Author: LoveWorld UK

RETAIL SALES SURGE WHICH SUGGESTS THE UK ECONOMY IS GROWING Despite entering a technical recession Retail sales have grown significantly, even being described as a surge – far exceeding expectations – as consumer spending bounced back in January. The 3.4% increase in retail sales is more than double the 1.5% rise forecast by analysts – and suggests the economy is recovering strongly. Since April 2021 there has not been an increase as large as the recovery from December 2023 to January 2024. On Thursday, the UK officially entered recession after two small consecutive three-month periods of contraction – and poor…

EGYPT BUILDS A HOLDING AREA ON THE BORDER NEAR RAFAH In case an Israeli offensive into Rafah prompts an exodus The Sinai Foundation for Human Rights published videos and images it said were heavy-duty construction equipment working at a border area in Egypt, near Rafah. Citing an unidentified source, the Sinai Foundation said that the construction work was intended to create a secured area in case of a mass exodus of Palestinians. Reuters was able to confirm the location of part of the video as Rafah from the position of the buildings, trees and fences which match satellite imagery of…

NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL SPIRE VISIBLE WITH GRADUAL REMOVAL OF SCAFFOLDING It may take another 40 years to fully restore the iconic cathedral For the first time in nearly five years, a spire atop the Notre Dame Cathedral becomes visible as workers have begun to dismantle the scaffolding around the historic Paris landmark, which was ravaged by a fire in 2019. In April 2019, tens of millions of people around the world watched in real-time as the 19th-century spire atop Notre Dame toppled over and engulfed in flames. The structure has been blocked by barriers ever since. The reinforcement and protection…

Brentford has officially confirmed the acquisition of Igor Thiago from Club Brugge on a lucrative five-year deal, with the transfer fee estimated to be around £30 million. The Brazilian forward has showcased his prowess by netting 16 goals in 24 appearances in the Belgium Pro League. Scheduled to join Brentford on 1 July, Thiago’s signing has been hailed by the club’s manager, Thomas Frank, who expressed his excitement, stating that Thiago is an exceptional addition to their team. The announcement follows speculation surrounding the future of Ivan Toney at Brentford. Toney, who recently returned to action after serving a lengthy…

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has set a two-day hearing to address a motion seeking to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting the racketeering case involving former President Donald Trump and 14 others accused of a criminal conspiracy related to their actions challenging the 2020 election results. The case took a personal turn last month when counsel for one defendant alleged that Ms. Willis was engaged in an extramarital affair with a married special prosecutor she had appointed to lead the case. Nathan Wade, an attorney who also practices privately, recently finalized his divorce amid…

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the intimidation of MPs by what he referred to as “aggressive mobs,” likely alluding to a protest that took place outside the home of Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood. The incident occurred on Monday night, where the MP for Bournemouth East was advised by police to avoid his family residence due to the presence of approximately 60 to 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators. They were seen waving flags, brandishing placards, and chanting slogans through megaphones. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr. Sunak emphasized the importance of free debate in democracy, expressing concern over the…

A group of lawmakers from across party lines has penned a letter to the health and social care committee, expressing serious concerns about the Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and its impact on patient safety. They accuse the agency of contributing to “unnecessary deaths” and highlight its conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry. The strongly-worded letter, endorsed by MPs and peers, including Oxford Professor of Evidence-Based Medicine, Carl Heneghan, and Kath Sansom, founder of the Sling the Mesh campaign, criticizes the MHRA for operating a safety system that they argue fails to adequately protect patients, exposing them to…

Crystal Palace are poised to part ways with Roy Hodgson, with Oliver Glasner reportedly set to take his place following advanced discussions on Thursday. Hodgson, who was scheduled to hold a press conference ahead of Palace’s match against Everton on Monday, had the event canceled at short notice due to illness during the morning training session, the club announced. The decision to relieve Hodgson of his duties comes after intense scrutiny following a recent defeat to Chelsea. Palace’s chairman, Steve Parish, is believed to have concluded that a change was necessary after a string of poor results, including just four…

Bristol City Council (BCC) has requested that the toppled statue of Edward Colston be permanently displayed in a museum, as announced by the council on Monday. The statue, representing the 17th-century merchant and Bristol benefactor, was pulled down, defaced, and thrown into the river during a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest on June 7, 2020, due to Colston’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. After being retrieved four days later, the damaged statue has been temporarily exhibited at the M Shed museum since 2021. BCC has submitted an application to formally include the statue in the permanent collection of the…

PREMIER LEAGUE RATIFY RATCLIFFE’S MAN UTD STAKE – INEOS’s 25% purchase of Manchester United has been ratified British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 25% stake in Manchester United was ratified by the Premier League after he passed the organisation’s owners’ and directors’ test. The $1.25 billion deal, in which the INEOS chairman will also invest $300 million into club infrastructure and take charge of the club’s soccer operations, was struck in December. “Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of Manchester United FC, and further investment of $300 million in the club, has been approved by the Premier…