Author: WTX News

Russia launches ninth wave of missile attacks on Kyiv this month A ninth attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv this month has been launched by Russia. Authorities in Kyiv reported that the incoming missiles had been destroyed but falling debris caused damage in two districts.  One person was killed and two wounded in a missile strike on the Black Sea port of Odesa. Blasts were also heard in Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, and Zhytomyr.  The latest attack saw 30 missiles launched by Russia overnight, with 29 being shot down according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The air attacks have been described by Kyiv’s military…

Deadly floods devastate Italy and F1 cancelled Italy is experiencing heavy rains in the Emilia-Romagna region which have caused devastating flooding, resulting in nine deaths with several others still missing. Approximately 10,000 people have been evacuated, with some requiring helicopter rescues from rooftops. So far, the flooding has affected 23 towns as 14 rivers overflowed, causing significant damage. The upcoming Emilia-Romagna F1 Grand Prix has been cancelled as a result of the flooding.  The mayor of Ravenna described the city as unrecognisable due to the extent of the destruction. More rainfall is expected in the region in the coming days. …

TikTok’s ‘Iron Knee’ challenge will help you assess your clicky joints The ‘Iron knee’ challenge has taken over TikTok recently, designed to assess the condition of your knees. Sitting for long hours at a desk can take a toll on our bodies, resulting in stiffness. The Iron Knee challenge revolves around a series of squats, designed to assess your knee mobility, balance and overall lower body strength.  In a video by Dr Dan, he explains that if your knees are robust and flexible, the challenge should be relatively easy. But if you struggle, it may indicate that your lower body…

Financial Times -ChatGPT chief sees AI manipulation of US elections as ‘significant’ concern Summary of the front page The Financial Times leads with concerns that artificial intelligence could manipulate the US presidential election next year. Sam Altman, whose company created Chat GPT, told US lawmakers independent audits on AI technology and warnings similar to nutritional labels were “a great idea”. The front page also leads on the University of Oxford voting to remove the Sackler name from buildings, spaces and staff positions after an investigation by the publication found the university had continued its ties with the wealthy Sackler family,…

Metro – 2.5m too sick to work Summary of the front page The Metro reports some 2.5 million people are not working due to long-term illness. The Office of National Statistic released its latest sickness figures, pointing out that it coincides with the UK’s unemployment rate “unexpectedly” rising by 0.1% to 3.9%. The Princess of Wales’s escapades at a charity event in Bath also make the front page, with the royal pictured smiling in a bright yellow blazer as she takes part in a beanbag competition. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image…

The Guardian – Alarm as ministers target housing standards to cut asylum hotels bill Summary of the front page The Guardian says ministers are going to remove basic housing protections from asylum seekers in an attempt to move thousands of people out of hotels and into privately rented accommodation. The shake-up, “designed to move tens of thousands out of hotels and into the private rented sector”, would exempt landlords from meeting minimum safety regulations in accommodation, such as electrical safety and minimum room sizes. MPs could vote “as soon as Wednesday” on the plans, put forward by Home Secretary Suella…

The Times – Starmer: I’ll allow more homes on green belt Summary of the front page The Times reports that Sir Keir Starmer has promised to allow more houses to be built on the green belt. In an interview with the newspaper, the Labour leader says that, if his party are elected, he will relax planning restrictions to pave the way for more housebuilding. Sir Keir accuses the Conservatives of “killing the aspiration of home owning for a whole generation”. The newspaper also reports that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing the prospect of three by-elections after being advised that…

Daily Express – PM: You must let us deport illegal immigrants Summary of the front page The Daily Express says the prime minister has told European judges they must let the UK fly illegal migrants to Rwanda. Rishi Sunak reportedly told lawmakers in Strasbourg they needed to be “fair and transparent” after “secret late-night court rulings” meant deportation flights were grounded in the UK The front page reports on the ONS figures concerning a record number of Brits off work sick. The paper features an image of the Princess of Wales. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment…

Daily Mirror – Can’t afford a sandwich? Hard cheese Summary of the front page The Daily Mirror leads with a claim from former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, who says nobody has a right to cheap food. The paper brands her “another out-of-touch politician” after she remarked that struggling families should stop making cheese sandwiches to cut back on rising food costs. One expert told the paper that “ordinary people are sick of being told how to get by on next to nothing by wealthy politicians who have never known true poverty”. The Princess of Wales smiling in her sunshine-yellow blazer…

Nicolas Sarkozy to wear tag after losing corruption appeal Nicolas Sarkozy has lost his appeal against a corruption conviction, but the Paris appeals court has ruled the former French president could serve his sentence at home with an electronic tag instead of going to jail.  Sarkozy was sentenced in 2021 to three years in prison, with two suspended, for attempting to influence a judge in a separate case. The corruption conviction is one among several cases involving Sarkozy, who denies any wrongdoing. Prosecutors recently requested that he should stand trial over allegations of illegal funding from the Libyan government during…

Primary school children suffer “life-changing” injuries in Melbourne bus crash A group of primary school children in Melbourne, Australia has been involved in a devastating bus crash, resulting in traumatic and life-changing injuries. The crash occurred when a truck rear-ended the bus, causing it to roll over on Tuesday afternoon. There were 45 students on board, and 18 of them, aged 5-11, were rushed to the hospital , many to undergo emergency surgeries.  The collision happened shortly after the bus departed from Exford Primary School on the western outskirts of Melbourne. Bystanders assisted in rescuing the trapped children from the…

