Latest News Stories
Sorted by number of sources covering the story
Today
UK PM Keir Starmer resigns amid Labour leadership crisis after Andy Burnham's by-election win
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on June 22, 2026, after months of mounting pressure from Labour MPs and a decisive by-election victory by Andy Burnham in Makerfield on June 20. Burnham, the fo...
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- Keir Starmer announced his resignation as UK Prime Minister on June 22, 2026, after months of pressure from Labour MPs and a decisive by-election win by Andy Burnham in Makerfield on June 20, 2026.
- Andy Burnham, former Mayor of Greater Manchester, won the Makerfield by-election with a majority of over 9,000 votes (50%+ share) on June 20, 2026, and is expected to succeed Starmer as Labour leader and PM.
- Starmer will remain as caretaker PM until a new Labour leader is chosen, with nominations opening on July 9, 2026, and the transition aiming to complete before Parliament resumes in September 2026.
Australia’s shifting trust in US/China, declining multiculturalism support, and geopolitical concerns
Australia’s 2026 Lowy Institute poll reveals a historic shift in public sentiment, with trust in the US plunging to 31%—a record low—while trust in China rose to 28%, nearly closing the gap. Both supe...
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- Australians’ trust in the US to act responsibly hit a record low of 31% in the 2026 Lowy Institute poll.
- Trust in China rose to 28% in the 2026 Lowy Institute poll, narrowing the gap with the US to just 3 points.
- Only 21% of Australians trust US President Donald Trump to do the right thing in world affairs, matching the 20% who trust Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Europe faces record-breaking 2026 June heatwave with extreme temperatures and health risks
Europe is experiencing a record-breaking June 2026 heatwave, with temperatures surpassing 40C in France, Spain, and Germany, and forecasts of 44C in southern Spain. France placed 35–49 departments und...
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- France placed 35 of its 96 mainland departments under a red heat alert (danger-to-life warning) on Sunday, June 21, 2026, covering 36 million people (Guardian) or 35 million people (Guardian, June 22).
- Temperatures in France exceeded 40C (104F) in multiple regions, with forecasts of 42C+ in some areas by June 22, 2026.
- France’s national heat index (average of day/night temps at 30 stations) is expected to hit its highest ever level on June 21–22, 2026.
Australia sells advanced radar to Canada for Arctic monitoring, boosting defence exports
Australia and Canada have finalized a $2.5 billion deal for Canada to acquire Australia’s over-the-horizon radar system, the largest defence export in Australia’s history. The radar, part of the Jinda...
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- Canada signed a $2.5 billion deal to purchase Australia’s over-the-horizon radar system (JORN/Jindalee Operational Radar Network) for Arctic surveillance
- The radar system has been operational for over 40 years, covering up to 3,000 km of surveillance in Australia’s northern approaches
- Canada’s defence procurement secretary, Stephen Fuhr, visited Australia to inspect the radar and the Ghost Bat drone during the deal announcement
Targeted shooting death of former boxer Hussein Dehaini in Melbourne
Hussein Dehaini, a 33-year-old former professional boxer with ties to Melbourne’s underworld, was fatally shot in Ascot Vale on June 22, 2026, around 12:15 AM. Police confirmed the attack was targeted...
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- Hussein Dehaini, a former professional boxer (alias 'Skinny'), was shot dead in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, on June 22, 2026, around 12:15 AM.
- Dehaini was found with gunshot wounds on Mount Alexander Road, near North Street, Ascot Vale.
- Security camera footage recorded three loud bangs near the crime scene, with shots believed to have been fired on Mount Alexander Road.
US-Iran peace talks disrupted by Trump threats and Strait of Hormuz closure
US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials held the first direct talks under a June 15 memorandum of understanding in Buergenstock, Switzerland, on June 22, 2026, aimed at reopening the Strait o...
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- US Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials in Buergenstock, Switzerland, on June 22, 2026, for the first direct talks under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed June 15, 2026.
- Iran announced it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz on June 22, 2026, citing ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
- US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on June 22, 2026: 'Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!'
