Newspaper headlines: Sir Philip's 'humiliation' and Bezos 'blackmailed' By BBC News

Staff Published duration 9 February 2019

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The Telegraph's leader column demands an end to the abuse of gagging clauses, in the wake of what it calls an apparent cover-up of alleged abuses of staff by Sir Philip Green.

The paper accepts that non-disclosure agreements have "legitimate functions" - but argues they have increasingly been used to conceal bad behaviour, as well as failings and abuses that could have wider implications, such as in the NHS.

It expresses disappointment that courts have failed to rule on whether the public interest in whistleblowing on sexual and racist abuse should outweigh the confidentiality of a non-disclosure agreement - and insists that "parliament must legislate", if injustices are to end.

The travails of another billionaire are highlighted by the Guardian , which suggests President Donald Trump could be engulfed by the scandal involving the owner of Amazon, Jeff Bezos.

It says several key questions remain unanswered about links between Mr Trump and the owner of the National Enquirer, David Pecker - after the celebrity magazine's parent company was accused of extortion and blackmail by Mr Bezos.

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"Perhaps it will take a plaintiff with unlimited resources", he writes, "to reaffirm that not everything is newsworthy".

'Snobbishness'

The Mirror claims nearly half of England's bus routes could be scrapped , because councils face a funding gap of £652m to pay for the free bus pass scheme for disabled people and pensioners.

It says the Local Government Association has warned that more than 12,500 services are at risk, meaning older people could have a free bus pass, but no bus to travel on.

The Mirror accuses the government of displaying an attitude of "snobbishness" towards buses, and urges ministers to hand them back to local authority control.

'Last laugh'

The Sun says Sir Ken Dodd had the last laugh at the taxman by marrying two days before his death last year, to ensure his entire fortune went straight to his wife.

The paper claims the comedian would have been "tickled" to know that the move stopped HM Revenue and Customs seizing £11m from his estate - giving him "revenge" almost 30 years after being acquitted of tax fraud.

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According to the Financial Times , talks between Britain and Japan on a new trade deal after Brexit have "stalled" - highlighting what the paper sees as the UK's broader struggle to roll over existing EU trade agreements, "let alone secure anything better".

Japanese officials, it says, have been instructed to extract "every advantage possible", as Tokyo is confident it can negotiate more concessions from the UK than those it has agreed with the EU.

Traidcraft Exchange says the government is threatening to impose punishing tariffs on products including bananas from Ghana and flowers from Kenya, unless developing nations "sign up blind" to new agreements.

The Department for International Trade says its top priority is providing continuity for Britain's existing trading arrangements.

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Many of the papers pay tribute to the actor, Albert Finney, who has died at the age of 82.

The Mail salutes his "prodigious natural talent" - and says the breadth of his career was "immense" - from his leading man days through to his reign as the ultimate character actor.

For the Express, Albert Finney was an "angry young man who grew into a screen giant".

It describes him as a "self-deprecating Northerner who never forgot his humble roots" - as illustrated by his shunning of the showbiz lifestyle.

Asked why he never attended the Oscars - despite being nominated five times - he declared it "a waste of time".

"It's a long way to go for a party", he's quoted as saying.