Author: WTX News

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Thursday’s front pages report on various stories, including several stories on the former prime minister Boris Johnson, Julie Goodyear’s dementia diagnosis and the latest royal news.  The Times reports PM Rishi Sunak is preparing to approve Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list, which is set to be published in the coming weeks. The paper also reports that former Cabinet ministers Nadine Dorries and Sir Alok Sharma might resign as MPs to accept peerages, potentially leading to two by-elections in the autumn. The Guardian also leads on former prime minister Boris Johnson. The paper says Johnson…

A Chinese warship approached an American Navy destroyer in ‘an unsafe manner’, according to the US command.

‘When I’m forced to hide my identity it’s though I’m a walking corpse – I don’t feel alive.’

The Guardian – Government accused of cover up over battle for Covid evidence Summary of the front page The Guardian reports that Labour and Liberal Democrats have accused the government of a cover-up over its opposition to handing over Boris Johnson’s unredacted WhatsApp messages and notebooks to the official COVID-19 inquiry. The paper also says the PM is facing mounting calls from within his own party to hand over the messages. Some of the relatives of some who died in the pandemic are questioning “what ministers have to hide”. But a spokesperson for Mr Johnson has also told the paper…

The Independent – Boris’s WhatsApps: Who’s telling the truth and who’s bluffing? Summary of the front page The Independent reports on what it describes as an “extraordinary row” over former prime minister Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages being shared with the official COVID-19 inquiry. The paper says the claims and counterclaims about who has handed over what mean the whole episode is at risk of descending into farce. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Metro – Teacher lost job for taking on teen yobs Summary of the front page The Metro reports that a teacher has lost his job after writing a Facebook post taking on teenagers who made threats against his wife. Michael Flynn, 52, tells the paper: “I’m the victim of a crime, yet I’m being punished.” The front page also reports on the latest from Chelsea football club. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Daily Star – Spy who came in from the cod Summary of the front page A beluga whale “spy” which four years ago was found with an apparent Russian-made harness has been spotted again, this time near Sweden’s coast, the Daily Star reports. The headline reads: “Spy who came in from the cod”. The paper says a beluga whale is thought to have been trained to spy for Russia. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Daily Mirror – Running & hiding Summary of the front page A senior Liberal Democrat MP has made claims of a COVID-19 inquiry cover-up after the Cabinet Office claimed it no longer held Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages and notebooks from his time as prime minister, according to the Daily Mirror. The paper carries a picture of Mr Johnson out for a jog on Tuesday alongside the headline: “Running & hiding”. It says the relatives of people who died in the pandemic have added their voices to those calling for the documents to be handed over but that the Cabinet Office…

The Sun – Defiant Holly back on Monday ward Summary of the front page The Sun reports that Holly Willoughby will return to This Morning on Monday, in the wake of the controversy around her former co-presenter Phillip Schofield. The paper quotes former host Eamonn Holmes saying Willoughby should “follow Phil out the door” but says she remains “defiant”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

MPs ‘to question ITV’ over Phillip Schofield’s affair with younger colleague The Guardian says MPs are reportedly planning on questioning ITV executives over This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield’s affair with a younger male colleague. It came as the Prince’s Trust said it had dropped Schofield as an ambassador. “In light of Phillip’s recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together,” a spokesperson for the charity said on Tuesday. The Telegraph said that members of the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee will use next week’s televised session to question…

Phillip Schofield feeds young lover whiskey during resurfaced This Morning clip: ‘Let’s get the elf smashed’ The Metro says Phillip Schofield gulped whiskey with the young lover he admitted to having an affair with on a resurfaced This Morning segment. The former Dancing On Ice presenter, 61, quit ITV with ‘immediate effect’ after confessing to having an ‘unwise’ but ‘not illegal’ relationship with the man, who worked as a runner on the daytime show. In a 2016 clip from the show, which Schofield formerly presented alongside Holly Willoughby, 42, the runner dressed up as an elf for a Christmas segment…

North Korea says spy satellite launch crashed into sea North Korea has said that its planned satellite launch failed resulting in the satellite crashing into the sea. The launch, which Pyongyang had scheduled before 11 June, was intended to enable the monitoring of US military activities. Despite the setback, North Korea has said it will attempt another launch as soon as possible.  The initial launch had triggered a false alarm in South Korea’s capital Seoul, causing confusion and chaos among its residents. Air raids blared as well as messages to prepare for evacuation. But after 20 minutes, authorities clarified the…

India official fined £519 for draining dam to find phone An Indian government official who gained widespread attention for draining a dam so that he could retrieve his phone has been fined by the authorities. The government has ordered Rajesh Vishwas to pay 53,092 rupees (£519) for illegally pumping out millions of litres of water without seeking proper authorisation.  Vishwas had accidentally dropped his Samsung phone into the Kherkatta Dam in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Believing the device contained sensitive government data, he claimed it needed to be retrieved. However, he has faced accusations of misusing his position…

The i – Households urged to recycle less to cut waste Summary of the front page The i says the government is launching a new crackdown on waste, with the aim to reduce the quantity of non-recyclable items contaminating recycling. The paper says too many non-recyclable items – including plastic bags, toothpaste tubes, and crisp packets – are being placed in recycling bins, contaminating the recycling process, and that new advice will say they should be binned instead. The front page also delivers its review of the finale of Succession. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK…

