Britain has finally grasped the nettle on defence, but tough choices lie ahead 30. June 2026 (21:21) The new PM must balance the security budget and other urgent spending priorities, with little room for manoeuvreBurnham left with £4.7bn bill for Starmer’s new defence investment planKeir Starmer’s defence investment plan leaves behind spending problems that his successor will not be able to avoid.Military budgets will be well short of the UK’s Nato commitments by the end of the decade, and European allies and a combustible White House are likely to notice. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Royal Navy man jailed in 2001 for two murders allegedly sexually assaulted four others, jury told 30. June 2026 (20:51) Winchester court hears accusations of offences by former petty officer Allan Grimson against males as young as 14A former Royal Navy petty officer, jailed for life 25 years ago for murdering two young men, sexually assaulted four other boys and men in the same era, a jury has been told.Allan Grimson was jailed in 2001 for battering Nicholas Wright, 18, and Sion Jenkins, 20, to death at his flat above a parade of shops in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1997 and 1998. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guardian Essential poll: voters reject key One Nation policies as support slips 30. June 2026 (20:36) Survey shows two-point fall in vote amid concern about Pauline Hanson’s links to Gina Rinehart and ability to run countryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians have emphatically rejected some of One Nation’s key policies, including shutting down SBS and ending multiculturalism, with voters raising concerns about Pauline Hanson’s closeness to the billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart and whether the party has the skills needed to run the country, according to a new poll.But even as the latest Guardian Essential poll finds voters have major reservations about Hanson and her party, more than half of respondents said they were either definitely or at least considering voting for One Nation at the next election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Tonnes of rubble’: 58,000 buildings estimated destroyed in Venezuela earthquakes 30. June 2026 (20:26) Preliminary analysis of satellite data suggests magnitude of natural disaster could dwarf official estimatesMore than 58,000 buildings may have been damaged and destroyed by the twin earthquakes that hit Venezuela last week, according to a preliminary analysis of satellite data that suggests the scale of the destruction could dwarf official estimates.Last Wednesday’s back-to-back quakes – which measured magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 – killed at least 1,943 people, injured more than 10,571, and left tens of thousands missing amid the rubble. The UN migration agency has said that up to 6.8 million people could be affected by the disasters, and would require shelter, water, sanitation, healthcare and essential relief items. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wimbledon guests chance their arm against robot mimicking stars’ serves 30. June 2026 (20:15) Tournament’s serving machine can deliver balls in the style of anyone from John McEnroe to Elina SvitolinaCould you return Emma Raducanu’s 110mph serve, or receive a 145mph stroke from Andy Murray? What about Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s 153mph torpedo, which broke Wimbledon records last year?This year’s tournament attenders have had the opportunity to try their luck on court, facing off against a robotic serving machine rather than their tennis heroes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jetway jackpot: man wins $3.3m on slot machine at Las Vegas airport 30. June 2026 (19:58) ‘That’s one way to spend a layover,’ says gambling company after lucky traveler wins big on $10 stakeGenerally people want whatever happens in Vegas to stay there – but this might be an exception!A lucky traveler transiting through Las Vegas’s Harry Reid international airport on Sunday won more than $3.3m from a slot machine there, prompting facility officials to write on X on Tuesday: “Now that’s one way to spend a layover. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US supreme court agrees to hear challenges to assault-weapons bans 30. June 2026 (19:53) Justices to consider whether bans on AR-15s and similar semi-automatic firearms violate second amendmentThe US supreme court will consider whether bans on semi-automatic rifles, often called assault weapons, violate the second amendment.The justices said on Tuesday they will hear appeals challenging bans on the AR-15 and similar semi-automatic firearms in Connecticut and the Chicago area. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democracy ‘under assault’ from significant third parties at 2025 federal election, parliamentary inquiry finds 30. June 2026 (19:12) Parliamentary inquiry recommends new laws to police behaviour at polling boothsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew laws are needed to police behaviour at polling booths after Australia’s democracy came “under assault” at last year’s federal election – including from third parties such as Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members and rightwing lobby group Advance – the chair of a parliamentary inquiry has said.The proposed new code of conduct for campaigners was among several recommendations in the interim report from the Labor-led committee reviewing the 2025 ballot, which was tabled on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US supreme court strikes down limits on campaign spending 30. June 2026 (19:11) Case stems from 2022 lawsuit challenging FEC’s enforcement of limits on ‘coordinated party expenditures’Supreme court decisions – live updatesSign up for the Breaking News US emailOne of the last remaining barriers between wealthy donors sending unlimited funds to federal political candidates fell after the US supreme court struck down a lower court ruling that limited spending by political parties in support of their candidates.“A BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS and, more importantly, The First Amendment!” wrote Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Six feared dead after ‘bizarre’ sinking of charter boat off Canadian coast 30. June 2026 (19:02) The vessel, thought to have been carrying 10 people, did not issue a mayday call before sinking in the strait of GeorgiaSearch teams in Canada have launched a recovery effort for six people believed to have drowned in a “bizarre” sinking of a fishing charter off the coast of Vancouver.Police and rescue crews praised a couple who were passing in their yacht for making a critical mayday call and saving stranded passengers by pulling them onboard their craft. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
