Jim Chalmers is putting a positive spin on the economy, but is the outlook for Australia grim? 03. June 2026 (08:49) The economy was slowing even before the Middle East conflict and interest rate hikes started to bite, while the boom in datacentres was a rare bright spotGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe economy slowed sharply in early 2026 and Australians’ living standards are once again going backwards.At the risk of upsetting the treasurer by “talking down the economy”, as he put it, there wasn’t all that much to love in the latest national accounts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of thousands of Centrelink payments cancelled illegally, Albanese government admits 03. June 2026 (08:24) Senate estimates hearing told issues caused by a glitch in the automated system that runs the controversial mutual obligations schemeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe government has admitted it illegally cancelled hundreds of thousands of Centrelink payments because of a glitch in the automated system that runs the controversial mutual obligations scheme, it has been revealed.Speaking at senate estimates on Wednesday, representatives for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations said the number of illegal cancellations, where people were not given enough time to reconnect to a job provider after missing a compulsory activity as part of their mutual obligations, was in “the vicinity” of 300,000. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK media groups given power to opt out of Google AI search summaries 03. June 2026 (08:23) Watchdog says ‘publishers will now have effective tools to prevent content being used to power AI features in search’Business live – latest updatesPublishers will be able to opt out of their content being used to train Google’s AI models and power its search summaries, the UK competition watchdog has announced as it imposes new conduct requirements on search services.“Publishers will now have effective tools to prevent their content being used to power AI features in search, such as AI Overviews,” the Competition and Markets Authority said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australians are spending less to consume more nicotine as illegal tobacco trade explodes 03. June 2026 (08:11) Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates nicotine consumption rose 40%, with illicit sources accounting for 80% of all tobaccoFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians are consuming more nicotine than they were eight years ago but are spending less, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows, as 80% of the cigarettes smoked by the nation last year were cheaper illegal products.The analysis released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday showed the amount of nicotine consumed around the country soared by 40% between 2017 and 2025, despite population growth rising by just 14%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Missing Tasmanian devil Mary captured on CCTV escaping from Gold Coast wildlife park 03. June 2026 (08:04) CCTV cameras caught the carnivorous marsupial skulking around deserted grounds at 4am Tuesday morningFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA search is under way on Queensland’s Gold Coast for a missing Tasmanian devil who escaped her enclosure in a daring early morning dash caught on camera.The devil, named Mary, did a Houdini from the Paradise Country theme park, escaping from quarantine in the early hours of Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Noted Surrey colony of at-risk swifts destroyed during nesting season 03. June 2026 (08:00) Campaigners say builders’ demolition of nest site highlights weak protection of wildlife from developmentA building that was a noted nesting site for swifts, among the UK’s most at-risk birds, has been demolished during the nesting season, highlighting significant weaknesses in the protection of wildlife from development, campaigners say.Contractors for the housebuilder Hill Group carried out the demolition of Regent House near Dorking station in Surrey over the last few weeks, during the nesting season which runs from 1 March to 31 August. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California primary election results: governor’s race too close to call 03. June 2026 (07:58) Early results show Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer emerging in front, with many ballots to be countedThe high-stakes gubernatorial race in California remained too close to call on Tuesday night, with early results showing a tight contest in the crowded race.With many ballots still left to be counted, three candidates emerged at the top: Republican Steve Hilton and Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer. And results were clear enough that two Democratic candidates – San Jose mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – conceded the race shortly after polls closed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Karen Bass heads to LA mayoral runoff after falling short of majority 03. June 2026 (07:33) Incumbent comes out on top in primary election – but with less than 50% of votes – and will take on challenger in NovemberKaren Bass has come out ahead in Tuesday’s heated primary for Los Angeles mayor, but with less than 50% of the vote will have to defend her seat in November’s general election.Bass will face either Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, or city council member Nithya Raman, in November. As of Tuesday evening, it was still unclear who would move on. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
George Santos reportedly investigated by DoJ over suspicious Kalshi bets 03. June 2026 (07:28) Disgraced former congressman said to have put bet on whether he would be at Trump’s State of the Union speechFederal authorities are investigating whether George Santos, the disgraced former Republican congressman from New York, engaged in insider trading by betting on a prediction market on his own attendance to the State of the Union address, multiple news outlets reported on Tuesday.Santos allegedly placed a bet on Kalshi, a popular online prediction market, over whether he would be in attendance at Trump’s State of the Union address in February, according to NPR, which first reported on the investigation citing anonymous sources. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thousands more UK black men to be invited for prostate cancer screening 03. June 2026 (07:00) Health secretary announces expansion of Transform trial but does not back population-wide testingThousands more black men will be invited to take part in a prostate cancer screening trial as the health secretary insisted he was “following the science” in not backing population-wide testing.James Murray accepted a recommendation from the UK national screening committee (UKNSC) that will result in only a few thousand high-risk men with a gene mutation being screened for the disease. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
