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Financial position of Australia's most populous state then expected to improve with a projected surplus by 2027-28

This blog is closed, you can continue to follow our live coverage on our new blog here.Monumental damage" was done to all Nuclear sites" in Iran during the US attack on the country at the weekend, Donald Trump has said in his latest comments, after officials said the extent of damage done remained unconfirmed. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social the US president wrote:Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent that - that is what this is. The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran's nuclear program. We don't want escalation and a full-scale war.We continue to call for dialogue and for diplomacy. As I have said for many days now, we are deeply concerned about any escalation in the region and we want to see diplomacy, dialogue and de-escalation. Continue reading...

Alliance in best interests of Australia, UK and US, say lawmakers, after Trump administration announced 30-day review of pact

The English guitarist, who had been bedridden after a stroke in 2016, is set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in NovemberMick Ralphs, singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of the classic British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died aged 81.A statement posted to the band's official website on Monday announced Ralphs' death. Ralphs had a stroke days after what would be his final performance with Bad Company at London's O2 Arena in 2016, and had been bedridden ever since, the statement said. No further details on the circumstances of his death were provided. Continue reading...

US strikes on Iran are adding to the pressure on carriers, which are having to avoid war-torn regions, lengthening routes and pushing up costsWith barely 48 hours elapsed since the US launched strikes against Iran, the swift resumption of near-normal service circumnavigating the war zone underlines that few crises, short of the global pandemic, have stopped airlines and their passengers flying for long.British Airways had been planning to restart flights to the Middle East cities of Doha and Dubai again, after cancelling departures from Heathrow at the weekend. However, on Monday evening Qatar temporarily closed its airspace again as Iran launched a missile attack on US bases in the country. Continue reading...

Researchers say contamination found at Montebello Islands is part of fallout from 1950s British tests and will persist for thousands of years

The 67-year-old, who also worked for ITV, BBC and Channel 4, says he is responding positively to excellent treatment'The former BBC and Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.The 67-year-old announced his diagnosis on social media, saying it was one of stage four advanced cancer. Continue reading...

Doha attack follows strikes between Israel and Iran as Donald Trump raises prospect of regime change in TehranExplosions were reported around the Qatari capital, Doha, late on Monday, as Tehran announced it had launched a missile attack on US bases in the Gulf state and Iraq, in what it said was retaliation for US participation in Israel's bombing campaign against Iran the day before.The attacks followed a wave of missile strikes between Israel and Iran, with Israel bombing the notorious Evin prison, and came after Donald Trump raised the prospect of regime change in Tehran, further provoking a situation that was drastically inflamed by US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Continue reading...

Amendment intended to kill off legislation that would cut benefits could be backed by up to 100 Labour MPs including senior figuresLabour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the government's benefit cuts with an amendment that could kill its welfare bill, spearheaded by senior select committee chairs.The amendment - which sources said could be signed by up to 100 MPs - declines to pass the government's welfare changes and calls for a pause, including for further consultation and for support to be in place before any further cuts are made. Continue reading...

Prosecutors have cited drug-fueled multi-day events as evidence of sex-trafficking charges against the music mogulThe jury at Sean Diddy" Combs's sex-trafficking trial viewed more video recordings on Monday of the sex marathons that have played a prominent role in a prosecution that was likely to rest by Tuesday.The assistant US attorney Maurene Comey sometimes referred to the mostly 1- or 2-minute clips filmed by the music mogul as explicit" videos, a signal for jurors to put on headsets that enabled them to hear and view the recordings without them being heard or seen by spectators in the Manhattan courtroom. Continue reading...

Ukrainian president says two countries will deepen defence cooperation with the objective to stop Russian terror'Ukraine and the UK are to deepen their defence cooperation by jointly producing long-range drones, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday after talks with Keir Starmer in Downing Street aimed at forcing Russia to think about peace".Zelenskyy said his main objective was to save as many lives as possible" and to stop Russian terror". Writing on social media, he called for maximum political and diplomatic coordination" and closer work on joint defence projects and weapons production". Continue reading...

