Newspaper headlines: Biden to ‘miss’ coronation and Sunak on trade deal

Stormy DanielsGetty Images

Stormy Daniels told The Times she was not afraid to face Donald Trump in a courtroom

By BBC News
Staff

The Times has what it calls an exclusive interview with Stormy Daniels - the adult film star who was allegedly paid hush money by Donald Trump. She insists she is not afraid to face the former US president in a courtroom, telling the paper: "I've seen him naked. There's no way he could be scarier with his clothes on".

FT Weekend says next week's court appearance by Mr Trump is "set to shape" the 2024 US election campaign. It suggests his legal woes "could dent his chances" of returning to the White House - after a poll this week suggested 57% of Americans believed criminal charges should disqualify a candidate from running for president.

Getty Images

FT Weekend suggests Donald Trump's legal woes could "dent his chances" of winning another election

The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has told The Guardian that the government is "turning Britain's waterways into an open sewer". He was speaking after figures showed raw discharges were sent into English rivers 825 times per day last year on average. The paper says clean water has become a politically-charged issue ahead of next month's local elections - with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats mounting campaigns against the Conservatives' record on raw sewage - and Tory MPs reporting voter anger about the issue. A Conservative source is quoted as saying opposition parties "have no sensible plan to tackle this".

Comments by Rishi Sunak are highlighted by the Daily Express after the prime minister described the UK's new trade pact with 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region as the reason why he voted to leave the EU. Writing in the Daily Mail, Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch says membership of the bloc means joining "the most dynamic free trade family on the planet". The paper welcomes the move, arguing that "this exhilarating shift from a sclerotic, stagnating Europe towards some of the world's fast growing economies is exactly what Brexit was always meant to be about".

Getty Images

The Telegraph claims that President Biden will not attend the King's coronation

The Daily Telegraph claims President Biden is set to turn down an invitation to the King's coronation in May. He's said to have "other commitments". But the paper says the US "is keen to counter any perception of a snub" - and will send "high-profile representatives" in his place. A source close to the White House has hinted that the age of the oldest ever US president could be a factor in the decision. "Foreign travel takes a fair amount out of him", they say - meaning officials "try to restrict it to just the essentials". Downing Street declined to comment.

With the headline, "Paw-Inspiring", the Daily Mirror says donations to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London look set to hit six figures this weekend, after a tribute fund was set up in memory of its ambassador, Paul O'Grady. The entertainer and broadcaster died suddenly on Tuesday aged 67. Battersea's chief executive, Paul Laurie, has told the paper he was "overwhelmed and touched" after £90,000 was raised. He also suggests he is considering a permanent tribute to Paul O'Grady, who filmed 11 series of his TV show For the Love of Dogs at the home. All the money donated will go towards the running of the charity.