Author: WTX News Editor

Front page summary Tories may be left with fewer than 100 MPsThe Times leads on recent polling which suggests the Conservatives are on course for their worst electoral defeat – and could be left with just 98 MPs.It says Labour is set to “sweep to power”, with a majority of 286, and expects the results “to reignite efforts by Tories plotting to topple the prime minister”.Elsewhere, the paper features an image of the Oxford vs Cambridge rowing…

Front page summary Labour net zero plan ‘puts UK at China’s mercy’The Sunday Telegraph reflects on what it calls the “contrasting tones” in the Easter messages of Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, with the prime minister urging people to “pause and reflect” and the Labour leader saying it is a time of “new beginnings”.The paper says “it is little wonder” the two statements are so different, with the Conservatives far behind in the polls.Elsewhere, Labour’s net…

Front page summary New wonder jab will prevent dementiaAn apparent “new wonder jab” that can “prevent dementia” sits front and centre of the Sunday Express.The paper’s exclusive report describes the new drug, known as ACI-24 – which is undergoing trials on patients in the disease’s early stages – as “game-changing” and says it “removes toxic proteins from the brain before they cause damage leading to the most common form of dementia”. Sunday Express – A Nation…

Front page summary Giovanna’s pride in Princess: I’m blown away by mate KateThe Sunday Mirror leads on an interview from its Invite Only podcast, with reality TV star Giovanna Fletcher, who explains how she was “blow away” by Catherine, Princess of Wales’s “ability to connect” with people having met the royal when they filmed an episode of her podcast in 2020.The paper says the interview took place before Catherine announced, on 22 March, that she was undergoing…

Front page summary Euros on alert over terrorThe Sunday Telegraph reflects on what it calls the “contrasting tones” in the Easter messages of Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, with the prime minister urging people to “pause and reflect” and the Labour leader saying it is a time of “new beginnings”.The paper says “it is little wonder” the two statements are so different, with the Conservatives far behind in the polls.Elsewhere, Labour’s net zero plan makes…

Fighter jets scrambled after Putin’s missiles fire dangerously close to Nato border Vladimir Putin’s barbaric bombardments on Ukraine came alarmingly close to Nato borders on Friday. Russia deployed some 99 missiles and kamikaze drones on power plants in central regions in Ukraine, deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. People were left without electricity in the latest barrage on the country’s already damaged power infrastructure. Power stations were hit in Stryi, Lviv region, and Burshtyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region, both…

Front page summary The Guardian – ‘Famine is setting in’: UN court orders Israel to unblock Gaza aidThe Guardian reports the UN’s top court has ordered Israel to allow unimpeded access to food aid in Gaza.Famine in Gaza is “setting in”, the paper reports. It quotes from a new United Nations report which warns levels of hunger and starvation are rising in the Strip. It adds to international pressure on Israel to ensure enough aid…

Front page summary The Independent – Angela Rayner tax row: Show me yours and I’ll show you mine The Independent says Angela  Rayer has challenged Tory critics over her tax affairs: ‘If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.’ The paper says Rayner has thrown down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, challenging him and two of his Conservative colleagues to publish their tax records if they want hers.The front page finds space for…

Front page summary Daily Star – Storm brings snow, sleet, rain: The full Nelson The Daily Star leads on Storm Nelson, which is set to bring snow, rain and strong winds this Easter weekend.A weather system dubbed Storm Nelson by Spanish forecasters is set to bring some distinctly wintry weather to the UK.The front page reports on the death of former TV star George Gilbey who fell to his death in a warehouse. His colleague is…

Front page summary Daily Express – ‘Disgrace’ fat cat water bosses under fire The Daily Express calls brands “fat cat water bosses” as disgraceful after Thames Water threatened bills may rise by 40%. The front page quotes Communities Secretary Michael Gove, who branded Thames Water’s leadership a “disgrace”. He also said the company’s leaders must “carry the can” for the dire financial straits it is in rather than seeking a public bailout.Camilla Parker Bowles and Dame…

