Pause HS2 reset until you are confident it can be delivered, NAO tells ministers 29. June 2026 (01:01) Spending watchdog says high-speed rail project must be put on stable footing to avoid repeat of costly past failuresRevised plans for HS2 should not be put into action until the government is confident they can be delivered, according to the public spending watchdog.The project to build the high-speed railway must be put on a stable footing to avoid a repeat of past failures, the National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘A privilege – and pretty terrifying’: James Norton to play Hamlet in the West End 29. June 2026 (01:01) The Happy Valley actor is lined up as the lead in German director Thomas Ostermeier’s first Shakespearean play in EnglishJames Norton is to take on his first major Shakespearean stage role and play Hamlet in the West End next year.The King & Conqueror star said it was a “privilege” and “pretty terrifying” to be cast as the tragic prince in the acclaimed German director Thomas Ostermeier’s production next autumn. Norton was last on stage in 2023 in the harrowing A Little Life, based on Hanya Yanagihara’s novel, which the actor described as the hardest thing he has ever done. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
England facing children’s mental health ‘crisis’ as referrals hit 1m 29. June 2026 (01:01) Commissioner calls for overhaul of state support after reporting 10% rise in young patient referrals last yearMore than 1 million children were referred to mental health services across England last year, with referrals up 10% from the year previous, according to a report by the children’s commissioner, Rachel de Souza. She said the country faced a “crisis” in young people’s mental health.The number of patients who had an active referral to children and young people’s mental health services across England surpassed 1 million for the first time in 2024-25. This was almost double the number recorded in 2018-19, and an almost 10% rise on the previous year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Putin admits Ukrainian strikes driving Russian fuel shortages 28. June 2026 (23:52) Russian president says Ukraine’s attacks on infrastructure are causing ‘obvious’ but not critical problemsThe Russian president, Vladimir Putin, acknowledged that the country was suffering from “a certain shortage” of fuel in an interview published by the Kremlin on Sunday, after repeated Ukrainian strikes in their four-year war.Kyiv calls the attacks fair retribution for Russia’s near-daily barrages on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure since its February 2022 offensive. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham to pledge ‘good growth in every postcode’ in devolution plan 28. June 2026 (23:30) Makerfield MP on course to be PM will argue for more decision-making in regions and communities as he sets out platform for governmentAndy Burnham will pledge to deliver “good growth in every postcode” by overseeing a significant transfer of power out of Whitehall to local communities as he sets out his case to become the UK’s next prime minister.In his first major speech since winning the Makerfield byelection, Burnham will argue for decision-making to be devolved to regions and communities to drive economic growth locally, replacing the current top-down national model. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Heatwave and high humidity to blast much of US: ‘impactful to anyone’ 28. June 2026 (22:53) Forecasters expect days of high temperatures in central and eastern US before Fourth of July and World Cup festivitiesA long and dangerous heatwave will blast a large swath of the central and eastern United States for the upcoming week, the National Weather Service (NWS) said on Sunday – with temperatures rising ahead of the Fourth of July holiday and feeling even hotter because of high humidity also arriving.Already parts of the US, especially Phoenix and central Texas, and much of the south-west were experiencing temperatures of about 100F (38C) on Sunday, while the NWS warned of severe wildfire conditions developing across much of the west as new fires popped up across the region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kate completes Three Peaks challenge to raise money for cancer charity 28. June 2026 (22:03) Princess becomes first royal to climb highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, 18 months after cancer remissionThe Princess of Wales has completed the Three Peaks challenge to raise money for a cancer charity, becoming the first member of the royal family to achieve the feat.Catherine, 44, revealed in a message on social media she had successfully taken on the trek not only as a physical endeavour but “to give something back” and raise awareness of the wider impact of serious illness. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Risk of serious birth injuries is rising for women in England, data suggests 28. June 2026 (21:03) About 31 in every 1,000 facing haemorrhage or severe tears, NHS figures show, in trend described as ‘national crisis’How a Romford maternity ward was able to turn the tide after a ‘requires improvement’ ratingWomen in England are at their highest risk of suffering a serious injury while giving birth since records began in 2020, NHS figures show.The rate of women sustaining the most serious type of tear during childbirth rose to 31.1 in every 1,000 in January, February and March – the highest since monitoring started in 2020. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US homeland security secretary tells migrants to seek permanent status or leave 28. June 2026 (20:48) Markwayne Mullin’s remarks come after controversial supreme court ruling to strip TPS from over 350,000 peopleMigrants in the US on temporary protected status should seek permanent residence or leave, Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security secretary, said in the wake of last week’s supreme court decision that stripped humanitarian protections from hundreds of thousands of immigrants.The remarks to CNN’s State of the Union program comes after a decision that could allow Donald Trump’s administration to deport Haitian and Syrian immigrants to home countries plagued by conflict and destitution. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zohran Mamdani says he and allies he endorsed carry a ‘national message’ 28. June 2026 (20:24) Mayor says progressive peers who swept primaries speak to Americans ‘coast to coast’ as moderates have reservationsZohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, said on Sunday that he and a slew of democratic socialist allies who prevailed in recent primary elections are carrying a “national message” to struggling working Americans hungry for a new kind of politics “coast to coast”.Mamdani made that triumphant clarion call on ABC News’s This Week just five days after he had seen his endorsed candidates win Democratic nominations in three races for New York congressional seats, as well as for five state legislature positions in Albany. He made no effort to disguise his delight that his clean sweep marks a dramatic shift in Democratic politics – not just in New York City, which he has led since January, but also across the US. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
