UK News
View All 9Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election and sets up Labour war to give Keir Starmer the boot
Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election, setting the wheels in motion for a Labour leadership race and a battle for No10.Mr Burnham won the seat with 24,927 votes.Turnout increased in the seat compared to the General Election, rising to 58.8 per cent.Second in the vote was Reform UK's Robert Kenyon, who earned 15,696 votes. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say And Restore Britain's Rebecca Shepherd took in 3,111 votes, at 6.8 per cent of the total vote.Mr Burnham's margin of victory was greater than Restore's final share, despite fears of Restore "splitting the vote" being raised during the campaign.Restore leader Rupert Lowe said votes did not "belong" to any party as counting was underway.The Conservatives received fewer than 1,000 votes, with the Greens, and Liberal Democrats receiving less than 500 - collectively earning no more than three per cent of the total vote.And the new MP's victory speech - briefly delayed by protests from fellow candidates - detailed his hopes for Britain as he returns to the Commons.Mr Burnham told constituents his Makerfield seat would serve not as a "stepping stone" to becoming the Prime Minister.He said: "It will never be a stepping stone to me, but instead will be my touchstone. A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness."On the campaign trail, he made his pitch to voters without Labour branding - instead, placards simply featured his name.In his speech, he said would always take a "place-first rather than a party-first approach" to politics.But he also risked a row with the US President, who he will have to meet if he enters Downing Street.MORE ON THE MAKERFIELD ELECTION:Andy Burnham reported to police over 'breach of rules' on eve of by-electionMakerfield voters tell GB News of their biggest issues ahead of landmark by-electionAndy Burnham tells GB News the Makerfield by-election will be a ‘turning point for British politics’He added the result would mean "turning away from the path that takes us to a divided, dark politics of the kind we see in the United States".After his speech, he quickly entered his car with wife and daughter, not speaking to reporters - saying he was instead going to go for a pint.His Makerfield seat had been vacated by Josh Simons last month to allow Mr Burnham's return to Westminster.The pair were seen hugging as the Greater Manchester Mayor arrived at The Edge in Wigan for the results.The heavily-contested seat was contested by 14 candidates, with talks of Labour's quiet confidence long before the declaration.Mr Burnham's victory runs counter to Labour's local elections wipeout - including in Wigan, where Reform UK won 24 of 25 seats up for grabs.Culture Secretary and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy said she imagined the Prime Minister would reach out to Mr Burnham by the early morning for a conversation if he won the seat.She said it was important to "understand the significance of what has just happened here" and learn from the result - even before it was counted.Ms Nandy told GB News the "historic win" would earn Mr Burnham "a very loud voice at the top of national politics".Mr Burnham has long vowed to pitch into a leadership battle if he returned to Westminster.But his supporters hope the Prime Minister will simply quit rather than fight on to save his premiership.One, Jess Phillips, last night called for Sir Keir to be given the chance for a “dignified exit”.And former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, said she hoped the Prime Minister would "consider an orderly and managed transition".Even before the vote, the new Makerfield MP and his allies were reported to be hoping for a “coronation”.They think a contest would be damaging to Labour’s brand.His team had to talk several ministers down from resigning early to prevent the Government descending into chaos ahead of the by-election.But the Prime Minister had long vowed not to walk away from No10.He is said to have assembled significant funds to back a campaign to fight any leadership challenge, according to The Times.He has the backing of a group of private donors, with fundraising having ramped up in the last two days and total pledges running into six figures, sources said.Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also said he would challenge the Prime Minister.Other names floated in a potential leadership contest include Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband and Al Carns.Mr Burnham has previously served in Labour cabinets and has twice contested leadership elections.After a Cabinet reshuffle in 2008, he became Culture Secretary under Gordon Brown, and the next year he became the Health Secretary.He then contested his first leadership contest which was eventually won by Ed Miliband - whose Shadow Cabinet he served in as Shadow Education Secretary.He would again attempt to be Labour leader in 2015, but would lose out to Jeremy Corbyn.He then served as Shadow Home Secretary, but resigned in 2017 to stand as Greater Manchester Mayor, a role created for the new combined authority. 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WATCH IN FULL: Andy Burnham's victory speech after winning Makerfield by-election
Andy Burnham took to the stage in Wigan last night as he delivered his maiden speech as the Labour MP for Makerfield.The Labour leadership hopeful, who now has a platform from which to challenge the Prime Minister, issued a message to the nation - and swiped at Donald Trump - as he delivered his remarks.He said: "Firstly, can I thank everybody who has worked so hard to make this election run so smoothly and so safely. Thank you very much, everybody. "And can I say to my fellow candidates, can I say to you all, thank you for at least a civil debate between us, with everything going on around the election. We managed that. And that's really important. "Everyone knows that politics isn't working. Everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be."Tonight could - just could - be the turning point. From here on, I will give everything I have got to make it so."To ensure the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs. Bringing back something we've lost. Hope. Hope for the future."I am proud that this place has shone in the world spotlight these last five weeks and the warmth, humour and hospitality of its people has been on show for all to see. "It will never be a stepping stone to me, but instead will be my touchstone. A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will ensure the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness."I spoke in the campaign about the need to change politics. I promised to lead by example from the front as your Member of Parliament. I know people who traditionally vote for the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and perhaps more recently in May for Reform UK, have given me their support in this election. "I will always have respect to them for that and out of respect for them, I will always take a place-first rather than a party-first approach, and I will focus on problem-solving rather than point=scoring. And I will work hard after this by-election to heal the divisions of this campaign - and let it be really understood that I will be your MP however you voted."When this borough went to the polls in May, it made a loud cry for change. In this campaign we have begun to answer that. But I do say to my own party, this is a final chance to change. This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on."We must hear it. We must act upon it. And we must get it right. There will be no second chance. But it is a chance now, from this result tonight, to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the path that takes us to a divided, dark politics of the kind we see in the United States."We must now take this path and put this country back on the right path, and bring people back together and get things working properly again."It is with some sadness that this result brings an end to my wonderful nine years as Mayor of Greater Manchester. This city-region has given so much to me and it is a wrench to leave the job I love, but I am not leaving the service of Greater Manchester."I have always been clear that it can't achieve everything it should be, and we cannot close the north south divide, and we cannot make all the great English cities be what they should be without big change at the national level. "I always knew one day I would seek to go back to Westminster to complete that unfinished business, so that Makerfield and Greater Manchester and the North of England can fulfil their potential. And I will forever be grateful to the people here, the people of the wonderful places that make up this constituency, the proud places that always have deserved so much more. "I will forever be grateful to them that they have given me the chance to go back and make this country work for Makerfield. And there are many places. Places like it across the country who have been neglected, who feel that the country works for other people in other places, but not for them. And that changes tonight. "This result changes that. This result will bring about a country that works fairly for everywhere and for everybody. People here have voted for change. They have voted for more power for the North and everywhere forgoten by Westminster. Now let us give that back to them. Thank you very much indeed, everybody."WATCH ANDY BURHAM'S VICTORY SPEECH IN FULL ABOVE
Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election - now he prepares to launch his Left-wing coup to topple Keir Starmer and become PM
Andy Burnham is poised to storm Downing Street after a stunning win in the Makerfield by-election. The Greater Manchester Mayor secured a majority of 9,000 votes over Reform in a result that sparked tears of joy from Labour Left-wingers - who want far more extreme tax and spend policies. Mr Burnham immediately made clear he will try to replace Keir Starmer as PM, insisting he is heading for the 'heart' of politics and the party has a 'final chance to change'. The scale of the victory heaps massive pressure on Sir Keir - who is still vowing to fight any challenge - to allow a 'coronation' that could take place within days. It was achieved after a wave of previously loyal Labour big beasts and celebrity backers flooded the constituency yesterday. Sir Keir posted on X congratulating Mr Burnham this morning, pointedly praising 'Labour's campaign'. However, his dwindling band of allies are continuing to warn of 'chaos' and an early general election if there is a coup. Mr Burnham, known as Labour's 'King of the North', stood on stage between Count Binface and Robert Pownall, a candidate dressed as a fox, as the by-election results were declared shortly after 3am. He won 24,927 votes, which was more than half of the total. It gave him a majority of 9,231 votes over Reform candidate Robert Kenyon, with 15,696 votes. In his victory speech, Mr Burnham - who has been out of the Commons for nine years - said: 'Everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point. 'From here on I will give everything I have got to make it so. To ensure the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs.' He added: 'I do say to my own party: this is a final chance to change. This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on. 'We must hear it, we must act upon it and we must get it right. There will be no second chance.' Mr Burnham left the count almost immediately after his speech. As he got into a car with his wife and daughter, he said he was going for a 'pint'. However, both he and Sir Keir are expected to make public appearances later. In a separate by-election contest in Aberdeen South, the Tories secured a huge win over the SNP after successfully turning the race into a referendum on oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
Burnham wins in Makerfield | US ends naval blockade | Scotland to face Morocco
Reference #18.554bdd58.1781848853.407e6e83 https://errors. edgesuite. net/18.554bdd58.1781848853.
World News
View All 10Iran war: Switzerland talks called off, Vance stays in US
https://p. dw. com/p/5FgdR JD Vance was expected to discuss wider issues with Iranian negotiators, including Iran's nuclear program (FILE: March 27, 2026)Image: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo/picture alliance Skip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know US Vice President JD Vance postponed a planned trip to meet Iranian negotiators in Switzerland Swiss Foreign Ministry confirms Friday peace talks postponed The delegates were set to negotiate implementation of the 14-point agreement between Tehran and Washington Read here for the on the Iran war on Friday, June 19. Tired of missing our real-time updates? add us as a Preferred Source on Google . Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed. Skip next section Switzerland says US-Iran talks planned for Friday called off06/19/2026June 19, 2026Switzerland says US-Iran talks planned for Friday called off The scheduled meeting between the US and Iranian officials are "postponed" and will not be taking place on Friday, the Swiss Foreign Ministry has said, after US President JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland. "Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks," Swiss diplomats said, adding that "preparatory work" was continuing. Previously, the Swiss government said the summit will be held at the luxurious mountaintop resort of Bürgenstock, in the Swiss Alps. The president of the US and Iran, Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding without meeting in person. https://p. dw. com/p/5Fgif Skip next section Report: Iranians not flying to Switzerland because of Lebanon fighting06/19/2026June 19, 2026Report: Iranians not flying to Switzerland because of Lebanon fighting Tehran was also delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland, according to Al Mayadeen, a pan-Arab Iran-backed, pro-Hezbollah satellite channel. The news outlet said this was due to Israel continuing its campaign in Lebanon. The Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran foresees "permanent termination" of the fighting in Lebanon and calls for respecting the country's "territorial integrity and sovereignty." But Israel is not a party to the peace deal and has stated it has no intention of ending its offensive against the Hezbollah militia. Israeli forces control parts of Lebanon and have launched airstrikes on targets inside the country on Thursday. On Friday, Hezbollah said it destroyed three Israeli tanks. Israel's opposition to the peace deal and the prolonged fighting in Lebanon have triggered a public rift between the Trump administration and the Israeli government. https://p. dw. com/p/5Fgee Skip next section JD Vance delays trip for peace talks with Iran06/19/2026June 19, 2026JD Vance delays trip for peace talks with Iran US Vice President JD Vance has postponed his trip to Switzerland where he was going to meet Iranian negotiators to discuss the implementation of the 14-point agreement reached between Washington and Tehran to end the war.
UK: Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wins parliament seat
https://p. dw. com/p/5Fgd9 The Makerfield by-election victory has earned Andy Burnham a seat in the House of Commons putting him in position to challenge Prime Minister Keir StarmerImage: Thomas Krych/ZUMA/IMAGO Labour politician Andy Burnham on Friday won a key by-election that puts him in a position to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and ultimately the UK. Burnham beat the hard-right Reform UK party's candidate in the Makerfield by-election in northwest England. The veteran Labour politician won almost 25,000 votes while Rob Kenyon of Nigel Farage's Reform UK came second with over 15,600 votes. Burnham says Labour has 'a final chance to change' "Everyone knows that politics isn't working," Burnham said in his victory speech. "Everyone can feel that the country isn't where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point. "I do say to my own party, this is a final chance to change," Burnham added. "There will be no second chance." "But it is a chance now, from this result tonight, to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the path that takes us to a divisive, dark politics of the kind we see in the United States,” he said. UK's Starmer under pressure as King Charles opens parliament To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Possible candidate to replace Starmer Burnham has been serving as the mayor of Greater Manchester, one of the UK's largest cities and a traditional Labour heartland. Having now won a seat in the House of Commons, he becomes a frontrunner to possibly topple Starmer. The Labour Party under Starmer performed poorly in May's local elections, with demands from within his own ranks to resign. Labour lost more than 1,400 council seats around England, losing influence both to Reform UK on the populist right and the Greens on the populist left. Burnham will head to London to be sworn in as a lawmaker as soon as Monday. Why voters are so unhappy with leadership in democracies To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Sean Sinico Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.
