Author: WTX News Editor

Labour rebels win as Starmer backs down over benefit cuts – UK second heatwave this weekend – Pound hits four-year high | What Happened Today
Friday’s headlines are dominated by the embarrassing U-turn from the prime minister over benefit cuts. More than 120 Labour MPs were mounting a rebellion over Starmer’s heavy cuts to welfare, which the government’s assessment said could end up pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including children. The PM’s desire to slash the ballooning welfare bill is a bid to save around £5bn a year. But it had caused massive upset as the most vulnerable were facing losing key benefits, including disabled people.

The government confirmed the climbdown will mean those currently receiving PIP or the health elements of Universal Credit will continue to do so, and instead, the planned cuts will only hit future claimants.

The vote will proceed as planned on Tuesday in the Commons and is expected to pass.

Amber health alerts have been issued for parts of England as temperatures are set to rise above 30C, in the second UK heatwave in June this year – don’t forget your sunscreen!

Elsewhere, the news that the pound briefly hit its highest level against the dollar for almost four years after markets were unnerved by a report that Trump could bring forward the naming of a new head of the US central bank.

Rob Howard, Reform UK’s first council leader, has quit just five weeks after taking charge of Warwickshire County Council, citing personal health issues.

Inspector Moloy Campbell described severe injuries sustained while confronting Marcus Monzo during a rampage, highlighting the sharpness of the samurai sword used in the attack.

Israel has closed the Zikim crossing, the primary aid route into northern Gaza, halting the most direct deliveries to the region most in need.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has offered major concessions to over 120 Labour MPs who threatened to oppose key parts of the welfare reform bill.

Kai West, a 25-year-old British man, has been charged in the US for allegedly leading a global hacking scheme that led to losses exceeding £18 million.

Brazilian officials, including Climate Minister Marina Silva, criticise a NATO agreement to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP, arguing funds should instead support climate initiatives and address hunger.

The Prime Minister has faced a significant backlash from 127 MPs, leading to a climbdown on proposed cuts to disability benefits and a need to rebuild trust within his party.

Dame Anna Wintour is resigning as editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years but will continue as global editorial director and chief content officer of Conde Nast.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding celebrations have commenced in Venice, attracting around 200-250 high-profile guests, including the Kardashians and Oprah Winfrey.

Pete Hegseth’s news conference highlighted the contentious political atmosphere in Washington regarding the US attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant, anticipating a divide over forthcoming damage assessments.

Cliff Notes A new portable gene therapy device, NANOSPRESSO, allows hospital pharmacies to create personalised medicines on demand for rare diseases affecting over 300 million people globally. The device combines genetic material and fats in a cartridge, enabling pharmacists to produce targeted medicines tailored to individual patients’ needs. Despite its potential, NANOSPRESSO must overcome regulatory hurdles and meet strict safety standards before widespread use in healthcare settings can be realised. How gene therapy device could…

Tracking Trump’s presidency Live:

Trump made an angry start to the week displaying his frustration at Israel.

On Tuesday he headed to NATO to secure billions of spending for the next 10 years.

On Wednesday he declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, amidst backlash that US strikes were ineffective on Irans nuclear facility.

Two Metropolitan Police officers found guilty of gross misconduct during the strip search of a 15-year-old girl, known as Child Q, without an appropriate adult present.

CITY AM says fears over the health of the City’s stock market have been laid bare after trading platform IG became the latest firm to sound the alarm over the “crisis unfolding” on the London bourse.

Cliff Notes An amber heat health alert has been issued for parts of England, anticipating temperatures of up to 34C on Monday, potentially breaking the June record of 35.6C set in 1976. The UK Health Security Agency warns that the alerts, valid from Friday to Tuesday, aim to inform health workers of possible service impacts from the heat. Climate change has significantly increased the likelihood of June heatwaves in the South East, making three consecutive…

The FT leads with an image of the Nato leaders in The Hague. The leaders have pledged to meet Trump’s demand for more spending on defence.

The European Commission has introduced its landmark EU Space Act, which proposes a unified regulatory framework for the entire bloc, applicable to both EU and non-EU space operators.

Reform UK would gain 271 seats if a general election was held today according to new polling.

North Korea has inaugurated the Wonsan Kalma coastal resort, touted by Kim Jong Un as a significant achievement in the nation’s tourism development efforts.

At the NATO summit in The Hague, Secretary-General Mark Rutte referred to President Donald Trump as “daddy” whilst praising him for intervening in the Iran–Israel ceasefire and driving a historic agreement for members to boost defence spending to 5 % of GDP by 2035.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has threatened legal action against SpaceX following debris, metal, plastic, and rocket fragments falling into Tamaulipas, across the border from SpaceX’s Starbase test site in Texas.

Eastern U.S. suburbs swelter under record-breaking temperatures, with cities including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and Washington D.C. experiencing triple-digit heat and oppressive humidity driven by a persistent heat dome.

“New intelligence” says US bombing of Iran did severe damage to Iran’s nuclear sites despite the leaked report from the US intelligence.

Thursday’s newspaper front pages continue their coverage of the Labour MP rebellion as the prime minister appears to be backing down, at least partially, over the highly controversial Bill.

There are several stories focused on Donald Trump dominating the UK front pages with coverage of the Nato summit. The US president is jubilant over the news that Nato members have agreed to spend 5% of GDP on defence and security. He’s also basking in newfound glory: being labelled ‘daddy’ by the NATO chief Mark Rutte. The US government and media are lapping it up.