Johnny Marr to auction off dozens of guitars heard on Smiths classics such as This Charming Man 22. June 2026 (14:30) Christie’s sale in London in September carries estimates up to £150,000, with some instruments also used by Noel Gallagher and Bernard SumnerJohnny Marr is preparing to auction off about 80 of his guitars, including the Rickenbacker heard on This Charming Man.Marr has partnered with Christie’s for the auction, which will take place on 17 September in London, with the collection – including amps and other equipment – available for the public to view in London and New York prior to the sale. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two men arrested in relation to hospital mortuary practices in Nottingham 22. June 2026 (14:15) Arrests part of Operation Perth investigation into failures in NHS trust’s maternity servicesTwo men have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in the running of a mortuary service at a hospital trust at the centre of the NHS’s largest inquiry into maternity services.Nottingham University hospitals (NUH) NHS trust will be the focus of a major report on Wednesday into how failings led to the deaths of babies and serious harm to families. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK Met Office issues rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday 22. June 2026 (13:22) People in southern Wales and area of England from Kent and Sussex to Somerset and Birmingham urged to protect themselves from extreme heatThe UK’s Met Office forecasters have issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday in the face of extreme heat and humidity, while a red heat health alert has been issued in England indicating “a risk to life for even the healthy population”.The weather warning covers southern Wales as far west as Swansea, and an area of England that includes London and runs from the inland areas of Kent across to Somerset, as far north-west as Birmingham, and as far north-east as southern Cambridgeshire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
I tried the new soft drinks from Trump’s son and granddaughter. Bad! 22. June 2026 (13:00) Barron Trump has a new yerba mate and Kai Trump a ‘bold’ energy drink – would their offerings pass the taste test?Do you like sugary soft drinks? Do you like Donald Trump and his family? Do you want to support nepotism?If the answer is yes to all these questions, then have I got the products for you: a pineapple yerba mate co-founded by Trump’s son, and a syrupy, energy-drink-thing developed by his granddaughter. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Marius Borg Høiby rape conviction renews focus in Norway on consent in digital age 22. June 2026 (12:39) Norway is supposedly one of world’s most gender-equal countries, yet sexual violence remains prevalent across societyIn many ways, the case of Marius Borg Høiby, who was sentenced to four years in prison last week after being found guilty of offences including domestic violence and two counts of rape, was exceptional.The king’s 29-year-old step-grandson grew up in the public eye alongside the royal family, mixing in Oslo’s wealthiest circles, partying at exclusive nightclubs and having afterparties at his family’s official royal residence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Europe suffers under record heatwave as temperatures forecast to reach 44C 22. June 2026 (12:14) Rail services, schools and sports events hit, with deaths of three elderly people in France partly blamed on intense heatWestern Europe is enduring a ferocious heatwave forecast to break temperature records, with half of France on red alert, rail services in Belgium disrupted and sports events in Spain and Germany cancelled or postponed.French authorities on Monday placed 49 of the country’s 96 mainland departments on a level 1 danger-to-life warning, urging 35 million people to exercise “absolute vigilance”, drink water often, avoid all strenuous exertion and stay out of direct sun. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The US re-legalized the death penalty 50 years ago. Is it working as intended? 22. June 2026 (12:00) The Marshall Project analyzed over 9,000 death sentences handed down since states brought the punishment backFifty years ago, Americans set out on a polarizing mission: to find a just and fair way to punish the worst-of-the-worst crimes by execution.In some ways, this was a surprising choice. In 1972, a narrow majority of the US supreme court had scrapped the country’s entire death penalty system, calling it “morally unacceptable”, “racially discriminatory” and “arbitrary”. It seemed possible that Americans might join our peers in Europe and Latin America, many of whom had ended executions for good. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
From migration to Mandelson: Keir Starmer’s successes and failures in No 10 22. June 2026 (11:52) Where did it go wrong for the outgoing prime minister? And how much – if at all – did it threaten to go right?Keir Starmer pitched himself as a leader for “stability and moderation” who would rebuild Britain, after Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election.But after two years which have seen unforced errors, economic headwinds, scandals and, most recently, a disastrous set of devolved, mayoral and local election results the UK is set to have its sixth prime minister in seven years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer announces resignation as prime minister and leader of the Labour party - UK politics live 22. June 2026 (11:51) The prime minister said a new leader will be in place before parliament returns in SeptemberFull report: Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister two years after historic election victoryThis is from Tom Baldwin, Keir Starmer’s biographer, and head of communications for Ed Miliband when he was Labour leader.We seem to be in a strange place where Keir Starmer is being told he must quit to prevent more uncertainty and chaos (by those who have caused much of it) but then stay on for a couple of months because the guy who has been desperate to take his job is not yet ready to do so…Keir Starmer has a mandate from Labour members.He stood on a manifesto and won a mandate from the British peopleModern politics:Consumerisation Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zelenskyy pledges to ‘bring war back to Russia’ after drones swarm toward Moscow – Europe live 22. June 2026 (11:49) Russia intercepted 300 Ukrainian drones across the country and temporarily suspended operations from Moscow airportBack to Ukraine, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine, drawing on the importance of the Russian Day of Memory and Sorrow, the anniversary of the 1941 Nazi Germany invasion of the Soviet Union.“Yet today, Russia began this day not by honoring those who fell in World War II, and not with signals that could help bring the current war – Russia’s war against Ukraine – closer to an end. Instead, it began with more completely unjustifiable killings,” he said.“This Russian war has no justifiable cause. Putin was driven by exactly the same motives as the aggressors who came before him. He shows the same contempt for human life. He is just as delusional about this absurd ‘empire’ of his that nobody needs. This war must be brought to an end.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