UK foreign secretary wants Iran to return to negotiating table but refuses to endorse strikes by US and Israel

Foreign secretary David Lammy says further flights will follow in the coming daysBy the way, if you actually wanted to read the Modern Industrial Strategy document published by the government today, you can find it here.The government has just pushed out a joint statement from business leaders welcoming it, which says:The Industrial Strategy launched today marks a significant step forward and a valuable opportunity for the business community to rally behind a new vision for the UK - boosting confidence, sentiment, and enthusiasm for investment.From start-ups and small businesses to large corporates, businesses need a more attractive, stable environment that enables faster, easier, and more certain investment decisions.For too long high electricity costs have held back British businesses, as a result of our reliance on gas sold on volatile international markets.As part of our modern industrial strategy we're unlocking the potential of British industry by slashing industrial electricity prices in key sectors. Continue reading...

Proscribing organisation under anti-terrorism laws raises stakes amid already increased powers to stop protestsThe crackdown on protest in England and Wales has been ringing alarm bells for years, but the decision to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws raises the stakes dramatically.As the group itself has said, it is the first time the government has attempted to proscribe a direct action protest organisation under the Terrorism Act, placing it alongside the likes of Islamic State, al-Qaida and National Action. Continue reading...

Health secretary launches national inquiry into care of mothers and babies in England, saying there is too much passing the buck'

Ukrainian president to hold talks with UK PM after meeting with kingFor more updates on the Israel-Iran war, including US president Donald Trump's call to make Iran great again", you can also follow our live blog here run by Jane Clinton:Let's stop for a moment on that question of the EU-Israel association agreement, which sees Spain calling for immediate suspension of the deal, while Germany appears to be distancing itself from it. Continue reading...

Marks & Spencer's sales slumped, while Next, Zara and H&M experienced pickup, analysts sayNext, Zara and H&M all benefited from extra sales when their rival Marks & Spencer was forced to halt orders on its website for almost seven weeks after a major cyber-attack that weighed on its own sales.Clothing sales at M&S slumped by a fifth in the four weeks to 25 May compared with the same period a year before after the website, which usually accounts for a third of M&S's clothing and homeware sales, stopped taking orders. Sales had soared 11.5% in the prior three months, according to the latest figures from analysts at Kantar. Continue reading...

Home secretary to ignore warning from group's lawyers that doing so would be unlawful, dangerous and ill thought out'

Letter from 12 members demanding congressional approval for war follows Trump's unauthorized bombing of Iran

Premier says you can respect people's money' and still lift public services as LNP hands down first budget since 2014

A growing number of abortions happen through telehealth - including for women in states with strict bansThree years after the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, erasing the national right to abortion and paving the way for more than a dozen states to ban the procedure, the number of abortions performed in the US is still on the rise - including in some states that ban the procedure.US abortion providers performed 1.14m abortions in 2024, according to new data released Monday by #WeCount, a Society of Family Planning project that has tracked abortion provision since 2022. That's the highest number on record in recent years. Continue reading...

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss how Keir Starmer's government is responding to the US president's decision to launch attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. What might happen next? And what could it mean for the UK and the world? Continue reading...

US bombing increases fears for man's parents and sister, who won tribunal ruling that they had right to live in UKA British man has told of his fears for his family who are trapped in Iran after winning the right to reunite in the UK, because the Home Office have appealed against the decision.After news broke in the early hours of Sunday morning that the US had bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, fears for the safety of the man's parents and sister, currently stranded in Tehran, are mounting. Continue reading...

Head of International Atomic Energy Agency says no one in a position to fully assess damage to Iran's nuclear capabilities Live coverage: Iran's Fordow nuclear site hit again, state media saysDonald Trump has doubled down on claims monumental damage" had been done to Iran's nuclear sites, as the head of the UN's nuclear agency said that while he anticipated very significant damage" at the underground Fordow site, the agency had not been able to assess it.Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed that Iran had told the agency it had planned to take special measures" to protect equipment and nuclear materials on 13 June. Continue reading...

Fintech firm's founder Nik Storonsky has reportedly secured Elon Musk-style deal that would pay out in stages

Police release CCTV images of suspect in hunt for instrument allegedly stolen from a north London pub in FebruaryPolice are appealing for help to recover a missing 285-year-old violin after it was allegedly stolen from a London pub.Detectives have been trying to find the instrument since 18 February, when the violin, valued at more than 150,000, went missing from the Marquess Tavern on Canonbury Street. The victim reported the theft to the Metropolitan police that evening. Continue reading...

