Newspaper headlines: 'New variant fears' and 'migrants keep crossing'
By BBC News
Staff
- Published
Flights from several southern African countries will be banned from 12:00 GMT on Friday after scientists raised the alarm over a new coronavirus variant, the Guardian reports. The paper says there are fears the variant is "the worst... yet identified". No cases have been found in the UK so far, the paper notes.
Ministers and scientists are described as being "deeply concerned" by the new Covid development, the Times reports. It quotes a senior airline source as describing the news as a "hammer blow" for the travel industry. The paper's main picture is of a group of migrants it says have not been seen since a dinghy capsized in the Channel on Wednesday.
"We just want to live like you" is the Metro's main headline as it reports reaction to Wednesday's Channel tragedy, in which 27 people died. The paper says desperate migrants say they are still prepared to risk their lives for a better life in the UK. It quotes one man from Iraq as saying: "You only have one life."
British troops will patrol French beaches in a united effort by both countries to tackle migrant crossings, says the Daily Express. Home Secretary Priti Patel will head to Paris this weekend to "thrash out" an agreement, the paper adds.
The Daily Mirror pictures what it describes as a "flimsy" dinghy of the type used by people smuggling gangs for crossings across the Channel. "The DIY death boats" is its headline.
The husband of an Iraqi-Kurdish woman has told the Daily Telegraph he fears she drowned during Wednesday's incident in the Channel. Maryam Nuri is believed by her family to be among the 27 dead, the paper says.
People from Sudan, Iraq, Eritrea, Iran, Afghanistan and Somalia tell the i newspaper they remain determined to reach the UK from Calais. "I know the risk. This is my only way to reach England," the headline says.
Fears of an "exodus" of stars from the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here castle lead the Sun. The paper says panicking ITV bosses are worried the sudden departure of presenter Richard Madeley on medical grounds could spark more exits from the Welsh castle.
The Daily Star says a photograph of Madonna showing the pop star face down with her legs sticking out from under a bed has sent the internet "into meltdown". The paper's thought for the day? "Just imagine the dust and toffee wrappers under that bed."