Newspaper headlines: 'We three kings' and 'Phil fights for job'

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By BBC News
Staff

The Times leads with a letter it's been sent by one of Britain's leading entrepreneurs, Sir James Dyson, accusing Rishi Sunak of overseeing "scandalous neglect" of the science and technology sectors.

Sir James says the prime minister's pledge to make the UK a "science and technology superpower" is nothing more than a political slogan - and warns that government policies are deterring multibillion-pound companies like Dyson from investing in the UK in favour of countries that "encourage growth and innovation rather than deter them".

The paper says his criticism chimes with concerns from others in the sector, and notes that three other tech firms have criticised Mr Sunak's government in recent weeks.

The government said the UK was "open for business as an innovation nation".

The i reports that the former Home Secretary Priti Patel will attack the prime minister in a speech at a gathering this evening of the Tory right.

It quotes her accusing the party leadership and MPs of showing "nothing but contempt for our foot soldiers".

India is demanding the return of colonial treasures, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The paper says Delhi's ministerial and diplomatic staff will be mobilised to secure the return of potentially thousands of artefacts taken to Britain during the days of empire, in what one source described as a "reckoning with the past".

It adds that it would amount to the largest repatriation claim faced by the UK, on a scale that would dwarf Greece's demands for the Parthenon Marbles.

The Financial Times leads on what it calls a deepening dispute between the US and South Africa - after Washington claimed that Pretoria covertly sent arms to Moscow.

It reports that Vladimir Putin has spoken to his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa - and quotes a former CIA official saying that relations between the US and South Africa have collapsed to their "lowest point since apartheid".

The paper says the dispute has highlighted the struggle of the West to persuade countries in Africa, Asia and South America to support Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, or at least remain neutral.

The Daily Telegraph says the BBC has been urged to overrule a decision to bar Volodymyr Zelensky from addressing tonight's Eurovision final, following criticism from Rishi Sunak.

The European Broadcasting Union - an alliance of 112 member organisations that runs Eurovision - has said the Ukrainian president cannot make a speech on the basis that political messages are against its rules.

The paper says the decision prompted a widespread backlash.

The Daily Mail claims 200 firms have now backed its campaign to bring back tax-free shopping for overseas tourists - and says the message is getting through to the upper echelons of government, with cabinet ministers said to be taking up the case for the reinstatement of the perk.

Several front pages feature a newly released Coronation photograph of King Charles, Prince William and Prince George - with the Mail and the Telegraph calling them: "We three Kings".

The Daily Mirror's headline is: "Heirs looking at you."

Finally, "Thou shalt have more rumpy pumpy" is the Daily Star's headline.

The tabloid refers to Pope Francis's comments on Italy's demographic crisis: he said starting a family was becoming a "titanic effort" that only the rich could afford.

The paper says the "commandment" applies only in Italy - which it calls a "real shame".