Going beyond the ordinary news headlines
Good morning! ☕ Let’s grab a coffee and dive into the headlines for Tuesday, 3rd June 2025. After weeks of glorious sunshine, the grey skies have returned. A touch of morning rain is on the way – so don’t forget your brolly if you’re heading out.
The UK government’s AI bill has been defeated in the House of Lords again (for the fourth time) as peers back an amendment to the bill that would require AI companies to reveal which copyrighted material they have used.
The Chancellor has threatened to sue ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over the money raised from the sale of Chelsea FC. The former Russian owner lost the English football club after he was sanctioned by the government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Reeves wants the money to be spent on Ukrainian victims whilst Abramovich wants the funds to be spent on ‘all victims of the war.’
Thames Water has suffered a major setback in its attempt to secure its future after US private equity giant KKR pulled out of plans to buy the company. The setback increases the possibility that the company will collapse into a government-supervised administration.
After 18 years, a new search in Portugal for Madeleine McCann has begun. Portuguese and German police have started a new search. The British toddler went missing in 2007.
It’s bad news for Scottish independence, as the prime minister has ruled out an independence vote during his time in office.
In sports, the Women’s Nations League is in full swing tonight with England needing to beat Spain to book their place in the quarter-finals. Scotland and Wales will be playing for pride after being relegated to League B – whilst Northern Ireland will be playing to secure promotion to League A.
In international news, Mount Etna has erupted sending huge plumes of smoke and ash into the skies – thankfully no one has been hurt.
At least 24 people have been killed whilst waiting for aid in Gaza after Israelis opened fire on the starving people.
The UK government has threatened to take legal action against Roman Abramovich to ensure that the £2.5 billion raised from the sale of Chelsea Football Club goes to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
The funds have been frozen in a UK bank account since Abramovich was sanctioned in 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The UK government wants the money to be used specifically for Ukrainian humanitarian aid. However, Mr Abramovich has insisted that the funds should go to “all victims of the war in Ukraine”, which includes those in Russia.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy issued a joint statement saying:
“While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.”
They expressed frustration at the ongoing delay, saying they want “to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible”.
They also stated: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.”
The stalemate appears to be due to disagreements between government officials and Mr Abramovich’s legal team.
Although he cannot access the funds due to UK sanctions, the money legally still belongs to him. He was allowed to sell the club on the condition that he would not benefit financially from the sale.
When announcing the sale, Mr Abramovich said the proceeds would go to a foundation “for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine.” This broader definition includes Russians affected by the war, which the UK government rejects.
Last year, a House of Lords committee criticised the ongoing delay, saying it was “incomprehensible” that Mr Abramovich’s promise had not yet been fulfilled. The report added: “This impasse reflects badly on both Mr Abramovich and the government, which ought to have pushed for a more binding commitment.”
Unless a deal is reached soon, the UK government is prepared to take the matter to court to ensure the money is spent as intended.
Negotiations remain ongoing, but ministers are signalling a tougher stance to break the deadlock.
If legal proceedings begin, it could take months to resolve, meaning further delays in delivering support to Ukrainians in need.
The UK continues to argue that only humanitarian causes within Ukraine should benefit from the funds, not any broader definition that includes Russia.
For now, the £2.5 billion remains frozen — caught between legal ownership, international sanctions, and political disagreement over where and how it should be used.
Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted early on Monday morning, sending plumes of ash and smoke into the air above Sicily.
Footage from the area showed volcanic material spilling out, while Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported a series of explosions of “increasing intensity” throughout the early hours.
The eruption appears to have occurred on the southeastern side of the volcano, near a known 200-metre-wide vent, where movements in the ground were recorded prior to the outburst.
Video clips shared during the day captured a pyroclastic flow – a fast-moving surge of ash, gas and rock – rushing down the volcano’s slopes. Geologists believe this may have been caused by a partial collapse of the crater.
So far, no major disruptions or injuries have been reported. Flights in and out of nearby airports, including Catania, have largely continued as normal.
Despite the dramatic visuals, the eruption has not yet breached the Valley of the Lion – the common stopping point for tourist hikes up the volcano – and officials say there is no current threat to the public.
The INGV confirmed that the eruption is Strombolian in nature – a type known for intermittent explosions caused by gas escaping from within the magma chamber. Though often less destructive, these eruptions can still be dangerous, particularly for air travel.
A red alert was briefly issued for nearby airspace earlier in the day but has since been downgraded, reflecting the relatively low impact so far.
Etna’s last major eruption was in February, when ash clouds caused dozens of flights to be diverted from Catania Airport and access to the lava flows was restricted for safety.
For now, geologists continue to monitor the volcano closely. Given Etna’s history, experts remain cautious but not alarmed, and no evacuations have been ordered.
The UK government’s proposed Data (Use and Access) Bill has faced its fourth defeat in the House of Lords. Peers voted 242 to 116 in favour of an amendment that would require greater transparency from tech companies using copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence models.
This amendment aims to ensure that creators know when and how their work is being used, allowing the possibility of licensing arrangements.
The Lords’ move comes amid growing concern from musicians and artists – including Sir Elton John – who argue that AI models trained on their work are threatening the future of the creative industries.
Despite repeated rejections by MPs in the Commons, support in the Lords appears to be growing, with many peers saying creators deserve more protection.
The government’s current plan would allow AI developers to use copyrighted material unless the owner actively opts out – a move critics call unfair and opaque.
The Bill now returns to the House of Commons, possibly for discussion as soon as Tuesday – though that remains unconfirmed.
If the two Houses cannot reach agreement, there is a risk that the entire bill could be shelved, though this is considered unlikely. However, scrapping the bill would also mean losing other key reforms, including:
Peers like Baroness Beeban Kidron argue the government is failing UK creators by allowing what she calls “state-sanctioned theft”. In contrast, tech leaders such as Sir Nick Clegg have warned that forcing AI companies to seek permission from all copyright holders could “kill the AI industry” in the UK.
The issue boils down to a clash between the tech and creative sectors, with no clear solution yet. If neither side backs down, the legislation may continue its parliamentary “ping-pong”, leaving the future of AI and copyright regulation in limbo.
Most of the newspapers react to the government’s Defence Secretary Review plans, announced by the prime minister yesterday. The UK is set to spend an extra £2bn on drones and AI in a bid to make the country “battle ready” – but some papers (right-leaning Conservatives) warn that a tax rise will likely be on the way to pay for it. New submarines are set to be built in what some papers suggest is a warning to Russia, and the review lays out plans to recruit more people for the army, with a paid stint in the military for school leavers being considered.
German and Portuguese police are to begin a new search for the missing Madeleine McCann – who disappeared on holiday in Portugal when she was three years old in 2007. The search will cover the municipality of Lagos, which sits next to Praia da Luz, the town in the Algarve where she went missing nearly two decades ago. Portuguese police confirmed on Monday that they were carrying out the search between 2-6 June on warrants issued by German prosecutors.
Southampton winger Tyler Dibling is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, following his standout season despite the club’s relegation.
Copyright WTX News 2025
