Latest News
- Europe warns Russia of painful response to hybrid attacks, says Kubilius
- Israeli jets scramble following emergency alert on Flydubai flight to Israel
- Mary Louie reflects on her residential school experience and early Orange Shirt Day observance
- Hegseth orders military academies to cease granting tenure to civilian faculty
- NHS faces record waiting times: media coverage differs in highlighting causes and solutions
- RAF Fairford terror plot foiled after suspect calls police emergency line
- Russian state media publishes, then removes article on nuclear strike plans against Lithuania
- EU Energy Commissioner warns of high prices affecting households’ heating
Another chilly and rather grey day across much of the UK. Outbreaks of light rain and drizzle possible, with a band of more persistent rain arriving across northwest Scotland later. Hill fog will lead to murky conditions in places. Tonight:
A close friend of Prince Andrew has lost his appeal against a decision banning him from the UK on national security grounds. An MI5 investigation alleged the man – known as H6 – was spying for China.
The UK economy shrank for the second month in a row in October as concerns about the Budget continued to weigh on confidence.
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have discovered their 2026 World Cup qualifying opponents following Friday’s draw in Zurich. England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist leader François Bayrou as France’s next prime minister, in a bid to end months of political turmoil.
December 14, 2024
11:54 am
Welsh public bodies ‘could be shortchanged on NI hike’
Mark Drakeford told the Senedd’s finance committee the cost of workers within the Office for National Statistics definition of a public sector employee will be covered by the UK treasury.
Andrew Jeffreys, director of the Welsh treasury, explained the UK Government plans to use the Barnett formula to decide how much Wales will receive based on the costs in England.
But Prof Drakeford said: “That’s not my position … if public authorities in England are getting 100% compensation then public authorities in Wales should have 100 percent.
Welsh public bodies ‘could be shortchanged on NI hike’
“The Barnett share may turn out to be less than we need in Wales.
“That would seem to me fundamentally unfair if English public authorities know they’re getting everything covered and in Wales we’re left filling gaps.”
He added: “If things worked out in the way we just described where Wales doesn’t have full cover but English public authorities do …, I won’t simply be leaving it there.”
MS for South Wales East Peredur Owen Griffiths, who chairs the committee, raised a warning from Ynys Môn council of a “gaping hole” in the budget that leaves local authorities facing an existential crisis.
He said councils could be put in an invidious position of having to balance books, potentially making jobs redundant, in the interim before clarity on compensation in May or June.
Thursday’s headlines are dominated by the conviction of a father and stepmother who killed 10-year-old Sara Sharif. Police said Urfan Sharif, 43, and Beinash Batool, 30, had subjected Sara to “horrific suffering” before her body was found at the family’s home in Surrey last year.
As more details emerge about the life and death of the young British girl, the newspapers react with horror at the brutality Sara lived – and died – under. Many of the newspapers pick up on the state’s failure to save her, pointing the finger at the courts, police, social services and teachers, who reportedly missed at least 15 chances to save her life.
Several domestic political stories also find space on the front pages with reports on Labour’s plans to build new houses, potential strikes this winter and ongoing reactions to the October Budget.
The back pages cover last night’s Champions League action – including yet another loss for Manchester City and the news that Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the 2030 World Cup hosts.
Sarah Sharif - its not human what they did
Sara Sharif: ‘It’s not human to do this to you daughter’
‘Not human,’ reports The Sun.
The Sun leads with the tragic death of Sara Sharif. The paper reports the girl’s mother said: “It is not human to do this to your own child” after the ten-year-old’s dad was found guilty of her murder.
Daily Express calls for an inquiry into child protection services in the UK.
The Daily Express says Sara was “killed by the very adults who should have loved and protected her.” The paper calls for an inquiry to look at what is going wrong with child protection in the UK.
‘Sara’s smile masked the horrors she endured,’ says the Mirror.
The Daily Mirror says Sara was described as a “cheerful little soul” whose smile masked the horrors she endured. She died after “two years of sickening abuse,’” the paper adds.
‘Sharif showed no emotion as jury found him guilty of his daughter’s murder,’ notes the Metro.
