As with so many days in the past fortnight, a flurry of stories about the activities and plans of US President Donald Trump lead some of Saturday’s front pages. The i newspaper kicks off by reporting that the White House is expected to demand lower UK taxes for tech giants – such as Amazon, X and Facebook – in exchange for the UK escaping trade tariffs.Treasury sources tell the paper the chancellor is set to hold talks with the US, in which she is expected to come under pressure to exempt tech firms from certain taxes.This comes after Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports this week and set out plans for a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico.
More on the US president in the Financial Times as the paper says Trump’s new cryptocurrency has “sparked a flood of imitators”.More than 700 copycat and spam coins have been deposited into Trump’s digital wallet in “apparent attempts to suggest his endorsement”, according to Financial Times analysis.Trump and his wife Melania launched their own meme-coins – a cryptocurrency with no utility other than for fun or speculation – earlier this year.
And the Guardian says Foreign Secretary David Lammy has warned that Trump’s plans to make large cuts to the US’s international aid budget could be a “big strategic mistake”.Lammy said the plan could instead allow China to “further its global influence”, the paper adds.This comes as the US president has vowed to close down USAID, the government’s main overseas aid agency, arguing it is not a valuable use of taxpayer money.
Lammy is also mentioned on the front page of the Daily Telegraph, as the paper writes that his department is open to talks on slavery payouts.The paper adds that the Foreign Office is understood to be meeting with members of a Caribbean reparation team which has long demanded compensation.Sources told the paper that Caribbean officials and political leaders will “restate demands that Britain pay for its role in the slave trade.”
Meanwhile, the chancellor has been warned that axing tax-free saving pots known as ISAs could hurt savers and “crash the mortgage markets”, writes the Daily Mail which is unequivocal with its headline “Hands off our cash ISAs”.Rachel Reeves is understood to be open to “axing or significantly reducing” the current cash ISA tax-free allowance, which sits at £20,000 per year, the paper adds.
Also leading on Reeves, the front page of the Daily Express says the chancellor has been warned that changes to inheritance tax “hurts” British farms.In an interview with the paper to back what it calls its “crusade” against the plan announced in October’s Budget, Countryfile star Adam Henson urges Rachel Reeves to “soften the blow” by considering some “simple alternatives”.
British universities risk cuts to their research budgets if they do not prioritise diversity and inclusion, writes the Times newspaper.Under proposals to change how £2bn of taxpayer funding for academic research is distributed every year, universities will need to show how they are promoting diversity and inclusion and tackling inequalities, the report outlines.The paper headlines the plan “Alarm over diversity push” and points to critics who warn the plan “will put ideological conformity above academic excellence”.
The Daily Mirror’s front page features a picture of farmer Tony Martin, who died on Sunday aged 80. He was jailed for killing 16-year-old Fred Barras and wounding Brendan Fearon at his Fenland home in 1999.Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Fearon says he has “no anger” towards Martin, who – the newspaper writes – left him “injured for life”.
“It’s time to get the big coat out”, the Daily Star says on its front page, as a spell of cold weather has set in across the UK. Over the weekend, some places are likely to see sleet and snow and temperatures ranging between about 5 to 8C – with a wind chill in the south making it feel closer to freezing.
The Sun’s front page features a picture of 2009 I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner Gino D’Acampo and runner-up Kim Woodburn, as the latter criticises D’Acampo’s behaviour on the reality show when they appeared together 16 years ago.
