Several papers lead on a Conservative pledge to build what the party is calling a "Britannia Dome" to protect the UK from any potential missile attack. The i writes that the project "would link new radar, command systems and interceptor missiles" into a single network. The pledge is an attempt by party leader Kemi Badenoch to "build credibility" on defence, the paper says, but critics say the £10bn price tag is well below previous cost estimates of at least £80bn
The Daily Express also leads on the Tory plan, quoting party leader Kemi Badenoch in its headline saying: "Britain needs an 'Iron Dome' to keep us safe." The paper says the interceptor system would be funded by "slashing benefits"
The so-called "Britannia Shield", as the Tories have named the project, would "guard cities, power plants and Army bases from missiles and drones fired by enemies such as Russia and Iran", the Daily Mail writes. Meanwhile, the paper features a large picture of novelist and former politician Jeffrey Archer, who has died aged 86
The Sun has a similar headline on Tuesday, calling Badenoch the "Iron Dome Lady". It notes that Badenoch's announcement comes shortly after the US withdrew its bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
The Tory's "Britannia Shield" pledge comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham considers delaying a decision on whether to increase defence spending "in the hope that Britain's economy improves", according to the Times. A Whitehall source tells the paper the "working assumption" is that the spending review will be moved to autumn next year
The Independent also features a large photograph of Jeffrey Archer on its front page. It says "the prolific storyteller, once jailed for perjury, had only just published his final book". Meanwhile, the paper reports that Badenoch will vow to cut inheritance tax at her party conference, in what it calls a "free-market revival". The announcement comes as the party "languishes behind Labour and Reform" in the polls, the paper writes
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been told his brother, the King, "will not foot the bill for his court action against the police", according to the Daily Mirror. The former prince is understood to be challenging the lawfulness of the search warrants related to his arrest in February. But, the paper reports, Charles has said Andrew cannot use the money he gives him for living costs for his legal battle against Thames Valley Police and the Central Criminal Court
The King had "no involvement" in Andrew's application for a judicial review of his arrest, the Daily Telegraph reports. The paper adds that the monarch has "appeared keen to distance himself from his brother's decision to sue the police", which could costs hundreds of thousands of pounds. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in the wake of information that emerged from the so-called Epstein files in the United States. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing linked to his association with Epstein
The Guardian leads on a warning from experts that "cases of seven types of cancer have risen sharply among younger people in England". Prostate cancer diagnoses have quadrupled in people under 50 since 2001, while cases of bowel, kidney and uterine cancers have more than doubled, the paper reports. Experts say the data reflects the impact of the "global obesity epidemic, poor diets and insufficient exercise"
A report highlighted on the front page of Tuesday's Metro "estimates 27,000 women starting university this autumn could be a victim of a sex attack by the end of their degree". The paper cites data analysis from the Office for Students and victim support charity Enough, which it says suggests around 7.7% of the 215,000 women starting university this year could be the victim of rape or sexual assault
Supermarket giants Sainsbury's and Morrisons held talks this year over "forging [a] new industry powerhouse", according to the Financial Times. The paper says the move was an "attempt to challenge Tesco" and would have been a "fresh test of regulators' appetite for consolidation in the fiercely competitive supermarket industry". Sainsbury's walked away from the talks and there are no active negotiations, the paper says, but it adds that sources "did not rule out" talks restarting
