Author: News Desk

PM Keir Starmer is pressing ahead with a controversial £5 billion-a-year overhaul of disability benefits, centred on tighter eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), despite facing rebellion from up to 170 Labour MPs.

The G7 dominated the early European news this week with the EU wanting more pressure put on Russia – something Trump is reluctant to do. The EU also signed a defence deal with Australia and unveiled a plan to phase out Russian gas contracts by 2027.


Ukraine is calling for more help after the heaviest day of airstrikes since Russia’s war in Ukraine began, whilst there has been backlash to plans to raise the GDP defence target to 5%, with Spain calling it unreasonable.

Much of Europe’s focus has been on the latest from Iran-Israel, with many European nations worried they could be dragged into the war after the United States signalled it could soon be joining Israel.

As summer sweeps across Europe, the sun is out and the days are gloriously longer. Plenty is happening across Europe this week.

Sweden’s Saab CEO Micael Johansson urges EU states to consolidate defence expenditures into a common fund—aiming for €100 billion—to finance flagship military projects

Much of the UK news has been dominated by international affairs, with the G7 summit at the beginning of the week marking a big moment for the prime minister, who got his UK-US trade deal over the line.

The prime minister announced a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal after an audit suggested a cover-up and that an entire generation of women and girls had been failed.

By midweek, the news is dominated by the MPs voting in favour of legislative changes to abortion rules, marking the biggest change in 60 years.

Wednesday also marks the beginning of the UK heatwave, set to last until Sunday with temperatures reaching 33C.


On Friday MPs will vote on the assisted dying bill and there are reports the UK could enter the Israel-Iran war, if the United States does.

Cliff Notes Cole Cooper, a 19-year-old, was found dead in a wooded area after being reported missing for a month, with his death currently deemed "unexplained" by authorities. A vigil at Glenskirlie Castle hotel saw family and friends gather to honour him, with emotional tributes emphasising his caring nature and the family’s demand for justice. Police Scotland continues its investigation, having conducted extensive searches and interviews, and remains open to information from the public regarding Cole’s last movements. Family and friends hold vigil in memory of teenager Cole Cooper | UK News . A vigil has been held in memory…

UK events guide for the week of 16–22 June 2025, covering arts, entertainment, business, festivals and more.

Cliff Notes – Witcher 4 designed for PS5 and not PC after ‘so many problems’ scaling down CD Projekt is shifting its development strategy for The Witcher 4, prioritising console performance, specifically the PlayStation 5, over PC first, following past launch issues with previous titles. The studio aims for a stable 60fps on PS5, acknowledging the challenges of scaling down for other platforms, particularly the Xbox Series S, while still committing to delivering a high-quality experience for PC gamers. Although The Witcher 4 does not have a confirmed release date, it is anticipated to launch in 2027, with a sequel…

Cliff Notes – ECB consider ‘de-coupling’ Women’s Hundred in bid for standalone sell-outs Richard Gould, ECB chief executive, aims to sell out women’s matches in the Hundred, contemplating the separation of double-headers from 2026 to enhance ticket revenue. The current model, which pairs women’s and men’s matches on the same day, has been successful, with record attendance of 320,000 at women’s matches last season. ECB consider ‘de-coupling’ Women’s Hundred in bid for standalone sell-outs The Hundred’s existing double-header model sees midweek women’s fixtures played during working hours, with tickets valid for both games on a single day. There are no…

Spain has a tourism problem one that it must deal with now What’s happening The weekend saw citizens across Spain are preparing coordinated protests—using water pistols, smoke bombs, banners and stickers against “touristification” in major cities such as Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Malaga, San Sebastián, Granada, and Mallorca. Planned water‑pistol stunts at airports and tourist zones; localised events include “Your holidays, my misery” slogans and to curb tourism. Protesters insist they’re targeting the tourism system, not individual travellers. They demand stricter limits on short‑term rentals, airport expansion, and tourist traffic Why now Overcrowding, skyrocketing rents, loss of local heritage and city…