A mix of stories leads Thursday’s papers. The Times spotlights a striking image of a mother comforting her son after a school shooting in the US city of Minneapolis on Wednesday. Two children were killed and 17 others injured after a gunman opened fire at a Catholic school while children were attending mass. Also featured is former British prime minister Sir Tony Blair advising Donald Trump on a “comprehensive plan” for the future of Gaza during a White House meeting on Wednesday.
The Daily Mail follows with a photo of the Minneapolis shooter named by police as Robin Westman. Alongside, the paper reports that energy regulator Ofgem says “policy costs” imposed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have contributed to the price cap rising at “double the rate” forecast. It adds the rise in energy bills will see “millions” of households pay more this winter.
Labour’s approval rating has sunk to its lowest point in the 13 months since the general election, polling reported by the Metro suggests. “From hero to Keir low”, is the accompanying headline. The paper says it shows that only 20% of responders say they would vote for Labour, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK takes an eight-point lead.
Children under 15 years old made up almost a third of patients treated for injuries in Gaza field hospitals run by Médecins Sans Frontières last year, the Guardian reports. Figures released in correspondence with medical journal the Lancet reveal wounds from bombs, shelling or shooting were involved in half of the more than 90,000 patients treated in 2024.
The Daily Express also leads with energy, reporting that gas and electricity prices will go up 2% for millions of households to help meet the costs of wind farms. Also featured are George and Amal Clooney arriving at the Venice Film Festival “in style”.
An EU levy on energy set to take effect next year could hit UK businesses, jobs and economic growth, according to the i. The tax is designed to encourage greener production over carbon-intensive methods, but the paper says exporters fear that they could be left facing a bill of up to £800m in carbon tax payments. The i says the government is seeking an exemption to the charge which could also increase energy bills for families.
Sales of the “King Kong” of weight loss treatments have been halted ahead of a 170% price rise, reports the Daily Telegraph. Drugmaker Eli Lilly has temporarily paused orders of the Mounjaro jab to cope with soaring demand, which means pharmacies won’t be able to buy more at the current lower price tag. A planned price surge next week indicates the drug will cost between £133 and £330 per jab in the UK. Elsewhere, a smiling Cate Blanchett – dressed in all black – poses on the Venice Film Festival red carpet.
The “Greenland rift” growing between the US and Denmark leads the Financial Times. The paper says Denmark has denounced reports of covert “foreign actors” with alleged ties to Donald Trump trying to influence the future of Greenland. A top US diplomat in Copenhagen was summoned by Denmark’s foreign ministry over the reports. Sharing the top spot is a report on China’s chipmakers seeking to triple their output of artificial intelligence processors next year, as the AI race with the US intensifies.
“Flip flop Farage” declares the Daily Mirror. The paper says the Reform leader’s immigration plans are in “tatters” after he admitted that deporting women and children was “not part of our plan for the next five years”. Farage’s backtrack comes as Labour accuses him of offering “empty promises” on tackling small boat arrivals.
Still riding high on Taylor Swift’s engagement announcement, the Daily Star fills its front page with “Trump’s Swifty change of heart”. The paper focuses on the US president’s reaction to the singer’s engagement to Travis Kelce, calling her a “terrific person”.
Finally, the Sun reports that an Islamic State “terrorist” who was sentenced to life in prison wants to return to the UK. El Shafee Elsheikh was convicted for his involvement in a terror cell and is currently in a high-security jail in the US, it says. The paper quotes the daughter of one of the gang’s victims, calling the bid an “outrageous insult”.