High-profile barrister consulted over arrest warrants for five government staffers who did not attend inquiry into Dural fake terrorism plot'

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The prospect of higher energy prices may also delay the next Reserve Bank rate cut to until August instead of July, economists say

Clifton George, 44, arrested after Annabel Rook found with stab wounds in Stoke Newington on TuesdayA man has been charged with the murder of a charity worker who was found stabbed in her home after a gas explosion.Clifton George, 44, was arrested after Annabel Rook was found with stab wounds in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north London, shortly before 5am on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Trump has warned of broader US involvement in Israel's war if Iran attempts to strike back against US military sites in the region

Greatest Hits Radio to air original performances from stars such as Queen and David Bowie in 10-hour show on 13 JulyThe 1985 Live Aid broadcast that featured legendary performances from Queen, David Bowie, the Who and Paul McCartney will be recreated on Greatest Hits Radio to celebrate the event's 40th anniversary.The 10-hour special, hosted by Simon Mayo, will air from noon on 13 July featuring all of the original live performances from the concert, which took place at Wembley Stadium in London to raise money for the Ethiopian famine. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Analysis by Royal Society for Public Health suggests obesity rates will rise in 90% of the countryThe majority of children will be overweight or obese in nine areas of England by 2035, according to deeply concerning" projections showing child obesity rates are set to worsen across 90% of the country.More than a third of primary school children (36%) are already overweight or obese, figures from the government's national child measurement programme show. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: After Donald Trump brings the US into Israel's conflict with Iran, one analyst sets out the potential response from TehranGood morning. After he ordered the attacks on Iranian nuclear sites that constituted the US's entry into Israel's war against Iran, Donald Trump insisted that he wanted peace quickly", and that the alternative would be tragedy for Iran" and far greater" attacks in future. His vice-president, JD Vance, said that the US was not at war with Iran" and that we do not want to protract this". But in Tehran, with Trump now also talking of regime change, the conclusion appears to be that there is no choice but to respond.Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said that The Americans must receive a response to their aggression". And foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that the US strikes will have everlasting consequences". While there is little doubt that Iran's military capacities have been severely degraded since Israel's attacks on 13 June, the country retains immediate options - and may now be more set on a path to nuclear weapons than it was before this began.Assisted dying | Health secretary Wes Streeting has voiced doubts over whether the NHS can afford to establish an assisted dying service, after MPs passed a bill to legalise the procedure last week. The bill now heads to the House of Lords, where there are expected to be continued battles over its progress.Health | Thousands of patients in England will be able to access weight-loss jabs via their GP from Monday for the first time. Family doctors will be allowed to prescribe Mounjaro to severely obese people living with a range of other health problems.Syria | A suicide bombing by Islamic State targeting a church in Damascus has killed 20 people and wounded 52, Syrian authorities have said. The attack on Sunday night was the first major IS operation and the first suicide bombing in Syria since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December.Domestic violence | Domestic abuse is a public health emergency, experts have claimed, after a report concluded that the NHS is failing victims by not training staff to spot and respond to the signs of domestic violence. more than 20% of people in England and Wales aged 16 years and over have experienced domestic abuse.UK politics | Reform UK have proposed offering wealthy foreigners and returning British expats a bespoke tax regime in exchange for a one-off payment of 250,000 with the proceeds redistributed to Britain's lowest-paid workers. But there are concerns over a two-tier tax system allowing millionaires to buy their way out of full UK tax liability. Continue reading...

US president says strikes led to monumental damage' and questioned if the regime could make Iran great again'

Campaigners want officers to learn about clear links' between harming animals and harming humansPolice should be trained in how pets can be used in coercive control cases, according to a charity that found a troubling gap" in awareness about the links between violence against animals and violence against humans.A report from the Naturewatch Foundation found that only 60% of police forces in England and Wales teach officers about pets being used as tools of coercion, punishment and manipulation, even though more than half of UK households have a pet. Continue reading...

