Author: WTX News

Joe Biden’s ‘Black and Tans’ gaffe was unfortunate – he might want to stick to the script from now on Sky News says It had all been going so well. The serious political business of the day dispensed with, Joe Biden left Belfast and broke for the border. Arriving for the first day of ancestral exploration in County Louth, he was taken on a tour of Carlingford Castle, the last sight his great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan would have seen in 1849 as he sailed away to a new life in America. The rain sheeted down, the cold was something from the…

North Korea missile launch sparks confusion in Japan North Korea’s missile launch on Thursday caused panic and confusion in northern Japan, with residents being told to evacuate immediately. However, the evacuation order was retracted within half an hour after it was confirmed that the missile did not land near the island. Tensions have been rising in the region as North Korea has already fired 27 missiles this year. The missile launched on Thursday flew about 1,000 km, which South Korea’s military called a “grave provocation.” Details about the weapon tested have not been made public yet. Japanese coast guards said…

US thinks UN chief too accommodating to Moscow, leaked files suggest The latest revelation from a series of leaked US classified documents suggests that the US believed the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is too willing to accommodate Russian interests. The leaked documents appear to suggest that Washington has been watching Mr Guterres closely, and contain other observations on topics such as the war in Ukraine and several African leaders. One of the leaked documents focuses on the Black Sea grain deal brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022, following fears of a global food crisis. It suggests…

The Guardian – Police launch investigation into sexual misconduct claims at CBI Summary of the front page The Guardian says police have started an investigation into claims of sexual misconduct at the CBI. The paper was the first to report on sexual misconduct claims at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The inquiry was announced after the organisation’s boss, Tony Danker, was sacked over separate allegations. Mr Danker has said he was “shocked” at being dismissed instead of being asked to give his version of events. The paper says Britain’s most prominent business group is now battling to secure its…

Daily Mirror – Nurse murder trial: ‘Poisoner’ on the baby ward Summary of the front page The FT reports that Ernst & Young has scrapped plans to split up its audit and consulting businesses. An image of yesterday’s junior doctors’ strike kicking off in England sits atop the paper, but the business paper’s main focus is the news that Big Four firm EY has scrapped plans to break up its audit and consulting businesses after “months of internal disagreement”. Elsewhere there is the claim that the Confederation of British Industry is “fighting for its reputation” following the sacking of its boss…

Metro – Gone in 360 seconds Summary of the front page The Metro says a mobile phone is stolen – on average – every six minutes in London, with 91,000 reports of phone theft in the last year. “Gone in 360 seconds” is the main headline which refers to new data showing the rate at which mobile phones are being stolen in London. “A shocking 91,000 reports of phone theft were made last year – equivalent to 248 a day, or one every 360 seconds,” the paper reports, adding just 2% of cases ended with the recovery of a device. Today’s…

Daily Express – Wimbledon has handed Putin a ‘win’ Summary of the front page The Daily Express says Ukraine’s foreign minister believes Wimbledon has “handed Putin a victory” by allowing Russian players to compete this year.He accuses tennis chiefs at the All England Club of “lacking courage” by allowing Russian and Belarusian players at this year’s tournament, after what he calls last year’s “noble” decision to implement a ban. The paper warns that the Princess of Wales – as patron of the club – could be put in the “awkward position” of handing a winner’s trophy to a competitor from…

Daily Mirror – Coronation chaos fear Summary of the front page The Mirror says coronation plans are in “turmoil” due to late problems such as whether Prince Harry will attend and an overrunning rehearsal. The paper also gives a top spot to the news that suspected pipe bombs were found at a cemetery near the city of Londonderry yesterday, hours before US President Joe Biden arrived in Belfast – 70 miles (112km) away – to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

The Sun – I found world’s biggest spider in my bananas Summary of the front page The Sun gives over its front page to a story about a shopper who got more than they bargained for when they bought a bunch of bananas. The front page notes on the engagement of Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

Why is there no PMQs today? There is no Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today as the House of Commons remains on its Easter recess. Most Wednesdays see PM Rishi Sunak face off against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, but whilst the House is in recess, PMQs is cancelled. When is PMQs back? Parliament returns from its Easter break on Monday 17 April, so the next PMQs will be on Wednesday 19 April, at its usual time of midday. The session – like always – will be live-streamed on the UK Parliament YouTube channel, and airs live on BBC News and…

New Zealand cabinet reaches gender equality for the first time Aotearoa New Zealand now has an equal number of men and women in its cabinet for the first time in history.  This milestone was reached after Northland MP Willow-Jean Prime, who is of Māori descent, was promoted as a cabinet minister. There are now 10 women and 10 male members in the cabinet.  Aotearoa New Zealand’s 2020 election resulted in one of the world’s most diverse parliaments, with the highest number of female lawmakers in the OECD, as well as a number of Māori and LGBTQ+ MPs. PM Chris Hipkins…

Civil settlement reached over Grenfell Tower fire claims Arconic, the cladding company involved in the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, has settled civil claims with more than 900 people, including survivors, bereaved family members, and residents.  The fire killed 72 people, and the settlement is separate from the ongoing inquiry chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick.  Arconic has also agreed to contribute to a restorative justice project for the affected community. The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, which was appointed by the local council to manage its housing stock, said that while the settlement would not mitigate the loss…

