Author: News Desk

Friday’s newspapers are dominated by the general election and with less than a week until polling days, they are keen to force home their messages. 

The traditional right-leaning newspapers are slamming Nigel Farage’s Reform Party – the true threat to the Conservatives at this election after members were recorded making racist, homophobic and Islamophobic comments. Other right-leaning papers are tapping into fears that Labour will end up with a supermajority if disillusioned Conservative voters decide to cast their vote for Reform. 

The left-leaning newspapers, continue to push Labour’s plans if they are elected this July. These include plans to fix the NHS and close loopholes for private schools. 

Key Points Kenya tax protests: military deployment to quell protests over government tax hikes The Kenyan High Court has authorised the use of military force to restore order after anti-tax protests overwhelmed police forces. These protests, primarily led by young people opposing government tax hikes, have resulted in over 20 deaths nationwide. Armoured military vehicles patrolled Nairobi on Thursday, and police used tear gas to disperse protesters threatening to storm the presidential palace. Justice Lawrence Mugambi emphasised the necessity of military deployment to protect government installations but said authorities must clarify how long the military operation would last, along with…

Key Points Von der Leyen nominated to stay on in top EU job EU leaders have nominated Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term as European Commission head. Alongside her, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been picked as the next foreign affairs chief, and former Portuguese prime minister António Costa has been chosen as the next chairman of EU summits. All three candidates come from centrist, pro-EU factions, with von der Leyen representing the centre-right, Costa a socialist, and Kallas a liberal. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, from the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) bloc, expressed…

Key Points Palestinians flee Gaza City’s Shejaiya area amid heavy bombardment Amid heavy Israeli bombardment and a reported ground incursion, Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City’s eastern Shejaiya district. Residents described the situation as dire, with intense air strikes, artillery shelling, and helicopter fire. Hamas-run authorities reported at least seven deaths due to the air strikes. Palestinian armed groups claimed to have targeted Israeli tanks and bulldozers in Shejaiya, which had seen fierce battles during an Israeli operation last year. Although the Israeli military ordered residents to evacuate and head south, it has not commented on the recent activities. The Israeli…

Key Points Oklahoma orders schools to teach Bible immediately  Oklahoma’s top education official, Ryan Walters, has mandated the inclusion of the Bible in lessons for public school students aged 11-18, sparking a new cultural debate over religion in education. Walters, a Republican and former history teacher, emphasised the Bible’s historical and cultural significance, asserting that its inclusion is essential for understanding the nation’s foundations. It comes after a recent law in Louisiana stated that public schools must display the Ten Commandments on posters. Walters, elected in 2022 on a platform opposing “woke ideology,” insists that knowledge of the Bible is…

Key Points Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho The Supreme Court has dismissed an abortion case from Idaho, providing a temporary win for abortion rights supporters by allowing women to receive emergency abortions despite the state’s near-total ban. However, the justices did not address the core issue of whether a federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilising treatment in emergencies overrides Idaho’s abortion ban, which only has an exception for the life, not the health, of the mother. The Biden administration sued Idaho, arguing that federal law should take precedence. The court’s brief, unsigned opinion sent the case back…

Key Points Trump v Biden in the first 2024 presidential debate: Biden stumbles amid growing concern over his age Joe Biden’s debate performance on Thursday night heightened concerns about his age and fitness for office. Despite low expectations, Biden’s performance was notably lacklustre. He appeared flat, rambled through answers, and struggled with clarity. His campaign attributed his raspy voice to a cold, but this explanation seemed insufficient. Throughout the debate, Biden often seemed on the defensive, and his responses, especially early on, were at times nonsensical. In one such incident, he confusingly stated, “We finally beat Medicare,” a remark that…

London weather peaks with cooler temperatures on way for UK after heatwave | UK News UK weather has broken temperature records this week, with Wednesday being the hottest day of the year so far. Londoners have been coping with the heatwave this week, with some enjoying it to the max while it has been less fun if you’re stuck inside in a muggy apartment. The last of the heatwave lingered above London, the far South East and East Anglia on Thursday before cooler air began flowing in from the Atlantic. As London enjoyed the last of the warm spell, northwestern…

How to travel on the Tube in hot weather Summer has finally reached the UK, with a spell of hot weather that has seen the mercury climb as high as 33.3°C in some parts of the country. As much as we love the heat and sunshine, it makes for some pretty sticky conditions when it comes to the morning and evening commute – with temperatures soaring on the Tube as well as above ground. To avoid a sweltering journey that sees you arrive at your destination drenched in sweat, you might want to opt for a route that will keep…

Tube passenger, 101, seriously injured as she was dragged along platform | UK News Safety recommendations have been made following the incident on the Northern Line Two women were injured when their coats got trapped in Tube doors, an investigation has found. In one incident in February, a 101-year-old woman had to be treated for serious injuries when she was dragged along the platform on the Northern line at Archway. She was getting off the train with a companion at around 3.50pm when the door closed, trapping her jacket. She was dragged along the platform for two metres before she…