Browsing: UK News

Cliff Notes Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, was among six presumed dead in a private jet crash in San Diego, attributed to foggy…

Cliff Notes Donald Trump has threatened to implement 50% tariffs on the EU due to stalled trade talks, labelling the bloc as anti-US. He warned…

Friday’s front pages are reacting to the news of the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. After months of wrangling, Keir Starmer has finally signed a treaty to hand over the territory. The UK and US will keep their military base on the island, paying £101 million a year, and securing a lease for at least the next 99 years.

Armed police responded to a report of a man with a crossbow at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow at approximately 6.30am on Friday.

Friday’s front page headlines offer a wide variety of domestic and international news with ongoing coverage of the UK handing over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands offering a clear political divide. 

Labour’s plans to free up prison spaces in England and Wales have outraged the right-wing papers boldly claim that sex offenders will be roaming the streets. 

There are discussions around benefits – including the two-child benefit cap, as well as coverage of potential tax rises, splashed on the front pages.

Good morning – let’s grab a coffee and catch up on what’s making headlines in the UK and beyond today.

There’s some relief on the way for households as energy bills are set to fall for the first time in a year. Ofgem has confirmed a 7% cut to the energy price cap from July, which means the average household in England, Scotland and Wales will see their annual bill drop by around £129.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signed a significant agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. As part of the deal, the UK will lease back the vital military base on Diego Garcia for £101 million a year, securing its use for an initial 99-year period.

In England, public sector workers are seeing a boost in their pay packets. Teachers and doctors will receive a 4% pay rise following recommendations from official pay review bodies. While education unions have largely welcomed the decision, they’ve warned that schools could face budget shortfalls without additional funding. Meanwhile, health unions have criticised a smaller 3.6% increase for NHS staff such as nurses and midwives.

On the global stage, tensions are rising after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a scathing attack on Keir Starmer and the leaders of France and Canada. Netanyahu accused them of siding with Hamas, following recent international criticism of Israel’s military actions. The comments came after two people were shot dead at the Israeli embassy in Washington, which has further strained diplomatic relations.

In the United States, the Trump administration has taken dramatic action against Harvard University, revoking its ability to enrol international students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Harvard had failed to comply with immigration laws, while the university has called the move “unlawful” and a direct threat to academic freedom.

And finally, a suspect has been charged with the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC. US prosecutors are treating the shooting as a hate crime and an act of terror, and have confirmed it’s a death penalty-eligible case. More charges are expected as the investigation continues.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signed a major agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the strategic military base on Diego Garcia for £101 million a year.

Doctors and teachers in England have been given a 4% pay rise after the government accepted recommendations from public sector pay review bodies.

Irish rap group Kneecap performed a surprise show in London despite member Liam O’Hanna facing a charge related to a flag supporting Hezbollah.

The Princess of Wales named the new Royal Navy warship HMS Glasgow by smashing a bottle of whisky against its hull, a traditional ship-naming ceremony believed to ensure good luck.

Doctors and teachers will receive a 4% pay rise after government approval, surpassing initial budget predictions by 2.8%.

Net migration in the UK has halved from 860,000 to 431,000, marking the largest recorded drop for a 12-month period since the pandemic’s early stages.

Wednesday’s headlines highlight Britain’s media divide: on the left, you’ll see reports of the government’s new approach to Israel, highlighting the strong condemnation of Israel used by the government.

Whilst the right-leaning press have largely left the story off the front splashes altogether and instead have chosen to focus on domestic political stories.

This could have something to do with the Israeli event, the night before, that Farage and Kemi attended and their respective media friends attended.

Most of Thursday’s UK newspaper front pages lead with the U-turn on the winter fuel payment cuts. Last year the government announced changes to the benefit which saw more than nine million pensioners lose out on payments worth up to £300 – after the eligibility threshold was tightened.

Ruben Amorim has stated he will not seek compensation from Manchester United if they decide to part ways following the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Much of England’s news is dominated by last night’s all-English Europa League final that saw North London club Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United to claim their first silverware in 17 years.

Good morning! Grab your coffee and let’s take a brisk scroll through today’s headlines…

In politics, Sir Keir Starmer has bowed to pressure and announced a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts. The scheme, which had been scaled back to save £1.4 billion, left over 10 million pensioners without support. Starmer now says more pensioners will qualify again, with changes expected in the autumn Budget – though the exact numbers and timing are still under wraps. It comes after Labour lost big to Reform UK during recent local elections.

Meanwhile, a government-commissioned review has suggested that prisoners should serve only a third of their sentences in custody, rather than the current half. There are proposals to chemically castrate sex offenders in order to release them earlier in a bid to free up spaces in prisons.

In economic news, the UK government’s borrowing reached £20.2 billion in April, surpassing expectations and placing additional pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

After lots of glorious sunshine, the UK is set to experience a shift in weather just in time for the bank holiday weekend. The Met Office forecasts unsettled conditions, with many areas expecting rain or showers and more unpredictable weather patterns continuing into the half-term week.

Elsewhere, the UK government has been temporarily blocked from finalising a landmark deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following a late-night injunction granted by the High Court.

In sport, underdogs are stealing the spotlight. Crystal Palace shocked football fans by beating Manchester City 1–0 to lift the FA Cup – their first major trophy. Not to be outdone, Spurs ended their 17-year silverware drought with a scrappy 1–0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final, with Brennan Johnson the unlikely hero.

On the international front, there has been a shooting in the US with two Israeli embassy staffers shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

The WHO has said Gaza’s health service is ‘stretched beyond breaking point’ and Donald Trump held a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – in which the US president ambushed his counterpart with unfounded claims of genocide against white South Africans.

A High Court injunction has temporarily blocked the UK government from finalising a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, initiated by legal action from Chagossian woman Bertrice Pompe.

Tottenham Hotspur have finally ended their 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United 1–0 in the Europa League final.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts, following weeks of political pressure.

The proposed sentencing policy review could lead to sex offenders undergoing chemical castration, with widespread early release for certain inmates after serving only a third of their sentences.

Chris Brown has been released on bail with a £5m security fee, allowing him to continue his world tour despite facing a charge of grievous bodily harm.

Tottenham Hotspur secured the Europa League title, defeating Manchester United 1-0, with Brennan Johnson scoring the decisive goal.

Parents of a student who took her own life challenge a government report on student suicides for failing to address systemic issues within higher education.

Cliff Notes At an inquest into Jay Slater’s death, his friends, who were present before he went missing, failed to appear as witnesses, despite summonses…