Newspaper headlines: School holidays and GP closures By BBC News

Staff Published duration 7 April 2017

image copyright US Navy Office image caption The US military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs

The online editions of the papers all lead on the US air strikes on Syria, as the news came too late for print.

The headline on the Mail Online is "Trump bombs Syria". It says the attack took place just hours after the US President said "something should happen" in response to the gas atrocity.

The Guardian has a report from Khan Sheikhun, the Syrian town where the suspected nerve agent was released.

The reporter, Kareem Shaheen, hears from witnesses who describe the utter horror of what unfolded.

They talk of children found dead in their beds and bodies on rooftops, basements and in the street.

A civil defence volunteer describes how first aiders who arrived at the scene fell to the ground, saying they could no longer walk.

Residents also react in disbelief to the Russian claim that the poison gases leaked into the air after a rebel arms store was hit.

The reporter casts doubt on the suggestion, saying there was no evidence that any building had been struck in recent days close to where the chemical attack occurred.

Confessions of a murderer

The Daily Mirror says the Yorkshire Ripper - who was jailed for 13 murders - may have been responsible for eight more.

The claim comes from Keith Hellawell, the detective who got Peter Sutcliffe to eventually confess to two attempted murders.

The former officer tells the newspaper he would like to have another go at interviewing Sutcliffe in the wake of reports that police have questioned him over a series of unsolved attacks.

The Daily Telegraph has more on the closure of GP practices in England.

The newspaper says there has been a rise in the number of doctors retiring early, with nearly 16% of GPs aged between 55 and 59 leaving the profession in 2014 - twice the rate of a decade ago.

image copyright PA image caption A report from Pulse magazine says 57 GP surgeries closed their doors last year

The Telegraph says the doctors are retiring because of changes to pension rules, which cap the amount savers can amass without being taxed.

According to the Financial Times , the world's largest sovereign wealth fund is calling for an overhaul of chief executive pay.

Norway's oil fund carries clout because it's worth more than £700bn. The fund is suggesting bosses should be forced to own substantial stakes in their groups for between five and ten years and that boards should name a ceiling for possible pay.

On the front of the Daily Express there is a picture of a police officer armed with an assault rifle, standing guard at the Aintree race course.

The newspaper says, for the first time in the Grand National's history, heavily armed police are patrolling in order to protect race-goers after the Westminster attack.

Is there a doctor on board?

"As international trade secretary," says the Times , Dr Liam Fox, is "responsible for forging goodwill towards Britain around the world."

And, it reports, he achieved an unexpected success while flying to the Philippines on a trade visit.

During the flight, a nine-month-old child from Hong Kong started having a fit.

The call went up, "is there a doctor on board?" and the cabinet minister, who worked as a GP before he entered Parliament, came forward.