Author: LoveWorld UK

LITHUANIA WANTS NON-EU ALLIES IN DEFENCE PROCUREMENT – President urges wider cooperation at EU summit EU leaders have gathered in Brussels for a summit focused on defence, Ukraine, and rising tensions in the Middle East. Lithuania’s president says he supports allowing non-European allies into the EU’s defence procurement schemes, calling it a step toward deeper cooperation with like-minded countries. On the sidelines, Slovakia and Hungary are voicing concern over plans to cut Russian gas imports by 2027. EU diplomats say fresh assurances could clear the way for both countries to support the bloc’s next sanctions package against Russia. Latvia’s prime…

UK GOVT BANS CIVIL SERVANTS FROM SPEAKING FOR THE GOVT IN PUBLIC-Critics says such action threatens public discourse The UK government has issued guidance banning civil servants from any level of speaking at public events where journalists are present or from answering questions. The guidance, sent out from No 10, was issued to ensure that ministers, rather than senior civil servants, were the spokespeople for the government and at the forefront of communications with the public. Senior officials may be allowed to speak at public events on a case-by-case basis if they have gone through rigorous clearance requirements and inform…

RIVER ISLAND TO SHUT 33 STORES ACROSS THE UK – The closures are set to put hundreds of jobs at risk Fashion retailer River Island has revealed the list of 33 UK stores it plans to close, placing hundreds of jobs in jeopardy as it battles rising costs and a surge in online shopping. The high street chain, which currently operates 230 stores and employs around 5,500 people, confirmed last week that the closures are part of a major restructuring plan. Alongside the proposed closures, River Island is also asking landlords to reduce rents at 71 other locations to keep…

TRUMP SAYS NETANYAHU’S TRIAL SHOULD BE CANCELLED – US president calls Israeli prime minister a ‘great hero’ U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Israel to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or cancel his corruption trial, saying the U.S. would save him like it did his country. Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in Israel on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – all of which Netanyahu denies. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases. He has pleaded not guilty. Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday, adding that he had learned that Netanyahu was due…

GERMANY’S MERZ VOWS TO SUPPORT TRADE DEAL WITH TRUMP – A quick deal seems to be the preferred option for most officials and diplomats  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said ahead of an EU summit in Brussels that his government would support the Commission in its efforts to reach a trade agreement with the United States. European Union leaders are to tell the European Commission whether they want to reach a quick trade agreement with the United States on terms that favour Washington or keep fighting for a better deal. A quick deal seems to be the preferred option for most,…

ZELENSKIY AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE SIGN HISTORIC AGREEMENT –  Human Rights body to set up a special tribunal  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed an agreement with the Council of Europe on Wednesday, June 25th, to set up a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Zelenskiy was greeted by Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, and both signed the agreement before council members. The tribunal was requested by the Ukrainian authorities and endorsed by the Council of Europe foreign ministers in Luxembourg on 14 May 2025. In a statement, the Council said the tribunal’s…

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BIOFUEL PLANT FACES CLOSURE CONCERNS- As a result of UK-US trade deal The UK’s biggest bioethanol plant has threatened the closure of its Hull side in September, claiming that the concessions made in the recent US trade deal would wipe out the industry in the UK. The plant producer, who also owns the Primark clothing chain, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the UK’s trade deal with Donald Trump, which would allow the zero-taxed US ethanol into the UK  Under the terms of the bilateral trade deal struck by Prime Minister Keir Starmer that comes into force on Monday,…

STARMER CONFIRMS CONCESSIONS TO LABOUR WELFARE OPPOSITION-Says conversations over changes will ‘continue in coming days’ Keir Starmer has confirmed that Downing Street is offering concessions to the opposing Labour MPs to get his welfare bill over the line. The Prime minister told the Commons he wanted “values of fairness” to underpin the legislation so the government could “get this right” on fixing the broken benefits system. Starmer, who deployed his chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeny to appease the Labour opposition, stated that the conversation over changes will continue in the coming days, leading up to the vote on Tuesday. The…

‘EUROPEAN ALLIES NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT U.S. SUPPORT FOR NATO’ -Says Mark Rutte European allies do not need to worry about the United States’ commitment to NATO, Mark Rutte, the chief of the military alliance, told the public forum today. Rutte says there is total commitment by the U.S. president and the U.S. senior leadership to NATO, adding that such backing came with an expectation that European countries and Canada spend more on defence. It is to be achieved both by spending more on military items and by including broader security-related spending in the new target. 

SPIKE IN MIGRANT FLOWS PROMPTS GREECE TO DEPLOY FRIGATES OFF LIBYA – To deter migrants from arriving at its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Greece will deploy two frigates and one more vessel off Libya’s territorial waters to deter migrants from arriving at its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos. Mitsotakis did not elaborate on the role of the vessels or explain what they would do, but said the move would be in coordination with Libyan authorities and the rest of the European forces operating in the area. Sea arrivals from northeastern…