It’s a wet and windy morning here in the capital, but lots is happening in the news – grab yourself a coffee and let’s dive into the headlines.
The ongoing Birmingham bin strike is a popular story in the country this morning as unions overwhelmingly rejected a deal to end the strike. Several newspapers suggest the strike could spread outside the city – and there are reports on the growing concerns over a potential health crisis as residents report streets being overrun by large rats and trash.
There is backlash from China amid the British Steel crisis – after the government dramatically took over control of the Scunthorpe plant over the weekend – as Beijing warns the UK to avoid politicising the situation. There are concerns from the top that the Chinese owners are intentionally trying to sabotage the UK steel industry to force the country to become more reliant on cheap Chinese steel.
On the international front, there are reports on the all-female Blue Origin team that took a trip to space. Katy Perry and Gayle King were amongst the crew.
The business publications continue their heavy coverage of the US tariffs saga amid an investigation into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical trade – which could lead to their tariff exemptions ending. In recent news, JD Vance has said there is a good chance the UK will secure a trade deal with the US.
In sports news, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is in hospital with pneumonia, he is set to miss more matches. Several publications look ahead to tonight’s Champions League match involving the English club Aston Villa. The Birmingham club need to overturn a 2 goal deficit.
The US FTC has initiated an antitrust trial against Meta, alleging that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were aimed at eliminating competition to maintain market dominance.
The US federal government has frozen over $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University due to its refusal to restrict campus activism, a demand from the Trump administration.
The UK government used emergency powers over the weekend to take control of British Steel’s Scunthorpe site after it looked set to close. The Chinese owners planned to shut down the Scunthorpe site, risking thousands of jobs. The government is exploring various options, including potential nationalisation, to ensure the continued operation of the steelworks. There have also been suspicions that the Chinese owners were intentionally trying to sabotage the company in a bid to force the UK to rely on cheap Chinese steel.
An investigation has been launched into how an inmate at HMP Frankland was able to attack three prison officers with boiling oil and a knife despite being in a high-security prison. The officers were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after being attacked by Hashem Adedi, one of the men responsible for the Manchester Arena bombing. He is serving a minimum 55-year sentence for helping his brother carry out the 2017 attack. Unions are calling for changes to the system to ensure their officers are safe – and to avoid copycats.
The army have been called in to help Birmingham City Council with the bin strikes that are plaguing the city and leading to reports of rats the size of cats and fears of a potential health crisis.
A week after Donald Trump unleashed his destructive and ill-thought-out tariffs on the world, US politics has stopped dominating the front splashes in the UK.
Monday’s headlines lead with domestic news such as the race to save British steel, the Army being sent in to deal with the Birmingham bin strikes and reports on the Manchester bomber plotter attacking three prison guards with boiling oil and a homemade knife.
Liverpool and Newcastle’s weekend Premier League wins dominate the sports pages.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family evacuated during Passover after an alleged arson attack on their Harrisburg residence, with police alerting them at 2am.
Merz’s CDU and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) have struck a coalition deal with the SPD to form a new government. The coalition agreement came after the CDU came in first place in snap German elections in February.
Friedrich Merz, likely Germany’s next chancellor, condemned the recent Russian missile strike in Sumy that killed at least 34, labelling it a “deliberate and calculated war crime.”
Xi Jinping’s Diplomatic Mission: Chinese President Xi Jinping has commenced a pivotal week of diplomacy in Southeast Asia, beginning his visit in Vietnam. This trip serves to reinforce China’s image as a responsible global player in contrast to the United States’ recent trade policies under President Donald Trump, particularly as the US maintains high tariffs on Chinese goods.
Cliff Notes Russia’s recent missile strikes in Sumy, targeting civilians and resulting in at least 34 fatalities, have drawn severe condemnation from US officials, including…
Cliff Notes An emergency bill has been enacted to ensure the continued operation of British Steel’s Scunthorpe blast furnaces, with powers allowing the government to…
Cliff Notes NATO allies committed nearly £20bn in additional military aid for Ukraine, with significant pledges from the UK and Germany. Donald Trump urged Russia…
Cliff Notes The appointment of the inaugural chair for the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) faces fresh uncertainty as Whitehall officials contact applicants not on the…
Cliff Notes MPs are set to debate emergency legislation to potentially nationalise British Steel, as its owner Jingye cites unsustainable running costs and plans to…
Cliff Notes US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg marks continued efforts for a potential ceasefire in the Ukraine…
Cliff Notes Sir Keir Starmer announced that emergency legislation will be debated on Saturday to keep the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe operational, citing economic…
Cliff Notes Parliament is being recalled on Saturday to discuss the potential nationalisation of British Steel following Jingye’s cancellation of essential raw material orders, raising…
Harriet Harman advises Sir Keir Starmer to clearly communicate that Donald Trump’s tariffs on UK goods are incorrect and unjustified.
Continuing the trend of the week, coverage of Donald Trump’s tariffs, the stock market reaction and now claims of potential insider trading.
Gold has risen to a record high as investors seek safe-haven assets amid the chaos. The ongoing escalation in the US-China trade war is still causing chaos in the markets as the Asian markets slid on Friday and the US markets slumped on Thursday close, wiping out a chunk of Wednesday’s historic rally. The US markets open at 14:30 GMT.
Friday’s UK headlines cover a variety of domestic and international stories. There is, of course, continued coverage of the fallout from the Trump tariff debacle amid claims of market manipulation and calls for an investigation into potential insider trading.
Royal news continues to be highlighted on the front pages – in print and online – with Prince Harry making a surprise visit to Ukraine and Prince William talking football after Villa’s 3-1 loss. Charles and Camilla are pictured on several tabloids after marking their 20th wedding anniversary with a state visit to Italy, where the pair exercised their soft power in a bid to rebuild relations with the rest of Europe.
The UK is set for another sunny day with temperatures reaching over 23C in some parts – and in Scotland, there are warnings of potential wildfires.
The International Energy Agency forecasts that electricity consumption by global data centres will double within five years, largely driven by the rise of powerful AI models.
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian, was extradited from the US to India and accused of being a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that resulted in over 160 deaths.
The US aims for free and priority access to the Panama Canal, while Panama insists on its sovereignty, complicating negotiations amidst ongoing tensions.
Space Forge, founded by two entrepreneurs in Cardiff, is set to launch its ForgeStar-1 satellite, aimed at revolutionising semiconductor manufacturing in microgravity.
Cliff Notes The father of a grooming gang victim criticises the government for causing confusion regarding the promised local inquiries, stating it is "messing around…
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