Author: WTX News Editor

Pope Francis gives women historic right to vote at meeting Pope Francis has announced that women will be allowed to vote at an influential meeting of bishops in October for the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Five religious sisters will now have voting rights at the synod, which is a papal advisory body.  In the past, women could only attend as observers. Men will still cast the majority of the…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Thursday’s front pages report on a variety of topics including details on who’s attending the May coronation of King Charles, UK politics, and the start of the Donald Trump rape trial. Several of this mornings papers leave space to report on Manchester City’s 4-1 win over league leaders Arsenal – in a game described at the title decider. Anger over coronation invites The Daily Telegraph expresses anger over China’s…

The bomber planned the attack which killed 183 people.

The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday a series of legislative proposals to reform the EU’s fiscal rules.

The Metro – Run for your lives Summary of the front page The Metro says the first plane-load of British people evacuated from Sudan has landed in Cyprus – hours after they were told to dash unescorted through its embattled capital to an airstrip. “Run for your lives” headlines Metro as it pictures the first RAF plane setting off to Sudan. The paper observes the move was a “rapid U-turn” on advice a day earlier advising…

Financial Times – Biden asks for time to finish the job with a second term in the White House Summary of the front page The Financial Times says US President Joe Biden announced he will seek a second term in the White House and has asked for “time to finish the job.” The paper notes the announcement ends months of speculation and “fires the starting gun” on a campaign that could see a rematch of the…

The Guardian – Charles undermined Queen over plan to sue Murdoch, says Harry Summary of the front page The Guardian reports on Harry’s legal action against News Group Newspapers over phone hacking is also revealing more divisions within the Royal Family. The paper reports on Harry’s claim Queen Elizabeth II had herself threatened Rupert Murdoch’s media firm with legal action – but was “undermined” by the then-Prince Charles. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave…

Daily Mirror – Food banks heartbreak Summary of the front page The Daily Mirror says desperate families received three million emergency food parcels last year. “Food banks heartbreak” headlines the paper. It says figures from the Trussell Trust charity reveal one million children needed emergency food parcels last year. It pictures Newcastle striker Callum Wilson who says he used food banks. “I was that child once,” he explains. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave…

Daily Express – Surely, a tax cut boost is now on the cards? Summary of the front page The Daily Express says Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is being urged to “cut tax as soon as possible” to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis. The paper carries a quote from ex-cabinet minister John Redwood who said: “Cut taxes now.” The paper observes economists believe the chancellor has plenty of “wiggle room” to cut the…

The Sun – Robbie: I’m done with sex Summary of the front page The Sun concentrates on intimate details of the love life of Robbie Williams. Elsewhere, the paper reports on UK evacuation in Sudan. The paper suggests that what it calls the “shambolic” response to the crisis may be because many Foreign Office staff are still working from home. Under the headline “shirk force” it asks: “how urgent and co-ordinated could any effort be to…

Singapore executes man for supplying cannabis Singapore has executed a man for conspiring to traffic cannabis, despite appeals for clemency from his family, activists, and the United Nations. Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was hanged on Wednesday for a plot to smuggle 1kg (35oz) of cannabis. Activists argued that he had been convicted on weak evidence and had limited legal access during his prosecution, but Singaporean authorities defended the country’s tough anti-drug laws, saying they are necessary…

Breaking – Prince William secretly settled phone-hacking claim, court told Prince William was paid a “very large sum” by the owners of The Sun to settle historical phone hacking claims, court papers show. Documents disclosed at the High Court have alleged there was a “secret agreement” between Buckingham Palace and News Group Newspapers.

