Author: WTX News Editor

Pakistan’s second and third political groups have agreed to collaborate following elections where imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s backers secured the lead.

The PMLN led by ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP released a statement announcing their intention to work together to establish political stability.

If they succeed in forming a government, it’s likely to provoke anger among Khan’s supporters.

Khan’s PTI party was disqualified from participating in the election, leading many of its candidates to run as independents.

Earlier, police dispersed a crowd of Khan’s supporters in Rawalpindi using tear gas.

The chief of NATO has criticised Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US wouldn’t protect NATO allies who don’t spend enough on defence, stating it undermines security and puts troops at risk.

Jens Stoltenberg emphasised that such remarks could endanger US and European troops.

Trump indicated he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO member not meeting the alliance’s 2% GDP defence spending target.

Brazil, the defending champions, have failed to qualify for Paris 2024 after a 1-0 loss to Argentina. 

Brazil had been eyeing up a third consecutive gold in the men’s Olympic football tournament. They have won a men’s football medal at the past four Olympics.

Argentina, who won gold in 2004 and 2008, finished the final qualifying event with five points.

Kelvin Kiptum, the world record holder for the men’s marathon from Kenya, tragically passed away in a car accident in his home country at the age of 24.

The accident occurred on a road in western Kenya on Sunday, claiming the lives of Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana from Rwanda.

Kiptum rose to prominence in 2023 as a formidable competitor to fellow Kenyan marathon star Eliud Kipchoge.

Finland’s former conservative Prime Minister, Alexander Stubb, has won the presidential election held on Sunday, according to final results.

Stubb secured 51.6% of the vote, defeating his Green Party rival, Pekka Haavisto, the former foreign minister, who had 48.4%. Haavisto has conceded defeat.

This election marks Finland’s first since joining the NATO military alliance.

Israel rescued two male hostages in a raid in Rafah amid reports of Israeli airstrikes hit the southern Gazan city of Rafah. 

The Israeli military confirms the men are in “good medical condition.” The international community – including the UK –  had warned about Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah. 

Earlier, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said Rafah was under attack, with a number of deaths reported. 1.5 million people are sheltering in the southern city.

Elementor #584810February 11, 20241 Min Read Summary of the Top 6 headlines today The Observer – We’ve given up the fight, say Tories as poll defeats loomThe Observer reports that Conservative MPs have “predicted fresh attacks on Rishi Sunak’s leadership within days” in the run-up to by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood. The paper also reports that schools are having to “cut” teachers and support staff to save money.England’s fightback to beat Wales in the Six…

Elementor #584804February 11, 20241 Min Read Summary of the Top 6 headlines today The Sunday Times – Gove warns that democracy is in danger if young can’t get housesThe front page of the Sunday Times carries a warning from the Housing Secretary Michael Gove that his party must urgently appeal to younger people, or risk them turning their backs on capitalism and democracy. Mr Gove says housing and the fact that young people struggle to get on the…

Elementor #584798February 11, 20241 Min Read Summary of the Top 6 headlines today The Sunday Telegraph – Army eases security checks in drive for diversityThe Sunday Telegraph leads with a report about the British Army wanting to “relax security checks” for overseas recruits in an attempt to “boost diversity and inclusion”.It also features a story about claims there are ongoing issues with the Post Office Horizon software, resulting in postmasters continuing to receive demands for thousands of…

Elementor #584792February 11, 20241 Min Read Summary of the Top 6 headlines today Sunday Mirror – King Charles: My Heartfelt thanks to youThe Sunday Mirror also carries the King’s first words since his diagnosis. The paper adds comments from Queen Camilla that the family has been “touched” by the public’s support.In other news, Sara Davies MBE is reported to have “begged” her Strictly Come Dancing co-star Amy Dowden to have chemotherapy for breast cancer. Today’s top stories…

Elementor #584786February 11, 20241 Min Read Summary of the Top 6 headlines today The Sun On Sunday – Star Billie in love splitThe Sun leads with actress Billie Piper’s split with her partner of eight years, musician Johnny Lloyd. Like many other Sunday papers, the tabloid also features the King’s thanks to the public for its support following his cancer diagnosis.The front page is shared with King Charles’s thanks to the nation for their support…

Several front pages feature images of King Charles expressing gratitude to the nation for its support following his cancer diagnosis.

