Author: News Desk

The rising tensions between Russia and the West, following Ukraine’s use of US-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russian territory for the first time, are splashed on the front pages this morning. 

The papers suggest the policy shift from the US president has escalated the situation in the West, and in response, Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike. Many of the front pages fear a potential nuclear war on the horizon. 

Striking images of yesterday’s farmers’ protests in London find space on the front pages as do reports on the effects of the chancellor’s October Budget. 

Showbiz, the cold snap and sports make up the rest of the stories on the front pages today.

The back pages lead with the news Pep Guardiola has signed a one-year extension to his contract.

HSBC to open London ‘wealth centre’ in effort to draw in premier clients Aimed at those with £100,000 to £2m, service in Mayfair will offer personalised banking and exclusive events HSBC is to launch its first UK “wealth centre” in London’s upmarket Mayfair district, offering more personalised banking services and exclusive events such as wine tastings as part of a drive to win more rich customers. The lender will take up two floors of the 16-storey Smithson Tower at 25 St James’s Street – close to the Ritz Hotel and Fortnum & Mason department store – as part of a…

Irish police, known as Gardaí, have released CCTV images of 99 individuals they want to question about riots that broke out in Dublin nearly a year ago. The unrest followed the stabbing of three children and a school care assistant outside a primary school on November 23, 2023.  

European Union nations are ready to step up military and financial support for Ukraine if the United States scales back its aid, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated on Tuesday. His remarks came during a high-level meeting in Warsaw marking the 1,000th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

The UN Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a resolution demanding an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, along with the release of all hostages. However, the United States, a key ally of Israel, may block the draft, which has already drawn criticism from Israeli officials.  

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has halted its medical operations in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, citing escalating violence and a brutal attack on its staff. The decision follows an incident on November 11, when Haitian police, reportedly backed by a paramilitary group, stopped an MSF ambulance, removed two gunshot patients, and executed them outside the hospital grounds.  

Starling Bank staff resign after new chief executive calls for more time in-office Exclusive: Staff complain Raman Bhatia is creating ‘grey corporate hellscape’ and offices already lack desk space. Staff have resigned at Starling Bank after its new chief executive demanded thousands of workers attend its offices more regularly, despite lacking enough space to host them. In his first major policy change since taking over from the UK digital bank’s founder, Anne Boden, in March, Raman Bhatia has ordered all hybrid staff – many of whom were in the office only one or two days a week, or on an…

MPs to summon Elon Musk to testify about X’s role in UK summer riots Commons inquiry into rise of harmful content on social media also expected to call Meta and TikTok executives MPs are to summon Elon Musk to testify about X’s role in spreading disinformation, in a parliamentary inquiry into the UK riots and the rise of false and harmful AI content, the Guardian has learned. Senior executives from Meta, which runs Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are also expected to be called for questioning as part of a Commons science and technology select committee social media inquiry. Continue…

Barristers warn plan to ban dishonest Senedd members ‘unrealistic’ The Criminal Bar Association, which represents practising members in Wales and England, criticised calls to create an offence of deliberate deception. Jonathan Rees, a Welsh barrister, urged real caution before making any changes to the criminal law as he gave evidence to the Senedd’s standards committee. He suggested the Welsh Parliament could instead expand the scope of the “tried-and-tested” offence of misconduct in a public office which is subject to important safeguards. Mr Rees raised concerns about a model proposed by the Institute for Constitutional and Democratic Research, warning a new offence…

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Linda McMahon, co-founder of WWE and a long-time ally, as his nominee for education secretary. McMahon previously served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency and is known for her significant financial support of his campaigns.