‘Worst winter flu crisis’ and ‘World Cup of greed’
A dire flu forecast dominated the newspapers on Friday for the UK ahead of Christmas, with the Guardian describing it as the “worst winter crisis ever” as serious cases hit record levels. The NHS has warned that the epidemic has not yet peaked and things will get worse in the coming days, with GPs, hospitals and ambulance services already under “intense pressure”.
The highest numbers of flu cases are reported in children at school, with children under five particularly affected, according to i Paper. The NHS is urging vulnerable people to get vaccinated, warning that it will take two weeks to achieve full immunity after vaccination.
The Express condemns the “reckless” strike planned by junior doctors next week and says Health Secretary Wes Streeting has called on medical professionals to focus on tackling flu cases that are “skyrocketing”.
“Strikes could force the NHS to collapse,” the health secretary warns in the Times. In his article for the newspaper, Streeting says this will be the toughest winter for the NHS since the pandemic. A new proposal has been put before the British Medical Association, which has agreed to conduct a survey among its members to see whether they are willing to call off the five-day strike. The results of the vote will be announced on Monday.
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup were announced, which “sparked anger from fans.” The newspaper’s headline read “Greed World Cup” over a photo of US President Donald Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino grinning at the White House.
The Financial Times is leading the way with objections from China and some European Union countries to a global tax exemption plan for US multinational companies. This raises the risk that the Trump administration will impose a “revenge tax” on those who support the OECD’s proposed tax regime, according to the article.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was quoted on the front page of the Independent as warning that Europe must prepare for a conflict with Russia “on the scale our grandparents endured”. Speaking in Berlin on Thursday, Rutte called on European countries to rapidly increase defense spending to act as a deterrent against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Telegraph also focuses on defense spending following its interview with Armed Forces Minister Alistair Carns. He told the newspaper that NATO countries, including Britain, should step up their “lethality” and stop relying on US security guarantees.
Carns’ comments are also reflected in the Daily Mail’s headline: “Britain at war”. Echoing Mark Rutte’s words, the minister said, “the shadow of the war was at the door of Europe.”
“Pubs have banned MPs in tax-raid fury,” says the Sun, reporting on a campaign spearheaded by Taxed Out encouraging hospitality businesses to block Labor ministers to protest high tax bills.
Following the theft of 600 objects of “significant cultural value” from Bristol Museum’s warehouse in September this year, four alleged art thieves were captured on CCTV and splashed across the front page of the Metro. The items had been in storage since 2012 and contained artifacts “linked to Britain’s colonial past”.
The Star’s headline read “Runaway in the Manger” following reports that an escaped man was found hiding in a nativity scene in Italy.