The Metro – Get them out Summary of the front page The last waltz – the Metro’s lead image features former Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman who has died aged 78. Goodman had been diagnosed with bone cancer. “Get them out” headlines the Metro as it reports on British troops reaching Sudan to check if an evacuation of 4,000 UK nationals from the east African nation is possible. The paper carries a quote from…

The Guardian – CBI admits future in doubt after failing to ‘filter out toxic people’ Summary of the front page The uncertain future of the CBI following a series of shocking revelations is The Guardian’s front page lead. The business group admitted it failed to “filter out culturally toxic people” from its ranks. The organisation’s president Brian McBride said in a letter to its members it had “made mistakes” and “badly let down” its staff. The…

Daily Express – A pledge from our PM to hearten Britain’s women Summary of the front page The Daily Express splashes on a story about Rishi Sunak pledging his unwavering commitment to preserving women’s rights across Britain. Mr Sunak writes in the paper: “I know what a woman is – and I will protect women’s rights and women’s spaces.” He adds biological sex really matters when it comes to women’s spaces, women’s prisons, changing rooms,…

Daily Mirror – 71 NHS doctors trapped Summary of the front page The Daily Mirror writes Downing Street has been urged to rescue 4,000 Britons including 71 NHS doctors trapped in Sudan. The paper reports many had travelled with family members and children to celebrate Eid with relatives. The staff, a mixture of UK citizens and visa holders, had formed a WhatsApp group to stay in touch as the conflict escalated. Today’s top stories Like…

The Sun – SEVEN: No Len you were a perfect 10 Summary of the front page The Sun pays tribute to ‘Strictly’ judge Len Goodman, who died at the age of 78. The front page leaves a small amount of space to report the UK ambassador to Sudan was on holiday when the violence broke out. On the Sudan story, in its leader column, the paper says there are “deeply uncomfortable reminders” of that process,…

The Boeing 737-800 plane set off from Kathamandu and was heading to the international airport in Dubai when one of the engines burst into flames.

UK to begin evacuating British nationals from Sudan The Guardian says British military flights are preparing to evacuate UK nationals from Sudan after a 72-hour ceasefire was agreed. The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, announced that an evacuation would begin on Tuesday after ministers came under pressure to help at least 2,000 citizens flee fierce fighting. Flights leaving an airfield outside the capital, Khartoum, will open to British passport-holders, with certain groups being prioritised. The Foreign…

British doctor shot in leg as he rescued mother and daughter in Sudan The Independent says A British doctor trapped in Sudan has been shot in the leg as he “risked his life” to rescue his elderly mother, his daughter has revealed. The doctor, who retired recently after working in the NHS for over 30 years, was visiting his family in Khartoum for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr when fierce clashes between the country’s two top…

Brit troops ‘fly into Sudan’ while UK ‘works out evacuation plan’ The Metro says British troops have been flown into Sudan to help evacuate those who are stranded in the crisis-hit country. Soldiers have been sent on a reconnaissance mission to eastern Sudan, it has been reported. Yesterday the SAS conducted a dramatic rescue mission to get British diplomats and their families out of Sudan. However, thousands of UK citizens are believed to remain in…

Former BBC studio is now a luxury apartment on sale for £2.5million A former warehouse owned by the BBC has been converted into a luxury apartment block, with a flat now on sale for £2.5 million. Woodstock Studios in Hammersmith, London, was built in the 1880s and has featured in many shows over the years, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The 3,000 sq ft apartment is spread across three floors and includes two double bedrooms,…

Star Sport – RoMANCS of the Cup The back page of the Star reports on Manchester United’s win over Brighton on penalties, booking their spot in the FA cup finals where they’ll face Manchester City – who are chasing the treble. The back page also reports on Tottenham’s 6-1 loss against Read the back pages here

Metro – Escape from Khartoum Summary of the front page The Metro leads on the evacuation of UK diplomats and their dependents from Sudan, saying the SAS led the way. The paper calls it a daring night-time dash with special forces to a secret airfield. The paper says hundreds of Brits “fear they are trapped” and that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said help is “severely limited”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment…

The Guardian – Armed forces evacuate UK embassy staff from Sudan Summary of the front page The Guardian leads with the armed forces evacuating British diplomats and their families from war-torn Sudan. The PM described the mission as “complex and rapid.” But there is dismay amongst British nations still trapped in Sudan as they feel the government has abandoned them. The lead image features Ethiopian-born Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan who won the women’s elite race…