Juncker stumble sparks concern

Footage of EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker stumbling badly at the Nato summit has promoted concerns for his health. The BBC reports that Juncker “has previously blamed sciatica” for his being unsteady on his feet, though other sources and social media comments suggest alcohol may have been to blame. A video released by the Eurosceptic Daily Mail shows the full incident. Luxembourg prime minister Xavier Bettel is seen leading his husband Gauthier Destenay away from the crowd helping his predecessor (at 2’07” in the video).

Trump slams May over soft Brexit

Donald Trump has accused Theresa May of wrecking Brexit and said that her white paper proposal for a common rulebook “will probably kill” any trade deal with the United States. In an exclusive interview in The Sun, Trump also said that former foreign secretary Boris Johnson would make a great prime minister. Details of the interview emerged while Trump was dining with British prime minister Theresa May as part of his official visit to the UK.

British industry calls for EU to be pragmatic

Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the Confederation of British Industry, says the EU must “engage constructively and flexibly” over what she calls a “make-or-break summer” for Brexit. Cited in The Guardian, Fairbairn was reacting on behalf of the CBI to the white paper release by the British government, which she called “a massive step forward.”

But City is disappointed

But the same Guardian report quotes Miles Celic, CEO of TheCityUK, as saying it was “regrettable and frustrating” that “mutual recognition” of services has been dropped. And Catherine McGuinness, the chair of the City of London’s policy and resources committee, called the white paper “a real blow for the UK’s financial and related professional services sector.”

Ryanair has all clear to buy NIKI

The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition by Ryanair of LaudaMotion, the company through which former Austrian F1 driver Niki Lauda owns the assets of leisure air carrier NIKI. NIKI operates a range of passenger routes from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to leisure destinations in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. 

Sacha Baron Cohen versus Sarah Palin

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, responsible for characters including Ali G and Borat, has become embroiled in a spat with former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sara Palin. The argument, reported in The Guardian, developed after Palin claimed she was duped into being interviewed for Baron Cohen's new undercover show “Who Is America?”

Selmayr a “wazzock” over footie tweet

The Sun reports on reaction by England football fans to a tweet by secretary-General of the European Commission Martin Selmayr following the defeat of England by Croatia in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. Selmayr tweeted a series of football emojis interspersed with the EU flag. Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, a Europhile, tweeted: “Graceless. I'm pro EU, but sometimes you wazzocks make it hard to be so.”

Today's breakfast briefing was compiled by Duncan Roberts