'French protests become violent' and SAS men 'arrested for murder'

18 hours ago

News image — The Independent focuses on the hundreds of people who have been arrested across France, following what it says were "some of the country's most violent protests in recent times". The paper says a tourist office has been torched in Lyon, and a town hall vandalised in Marseille, as people protest "rising costs and declining services".

The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: “Hundreds arrested as French protests become violent”. — The Independent focuses on the hundreds of people who have been arrested across France, following what it says were "some of the country's most violent protests in recent times". The paper says a tourist office has been torched in Lyon, and a town hall vandalised in Marseille, as people protest "rising costs and declining services".

The headline on the front page of the Sunday Times reads: “SAS men hunting Isis in Syria were arrested for murder”. — The Times leads with an investigation, reporting that Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers accused of murder were sent into war zones while still under police investigation. It says that five men were arrested on secret bases in Syria and Iraq in 2022, kicking off an "unprecedented three-year criminal investigation" that the paper says "plunged the regiment into crisis". It writes that the five men were sent back into the war zone just 48 hours after being questioned by police, and "left in limbo for three years" before they were told no charges would be brought. The former suspects have all since left the military, the Times says, in addition to writing a letter to former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to complain about their "potentially unlawful arrests". A Ministry Of Defence spokesperson said personnel are "entitled to expect that any investigation is conducted fairly and professionally and rightly there are procedures in place for people to report concerns ... If allegations of wrongdoing arise, it is right that they are properly assessed and, where appropriate, investigated".

The headline on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph reads: “Civil Service fact-checkers embedded at the BBC”. — Protesters in Paris have also been pictured on the front page of the Sunday Telegraph, captioned: "Rioters on the rampage across France." The paper carries a story about the use of Civil Service fact-checkers at the BBC, a revelation which it says has lead to questions about the broadcaster's impartiality. A spokesperson for the BBC has denied that civil servants had editorial influence on stories, and stated that all editorial decision-making was made by BBC journalists and editors.

The headline on the front page of the Mail on Sunday reads: “Schoolchildren 'brainwashed by left-wing BBC”. — The Mail on Sunday has accused the BBC of "brainwashing children" in its main story, alleging the broadcaster's education website, BBC Bitesize, is pushing "'extreme' Left-Wing views" on millions of pupils. It reports that the website included an online game called "Increasing Immigration", which rewarded students for choosing to open borders and grant amnesty to "illegal migrants". A BBC spokesman said: "BBC Bitesize works with educational consultants to develop resources that help young people explore and understand a wide range of topics, aligned to the respective curriculums across the UK ... While we don't accept the characterisation of Bitesize in this story, we regularly review content to ensure it remains relevant and to ensure it meets the BBC's editorial standards and will review these examples in that context."

The headline on the front page of the Sunday Express reads: “Britain will never rejoin the EU”. — Reform UK Nigel Farage has spoken to the Sunday Express, declaring that Britain will never "vote to rejoin" the European Union. Farage accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of having an "outdated view of the world", and warned that pressure from "Labour's traditional heartlands in the North" will prevent him from leading the UK straight back into the bloc.

The headline on the front page of the Sun on Sunday reads: “Match of the date”. — A photograph of television presenters Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates walking together leads the Sun on Sunday, which says the "Match of the Day lovebirds" were stepping out together as a couple for the first time.

The headline on the front page of the Mirror reads: “Humbled by your bravery”. — An off-duty doctor who helped wounded passengers in the Bedford train crash earlier this year is set to receive a Pride of Britain Award, according to the Daily Mirror. The paper reports Dr Eli Prior had multiple injuries herself, but stayed on the train to help others who had been hurt in the crash. Air ambulance doctor Rob Wilmore said he was "humbled" by Prior's bravery.

The headline on the front page of the Sunday People reads: “Rich pickings”. — "Rich pickings", reads the headline of the Sunday People, homing in on campaigners who argue that a wealth tax "could help so many". It comes ahead of the Budget, which is set to be delivered on 28 October.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: “Comedy legend fights off mugger”. — "Comedy legend fights off mugger", reads the Daily Star, alongside a photograph of comedian Paul Whitehouse. The paper reports the 68-year-old was accosted at a cash machine, but fought back against the thief, who it says "scuttled away empty handed".

The headline on the front page of the Observer reads: “The childhood lottery”. — The Observer explores what it is calling the "childhood lottery", writing that a child in Blackpool is 27 times more likely to miss school than one in Lambeth. The piece hinges on a new study, which it says has exposed the vast inequalities of childhood in England and prompted the children's commissioner to declare a national emergency".

Some editions of the Sunday Telegraph picture the historic clock tower in the French city of Limoges collapsing in flames, as protests raged across the country. The paper says crowds were "heard cheering" as the tower fell. "War de France" is the Sun on Sunday's headline. It says President Emmanuel Macron has been "blasted" after he was pictured dancing with his wife in a private box at a Celine Dion concert the previous night.

The Sunday Times says five SAS soldiers were sent back to the battlefield just 48 hours after they were questioned by military police on suspicion of murdering two people in Syria in 2022. It later emerged those killed were teenagers working for the Islamic State group. The paper says the men were "left in limbo" for three years before being told no charges would be brought. The Ministry of Defence says its soldiers are "entitled to expect any investigation is conducted fairly and professionally."

The Mail on Sunday - on its front page - says the BBC has been accused of "brainwashing" children who use its educational website, Bitesize. The paper reports that the site encourages users to play an online game called "Increasing Immigration", in which players get extra points if they choose options such as "open borders". The BBC says players are not rewarded for choosing political positions, but it will review the examples highlighted in the story.

The Observer says a "national emergency" of childhood has been declared by the children's commissioner for England. Rachel de Souza tells the paper the lives of too many children were "Dickensian with a modern twist". She'll release what's been described as a "damning report" tomorrow. It apparently exposes "vast inequalities" across England - such as children in Blackpool being 27 times more likely to miss school than pupils in Lambeth.

The Sunday Express leads on Nigel Farage's warning to Andy Burnham that Britain will never "vote to rejoin" the European Union. The Reform UK leader says people in Labour's traditional heartlands will prevent the Prime Minister from leading Britain back into the bloc. A No 10 spokesperson tells the paper that the government had inherited a "threadbare Brexit deal" and that it was working on agreements that "pay pff for British farmers and families".

The Mail on Sunday looks ahead to tonight's edition of The Archers on Radio 4, which will feature the drama's first "lesbian wedding". The paper says "six million fans" are expected to tune in, with BBC insiders predicting a high number of younger listeners. The paper notes the show has kept pace with the times, having tackled "everything from steamy affairs... to modern slavery and even coercive control".

'French protests become violent' and SAS men 'arrested for murder'

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