The Metro says Sharif showed “no emotion” after a jury found him guilty of his daughter’s murder. The paper says Sharif’s brother, Faisal Malik, 29, was convicted of causing or allowing a child’s death and that the three will be sentenced next week.
‘At least 15 missed chances to prevent her death,’ says the Mail.
The Mail says at least 15 chances to prevent Sara’s death were missed by the courts, police, social services and teachers. She was “let down by everyone supposed to protect her”, it says. The paper adds Sharif and Batool now face a “lifetime behind bars”.
‘Sara plunged into a life of misery and violence from birth,’ says The Times.
The Times says Sara was “plunged into a life of misery and violence” from the moment she was born, despite being the subject of a child protection plan from birth. From when Sara was a toddler, in around 2013, council workers observed issues with her development, including that she was unable to “vocalise to protect herself” and, on one occasion, stood facing a wall.
‘Sara’s case highlights weakness in UK system,’ says the i.
The i newspaper quotes Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza saying that Sara was “failed in the starkest terms by the safety net of services around her” and that the case highlights “profound weaknesses in our system”.
Civil service jobs to be axed
‘Civil service jobs to be axed’
‘Civil service jobs to be axed as it become too big,’ says The Guardian.
The Guardian reports that 10,000 civil service jobs are to be axed under a new government efficiency drive. Sources tell the paper that there is an acceptance that the civil service has become too big after expanding to meet the demands of Brexit and the pandemic.
‘Tories upset over Rayner’s plans to built on green belt,’ notes The Telegraph.
The Telegraph says the government is facing accusations that they want to “bulldoze the Home Counties” as it prepares to set out a major overhaul of planning rules. The paper says the changes put forward by Angela Rayner will allow new estates to be built on the green belt around major cities. The paper says Tories have warned that existing residents could be deprived of a say over the new plans.
Starmer hopes UK will get an investment boost
‘Civil service jobs to be axed’
‘UK needs houses desperately,’ Starmer reminds The Sun’s readers.
Writing about the plans in the Sun, Keir Starmer says he wants to take on the “blockers, the nimbys and the naysayers to build the houses and communities we desperately need”,
‘Qatar wealth fund preparing to invest,’ notes The FT.
The FT says Qatar’s $500bn sovereign wealth fund is preparing to invest “aggressively” overseas ahead of a new windfall from the sale of oil that could double its size. The fun’s chief executive tells the FT the fun expects to do “bigger-ticket deals” with “more frequency” and will be looking to invest in the US, UK and Asia.
A system meant to protect, failed her. Sara Sharif endured unimaginable abuse before her life was cut tragically short. A heart-wrenching reminder of the cost of ignoring red flags & not putting children’s safety at the heart of decisions.
Meta donates $1mn to Trump’s inauguration fund
The owner of the London Stock Exchange has sold its minority stake in financial markets infrastructure provider Euroclear for £455m. The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) said on Thursday that it completed the divestment of its 4.92 per cent holding in the Belgium-based firm. It sold the stake to TCorp, the investment and financial management partner to the New South Wales government in Australia. Read the full story here 👇 https://cityam.com/london-stock-exchange-owner-sells-euroclear-stake-for-455m/
December 14, 2024
11:54 am
December 14, 2024
11:51 am
Brexit reset: five business leaders on how they’d like relations with the EU to change
Rachel Reeves has spoken of a reset in EU relations. Here, experts in everything from music to farming explain what they hope it will mean
Earlier this week, the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said she was hoping talks in the new year could lead to an extensive “reset” of post-Brexit relations.
The remarks were seized on by leave supporters who fear a betrayal of the referendum vote, while others argue Reeves won’t go nearly far enough.
Continue reading…
Brexit reset: five business leaders on how they’d like relations with the EU to change
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/14/brexit-reset-five-business-leaders-on-how-theyd-like-relations-with-the-eu-to-change
What to Watch
Amazon prime - TV & Netflix
We give you the best picks to binge on this week.
What to Watch
Love Sports
Get your pizza ordered with the latest Live Sports schedule.
- Good News
Add A Comment
© 2026 WTX News.