'Russia to test Nato pact' and 'Labour eye tax raid'

1 hour ago

News image — The Guardian reports that European intelligence officials are raising the possibility of an imminent Russian attack on Nato territory, with one telling the paper it could happen within "months not years". The paper also carries comments from Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has said intelligence reports suggest it would be part of Moscow's efforts to test whether Article 5 - which holds that Nato members will come to the defence of an ally under attack - is "more theoretical than practical".

BBC "European spy chiefs brace for Russia to test Nato pact" reads the headline on the front page of the Guardian — The Guardian reports that European intelligence officials are raising the possibility of an imminent Russian attack on Nato territory, with one telling the paper it could happen within "months not years". The paper also carries comments from Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has said intelligence reports suggest it would be part of Moscow's efforts to test whether Article 5 - which holds that Nato members will come to the defence of an ally under attack - is "more theoretical than practical".

"Big Tech banks on guarantees to keep $300bn AI exposure off balance sheet" reads the headline on the front page of the Financial Times. — The "flames of war" are pictured on the front page of the Financial Times following Ukraine's latest drone attack on Moscow, described by the city's mayor as the largest attack to date on the Russian capital. The FT also reports that big tech firms have issued up to $300bn in "guarantees to back debt for AI data centres and chips" in the past year, but are "recording little of that exposure on their balance sheets."

"Labour eyes £14bn raid to help the poorest" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph. — The Daily Telegraph, like several of Monday's papers, leads with speculation Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey are eyeing up a "tax raid" in the upcoming Budget. The paper reports they are reviewing proposals to raise Capital Gains Tax to 45% in order to increase the personal allowance on income tax. The latest set of German state elections also make the front page, as the paper notes Chancellor Friedrich Merz is on course for a "humiliating double defeat".

"Half Labour MPs at risk of Pip cuts backlash" reads the headline on the front page of the Times. — More than half of Labour MPs have a greater number of disability benefit claimants than their majorities in their respective constituencies, according to analysis by the Times, which says they are at risk of a backlash from their constituents over possible cuts to Personal Independence Payments at the Budget.

"Kemi: I'll ditch tourist tax to boost Britain" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mail. — The Daily Mail leads with a pledge from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to restore tax-free shopping for tourists in the UK, reversing a post-Brexit rule. The Mail agrees with her as it campaigns to "scrap the tourist tax".

"Stop your tax raid on nation's high streets" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Express. — The Daily Express also quotes Badenoch, who is urging the government to end the "hammering" of Britain's shops and pubs.

"I back Team Harry AND Wills," reads the headline on the front page of Metro. — Metro carries comments made by Earl Spencer in a BBC interview ahead of his book launch. The earl has denied siding with the Duke of Sussex over his brother, the Prince of Wales.

"A cold, rainy night in Stoke is not so bad" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Star. — Former England footballer Andros Townsend has avoided serious injury after being run over by a pitch roller during the warm-up for a league match in Thailand, the Daily Star reports. The paper also pictures singer Ed Sheeran, who became emotional while addressing crowds at his first concert since the decision to drop a support act for making pro-Palestinian comments.

"We women are all at risk from men, warns minister amid Piddington asylum camp row," reads the headline on the front page of The i Paper. — "We women are all at risk from men" reads the headline of the i Paper, summarising comments from Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Philipson. Her comments follow concerns from female villagers about living near proposed housing for asylum seekers in Piddington.

"Climate 100" reads the headline on the front page of the Independent. — The Independent highlights its Climate 100 - the "changemakers and innovators helping turn the time on our climate crisis". Among them are activist Erin Brockovich and Prince William.

The Guardian reports that European intelligence officials have raised the possibility of an imminent test of Nato by Russia, quoting one official as saying an attack could come in a matter of "months not years". The paper says the escalation fears come as the UN General Assembly convenes in New York later this week, and amid intensifying airstrikes on both sides of Russia's war on Ukraine.

The lead for the Sun is its own investigation made in conjunction with Channel 5 into the murder convictions of the neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby, who was found guilty of killing seven babies and attempting to kill seven more. The paper says it has spoken to a "top consultant" who worked alongside her, who claims that she may have been a scapegoat to cover up for failings at the Countess of Chester Hospital. One mother tells the paper that her baby died six months after Letby had been moved off the neo-natal unit.

The Times says it's carried out analysis which shows that more than half of Labour MPs in England and Wales have a higher number of people claiming disability benefit in their constituencies than the size of their majorities. The paper says the figures highlight what it calls the "political peril" facing ministers trying to cut the welfare bill.

Labour is considering raising Capital Gains Tax to help fund an increase to the income tax personal allowance, according to the Daily Telegraph. It says the idea has come from the Labour donor Dale Vince, who has warned the party that wealth is being "taxed more lightly than work". The paper also quotes the green energy entrepreneur as saying that the move would give "millions of people a meaningful boost" - with the biggest benefit going to those on the lowest incomes.

The Daily Mail reports that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch would ditch what it's calling a "tourist tax" which visitors to the UK have to pay on goods. The paper says she is pledging to bring back the VAT-free shopping initiative which was axed by her party in 2021. Speaking to the Mail, Badenoch said Britain should be a "magnet" for tourists who want to spend.

'Russia to test Nato pact' and 'Labour eye tax raid'

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