Author: LoveWorld UK

AUSTRALIA CLOSES IRAN EMBASSY – Citing deteriorating security environment Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran due to the deteriorating security environment in Iran and has directed the departure of all Australian officials, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said today. Australia’s ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government’s response to the crisis, Wong said. In a statement, Wong said, “We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries.” The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade called on Australians “who want to leave…

TRUMP TO DECIDE ON US ACTION IN ISRAEL-IRAN WAR WITHIN TWO WEEKS – White House focused on blocking Iran’s nuclear weapons  The White House says President Trump will decide in the next two weeks whether the U.S. will step into the growing conflict between Israel and Iran. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says Trump is weighing diplomatic options but insists his top priority is stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Any deal, she said, must block uranium enrichment and eliminate Iran’s ability to build a bomb. While Trump has signalled openness to diplomacy, the White House says he won’t hesitate…

U.S. FED KEEPS INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED – The Federal Open Market Committee will monitor the implications of incoming information  The U.S. Federal Reserve left the target range for the federal funds rates unchanged at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent, as solid expansion of economic activity supports the wait-and-see mode. This widely-expected decision marked the fourth time that the Fed chose to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged in a row. The Federal Open Market Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook, said the statement. Notably, Federal Reserve Board members and Federal Reserve Bank…

EYEWITNESS VIDEO SHOWS MOMENT SPACEX’S STARSHIP 36 EXPLODES -The 10th flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand. Eyewitness video shows the moment Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship 36 exploded during testing in Brownsville, Texas, United States. SpaceX posted on Social Media that “on June 18th at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the 10th flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand.” The company also said that the Starbase team were “actively working to restore the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials.” It added that there…

NEW ZEALAND SUSPENDS BUDGET FUNDING TO COOKS ISLANDS- Luxon says Cooks Islands’ government wasn’t open or transparent  New Zealand has stated today that it has suspended millions of dollars in budget funding to the Cook Islands, amid the island group’s deepening ties with China. News of the freeze comes as New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is in China and ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Friday (June 20). In February, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown visited China and signed a strategic partnership that spans areas from deep-sea mining to education…

TRUMP CONSIDERS U.S. MILITARY ACTION IN THE ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT – US president issues guidance to military, but no final decision made U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is actively considering potential military intervention in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, though he declined to provide specific details. He reiterated his full support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and described the coming days as “critical” to determining the path forward. According to reports, President Trump has approved a contingency plan for military strikes against Iran but has opted to delay its execution in hopes that Tehran will abandon…

MET OFFICE ISSUES HEATWAVE WARNING – Britain Braces For Soaring Temperatures  Britain is bracing for soaring summer heat, as the Met Office report warned the country is facing longer and hotter heatwaves soon. The report by the national weather service suggested the chance of temperatures exceeding 40C in the UK is “accelerating at pace.” “We estimate a 50-50 chance of seeing a 40 °C day again in the next 12 years,” the report said. The first recorded temperature above 40 °C in Britain was recorded in July 2022. Drone footage captured on Monday (June 16) showed partially dry Woodhead Reservoir…

23ANDME FINED £2.31M FOR 2023 DATA BREACH –  The fine will go directly to the state, not to the individuals whose data was compromised In a significant privacy breach, 23andMe has been hit with a £2.31 million fine by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) following a 2023 cyberattack that exposed the personal details of seven million users, including more than 150,000 Britons. The breach, which compromised sensitive data such as health reports, family trees, race and ethnicity details, as well as addresses, dates of birth, and profile pictures, has left many questioning the company’s ability to safeguard such valuable…

NEW CAMPUS RULES REINFORCE FREE SPEECH  – New guidance issued in England will prevent universities from imposing blanket bans on student protests In a bold move to protect lawful expression on university campuses, new guidance issued in England will now prevent universities from imposing blanket bans on student protests — a significant shift in the ongoing battle for freedom of speech in higher education. The Office for Students (OfS), the higher education watchdog, unveiled sweeping new regulations that reinforce the right to free and lawful speech on campus — even when opinions are unpopular or politically sensitive. The new guidelines…

UK’S STARMER & QATAR’S EMIR REITERATE NEED FOR MIDDLE EAST DE-ESCALATION – Prime Minister underlines UK’s support for immediate ceasefire British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani reiterated on Wednesday (June 18) the need for de-escalation in the Middle East amid the Israel-Iran conflict, a spokesperson for Starmer’s office said. “Underscoring the deep defence and security relationship between the two countries, the prime minister reiterated the UK’s support for Qatar and leaders discussed how both countries could further support regional stability,” the spokesperson said following a call between the two leaders. Starmer also spoke…