Colombia’s leftwing candidate concedes election to Trump-endorsed millionaire 24. June 2026 (17:48) Leftist Iván Cepeda conceded to far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella who won by razor-thin marginThe defeated leftwing candidate in Colombia’s presidential runoff has conceded to the far-right, Trump-admiring millionaire lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella.Since Sunday night, the preliminary count had already pointed to a De la Espriella victory by a razor-thin margin of less than 1% of the vote. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says he’s ordered investigation into oil companies over alleged price gouging 24. June 2026 (17:21) Trump says he instructed justice department to investigate oil firms over high gas prices amid Middle East conflictDonald Trump said Wednesday that he had instructed the US Department of Justice to investigate oil companies for alleged price gouging, accusing them of not lowering gas prices enough amid conflict in the Middle East.“The big oil companies are not dropping their price at the pump commensurate with the sharply lower prices they are paying for oil. Those prices are dropping like a rock! In other words, customers are being ‘gouged.’ I have instructed the DOJ to immediately start looking into this,” Trump wrote in a social media post late Tuesday night. “Gasoline prices better start going down a lot faster than what I’m seeing!” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham’s pick for chief of staff led firm that advised BP, Apple and Amazon 24. June 2026 (17:17) Appointment of James Purnell, former chief executive of Flint Global, described by one Labour MP as ‘very bad sign’The advisory firm led by Andy Burnham’s incoming chief of staff counted BP, Amazon, Jaguar Land Rover and Uber among its clients, transparency records reveal.Burnham is facing unease within Labour over the lobbying links of James Purnell, a longstanding friend and former cabinet minister who was most recently chief executive of Flint Global. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK records its hottest June day, beating highs from 1957 and 1976 24. June 2026 (17:12) Temperature of 35.8C recorded in West Sussex, beating previous record of 35.6C, while France records hottest day nationallyEurope heatwave live – latest updatesThe UK has broken its all-time temperature record for June, as the World Health Organization chief says Europe’s heatwave is “putting lives at risk”.Temperatures bolstered by climate breakdown hit 35.8C at Wiggonholt in West Sussex, according to provisional data from the Met Office. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 500 mothers and babies died or were harmed at ‘toxic’ Nottingham NHS trust, report finds 24. June 2026 (17:11) Ockenden inquiry finds ‘bullying’ and ‘cruel’, dismissive attitude to women contributed to avoidable deathsOckenden report – latest updatesKey findings from maternity scandal report‘Truly horrific’: five stories from the scandalMore than 500 mothers and babies came to harm or died as a result of inadequate care in Nottingham, an inquiry into the NHS’s biggest ever maternity scandal has revealed.A total of 444 women and 76 newborn babies suffered “potentially avoidable” outcomes because they received substandard treatment over 13 years from Nottingham University hospitals NHS trust (NUH), a damning report led by the childbirth expert Donna Ockenden has found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The pianist from the audience at La La Land in Concert was a global feelgood story – but all was not what it seemed 24. June 2026 (17:00) Two orchestra members from the Sydney performance allege tensions behind the scenes were the cause of pianist failing to appear after intermissionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen an audience member stepped in for a pianist at a Sydney performance of La La Land in Concert last month it made global headlines.During the intermission of the concert at Darling Harbour Theatre on 30 May, the two-time Oscar-winning composer and conductor Justin Hurwitz appealed to the 2,000-strong crowd for an “amazing sight-reader”, saying one of his two keyboardists had fallen ill. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labor tax critic deletes anti-immigration AI video reposted from rightwing nationalist account 24. June 2026 (17:00) Fund manager Geoff Wilson says he did not watch full video and deleted it after ‘inappropriate associations were identified’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe fund manager Geoff Wilson, a prominent public critic of the government’s tax changes, has deleted an inflammatory AI-generated video he reposted from a rightwing nationalist account portraying Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers taking money from white Australians and giving it to recently arrived migrants wearing Islamic face coverings.Wilson said he had not watched the full video before sharing it or examined other accounts, some of whose content he reposted on Wednesday morning – which included content relating to the QAnon conspiracy theory – and deleted his posts after being contacted by Guardian Australia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
German swimming lake criticised for ban on non-German speakers 24. June 2026 (16:48) Policy at Heidesee lake in Halle introduced after cases in which visitors ignored rules and lifeguards’ instructionsAn open air swimming lake in the eastern German city of Halle which has refused entry to bathers who don’t speak German has been told it must lift the ban or face possible legal action.The Heidesee lake, a natural lake in a flooded former open-cast mine, recently introduced a check at the entrance to filter out visitors whose German was deemed not good enough to follow safety instructions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Top army general who was last US soldier to leave Afghanistan abruptly steps down 24. June 2026 (15:48) Gen Christopher Donahue, commander of forces in Europe and Africa, is leaving after just 18 months in the jobThe army’s commander of its forces in Europe and Africa – who was memorably the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021 – is unexpectedly stepping down from his post after just 18 months in the job, the Army confirmed late Tuesday.Gen Christopher Donahue, commanding general of US Army Europe and Africa and commander of Nato’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish his command on 2 July, according to an army statement provided to the Associated Press. He is the latest in a line of nearly two dozen top military leaders to either retire or depart their jobs early under the leadership of the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, who has undertaken an effort to thin the ranks of the military’s top brass with the mantra “less generals, more GIs”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ockenden report live: families call for public inquiry after damning report into ‘toxic’ NHS maternity care 24. June 2026 (14:58) Senior midwife Donna Ockenden’s review found more than 500 women and babies died or suffered serious harm due to poor careHundreds died or harmed due to ‘toxic’ maternity careTruly horrific’: five stories from the scandalWhat are the key report findings?Presenting some of her findings, Ockenden said her team found “significant or major concerns in care where different or better care may have made a difference to the outcome” in the following cases:21% of cases where mothers died,26% of cases where mothers experienced a major obstetric haemorrhage,36% of cases where a mother had an unplanned admission to intensive care,20% of cases involving a mother’s care when a baby was stillborn,50% of a mother’s care when a baby suffered hypoxic brain injury. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
