The Guardian

Birthkeeper hired by woman who died after freebirth tells inquest she was ‘not there to make a birth safer’

Emily Lal – paid $6,000 to provide freebirth support package to Stacey Warnecke – tells coroner her role was primarily to be a ‘supportive friend’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA birthkeeper hired by a woman who died after giving birth at home has told a coroner that she was “not there to make a birth safer”.Emily Lal gave evidence on Tuesday at the inquest into the death of 30-year-old Stacey Warnecke, who died on

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Tuesday briefing: How the UK’s military spending row exposes Starmer’s defence dilemma

In today’s newsletter: An argument about money has also spotlighted questions about Britain’s place in the world and the changing face of warfareGood morning. What conflict has raged longer than the hundred years war? The fight between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury over defence spending.I’d love to claim this as my own, but avoid patter theft this early in the day. So I’ll credit my colleague Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor, who spoke to me ahead of this week’s

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Paedophile teacher William ‘Rob’ Gilfillan sentenced for sexual offences against two Victorian schoolgirls in the 1980s

Former PE teacher will serve time for crimes perpetrated at Traralgon high school in Gippsland concurrently with prior 48-year sentenceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former physical education teacher serving Australia’s longest sentence for child sexual abuse offences against his daughter has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years for “brazen and forcible” sexual crimes against two schoolgirls in his care in th

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

‘Unbelievable’ waste and inefficiency at MoD, says ex-defence minister Al Carns

Exclusive: Carns, who quit last week, says he was angered by unwillingness to confront sunk costs of legacy programmesThere is “unbelievable” waste and inefficiency at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the former armed forces minister Al Carns has said, adding that every time he would “turn a stone over” he would get another shock.Carns said that during his time as a defence minister he had been angered by the unwillingness to confront the sunk costs of legacy programmes – and suggested mismanaged

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Half of world’s children exposed to at least three climate hazards, Unicef says

Almost every child, including those from high-income countries, is now exposed to at least one hazardHalf of the world’s children are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards threatening their health, education and survival, according to a Unicef report.Globally, children face increasing threats from heatwaves, storms, floods and droughts as the climate crisis worsens, with more than one billion facing at least three of these at once. Continue reading...

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Division in UK probably worse now than in run-up to Brexit, says Kim Leadbeater

Labour MP warns of voices fanning hatred on eve of 10th anniversary of the murder of her sister, the MP Jo CoxPolitical hatred and division in the UK is probably worse now than during the Brexit referendum, when Jo Cox was murdered, says Kim Leadbeater, Cox’s sister who is now also a Labour MP.Speaking to the Guardian’s Today in Focus podcast Leadbeater, who was elected to the same Yorkshire seat held by Cox in a 2021 byelection, said everyone in public life had a responsibility to try and ease

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

EV prices in UK and EU not likely to dive due to Chinese rivalry, says Xpeng boss

Brian Gu says he sees Chinese car firms competing on quality rather than launching price war as at homeMotorists in the UK and EU should not expect a sharp drop in the cost of electric vehicles despite increased competition among Chinese manufacturers, one of the country’s biggest electric carmakers has said.Brian Gu, the vice-chair of the manufacturer Xpeng, said that Chinese carmakers could compete on quality to win customers in the EU and UK, rather than unleashing a brutal price war as they

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Vance says details of US-Iran agreement still to be worked out amid scepticism from Republicans

Senate Republicans say there are many unanswered questions about the deal and question inclusion of funds for Iran The US vice-president, ⁠JD Vance, has said a number of issues still need to be figured out with Iran, as many Republicans expressed scepticism of the agreement reached this week by Donald Trump, and pressed the White House to release more information about it.The memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced Sunday to end the war in Iran, set for a ceremonial signing on Friday in Gene

general  Jun 16, 2026

NY Times World

Why Team Iran Is in a Tough Spot at the World Cup

At its first game in Los Angeles, the men’s national team drew spectators who weren’t coming for the soccer, but rather to protest the regime in Tehran.

