The ongoing choas from Trump’s tariffs are back on the UK front pages as the IMF cuts global growth rates and confirms the UK is set to be amongst the hardest countries hit. The US has received the biggest downgrade amongst advanced economies as anxiety drives gold up amid Trump’s constant attacks on the Federal Reserve boss Jay Powell. There are concerns over how independent the central bank is and general worries over the state of the US economy.
Ukraine peace talks are back on the UK front pages this morning as plans for talks in London are set to take place. Many of the papers report that the meeting has been ‘downgraded’ after US Secretary of State Mario Marco Rubio pulled out of the talks, followed by his counterparts.
Instead, London will host diplomats from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine and the US aimed at securing a ceasefire in the three-year war between Ukraine and Russia.
Global stock markets, including the Dow Jones and Nasdaq, surged by over 2% following comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding potential de-escalation in trade tensions with China, alleviating investor fears.
Wednesday’s headlines reflect the busyness of the world with stories from Europe, the US and the Middle East flooding into the UK headlines.
A little closer to home and there’s some rumblings about the prime minister saying trans women are not real women – a u-turn after the Supreme Court ruled that legally the term “woman” means a biological woman. The right wing are suggesting the prime minister should issue an apology after only coming to this conclusion after the ruling, the left wing are disappointed the prime minister has not stood by his original belief that trans women are women.
Jelly Roll, the country music star, is applying for a pardon to clear his criminal record, which includes a robbery and drug charges.
A mass grave in Rafah revealed the bodies of 15 aid workers, including paramedics and a UN employee.
Asian markets experienced a significant uptick as President Donald Trump declared his intention not to dismiss U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This comment has eased investor concerns around monetary policy continuity amid previous threats to replace Powell.
Hangzhou is emerging as a major tech hub in China, often referred to as the country’s ‘Silicon Valley’, with significant companies like Alibaba and DeepSeek leading the charge.
Elon Musk plans to reduce his time in Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to focus more on Tesla, amidst a 71% drop in the company’s first-quarter profits and ongoing sales challenges influenced by tariffs.
The Supreme Court recently ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer specifically to “biological woman and biological sex,” sparking protests from the trans community.
The canonisation of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial candidate for sainthood, has been postponed following the death of Pope Francis, with no rescheduled date announced.
Pope Francis died at the age of 88 after suffering a stroke that led to irreversible heart failure, with his condition worsening rapidly within hours of being taken ill.
Pope Francis declared the death penalty inadmissible in all circumstances, urging for its abolition and advocating for improved prison conditions to honour human dignity.
The IMF has significantly downgraded the UK’s growth forecast for this year to just 1.1%, citing the adverse impacts of the global trade war and rising inflation.
A recent meeting in Paris involved Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and senior European officials, where they discussed the non-negotiable aspects of a potential Ukraine peace deal.
The People’s Pope AS the world reacts to the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, millions of Catholics will be reflecting on the man who became affectionately known as the ‘People’s Pope.’ Political leaders paying tribute on Monday morning included President Michael D Higgins. “May I join with all those across the world, from their different stations in life, who have expressed such profound sadness on learning of the death of Pope Francis,” he said.
This week’s UK news is dominated by the death of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88. The Pope had suffered with poor health in the last few months and died of a stroke and heart failure. As tributes are paid, many are reminiscing about the 88 year old pontiffs dedication to the people, with may dubbing him the People’s Pope.
Liverpool are one step closer to winning the Premier League title thanks to Trent Alexander Arnold’s goal against Leicester City – who now find themselves joining Southampton in being relegated. Burnley and Leeds have secured promotion to the Premier League.
There is ongoing coverage of the US stock markets and the decline in the US dollar following another turbulent few weeks under Donald Trump.
As of 22 April 2025, U.S. stock markets remain volatile following the April 2nd crash, which wiped over $3 trillion in value after President Trump’s sweeping tariffs—up to 125% on Chinese imports—sparked global trade tensions.
The trade war with China continues to escalate, with the U.S. imposing steep port fees on Chinese-built vessels and restricting AI chip exports, prompting retaliatory tariffs from Beijing. China has also warned it will retaliate against countries that negotiate trade deals with the US “at the expense of China’s interests”, fuelling global tensions as the world’s two economic superpowers face off over tariffs.
These developments have contributed US dollar weakening with the Dollar Index hitting a three-year low amid investor concerns over Federal Reserve independence and economic outlook.
Cliff Notes Jean Charles de Menezes was fatally shot by police at Stockwell Underground station in July 2005, having been wrongly identified as a terrorist involved in failed bombings just days earlier. The new four-part drama, "Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes," will be available on Disney+ from 30 April, exploring the aftermath of the 7/7 attack and police investigations. Despite extensive inquiries, no police officers were charged for the shooting, though the…
The death of Pope Francis leads almost all the UK newspaper front pages this morning with heavy coverage in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – the Welsh reserve much of their coverage for online. The papers dub Pope Francis the People’s Pope in this mornings headlines and describe him as ‘groundbreaking,’ ‘modern’ and someone ‘championing the poor.’
The potential candidates to succeed Pope Francis include Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zuppi, and Jose Tolentino de Mendonca, reflecting varying levels of experience and progressive views within the Vatican.
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