Saturday’s news headlines cover a variety of topics, starting with King Charles’s response to the recent riots in England and Northern Ireland. The Telegraph reports that the King hopes to visit affected communities at some time in the future. He has not yet publicly addressed the violence, but has released a statement expressing his shock about the stabbings in Southport.
The Guardian leads with a report on the future of England’s universities. Many are facing a “tipping point” this autumn, which could push them towards financial crisis. Vice-chancellors are raising concerns that there may not be enough students to go around. Leading figures believe mergers of institutions and departments may be a short-term solution until universities receive more secure funding.
The BBC’s request for former newsreader Huw Edwards to hand back £200,000 of salary is the lead story in the Mail, the Sun, and the Mirror. Edwards was paid before the corporation knew he had been arrested for possessing images of child abuse. He has since pleaded guilty to the charges. The BBC chair, Samir Shah, expressed his disappointment, saying that Edwards “knew what he had done but still took licence fee money.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves features in the i, which reports that she is considering lifting the 13-year freeze on fuel duty. This move could raise £3bn for the Treasury in her Budget in October. However, a poll suggests that voters are not in favour of increased taxes on fuel or inheritances. Reeves faces a dilemma as she tries to find measures to plug a £22bn hole in the nation’s finances.
Finally, the Mail reports on Britain’s biggest spider, the Fen Raft Spider, which was on the verge of extinction 14 years ago. Thanks to a concerted campaign, the number of breeding females has risen to 3,750 at 12 sites in Norfolk alone. Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s Olympic silver medal also features, with images of her beaming and wearing a crown and union flag adorning many front and back pages
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