Author: WTX News

Financial Times – BoE lifts rate and warns inflation target will not be reached until 2025 Summary of the front page The Financial Times leads with the Bank of England raising interest rates and the warning that it will not hit its inflation target until 2025. In its Thursday update, the Bank said inflation is now not forecast to fall below the target of 2% until 2025 – but it reaffirmed its prediction that the UK will avoid a recession. The US accusing South Africa of covertly backing Russia’s war effort in Ukraine also features prominently. Today’s top stories Like…

Metro – Proof claws exist Summary of the front page “Big cat breakthrough” tops the Metro, as it reports that DNA profiling has proved a “panther-like” species roams UK countrysides. The findings come from a new documentary called Panthera Britannia Declassified. Beyonce, whose Renaissance world tour has begun, is the main image on the front. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

The Guardian – UK sends long-range missiles to Ukraine in first for west Summary of the front page The Guardian leads with Britain becoming the first Western country to provide Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles. The front page reports hours after Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said he needed more western weapons to be confident of a victory this summer, Ben Wallace, the UK defence secretary, told MPs that the missiles – which cost more than £2m each – were “now going in, or are in the country itself”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National…

Daily Express – Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Summary of the front page “Wrong, wrong, wrong!” tops the Daily Express, after expert economists attacked the Bank of England for inaccurate predictions on recession, unemployment and inflation. The paper says the “blistering criticism” comes after another day of bad cost of living news for the country. The front page has reported on Russia’s threats to the UK after news Britain will send missiles to Ukraine. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

The Sun – Phil: It’s not been easy for me or Holly Summary of the front page The Sun leads with a statement from Philip Schofield, who reportedly said the last few weeks “haven’t been easy” for him or his This Morning co-star, Holly Willoughby. It the second day in a row, the front page has led with reported tensions between daytime television presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. According to the paper, relations between the This Morning hosts have suffered in recent months. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Daily Mirror – Interest rate pain: It’s not over yet Summary of the front page The Daily Mirror leads with the Bank of England boss, Andrew Bailey, saying he will take “whatever decisions are needed” to tackle high inflation. Higher rates are yet to fully filter through to households and the economy, the Bank warned on Thursday, estimating that just a third of the impact has passed through so far. It means homeowners on fixed-rate deals will feel the impact when it is time for them to renew rather than now. The front page also reports the UK is sending…

Rail passengers face summer of strife as national strikes resume The Independent says Forty-eight hours of rail chaos is about to get under way. Travellers trying to reach the Eurovision Song Contest this Saturday and, next month, the FA Cup Final by train could find their trains cancelled by a series of strikes. As the next round of national rail strikes begins, the dispute between rail unions, train operators and ministers appears deeper than ever. In June 2022, the first national rail strikes since the 1980s began across Britain in a tangle of disputes about pay, job security and working…

Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Reports of Ukrainian breakthrough denied by Russia Reports of a potential breakthrough for Ukraine on the front line of the Ukraine-Russia conflict have been refuted by Russia, despite claims made by pro-Russia sources. The head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused regular Russian troops of abandoning positions around Bakhmut, while Russian military bloggers reported Ukrainian advances in multiple areas. However, the Kremlin dismissed these claims and denied any significant progress by Ukrainian forces. The Institute for the Study of War suggested that Ukrainian forces may have made gains in Bakhmut, pushing Russian troops back by approximately…

Australian government approves first new coal mine since elected The Australian government has granted approval for a new coal mine, the Isaac River coal mine, marking the first approval since being elected on a climate action platform. The mine, situated near Moranbah, is expected to yield approximately 2.5 million tonnes of coal over a span of five years, contributing to around 7 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. Despite scientific warnings regarding the inconsistency of new fossil fuel projects with global climate goals, the government proceeded with the approval. Various environmental groups had urged the government to reject the mine, highlighting…

Wildfire smoke from Alberta and British Columbia reaches US Widespread smoke from wildfires in Alberta, Canada has now reached parts of the US. There are currently 75 active wildfires in Alberta and 23 of them are currently considered out of control. The start of the wildfire season has been unusually active and rising temperatures are fuelling concerns of more fires starting.  Smoke from the Alberta wildfires have now reached eastern Canada and the US-Canada border, as seen in images from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Much of Canada and parts of the US northeast and mid-Atlantic regions…

Jordan Neely death: Ex-marine to be charged over New York subway death Daniel Penny, 24, is set to be charged with the manslaughter of Jordan Neely – who died on a New York subway. The ex-Marine Penny placed Neely in a chokehold, for almost 3 minutes, which caused the homeless man’s death. The killing was captured on a mobile phone and shared online. Witnesses on the same train reported that Neely was acting aggressively, but that he had not physically attacked anyone before Penny restrained him. Penny’s lawyers claim he could not have foreseen the fatal outcome. Neely was a…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Friday’s front pages are dominated by economics and the cost of living. The Bank of England has decided to raise interest rates and confirmed the UK will not fall into recession, but confirmed inflation is not forecast to fall below the target of 2% until 2025. Interest rates risen The Daily Express questions the trustworthiness of the Bank of England after its predictions of a recession and high unemployment rates were “wrong, wrong, wrong.” Expert Richard Murphy criticises the Bank’s decisions to raise interest rates calling it “cruel and pointless,” in the Daily Mirror,…