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

RBA interest rates: Reserve Bank holds official cash rate at 4.35% as economy slows and unemployment rises

Reserve Bank of Australia decision on Tuesday comes after three consecutive cash rate hikes this yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Reserve Bank has left its official interest rate on hold at 4.35%, after economic activity slowed and unemployment hit a four-year high.The widely expected decision on Tuesday will bring little relief to mortgage holders, already strained by the RBA’s three consecutive rate hikes e

general  Jun 16, 2026

BBC World

Iranian-Americans protest against Iran team at World Cup

The BBC’s Shaimaa Khalil was outside the Iran v New Zealand opening round match as protesters called for an end to Tehran’s clerical regime.

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Grill’d burger chain sued over alleged greenwashing by consumer watchdog

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launches federal court action against restaurant over Tree Day Tuesday campaignThe consumer regulator has sued Grill’d over allegations the burger retailer engaged in greenwashing by dramatically overstating how much money it was donating towards one of its key environmental campaigns.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Tuesday announced it had launched federal court action against Grill’d, alleging it misrepresented its Tre

general  Jun 16, 2026

NY Times World

Naval Mines Could Still Stymie Gulf Shipping After War

The U.S. Navy will be deploying a new generation of drone-based countermeasures to search the sea floor and surface for any mines Iran laid.

general  Jun 16, 2026

NY Times World

Australia’s Former Electricity Substations Are Being Turned Into Homes

In a country where the housing market is squeezed, decommissioned electrical substations are in demand as refurbished residences.

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Sweden votes to back laws reinforcing its immigration crackdown

So-called ‘good behaviour’ legislation fiercely criticised by opposition politicians and rights groupsSweden’s parliament has voted to escalate the country’s crackdown on immigrant rights, backing laws that allow authorities to revoke residency permits based on a vague criteria of bad behaviour and obliging most public sector workers to report anyone suspected of being undocumented.The new legislation comes ahead of parliamentary elections in September, pitting the centre-right government, which

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Labour MPs doubt EHRC guidance on court’s biological sex ruling is workable

Exclusive: Commons motion calls for code of practice to be blocked amid concerns over impact on transgender peopleA number of Labour MPs are increasingly doubtful that the guidance on how organisations should implement the supreme court ruling on sex as it applies in the Equality Act is workable in the real world, with some predicting it will unleash a wave of competing legal claims.A total of 135 MPs, 69 of them from Labour, have signed a Commons motion calling for the code of practice drafted

general  Jun 16, 2026

BBC World

Trust in news hits a new low, research suggests

The Reuters Institute records its lowest trust figures since the annual research began in 2015.

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Iran ‘agreed to never have a nuclear weapon’, says Trump – as it happened

This blog is now closed – see our full report on the US-Iran agreement and an analysis of what it meansThe agreement between the United ⁠States and Iran should allow for the “immediate reopening” ⁠of the ⁠Strait ​of Hormuz, EU Commission President Ursula von ⁠der Leyen said on Monday.“The priority now is ⁠its swift and full implementation ​by all parties,” ‌von der ‌Leyen said about the ‌announced deal. Continue reading...

general  Jun 16, 2026

BBC World

Japan raises interest rate to highest since 1995

The Bank of Japan has been raising rates from near-zero since 2024.

general  Jun 16, 2026

The Guardian

Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion

The closures, so employees can watch a recorded lecture, will cost the company an estimated 2.1bn won ($1.4m) in salesStarbucks Korea will simultaneously close all its stores for a mandatory history lesson, after a disastrous promotion that evoked memories of a pro-democracy massacre sparked public and political backlash.More than 2,000 stores will temporarily close at 3pm on 22 June, the company said, so staff can watch recorded lectures on modern Korean history and engage in “social sensitivit

general  Jun 16, 2026