Front page summary Daily Mirror – Arena victims legacy: Save lives for Martyn The Daily Mirror says a new law to protect entertainment venues from terrorists is set to be recommended after a campaign by the mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim. The Home Office document is expected to propose that venue staff have counter-terror training, and that bosses carry out stringent risk analysis. Figen Murray – whose son Martyn Hett died in the attack…

Front page summary The Sun – Gogglebox George death arrest The Sun leads on the arrest of a man in connection to the death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey.George Gilbey, 40 died after falling from a height at work. He was working as an electrician when he reportedly fell through a skylight on a warehouse roof. Essex Police said it had arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. There are reports…

Russia has terminated a United Nations expert panel responsible for overseeing sanctions against North Korea, a group that has operated for several years. Last week, the panel announced an investigation into allegations that Russia violated regulations by procuring North Korean weaponry, including ballistic missiles, for deployment in Ukraine.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ highest judicial body, has ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including opening more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into the war-ravaged enclave.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 36 people near the Syrian city of Aleppo, reports say. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says the targets were weapons stores used by Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. 

Authorities in South Africa report that forty-five have died after a bus veered off a bridge, plummeting approximately 50 meters (165 feet) into a ravine. The sole survivor, an eight-year-old girl, sustained severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital. 

Front page summary The Guardian – Outrage over record discharges of sewage into rivers and seas The Guardian reports that water companies are under fire after it emerged raw sewage was discharged into Britain’s rivers and seas for more than 3.6 million hours last year. University of Cambridge rowers training on the River Thames have been warned not to enter the water after Saturday’s boat race against the University of Oxford over E. coli fears. The paper focuses…

Front page summary The Independent – Barred from Europe: 2.4m Brits caught in Brexit passport chaos The Independent writes millions of Britons are barred from entering the EU by post-Brexit passport rules that are set to cause chaos over the Easter holidays.With the getaway starting in earnest on Thursday, an estimated 2.4 million travellers have documents that can’t be used for trips to the EU because of the change in expiry requirements.The front page features a…

Front page summary Metro – Damning report into savage death of Finley: Totally failed The Metro reports that a baby was murdered by his drug-addicted parents 39 days after being returned to them by social services. “Totally failed” headlines the paper as it reports on a safeguarding review over the death of baby Finley Boden. The paper says the “damning report” found Finley “should have been one of the most protected children”. Elsewhere, Jake Gyllenhaal appears on…

Front page summary The Sun – Gogglebox George falls to his death The Sun reports that Gogglebox star George Gilbey has died aged 40 after falling from a height at a warehouse. It comes as pals of the TV personality last night revealed he had been working hard to “turn his life around for his family” after he was jailed for three months in 2019 for drink-driving.Tributes last night flooded in for George, who had a…

Front page summary Daily Express – King calls for more kindness in time of need The Daily Express reports the King will call for more “friendship… especially in a time of need” in his Easter message. The message will be broadcast at Worcester Cathedral, where a service will be led by Queen Camilla. The paper notes the address stops short directly referring to his own and daughter-in-law’s cancer battles. Daily Express – Tory MPs: We must now…

Front page summary Daily Mirror – Day I lost my Paul Paul O’Grady and his husband Andre Portasio smile in a hot air balloon in a picture of the late broadcaster on the front of the Daily Mirror. It comes a year after the beloved TV star and comedian’s death. In an exclusive interview, Mr Portasio tells the paper: “I thought it would be forever. But I didn’t realise forever would be so short-lived.”Elsewhere, the King’s…

Thursday’s front pages carry various stories – mostly domestic news. Several of the papers report on UK politics, with speculation on a summer general election. There’s coverage of the backlash from the raw sewage spills, and King Charles’s upcoming Easter message.
A few of the tabloids lead on celebrity news, but all-in-all there isn’t much unity on the front pages this morning.

A UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories has said there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Israel is “committing the crime of genocide against the Palestinians as a group in Gaza.” 

Ethiopia’s largest bank has reported the recovery of nearly three-quarters of the $14 million (£12 million) it lost due to a technical issue that allowed customers to withdraw more funds than they had in their accounts.