Poland is making radical reforms to its immigration and nationalization policies. Speculators are suggesting Poland is indirectly forcing Ex-Polish nationals and those living abroad to gain nationality, so they can be called up for national service. The Polish authorities feel a lack of nationalism will make them vulnerable to a potential attack from Russia. Poland is set to become one of the biggest contributors to NATO and poised to be one of the most powerful countries in Europe, because of its place within the EU and strategic location near the EU countries. Polish Citizens must now prove they are Polish…

Pakistan’s Supreme Court rules former PM Imran Khan’s arrest was illegal Pakistan’s top court has declared the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan illegal and called for him to be immediately released.  Khan was arrested on corruption charges but his lawyers argued that his detention from the court premises in Islamabad on Tuesday was unlawful. The arrest of Khan has only heightened tensions and violent protests have erupted since his arrest.  During the court proceedings, Khan claimed he had been kidnapped from the High Court and physically assaulted. Video footage showed paramilitary forces seizing and dragging Khan, who had…

Remembering Shireen Abu Akleh one year on amid calls for justice It’s been a year since the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot in the head and killed whilst reporting near a refugee camp on the outskirts of the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, she was covering an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) raid. Abu Akleh was a much-loved journalist across the Arab world, working for Al Jazeera. She is being remembered by family, friends, and colleagues today, as tributes are paid and fans celebrate her life. But amid the celebrations of her incredible life, one year on from…

Star Sport – Treble maker Like many of the back pages, the Daily Star leads on Jack Grealish’s comments that City will beat Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. The first leg saw City hold Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw, and the next game will see City with the home advantage. City are aiming to bag the treble this season and look very much set to do so. The back page features a large image of Grealish as well as a picture of goal scorer Kevin de Bryne.

Metro – Arch enemies Summary of the front page The Archbishop of Canterbury’s attack on government plans to send migrants to Rwanda is also the lead in the Metro. The Most Rev Justin Welby denounced the government’s policy on migration as “isolationist…morally unacceptable and politically impractical”, warning it will damage UK interests at home and abroad. The front page also trails an interview with Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Financial Times – Sunak ready to curb students’ family visas as net flows grow Summary of the front page The Financial Times leads on its report that the government is preparing to stop people moving to the UK in order to join family members studying here. Restrictions on visas for the families of international students will drive down net migration, ministers hope – an issue which is “politically problematic for the prime minister”. Its main picture is of a Pakistani protester aiming a catapult, one of thousands of people who have taken to the streets following the arrest of former…

The Guardian – ‘Morally unacceptable’: Welby in stinging attack on migration bill Summary of the front page The archbishop of Canterbury’s attack on the migration bill is The Guardian’s lead. Justin Welby cited concerns raised by the United Nations high commissioner for refugees that the government’s approach could damage the international system for dealing with displaced people. He asked the Lords: “Is that what we want the United Kingdom’s contribution to be in our leadership?” The main image of the front page shows the UK’s Eurovision contestant rehearsing in Liverpool. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK…

The Sun – Holly and Phil barely speaking Summary of the front page The Sun says ITV presenting duo Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are barely speaking off camera. They are no longer as close as they once were, the paper quotes an “insider” as saying. It claims the former has told ITV bosses she would be willing to continue in the This Morning job without Mr Schofield – who is currently taking a break from presenting – should he decide to quit. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Daily Express – Your attack on small boats in ‘wrong,’ Archbishop Summary of the front page The Express is one of several papers that leads on the archbishop’s comments but takes a more critical approach than other newspapers. The paper reports on the ministers hitting back at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s criticism of laws intended to stop small boat crossings. Home Office minister Robert Jenrick said Mr Welby was “wrong” to criticise the government’s strategy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made “stopping the boats” a key pledge. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous…

Daily Mirror – Hidden toll of Long Covid Summary of the front page The Mirror says 400,000 people in the UK need specialist care for long COVID. The paper leads with an investigation about the legacy of long Covid in the UK. It says two million Brits have been left with symptoms after contracting the virus, and 400,000 need specialist care. It quotes one sufferer as saying Covid-19 “has completely changed my life”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Police arrest 61 suspected Italian mafia in widespread raid Italian police have conducted a series of raids across seven regions, resulting in the arrest of 61 suspected members of the ‘Ndrangheta, Italy’s most powerful mafia. The individuals are accused of crimes such as fraud, drug trafficking, government infiltration, and extortion of local farmers. Over 500 police officers participated in the operation, targeting a total of 167 people, including those already in prison. This crackdown is part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the criminal network. Last week, a major operation involving ten countries led to the arrest of over 100…

Finnish PM Sanna Marin to divorce as she prepares to leave office Finland’s outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin and her husband Markus Raikkonen have announced their divorce after 19 years together, and three years officially married. Ms Marin, who became the world’s youngest prime minister in 2019, expressed gratitude for their time together and their shared daughter. The couple married in 2020 during Ms Marin’s leadership in the country’s pandemic response. Despite the divorce, they stated that they will remain best friends and continue to spend time together as a family. Ms Marin’s centre-left party suffered a defeat in the…

Israeli air strike kills missile commander in Gaza In a pre-dawn airstrike on a Gaza apartment, Israel targeted and killed the leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ) rocket launching force along with two other militants. This attack followed Gaza militants firing over 500 rockets into Israel. In response, the Israeli military conducted strikes on more than 130 militant targets in Gaza, resulting in 25 deaths, including civilians and PIJ commanders. Israel reported four fatalities, including three children, caused by rockets falling short in Gaza. The armed wing of PIJ confirmed the death of Ali Hassan Ghali, also known as Abu…