Scale of death and destruction in Gaza, and the violence of settlers in the West Bank, has shifted public opinion in the EUIn Israel, it can seem like only one other place really matters. Washington DC is on the other side of the world but provides Israel with weapons, the backing of the most powerful military in the world, and a critical diplomatic shield in forums like the United Nations.Yet the country's economy is bound far more closely to Europe than to the United States. A third of its trade is with the European Union, key academic work is supported by grants from the EU's multi-billion dollar Horizon research fund, and it is the top destination for Israelis who want to travel. Continue reading...

Research suggests younger drinkers socialise for longer and embrace bolder, boozier options as drinks companies pivot to catch upYou can tell a lot about a generation from the contents of their cool box: nowadays the barbecue ice bucket is likely to be filled with hard seltzers, non-alcoholic beers and fluorescent BuzzBallz - a particular favourite among gen Z.Two decades ago, it was WKD, Bacardi Breezers and the odd Smirnoff Ice bobbing in a puddle of melted ice. And while nostalgia may have brought back some alcopops, the new wave of ready-to-drink (RTD) options look and taste noticeably different. Continue reading...

Grandfather Ned Hargraves says there is no trust' between the remote community of Yuendumu and NT policeWarning: This article contains names and images of Indigenous Australians who have died

Experts says organised criminal gangs could be behind spate of incidents over past few monthsCopper thieves have been targeting England's onshore windfarms, and security experts say organised gangs could be behind the crimewave.At least 12 large windfarms across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Humberside, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have fallen victim to cabling thieves in the past three months. Continue reading...

Majorities in some countries back mandatory military service, and poll shows public sharply divided over TrumpFaced with an unpredictable Donald Trump and an aggressive Russia, Europeans favour increased spending on defence and, in some countries, compulsory military service.A survey of 12 countries for the European Council on Foreign Relations showed majorities for increased defence spending in Poland (70%), Denmark (70%) and the UK (57%). Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. You can follow our new Israel-Iran war live blog here for the latest news and updates

Pentagon claims major damage inflicted, world leaders call for restraint and Israel continues to strike Iranian targets

Actor says it is good thing that Netflix hit has started conversations about phone use and parentingThe Adolescence star Ashley Walters has said the show led him to limit one of his sons' screen time, and that he can't even touch his device" for half of the week.The 42-year-old, who played DI Luke Bascombe in the series, said he had started drawing back on his son's screen time" because of concern he was not always doing what he said he was. Continue reading...

About 220,000 patients expected to receive Mounjaro over three years as GPs can prescribe the drugs for the first timeThousands of patients in England will be able to access weight-loss jabs via their GP from Monday for the first time.The mass rollout on the NHS means family doctors will be allowed to prescribe the drugs for the first time. About 220,000 people with greatest need" are expected to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide and made by Eli Lilly, on the NHS over the next three years. Continue reading...

Witnesses and NGO records show hundreds have been killed since GHF began distributing food but it says its model is workingJust after midnight on Thursday morning, Abdullah Ahmed left his sleeping wife and children in their small and crowded home in the battered al-Bureij camp in central Gaza and headed north.The 31-year-old vegetable seller had heard that the nearby food distribution site recently opened by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a secretive Israeli- and US-backed private organisation that began operations in the territory last month, would be handing out food at 2am. Continue reading...

PM calls on Tehran to return to negotiations and holds talks with Macron and Merz after US attack on three nuclear sites

The United States has joined Israel in its attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Michael Safi hears from reporter Hugo Lowell and world affairs correspondent Andrew Roth on what happens now Continue reading...

Evening attack is first major atrocity by Islamist terror group in Syria since President al-Assad was deposedA suicide bombing by Islamic State (IS) targeting a church in Damascus has killed 20 people and wounded 52, Syrian authorities have said.The attack on Sunday night was the first major IS operation and the first suicide bombing in Syria since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December and replaced by an Islamist-led government. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Analysis finds domestic abuse training for staff in England and Wales sporadic and inconsistent'Domestic abuse is a public health emergency, experts have claimed, after a report concluded that the NHS is failing victims by not training staff to spot and respond to the signs of domestic violence.About one in four people (21.6%) in England and Wales aged 16 years and over have experienced domestic abuse, affecting 12.6 million people, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Continue reading...