Home Secretary Yvette Cooper plans to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military planes. If Parliament approves, supporting the group could lead to up to 14 years in jail.
Author: WTX News Editor
Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government’s welfare reform plans, with over 100 MPs backing an amendment that could effectively kill off the flagship welfare bill.
Cliff Notes Oliver Holbourn, currently the CEO of NatWest’s RBS International, is the leading candidate to head the National Wealth Fund after John Flint’s resignation. Holbourn has a background in Whitehall, previously managing UK Financial Investments, which handled taxpayer stakes in key UK banks. The National Wealth Fund aims to attract over £70bn in private investment for high-risk projects across various sectors to stimulate economic growth. NatWest exec Holbourn leads race to run National Wealth…
Tuesday’s front-page headlines feature various reports on the latest from the Middle East. Several newspapers report on the ceasefire agreed between Iran and Israel, brokered by the United States, whilst others focus on Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases after the United States decided to enter the Israeli war against Iran over the weekend. A handful of papers weigh up the UK’s role if the war were to escalate, it comes after criticism that the UK has been slow to back the United States’ attack on Iran.
There have been a number of reports of downed rockets in Amman, in Jordan. The rockets fired from Iran towards Israel have been intercepted by Jordan and also have fallen in Jordan due to GPS blocking software. Amman residents reported seeing dozens of Israeli and Iranian rockets crossing over their residential areas. These have become a common occurrence over the last few weeks. GPS jamming – Reports of downed rockets in Amman The main reason…
At least 25 individuals were killed and 146 wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for aid trucks in Gaza. Among those injured, 62 are reported to be in critical condition.
For a second day running, the Israel-Iran conflict leads the way as Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two nations. It comes after the US joined Israel in bombing Iran over the weekend, claiming to have wiped out Iran’s nuclear sites. Iran has returned retaliatory strikes on US bases in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Despite the US President announcing a ceasefire and Israel confirming it, it’s unclear how accurate this is. Iran has denied a ceasefire and has continued striking Israel.
It’s set to be a difficult week for the prime minister as Labour backbenchers mount a rebellion over cuts to welfare.
Ahead of the NATO summit this week, the UK is amongst the countries agreeing to up defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
The home secretary has moved quickly to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror law. It comes just a day after activists broke into an RAF base and vandalised two military planes.
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran was announced by Donald Trump after 12 days of intense conflict involving strikes on Iranian nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan) and Iranian missile attacks, including one on a U.S. base in Qatar.
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced her intention to ban the direct-action group Palestine Action under anti‑terrorism laws, placing it alongside organisations like Hamas and ISIS, after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and vandalised two military aircraft with red paint.
Over 100 Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government’s welfare reform bill, supporting a formal amendment to block its progress until further consultation and comprehensive impact assessments, especially regarding disabled people, are carried out.
Donald Trump announced non-retaliation against Iran’s missile attack, framing US intervention as a preventive measure to avoid foreign wars, showcasing strategic success without American casualties.
Two young bears, Mish and Lucy, escaped their enclosure at a wildlife park and consumed a week’s worth of honey during their brief freedom.
Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK’s intention to boost defence, security, and resilience spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, despite critics labelling the move as “smoke and mirrors” with no immediate cash promises.
A “complete and total ceasefire” between Israel and Iran has been announced by Donald Trump, set to begin shortly after his announcement on Truth Social.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Vladimir Putin may attack a NATO country within five years to test the alliance, although he believes Putin is not currently ready for immediate action.
Iran has launched missile attacks on a US military base in Qatar and claims it was a “successful response” to recent US strikes on its nuclear sites.
Qatar reported no casualties at the US al Udeid military base after air defences intercepted Iranian missiles targeting the facility.
The week so far has been dominated by the Israel-Iran conflict with a shaky ceasefire currently in place. Donald Trump’s remarkable outburst on TV sent shockwaves around the globe, as a leaked US intelligence report suggests the US bombing of Iran did little damage to Iran’s nuclear efforts – Trump denies this.
The NATO summit is currently underway with members committing to spending 5% of GDP and signing security deals with each other amid an increasingly unstable world.
India has sent its first astronauts into space for the first time in 41 years. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s piloting the mission, has become only the second Indian to travel to space.
There are fears of widespread protests across Kenya today, marking the first anniversary of last year’s mass protests over tax hikes. Violence spiralled last year, and there are fears the nationwide protests this year could be similar.
Both Europe and North America have been experiencing heat waves this week, as weather warnings are put in place amid growing hospitalisations.
Plenty is happening across the globe for you to enjoy this week, regardless of where you are based! If you want to watch a bit of football, you’ve got the Club World Cup and the UEFA Championships (the women’s Euros is coming up in July). The world-famous Glastonbury Festival kicks off, and so does Donauinselfest – Europe’s largest open-air festival. You’ve also got Paris Fashion Week and International Olympic Day ahead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles at Windsor Castle prior to discussions with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding defence strategies against Russia.
The EU has been focused on NATO’s defence spending, with members agreeing to up spending to 5% of GDP (except Spain). European leaders are preparing to deal with Donald Trump again at the NATO summit, after several EU members called for retaliatory tariffs on the USA.
The war in the Middle East and Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine have also made up a lot of this week’s European headlines. Kyiv has suffered another heavy bombing, and there have been reports that the EU is considering suspending its partnership with Israel over its genocide in Gaza.
The EU and Canada have strengthened their ties with a new partnership and talks of digital trade and deeper cooperation on AI. The EU-Canada summit comes just before NATO.
The continent (including the UK) has experienced a lovely heatwave last week, and whilst it may have ended for the UK, much of the rest of Europe is still basking in the sun – get out and see our incredible continent and all it has to offer, as the summer break begins for some – and is creeping close for the rest of us!
France and Germany have joined forces in calling for a measured yet assertive EU response to proposed U.S. tariffs on aircraft and aircraft parts, part of Washington’s broader 20% levies on EU imports.
Recent flight tracking data indicates a significant increase in US military aircraft movement towards the Middle East, with 52 planes detected over the eastern Mediterranean in just a few days.
The week so far has been dominated by the Middle East crisis as news of an Israel-Iran ceasefire broke early on Tuesday, only to come to an end a few hours later. It’s unclear if Iran ever agreed to the short-lived ceasefire, and now the world waits anxiously to see what happens next.
Away from the Middle East, there has been a handful of domestic news stories worth taking a glance at. GPs in England can start prescribing weight loss drugs on the NHS, Palestine Action is to be prescribed as a terrorist organisation after two members vandalised two RAF planes – a move dubbed extreme by many and has seen significant backlash for the Labour government. It has not been an easy week for the prime minister or his government so far, with a major rebellion on the way over Labour’s welfare bill cuts. It could end up doing permanent damage to the PM and his government. With the Nato summit around the corner, the prime minister will be focusing on international affairs, but what’s happening at home may cost him come election time.