Utah wildfire forces evacuation of small town as extreme heat roasts US west 21. June 2026 (22:52) Town of Eureka evacuated due to risk from Iron fire as officials forecast more hot weather in week aheadExtreme heat and dry, windy conditions are fueling multiple wildfires across the US west, including a massive blaze in Utah that forced the evacuation of a small town, with hot weather in the forecast raising the risk of more blazes in the week ahead.The Iron fire in Utah’s Juab county was first detected on Saturday and has so far blackened more than 2,000 acres. The fire, about 70 miles (113km) south-west of Salt Lake City, forced the evacuation of Eureka, population 1,000, and people at a nearby ranch. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taxi and Uber rider targeted in suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh, say witnesses 21. June 2026 (21:06) White Scottish man, 38, charged after five men were injured in spate of attacks in city on Friday nightWitnesses to the alleged knife attacks on Muslims and others in Edinburgh on Friday have described seeing a taxi and an Uber bike courier being targeted in Leith.The attacks, suspected of being directed against Muslims and people of colour, began near a mosque in the west of Edinburgh, followed by incidents on Leith Walk in the east of the city. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump faces fresh bipartisan criticism on Iran deal as Vance hails peace talks 21. June 2026 (20:51) Objections comes as Trump threatens to renew attacks on Iran if it doesn’t rein in its proxy in LebanonUS political figures from left and right voiced fresh objections on Sunday to Donald Trump’s provisional deal with Iran – even as the US president made fresh threats while Vice-President JD Vance hailed progress during the first round of direct peace talks in Switzerland.Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who recently lost his primary battle for re-election, posted a line on X from a Wall Street Journal article on how rogue regimes evade US economic warfare. It said: “Iran’s ability to withstand sanctions so far exposes a hard fact for Washington: economic pressure has largely failed to cow rogue regimes, as they game out more ways to sidestep US restrictions.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A shift has taken place’: Starmer faces the music after weekend of reflection 21. June 2026 (20:14) While PM’s desire to fight was strong, time with his inner circle at Chequers sharpened his sense of the inevitableOn Friday, as the dust settled on Andy Burnham’s thumping victory in the Makerfield byelection, Keir Starmer was in defiant mood. “I have said repeatedly, I am not going to walk away,” the prime minister said, adding: “Let’s pull together as a party and a movement.”Just 48 hours later, one of his most loyal ministers was on the BBC sending a very different message. “I don’t want to come on here and be delusional that there is no process, there are no forces at work which are challenging the prime minister as leader – that is clearly the case,” said the business secretary, Peter Kyle. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer expected to announce exit plan to clear way for Burnham to become PM 21. June 2026 (20:02) Ministers say Starmer will set out his intentions on Monday morning with an autumn departure the most likely optionKeir Starmer is expected to announce a timetable for his departure on Monday morning, clearing the way for Andy Burnham to become prime minister without a formal contest by the autumn.Cabinet ministers say Starmer will set out his intentions outside No 10 Downing Street, starting a process of the UK installing its seventh prime minister in a decade. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says beleaguered reflecting pool will ‘probably’ be drained for repairs 21. June 2026 (19:44) Algae blooms and peeling paint mar $14.2m renovation as president blames problems on ‘disgraceful Vandalism’The troublesome Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington is “probably” going to be drained for repairs, Donald Trump has said, after algae blooms and peeling paint marred the controversial recent renovation efforts for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations next month.In a Truth Social post late on Saturday, Trump said that after meeting with pool contractors, they would “probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teenager rescues two men who fell from inflatable toy boat off Isle of Skye 21. June 2026 (19:39) Archie Law, 15, sailed his own vessel to save men in distress, beating lifeboat service to the sceneA 15-year-old boy rescued two men who had fallen from an inflatable toy boat off the Isle of Skye by sailing his own vessel to save them, beating the lifeboat service to the scene.Archie Law beat a volunteer crew of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to the rescue on Saturday evening after the UK coastguard received reports of two males in difficulty in the water off Broadford Bay around 9pm. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Transition timetable: what a Starmer autumn handover could look like 21. June 2026 (19:15) New leader could be chosen unchallenged or after a quick contest while outgoing PM has time to finalise his legacyIf the predictions are proved correct and Keir Starmer does announce a timetable for an autumn departure from Downing Street, the machinery of government will again kick into gear for a handover of power – but one that will be, by UK standards, relatively leisurely.While many democracies build in lengthy transition periods – a defeated or retiring US president serves for nearly three months after their successor has been picked – the UK tends to do things at speed. A losing prime minister will typically get out of 10 Downing Street the morning after an election while the removal vans of their replacements lurk idling around the corner. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Secret correspondence claims suggest tensions at top of Iranian government 21. June 2026 (17:56) Former negotiating team member gives shock interview claiming supreme leader’s instructions were not followedMiddle East crisis – live updatesA former member of Iran’s negotiating team in the previous round of talks with the US in Islamabad is facing the threat of prosecution and dismissal from parliament after he went on the main state broadcaster to reveal what he claimed were confidential letters from the country’s supreme leader.The interview with Mahmoud Nabavian, the deputy chair of Iran’s national security council, was eventually cut off, but only after he said he had seen secret correspondence written by Mojtaba Khamenei in which the ayatollah allegedly said Iran’s negotiating team had overstepped its mandate Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Therapy ferrets used to kill rats at UK’s largest children’s prison 21. June 2026 (17:34) Prison officers’ union calls for immediate end to practice at HMYOI Wetherby over fears for child and animal welfarePet ferrets kept as therapy animals at the UK’s largest children’s prison have been co-opted by managers to kill rats, resulting in a bloody incident and concerns over child and animal welfare.The unorthodox method of vermin control was waved through last month at HMYOI Wetherby in West Yorkshire following a surge in rat numbers in prison offices and grounds. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
