Browsing: UK News

Wednesday’s headlines report that the UK is set to buy 12 new nuclear-carrying jets from the United States as it seeks to boost its deterrents amid an increasingly unstable world.

The prime minister is set to push ahead with his welfare reforms bill, despite the growing backlash and a mounting rebellion from Labour MPs, and some opposition. Critics suggest the bill could push thousands into poverty.

There is widespread coverage of Donald Trump’s recent outburst at Israel and Iran after they broke the US-brokered ceasefire within hours of it being agreed.

A leaked report from US intelligence has suggested that the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites did minimal damage and only set Iran’s nuclear programme back “a few months”. Trump has rejected the report, saying the nuclear sites in Iran were “completely destroyed.”

A study suggests that injured dog walkers may be costing the NHS approximately £23 million annually, primarily due to hand and wrist injuries from yanked leads.

The UK has announced a significant expansion of its nuclear deterrent by purchasing 12 US-made F‑35A fighter jets capable of delivering B61‑12 tactical nuclear bombs, a shift making it the first British planes since the Cold War to carry nuclear weapons.

A recent report indicates a sharp decline in children enjoying writing for pleasure, with only one in four aged 8 to 18 reporting such enjoyment—a drastic drop over 15 years.

New government plans will allow foreign criminals in England and Wales to be deported after 30% of their sentence, down from the current 50%.

The £51 million border control post at Parc Cybi in Holyhead will remain unused as the UK negotiates exemptions from import checks with the EU.

Kemi Badenoch has stated that the Conservatives will support Labour’s controversial welfare reforms if Sir Keir Starmer commits to reducing the welfare budget, facilitating work placements, and avoiding tax increases.

England’s openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, batted through the first session without losing a wicket, reaching 117 for 0 at lunch, and forming a century partnership.

Sir Keir Starmer insists on pursuing controversial benefit cuts despite backlash from over 100 Labour MPs, including Sir Sadiq Khan, who warns of detrimental impacts on vulnerable individuals.

Jack Watkin, 26, pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud for a designer handbag scam, leveraging a fabricated luxurious lifestyle to con victims out of significant sums.

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.

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.…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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