Mehdi Hasan on Donald Trump’s big, beautiful birthday – podcast 11. June 2026 (04:00) As the US prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary and Trump turns 80, what state is the country in? And its president?This weekend kicks off an extravaganza of celebrations for the US, marking 250 years of independence from Britain – and for Donald Trump, marking 80 years of being, well, him.Presidents gone-by would have used a milestone anniversary to promote national unity. Trump is organising a cage fight. The president is adamant that every decent, flag-waving American will enjoy the festivities … or at least be talking about the party rather than what he’s brought to it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Angus Taylor rejects One Nation seat-sharing deal as cracks appear in Liberal ranks over Pauline Hanson threat 11. June 2026 (03:14) South Australian Liberal Tony Pasin says parties should ‘work hand-in-glove’ to defeat Labor at the next electionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSplits are appearing inside the Liberal party about how to deal with Pauline Hanson, after one opposition MP at risk of losing his seat to One Nation said the two conservative parties should cooperate and not run against each other – a plan rejected by Angus Taylor and other senior colleagues.With One Nation leading the Coalition and Labor in published opinion polls, Hanson’s threat to target government-held seats has recharged debate about whether the surge will see rightwing politicians cooperate or cannibalise each other’s votes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Aukus is among Australia’s worst foreign policy decisions and requires ‘heroic’ optimism, Gareth Evans says 11. June 2026 (03:00) Former Labor foreign affairs minister says belief US would defend Australia in event of an existential attack is a ‘ludicrous delusion’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAukus will prove to be one of the worst defence and foreign policy decisions ever made by an Australian government and is only being permitted by Donald Trump in order to destroy Chinese nuclear threats to the US mainland, former foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans says.Giving evidence to an independent public inquiry into the $368bn nuclear agreement with the US and UK on Thursday, Evans, a cabinet minister in the Hawke and Keating governments, will warn the transfer and construction of submarines to Australia from the early 2030s is effectively only an extension of the American military fleet. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Accused LA wildfire arsonist wanted ‘revenge on society’, prosecutors say as trial opens 11. June 2026 (02:49) Defense says no evidence occasional Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht ignited deadly blaze on New Year’s Day 2025The trial of 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of starting last year’s deadly Palisades fire, kicked off on Wednesday with opening arguments. Prosecutors cast him as a vengeful arsonist who sought to hide his role from authorities, while his defense attorneys argued that the fire was caused by fireworks.On New Year’s Day in 2025, firefighters extinguished a small blaze in the Pacific Palisades, a coastal Los Angeles enclave. But the flames continued to smolder underground, before reigniting as they were picked up by strong winds. The Palisades fire, the most destructive wildfires in city history, tore through roughly 23,000 acres, incinerating thousands of buildings and killing 12 people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French star Patrick Bruel charged with rape and sexual assault 11. June 2026 (01:31) Singer and actor has denied all charges after more than 20 women came forward with allegations going back to the 1990sThe French singer Patrick Bruel has been charged with rape and sexual assault in one of the biggest #MeToo cases in the French music industry.The 67-year-old, a major figure in French pop culture, was placed under formal investigation over several cases that included alleged rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brunel’s SS Great Britain site drops historical name in ‘cool’ rebrand 11. June 2026 (01:01) New name, Bristol Dockyards, and museum revamp aimed at becoming more rooted in community, says chief executiveOne of the UK’s maritime landmarks is being renamed as part of a drive to make it “cooler” and more inclusive.For a decade, the dockland site in Bristol that houses the ocean liner SS Great Britain, which was designed by the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, has been promoted as Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sole survivor of Air India crash demands ‘honesty and answers’ one year on 11. June 2026 (01:01) Vishwash Kumar Ramesh was the only passenger to survive the incident in June 2025, which killed 260 peopleThe only survivor of the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people in June 2025 has called for “honesty, transparency and answers” a year on from the disaster, and spoken about his “significant psychological scars” and financial hardship.Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British national, has previously described his fate as a “miracle” after being the only person to survive the incident, in which a Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Convicted gang rapist Mohammed Skaf hit with two dozen drug charges in Sydney 11. June 2026 (00:46) NSW police say two men and a woman will face court on Thursday over alleged involvement in large-scale drug supply schemeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMohammed Skaf, a notorious gang rapist, has been arrested in Sydney and charged with nearly two dozen alleged drug offences.New South Wales police said two men and a woman will face court on Thursday over their alleged involvement in a large-scale drug supply scheme after search warrants were executed in Sydney’s southwest overnight. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump administration land gift to SpaceX would hurt Texas habitat, lawsuit says 11. June 2026 (00:12) Environmental groups say exchange between US government and SpaceX would worsen ecological risksSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Environmental groups on Wednesday sued in an attempt to stop the Trump administration from giving SpaceX more than 700 acres (280 hectares) of wildlife refuge in Texas, claiming it would worsen ecological risks to a Gulf coast region already transformed by billionaire Elon Musk’s rocket operations.The US Fish and Wildlife Service this month approved moving forward with the deal with SpaceX, which would surrender 683 acres (276 hectares) the company owns in exchange for federal land in the Lower Rio Grande Valley national wildlife refuge. The 103,000-acre (41,700-hectare) refuge spans four counties along the Texas border and is home to animal habitats and historical landmarks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A conservative California county is trying to kill mail-in voting 10. June 2026 (23:10) Shasta county passes measure requiring elections to be held in person on one day and limiting absentee ballotsUS politics live – latest updatesNorthern California’s Shasta county, best known for its radical conservative politics and thriving election-skeptic movement, appears on track for another clash with the state over a newly approved ballot measure that would transform local elections.In last Tuesday’s election, the majority of voters in the rural county backed Measure B, which requires elections to be held in person on a single day and limits who can cast an absentee ballot – effectively putting an end to vote by mail – while also requiring photo ID and a hand count. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