Caitlin Clark drops 26 points in new Nike signature shoes, but Fever dream ends with 17 costly turnovers
close Video Caitlin Clark Must TOUGHEN UP and FIGHT BACK Against Jealous WNBA Bullies | Don't @ Me w/ Dan Dakich Dan Dakich reacts to 7X NBA champion Robert Horry’s bold advice urging Caitlin Clark to finally fight back and retaliate the next time she takes a flagrant foul. The biggest rivalry in the WNBA delivered. Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream squad rolled into Indy and handed Caitlin Clark a brutal 108-101 reality check. If you took the over, go buy yourself a drink. Let's start with the ATL Barbie. Reese looked cooked after picking up four quick fouls in the first half, spending way too much time riding the pine. SOUTH CAROLINA COACH DAWN STALEY WEIGHS IN ON CAITLIN CLARK-ANGEL REESE RIVALRY: ‘IT’S GREAT FOR THE WNBA' But ultimately, Reese finished with an impressive 21 points and 11 rebounds. With 23 seconds left, she bullied her way to a clutch and-one layup to seal the deal. Meanwhile, Clark looked flashy rocking her brand-new signature Nike kicks, dropping 26 points and seven assists. Caitlin Clark debuts new Nike signature shoe in loss to Atlanta Dream. (Photo by A. Mast/NBAE via ) ((Photo by A. Mast/NBAE via )) The problem? Indiana treated the basketball like a live grenade down the stretch. The Fever coughed up 17 turnovers. Atlanta's starting five was also a total buzzsaw. Every single starter scored 16 points or more points. Jordin Canada, Naz Hillmon, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard joined Reese in the scoring parade, combining for a ridiculous 89 points. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. Caitlin Clark and the Fever put up a strong performance but lose to Atlanta Dream. (Photo /) ((Photo /)) However, Indiana did not go quietly into the night. Kelsey Mitchell poured in 26 points and hit her 700th career three-pointer, sparking a wild fourth-quarter run to tie it late. Aliyah Boston tallied 23 points as well. But a brutal late-game Indy turnover led to an easy fast-break bucket that sucked the life right out of the arena. The Dream move to an impressive 10-4, while the Fever drop to 9-6. DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Clark can sell out arenas and look good in her own signature shoes, but if Indy cannot protect the rock, they won't go far this year. Angel Reese throws down against longtime WNBA rival Caitlin Clark. (Photo /) ((Photo /)) Send us your thoughts: alejandro. avila@outkick. com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela Alejandro Avila is a longtime writer at OutKick, living in Southern California.
US launches Germany pharma pricing probe, raising threat of new tariffs
Germany came under fresh US trade scrutiny on Thursday as the United States launched an investigation into the country's pharmaceutical pricing policies, a move that could pave the way for new tariffs. Washington said it would examine whether Germany's pricing practices unfairly underpay for innovative medicines and burden US commerce under Section 301 trade authorities. What is this page? The website you are visiting is protected. For security reasons this page cannot be displayed.
Politics
View All 10Matt Dunlap Wins Democratic House Primary in Maine’s Swing District
Mr. Dunlap, a progressive Democrat, is set to face former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, in a competitive general election in November.
Sir John Curtice: Burnham's win against Reform represents remarkable personal success
1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Sir John CurticeProfessor of politics, Strathclyde University BBC Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election represents a remarkable personal success. Last year in the Runcorn by-election, Labour's vote fell by 14 points. Four months ago in Gorton & Denton, it collapsed by 25 points. In Makerfield itself, Labour were 20 points behind Reform in the local elections on 7 May. Even at the best of times, support for the party of government nearly always falls in by-elections. Yet, in yesterday's ballot, Burnham not only retained every bit of the 45% share of the vote Labour won in the seat in 2024, but actually pushed his party's share up by 10 points. With Labour stuck at just 19% in the national polls, much as it has been ever since last autumn, there has been no evidence of any marked change in Labour's popularity in the last few weeks to account for this turnaround. Indeed, Labour saw its vote fall heavily in both the Scottish by-elections also held yesterday – by 19 points in Aberdeen South and 18 points in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry. Moreover, polling conducted during the Makerfield campaign suggested Labour would have lost quite badly if anyone other than Burnham had been Labour's standard bearer. There appears to have been two key foundations to Burnham's success. First, he managed to persuade many of those who voted for the party in 2024 to return to the fold. Polls published last weekend suggest that four in five of those who backed Labour two years ago voted yesterday voted for Burnham. In contrast, the national polls suggest that only a little over half of 2024 Labour voters are currently minded to vote for the party again. Second, as the polls also anticipated, Burnham seemingly benefited from a squeeze on the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. They won just 3% of the vote between them, down 19 points on 2024. The 0.4% won -election performance, while the 2.2% won -time low of 1.9% recorded in Gorton and Denton four months ago. Both patterns were probably occasioned by a mixture of motives. Some people will have voted tactically to keep Reform out, some will have been hoping to bring about the downfall of the prime minister, while others will simply have been persuaded by Burnham's personal style and his record as Greater Manchester mayor. Meanwhile, Makerfield should have been prime territory for Burnham's principal opponents, Reform. The party's support is heavily concentrated among those who voted for Brexit 10 years ago, and as many as two-thirds of voters in Makerfield voted Leave in the referendum.
