Minister calls on Burnham to show path to 3.5% target on UK defence spending 06. July 2026 (01:01) Dan Jarvis, who wants to stay on as defence secretary, says he is confident PM-in-waiting values national securityThe new defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, has called on Andy Burnham to increase defence spending dramatically from 2030 and “evidence the trajectory” towards a Nato target that would mean £25bn a year more for the military by the middle of the next decade.The former paratrooper said he was confident that the prime minister-in-waiting valued national security, as he openly lobbied him for cash that would probably have to come from cuts elsewhere. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Making public transport fully accessible ‘could boost UK economy by £176bn’ 06. July 2026 (01:01) Report says current network of buses, trains and stations effectively locks 2.8m people out of workforceInvesting in the UK transport network to make it fully accessible to disabled passengers could boost the economy by £176bn by helping millions more people into work, according to a report.Making the economic case for an inclusive transport network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) said the current system was inaccessible to almost a quarter of the working-age population. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ministers to crack down on political donations as Farage faces calls for second inquiry 06. July 2026 (01:01) Measures to be announced to make funding more transparent amid new revelations about Reform UK leaderMinisters will launch a crackdown on large political donations on Monday, as Nigel Farage faces a possible second investigation into gifts he received from a convicted fraudster before becoming an MP.The government will announce a series of measures to make political funding more transparent, including restrictions on donations from foreign-based benefactors. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mobile internet coverage in UK worse than any EU or G7 country, Which? says 06. July 2026 (01:01) Analysis finds services cheaper but country ranks 57th in network performance and 70th for download speedsBritish holidaymakers watching online videos while they sit on a European beach this summer are likely to be pleasantly surprised: the signal should be better than at home.Mobile coverage in the UK is worse than in any of the 27 EU member countries, and every other member of the G7 group of large economies, according to analysis by consumer group Which? of data from Opensignal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthony Albanese apologises ‘unequivocally’ for podcast comment about Kylie Minogue 06. July 2026 (00:26) Prime minister picked pop singer in game of ‘shag, marry, date’ on comedy podcastFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese has apologised “unequivocally” for his comments while playing a “shag, marry, date” game on a comedy podcast when he nominated Kylie Minogue for all three categories.The prime minister issued a statement on Monday morning after receiving criticism at the weekend for his appearance on the Bush Deep podcast with the comedian Nikki Osborne. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Crisafulli promises harsher youth bail laws; auction clearances below 50% again 05. July 2026 (23:52) Queensland premier vows to imprison more youth offenders at party state conference. Follow today’s news liveAlbanese issues apology after response to ‘shag, marry or date’ podcast questionAnthony Albanese apologied “unequivocally” after making an off-the-cuff remark on a comedy podcast when asked who he would “shag, marry or date”.I apologise unequivocally for the comments.I am very much looking forward to hosting Pacific leaders in Brisbane on Wednesday and attending the State of Origin with them. Through one of Australia’s favourite sporting codes, we are bringing our Pacific family closer together. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rodríguez defends Venezuela’s emergency earthquake response as number of bodies expected to soar 05. July 2026 (23:50) Many Venezuelans have accused the government of an inadequate response to the 24 June disasterVenezuela’s interim president has defended her country’s emergency response to the twin earthquakes which have killed more than 3,000 people, vowing the country would not descend into social unrest.Many Venezuelans have expressed anger at what they see as the US-backed government’s inadequate response to the 24 June disaster before international teams arrived. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Michigan Democrat Mallory McMorrow ends bid for US Senate 05. July 2026 (23:34) Exit leaves primary voters to choose between progressive Abdul El-Sayed and centrist Haley Stevens in must-win seatMallory McMorrow, a Michigan Democrat, has dropped out of a contentious US Senate primary campaign, setting up a straight fight between the party’s progressive and establishment wings – represented by Abdul El-Sayed, a former public health official, and Haley Stevens, a congresswoman.McMorrow’s retreat marks the end of a center-left bid to hold the seat being vacated this year by the Democrat Gary Peters. The three-way primary contest was a close one earlier in the campaign, but polls indicated that McMorrow’s support had plunged in recent weeks, as El-Sayed raced past her and Stevens to emerge as the frontrunner for the party’s nomination. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Skydiver dies after incident near Nottinghamshire airfield 05. July 2026 (23:31) Body of woman, 22, found in field in proximity of Langar airfield, where popular civilian skydiving centre operatesA 22-year-old skydiver has died after a skydiving incident near a Nottinghamshire airfield, police have confirmed.Emergency services were called to Langar airfield, a former RAF base, at 12.13pm on Sunday and the woman was found in a nearby field, where she was pronounced dead at the scene, a police spokesperson said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Florida Republican says deporting Haitians with TPS would be ‘huge mistake’ 05. July 2026 (21:54) ‘Haiti is a failed state’, says Carlos Giménez, congressman and Miami Cuban exile, after controversial court rulingCarlos Giménez, a Republican congressman from Florida, broke with the Trump administration on Sunday, calling on the White House to reconsider its push to eliminate temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian migrants.Returning some 350,000 Haitians to their chaotic, dangerous homeland following the US supreme court’s ruling that the Trump administration can cut off temporary legal protections, would be a grave error, Giménez said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
