MPs urge Darren Jones to run against Andy Burnham for Labour leadership 23. June 2026 (10:53) Chief secretary to the prime minister is backed by MPs who point to his ‘economic and national security experience’UK politics live – latest updatesDarren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, is being urged by MPs to run against Andy Burnham to spark a Labour leadership contest and avoid a “coronation”.The MP for Bristol North West is understood to be reluctant to run but sources said he would look at Burnham’s economic plans, including plans for public control of utilities, before deciding. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
StubHub UK fined almost £900,000 over ‘hidden’ ticket fees 23. June 2026 (10:43) Reseller is also ordered to refund more than 50,000 fans, while its rival Viagogo remains under investigationBusiness live – latest updatesThe online ticket reseller StubHub UK has been fined almost £900,000 and ordered to make payments to more than 50,000 fans for not showing the full price of tickets at the time of booking, an illegal practice known as “drip pricing”.The UK competition watchdog, which launched an investigation into the sales practices of eight companies including the rival reseller Viagogo UK last year, said StubHub must issue refunds exceeding £590,000 to customers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Public transport fee relief and car rego cut by $100 in NSW budget targeting cost-of-living pressures 23. June 2026 (09:50) Australia’s most populous state forecast to plunge into worse-than-expected $2.3bn deficit in 2026-27, before rebounding to a $1.1bn surplus following yearGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPublic transport fares will be frozen for one year and vehicle registration cut by $100 under New South Wales budget measures designed to provide cost-of-living relief ahead of the upcoming election.In Tuesday’s budget, the last before the March 2027 state poll, the Minns government has made a direct appeal to working families in seats threatened by One Nation and the Coalition, especially in Sydney’s west. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taylor won’t say if he supports multiculturalism as Chalmers says he’s trying to ‘out-One Nation One Nation’ 23. June 2026 (09:22) Treasurer says Coalition playing ‘footsie with the monoculture language’ after Liberal leader sidesteps questions at press conferenceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngus Taylor has repeatedly refused to say whether he supports multiculturalism in Australia, sidestepping five questions at a press conference about his views and claiming “there’s all these vague words running around”.The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, accused the opposition leader of “playing footsie” with One Nation and Pauline Hanson’s call for a “monoculture” in Australia, as Labor ministers committed to backing multiculturalism. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson says parental leave will force small businesses to ‘fold’ – despite no law forcing employers to pay 23. June 2026 (08:17) One Nation leader says she isn’t suggesting Australia get rid of taxpayer-funded parental leave entitlementsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson says small businesses will “fold” under the cost of providing paid parental leave, as Labor suggested the One Nation leader didn’t understand how the policy worked.It is not compulsory for employers to pay parental leave entitlements in Australia, though most businesses do provide it and employees are entitled to 12 months of unpaid leave. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Europe heatwave live: UK issues rare red temperature warnings; French PM to hold crisis meeting after heat deaths 23. June 2026 (08:15) Temperatures could hit 38-40C in parts of England and Wales, smashing June record set in 1976; red alerts in France after 19 heat deathsTwo children found dead in car in France as heatwave hits EuropeBirds such as swifts, swallows, sparrows and starlings – which make their nests in the eaves of roofs – have been particularly affected by abnormally high temperatures, a specialist says.“Temperatures on the roofs can sometimes reach 50, even 60 degrees Celsius, So they prefer to jump rather than let themselves die and literally cook in their nests,” said Romaine de Jaegere, founder of the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Animals Living in the Wild refuge in Temploux in Belgium. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Paraquat will continue to be used in Australia despite 70 countries banning weedkiller over Parkinson’s disease fears 23. June 2026 (08:02) Herbicide manufacturer Sygenta had reservations dating back to 1970s but regulator says tighter controls, including phasing out backpack sprayers, can protect workersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe herbicide paraquat, banned in over 70 countries, will remain legal in Australia despite Parkinson’s groups, scientists and neurologists arguing there is a strong correlation between direct exposure and the incidence of the disease.The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) announced its final decision on Tuesday following a decades-long review of the highly toxic paraquat and a related chemical, diquat. Both are widely used in Australian agriculture. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Whistleblower investigating Ecuadorian president’s family business was murdered, activists say 23. June 2026 (08:00) Monika Silva Koniuszek died from a blow to the head and strangulation, a postmortem found, despite government claim of suicideCampaigners in Ecuador say a Polish anti-corruption activist who investigated allegations against the family business of the country’s rightwing president was murdered to silence her.Monika Silva Koniuszek, 41, was found dead in her home in Montañita, a coastal town in Ecuador’s Santa Elena province. The single mother of daughters aged four and nine, was found on the floor with a noose around her neck on 8 June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Video of two Sydney nurses allegedly making antisemitic comments to Israeli influencer struck from court case 23. June 2026 (07:53) Huge blow to prosecution as judge rules footage is inadmissible in upcoming trialFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA video of two Sydney nurses allegedly making antisemitic comments to an Israeli influencer has been ruled inadmissible as evidence as the pair prepare to go to trial.Ahmad Nadir, 28, and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 27, have pleaded not guilty to being menacing and offensive when they allegedly said they would refuse to treat Israeli patients and threatened violence against them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
From the NHS to new homes, Starmer’s successes and setbacks – in charts 23. June 2026 (07:00) The PM said in May that ‘stories beat spreadsheets’, but what does the data tell us about his time in office?Keir Starmer is to step down as prime minister after just two years in office.Despite promising an end to Conservative sleaze and scandal, much political bandwidth towards the end of his time in No 10 was taken up by the fallout surrounding his appointment as US ambassador of Peter Mandelson, who had a close relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
