Author: WTX News Editor

A powerful gas explosion in Madrid tore through a residential building in the central area of Madrid on Wednesday, killing at least three people and ripping the facade off the structure. A tower of smoke rose from the building, where repairs were being done to a gas boiler, and billowed through Toledo Street, near the city’s centre. A loud explosion from an unknown origin has partially destroyed a six-floor-tall building flanked by a school and…

IN REVIEW ‘Stop Complaining’ The Sun says when news of the latest lockdown broke, parents all over the nation were horrified at the thought of having to homeschool their kids again.Writer Samantha Brick said when lockdown 3 was announced she thought ‘here we go again’ with the mums complaining about having to homeschool. “Instead of doing something sensible – like putting together a workable strategy – they took to social media to go on about what…

Biden Inauguration Live Joe Biden is the 46th US President & Kamala Harris becomes America’s first female Vice President…………………………..Biden holds brief moment of silence for Covid victimsHe asks that those in the audience hold a silent moment of prayer “for those we’ve left behind and for our country”. First female vice-president”Here we stand 108 years ago, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote.”Today we mark the swearing in of…

Daily News Briefing: UK’s deadliest Covid-19 day, but infection rates DROP – Iran sanctions Trump – WHO ‘disappointed’ by vaccine roll-out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDZbN64kUcs Storm Christoph: Flood warnings in parts of England UK coronavirus death toll rises with highest daily record of 1,610 Germany to extend Covid-19 lockdown until mid-February WHO panel ‘discouraged & frankly disappointed’ by global Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan Don’t fall for COVID-19 vaccine conspiracies, warns Muslim scholar Iran imposes sanctions on Trump,…

Frank Lampard under pressure at the Chelsea after his team were comfortably beaten at Leicester, a fifth defeat in their past eight Premier League games. Which put the foxes back on top of the table. Goals from Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison secured a 2-0 win for the Foxes that sent them top of the table at the midway point in their season. By contrast, Chelsea, who had started December top of the table, are now eighth.…

President-elect Joe Biden in Washington DC. Making a sober entrance to the nation’s capital Tuesday, ready to assume power as America reels from the coronavirus pandemic, soaring unemployment and grave concerns about more violence as he prepares to take the oath of office today to be sworn is as President of the United States in the 2021 inauguration. He flew into a military airbase just outside the capital on Tuesday afternoon and then motorcade into…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXLMP8NTNMw The top stories Storm Christoph: Flood warnings in parts of EnglandBBC News says emergency services in the north of England are preparing for widespread flooding caused by Storm Christoph.The Environment Agency has warned of a “volatile situation” as heavy rain combines with melting snow, while police in South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester declared major incidents.An amber rain warning is in place for Yorkshire, the North West, East Midlands and the…

Protect your property as an Amber alert has been issued by the Met Office, as Storm Christoph approaches, expected to batter England, later this afternoon. Up to 70mm (2.75in) of rain is forecast to fall within 48 hours in the worst-hit areas from Tuesday. An amber rain warning has been issued for parts of northern and central England as Storm Christoph approaches. The Met Office told people in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West,…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxr0Z-dwOXE The top stories Johnson ‘glad’ to see Trump go, says ex-Civil Service head Lord SedwillBBC says Boris Johnson will be glad Donald Trump has not been re-elected as US president, ex-Civil Service head Lord Sedwill has suggested.Writing in the Daily Mail, Lord Sedwill said those who believed Boris Johnson would have preferred Mr Trump to win again were “mistaken.”He said he “would not have been to the benefit” of British…

Following Inauguration day 2021, United States President-elect Joe Biden plans to issue a number of executive orders on his first day in the White House – rescinding the controversial ban on several predominantly Muslim countries will be one of them. Shortly after taking office in 2017, Trump issued an executive order banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States. The order was reworked several times amid legal battles a version of it…

Doctor charged over stabbing of plastic surgeon in Nottinghamshire A British doctor has been charged with the attempted murder of a fellow plastic surgeon who was stabbed at his home.  The “highly regarded” surgeon Graeme Perks, 65, was seriously injured during a break-in at his home in Halam, Nottinghamshire on Thursday at about 4.15 am.  Nottinghamshire police said he was fighting for his life at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he remains in…

Drugs worth 1 billion dirhams have been seized in Abu Dhabi, local police revealed on Friday. The police arrested a gang of drug dealers and said they confiscated over one ton (1041 kilogrammes) of drugs from a gang of eight drug dealers. Police officials added that the involved gang was trying to transport the drugs to the UAE in a unique fashion by “dissolving crystalised drugs into water.” Abu Dhabi police said that the money…

It was a game that failed to justify the pre-match anticipation and Solskjaer will know his side had the better chances to claim a statement victory at Anfield. But we’re used to that Liverpool vs Man United is a fixture that rarely lives up to the hype. Both teams are always more worried about losing than trying to go for a win, Such was the tension, Pogba didn’t even manage any flicks or tricks. But…

