BBC made second Ashley Cain TV series despite alleged misconduct 18. June 2026 (07:00) Filming in Las Vegas was suspended and Cain replaced as presenter after he appeared to be drunk, sources sayBBC presenter Ashley Cain called women ‘slags’, ‘sluts’ and ‘bitches’Warning: this article contains sexually explicit, offensive languageThe BBC made a second documentary series fronted by the presenter Ashley Cain just months after it was informed about an incident of alleged misconduct on a separate production in Las Vegas, which caused filming to be suspended and another presenter flown out at short notice to replace him.The BBC’s decision to hire Cain, and promote him as a rare talent who could appeal to young men, is under scrutiny after the Guardian revealed his history of highly offensive and misogynistic social media posts, including jokes about hitting women and degrading sexual practices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Death of Indigenous teen found on rail tracks with towel under head ‘suspicious’, NSW coroner says 18. June 2026 (06:53) Police initially ruled Mark Haines’ 1988 death a suicide but coroner says investigation hindered by racism and deeply flawedWarning: This article contains images of and references to Indigenous Australians who have diedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe police investigation into the death of Indigenous teenager Mark Haines in northern New South Wales nearly four decades ago was hindered by racism and deeply flawed, a coroner has found.The body of the Gomeroi teenager was discovered on train tracks outside Tamworth on the morning of 16 January 1988.
A stolen Holden Torana was found crashed nearby. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Western Europeans believe crime is rising despite fall in overall rates, poll finds 18. June 2026 (06:00) YouGov survey of six countries shows respondents think crime is increasing – though most trust their national police Western Europeans believe crime is rising in their country, according to a survey, despite long-term overall crime rates falling across the region since the mid-1990s.The YouGov poll of Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain found most countries trusted their national police, led by Denmark where 74% of respondents said they had a lot or a fair amount of confidence in police nationally. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rejoining customs union would not fix damage caused by Brexit, research finds 18. June 2026 (06:00) Exclusive: Economists find Brexit caused 12% depression in UK exports, most of which is due to leaving single marketBrexit has depressed UK exports to the EU by 12%, and rejoining the customs union would undo only a fraction of the damage, research shared with the Guardian shows.With the UK’s future relationship with the bloc likely to feature prominently in a potential Labour leadership contest, the economists John Springford and Anton Spisak, of the Centre for European Reform, provide fresh evidence of the damage caused by exiting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NHS patients face worst drug shortages on record, say pharmacists and GPs 18. June 2026 (06:00) Supply problems pose risk to health, with common painkillers, epilepsy medication and HRT affectedBritons are facing some of the “most severe” shortages of NHS medicines on record including common painkillers, epilepsy drugs and HRT, health leaders have warned, even forcing some patients with impaired digestive systems to skip meals.The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that medicine shortages pose a “serious risk to patient safety”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I wish it hit me’: Sydney mother shares anguish after siblings in pram hit and killed by car 18. June 2026 (05:43) Katherine, 5, and Harry, aged 14 months – the only two children of mother Sok Ram – died on Wednesday after their pram was hit by an SUV in CabramattaA tight-knit community is reeling after a kindergarten student and her baby brother were killed when a SUV collided with a pram shortly after school pick-up.The girl and her brother have been identified as Katherine, five, and Harry, aged 14 months - the only two children of 33-year-old mother Sok Ram. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Albanese announces ‘generous’ capital gains tax exemptions for small businesses after budget backlash 18. June 2026 (04:28) Startups and testamentary trusts to receive carve outs after criticism of Labor’s CGT changesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAll of Australia’s 2.7m small businesses will receive “generous” exemptions from capital gains tax, as Anthony Albanese flagged startups and testamentary trusts would receive carve outs from the government’s contentious tax reforms.The prime minister’s announcement on Thursday follows weeks of sustained criticism from industry groups, who have labelled the move from a flat 50% CGT discount model to an inflation-linked approach as a “tax on growth”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ebike thefts soar in NSW as Victoria’s crime rate drops for first time in four years 18. June 2026 (04:09) Theft rises in both states, even as Victoria’s crime rate decreases 1.9% on the year beforeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria has recorded its first drop in crime in four years and fewer young people are offending, but a surge in theft is bucking the trend – mirroring concerns in New South Wales, where a sharp rise in ebike theft has helped drive stealing rates higher.The Victorian Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) on Thursday released data for the 12 months to March 2026, which showed there were 625,426 criminal offences recorded in Victoria – a decrease of 1,524 or 0.2% on the previous 12 months. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shelter-in-place ordered in LA as blaze engulfs roof of 500,000 sq-ft warehouse 18. June 2026 (03:51) Clouds of dark smoke and ammonia rose from cold storage and freezing facility in Boyle Heights near downtownThe solar panel-covered roof of a 500,000 sq-ft cold storage facility in Los Angeles caught fire Wednesday, sending up thick clouds of dark smoke and ammonia, leading city officials to order nearby residents to shelter in place.About 110 firefighters responded in the afternoon to a blaze at the cold storage and freezing warehouse owned by Lineage in the Boyle Heights neighborhood near downtown, according to spokesperson Jennifer Middleton of the Los Angeles fire department. Both the city and Los Angeles county deployed firefighters and hazmat teams to contain the fire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Political lobbyists with unfettered access to Australia’s parliament to be publicly named 18. June 2026 (03:44) MPs who sponsor lobbyists’ entry to halls of power will also be listed online under new transparency rulesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolitical lobbyists with unfettered access to the halls of Parliament House – and the MPs who sponsor their passes – will soon be publicly identified in an online register, under a major shake-up of the parliamentary pass system.Under the new rules, two MPs will need to sign for a lobbyist to register for a pass, with the primary sponsor responsible for their behaviour. It will also introduce fees for lobbyist and commercial passes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
