A quick overview of what has made the news briefing today.
This introduction provides a summary of what’s going on today. Before you get into today’s main stories; that have been summarised and contextualised for you. And at the bottom we have today’s newspaper summarised as well. Goodie!
Thursday’s headlines report on Emmanuel Macron’s three-day state visit to the UK, as a migrant returns deal is set to be struck between France and the UK. Under the plans, for every migrant sent back, France would send an asylum seeker to the UK – possibly one with a family connection to Britain.
The English media assesses England’s Lionesses’ performance last night as they thrashed the Dutch to get their Euro campaign up and running, after a 2-1 loss to France in their opening game.
A five-day doctors’ strike has been confirmed, causing concern for a difficult summer ahead for the NHS. Tens of thousands of appointments are set to be cancelled as doctors demand a 29% pay rise to reverse real-terms pay cuts since 2008–09.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks at Downing Street on Wednesday, agreeing to make small boat Channel crossings a joint priority. Both leaders committed to stepping up action against people-smuggling gangs, with the UK pushing for tougher French enforcement and France urging the UK to reduce “pull factors” that draw migrants to British shores.
More than 21,000 people have crossed the Channel so far in 2025 – a record high for this stage of the year. The crossings remain a political flashpoint in both countries, raising questions about border security, asylum policy, and international cooperation.
No. 10 described the talks as “constructive”, while Macron’s team highlighted the need for long-term solutions, not just enforcement. Campaigners have called for safer legal routes, warning that crackdowns alone won’t stop the crossings.
The leaders are expected to outline “concrete progress” at a UK-France summit on Thursday, with new measures possibly announced to target smuggling networks and manage migration flows.
England’s Lionesses bounced back in style at UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, thrashing the Netherlands 4–0 in a must‑win group stage clash. Goals from Lauren James (2), Georgia Stanway, and Ella Toone secured the emphatic victory. Manager Sarina Wiegman’s tactical shake-up, including a more direct style and key changes in midfield and defence, paid off.
The win revives England’s quarter-final hopes, avoiding the embarrassment of being the first reigning champions knocked out in the group stage. After a shaky start to the tournament, this dominant display has restored confidence and put England’s campaign back on track.
Fans and pundits hailed the performance as a “statement win”. Wiegman was praised for her decisive leadership, while Lauren James drew headlines for her standout display. Dutch media described the defeat as “humbling”, calling it a lesson in clinical football.
England face Wales next, needing at least a draw to guarantee a spot in the knockout stages. A win could even see them top the group, depending on other results.
Resident doctors in England will launch a five-day strike from 25 July, after voting in favour through the British Medical Association (BMA). The doctors are demanding a 29% pay rise to reverse real-terms pay cuts since 2008–09, rejecting the government’s 5.4% offer.
The strike is expected to cancel tens of thousands of NHS operations and appointments, adding pressure to already-strained waiting lists. Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned the action could “break the NHS”, calling the system’s recovery “hanging by a thread”.
Health leaders criticised the short notice given for the walkout, calling it disruptive and unfair to patients. The BMA argued the strike was a last resort, blaming the government’s refusal to negotiate fairly on pay.
Unless talks resume quickly, the walkout will go ahead as planned, posing a serious challenge for the NHS and testing the government’s ability to balance public sector pay demands with fiscal restraint.
Thursday’s newspapers have a real mix of headlines this morning! Several newspapers led with Christian Horner’s removal as Red Bull’s F1 team principal after he faced accusations of inappropriate behaviour at work.
There is coverage of the Lionesses’ thrashing of the Dutch in last night’s Euro 2025, with the newspapers praising the performance of the entire team.
Coverage of Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the UK continues to find space on the front pages, with the press picking apart a plan to return migrants who have crossed the channel in small boats.
A handful of other standalone stories make up the rest of the front page coverage, with a doctor’s strike on the horizon and updates on the Southport killings.