Monday’s News Briefing Video: Trump to pardon 100 people – UK travel industry struggle – death toll climbs in Indonesia quake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JboTt_vrWNw Scrap benefits cut to stop millions falling into poverty, Boris Johnson told France launches public consultation on legalising cannabis Patients die at home as Lebanese oxygen supplies run low Indonesia quake death toll climbs as weary medics soldier on Jordan among first to vaccinate UN-Registered refugees it hosts South Africa struggles against…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JboTt_vrWNw The top stories Scrap benefits cut to stop millions falling into poverty, Boris Johnson told The Guardian says Boris Johnson cannot claim to be “levelling up” the UK if he persists with a planned cut in universal credit for 6 million families, a thinktank has said, as pressure mounts on the PM over the issue from within his own party. The Resolution Foundation joined opposition parties, anti-poverty campaigners and many…

Twenty-four-hour vaccination sites will be piloted in London Lockdown before the end of January, the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has said. While the current 8 am to 8 pm vaccination times work better for the over-80s, some areas of the UK have managed to give out first jabs to the majority of this age group. London has had a surge of cases of the Christmas period and many health officials have warned, London hospitals are…

Hong Kong COVID-19 breakout reported 107 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the highest toll in nearly a month as authorities tested thousands of residents after an outbreak in an old residential building located in a busy commercial and residential area last week. The Chinese special administrative region last recorded a triple-digit figure on Dec. 19 with 109 cases. At its peak in July 2020 the city logged 149 new infections. COVID-19 restrictions which have banned…

The youngest ever champion Yan beats Higgins in Masters Final. The 20-year-old Yan Bingtao comes from behind to beat John Higgins to become the youngest Masters champion in 26 years. Yan Bingtao’s superb fightback stunned John Higgins as he becomes the youngest Masters champion in 26 years. The youngster pinched two frames on the black, in between a 103 break to go 8-7 ahead. Higgins halted the slide with 63 but Yan’s 70 and 64…

Sunday Papers: Over-18’s vaccinated by June – ‘Quarantine hotels’ In today’s briefing update, we look at Sunday’s top stories. Most papers focus on vaccine rollout.  The recurring message in Sunday’s papers is on the Covid vaccination plans. The other stories include:  The Sun on Sunday says Brits are fed up to the back teeth with Covidiots breaking the rules.”  More than half of the people questioned in a YouGov poll for the paper felt the…

Massive earthquake in Indonesia kills at least 34, leaves hundreds injured  A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has hit Indonesia’s Sulawesi island early Friday killing at least 34 people and leaving hundreds more injured, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said.  The epicentre of the quake was 3.7 miles northeast of Majene city at a depth of 6.2 miles according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. In Majene, at least 8 people have died, 637 people have…

Friday’s News Briefing VIDEO: Biden’s $1.9tn Covid package – US Capitol ups security – Kate Winslet on being labelled ‘curvy’ – Mass vaccination roll out – Calls for furlough scheme to be extended https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl9d2__Nr4g Covid: UK’s ban on South America travellers comes into force Major UK business body calls for furlough scheme extension to July German virus cases top 2 million as Merkel urges tougher shutdown At least 26 dead after 6.2-magnitude quake strikes…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl9d2__Nr4g The top stories Covid: UK’s ban on South America travellers comes into forceBBC News says travellers from South America are now banned from entering the UK over fears of a new coronavirus variant first identified in Brazil.The new travel ban – which also applies to Portugal and Cape Verde – came into force on Friday.Like the variants that were first spotted in the UK and South Africa, it is thought…

Breaking News: Boris Johnson has not read Brexit trade agreement, Downing Street signals Downing Street has signalled that Boris Johnson has not read the full text of his EU trade deal, telling reporters only that the prime minister was “fully aware” of its contents. https://twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1349712968800473088 It comes just after the PM said he maintains confidence in the fisheries minister after she admitted not reading the post-Brexit trade deal with Brussels when it was agreed because…

Thursday’s News Briefing VIDEO: Aust concerns over Covid-19 vaccine – Man City back in title race – Gwyneth Paltrow uncomfortable with her fame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMFnpEemr4 Covid-19: High Street chemists start vaccinations in England City workers urged to complain if forced into the office Italy’s government plunged into crisis as former PM Renzi pulls support Australian scientists urge pause on deployment of AstraZeneca vaccine over efficacy concerns, suggest Pfizer or Moderna instead COVID-19 deaths soar in…

Daily News Briefing Brief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGMFnpEemr4 The top stories Covid-19: High Street chemists start vaccinations in EnglandBBC News says some High Street pharmacies in England will start vaccinating people from priority groups on Thursday, with 200 providing jabs in the next two weeks.Six chemists in Halifax, Macclesfield, Widnes, Guildford, Edgware and Telford are the first to offer appointments to those invited by letter.But pharmacists say many more sites should be allowed to give the jab, not…