Thursday 14th September 2017

Good morning, these are today’s headlines.

Brief overview: Today’s paper cover issues ranging from stalkers to Theresa May and the DUP

Outside of the headlines: Murdoch’s bid to control Sky runs into further issues. Russia begins a week long military drill in Belarus today. South Africa’s president Zuma today finds out whether he will be facing charges of corruption.

Article of the day: George Osborne’s revenge. (link)

Cartoon of the day: via Steve Bell

Top trending stories online

Al Jeezera

Owned by: Government of Qatar

Political leaning: Often accused of having the state interests overshadow their independent integrity

Top article: Qatar-Gulf crisis: All the latest updates (link)

The latest updates after several countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, cut ties with Qatar on June 5

BBC

Owned by: The British public

Political leaning: Depends on the day, usually accused of being left

Top article: Fanged creature found on Texas beach after Hurricane Harvey (link)

A weird looking creature of the deep washed up on a Texas beach after the hurricane. What is it? Explore within.

Guido Fawkes

Owned by: Paul Staines, a libertarian political blogger.

Political leaning: Right/far right

Views per day: 100–250k

Top article: Mogg: Osborne is a poor man’s Ted Heath

Sparks fly between Mogg, a Tory MP who has garnered significant limelight recently, and Osborne, a former MP who now edits a newspaper. It’s like being at school again.

The Canary

Owned by: 5 owners with a team of thirty editors

Political leaning: Left/far left. Very pro Corbyn.

Top article: This vicious feud shows that Tories hate each other even more than they hate the rest of us.

Imagine an interesting article, then dumb it down so a five year old could understand it. Absolute drivel.

The Daily Mail

Owned by: Daily Mail and General Trust, owned by Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere

Editor: Paul Dacre

Political leaning: Right / far right

Daily circulation: circa 1,490,000

Today’s leading headline: A hurricane force farce

Today’s Mail furiously explains that UK overseas territories effected by Hurricane Irma are not allowed to tap into a £13 billion fund controlled by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development. Instead, the UK itself must put together another relief fund for her own territories. The paper also howls that India and China, despite having ‘booming economies’, would be allowed financial support from the fund.

Afterthought: The Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD as I like to call it never, operates on a strict set or rules. Established in 1961, the organisation contains 35 countries and has a budget of 374 million euros. Due to the high national income of the British Overseas Territories in the area, they do not fit into the category that is needed to access the funding.

The Daily Telegraph

Owned by: Telegraph Media Group, owned by Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay

Editor: Chris Evans

Political leaning: Right

Daily circulation: circa. 460,000

Today’s leading headline: ‘A United States of Europe’

Today’s Telegraph covers the EU and its future. The paper quotes Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the EU, who aims to achieve a united states of Europe. This would involve closer ties and a more streamlined asylum, defence and foreign policy. He also went on to warn Britain that they would regret leaving the EU.

Afterthought: It’s hard not to fall asleep when it comes to discussing Brexit. Luckily, I can summarise this briefly by saying that absolutely nothing has happened that is worth your time.

The Times

Owned by: News UK, Rupert Murdoch’s company.

Editor: John Witherow

Political leaning: Right

Daily circulation: circa. 446,000

Today’s leading headline: Amazon in £1.5bn tax fraud row

Today’s Times covers the news that the web giant Amazon is facing another claim of tax evasion. The paper reports that Amazon’s most recent fraud row is costing the British economy dearly, as it is ‘putting scores of small British companies out of business’. Simply put, the accusation is as follows: many foreign companies sell their goods through websites such as Amazon and avoid paying up to a third of the tax. Amazon doesn’t care, and makes money off the situation.

Afterthought: In news that will shock no one, Amazon faces accusations of not paying it’s fair share. Will anything develop out of this? Doubtful.

The Guardian

Owned by: Scott Trust Limited, run by a board with a policy of non-interference.

Editor: Katharine Viner

Political leaning: Left

Daily circulation: circa. 161,000

Today’s leading headline: Graham Taylor accused of role in sex abuse cover up

Today’s Guardian leads on the accusation that the Former England and Aston Villa football coach Graham Taylor ‘failed to report’ a paedophile who was working as a scout for the club. Taylor, who died earlier this year, allegedly discouraged one of the victims to ‘move on’ and not report the incident to the police.

Afterthought: This is another unfortunate development in the inquiry into the wide spread of paedophilia in football. Taylor’s alleged actions are despicable.

The i

Owned by: Johnston Press, whose CEO is Ashley Highfield, significant ties to the BBC

Editor: Oliver Duff

Political leaning: Centre

Daily circulation: circa. 264,000

Today’s leading headline: May forced into Commons climbdown

Today’s i reports on Theresa May’s most recent humiliation. Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s devilish allies the DUP embarrassed her and her party by siding with Labour. Together, both parties have signalled support for higher NHS wages and tuition fees, directly contradicting the Conservative’s stance.

Afterthought: This headline reads like a Have I Got News For You sketch. We all remember when May was forced to reach out to the right wing DUP in a bid to stay in power following a terrible snap election. The DUP are supposed to support May by propping her party up and helping the Tories pass major legislation, so this latest action will be troubling for the PM.

The Daily Mirror

Owner: Trinity Mirror. Its chairman is David Grigson, formerly the chief financial officer at Reuters

Editor: Lloyd Embley

Political leaning: Left

Daily circulation: circa. 716,900

Today’s leading headline: Intruder at Prince George school

The Mirror today leads the tabloid coverage of the news that a 40-year-old woman was arrested trying to enter the school that Prince George has just started attending.

Afterthought: That’s it. That’s the story.

Financial Times

Owner: The Nikkei, which is based in Tokyo.

Editor: Lionel Barber

Political leaning: Centre

Daily circulation: circa. 193,211

Today’s leading headline: BoE wrestles with rate dilemma as jobless levels touch 42-year low

Today’s Financial Times reports on the problem facing the Bank of England; as jobless levels reach a 42-year low, should the bank raise the interest level? Brexit clouds the decision-making process, as does the continually stagnant average wage.

Experts believe that the interest rate will remain the same following a 7–2 vote.

Afterthought: I effectively scraped past GCSE maths. This is not my field at all. Please don’t make me do algorithms.

The Sun

Owner: News UK, owned by Rupert Murdoch

Editor: Tony Gallagher

Political leaning: Right / far right

Daily circulation: circa. 1,611,464

Today’s leading headline: Intruder held at George school

Today’s Sun also reports that an intruder tried to break into Prince George’s school. Twice in 24 hours apparently.

Afterthought: They got caught.

Final Thought

News shouldn’t tell you how to feel. The news should present facts, and allow you to formulate your own opinion. Regardless of your political affiliation, try and read beyond the headlines that most of these papers push on you, from the left and the right.

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