Loafers Lodge: New Zealand Police launch homicide investigation into hostel fire A homicide investigation has been launched by authorities in New Zealand following the devastating fire that engulfed the Loafers Lodge hostel in Wellington on Monday. At least six people have died in the fire, and around 20 people still remain unaccounted for. The full extent of the damage has hindered investigators from accessing the building until Wednesday. Firefighters found six bodies on Tuesday, they have not yet announced the identities of the deceased and of those still missing. Rescue efforts were challenging, with residents forced to navigate through thick…

Cabinet rift as Braverman told to ‘stick to job’ amid fears she’s pushing to replace PM The Independent says A cabinet rift has opened up over the direction of Rishi Sunak’s government after Suella Braverman sparked fears she is pitching to be prime minister by setting out her hardline, right-wing vision of conservatism. Levelling up secretary Michael Gove rejected “strident” culture war attacks and warned the Tories that focusing on economic competence was the only way to win the general election, expected in 2024. And senior Conservatives told The Independent that Ms Braverman was already “overpromoted” and a bad influence…

Suella Braverman hints at leadership ambitions with unusually personal pitch to Tory right Sky News says Given Suella Braverman is a senior government minister, her speech at the National Conservatism conference was heavy on the Suella stuff and light on the government stuff. After being interrupted by two protesters (“write a letter” came the shout from the crowd), the home secretary opened with a lengthy explanation of her own backstory and how her family initially came to the UK. “55 years ago, on a cold February morning in 1968, an Asian man, not yet 21, stepped off a plane at…

Suella Braverman’s ‘vision for conservatism’ is a psychodrama of self-interest The Independent says The Tory Party knows it is sinking. You can tell not only because so many of them have already got their eye on the soon to be vacant captain’s job, but also because they reckon they can get it by driving into the iceberg again, but this time even harder. For some reason, the Conservative Party is having not one but two fully deranged “conventions” over the weekend and into this week, and both are seeking to outdo the other in their complete and utter failure to…

Ben Jennings on Suella Braverman’s dreams of being in No 10 — cartoon The Guardian’s take on Suella Braverman’s aims for No 10.  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2023/may/16/ben-jennings-on-suella-bravermans-dreams-of-being-in-no-10-cartoon

Express Sport – ‘Alas for Smith it’s Jones’ A Mel Smith-Griff Rhys Jones inspired headline for the Daily Express today to reflect Liverpool’s victory and Leicester’s woes. The paper also follows the stories of Manchester United’s and Arsenal’s transfer plans this summer.

The Guardian – Tory MPs tell Braverman: quit the PM pitch and stick to the day job Summary of the front page The Guardian reports that Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of undermining the prime minister on immigration after her speech on Monday, with several Tory MPs reportedly suggesting Mr Sunak should warn Ms Braverman to stick to her role as home secretary. The front page marks Zelensky’s trip to the UK. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Financial Times – Erdogan on course to retain power as Turkey election heads for run-off Summary of the front page Turkey’s elections are likely to go to a second round, after none of the candidates passed the 50% threshold – that’s on the front of the Financial Times. The paper reports that current leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is “on course to retain power”, extending his rule into a third decade. The front page also marks Mr Zelensky’s visit to the UK. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Metro – Suella picking timebomb murder trial: ‘Poisoner’ on the baby ward Summary of the front page Metro leads with the home secretary’s Monday speech, in which she said there is “no good reason” British people cannot train as fruit pickers. The paper says Ms Braverman “aimed a warning shot” at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as she told conferencegoers in London there was “no good reason” why the UK could not train fruit pickers and lorry drivers to make up for labour shortages since the UK left the EU. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National…

The Sun – After Flintoff crash show looks doomed as race track torn up Summary of the front page The Sun has the latest on Top Gear, saying the motoring programme looks “doomed”. “Stop Gear” is the headline on the front page. The paper reports that the BBC’s Top Gear series “looks doomed”, after it says bulldozers started digging up the test track where Freddie Flintoff was injured in a crash in December, and the show was put on hold. The paper says the Top Gear base at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey is going to be turned into a…

Daily Mirror – I loved my wife … she begged me to kill her Summary of the front page The Daily Mirror leads with the trial of a Briton in Cyprus who says his cancer-stricken wife begged him to kill her. The newspaper reports that British pensioner wept as he spoke about his fondness for his wife, telling the court he “loved her so much”, and that she had “begged” him to kill her. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

Daily Express – Suella: White people should not feel guilty Summary of the front page The Daily Express reports on the home secretary’s speech, focusing on her assertion that white people should not feel any collective guilt over slavery. The front page reports Ms Braverman “lashed out at political correctness”, adding that the UK’s white population “do not exist in a special state of sin”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers Previous image Next image

International students boosted UK economy by £42bn in 2021/2 – study The Guardian says The economic benefit international students bring to the UK has jumped by a third in three years, boosting the economy by an estimated £42bn in 2021/2, according to new analysis. The report, by analysts London Economics, said the economic benefit to the country rose from £31.3bn in 2018/9 to £41.9bn three years later as growing numbers of international students choose to study in the UK. The research, published on Tuesday, comes at a time when the government is considering imposing restrictions on international students coming to…

Northern Ireland international student boom adds £1bn to economy – report BBC News says The number of international students at Northern Irish universities has almost quadrupled in just four years. That is according to a new report on the economic impact of international students in the UK. It also suggested that, in total, international students are worth nearly £1bn to Northern Ireland’s economy. The Department for the Economy (DfE) has suggested there were about 15,000 international students at Queen’s and Ulster University in 2021/22. That’s compared to about 4,000 international students in 2018/19. However, some of the rise is down…