Away from royal news, the upcoming by-elections next week also make the front pages. There are reports on internal fears over the Tory party suffering a massive loss. The fears come amid a tough time for the prime minister, who’s been involved in two contentious stories last week.

The Independent leads on Commons leader Penny Mordaunt who said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ‘should reflect on’ gender jibe made in the House of Commons during Wednesday’s PMQs.

No 10 and the PM have rejected calls to apologise after Sunak made the jibe in front of Brianna Ghey’s mother – who was in the House during the session.

The Guardian reports that campaigners and unions are “furious” with Sir Keir Starmer for U-turning on his £28bn green investment plan. It calls the move “the most controversial U-turn of Keir Starmer’s leadership” and says it has prompted an angry response from environmental groups, trade unions and some in the energy sector.

The paper quotes the Unite union saying Labour risks “outsourcing their policy-making to the Conservatives”.

The Metro’s front page leads on a conspiracy theorist’s claim that the Manchester Arena bombing was faked. A high Court has described the claims as “absurd and fanatical”. Richard Hall is being sued by a father and daughter who were both badly injured in the 2017 attack.

Hall claimed the attack was part of a government exercise and that survivors lied about their injuries.

The Sun reports on plans to introduce a blue card into football that would see players sent to a 10-minute sin bin. The paper says football fans have reacted with fury over the sin-bin plans.

The paper says the move would add to the “confusion” caused by the video assistance referee system (VAR), which critics have said slows down the game and fails to improve the quality of the decisions made.

The prime minister is going to “come out fighting” against Labour’s “dirty politics”, according to the Daily Express. The paper reports Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to divert attention away from dropping his flagship green policy by calling on Rishi Sunak to apologise to Brianna Ghey’s family over comments at PMQs.

A Tory source has accused Sir Keir of using the death of Brianna Ghey, a transgender teenager who was murdered in a park in February last year, to “distract from his party’s chaos”.

Zelensky sacks Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi Ukraine’s president has sacked Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, amid speculation of a rift between them. Gen Zaluzhnyi had overseen Ukraine’s military efforts since the onset of the conflict. In a presidential decree, Battle-hardened Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi was named as his successor, marking the most significant change to Ukraine’s military leadership since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasised the need for…

Boat sinks off Tunisia with more than 40 Sudanese on board A Tunisian official has reported that at least 13 Sudanese migrants lost their lives and 27 others remain unaccounted for after their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia. Only two individuals from the vessel managed to survive, with search operations ongoing to find those missing.  This tragic incident adds to a series of disasters affecting migrants attempting to make the dangerous journey across…

Votes are currently being counted following yesterday’s general election in Pakistan, which was marred by the suspension of mobile phone and internet services and violent unrest. Many analysts consider this to be among Pakistan’s least credible elections, and the release of results has been notably sluggish compared to previous votes.

Four dead in clashes over India mosque demolition Violence erupted in a northern Indian state, resulting in at least four deaths, following the demolition of a mosque by authorities who claimed it was constructed illegally. The unrest unfolded in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani town during what police described as an “anti-encroachment drive.” Officials stated that the initiative aimed to remove unauthorised constructions, including the mosque and an adjacent madrassa (religious school). However, Muslim worshippers at the mosque…

Pakistanis are heading to the polls today, in elections for the national and provincial assemblies will be taking place today. 

Has PM opened door to Boris Johnson come back? – asks the front page of the Daily Express newspaper.
Rishi Sunak today opens the door to Boris Johnson’s political comeback and tells of his pride in their time working together.

The Prime Minister admits there are “well-documented differences” between them but revealed he talked to his former boss just a few months ago.

Prince William returns to work – that’s the headline for the Sun.

Rishi Sunak is slammed for his tone-deaf transgender comments in the House of Commons – that’s the headline on the front page of the Mirror.