Andy Burnham: The ‘King of the North’ who could be the next prime minister
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – the so called “King of the North” – could be on the cusp of launching a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer. Mr Burnham is seen as one of the main challengers to take over from Sir Keir Starmer, and took the first step on that journey with victory in Thursday’s Makerfield by-election. If he does trigger a leadership contest, this would not be Mr Burnham’s first attempt at the party’s top job; the former New Labour minister has previously run for leadership twice, losing out to Ed Miliband and later Jeremy Corbyn. open image in gallery Andy Burnham has earned respect through his handling of two terror attacks (PA) Mr Burnham had made it clear he would challenge the prime minister if he managed to woo the voters in Makerfield. For his part, Sir Keir has vowed to stay on even if a leadership contest is triggered. But who is Mr Burnham, and how did he come to be within a whisker of challenging the prime minister? Mr Burnham is the state-educated son of a BT engineer and receptionist. He joined the Labour Party aged 15 and subsequently attended Cambridge University, rising up the political ranks to become one of the most senior and successful elected Labour politicians outside Parliament. A former special adviser to Mr Blair’s culture secretary Chris Smith, Mr Burnham was one of New Labour’s rising stars. open image in gallery A Burnham supporter next to a banner at the Community Sports Club in Makerfield, Greater Manchester (PA) Shortly after his election in 2001, he was made a parliamentary aide to the then-home secretary David Blunkett, a sign he was being groomed for bigger things. Ministerial jobs followed, first as a junior minister in the Home Office, and then in the Department of Health, before Mr Brown’s move into Number 10 brought him into the cabinet as chief secretary to the Treasury. But it was as culture secretary that he took on an issue that has become a cornerstone of his career – the fight for justice for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Everton fan Mr Burnham was watching his team play Norwich when he learned of the unfolding crush at Hillsborough in 1989 that would eventually kill 97 Liverpool fans. Twenty years later, hecklers interrupted his speech at an anniversary event at Anfield, demanding justice for the victims. It prompted him to raise Hillsborough in cabinet, leading to the creation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel (HIP) – three months later the Home Office announced the full disclosure of all information to be looked at .
Vance Delays Trip to Switzerland for Direct Talks on Iran Deal
Mr. Vance said earlier at a press briefing that he did not know if he would travel to Switzerland on Friday for the talks, where he was initially expected for a signing ceremony.
Business
View All 10U.S.-Iran accord hits early snag after Swiss talks fail to proceed as planned
Livestream Menu Swiss-hosted follow-up talks were canceled, highlighting uncertainty around the accord. Analysts said the agreement was only the first step toward a broader settlement. "This is a really bad deal," according to David Roche, a strategist at Quantum Strategy. A newspaper featuring the headline story on indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States in Muscat, Oman, is displayed at a newsstand in Tehran, Iran, on April 12, 2025. Fatemeh Bahrami | Anadolu | News that the U. S. and Iran had reached an interim deal may have brought some initial relief to markets, but fresh uncertainty emerged on Friday after planned follow-up talks in Switzerland were called off, underscoring the challenges of turning the agreement into a lasting peace settlement. Switzerland's foreign ministry reportedly said U. S.-Iran talks scheduled to take place at Bürgenstock on Friday would not proceed as planned. The White House also said that Vice President JD Vance was no longer traveling to Switzerland, citing unresolved logistical issues surrounding the negotiations. "The plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the U. S. delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity," a White House spokesperson said. "But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable." The developments came a day after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing a permanent peace deal to end the months-long conflict. Analysts cautioned that the agreement represented only an initial step toward a broader settlement. "While an important breakthrough, this agreement marks really the beginning rather than the end of the process to try to end the war and address Iran's nuclear capabilities," UBS said in a report. Several "sticky points" still need to be resolved, such as Israel's campaign in Lebanon, Adel Abdel Ghafar, a senior fellow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told CNBC's "The China Connection." "Otherwise, there is a scenario we potentially may go back to a conflict, although both sides at this stage want to avoid that," he said. Despite lingering uncertainty, the agreement has helped ease disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping had been affected both U. Navy's blockade of Iran's ports and coastal areas under Trump's direction. The easing of shipping disruptions could benefit economies that rely heavily on imported oil, as lower oil prices may help contain inflation and reduce pressure on central banks to raise interest rates, David Roche, a strategist at Quantum Strategy told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia". "Beyond that, this is a really bad deal," Roche said, noting that it puts the Iranians in a stronger position in the Gulf and limits external interference in the country's domestic affairs. "Iran is going to make the Middle East very unstable, that's bad in the long term," Roche said.
FirstFT: Labour’s Andy Burnham wins crucial UK by-election
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Technology
View All 10Many Let's Encrypt renewals had errors today
Updated a few seconds ago Updated a few seconds ago acme-v02. api. letsencrypt. org (Production), portal. letsencrypt. org (Production) High Assurance Datacenter 1, High Assurance Datacenter 2 acme-v02. api. letsencrypt. org (Production) acme-staging-v02. api. letsencrypt. org (Staging) portal. letsencrypt. org (Production) portal-staging. letsencrypt. org (Staging) *. c. lencr. org (Production) stg-*. c. lencr. org (Staging) log. twig. ct. letsencrypt. org log. sycamore. ct. letsencrypt. org log. willow. ct. letsencrypt. org Enter your Microsoft Teams webhook. View Instructions Email address for managing subscription Find the channel ID: Select the channel in your Slack workspace. The channel ID is displayed in the browser URL. Example: https://app. slack.
I'm a smart home reviewer, and these are the only deals I'm shopping this Prime Day
Home & Office 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Close I'm a smart home reviewer, and these are the only deals I'm shopping this Prime Day Written , Staff WriterStaff Writer June 18, 2026 at p. m. Amazon Prime Day 2026 is upon us, and there are many chances to score some big discounts across various categories right now. For the smart home, Prime Day is one of the best times to buy certain devices, like smart speakers and security cameras. Also: The best early Amazon Prime Day deals As a ZDNET smart home expert, I test dozens of smart devices a year, including security cameras of all types. With so many great deals right now, it may be hard to discern which are actually bargains. I've rounded up the best deals available that are true great money-saving opportunities and that are worth your time. Find more Prime Day deals My favorite Prime Day home security camera deals right now Current price: $115 (68% off) Original price: $360 With a 68% discount, this bundle includes five Blink Outdoor 4 security cameras, one Blink Video Doorbell 2, and a Sync Module Core.
