Newspaper headlines: Russian 'spy ring' and 'bumper' rise in pensions
- Published
A number of Wednesday's front pages feature photographs of three people suspected of being Russian spies in the UK, who have been arrested and charged in a national security operation.
The Daily Mail's headline, external calls the suspects "spies who came in from suburbia".
The Daily Express, external describes how the couple at the heart of the alleged spy ring baked cakes and pies for their neighbours. The owner of a local cafe tells the Daily Mirror, external they were regulars, often ordering a full English breakfast.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, external, Health Secretary Steve Barclay says he is considering plans for some people with cancer symptoms to skip a GP appointment and go straight for a scan.
Mr Barclay says it is one potential way to address what he calls "bottlenecks" in the diagnostic process.
The i newspaper reports that London councils have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds repairing damage to vandalised bollards and cameras which form part of low-traffic neighbourhood infrastructure.
A Freedom of Information request has shown that damage estimated at more than £850,000 has been caused since 2020.
The Guardian, external reports that an arts venue in Edinburgh has cancelled an event featuring Father Ted writer Graham Linehan after complaints from customers.
The Leith Arches said it had pulled the gig because it did not support the comedian and his views did "not align" with its values.
Linehan, who has been been an outspoken critic of transgender self-identification, said he may have been discriminated against on the grounds of his legally protected beliefs.
England head coach Sarina Wiegman spoke to media ahead of the semi-final with Australia.
And England's Women's World Cup semi-final against Australia is, according to the Guardian, external, "a proud moment in the women's game".
For the i newspape, externalr, it is "a rivalry like few others". The Sun, external exclaims: "Let's waltz past the Matildas".
Many of the papers focus on a stunt by the Australian Daily Telegraph, external, which chartered an aircraft to photograph the Lionesses' final behind-closed-doors training session.
Images of Sarina Wiegman's team training are printed beneath the headline: "Eleven Poms against a nation. Welcome to the jungle, Lionesses."
The Herald Sun, external suggests the success of Australia's women's team in this World Cup means football has now become the country's national sport.
It says no other national team in Australian sport can attract hundreds of thousands of fans like the Matildas or the Socceroos - the men's team.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed calls for a holiday in his country if his side lifts the trophy. But the i, external says there are no plans here for a bank holiday should England win the tournament.
Finally the Daily Telegraph, external reports on a sharp increase in the number of invasive raccoons which are causing havoc in Germany.
It comes as the country's National Hunting Association said it had killed 200,000 of the animals last year, in an attempt to control numbers, which stood at fewer than 20,000 two decades ago.
Berlin alone is thought to be home to more than 1,000 raccoons. The paper says they have been reported breaking into people's houses, eating pets such as rabbits and fish, and pushing over bottles of beer so they can drink from them.
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