Newspaper headlines: Lions 'bare teeth' and Starmer's migration policy

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By BBC News
Staff
EPA

Marcus Rashford celebrates a goal with England teammates during the side's 6-2 win over Iran

Most of Tuesday's papers have the same story - the first games of England and Wales's World Cup campaigns - on their front and back pages.

The Guardian says there was "unfiltered enthusiasm" among fans about Wales being back in the tournament finals for the first time in 64 years. Many of the papers declare the Welsh captain, Gareth Bale, a "hero" for scoring a late equaliser which clinched his side a one-all draw against the USA.

The i calls England's opening game, which saw them beat Iran 6-2, a "stellar start". The Daily Express says Gareth Southgate's men began the "adventure in style", while the Daily Mail's Jane Fryer says the team just got "better and better and better" throughout the match.

The Sun praises 19-year-old Jude Bellingham, who scored the opening goal, labelling him a "wonderkid". Writing in the Daily Telegraph, former England player Jamie Carragher says the current team have demonstrated that they're a "force to be reckoned with". Even the front page of the Financial Times features a photograph of the England team celebrating their victory.

The Guardian's Sean Ingle writes that, while England impressed, he believes the match is more likely to be remembered for the refusal of the Iranian team to sing their own national anthem. He describes the move as "a gesture of solidarity with oppressed women and protesters back home".

The Daily Mirror highlights how the England and Wales captains were forced to abandon plans to wear rainbow armbands in support of LGBT rights after being told they risked receiving yellow cards. Offering his assessment, Patrick Strudwick writes in the i: "Whoops, there go footballers' principles at the first hint of trouble".

Patients diagnosed with advanced cancers could see the time they are expected to live double within a decade thanks to cutting edge new treatments, according to the Times. Laying out its plans for the next five years, the Institute of Cancer research says it's looking at "new lines of attack" to fight the disease.

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The Daily Telegraph reports that Shell is reviewing plans to invest £25bn in Britain's energy system after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt increased windfall taxes on the industry in the Autumn Statement last week. The paper says the company is re-examining a slew of projects, though adds that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used a speech on Monday to defend the government's economic platform, saying it had helped restore confidence and stability.

MPs have been told for the first time they can host Christmas parties at the taxpayers' expense, reports the Daily Mail. The paper says the new rules will allow MPs to claim refreshments and decorations, but adds they will not be allowed to spend public cash on alcohol.

And the Times says tortoises and turtles may not be considered the "chatterboxes of the animal kingdom", but that scientists have discovered they do in fact have plenty to say. A study has found that they're among a group of species that were once considered "non-vocal" but are now known to be capable of producing sounds. Researchers say the noises include clicks, grunts, and croaks, while the snapping turtle in particular apparently sounds like Darth Vader.