Global Trade

The cost of the deal to transfer the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is the lead for the Telegraph and the Times – which both question the prime minister's claim that the total "net cost" of the deal to maintain a key military base there over a century would be roughly £3.2bn.

The Telegraph says its own analysis shows it is more likely to be around £30bn, a figure also suggested by the Conservatives.

It quotes the shadow foreign secretary, Dame Priti Patel, as saying that Labour are lying to British taxpayers with their "dodgy accounting".

The Times quotes Sir Keir who says the deal represents "value for money" with the cost "the same as running an aircraft carrier minus the aircraft".

The government's plans to release some prisoners in England and Wales early is the lead in the Daily Mail and the Daily Express.

The Express has spoken to the Justice for Victims campaign group – which includes the parents of Sarah Everard who was murdered by a policeman in 2021.

The paper says the group has described the plans as an "insult to all victims".

The i Paper carries a warning from former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove that the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband's net zero plan is a threat to national security.

Sir Richard highlights the risk of using Chinese technology in UK wind farms, solar panels and electric cars because the microchips in products could be controlled remotely – leaving the UK "dangerously vulnerable".

The Mirror reports that Manchester United is "open" to bids for any of its men's players, after the club's failure to qualify for European football next season.

The paper says this has left it with a £100m "hole" in its finances. "Reds alert" is the headline.

According to research reported in the Times, dogs are increasingly being seem as "child surrogates" by their owners who choose to have a pet over a baby.

The paper says a study, published in the European Psychologist journal, noted that owning a dog could offer an opportunity to fulfil a nurturing drive similar to parenting but with fewer demands than raising "biological offspring".

It says the trend may be contributing to the declining birthrate in Western countries – which has been happening in the UK since 2010.

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The BBC Radio 2 breakfast show lost more than 360,000 listeners following Zoe Ball's exit, new audience figures show.

The presenter hosted her final breakfast programme in December after six years in the slot, and recently took up a new role fronting Saturday afternoons on the station.

After her departure, DJ Mark Goodier covered the show for most of January, until new host Scott Mills took over at the end of that month.

Radio 2 still comfortably has the most popular breakfast show in the UK, attracting an audience of 6.45 million between January and March, a 5% drop on the previous quarter, according to industry ratings body Rajar.

Ball had added more than 200,000 listeners during her final year on the programme.

After taking over the breakfast show, Mills was replaced on his former afternoon slot by Trevor Nelson, whose evening programme was taken over by DJ Spoony.

Vernon Kay attracted an audience of 6.73 million in the first three months of 2025, meaning his mid-morning show retained its crown as the most popular radio programme in the UK.

The show is down, however, on the audience of 8.2 million achieved by his predecessor Ken Bruce, who left in 2023.

The station's weekly audience fell by about half a million compared with its previous total of 13.65 million in the final quarter of 2024, according to Rajar.

Radio 2 chief Helen Thomas said: "In a quarter which saw Radio 2 launch a new daytime schedule in late January, host some of the world's most loved musicians in the Piano Room throughout February, and celebrate country music in March, I'm thrilled that Radio 2 remains the UK's most popular radio station with 13.11m listeners each week."

Listening figures often drop after major schedule changes, and Ball herself lost nearly 800,000 listeners in 2019 after Chris Evans' departure.

The breakfast show regularly attracted more than nine million listeners during Evans' tenure. That figure has not been matched since, although radio audiences have become increasingly fragmented in recent years.

The BBC, and Radio 2 in particular, went through a tumultuous period around 2022, which saw several high-profile figures leave the station, either by choice or through schedule shake-ups.

Matt Deegan, host of the Media Club podcast and creative director of consultancy firm Folder Media, told BBC News: "In the grand scheme of things, a drop this small for such a big change shows the strength of the Radio 2 brand and Scott's appeal with listeners.

“However the challenge for him and his team is to take nothing for granted and keep working to deliver a show that existing and new listeners will like. There's never been more competition for that audience.”

Elsewhere, Heart's breakfast show, hosted by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, has seen its audience rise by 250,000 listeners.

It attracted a record audience of 4.3 million in the first quarter of the year, cementing its status as the most popular commercial breakfast show in the UK.

Meanwhile, Gok Wan's first three months co-hosting Magic Radio's breakfast show, alongside Harriet Scott, saw the programme marginally increase its audience to 862,000.

However, it is still significantly down on the 1.2 million listeners it had a year ago, when it was fronted by former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating.

Capital's breakfast show, hosted by Jordan North, was down by 140,000 listeners after a leap in listeners following his arrival last year.

And after a loss of more than a quarter of a million in 2024, Kiss Breakfast, hosted by Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely, climbed by 80,000 in the latest quarter.

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Two teenagers have been arrested following an attack that has left a man with facial injuries.

The incident happened near Domino's Pizza on Newlands Road, Corsham, on Thursday at about 16:30 BST.

An 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and are being held in custody, police said.

Wiltshire Police is appealing for the victim, thought to be a white man in his late 30s, of slim build, who had been wearing white shorts and no top, to make himself known to them.

A woman who was evacuated from her home after a fire said she returned to find valued possessions missing.

Residents of 38 flats at Conqueror House in Dover, Kent, have been placed in temporary accommodation following the blaze in an external bin on 20 April.

When Lisa Bones was allowed to collect belongings she discovered a bracelet, her passport and birth certificate had gone, describing it as if she had "lost her identity".

Her housing association Town & Country Housing (TCH) said it was aware there had been break-ins and was working with the police.

Ms Bones said: "I'm devastated and upset that I've lost my home and my property."

She and her partner, Lee Fletcher, also said they have struggled to furnish their temporary home as it was without basic items such as crockery and linen.

Mr Fletcher has a hip replacement and bad back but their medical mattress was destroyed and they are not allowed to furnish their temporary home with a replacement, said Ms Bones.

"They're expecting us to sleep in single beds which are for children," she added. "I don't think Lee will last another two weeks in them."

TCH said: "Nine Conqueror House residents have moved into properties at Coombe House.

"These are furnished, including bedding, but residents can use their own bedding or move furniture to suit their needs.

"We met with Ms Bones before and after she moved in and explained this to her, and we're sorry if there has been any confusion. We will contact her again to clarify this."

Kent County Councillor James Defriend said he was impressed by how the community "pulled together to donate furniture, clothing, and essential items like shampoo".

TCH said electricity has been reconnected and repairs would soon start, with residents of the least damaged flats returning in two months.

The spokesperson added: "It's upsetting to hear that items have gone missing from Ms Bones' home.

"We have had 24/7 security at the building since the fire and installed extra CCTV."

Kent Police said it was investigating a report of the theft of Ms Bones' property.