Australia's auction clearance rates hit six-year low amid economic uncertainty
Australia’s auction clearance rates hit a six-year low in late June 2026, with fewer than half of homes selling at auction, marking the first time since April 2020 that rates fell below 50%. Sydney sa...
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- Australia's weighted average auction clearance rate fell to 47% (ABC) or 47.4% (Guardian) in the week ending June 21, 2026, the lowest since April 2020.
- Sydney had 166 auctions withdrawn last week, the highest among capital cities, with only 225 of 645 auctions cleared (47.4% clearance rate).
- The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept interest rates unchanged at 4.35% in its June 2026 meeting, following three prior rate increases earlier in the year.
Annual Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim event in Hobart draws thousands of participants
The annual Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim in Hobart drew 3,000 registered participants who braved cold temperatures to celebrate the winter solstice and close out Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival. Held at ...
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- The event is the Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim held at Long Beach, Hobart
- 3,000 swimmers registered for the event
- The event marks the end of Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival
Mona museum’s $100m underground library Phrontisterion opens in Hobart
Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) opened its $100 million underground library, Phrontisterion, in June 2026 after a decade of planning and four years of construction. The library houses 30,000...
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- The library, named Phrontisterion, contains 30,000 books from David Walsh’s private collection.
- The Shakespeare First Folio (1623) is the most valuable book in the collection, valued at $6m–$8m.
- The library’s construction cost over $100 million, exceeding the original $11m budget.
KPMG whistleblower scandal reveals misconduct, retaliation, and regulatory gaps
A KPMG whistleblower exposed allegations that senior staff used confidential client information from Lendlease to secure work for Westpac, triggering a parliamentary inquiry in March 2026. Both source...
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- KPMG whistleblower revealed allegations that senior staff used confidential material from Lendlease to win Westpac work, confirmed by parliamentary committee documents.
- KPMG admitted leaking Optus’ confidential information to colleagues bidding for Telstra’s audit contract, confirmed by Martin Sheppard (KPMG chair) during a parliamentary hearing.
- KPMG’s former CEO Andrew Yates resigned after the scandal, stating he felt accountable for not addressing whistleblower allegations earlier.
An Australian expat’s observations on Texas culture, politics, and stereotypes after moving to Austin
An Australian expat, Edwina Frost, shares her unexpected experiences living in Austin, Texas, challenging stereotypes about the state. She describes a politically diverse Texas, where conservative val...
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- Hispanics and Latinos make up over 40% of the Texan population
- The Texas State Capitol is larger than the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.
- Texas was an independent republic for 10 years before joining the US (1836–1846)
Wyndham Clark wins 2026 US Open with six-shot lead at Shinnecock Hills
Wyndham Clark secured his second US Open title in four years with a one-stroke victory over Sam Burns at Shinnecock Hills in June 2026. Clark entered the final round with a commanding six-shot lead, t...
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- Wyndham Clark won the 2026 US Open with a one-stroke victory over Sam Burns, finishing at 4-under par (276) for the tournament.
- Clark held a six-shot lead entering the final round, the largest 54-hole lead in US Open history since 1919 (Mike Brady).
- Clark’s final round score was 3-over 73 (4-under total), including an eagle on the par-5 16th hole and a bogey on the 18th.
Violent anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh by a Scottish man, investigated as potential terrorism
Multiple violent attacks in Edinburgh on June 20, 2026, targeted Muslim men and others, injuring five individuals (ages 22, 24, 27, 39) near Broomhouse mosque and across the city’s north and west. A 3...
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- Five men were injured in Edinburgh attacks (ages 22, 24, 27, 39, and another 22), with three requiring hospital treatment; none were life-threatening.
- A 36-year-old white Scottish man was arrested (later charged by Guardian) and remains in custody for the attacks, which began near Broomhouse mosque in Sighthill.
- Counter-terrorism police in Scotland are investigating the incidents, which included threats, robbery, and vandalism, with support from specialist colleagues.
Ben Stokes returns as England cricket captain after nightclub disciplinary hearing
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been reinstated to England’s squad for the third Test against New Zealand after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) concluded its investigation into their breach...
