The Papers: 'Cuts to fund defence spark chaos' and 'Kate the cream of hearts'

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. 'Cuts to fund defence spark chaos' and 'Kate the cream of hearts'17 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleA long-delayed report laying out government defence spending is dominating the front pages of Sunday's papers. The Sunday Times reports Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in talks over plans to cut government spending to raise £6bn to fund his defence investment plan. The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was supposed to be published last autumn but is now due to be released ahead of the Nato summit in early July.

The paper's lead story focuses on the death of Henry Nowak. It says the police force at the centre of the controversy tried to intervene during his murderer's trial, but the Crown Prosecution Service said such a step could risk jeopardising the case. Nowak, 18, was fatally stabbed in December by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed he had been racially abused.

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Police bodycam footage shows Nowak being handcuffed as he lay dying. The Sunday Express says the delays in publishing a report laying out government defence spending "leave Britain weak" at a time of war. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a parliamentary committee that scrutinises public spending, says ministers should "apologise" for failing to prepare the UK for conflict with Russia, according to the paper.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman says the DIP "will fix the outdated, overcommitted and underfunded programme we inherited". On a similar theme, the Mail on Sunday reveals that all five of the Royal Navy's Astute-class attack submarines are awaiting repair work and unable to sail. It says the lack of attack submarines leaves Britain's underwater internet and power cables dangerously exposed to Russia.

A royal wedding graced many of the front pages, as Peter Phillips, the Princess Royal's son, married NHS nurse Harriet Sperling during a private ceremony in Kemble, Gloucestershire. The Sun on Sunday described Catherine, Princess of Wales, as "the cream of hearts" as she accompanied the Prince of Wales to the ceremony. The paper leads on the friendship between Pep Guardiola, who has just left Manchester City as manager, and television pundit Natalie Pike.

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The pair became friends after numerous interview for the club's TV channel. "Nothing to sea here? " asks the Sunday Mirror on its front page, reporting that Nigel Farage is planning renovations of his beach house in Kent costing an estimated £700,000.

It notes that the makeover comes after the Reform UK leader received £5m from tycoon Christopher Harborne in early April 2024, which he said was for security. A spokesman for Farage is quoted by the paper as saying: "Work on the first planning application began in November 2023, when an architect was first appointed - a long time before the unconditional gift was made. "The Sunday Telegraph reports that the Football Association was aware of concerns over David Sullivan, who stepped down as co-chairman of West Ham United on Saturday, at least three years ago.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.