Author: WTX News Editor

Cliff Notes – Birmingham bin workers ‘shouldn’t give up’ UB40 say striking Birmingham bin workers ‘shouldn’t give up’ Birmingham band UB40 say the city’s striking bin workers and their union should “keep fighting” in their dispute over pay. It comes as the government and the council urged them to accept a “fair and reasonable offer”. “We’re fully on their side,” drummer Jimmy Brown said. “I think they shouldn’t give up, they should still be fighting. “Working people shouldn’t have…

Cliff Notes – Suspicion of murder after elderly couple die in house fire A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a fire that resulted in the deaths of an elderly couple in Hampshire. Police are treating the incident as possible arson and have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Authorities are appealing for witnesses and urge anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward. Boy, 16,…

Cliff Notes The CEO of Toby Carvery expressed regret for the uprooting of a 400-year-old oak tree, citing safety concerns from specialists as the reason behind the decision. Enfield Council had previously assessed the tree as healthy and safe, raising questions about the company’s actions and prompting allegations of criminal damage. The company acknowledges the need to enhance its protocols to prevent future incidents and has apologised for the distress caused to local residents. Toby…

Cliff Notes James McCall, a 49-year-old sales manager from West Yorkshire, received a 17-year extended sentence for multiple rapes and other offences committed against two women between 2007 and 2019 in Scotland. The judge described the victim impact statements as harrowing, noting that McCall’s actions severely impacted the psychological well-being of his victims, who were incapacitated at the time of the assaults. Despite his denial of wrongdoing, McCall was convicted on nine charges, including four…

Cliff Notes – Zak Starkey speaks out after leaving The Who Zak Starkey has expressed surprise and sadness at his departure from The Who after nearly 30 years with the band, following recent charity shows at the Royal Albert Hall. The decision for his exit was deemed a “collective decision” by the band after their Teenage Cancer Trust performances, amidst reported frustrations from frontman Roger Daltrey regarding Starkey’s drumming. Starkey, who has dealt with health…

An Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of the Abu Al-Rous family, including five children, four women, and a man, amidst at least 23 overall casualties reported.

Emmanuel Macron is set to engage in discussions with American officials regarding Ukraine, amidst concerns over perceived leniency toward Russia during previous administrations.

There is a growing movement that is leading for an inquiry to the genocide in Gaza. Gaza is being marginalised by the minority, but there are many who are disgraced by the UK’s stance and complicity in the genocide. Gaza & Middle East Conflict Last month, the former leader of the Labour party Jeremy Corbyn wrote to the Prime Minister called for an independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. This…

Almost all of the UK newspaper front pages today lead with the landmark ruling that transwomen are not women and instead a woman is defined by biological sex. The ruling will now see huge changes to public and private sector gender guidance.

The UK Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. The judges say the “concept of sex is binary”, while cautioning that the landmark ruling should not be seen as a victory of one side over another. The court added, transgender people still have legal protections from discrimination.

The attorney general of Cyprus has appealed the acquittal of five Israeli men accused of gang raping a British tourist, citing contradictions in the woman’s testimony.

The ongoing market chaos caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs continues to dominate the business newspapers, as do reports about inflation, job risks and a UK-US trade deal that comes at a price. Tech stocks suffered a Wall Street sell-off on Wednesday after Nvidia revealed new US controls on sales to China will wipe billions of dollars from its earnings. The US dollar has continued to weaken for the fifth straight day, amid real fears that the world could start the process of de-dollarisation.

Thursday’s headlines are dominated by the landmark ruling from the UK Supreme Court that unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex. The ruling will now see huge changes to public and private sector gender guidance.

Elsewhere, there are ongoing discussions about a potential UK-US trade deal, with the latest reports suggesting that a deal could be sorted out within a few weeks.

The sports headlines report on Arsenal advancing to the semifinals of the Champions League after beating Real Madrid 2-1 (5-1 on agg). The Spanish headlines react with heartbreak after the match, whilst also reporting that star player Mbappe went off with an injury, ahead of the Copa del Rey final.

In his Easter message, the King reflected on humanity’s dual capacity for “great cruelty and great kindness,” emphasising the need for the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasised that the pivotal issue in the upcoming Canadian election is determining who is best equipped to engage with U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting that his experience is crucial amidst rising Canadian nationalism driven by Trump’s trade policies.

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, died at the age of 39 due to complications from diabetes.

Louise Shackleton, who assisted her terminally ill husband Anthony in dying at Dignitas in Switzerland, has expressed no regrets about her actions, stating their discussions about his options for a peaceful death were crucial.

US stock markets experienced substantial losses, particularly in AI chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD, which plummeted after new export restrictions to China were announced.

Israel’s defence minister announces that Israeli troops will maintain their presence in “security zones” across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria indefinitely

A US federal judge has warned that the Trump administration may face criminal contempt charges for not complying with his order to return deported individuals to the US, highlighting escalating tensions between the executive and judicial branches.

Caroline Wood, managing director of alphr limited, highlights the crucial role of communication in HR, noting that poor communication can lead to significant workplace issues.