From coal to cabernet: the wine seller using a flooded mine to cut heating bills

• Iran has stated it is open to pursuing diplomatic engagement with the United States, provided Washington can guarantee that Israel adheres to the terms of a ceasefire. • This demand comes as violent clashes continue to escalate across Gaza and Lebanon, complicating efforts to stabilize the region.

• Australia has confirmed its first mainland case of the H5N1 bird flu virus after a wild brown skua was found in a remote area of the southwest. • Agriculture Minister Julie Collins announced the discovery on Saturday following positive laboratory test results.

• A contingent of 40 Indian Army personnel from the JAT Regiment has departed for Mongolia to participate in the KHAAN QUEST 2026 multinational exercise. • The drill focuses on UN peacekeeping operations, allowing participating nations to exchange best practices and improve collective responses to humanitarian crises.

• Xinhua News Agency announced its coverage schedule for Saturday, June 20, focusing on key developments within China. • A primary feature will examine the growth of China-Europe freight services and their role in stimulating pan-continental economic development.

• Recent global reports highlight positive trends, including a decrease in drug, alcohol, and suicide-related deaths within the United States. • In a significant legal victory for human rights, Colombia has officially outlawed female genital mutilation (FGM).

Arrests after explosion and caravan fires heighten controversy over number of people living in vehiclesJan Johnston was tucked up in the van she calls home when she was rocked by the explosion. “I heard this massive boom,” she said. “I came out and there was thick, black, billowing smoke. It was like a bomb had gone off.”It turned out not to be a bomb, but a suspected arson attack on one of the many caravans, motorhomes and converted vehicles tucked away in side roads and industrial estates around the town of Glastonbury in Somerset. Continue reading...

Designer turns to the accessory that launched his empire as he invokes the golden age of Italian sportFor his second standalone menswear show in Milan, Ralph Lauren reverted to the accessory that launched his empire in 1967 – ties.Skinny silk ties featuring subtle swirly prints were neatly knotted and used as the finishing touch to elegant pinstripe suits, while more brightly printed or striped cravats were whirled and worn like ties peeking out from under knitwear and rugby shirts. Continue reading...

Kennedy overrides CDC order saying an American who came into contact with hantavirus can self-quarantine The Trump administration is employing “authoritarian” and “unconstitutional” quarantine measures for at least one person who came into contact with a hantavirus patient, health law experts say.The mandatory quarantine, reimposed without an offering scientific evidence, reveals how the US might approach future cases of Ebola and other pathogens in the US – and sets a precedent for detaining Americans with no scientific rationale. Continue reading...

Exclusive: While recruits will increase headcount for now, broader adoption of AI could lead to jobs cuts in futureLloyds Banking Group has launched an AI recruitment drive for 300 tech experts, weeks before its chief executive, Charlie Nunn, unveils a strategic plan for the 261-year old lender.The bank said it intended the recruits to work on its use and development of agentic AI by September, referring to autonomous artificial intelligence models that can plan and execute tasks with minimal human oversight. Continue reading...

Now fighting is over, the question is how Iran’s government will behave. Early clues point to more authoritarianism and prioritising relations with ChinaThe precise ideological lessons that Iran’s new leadership draws from the 110-day war may prove to be the overriding factor in determining whether negotiations with the US culminate in an agreement that verifiably prevents the country from developing a nuclear weapon – an outcome that could usher in a new era for the Iranian economy while also reshaping the Middle East.Does this rapidly assembled leadership team, forged in the fire of war, still represent an Islamic ideological crusade – a description coined by Henry Kissinger – or does the acceptance of the memorandum of understanding, in the words of JD Vance, denote a desire for pragmatism? Continue reading...

In NY-12, four Democrats, including one Kennedy, are vying to replace Jerry Nadler – and potentially shake things upWhen news broke that a safely Democratic seat in New York’s wealthiest congressional district was becoming vacant, it was inevitable that there would be a crowded field of candidates.What people might not have expected is that the subsequent Democratic primary, would become one of the country’s most closely watched and action-packed, the race coming to reflect a range of Democrats’ national political priorities: who is the strongest against Trump; who is the most critical of artificial intelligence companies; and who is, basically, the coolest. Continue reading...

National Highways agency uses virtual reality test to see if drivers are distracted by introduction of low-flying dronesI’m barrelling down the motorway at 70mph, swerving from lane to lane, with cars speeding past me. There’s just one problem, I don’t have a driving licence.Or at least it would be a problem were this a real road test. But despite the life-like surroundings, I am in fact trialling a complex simulation created by virtual reality company MXT on behalf of National Highways, the government-owned agency responsible for the UK’s major roads. Continue reading...