The government's announcement on Monday of a big expansion of artificial intelligence in the public sector leads the Guardian. It reports that AI "will be used for everything from spotting potholes to freeing up teachers," as Starmer announces a "twenty-fold" increase in the amount of AI being used over the next five years. The report says the move reflects a "shift in tone" from the government which had previously been focused on the risks of the technology. [BBC]
The Times also covers the story, and takes the angle that the UK's NHS data will be opened up to train AI. It reports that "archives of scans, biodata and anonymised patient records" will be made available to big tech companies "to put the country at the heart of the global AI revolution". The lead story for the Times is a warning from ex-MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove that in "courting Chinese investment for its renewable energy revolution" the government could leave the UK "vulnerable to Beijing". [BBC]
In other health news, the Daily Mail reports that 518,000 NHS patients were left "languishing on trolleys in A&E for 12 hours or more last year". It says a shortage of beds is preventing staff from moving new arrivals onto wards and emergency departments "were already dangerously overwhelmed" before the winter flu outbreak. The Mail's front page also features Meghan Markle, whose new Netflix show has been delayed by the Los Angeles wildfires. [BBC]
"L.A.Wless" headlines the Metro as it leads on the latest from Los Angeles - reporting a growing fury at "greedy landlords cashing in on tragedy, entitled celebrities and selfish elites". It reports that locals have "lashed out" at billionaires who have hired private firefighters to defend their homes. The Metro illustrates the story with an image of a hand-painted sign outside an abandoned home in Altadena warning against looting. [BBC]
The overhaul of content moderation at social media giant Meta' has sparked concerns among advertisers, the Financial Times reports. It says multiple advertising bosses have told the paper the move to end fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram and weaken hate speech policies is "going to become a commercial conundrum for both sides". The picture lead is of Greenland - with the FT reporting that its citizens are feeling "unsettled" by US President-elect Donald Trump's designs on the country. [BBC]
An article by former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson in the Sunday Times makes the Daily Star's front page. Clarkson wrote in support of Donald Trump's plan to buy Greenland and suggested he buy the UK. The paper has mocked up an image of Clarkson looking like arch-wheeler dealer Arthur Daley from the 1980s ITV series Minder. [BBC]
The i paper leads on its investigation into gay dating app Grindr. It says that at least 13 cases of serious sexual offence cases against minors in 2024 listed Grindr as the first point of contact between suspect and victim. In the digital version of the story Grindr tells the i it "goes to great lengths" to prevent children from accessing the app and says "there is no place in society for abuse of minors, and we wholly condemn anyone who commits crimes against underage individuals". [BBC]
The Daily Telegraph says the Treasury has "ordered cabinet ministers to be ruthless in identifying public spending cuts". The paper reports that an internal memo from Chancellor Rachel Reeves admits "difficult decisions on budgets will be needed". [BBC]
The Daily Express leads with comments by former Conservative Home Secretary James Cleverly that families and businesses are "suffering" as a result of "ineptitude, arrogance and hypocrisy" in the Labour Party - saying the government's agenda amounts to a "tax assault". [BBC]
The Daily Mirror's lead is Sunday's stabbing of a nurse at the Royal Oldham Hospital. It reports the nurse has suffered "life changing injuries" after a 37-year-old man allegedly attacked her "in front of horrified colleagues and patients". It reports that a "row over waiting times reportedly sparked the assault". The man has been arrested. Elsewhere on the front page, the Mirror reports that Little Mix band member Jesy is pregnant with twins. [BBC]
The Sun also features the Little Mix star's pregnancy, but leads on a potential move by Manchester City and England footballer Kyle Walker to play in Italy. Walker - who has spoken publicly about his infidelity - is due to be joined by his wife, who is "hoping for the breathing space they desperately need," the tabloid quotes an unnamed source as saying. [BBC]
The move would involve the health service making its archives of scans, biodata and anonymised patient records available for the first time to help train AI models. The resource is understood to form part of the country's first national data library and could help attract billions in US tech investment.
But the paper notes there are also fears that sensitive data could end up being exploited for purposes beyond which it was intended, though Technology Secretary Peter Kyle tells the paper the NHS and government would always be in control of the data.
Peter Kyle told the Times the NHS and government would always be in control of patient data [PA Media]
The Daily Telegraph says the health secretary is looking at changing the law on compensation for people harmed by the Covid vaccine. The paper says it has seen a letter from Wes Streeting to the wife of a man left with permanent brain damage after having the AstraZeneca jab. Streeting is said to have written that he is considering a number of options, including possible legislative changes.
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The Times carries a warning from a former head of MI6 that efforts by Labour to court Chinese investment in the government's renewable energy plans risk leaving the UK vulnerable to Beijing. Sir Richard Dearlove said Britain shouldn't be relying on China for its energy infrastructure in its drive to reach net zero. The paper says its own analysis found that Chinese businesses have paid for or provided parts for at least 14 out of 50 British offshore windfarms in operation or in development. A government spokesman said the biggest risk to energy security was staying dependent on fossil fuel.
The Daily Mail says new figures from NHS England, analysed by the Liberal Democrats, show a record 518,000 patients were left waiting on trolleys in A&E for 12 hours or more last year. The paper notes that the numbers are 400 times higher than a decade ago. It argues that the numbers on trolleys, because of a shortage of available beds, shows emergency departments were already dangerously overwhelmed even before this winter's flu outbreak. The Department of Health says it inherited a broken NHS.
The former Conservative Home Secretary James Cleverly tells the Daily Express the UK is under what he calls a tax attack by the government. Writing in the paper he says families and businesses are suffering because of ministers' ineptitude, arrogance and hypocrisy. He says employers, farmers and schools have all seen their taxes go up by record levels. The government says it has faced significant challenges in its first six months in office.
James Cleverly criticised the government's first six months in office [PA Media]
The Guardian carries details of a new poll suggesting a fifth of Gen Z and Millennial Britons prefer the idea of a strong leader without elections, to democracy, with voters overall feeling downbeat about politics. But among people aged over 55 only 8% preferred a strong leader to a democratic system. The survey was carried out for the public affairs consultancy FGS.
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