I recommend these Garmin smartwatches for almost every situation (and price range)
Tech 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Close I recommend these Garmin smartwatches for almost every situation (and price range) Written , Editor, Wearables & Health TechEditor, Wearables & Health Tech June 18, 2026 at p. m. PT Garmin Forerunner 970 | for $650 (save $100) Garmin Forerunner 970 for $650 (save $100) View now View at Amazon Garmin Fenix 8 47mm AMOLED | for $750 (save $250) Garmin Fenix 8 47mm AMOLED for $750 (save $250) View now View at Amazon Garmin Venu 4 | for $500 (save $50) Garmin Venu 4 for $500 (save $50) View now View at Amazon Garmin Venu 3S | for $344 (save $105) Garmin Venu 3S for $344 (save $105) View now View at Amazon Garmin Instinct 3 | for $300 (save $150) Garmin Instinct 3 for $300 (save $150) View now View at Amazon Amazon Prime Day kicks off next week. Garmin smartwatches are great for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and those training for their first or next marathon. They can also be very pricey, so they're a convenient product to shop during Prime Day. Also: I found 15 Amazon deals on editor-approved tech already live for Prime Day Prime Day begins June 23 and ends June 26. It's four days again, so you have four chances to find a good discount on something you want. I've been covering these deals events for over three years now, so I can confidently say I know how these discount-paloozas go.
Science
View All 10Microplastics in over 75% of pet food, study finds
9 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Joshua AskewSouth East Researchers have called on government to bring extra regulations on pet food Microplastics are in more than three-quarters of pet food products, a new study has found. The research 16 out of the 19 brands that were tested, including "very well-known ones". Cheaper "value range" products given to dogs, cats and wild animals contained more than the expensive ones, it found. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, typically smaller than 5mm. Several studies have suggested that microplastics can harm animals and humans in many ways, though working out their exact impact is tricky. Researchers in Sussex and Exeter said that the presence of plastic pollution in pet food may also have potential implications for health, but this was not the focus of their study. 'Further research needed' The study found that, despite higher concentrations in dry food, wet food leads to higher daily microplastic intake because pets need to eat more of it to meet their energy requirements. Researchers are urging government to put in new regulations to insist processed food manufacturers test for microplastic contamination - similar to the legislation that already exists to prevent chemical contamination. The Food Standards Agency has been approached for comment. Pets could be spreading pollution into the environment, experts said "Our results are a reminder that our pets are exposed to the same chemical pollutants as ourselves," University of Exeter Prof of Ecotoxicology Tamara Galloway said. "Pets may be inadvertently spreading plastic pollution through their food and faeces, affecting wildlife and the wider environment," Fiona Mathews, Prof of Environmental Biology at the University of Sussex, added. Researchers said that the sources of contamination were unclear. "Further research is now needed to find out whether ingredient quality, packaging types, or processing methods, are the main contributors to the problem," they added. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc. co. uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Related internet links Plastic pollution Plastic Pollution Environment Brighton University of Sussex
SpaceX wants to build AI data centers in space. Will it work?
Date: June 18, 2026 Source: The Conversation Summary: The race to build data centers in space is gaining momentum as AI drives unprecedented demand for computing power. Orbital facilities could tap into abundant solar energy and avoid many of the environmental challenges faced on Earth. Yet space remains a harsh and expensive place to operate, with major hurdles including cooling, maintenance, radiation exposure, and orbital debris. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY The dream of AI data centers in space is moving closer to reality—but surviving the brutal realities of orbit may be even harder than launching them there. Credit: Shutterstock Imagine if one company could become the railroad, electric utility and cloud-computing provider of the emerging space economy. That potential fueled excitement around the long-anticipated initial public offering of SpaceX. Investors are not simply betting on rockets anymore. They are betting on an entire orbital ecosystem. Among the most ambitious and challenging ideas riding this wave of enthusiasm is something that sounds almost like science fiction: orbital data centers. SpaceX may be one of the most well-known companies seeking to build them, but it is not the only one. The logic is seductive: Launch the data centers into orbit, where solar energy is abundant and land, water and local power grids are no longer constraints. As artificial intelligence drives an explosion in computing demand, companies are pitching orbital data centers as a way to escape the growing environmental and infrastructure pressures of Earth-based computing. Data centers often also face backlash from the public at having these centers located in their communities. But there is a vast difference between launching satellites and operating an industrial-scale computing infrastructure in orbit. The electronics generate enormous amounts of heat, and getting rid of that heat is surprisingly difficult in space. Repairs are extraordinarily expensive, and every pound launched into orbit still carries a significant cost. We are engineering professors who study data center design and space systems engineering. Building a space-based data center will involve considerations from both sides. What goes into a data center on Earth First off, consider what goes into an Earth-based data center, like those that you’ve probably begun to see pop up everywhere. These facilities power cloud computing, video streaming, online banking, scientific computing and, increasingly, artificial intelligence. But a data center is much more than a room full of servers. A data center needs several things to operate reliably.
Scientists trace high-energy ghost particle to the 'Shadow Blaster' galaxy
That means that this particle, a neutrino, had been travelling to us ever since the 13.8 billion year-old universe was just around 3 billion years old. The discovery offers the first evidence that star-forming galaxies like Shadow Blaster play a significant role in populating the universe with mysterious high-energy cosmic ghost-neutrinos. These particles get their spooky nickname because, possessing virtually no mass and no electric charge, they pass through matter with little to no interaction while moving at nearly the speed of light. For context, as you read the preceding sentence, over 65 billion neutrinos streamed through every square inch of your body; that's about 100 billion per square centimeter. Despite the difficulty associated with detecting such particles, humanity has been spotting neutrinos since the 1960s, but only a few sources of these particles have been identified. Neutrinos are the second most abundant particles in the cosmos after photons, particles of light, and the identified sources are nowhere near enough to account for this abundance. That has prompted the search for other, hidden neutrino sources, especially those which can accelerate neutrinos to high energies. Now that hunt has led to the identification of the incredibly bright Shadow Blaster galaxy, officially designated JCMT0402−0424, which shines in infrared, as a potential neutrino source. The galaxy JCMT0402−0424, or "Shadow Blaster" identified as a source of a high-energy neutrino detected in 2021. ( Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO))"Shadow Blaster possesses the kind of dense, gas-rich environment that theoretical models have long suggested could efficiently produce high-energy neutrinos," Yuji Urata of MITOS Science Co., LTD. in Taiwan said in a statement. "If confirmed, Shadow Blaster would be the first-ever individual dusty star-forming galaxy directly linked to a high-energy neutrino event." Thus far, no other credible candidates exist as potential sources for this high-energy neutrino, designated IC 210922A. Chasing ghosts Astronomers were alerted to the existence of IC 210922A half a decade ago when this high-energy neutrino event was detected . This set the astronomical community scouring space in the direction of the constellation Eridanus for potential sources for an electromagnetic counterpart to this event with a range of telescopes. This turned up no convincing gamma-ray, X-ray or optical counterpart for the neutrino detection, nor could any gamma-ray burst, supernova, or tidal disruption event (in which a black hole violently shreds a star) be linked with IC 210922A. Urata and colleagues began their personal search with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), operated , and the Submillimeter Array (SMA), discovering Shadow Blaster, a galaxy in the right position and with the right level of brightness to be associated with IC 210922A.
