Bank of England governor warns UK public to expect higher costs this year
Posted on Thursday June 18, 2026

Andrew Bailey says ‘still inflationary pressure in pipeline’ despite US and Iran nearing peace deal as interest rates kept on hold

• Business live – latest updates

The governor of the Bank of England has warned consumers to expect higher costs this year as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, despite falling oil prices as the US and Iran agreed a peace deal.

Speaking after the Bank kept interest rates on hold at 3.75%, Andrew Bailey said there was “still some inflationary pressure in the pipeline” after the conflict pushed up energy prices.

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Drax cleared after investigation into sourcing of wood pellets
Posted on Thursday June 18, 2026

Generator’s shares rise as regulator finds no evidence of misleading statements about fuel’s sustainability

• Business live – latest updates

The City watchdog has closed an investigation into the owner of the Drax power plant after an almost 10-month review into whether the company’s sustainability claims mislead shareholders.

The Financial Conduct Authority said it had “reviewed thousands of pages” of “complex material” relating to the company’s sourcing of wood pellets for the Drax power plant in Selby, North Yorkshire, but “did not find evidence that justified any further action”.

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Fed governor Lisa Cook faced $1.3m in legal and security fees after Trump’s bid to fire her
Posted on Thursday June 18, 2026

Cook is at the center of a supreme court case focused on whether Trump’s firing of her from the Fed board was legal

The Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook faced more than $1.3m in legal and security fees after coming under attack from the Trump administration, according to ethics disclosures that were filed on Wednesday.

The White House targeted Cook last summer as Donald Trump ramped up his unprecedented campaign to push the Fed to cut interest rates.

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Heathrow third runway likely to affect health of millions nearby, official report warns
Posted on Thursday June 18, 2026

Analysis says expansion could also harm access to housing, education, healthcare, open spaces and transport

Construction 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 has found that expanding London’s hub airport could have “major adverse” impacts on the health of the most local population.

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Farage trying to block ‘Britcoin’ plans that could be costly for billionaire donor
Posted on Thursday June 18, 2026

Reform UK leader used private meeting at Bank of England to urge governor to drop plans for state-run cryptocurrency

Nigel Farage has been trying to block a Bank of England cryptocurrency plan that could be costly for the billionaire bankrolling his party.

The Reform UK leader has said Christopher Harborne wants nothing in exchange for the millions he has donated to the party and the undeclared £5m personal gift to Farage that the Guardian revealed in April.

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UK critical infrastructure hit by 200 cyber incidents in a year, agency says
Posted on Wednesday June 17, 2026

Head of National Cyber Security Centre says UK in ‘ongoing contest with capable adversaries’ and AI could add to threat

The UK’s critical national infrastructure has been hit by more than 200 cyber incidents over the past year and state-linked assailants were behind three-quarters of the attacks, according to the state cybersecurity body.

Richard Horne, the chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said hostile states such as Russia, China and Iran were increasingly targeting systems behind the UK’s key services.

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Czechia v South Africa: World Cup – live
Posted on Thursday June 18, 2026

⚽ Kick-off time: 12pm local/2am AEST/5pm BST/12pm EDT
⚽ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Mail Daniel

Email! “This is a bittersweet game for me,” confesses John Brennan. “When the draw was made in December, this was the most likely game that I could get to see Ireland play. I probably couldn’t have pulled off going to Mexico but getting from NY to Atlanta would have been reasonable. The stadium would have been packed with Irish fans between Irish living here on the East Coast and people travelling. Just thinking about it makes me wistful. What if Ryan Manning didn’t give away that stupid penalty, what if Parrott had scored that chance in the second half, what if Sammy Smzodics hadn’t been taken out of it and had been able to take a penalty instead of Alan Browne. And yeah if all those things had happened and Ireland beat Czechia, it would probably be Denmark playing today.

Anyway, I have a strange feeling South Africa might show up today and make it difficult for the Czechs or maybe that is just a coping mechanism for me.”

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England v New Zealand: second men’s Test, day two – live
Posted on Thursday June 18, 2026

Updates from the second day’s play at the Oval
Day one report | Sign up for the Spin | Mail James

80th over: New Zealand 318-7 (Jamieson 16, Phillips 59) Jamieson slaps Baker through the off-side, then makes room for a mighty smack … he edges away over Rew for four more. The big man is here to have fun as he launches to deep midwicket … and Ben Duckett, backpedalling, drops it! That should have been snaffled; Baker was already celebrating. To make matters worse for the debutant, Phillips pulls away for another boundary, the third of the over. A very tidy start to the day for New Zealand.

79th over: New Zealand 305-7 (Jamieson 7, Phillips 55) It’s Josh Tongue to bound in from the Pavilion End – he goes short and Phillips offers no shot, the ball smashing into his belly button. Ouch. England are going full bumper mode, with three men on the leg-side boundary, and midwicket just a few yards in front of the rope. And is Jamieson gone, gloving the ball high, with Rew collecting? Nah, off the helmet. And a no ball, too. Jamieson will get checked out by the doc.

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