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- Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were found to have breached specific contractual obligations requiring England players to maintain the highest standards of conduct and act in the best interests of England cricket
- Both Stokes and Atkinson received written warnings as a result of the disciplinary hearing
- The ECB concluded that no blame should be attached to Stokes or Atkinson for violent conduct at the Rex Rooms nightclub in Chelsea, with Atkinson being the victim of unprovoked attacks and not retaliating
Australia's largest cocaine seizure in Sydney linked to organised crime network
Australian authorities conducted the country's largest cocaine seizure, uncovering 2.7 tonnes of the drug worth an estimated $816 million at a property in Londonderry, Greater Western Sydney, on June ...
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- 2.7 tonnes of cocaine were seized at a semi-rural property in Londonderry, Greater Western Sydney, on June 20, 2026
- The cocaine had an estimated street value of $816 million, equivalent to about 3 million street-level deals
- Two men aged 21 and 25 were arrested and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug
Spain defeats Saudi Arabia 4-0 in 2026 World Cup Group H match in Atlanta
Spain dominated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in their 2026 World Cup Group H match in Atlanta on June 21, reversing their scoreless draw against Cabo Verde. Lamine Yamal scored the opener in the 10th minute after...
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- Lamine Yamal scored Spain’s first goal in the 10th minute after Mikel Oyarzabal’s cross, sliding in at the far post.
- Spain won 4-0 against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on June 21, 2026, in their second Group H match.
- Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals (one from a Laporte header and another from a Cucurella cross) and provided an assist to Yamal.
Yesterday
Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon singles after wildcard announcement
Serena Williams will make her first Wimbledon singles appearance in four years after receiving a wildcard for the 2026 tournament, which begins June 29. She had previously been granted a doubles wildc...
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- Serena Williams received a wildcard for the Wimbledon 2026 singles draw, marking her first singles appearance since 2022.
- Serena Williams had already been granted a doubles wildcard with Venus Williams for Wimbledon 2026.
- Serena Williams last played Wimbledon singles in 2022, losing in the first round to Harmony Tan.
Australia's datacentre boom raises energy, water, and economic concerns
Australia is experiencing a rapid expansion of datacentres, driven by global demand for AI infrastructure, with over 160 operating and 90 proposed across the country. The Guardian and ABC both highlig...
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- Australia currently has about 160 operating datacentres and another 90 proposed, according to the Climate Council (Guardian) and industry figures (ABC).
- The proposed Bundey datacentre in South Australia would require up to 800 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to powering around 800,000 Australian homes (ABC).
- The Bundey datacentre is proposed by Nasdaq-listed tech company IREN and aims to be operational by 2028 (ABC).
Curaçao's historic World Cup draw vs Ecuador and Eloy Room's record-breaking performance
Curaçao made history in the 2026 World Cup by earning its first-ever point with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador, thanks to a legendary performance by goalkeeper Eloy Room, who made 15 saves. Room's heroics...
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- Eloy Room made 15 saves in Curaçao's 0-0 draw against Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup, tying him with Tim Howard's single-game record (though Howard's match included extra time).
- Eloy Room is a 37-year-old goalkeeper who has spent most of his career on the bench in the Eredivisie, recently moving to Miami FC after qualifying performances.
- Curaçao earned its first-ever World Cup point in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador, recovering from a 7-1 loss to Germany earlier in the tournament.
Australia extends fuel excise cut but reduces discount from 32¢ to 16¢ per litre
The Australian federal government extended its fuel excise cut by one month, reducing the discount from 32¢ to 16¢ per litre starting July 1, 2026, to avoid panic buying and manage demand at service s...
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- The fuel excise cut was originally set to expire on June 30, 2026, but has been extended until August 2, 2026, with a reduced 16¢ per litre discount (from 32¢) starting July 1, 2026.
- The Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge was abolished (free) from April 1, 2026, and will now be reduced to 16¢ per litre from July 1 to August 2, 2026.
- The 32¢ per litre fuel excise cut was introduced on April 1, 2026, in response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent disruption to global oil supply.