Author: WTX News Editor

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.

The heatwave may be over, but the summer vibes most certainly are not! Plenty is happening across the UK this week, from arts and culture to sports and business.

The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, emphasised that armed attacks on nuclear facilities pose severe risks of radioactive releases and must not occur.

Monday’s front pages report on the United entering Israel’s war in Iran. Donald Trump claims the US bomb strike on Iran has wiped out 3 nuclear facilities and suggests a regime change is coming in Iran. The Iranians have vowed revenge against the United States, and is seeking talks with Russia.

Monday’s front pages lead with the US entering Israel’s war on Iran, as Trump declares victory, having bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming it was a total success. Iran has vowed a response. The UN has said it cannot verify the exact degree of damage the US strikes have caused, but that hasn’t stopped the US and Israel from congratulating each other. Last night, Israel continued its heavy bombing of Iran’s military infrastructure, and by this morning, Iran is returning fire. 

Ship tracking around Iran’s Tombak port shows vessels appearing to be arranged in a circle on land, indicating possible GPS interference rather than actual positioning.

There will be little surprise that Monday’s UK headlines are dominated by the latest from the Middle East after Donald Trump took everyone by surprise over the weekend and bombed Iran. It comes after Trump signalled he would give Iran two weeks to discuss ending their nuclear weapons programme. The decision to take the USA into Israel’s war is proving unpopular in the US, even amongst his supporters. There’s little support for the move this side of the pond as well, with many looking at how Prime Minister Keir Starmer will react to the bombing and whether the UK could be dragged into the war.

Oil prices surged to their highest in five months, Brent crude briefly topped $81 a barrel, after the US joined Israel in striking key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

A 22-year-old British man has been arrested at Disneyland Paris after allegedly organising a staged wedding ceremony involving a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support today for the US airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, seen as a coordinated effort with Israel to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, but simultaneously warned of the high risk of broader Middle East escalation.

Jeff Bezos is set to marry Lauren Sanchez in a luxurious multi-day wedding in Venice, with reports suggesting celebrity attendees including Oprah Winfrey and Katy Perry.

GPs begin prescribing weight-loss jabs on the NHS in England. GPs can now prescribe Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to combat obesity for the first time via the NHS.

The UK Met Office has issued yellow thunderstorm warnings for parts of northern England, northeast Wales, and the Scottish Borders, with a forecast of up to 40mm of rain within two hours, frequent lightning, hail, and gusty winds.

NATO ambassadors agreed to boost defence spending and related spending, rising from the longstanding 2 % target to a combined 5 % of GDP by 2035, ahead of next week’s Hague summit.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivered a stern warning following US airstrikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, calling the attacks a “heinous crime” that risks “everlasting consequences” for international security.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley expressed shock and frustration over a planned protest supporting Palestine Action, which the government aims to ban under anti-terror laws.

The United States has launched attacks on three Iranian uranium enrichment sites, marking its entry into the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

A suicide bomber attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, resulting in at least 22 deaths and 63 injuries, including children.

NATO ambassadors from all 32 member states approved a new spending pledge to increase defence budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035, amid concerns over threats from Russia and China.

The threat to the UK from Iran is already at a “significant level” and could increase following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a cabinet minister has told Sky News.

During an emergency Security Council meeting, Iran condemned US actions as “blatant aggression” and asserted the need for a strong global response against these “crimes.”

Israel’s UN ambassador declared that attacks on Iran will continue until the “nuclear threat” is eliminated and Iran’s military capabilities are dismantled.

The UK experienced cooler temperatures on Sunday following thunderstorms, with a yellow thunderstorm warning impacting northern England and southeast Scotland.

Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran risk escalating into a broader regional or global conflict, dependent largely on responses from Iran’s key allies, Russia and China.

Cliff Notes The Isle of Wight Festival, featuring headliners such as Justin Timberlake and Sting, is set against a backdrop of increasing political expression at music festivals, particularly in relation to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Controversy surrounds the Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, whose scheduled performance at Glastonbury has sparked debates over artistic freedom and appropriateness, especially following a band member’s recent legal issues. Promoters like John Giddings advocate for festivals to provide a break from…