Sydney’s ‘unbuildable motorway’ to be completed after two-year delay caused by sinkholes 19. June 2026 (08:40) State government and consortium strike deal to complete M6’s twin tunnels with minister insisting there is ‘no extra cost to NSW taxpayers’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTunnelling on Sydney’s $3.1bn M6 project, dubbed the potentially “unbuildable motorway”, will resume after the state government struck a deal with contractors, ending a two-year stalemate during which works were halted.Under the terms of the new agreement, the private consortium will absorb the costs of finishing the tunnels, limiting the financial hit to taxpayers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK borrows more than expected as impact of Iran war takes toll 19. June 2026 (08:34) May figure of £23.3bn underlines challenge facing Andy Burnham if he ends up as Labour leaderBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK borrowed a higher-than-expected £23.3bn in May amid the economic fallout of the Iran war, underlining the fiscal challenges facing Andy Burnham if he takes over as Labour leader.In figures released shortly after Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield byelection, Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing for the month was the second highest for any May on record. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How quickly could Andy Burnham become the UK’s prime minister? 19. June 2026 (08:10) After winning the Makerfield byelection, the returning Labour MP faces a number of scenarios in his bid to replace Keir Starmer• UK politics – live updates• Full report: Burnham wins by huge majorityAfter Andy Burnham’s seismic victory in Makerfield, his prospects of becoming prime minister in short order look significantly higher than they did 24 hours ago.But there are many variables in that process – from whether he faces a rival such as Wes Streeting in a leadership contest, to whether Keir Starmer is quickly ready to accept the likelihood of his political demise. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I’m 90 for goodness sake’: rainforest activist to pedal 104 miles down Thames 19. June 2026 (08:00) Veteran campaigner Robin Hanbury-Tenison is raising money for a research station near his home in CornwallPedalling on water for more than a hundred miles in a heatwave, pushed back by east winds and having to navigate 31 locks would be a challenge for anybody. But when that body is 90 years old, with a bad knee, failing balance and malfunctioning arms and shoulders, it’s a herculean feat.Rainforest campaigner Robin Hanbury-Tenison, 90, is pedalling 104 miles down the River Thames from Oxford to Richmond on a water-bike to raise money for a unique research station which is being built to study Britain’s temperate rainforest. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MPs urge Fujitsu to make ‘immediate’ payment to Post Office Horizon victims 19. June 2026 (08:00) Liam Byrne, who chairs Commons business committee, says too many operators are still waiting for redressThe Japanese tech company at the centre of the Post Office IT scandal is facing calls from a parliamentary committee to make an “immediate” payment towards the compensation bill for victims.Fujitsu supplied the faulty Horizon software to the UK Post Office, which led to branch operators being wrongly prosecuted over discrepancies in their business accounts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Conflation of Jewish identity with Israel driving antisemitism, Jewish Council says in submission to royal commission 19. June 2026 (07:12) Progressive Jewish group calls for more focus on the threat from the far right and the recognition of a diversity of views within the communityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFar-right extremism and the conflation of Jewish identity with Israel are the main drivers of antisemitism in Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) says.In its submission to the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, the liberal Jewish group calls for more focus on the “often overlooked” threat from the far right, and recognition of the diversity of views within the Jewish community instead of the “tendency to treat Jews collectively as representatives of Israel”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham wins huge majority in Makerfield byelection, paving way for Starmer leadership challenge 19. June 2026 (04:32) Greater Manchester mayor says result represents Labour’s ‘final chance to change’, after soundly beating Reform UK and hardline Restore BritainUK politics – live updatesAndy Burnham has won the crucial Makerfield byelection by a huge majority, paving the way for a challenge to Keir Starmer’s premiership.The Greater Manchester mayor beat the Reform UK candidate, Robert Kenyon, by 9,231 votes, and the new hardline Restore Britain party coming a distant third.. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US military kills three people in boat strike in Pacific Ocean 19. June 2026 (02:52) Attack brings to at least 211 number of people killed as Trump administration targets alleged ‘narcoterrorists’The US military attacked a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, killing three people, as the Trump administration wages a months-long campaign against alleged traffickers in Latin America.The latest attack brings the number of people the US military has killed in boat strikes to at least 211 since the Trump administration began targeting people it calls “narcoterrorists” in early September. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
SNP concedes Aberdeen South with Scottish Conservatives set to win 19. June 2026 (02:22) Byelection loss suggests voters rebelled against SNP over Peter Murrell’s theft of £400,000 in party fundsUK politics – live updatesThe Scottish National party (SNP) has conceded defeat in the formerly safe seat of Aberdeen South in a shock loss to the Scottish Conservatives.A senior source at the SNP told PA it was the “Tories’ night”, but pledged to “win it back in 2029”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
JD Vance tells Iran deal critics in Israel: Trump is your only ally left in the world 19. June 2026 (01:52) In a sharp rebuke to critics of Trump’s deal with Iran, the vice-president referenced the billions in defence aid Israel recieves from the USNews: Iran announces plans to bring in maritime fees for strait of Hormuz Analysis: Iran peace deal makes clear how far US has been forced to retreat since 2025 US vice-president JD Vance has lashed out at Israeli critics of the Iran deal, saying Donald Trump is Israel’s only ally left in the world, in a sharp rebuke that referenced the billions in defence aid the country receives from America.Vance was defending the deal reached this week to end the war with Iran that critics in the US and Israel have slammed for failing to curb Iran’s missile program and providing no clear path to dismantling its nuclear facilities, while constraining Israel in its war with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
