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The Daily Telegraph has spoken to intelligence officials who warn that Russia may be planning to intensify hybrid attacks, external on European allies of Ukraine. The paper says intelligence services have monitored a potential "stealth mobilisation" of Russian personnel and assets, which coincides with plans to remove US military capabilities from Europe.
An investigation by the i Paper, external has found that the army relaxed its security vetting procedures for at least two years after the pandemic, allowing in a far-right extremist who supports Russia. Thirteen thousand recruits are reported to have been allowed to sign up without full background checks, sparking fears of espionage and infiltration.
The Times reports that the chancellor is considering lowering the threshold, external for the so-called mansion tax from £2m to £1.5m. Two sources from within government have told the paper there is a "live discussion" about the change, because of the effect of the Iran war on the cost of government borrowing.
The 83-year-old billionaire founder of the gambling group Betfred Fred Done has told the Financial Times of his gloomy outlook, external for the country. He says that he "would not wish to be reborn" in the UK and predicts that "the High Street will be dead" by 2030. He says if the chancellor raises taxes on slot machines in the Budget, he will close almost 500 of the firm's shops.
The Daily Mirror hears from fuel experts who say the price of diesel, external is likely to reach an all-time high next week. One haulage firm boss whose annual bills have increased by £350,000 this year tells the paper "we've been trading for more than 50 years and the past few months have been among the worst we've experienced".
The Sun devotes part of its editorial to the forthcoming MPs' committee investigation into the UK's lamentable performances at recent Eurovisions, external. "Here's our verdict, without the need for a time-consuming Parliamentary investigation", the paper says, "pick better tunes."
