The weekend edition of the Financial Times is one of several papers to lead on the news that the UK is out of recession. It says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is taking "heart" from the "stronger than expected" economic growth in the first three months of the year - and says it is a "boost" for him ahead of the general election.
The FT also highlights that Britain's growth beat the US and the Eurozone in the first quarter, but carries a Labour warning that the UK economy is “still £300 smaller per head” than when Mr Sunak became prime minister in October 2022.
The "economy's going gangbusters" is the Daily Mail's headline after what it calls the "shortest and shallowest recession on record".
"That's positive!" declares the Daily Express - adding that the UK economy is getting "back to full strength".
Meanwhile, the i reports that the Treasury is working on plans for what it calls a "2p Tory tax giveaway in September". The paper says the chancellor is understood to be targeting a cut to National Insurance "weeks ahead of the election", if the economy allows.
It says Labour insiders fear that the general election could become a repeat of 1992, when Sir John Major's Conservative Party pulled off a shock victory. Anneliese Dodds - who chairs Labour - tells the paper: “We can be very good at losing elections people thought we would win."
The Guardian leads on the UN General Assembly backing a Palestinian bid for full membership of the UN. The paper says the "highly charged gesture" drew an immediate rebuke from Israel. But it says the vote signals what it calls "Israel's growing isolation" over the war in Gaza, and the extent of the humanitarian crisis.
The Times reports that private schools face a "testing time". It says the number of children being enrolled has dropped by the biggest proportion in more than a decade - with admissions falling by 2.7% this academic year. The paper says the independent schools' sector blames Labour’s pledge to put VAT on fees if it wins power.
"Euro division" is how the Sun sums up this year's song contest in Sweden. The paper says Eurovision has been plunged into crisis ahead of Saturday's final, with more than 20,000 pro-Palestinian protesters expected to turn out against the inclusion of Israel's contestant, Eden Golan. The Sun says some UK venues have also decided not to show the event - or face what it calls a "mob backlash".
Finally, the Guardian reports that tennis fans at Wimbledon may be treated to the "cream of the crop" of strawberries this year. It says many farms have borne the brunt of the extreme, wet weather during the winter. But berry growers tell the paper that if it is cool, that means strawberries ripen more slowly - and are bigger and juicier.
(Bloomberg) -- India’s stocks market plummeted, erasing $386 billion in market value, as tallies signaled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party was struggling to win a majority of seats in national elections, a stunning result after exit polls showed he was on pace for a landslide victory.Most Read from BloombergKey Engines of US Consumer Spending Are Losing Steam All at OnceMnuchin Chases Wall Street Glory With His War Chest of Foreign MoneyHomebuyers Are Starting to Revolt Over Stee
(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party is poised to lose its majority in parliament, forcing him to rely on allies to form a government. It’s a stunning blow to a leader who has dominated Indian politics since he first took power a decade ago.Most Read from BloombergKey Engines of US Consumer Spending Are Losing Steam All at OnceMnuchin Chases Wall Street Glory With His War Chest of Foreign MoneyHomebuyers Are Starting to Revolt Over Steep Prices Across USAMLO Protege Sheinba
A billionaire ally of Narendra Modi has seen the value of his industrial empire crash by one trillion rupees (£9.7bn) after initial counts indicated that the result of the Indian general election was closer than expected.
Mexico's currency weakened and stocks slid after the ruling party's Claudia Sheinbaum won the presidency by a landslide, raising concerns about reduced checks and balances on the government. + A benchmark index of Mexican stocks, the **S&P/BMV IPC**, slid 6%. Yields on dollar bonds issued by Pemex, Mexico's national oil company, edged down.
Indian stocks fell after early election results indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party might lose its outright majority, damping expectations for business-friendly reforms. In recent trading: + The benchmark **BSE Sensex** index closed 5.