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'Andy U-turns on early release' and 'Hunt on for eclipse glasses'

BBC The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: "Andy U-turns on early release plan."BBC
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's plan to stop the early release of PC Andrew Harper's killers is prominent across Wednesday's papers. The Daily Express says the prime minister has done a "U-turn" on his early release scheme by instructing the justice secretary to find a way to exclude Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were jailed for 13 years in 2020 over Harper's killing, from early release.
The headline on the front page of The Guardian reads: "Burnham plan to keep PC's killers in jail could backfire, warn unions."
Unions are warning the prime minister's proposal to keep PC Harper's killers in jail could increase the risk of some inmates being released by mistake, The Guardian reports. The paper adds that the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) have voted in favour of potential strike action.
The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: "Burnham vows to end 'throw away key' jail scandal."
The prime minister is "increasingly confident" he can find prison spaces for some high-profile offenders, says The Independent.
The headline on the front page of The Times reads: "Extra safeguards needed for early release, say police."
The Times leads with police chiefs writing to the prime minister over "collective concern" as thousands of offenders are set to be granted early release. All 43 chief constables in England and Wales are urging Burnham to establish an "additional public protection safeguard" in cases involving violent and dangerous offenders.
The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: "Police unite to fight early release."
"Police unite to fight early release" is the Daily Telegraph's headline. Elsewhere, the paper previews the "once in a generation" near-total eclipse on Wednesday night, the first over the UK and mainland Europe in nearly three decades.
The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: "The Black Wednesday shopping scramble!"
The Metro covers the hunt for eclipse glasses, dubbing it Black Wednesday as the demand for specs to watch the solar eclipse has resulted in a "money-making bonanza" for shops.
The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: "Burnham: middle-class areas must take more migrants."
The Daily Mail shifts its focus to the prime minister's comments that not only the "poorest communities" should host asylum-seekers.
The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: "Summer 2026 will be UK's hottest since records began."
The UK is on course for its hottest summer on record, says the i Paper. It cites the Met Office saying a sixth heatwave is on its way, with the extreme hot weather and drought driving up food prices.
The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: "Syria sentence: Assad handed death penalty."
The Financial Times' front page pictures Atif Najib, the cousin of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and former head of political security, standing in a cage during a court hearing in Damascus. Najib and Assad were sentenced to death over war crimes and crimes against humanity during Syria's civil war. Assad was sentenced in absentia, as he has been living in Moscow after fleeing Damascus in 2024 when his regime was overthrown.
The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: "Office Lucy: I don't know how long I have."
The Office star Lucy Davis has revealed she has terminal breast cancer, says the Daily Star. The paper quotes Davis saying she does not know how long she has to live but is "at peace" with the diagnosis. The actress played receptionist Dawn Tinsley in the BBC sitcom from 2001 to 2003.
The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: "I have incurable cancer, but I'm at peace."
The Sun follows with the same headline, adding that Davis has asked her friends and family "to make fun of me as much as possible".
The headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror reads: "I'm not scared, I'm at peace, it is far harder for my family."
The Daily Mirror says Davis is vowing to live "in as fun a way as I possibly can".

The Times leads on the letter signed by policing leaders to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, to request extra safeguards for the government's prison early release scheme. The paper notes the significance of the letter, which was signed by all 43 chief constables in England and Wales. The Daily Telegraph says the letter is "unprecedented", and reveals forces' anger at the possibility that the killers of PC Andrew Harper could walk free under the scheme. The Guardian focuses on the warning from the trade union for probation officers, Napo, that the scheme could increase the risk of inmates being released by mistake.

The prime minister has said middle class areas will have to "play their part" and take in more migrants, according to the Daily Mail. Its report says the announcement came as small-boat arrivals under Andy Burnham hit 3,000 in his first 22 days in power.

The i Paper warns of rising costs for groceries such as bread, broccoli and steak because of the drought conditions hitting much of England and Wales. It says that puts more pressure on food and drink manufacturers, already facing higher prices as a result of the wars in Ukraine and Iran.

A report in the Financial Times says car-part makers in China have quietly amassed greater control of Europe's supply chains, leaving the industry wary. According to the paper, Chinese companies have invested in more than 130 European automotive-parts makers since the mid-2000s, in response to growing resistance to its exports.

The actress, Lucy Davis' revelation that she has terminal cancer leads the Daily Mirror. Its front page features a picture of Davis alongside her co-stars from The Office. The Sun quotes her saying she is "at peace" with the diagnosis.

Shops across the country have reported selling out of protective eyewear, ahead of tonight's solar eclipse, according to the Metro. "The Black Wednesday shopping scramble", reads its headline. The paper says in some cases, people queued for hours to get a pair of glasses and still left empty-handed.

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