Metro – The gloves are off Summary of the front page The Metro covers comments made by TV presenter Eamonn Holmes in the wake of the controversy surrounding This Morning star Phillip Schofield. It comes after Phillip Schofield, who resigned last week after admitting to having an affair with a younger colleague, put out a statement denying claims that the culture on the show had become “toxic”. The paper says pressure on ITV bosses was already building and that Holmes’s intervention will only deepen the crisis. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image…

Financial Times – Labour plans land valuation reform to ease housing crisis Summary of the front page Labour is planning reforms to the UK’s land valuation system in a bid to ease the country’s housing crisis, reports the Financial Times. The proposals are part of Labour’s plans to ease the housing crisis and go “far beyond recent government moves to allow ministers to make landowners sell holdings more cheaply in limited cases”. It adds that housebuilding is “set to be a big theme in the next election”. The front page also reports China is experiencing unusually hot weather, sweltering in…

Daily Star – A pint of foam please barman Summary of the front page The Daily Star reports that having a pint topped up to reduce the head is the wrong way to drink beer. The paper quotes a beer historian, who claims that a foamy pint is better for your stomach. The front page also reports on the ongoing Phillip Schofield scandal and the heatwave heading to the UK this June. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Daily Mirror – I lost my little boy … this must stop Summary of the front page A mother whose 10-year-old son was mauled to death by an XL Bully dog has called for a change in the law, the Daily Mirror reports. The grieving mother has joined the paper’s campaign to have laws about dangerous dogs overhauled. Emma Whitfield’s 10-year-old son, Jack Lis, was mauled to death by an XL Bully, a new and larger version of the American bulldog. She tells the paper that “this has to stop” and that the “government needs to act now”. The front…

Daily Express – ‘Stop banks ripping off loyal savers’ Summary of the front page The Daily Express reports that high street banks are facing demands to increase interest rates for savers – with some as low as 0.1 per cent. The high street banks are being accused of “ripping off” loyal customers by offering “unjustifiably low” returns on savings despite recent rises in interest rates, according to the Daily Express. The paper quotes former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb calling for “effective and enforced action” by regulators. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous…

Italy: Agents die when boat capsizes on Lake Maggiore The victims of the tragic boating accident on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy have been confirmed by local officials. Among the four individuals who died were two Italian intelligence agents, Claudio Alonzi, 62 and Tiziana Barnobi, 53, and a retired member of the Israeli security forces, Shimoni Erez, 50. The fourth victim was Anya Bozhkova, 50, the Russian wife of the boat’s captain. The accident occurred when the boat, carrying over 20 tourists and crew members, encountered strong winds during a birthday celebration. Reports suggest that a storm developed over the…

Thousands evacuate as Nova Scotia fights wildfires Nova Scotia is battling devastating wildfires which have resulted in the destruction of homes and the evacuation of thousands of people across the Canadian province. As of Monday, approximately 16,400 individuals have been forced to evacuate their homes near Halifax, the largest city in Nova Scotia. The region has had over 100 more wildfires compared to the previous year, fuelled by unusually dry conditions. British Colombia has also been issued an evacuation order as fires continue to rage in the western part of the country. There are currently six active wildfires in Nova…

Ukraine war: Russian air strikes target Kyiv for third night running Explosions shook the Ukrainian capital once again as Russia targeted Kyiv for the third consecutive night, resulting in several buildings catching fire.  Officials stated the fires were caused by debris falling from the explosions, as Ukraine’s air defences successfully intercepted over 20 drones. At least one person has been killed. In response to another night of drone attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine has responded with attacks on Moscow. There was only minor damage to a few buildings in the Russian capital, and there have been no reports of serious injuries,…

Lula welcomes back banned Venezuelan leader Maduro President Nicolás Maduro has made his first visit to Brazil since he was banned by the former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro in 2019. Venezuela’s Maduro was welcomed by Brazil’s new leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a summit involving leaders from across Latin America in Brasilia. Brazil’s Lula highlighted the significance of Maduro’s visit, stating it marked the beginning of the Venezuelan president’s return. He went on to say the visit marked the start of a “new era” in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Lula emphasised the need…

The Guardian – Met Police to stop going to mental health callouts Summary of the front page Met Police officers will stop going to mental health callouts unless there is a fear of a threat to life, The Guardian reports. In a letter seen by the paper, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says he will order his officers not to attend thousands of calls they get every year to deal with such incidents. The move has sparked concern amongst mental health experts who say there will be no agency available to fill the void and many have cast doubt on…

Supermarkets have hit back at the prime minister’s plan to cap prices on essential groceries, claiming they could damage efforts to cut inflation, reports the i newspaper. News of a possible cap was first reported by the Telegraph on Sunday and is said to be Downing Street’s latest policy to tackle rising costs. The paper reports the British Retail Consortium director says the price cap “will not make a jot of difference”. The i – Supermarket bosses hit back at PM’s plan to cap food prices Summary of the front page Supermarkets have hit back at the prime minister’s plan…