James Webb Space Telescope finds a salty surprise on famous 'Pink Planet'
The discovery marks an advancement in the study of cold objects beyond the solar system. Initially discovered in 2013, GJ504b orbits a sun-like star located around 57 light-years from Earth. With a mass around 25 times that of Jupiter, this Pink Planet may not be a planet at all despite its moniker. It may instead be a brown dwarf, a failed star that formed like a star but was unable to gather enough mass to achieve the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium in its core. Thus, astronomers refer to it as a "planetary-mass companion," which means a planet-size object orbiting a parent star. GJ504b remains one of the coldest planetary-mass companions discovered using ground-based telescopes, with a temperature of around 550 degrees Fahrenheit (290 degrees Celsius). Although, that still makes it hot enough to bake bread. Now, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data reveals it has a key ingredient for bread making too: salt located in its atmospheric clouds, unlike anything astronomers have seen before. "The Pink Planet is the coldest companion ever discovered using ground-based instruments," team leader Aneesh Baburaj of Northwestern University said in a statement. "Many teams all around the world performed follow-up observations to study its light, but it was too faint for ground-based instruments. That made it a perfect target for JWST. "When we finally obtained its spectrum, it immediately looked interesting. But once we started digging deeper into the data, we realized it was not like anything we have analyzed before." The Pink Planet is cold and old The team studied this planetary companion . They found the relative coolness of the Pink Planet is a result of the planet's age. Both gas giant planets and brown dwarfs are born blisteringly hot but cool off as they get older. This new research estimated that GJ504b is between 2.5 billion and 4 billion years old. Breaking down light from the Pink Planet into individual wavelengths, the team was also able to determine its chemical composition. This is possible because elements absorb and emit light at characteristic wavelengths, meaning they leave "fingerprints" on light passing through their atmospheres. "In the past, other astronomers observed the companion for an entire night with some of the biggest telescopes in the world to obtain a spectrum," Baburaj said. "And they could not object. With JWST, our entire observation took around two hours, and we were successful." The JWST data revealed a rich cocktail of chemicals in the atmosphere of the Pink Planet that included water, carbon dioxide, methane, and ammonia.
Environment
View All 10Alabama Limestone Quarry Settles Lawsuit Over Dust, Noise
Residents of the small north Alabama community of Belle Mina are breathing easier after reaching a settlement with a limestone quarry they say was disrupting their homes and places of worship. Three Belle Mina residents and four churches located near the quarry filed a lawsuit against the operators of the Stoned LLC limestone quarry in 2024, alleging that the quarry’s dust, noise, blasting and truck traffic were interfering with their ability to enjoy their property or to keep congregants coming to their churches. The plaintiffs, represented , had initially sought an injunction to close the quarry entirely. Barry Brock, director of SELC’s Alabama office, said in a news release that the compromise was a good one. “While we sought to stop the quarry, the judge concluded that the law required a middle ground,” Brock said. “This is the best outcome for our clients and mitigates very serious long-term impacts on the community,” ICN Weekly Saturdays Our #1 delivers the week’s climate and energy news – our original stories and top headlines from around the web. Get ICN Weekly Inside Clean Energy Thursdays Dan Gearino’s habit-forming weekly take on how to understand the energy transformation reshaping our world. Get Inside Clean Energy Today’s Climate Tuesdays A once-a-week digest of the most pressing climate-, written . Get Today’s Climate Don’t miss a beat. Get a daily email of our original, groundbreaking stories written -winning reporters. Get ICN Sunday Morning Go behind the scenes with executive editor Vernon Loeb and ICN reporters as they discuss one of the week’s top stories. Get ICN Sunday Morning Justice & Health A digest of stories on the inequalities that worsen the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The settlement requires the quarry to change its operations to reduce its impact on the community. The changes include: Establish buffer zones around homes and churches for quarry operations. Reduce the quarry’s hours and cease operating from 8 p. m. to 6 a. m., and on Sundays. Move the entrance farther from the plaintiffs’ homes and churches, and install turn lanes to ease traffic concerns. Pave roads to reduce dust impacts on the community. Plant trees to create a buffer around the quarry. Notify residents 24 hours before blasting operations. That’s because Inside Climate News is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. We do not charge a subscription fee, lock our news behind a paywall, or clutter our website with ads.
