The key facts
- Wes Streeting launched a national emergency preparedness campaign: food and water supplies for 72 hours
- Due to a PHP vulnerability, 32 government services were down in the UK
- Barclays plans to cut 5,000 staff as it implements AI
Emergency preparedness campaign
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting found himself in the headlines after launching a national campaign to prepare the public for disruptions caused by natural disasters and cyberattacks. The Daily Telegraph reports that Britons are being asked to assemble 'Be ready' kits — with a three-day supply of non-perishable food and bottled water, an FM radio and blankets. The Guardian writes that households are advised to keep supplies to 'get through 72 hours in a crisis' and links the new recommendations to concerns about climate change, technological dependence and threats from hostile states. The Independent highlights Streeting's call to prepare for possible disruptions to everyday life caused by 'state-sponsored terrorism'. The Times writes about a 'disaster checklist' and three-day supplies. The Daily Mail, under the headline 'Don't panic!', notes that ministers were accused of 'nagging families'.
Cyberattack and PHP vulnerability
The campaign was launched against the backdrop of a global outage: Metro reports that websites around the world went down after vulnerabilities were identified in the widely used programming language PHP. According to the paper, 32 government services were not working in the UK; Metro asks readers whether they are prepared for an emergency. The Independent also links the government's campaign to the fact that, because of the global vulnerability, dozens of government services were offline.
Criticism of Matt Hancock after the Covid inquiry
The Daily Mirror reports on harsh criticism of former Health Secretary Matt Hancock following another Covid inquiry — into the discharge of untested patients into care homes, where tens of thousands of residents died. According to the paper, families of the dead are demanding that Hancock be stripped of the Right Honourable title because of his actions during the pandemic.
Economy and other news
The Financial Times writes that Barclays plans to cut 5,000 jobs as it implements more artificial intelligence in its operations. According to the paper, citing the bank, the main impact will fall on support roles, since 'AI makes our people more productive'. This comes as Chancellor John Healey prepares next week's budget, which is likely to include taxes for banks. The i Paper leads with a report proposing career plans for teenagers from the age of 14 to reduce the number of young people who are neither studying nor working after school. Among other stories: the Sun writes about an investigation into the father of the Duchess of Sussex, Thomas Markle Sr, in the Philippines (he did not respond), the Daily Express — about demands to toughen sentences for violence against women, and the Daily Star — about the show The Celebrity Traitors, in which a contestant described the experience as 'harder than any war zone'.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has made headlines in today's papers after launching a national campaign on public preparedness for disruption caused by natural disasters and cyber attacks. The Daily Telegraph reports on Britons being asked to make 'Be ready' kits for emergencies, 'including three days' worth of non-perishable food and bottled water, an FM radio and blankets'.
Meanwhile, the Metro warns readers to 'prepare for the worst' after websites around the world were taken offline after cyber-security flaws were revealed in a globally-used programming language, PHP. 'In the UK, 32 government services were down', the paper reports, before asking the question 'are you emergency ready?'
The Independent leads on Streeting's messaging for Britons to be prepared in case ''state-sponsored terrorism' disrupts everyday life'. The government's campaign comes as global security flaw knocked dozens of government services offline, the paper says.
Similarly, the Guardian leads on UK households being urged to stockpile enough food and water to 'survive 72 hours in a crisis', the Guardian reports. The new guidance from the government follows concerns on 'climate change, technological dependency and hostile state threats', the paper says.
Streeting 'issues checklist for coping after catastrophe' and to 'be prepared with 3 days of supplies', the Times reports. Elsewhere British singer Raye is pictured singing on stage as a 'golden wonder' following her Mercury Prize win.
'Don't Panic!' the Daily Mail instructs after ministers were 'accused of lecturing families' to stockpile 'in case of a national emergency'. Elsewhere on the page, Catherine, Princess of Wales, is pictured with her son Prince George, who she is said to be missing while he is at Eton.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been heavily criticised after another Covid inquiry over 'untested patients being discharged into care homes where tens of thousands of residents died', the Daily Mirror reports. 'Bereaved families are calling for Hancock to be stripped of his Right Honourable title' following his handling of Covid, the paper says.
Barclays plans to cut 5,000 jobs as it introduces more artificial intelligence (AI) into its workforce, the Financial Times reports. Support roles are predicted to bear the brunt as 'AI makes our people more productive', the bank said, according to the paper. It comes as chancellor John Healey prepares to deliver his Budget next week that is likely to tax banks.
A landmark report proposing to create career plans for 14-year-olds and above to help them with their future employment, is the lead of the i Paper. The plan aims to tackle the high number of young people not in education, employment or training once they leave school, the paper explains.
The Daily Star splashes on The Celebrity Traitors and how one contestant admitted their experience was 'harder than any war zone'.
The Sun headlines on the Duchess of Sussex's estranged father Thomas Markle Snr being investigated in an alleged 'child sex images probe' in a case in the Philippines. There is no response from Thomas Markle Senior.
And the Daily Express headlines on victims of 'shocking' attacks wanting tougher sentences for offenders to try to stop records levels of violence against women.
