There are a mix of stories on the front pages of Wednesday’s newspapers. The UK will rejoin Erasmus, the EU student exchange programme, with the announcement expected on Wednesday, The Guardian reports. The newspaper says the plan would allow students to participate in the EU-wide scheme without paying additional fees from January 2027. Its main image features US congresswoman Ilhan Omar and an interview in which she criticizes “vile” comments made by Donald Trump.
The Times also reports on the possibility that British students could rejoin Erasmus, saying the deal is the “first tangible result” of the prime minister’s reset with the European Union. Elsewhere, the Princess of Wales and her daughter Charlotte appear on their way to the annual pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace.
The Daily Mail focuses on the renewal of the BBC’s statutes. The newspaper says the government will consider new ways to finance the station, including through advertising or a subscription model. This means fan-favourite shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors could be placed behind the paywall, says the Mail.
In other news related to the station, the Mirror focuses its attention on the fact that Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC for the edition of a Panorama documentary. “The BBC comes out fighting” is the headline. A BBC spokesman said: “As we have made clear previously, we will defend this case.”
The Financial Times criticizes French football star Kylian Mbappé for “settling scores” when Paris Saint-Germain were ordered to pay him more than €60m (£52.5m) for alleged unpaid wages and bonuses. Also prominent is the government’s flagship workers’ rights bill which has cleared its final hurdle in the House of Lords and is set to become law.
El Metro highlights the story of a nurse who has dedicated her life to saving babies born prematurely. Sarah Alcock has volunteered to support her emergency neonatal unit during the busy Christmas period and her sacrifice has been rewarded with a free holiday for her and her family, the paper says.
The i Paper is launching a campaign to end silicosis, a deadly lung disease that affects workers exposed to toxic dust while cutting artificial stone for kitchen countertops. The initiative calls for drastic measures against silica dust, as health experts and unions demand better protections for at-risk merchants.
A former police officer injured in the 1983 Harrods bomb explosion, which killed six people, is calling on the government to honor those injured in the line of duty, says the Daily Express, in an interview to mark the 42nd anniversary of the attack.
The Sun follows up with a story about a woman who it says was “once dubbed Britain’s Profit Queen” and who is now a top businesswoman. Cheryl-Anne Prudham criticizes Labor’s decision to lower the two-child limit, the paper says.
Finally, the Daily Star reports on a “thrilling victory for common sense” and the “joy” of football fans after FIFA reduced ticket prices for next year’s World Cup final.
