Author: WTX News Editor

Cliff Notes – UK says it will get Britons out but not from Palestine and Israel almost killed everyone in Iran Vladimir Putin expressed concern about the potential for World War Three, particularly amidst ongoing conflicts involving Ukraine and tensions between Israel and Iran. He highlighted the increasing “conflict potential” that is directly impacting Russia and called for careful attention and peaceful solutions to the escalating situations. Putin’s remarks were made during an economic forum…

Cliff Notes MPs in England and Wales approved the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live, by a majority of 23 votes. The legislation, proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, will proceed to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, with implementation anticipated in 2029. Despite significant public support, critics argue the bill lacks robust safeguards, raising concerns about the potential…

Cliff Notes – River Island takes axe to store base River Island plans to close 33 stores and is negotiating rent reductions for an additional 70, risking hundreds of jobs amidst a restructuring effort. The retailer, founded in 1948, faces significant financial challenges, reporting a £33.2m pre-tax loss and a 19% drop in turnover. A restructuring plan, supported by new funding, aims to adapt to changing consumer preferences and ease financial burdens while preserving the…

Most of Friday’s front pages lead on the assisted dying bill, set for a last debate in the Commons ahead of a crucial vote on Friday afternoon. If passed, it will head to the House of Lords for scrutiny. The majority of the newspapers are in support of legalising assisted dying, several papers discuss the late U-turn from some Labour MPs, and the Daily Mail makes a case against legalising the bill.

The debate will be followed by a crucial vote, expected before 14:30 BST. If the vote passes, the bill progresses to the House of Lords; otherwise, it fails, and that’s the end of the process. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to get medical assistance to end their own lives.

Several of Friday’s UK front pages lead with Donald Trump’s announcement that he will wait two weeks before deciding on whether the United States military will enter the Israeli war in Iran. It allows room for discussions between the West and Iran as European leaders met with their Iranian counterparts to discuss nuclear weapons.

Trump wants Iran to get back to the negotiating table regarding their nuclear weapons programme, with the ultimatum that Iran needs to completely abandon its nuclear programme or face the might of the US military.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms from Saturday afternoon to early Sunday, affecting parts of England and Wales, with potential travel disruptions and flooding risks.

Friday’s newspaper front pages report on today’s assisted dying vote in the House of Commons. The vote will take place this afternoon after one more debate in the Commons. If passed, it will head to the House of Lords for scrutiny. Most of the papers are in support of the bill. 

Friday’s UK headlines are dominated by the upcoming vote in the House of Commons on assisted dying. The End of Life Bill would allow terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to get medical assistance to end their own lives. MPs will have one final debate before the vote takes place this afternoon. If approved, it will go to the House of Lords for scrutiny, but if MPs do not support it, it will fail.

UK, French and German foreign ministers will hold talks with their Iranian counterparts in Geneva today as part of efforts to ease the Israel-Iran conflict. Ahead of the meeting, David Lammy says “a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution”.

The UK’s ongoing heatwave is a hot topic today, with temperatures set to rise above 30C for a second day running. Heat alerts have been issued as the heat gripping the nation is set to last until Sunday.

Iran and European diplomats have begun urgent nuclear talks in Geneva, as Israel ramps up airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

The UK is experiencing an early summer heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach up to 32°C in central England for a second day, following Thursday’s hottest day of the year so far.

The UK Parliament is set to vote today on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, commonly known as the assisted dying bill.

A pro-Palestinian group, Palestine Action, has claimed responsibility for breaking into RAF Brize Norton and damaging two military aircraft, describing the act as a protest against military operations in Gaza.

Hurricane Erick made landfall early Thursday near Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of approximately 205 km/h (125 mph), briefly reaching Category 4 status offshore.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov publicly cautioned Washington and Tel Aviv against promoting or executing regime change in Iran, particularly highlighting threats against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as “unimaginable” and “unacceptable.”

A Russian missile and drone barrage, the largest since the war began, killed 28 civilians and injured 142 across Kyiv, including the collapse of a nine-story residential block in the Solomianskyi district.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has firmly rejected NATO’s push, driven by U.S. President Trump and Secretary-General Mark Rutte, for members to spend 5% of GDP on defence.

The assisted dying bill is facing a critical Commons vote, with a narrow previous majority of 330 to 275 in its favour, making every vote crucial today.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater expressed confidence that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will pass its crucial Commons stage on Friday, moving on to the House of Lords.

Baroness Harriet Harman cautioned that Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose political identity was shaped by opposition to Iraq, might ultimately permit U.S. use of UK-controlled bases, such as Diego Garcia or RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, for strikes on Iran if President Trump requested it.

Indonesia inks strategic partnership with Russia strengthening economic and technical cooperation while Indonesia joins BRICS.

Harriet Harman suggested that Sir Keir Starmer might permit Donald Trump to use British military bases for strikes on Iran, despite his opposition to the Iraq War legacy.

Hurricane Erick made landfall in Oaxaca, Mexico, as a Category 3 hurricane with winds reaching 205 kph before weakening to a tropical storm later in the day.

Diplomacy to prevent the conflict between Israel and Iran spiralling further out of control is picking up pace with the UK at its centre.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has met with his US counterpart Marco Rubio and President Trump’s chief negotiator Steve Witkoff in Washington, and flies next to Geneva.

The Kremlin deems regime change in Iran as “unacceptable” and warns that the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would have severe global repercussions.

Former Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz refuted claims that the Israeli military intentionally targets hospitals, insisting such allegations are “absolutely not true.”