Here are the biggest stories leading Tuesday’s front pages.
The Irish Times reports that a soldier was able to remain in the Defence Forces while in prison for sexual assault after the court authorities refused to hand over details of his offences to the military due to “data protection” concerns.
Trafficking of children is increasing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Irish Examiner, as a new report revealed that at least one person has been trafficked into Ireland for illegal removal of their organs.
The Irish Independent claims some flights have jumped to over €600 one-way from London to Dublin in the wake of the Holyhead port closure, with Ryanair admitting prices on a number of routes were “rising rapidly”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has been called "anti-semitic" by Israel's foreign minister, the Irish Daily Mail reports.
The family of a man killed in an unprovoked attack tell the Irish Daily Mirror that tackling street violence should be at the heart of the government formation talks.
An Irish UFO expert tells the Irish Daily Star that the mysterious aircraft seen in the skies above the US in recent weeks have also been in Ireland.
A nurse killed in her Co Down home at the weekend suffered a gunshot wound, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
The unmasking of an alleged Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew dominates the British newspaper headlines.
Metro and The Guardian both splash on Yang Tengbo, a 50-year-old businessman who was banned from Britain last year, and asked a court to lift an anonymity order so he could defend himself.
Tomorrow’s Paper Today 📰
THE NAME'S YANG... TENGBO YANG
🔴 Denial as Andrew 'spy pal' revealed#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/6sDKj6qfg7
— Metro (@MetroUK) December 16, 2024
Tuesday's GUARDIAN: Alleged Chinese spy linked to Prince Andrew is named#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/colMorEKtJ
— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) December 16, 2024
The Times and the Daily Telegraph write that Yang was Andrew’s “chief representative” in Beijing and also led the Chinese arm of the British royal's cash-raising venture.
Tuesday's TIMES: 'Spy' was at the heart of duke's charity in China#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/lOO5eUV80o
— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) December 16, 2024
📰 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Spy suspect was Duke's 'money man''#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletter ⬇️https://t.co/fRkXGjgS4s pic.twitter.com/42OatV4r2R
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 16, 2024
The Sun says Andrew has been “forced out” of Christmas Day celebrations at Sandringham in the wake of his latest scandal.
Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from: The Sun
Andrew stuffed at X mas
Discover more newspapers at https://t.co/eaH7u3E4N7
Support press freedom and buy a newspaper #buyapaper #pressfreedom #journalist pic.twitter.com/kq9qrxbGzW— The Sentinel Current (@sentinelcurrent) December 16, 2024
Meanwhile, ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith tells the Daily Mirror that Yang’s alleged activities are just the tip of the iceberg, adding there are “many more involved”.
Tuesday's front page: Royal spy 'unmasked'#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/BUVNuBJ4ce pic.twitter.com/of8jxbmlnz
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 16, 2024
The i reports UK security and intelligence services will be able to monitor suspicious activity from foreign nationals under new laws, set to be introduced next year.
Tuesday's front page: UK toughens up surveillance on China suspects, as palace banishes Andrew again #TomorrowsPapersToday
Latest by @HugoGye: https://t.co/c7KgJ6c8VZ pic.twitter.com/E8TNg02Ktp
— The i Paper (@theipaper) December 16, 2024
The Daily Mail splashes on Keir Starmer defending his decision to see closer ties with China despite intelligence warnings.
Daily Mail: "WHY'S STARMER STILL SUCKING UP TO CHINESE?"@Glen_Keogh / @OdlingGeorge / @MartinBeckford lead for @MailONLINE.
KEIR STARMER defended fostering closer ties with China - despite being told Beijing has 'thousands' of agents.#DailyMail#TomorrowsPapersToday#IBPapers pic.twitter.com/47ItXs0cXY— ANDY GIBSON (@AndyGibsonTV) December 16, 2024
Looking to politics, the Financial Times leads on Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ increase in business taxes causing firms to cut back on hiring.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 17 December https://t.co/DmqLGLOZEj pic.twitter.com/gMhRe87mNh
— Financial Times (@FT) December 16, 2024
The Daily Express writes that Keir Starmer has been given an ultimatum on the current British government defence spend: either sack 20,000 soldiers or scrap the UK’s aircraft carriers.
Tuesday's DAILY EXPRESS: Boost defence budget or axe 20,000 troops#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/7zyjEiuEf6
— Jack Surfleet (@jacksurfleet) December 16, 2024
Lastly, the Daily Star says a businessman is charging his friend and family £75 (€90) for Christmas dinner, claiming Scrooge is “alive and well in Fulham”.
Tuesday's front page: SCROOGE ALIVE AND WELL IN FULHAM#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/qMHQ23BokC pic.twitter.com/AkuCRxK8qI
— Daily Star (@dailystar) December 16, 2024
