Friday 19 June 2026
*It is Father’s Day this Sunday 21st June for the UK, US and much of Europe. Don’t forget!*
The Mighty Headlines
Economics: Bank of England keeps interest rates at 3.75 per cent
Business and markets: Intel shares rise by 11 per cent after Apple deal
Foreign Affairs: Cuba approves free market economy reforms
Security and intelligence: Al-Qaeda affiliate attacks airport in Niger
Domestic politics: Andy Burnham wins Makerfield by-election as Conservatives and SNP win in Scotland
The Mighty Stats
FTSE = 10,399.70 (down 1.04%)
S&P 500 = 7,500.58 (up 1.08%)
Nasdaq = 26,517.93 (up 1.91%)
Stoxx 600 = 637.14 (down 0.34%)
£1 = $1.32 / €1.15
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The Mighty Detail
Economics: The Bank of England decided yesterday to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent. Members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (which sets the rate) voted 7-2 in favour. Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, suggested that high energy prices from the Iran War meant that there was “inflationary pressure in the pipeline”.
Business and markets: Shares in Intel rose by 11 per cent during trading yesterday. It came after President Trump said that the company had agreed a deal with Apple to design and manufacture computer chips in the US.
Intel shares have increased by 464 per cent in the last year, with the company now worth around $609 billion.
The US Government bought a 10 per cent stake in Intel last year.
Foreign Affairs: Cuba has approved a package of free market economic reforms. The reforms will seek to expand the private sector, encourage foreign direct investment, and devolve power from central government to local areas.
It follows increased US pressure on Cuba this year, including a US blockade of fuel to the island.
Security and intelligence: An Al-Qaeda affiliate has claimed responsibility for an attack on Niger’s main airport. The attack by the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group lasted several hours and killed both civilians and soldiers.
The military governments of Niger, Bukino-Faso and Mali have long struggled with Islamist militants.
Domestic politics: Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election with 24,927 votes. The turnout was 59 per cent. The candidates from Reform UK and Restore Britain received 15,696 votes and 3,111 votes respectively.
In the Aberdeen South by-election yesterday, the Conservatives won the seat from the SNP. In the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election, the SNP held onto the seat.
The Mighty Calendar
What’s happening today?
Premier League 2026/27 fixtures announced
Toy Story 5 movie released
Football World Cup, (UK times)
United States vs Australia, 8:00 PM, Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Scotland vs Morocco, 11:00 PM, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Lookahead to the weekend
Saturday
Waterloo Day at Apsley House, London
Tideway Dinghy Derby (sailing dinghies race from Putney to Houses of Parliament)
Gallagher Premiership Final (rugby), Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Midnight Sun Marathon, Norway
Football World Cup, (UK times)
Brazil vs Haiti, 1:30 AM, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Turkey vs Paraguay, 4:00 AM, Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Netherlands vs Sweden, 6:00 PM, NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Germany vs Ivory Coast, 9:00 PM, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
Sunday
Summer solstice (winter solstice in the southern hemisphere)
Father’s Day (UK, US, much of Europe)
The Prince of Wales turns 43
Colombia Presidential Election run-off
Football World Cup, (UK times)
Ecuador vs Curaçao, 1:00 AM, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Tunisia vs Japan, 5:00 AM, Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico
Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 5:00 PM, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Belgium vs Iran, 8:00 PM, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 11:00 PM, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
The Mighty Finale
🌤️Weather today
Bright sunshine in the east of England. A chance of light rain and drizzle in the afternoon in the northwest and southwest. High of 29C and low of 16C in London. Thundery showers in Belfast. Rain in Edinburgh.
✏️Life coaching quote of the day
“If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow.” – h/t to James Clear, writer
Mighty takeaway: If the negative situation you find yourself in won’t disappear, how can you change your perception so that you are happy anyway?
That’s it for this morning and for this week. To our readers in the UK, we hope that you manage to stay cool this weekend as the temperatures rise!
Bye!
The Mighty Memo team
*To read the Mighty Memo manifesto and learn about why we do this visit: https://www.mightymemo.co.uk/why*