Leaked documents show NATO forces on the ground in Ukraine war The UK, France, the US and other NATO countries have special forces operating in Ukraine, according to just one of the dozens of documents leaked online. The US is investigating how the documents were leaked and have opened a criminal investigation. “We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. The leaked documents, some marked “top secret”, contain sensitive information about the Ukraine war, including plans for Ukraine’s spring counter-offensive.…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk No one story dominates Wednesday’s front pages, with headlines about the upcoming Coronation to junior doctors’ strike, Joe Biden arrives in Northern Ireland to mark the Good Friday Agreement 25th anniversary to the news that the UK economy is heading for the worst growth in the G7.   Good Friday Agreement 25th anniversary US President Joe Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is the subject of coverage in several UK newspapers. The Times reports on his vow to maintain peace while also highlighting warnings from nationalists…

Metro – Is there a doctor in the house? Summary of the front page The “biggest strike in NHS history” is due to hit “hundreds of thousands of patients” as junior doctors launch a four-day walkout, the Metro reports. The paper says GPs are expected to be hit as well and 250,000 operations are expected to be cancelled. The front page looks at the successes of BGT contestants over the years. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

The Guardian – Junior doctors’ strikes could run until general election Summary of the front page The Guardian reports junior doctors could keep striking for another year in their “bitter pay dispute with the government” despite the growing alarm from NHS leaders about patient care. The paper says Tory “neglect” has been blamed for 3.6 million abandoned calls to NHS 111 in England in the past 12 months. It says the helpline is supposed to make it quicker and easier for patients to get the right advice or treatment they need but the paper says data produced for the Liberal Democrats…

Daily Express – Don’t get ill: Doctors’ strike is going to hurt Summary of the front page The Daily Express says NHS leaders have warned patients will suffer as junior doctors strike for four days this week. Dr Carter’s warning that the action is “going to hurt” leads the coverage, with the added detail that health and government officials are warning the public to avoid “risky behaviour”. There is also a large image of Princes William and Harry in military uniform, with the promise that a “sensational” new TV series will explain “why Harry went to war and not” his…

The Sun – Queen: Send Wills & Harry to war Summary of the front page The Sun reports the Queen wanted both Prince William and Prince Harry to go to war. A new ITV documentary reveals that the late Queen Elizabeth II wanted both her grandsons to “join the war in Afghanistan”, the paper reports, attributing the information to retired British Army officer Sir Mike Jackson who is said to have “broken strict protocol by revealing details of his private audience with the monarch”. Britain’s Got Talent gets another top spot on the front page. Today’s top stories Like this…

Daily Mirror – We save lives for £14 an hour Summary of the front page The Daily Mirror reports junior doctors are being paid as little as £14 an hour to carry out vital operations. Citing the British Medical Association (BMA) union as its source, the paper claims a junior doctor with 10 years’ experience is paid about £28 an hour while one with a year’s experience gets just £14.09. There is also a look ahead to the new series of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, featuring new judge Bruno Tonioli, which starts this weekend. The front page also pictures Prince…

Real cost of junior doctors’ strike revealed in leaked NHS documents The Independent says The junior doctors’ strike will lead to caesarean births being cancelled, an increase in the number of mental health patients detained, and issues transferring the critically ill for urgent care, according to leaked NHS documents that show that the impact of the 96-hour walkout will reverberate through the NHS for months to come. The action over pay, which begins on Tuesday, will compromise critical care and major trauma services, while there will even be a delay to funerals because doctors will not be available to issue…

Junior doctors strike could force cancellation of 350,000 appointments The Metro says An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled because of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA). Doctors today mounted picket lines outside hospitals from 7am and will stay on strike until Saturday morning. Managers have said patient care is ‘on a knife edge’ because of the strike and the suggested number of cancelled appointments could rise by 100,000. National medical director of NHS England Professor Sir Stephen Powis said he expects the figures to be ‘considerably more than the 175,000’. He told BBC…

Junior doctors stage major strike action The Guardian says Junior doctors across England are walking out on a four-day strike this morning, in a worsening dispute over pay which threatens huge disruption to the NHS. An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled as a result of the action that follows years of real-terms pay cuts that the government refuses to rectify. Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) have been mounting picket lines outside hospitals for the past hour, and will do so until Saturday morning, in the longest stoppage of the wave of unrest. Nurses, ambulance crews…

Europe migrant crisis: Italy attempts to save 1,200 people on overcrowded boats off coast of Sicily Two large-scale operations are being conducted by the Italian coastguard to rescue approximately 1,200 migrants from overcrowded boats off the coast of Sicily. One boat is carrying around 800 people, while the other has around 400 passengers.  Since Friday, the coastguard has already saved about 2,000 individuals from other operations. Despite the right-wing coalition government’s efforts to curb irregular migration, migrant arrivals to Italy have increased steeply compared to the same period last year. An unofficial hotline for migrants in distress, Alarm Phone, reported…

The Guardian – UK is not close to being racially just society, finds two-year study Summary of the front page The Guardian reports on a study that finds the UK is not close to being a racially just society. The paper reports that more than a third of people from ethnic and religious minorities have experienced racially-motivated physical or verbal abuse in their lifetime. It says the two-year study concludes that the UK “is not close to being a racially just society”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous Next

The i – Pharmacists drafted in to offset hospital strike chaos Summary of the front page The i reports on the four-day strike by junior doctors in England that will begin on Tuesday Morning. The i newspaper reports on contingency planning. The paper says that “GPs, pharmacists and matrons are being drafted in” to help cope with the disruption. The front of the paper also previews a story about ‘Operation Coronation’, with details of the big event next month. Inside it has an opinion piece from the BBC’s former royal correspondent Jennie Bond on Camilla, the Queen Consort. Today’s top…