Federal Regulators Tell Electric Grid Operators to Fix Their Rules on Data Centers
The nation’s electric grid is stressed out. Unprecedented energy demands for large customers, such as data centers and cryptomines, are straining power supplies, raising electric rates in some regions, and stoking consumer advocates’ concerns that residential ratepayers could get stuck with the bill. Today federal energy regulators issued sweeping orders that require the nation’s six major grid operators within 60 days to propose reforms or justify their rules that govern how data centers and other large customers connect to the electric grid. Additionally, within 30 days, each grid operator and its transmission owners must submit a detailed report describing how the grid operator will ensure there is adequate generation to serve existing and new large loads. ICN Weekly Saturdays Our #1 delivers the week’s climate and energy news – our original stories and top headlines from around the web. Get ICN Weekly Inside Clean Energy Thursdays Dan Gearino’s habit-forming weekly take on how to understand the energy transformation reshaping our world. Get Inside Clean Energy Today’s Climate Tuesdays A once-a-week digest of the most pressing climate-, written . Get Today’s Climate Don’t miss a beat. Get a daily email of our original, groundbreaking stories written -winning reporters. Get ICN Sunday Morning Go behind the scenes with executive editor Vernon Loeb and ICN reporters as they discuss one of the week’s top stories. Get ICN Sunday Morning Justice & Health A digest of stories on the inequalities that worsen the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The purpose of the order is to expedite connections between large customers and utilities, but with some proposed protections for residential and small commercial customers. The wholesale energy market for two-thirds of the United States, roughly 200 million customers, is managed and monitored , such as PJM Interconnection, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). U. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright ordered the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last October to begin rulemaking to address energy demands and grid stability related to large customers, in particular data centers for AI and cryptomining. Additionally, within 30 days, grid operators must submit a detailed report describing how they intend to ensure that adequate generation will be available to serve existing and new large loads. The order allows grid operators to define “large load.” Many states have set a threshold of 100 megawatts, but as more of these customers connect to the grid, it could be lowered.
Bonn climate talks end in “gridlock” on adaptation and emissions-cutting
Share: X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print After two weeks of climate negotiations riven , the UN climate chief expressed disappointment and denounced governments for “cherry-picking” commitments they have already made and waiting for others to move first. Gridlock is where the talks ended, with countries unable to agree conclusions on at least three major areas of climate action, including adaptation and mitigation, invoking “Rule 16”. That means they will be taken up again at COP31 in Türkiye in November. Log in here → Continue reading with free access Climate Home News is on the ground in Bonn — one of the few outlets covering the negotiations that will shape COP31 in November. Join free and keep reading → It takes less than a minute. ×Log in to your account Forgot your password? After two weeks of climate negotiations riven , the UN climate chief expressed disappointment and denounced governments for “cherry-picking” commitments they have already made and waiting for others to move first. Gridlock is where the talks ended, with countries unable to agree conclusions on at least three major areas of climate action, including adaptation and mitigation, invoking “Rule 16”. That means they will be taken up again at COP31 in Türkiye in November. Bonn Bulletin: Finance row threatens to scupper work on adaptation goal On the emissions reduction (mitigation) work programme, pushback – primarily from fossil-fuel producing nations - has prevented any meaningful progress since its creation at COP27, as countries have been unable to come up with a united vision for its scope and purpose. Despite many countries expressing disappointment at the end of Bonn, China argued that some common ground had been found that could serve as positive elements to build on at COP31, including that “no one is against mitigation implementation and ambition”. In light of overshoot [of 1.5C of warming] and attacks on the science, this is simply further salt in our wounds,” he told the closing plenary as the clock ticked towards midnight local time. On Wednesday, a coalition of European and climate-vulnerable developing countries accused fossil fuel interests and the “usual suspects” of mounting ”coordinated attacks” on science, as arguments erupted over the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C warming limit and its overshoot and when the next UN climate science reports should be published. Science ‘under attack’ from fossil fuel interests at UN climate talks Stiell urged the Turkish and Australian COP31 co-presidencies to get ministers working “as soon as possible” on the “thorniest issues” in the UN climate process so that negotiations can move into the “fast lane”.
‘Mega-consumers’ of food and energy cost environment $5.7tn a year, study finds
A plane flies over a slum in Parañaque, Metro Manila, the Philippines. Energy use, including air travel, is a substantial driver of the climate crisis. Photograph: Francis R Malasig/EPA View image in fullscreen A plane flies over a slum in Parañaque, Metro Manila, the Philippines. Energy use, including air travel, is a substantial driver of the climate crisis. Photograph: Francis R Malasig/EPA ‘Mega-consumers’ of food and energy cost environment $5.7tn a year, study finds Top 10% generate climate and biodiversity damage bill that exceeds economies of most countries, say researchers The environmental damage bill racked up -consuming 10% of the world’s population has reached up to $5.7tn a year – larger than the economy of every country except the US and China, a study has found. Mega-consumers in this group are concentrated in the global north, accounting for more than half the population of the US and 40-45% of people in the EU. The damage tally, which one researcher described as “bonkers”, also exceeds global funding gaps for tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, highlighting how economic priorities remain skewed towards running down the Earth’s life-support systems. The most destructive forms of consumption were linked to two main areas: food – particularly red meat, a primary driver of deforestation – and energy, including flights and heating and cooling homes, which typically rely on burning of fossil fuels, such as gas, oil and coal. The $5.7tn figure, published in a paper , was calculated , biodiversity loss, nutrient pollution and freshwater use. View image in fullscreen A lone tree stands in a deforested area of the Amazon rainforest. Photograph: Raphael Alves/AFP/Getty ImagesThe study found that the average annual environmental damage bill for someone in the global top 10% ranged from $2,300 to $7,500. This figure rose to $19,000-$63,000 for those in the US. High-consuming households in emerging economies are catching up. The average environmental damage bill for the top 10% in China has overtaken that of the top 10% in Germany, the report says. Biodiversity loss accounted for the largest share of the global damage bill, making up 47-56% of the total. The climate emergency was responsible for a further 36-45%. The authors said the findings strengthened the case for addressing the biodiversity and climate crises together, rather than treating them as separate policy challenges. The paper, published on Thursday in Communications Sustainability, cautions that the true environmental cost . The calculations cover only four of nine planetary boundaries and reflect direct consumption alone, excluding the likely greater impacts of investments.
