Author: WTX News Editor

PM feels the heat as he U-turns on winter fuel aid cut The Independent says the prime minister was “forced” to announce the reveal to “see off the threat of a revolt” by the Labour backbenchers. More pensioners will now be eligible for the payment. Trump and the South African President are pictured on the front after the US president “ambushes” Cyril with claims of a white genocide in South Africa. “Israel pounds Gaza,” says…

Justice Secretary vows – Paedos to be castrated Paedophiles and rapists could face chemical castration, according to The Sun – with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood looking at plans to make it mandatory. Spurs beat Man United 1-0 in Spain to win the Europa League – and bringing an end to a 17-year wait for silverware. TV celebrity gossip also features on the front – with reports of a TV war in the sidebar.

Israel’s leadership has condemned recent antisemitic shootings in Washington DC, linking them to global protests and media narratives that incite hatred against Jews.

Labour’s winter fuel u-turn: Keir: WE GET IT The Daily Mirror says the prime minister has finally U-turned on the unpopular policy having finally “got it”  – amid the widespread backlash. The paper also notes that pensioners must wait until October to find out if they qualify under the new rules. Spurs winning the Europa League also makes the front page – the first silverware for the club in 17 years!

Pensioners to wait year after winter fuel U-turn The Times says pensioners will face waiting more than a year to have the winter fuel payments reinstated after “one of the biggest” walk-backs of Starmer’s premiership so far. The paper suggests the backlash has “rattled” the prime minister, who had previously been firm in his refusal to back down.  The front page reports Donald Trump ‘ambushed’ the South African president during a meeting in which he claimed…

Starmer announces U-turn over winter fuel after fierce backlash The Guardian says the U-turn comes after a “backlash against one of the most unpopular policies of the Labour government.” No 10 was unable to confirm when the change will come into effect or even if it’ll be changed by this winter – or how many of the 10 million pensioners who lost out would have it restored.  Donald Trump’s ambush of the South African president is…

Starmer in fuel U-turn: Labour rebels force climbdown The Metro leads with the news the prime minister has U-turned on the controversial winter fuel payment cut policy that Labour introduced early into their reign. The paper says more pensioners will have access to the payment once again – but Starmer failed to tell the public when it will come into effect or how many of the roughly 10 million pensioners affected will be eligible to…

Most of Thursday’s UK newspaper front pages lead with the U-turn on the winter fuel payment cuts. Last year the government announced changes to the benefit which saw more than nine million pensioners lose out on payments worth up to £300 – after the eligibility threshold was tightened.

Good morning! Grab your coffee and let’s take a brisk scroll through today’s headlines…

In politics, Sir Keir Starmer has bowed to pressure and announced a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts. The scheme, which had been scaled back to save £1.4 billion, left over 10 million pensioners without support. Starmer now says more pensioners will qualify again, with changes expected in the autumn Budget – though the exact numbers and timing are still under wraps. It comes after Labour lost big to Reform UK during recent local elections.

Meanwhile, a government-commissioned review has suggested that prisoners should serve only a third of their sentences in custody, rather than the current half. There are proposals to chemically castrate sex offenders in order to release them earlier in a bid to free up spaces in prisons.

In economic news, the UK government’s borrowing reached £20.2 billion in April, surpassing expectations and placing additional pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

After lots of glorious sunshine, the UK is set to experience a shift in weather just in time for the bank holiday weekend. The Met Office forecasts unsettled conditions, with many areas expecting rain or showers and more unpredictable weather patterns continuing into the half-term week.

Elsewhere, the UK government has been temporarily blocked from finalising a landmark deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following a late-night injunction granted by the High Court.

In sport, underdogs are stealing the spotlight. Crystal Palace shocked football fans by beating Manchester City 1–0 to lift the FA Cup – their first major trophy. Not to be outdone, Spurs ended their 17-year silverware drought with a scrappy 1–0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final, with Brennan Johnson the unlikely hero.

On the international front, there has been a shooting in the US with two Israeli embassy staffers shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

The WHO has said Gaza’s health service is ‘stretched beyond breaking point’ and Donald Trump held a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – in which the US president ambushed his counterpart with unfounded claims of genocide against white South Africans.

A High Court injunction has temporarily blocked the UK government from finalising a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, initiated by legal action from Chagossian woman Bertrice Pompe.

Two Israeli embassy staffers, a young couple on the verge of getting engaged, were shot dead in Washington, DC on Wednesday night.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts, following weeks of political pressure.

The proposed sentencing policy review could lead to sex offenders undergoing chemical castration, with widespread early release for certain inmates after serving only a third of their sentences.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defending the Trump administration’s foreign policies amidst criticism from Democratic senators regarding issues such as budget cuts to foreign assistance and the refugee admissions program.

Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year trophy drought by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, marking their first European trophy in 41 years.

George Kaplan, a former assistant to Combs, testified about his experiences travelling with the musician on a private jet and setting up hotel rooms for him.

Chris Brown has been released on bail with a £5m security fee, allowing him to continue his world tour despite facing a charge of grievous bodily harm.

Tottenham Hotspur secured the Europa League title, defeating Manchester United 1-0, with Brennan Johnson scoring the decisive goal.

During a White House meeting, Donald Trump presented a video claiming evidence of “genocide” against white farmers in South Africa, which left President Cyril Ramaphosa mostly expressionless.

Parents of a student who took her own life challenge a government report on student suicides for failing to address systemic issues within higher education.

Cliff Notes At an inquest into Jay Slater’s death, his friends, who were present before he went missing, failed to appear as witnesses, despite summonses being issued. Jay Slater, 19, was found dead from a severe head injury, with traces of drugs including cocaine, ketamine, and ecstasy in his system. The coroner confirmed that the head injuries were consistent with a heavy fall, likely causing immediate unconsciousness and leading to his death. Jay Slater’s mother…

Cliff Notes Proposals suggest that criminals, including sex offenders and domestic abusers, could be released after serving one-third of their sentence to alleviate prison overcrowding. The policy applies to standard determinate sentences based on behaviour, incentivising good conduct and rehabilitation during incarceration. The measures aim to reduce the prisoner population by 9,500 as the male estate is currently at 99% capacity, with concerns over imminent collapse. Criminals including sex offenders could be released from prison…

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a U-turn on last year’s controversial cuts to winter fuel payments. More than nine million pensioners lost out on payments worth up to £300 after eligibility for the pension top-up was tightened last year. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said ministers would look again at the threshold to allow “more pensioners” to qualify again. He did not provide further details, adding that the changes would be made at…

Cliff Notes Andriy Portnov, a former aide to Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovich, was shot and killed in Madrid while reportedly taking his children to school. The attack involved multiple assailants who shot Portnov in the back and head before fleeing towards a nearby forest; police responded shortly after the incident was reported. Portnov had been living in exile since 2014 and faced a state treason investigation in Ukraine related to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which…

Britain accuses Israel of ‘cruel and monstrous extremism’ in siege of Gaza The i newspaper reports that the UK has accused Israel of “cruel and monstrous extremism”. David Lammy is also heavily featured as he signals a “dark new phase in this conflict.”  The front page previews tonight’s all-English Europa League final where £100 million is on the line.