Several of the papers lead on Israel announcing the death of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar, as the Financial Times does here, calling him the “mastermind of October 7 attacks”. The death of the leader is a “pivotal” moment in the Israel-Gaza war, the paper says, describing it as a “symbolic victory” for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The story is illustrated by a photo of the The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carrying what is said to be the body.
The Daily Telegraph’s take on the same story says Prime Minister Netanyahu “will not stop war” despite Sinwar’s death. The headline reads: “Israel kills Hamas leader”. Netanyahu has threatened to kill anyone who harms the remaining hostages held by Hamas, the paper reports, saying the military will “go into Rafah” to finish the job.
Also describing Sinwar as the “mastermind” of Hamas attacks, the Guardian says the groups leader had been the subject of a “year-long manhunt”. It describes his death as a “major boost” to the The Israel Defense Forces and the latest in a series of high-profile assassinations.
An image of Sinwar holding a child clutching a gun is splashed across the Times, which also leads with his death. The leader was killed in a “chance shelling”, the paper reports, adding Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, “vows” to continue war.
Devoting its front page to the death of Liam Payne, the Metro paper says the One Direction star endured his “final tragic hours” in a “trashed” hotel room, before falling from the third floor of a hotel in Argentina.
The Daily Star also headlines on Payne’s “heartbroken” family’s tribute to his “kind, funny and brave soul”.
The Mirror’s headline mirrors the Daily Star’s, describing the “outpouring” of grief and “emotional” tributes paid by family and fans.
Payne’s record label dropped him days before the 31 year-old died in Buenos Aires, the Daily Mail says.
The rest of One Direction paid tribute to Payne, calling him “our brother, who we loved dearly”, The Sun reports.
In other news, Labour ministers have accused No 10 of “complacency”, the i declares. “Deep unrest” swirls within the Government over the scale of the “bleak” cutbacks the chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to make in the Budget, according to a Whitehall insider the paper has spoken to.
And staying with the chancellor, the Express reports Rachel Reeves has been accused of “undermining the economy”, causing a “pension cash- in panic” as savers near retirement age try to avoid a “feared £2bn tax raid”.