Weather
View All 6Today: Light Rain, Minimum Temperature: 15°C (59°F) Maximum Temperature: 25°C (77°F)
This video can not be played Today will become largely cloudy during the morning, with outbreaks of rain moving in from the west in the afternoon. Rain will be mostly light at first, but turning heavy at times later. Tonight will start cloudy and wet. Rain will clear during the early hours, followed by a few scattered showers. Cloud will begin to break up towards dawn. Tomorrow morning will be largely dry with variable cloud, with just a chance of an early shower. In the afternoon and evening, it will be dry with plenty of sunshine. Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday Sunday will see patches of mist and fog for some, but these will lift soon leaving sunny spells and just the odd shower developing in spots. Monday could be an unsettled day with heavy, thundery showers moving in during the afternoon and evening. Tuesday will be mainly dry and warm with sunny spells. Average wind speed 5 Miles per hour, Northerly5Average wind speed 9 Kilometres per hour, Northerly9 Humidity: Humidity: 82%,82% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1010 millibars, Steady,1010mb, Steady Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° North, 2.283° West)Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° N, 2.283° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Standish, Wigan Northern Rambler Reported , Cheshire East MeanderingManshipsReported , Rochdale EarthstarReported , Stockport sunset_twilightReported by sunset_twilight
Saturday: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 11°C (52°F) Maximum Temperature: 22°C (71°F)
This video can not be played Today will become largely cloudy during the morning, with outbreaks of rain moving in from the west in the afternoon. Rain will be mostly light at first, but turning heavy at times later. Tonight will start cloudy and wet. Rain will clear during the early hours, followed by a few scattered showers. Cloud will begin to break up towards dawn. Tomorrow morning will be largely dry with variable cloud, with just a chance of an early shower. In the afternoon and evening, it will be dry with plenty of sunshine. Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday Sunday will see patches of mist and fog for some, but these will lift soon leaving sunny spells and just the odd shower developing in spots. Monday could be an unsettled day with heavy, thundery showers moving in during the afternoon and evening. Tuesday will be mainly dry and warm with sunny spells. Average wind speed 5 Miles per hour, Northerly5Average wind speed 9 Kilometres per hour, Northerly9 Humidity: Humidity: 82%,82% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1010 millibars, Steady,1010mb, Steady Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° North, 2.283° West)Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° N, 2.283° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Standish, Wigan Northern Rambler Reported , Cheshire East MeanderingManshipsReported , Rochdale EarthstarReported , Stockport sunset_twilightReported by sunset_twilight
1 injured as tornadoes rip through central Illinois, emergency declaration issued in Charleston
Multiple reported tornadoes affected parts of the Midwest on June 17, 2026, causing widespread damage in Illinois. At least one person was injured in Coles County after a reported tornado touched down near Mattoon. Severe damage and gas leaks were reported in Effingham, while a Local State of Emergency was declared for Charleston due to the storm damage. The severe weather affected parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, causing structural damage, power outages, and transportation disruptions. Earlier, the SPC placed portions of the region under a Moderate Risk (Level 4 of 5) for severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorms intensified across Illinois during the evening, prompting multiple tornado warnings. A tornado reportedly touched down near Teutopolis at approximately CDT on June 17, moving east at about 80 km/h (50 mph). “Firefighters responded to a number of incidents throughout the District related to Tornado damage, including damaged and destroyed structures. No life-threatening injuries have been reported, and as of CDT on June 17, Firefighters are still on the scene of several incidents,” Teutopolis Fire District reported. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received eight tornado reports on June 17, including Coles and Effingham counties in Illinois. Effingham County was reportedly the worst hit. A tornado touched down north of Effingham City at approximately CDT on June 17. The Effingham Fire Department (EFD) reported severe damage to homes, power lines, and roads. Multiple structures collapsed, while vehicle crashes were reported along with gas leaks in some areas. “Our firefighters conducted searches of damaged structures, assisted residents, mitigated hazards, and worked alongside law enforcement, EMS, utility crews, emergency management personnel, public works employees, and mutual aid partners to ensure public safety,” EFD said. A tornado touched down 4.8 km (3 miles) north of Mattoon in Coles County at around UTC, and flipped a semi truck on southbound I-57 near mile marker 191, injuring the driver. Another tornado was reported approximately 5 km (3 miles) north-northeast of Matoon, tracking east-southeast into the northwest side of Charleston. Tornadoes were also reported near Shumway and Dieterich in Effingham County. A tornado damaged homes southwest of Montrose. The City of Charleston declared a local state of Emergency due to the storm damage. Charleston Middle School sustained significant damage, and videos shared on social media showed a flooded gym with roof damage after the storms. Eastern Illinois University said the campus will be closed on June 18 due to the damaging storms that passed through the area. “Residents are strongly encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel and stay off the roadways whenever possible to allow emergency personnel, utility crews, and public works staff to safely conduct response and recovery operations,” the Charleston Fire Department said.
Amber heat warnings issued across southern England over weekend
A person protecting their head from the sun on Wimbledon Common in London on 25 May. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen A person protecting their head from the sun on Wimbledon Common in London on 25 May. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock Amber heat warnings issued across southern England over weekend Temperatures expected to hit 30C on Friday and remain high until Tuesday as second heatwave in three weeks approaches Amber heat warnings have been issued across southern England as a second heatwave in the space of three weeks approaches. Temperatures are expected to climb to 30C (86F) on Friday, rising to 32C on Sunday and 34C on Monday. In May the UK’s temperature record for that month was broken with highs of 35C. Amber heat health warnings, which mean there is risk to the wider population not just vulnerable people, have been issued , London, the south-east and the south-west from Thursday morning until Tuesday evening. Yellow alerts are also in place for the East and West Midlands. The Met Office said some areas in southern England are likely to see heatwave criteria met . Hot weather is deemed a heatwave when a temperature threshold is met three days in a row, which ranges from 25C to 28C across different parts of England. View image in fullscreen People shade themselves from the sun near the Bank of England in central London on 28 May. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PAHowever, the rest of the UK is expected to experience cooler temperatures with the maximum in Glasgow expected to be eight or nine degrees lower than in London. The hottest temperatures are expected to be 32C on Friday in East Anglia, 32C in the south and south-east of England on Sunday, with the potential for 34C in the same areas on Monday. The climate crisis is increasing the likelihood of extreme heat, with the UN climate chief describing May’s heatwaves across Europe as a “brutal reminder of the spiralling impacts of the climate crisis”. Wolverson added that a combination of cloudy conditions and high humidity could make the heat feel “rather oppressive”, with a chance of thunderstorms. The Met Office reiterated its water safety advice after 16 people died in water during the May heatwave. The weather service issued a reminder that the sea is still cold at this time of year, which can cause cold-water shock at temperatures below 15C. The Met Office also encouraged people to be aware of the risk of strong currents and hidden obstacles below the water’s surface, to only swim accompanied by others, and float on their backs if they get into trouble.
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