'Zelenskyy blames Trump' and Brand a 'sex predator'
Many of Thursday's front pages are dominated by Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to London, during which he agreed that he had felt betrayed by the US. The Ukrainian president made the comments during an interview in which he was asked about a plan by President Donald Trump to import Russian diesel into the US and also what appeared to be restrictions placed on the speed at which some of its weapons can travel and stay connected to SpaceX's Starlink internet network. The Elon Musk-owned Starlink is a vital tool allowing Kyiv to guide drones to Russian targets and also protect its own skies.
The Times also leads with Zelensky's comments, with the leader saying "people will die" because of the decision to restrict access to Elon Musk's satellite communications system. Musk said that Starshield, the military-grade sister service to Starlink, is controlled by the US government, and "any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately [the US president]".
The other story leading many of the newspapers is the start of Russell Brand's trial for rape and sexual assault. The 51-year-old actor and comedian, who faces three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, was described as "ruthless" and a "sexual predator" by the prosecution. He denies the charges.
Brand is described as "the 'predator' in sunglasses' on the front page of the Daily Mail. Riel Karmy-Jones KC, for the prosecution, read out a litany of sex charges at Southwark Crown Court in London, the paper reports, as Brand "sat impassively in the dock".
The Sun leads with the prosecution's description of Brand as a "ruthless, calculated sexual predator". The paper reports that the comedian allegedly attacked women over 10 years and was "demanding and manipulative".
The prosecution's description of Brand is repeated on the front page of the i Paper, which also detailed the first day of the trial. It says the jury heard details of all alleged offences, which Brand says were consensual.
"Predator," declares the Mirror alongside a picture of Brand. It also highlights a moment in court when a witness recalled Brand saying "things may have gone a little bit too far" or "I may have taken things a little too far". The trial continues and is expected to last for six weeks.
The Financial Times leads with the latest economic figures in the US, where inflation rose to 3.7% in September. The increase, driven by a rebound in fuel prices, piles pressure on households ahead of the midterm elections, the paper reports.
Official figures show there are more seven-year-olds on disability benefits than 50-year-olds, according to the Daily Telegraph. A total of 69,799 children aged seven now receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) while 66,670 50-year-olds are on similar welfare support, the paper reports. The figures come as ADHD and learning difficulty claims soar.
The Daily Express leads on the plea of nine women from Piddington, who visited Parliament on Wednesday to demand Labour shelves plans to house 1,256 asylum seekers next to the Oxfordshire village. It came as MPs rejected a Conservative call for the government to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights "in order to deport illegal migrants". They voted by 309 to 113, majority 196, against the motion, which would have also condemned plans to house the asylum seekers at a disused Ministry of Defence (MoD) site near Piddington.
Donald Trump's sharing of an AI-generated video of him grappling with a tiger leads the Daily Star. Branded a "video nasty", the US president posted the video on social media after also sharing footage of William Chapman being fatally attacked by a tiger at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Tuesday evening.
And finally, the Independent is celebrating its 40th anniversary, with Andy Burnham paying a glowing tribute to the "bravery, spirit and values" of the news outlet. The prime minister said the digital news provider should be lauded for consistently championing "democracy, human rights" and the UK's role on the world stage since it was launched in 1986.
