The Papers: 'Mask-up Friday' and 'flu jabs for 30 million'

Image caption Reaction to new rules on wearing face coverings in England dominates many of Friday's papers, as they become mandatory in enclosed public spaces. Those who break the rules could face a fine of up to £100. However, supermarkets and coffee chains, including retail giants Sainsbury's and Asda, have said they will not enforce the new rules, according to the Daily Telegraph.

'Mask-up Friday' and 'flu jabs for 30 million'

Image caption "Masking for Trouble" declares the Metro, as it carries a warning from unions that the rules could put retail workers at greater risk of abuse and assault. Coverings are mandatory in supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, transport hubs, banks, post offices and takeaways from Friday. Image caption The i newspaper reports the UK is lagging behind other European countries on social acceptance of face coverings. A poll by the newspaper suggests most people do not regularly wear a face mask when they leave home, and it claims that one quarter of people never wear a mask. Image caption Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror leads with a separate poll that claims two-thirds of Britons believe face coverings should be worn in all indoor places. Image caption "Flu jabs for half of the population" is the lead story on the front page of the Times. People aged over 50, Year 7 pupils and families of people who are shielding will be offered flu jabs by the NHS this winter, the paper says. The government is aiming to double its vaccination programme in England to 30 million people, amid concerns over a combined surge of seasonal flu and coronavirus. Image caption The Financial Times reports the PM is to impose curbs on ads for unhealthy foods. The paper says plans, which may be announced next week, could include a ban on online advertising of junk food, a pre-21:00 watershed on TV adverts and curbs on in-store promotions. Large restaurants may also be required to put calorie labels on menus, says the paper. Image caption The Daily Mail leads with accusations by the UK and US that Russia tested a weapon-like projectile in space that could be used to target satellites in orbit. It marks the first time the UK has made accusations about Russian test-firing in space. Russia's defence ministry said it was using new technology to perform checks on Russian space equipment. Image caption The Guardian reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of using the coronavirus pandemic "as some kind of political weapon" by Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. The PM, who made his first visit to Scotland since December's general election on Thursday, has denied politicising the crisis and used the trip to highlight the benefits of the union. Image caption Elsewhere, the Daily Express says Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to bring in tough new spy laws "to target hostile states". Image caption And the Daily Star says Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood has warned that "catfishing" con artists use his image to scam his followers on social media.

Many of Friday's front pages examine what the Daily Mail calls "Mask-up Friday".

Sainsbury's, Asda and Costa Coffee will not enforce the new face covering rules in England, according to the Daily Telegraph, while Tesco will sell masks at their front doors.

The i suggests there has been a reluctance in the UK so far to wear them - only two-thirds of the people they surveyed comply with the public transport requirements.

But just 2% of those polled by the Daily Mirror say they will break the latest regulations.

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The Financial Times and the Times both report on the start of Boris Johnson's campaign against obesity on their front pages.

The FT says the prime minister's plan to ban junk food adverts on TV before the 21:00 watershed is worrying advertisers.

The head of the industry body ISBA, Phil Smith, calls the policy "ill thought out", given that it's being brought in as businesses try to recover from the impact of Covid.

GPs raise concerns in the Times about plans to extend flu jabs this winter to 30 million people in England.

They question how they will administer so many doses, and fear that their surgeries could become hotbeds of infections.

Vets could be used to give the jabs, according to the Sun. The Daily Telegraph says that the government has been stockpiling tonnes of vaccines for months.

The Guardian raises concerns about the jabs going to those who most need them - with government advisers hoping fit 51-year-olds do not rush to get vaccinated.

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The Daily Mail calls it a "more than a little rich" of Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to accuse Mr Johnson - after he visited Scotland on Thursday - of using the Covid crisis as a "political weapon".

The Mail claims no one has "weaponised" the pandemic more shamelessly with what it calls her "pseudo-presidential briefings".

But the i's editor says Mr Johnson has made a foolish mistake, underestimating the Scottish leader - and risks stumbling into the break up of the UK.

The Times advises that to save the union, the prime minister should get a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, consider giving more control to the UK's four nations and visit Scotland more often.

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The Mail speaks of British fury at Russia's test-firing an anti-satellite weapon in space. Defence sources tell the paper that Moscow has crossed a line.

The newspaper says the row has echoes of 1983 when Ronald Reagan's plans to create a network of space lasers to knock out nuclear missiles was dubbed "Stars Wars".

There is a warning to the Conservatives in the Times about dealing with wealthy Russian donors. It reports on growing calls to name the Russian tycoon behind a power firm that wants to put a £1bn electric link under the Channel.

The company donated more than £200,000 to the Tory party and £10,000 to Business Secretary Alok Sharma via his constituency party.

To avoid any scandal, the Times leader advises the PM to adopt a policy of full transparency.

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Home Secretary Priti Patel tells the Daily Express about the new spy laws she is drawing up.

Speaking days after the Commons Intelligence and Commons Committee warned that the UK had underestimated the threat posed by Moscow for too long, Ms Patel insists the position now is a world away.

But she says her new bill will focus on national security, the registration of foreign agents and intellectual property.

And the temporary silencing of Sheffield's cathedral choir has caused some upset, according to the Guardian.

The choir has been disbanded so that a new team can be selected to reflect the city's diversity.

The Guardian explains choristers usually come from richer backgrounds. But parents of the scrapped choir complain that they feel betrayed and that their children have essentially been thrown under a bus.