Shoppers splash out on fans and paddling pools as retail sales in Great Britain hot up 19. June 2026 (11:36) May heatwave drives up volume of sales 1.2%, the strongest monthly growth since January, says ONSRetail sales bounced back to growth in May as record hot weather spurred sales of fans and paddling pools, while online purchases also soared.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of retail sales in Great Britain grew 1.2% in May compared with the previous month, the strongest monthly rate of growth since January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU leaders sign joint statement in support of Ukraine - Europe live 19. June 2026 (11:26) It follows a similar move at the G7 earlier this week, where leaders calling on Russia to engage with the peace processBrussels correspondentSeparately, a majority of EU member states have called for “full use” of new possibilities for offshore deportation hubs for people with no right to stay in the bloc.“Some initiatives are already in operation like the Italy-Albania cooperation. Other countries are now working to implement the new possibilities, including hubs in third countries. We will personally lead the way to make sure our visions are brought to life.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer says he will stand in any Labour leadership contest against Burnham 19. June 2026 (11:16) Prime minister suggests he will not ‘walk away’ despite Burnham’s comfortable victory in Makerfield byelectionUK politics – live updatesHow quickly could Burnham become PM?Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a Labour leadership contest should one be triggered after Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, adding he will not “walk away”.The prime minister’s comments follow Burnham’s victory with 55% of the vote in Makerfield. In his victory speech, Burnham said the result “could be a turning point” and that people had “voted for change, they have voted for more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Heathrow third runway likely to harm health of millions nearby, official report warns 19. June 2026 (11:14) Expansion could also hit access to housing, education, healthcare, open spaces and transport, analysis saysConstruction of a third runway at Heathrow is likely to have significant adverse effects on the health and wellbeing of up to 3 million people living nearby, an official report has said, as the government launched the next stage of its rapid airport expansion plan.An analysis for the Department for Transport (DfT) has found that expanding London’s hub airport could have “major adverse” impacts on the health of the most local population. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mainland Australia’s first suspected case of deadly H5N1 investigated after seabird tests positive for bird flu 19. June 2026 (10:56) Agriculture minister says no evidence of mass mortality or infection in poultry as WA authorities say a second bird is sick and being testedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA migratory seabird found in southern Western Australia has tested positive for avian influenza with further testing under way to confirm if it is Australia’s first mainland case of the deadly H5N1 strain.The brown skua, a subantarctic species, was found at Cape Le Grand national park on Sunday and had since died, the WA government said on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Severe thunderstorms sweep Europe and east Asia 19. June 2026 (10:34) Strong winds and heavy rain batter Slovenia, while France experiences atypical heatwaveSevere thunderstorms swept across the Balkans last week, bringing widespread destruction to parts of the region. The storms developed as unstable hot air lingered over the Adriatic Sea while a cold front plunged south-eastward.The front began its journey on 10 June in Slovenia, where the Slovenian Environment Agency recorded 65mph gusts at Ljubljana airport. Heavy rain also fell widely across the region with 23mm reported in Kranj. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Inside the city of grief hit hardest by Israel strikes on southern Lebanon 19. June 2026 (10:05) People in Nabatieh mourn the recent dead in religious ceremony held amid empty streets and shattered buildingsAs the procession wound its way through mounds of rubble, the crowd chanted and beat their chests, their lamentations echoed by the dull thud of shelling in the foothills just beyond the city.“This is the tragedy of Karbala, O Imam Hussein, look. This is the tragedy of Karbala,” the crowd cried in the opening procession of Ashura, in the city of Nabatieh, southern Lebanon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s Iran deal could place his legacy in the hands of Tehran 19. June 2026 (10:00) He lambasted Jimmy Carter during the 1980 hostage crisis; now Trump’s presidency could be similarly blemishedIt began with the fate of hostages.Donald Trump’s first recorded foray into politics was sparked by the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran, which saw 52 American diplomats held incommunicado for 444 days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
KPMG leaked confidential Optus information and surveilled whistleblower’s laptop, inquiry hears 19. June 2026 (09:25) International firm owns up to breach of ethics after staff leaked confidential Optus information while bidding for telco contractFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKPMG has admitted to another breach of ethics after its staff leaked Optus’ confidential information to colleagues bidding for an audit contract with Telstra.The consulting firm’s executives also surveilled a whistleblower’s laptop and dismissed the individual as someone with “workplace grievances”, a parliamentary inquiry heard on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Normal shipping will not resume in strait of Hormuz until 80 mines cleared 19. June 2026 (08:57) Tanker owner trade body says centre of strait will remain closed for ‘some time’, with vessels risking running aground by taking Omani routeThe centre of the strait of Hormuz is blocked with about 80 mines that will need clearing for normal shipping to resume, the independent tanker owner trade body has said.Several vessels began to exit the Gulf through the key maritime chokepoint on Thursday, after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
