused of "failing to learn their lesson" following an outcry after former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accepted football tickets in 2024.

"In France we too are afraid of illegal migrants" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express. — For the Daily Express, a quote from a French mother is the headline: "In France we too are afraid of illegal migrants." The woman says villagers are living "in terror after illegal migrants moved in".

The Daily Mail splashes on the judge's ruling about costs in the Duke of Sussex's failed privacy claim against the paper's publishers, Associated Newspapers. The paper calls it "The Day of Reckoning", saying the claimants - including Prince Harry and Elton John - will now have to pay "millions to the Mail". It says the ruling is a "disaster" for the duke.

The Times argues the claimants' legal insurance only covers up to £16.2 million. That would leave a possible shortfall of £18m in the total potentially demanded by the publisher. The paper also suggests the ruling threatens to overshadow the duke and duchess' announcement that they will soon return to Britain.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the criminal investigation into whether Lord Mandelson passed confidential government information to Jeffrey Epstein is at risk of collapse. Scotland Yard detectives are said to believe it is increasingly unlikely that the US Department of Justice will hand over key unredacted Epstein files which may be needed to charge the former Labour cabinet minister with misconduct in public office. Lord Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing.

According to the Guardian, MPs have accepted almost £400,000 worth of hospitality to concerts and sporting events this year. The paper said they had failed to learn lessons from the outcry when Sir Keir Starmer accepted football tickets and clothing in 2024. Louise Haigh, Lucy Powell and Wes Streeting are among those who have accepted tickets. Labour said declarations had been in line with parliamentary rules.

And the Financial Times reports that world powers are pushing to agree how to measure the passage of time on the Moon. Clocks there tick fractionally faster than on Earth because of differing gravitational pull, which the paper says could affect navigation and communications just as efforts grow to establish a lunar colony. Countries are due to vote in October on proposals for what the paper calls Greenwich Moon Time.

'Fiscal worries mount' and 'Meghan in Guy Ritchie talks'

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