Pauline Hanson says Australia ‘must be monocultural’ in National Press Club speech

• UNICEF released a report revealing that 1.1 billion children—nearly half the global youth population—are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards. • These environmental threats are critically endangering the health, education, and overall survival of children worldwide.

• Global news reports highlight ongoing uncertainty regarding a potential deal with Iran and the persistence of economic price shocks caused by war. • The European Union is actively pushing back against Russia while officially initiating Ukraine's path toward EU accession.

• The author argues that journalist engagement is the most critical missing tool for combating surging antisemitism and shaping public understanding. • The piece highlights a visit to Hadassah, emphasizing that Israel's narrative should extend beyond geopolitics to include medicine, AI, and humanitarian innovation.

• EU and G7 leaders met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the second day of the summit in Évian, France, to discuss the ongoing war with Russia. • Leaders emphasized that "the tide is turning for Ukraine," signaling strong continued support for Kyiv's defense efforts.

• On June 16, 2026, the G7 unveiled a new global roadmap designed to transition developing nations away from aid dependency. • The strategy emphasizes a significant push for private investment to foster sustainable economic growth and self-sufficiency.

• A Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, reportedly fired a warning shot at a yacht in the English Channel between Normandy and the Isle of Wight. • This naval escalation follows a recent incident involving the seizure of a Russian tanker, heightening tensions in the region.

• Iran has threatened a "harsh response" following recent military attacks targeting Lebanon. • Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be "more responsible" regarding operations in Lebanon.

• Russia launched a large-scale wave of missile and drone attacks overnight targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, and various cultural heritage sites across Ukraine. • UN Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale reported that several civilians were killed and dozens injured, with children among the casualties and residential buildings catching fire.

Inquest hears clinician wasn’t legally required to report to police but was concerned about public health and safety A senior clinician reported a birthkeeper to police the same day one of her clients died after giving birth at home – something the senior clinician said he had not done before.The evidence was heard during the third day of the inquest into the death of 30-year-old wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke, who died on 29 September in Frankston hospital in Melbourne. She had paid Emily Lal $6,000 to support her to have a freebirth at home without any clinically trained staff involved. Continue reading...

As bosses ridicule the chancellor’s scheme, one venue is offering a £25 ‘kids’ menu of snails and anchovy butter toastRestaurants and pubs are expected to devise “enterprising” schemes to exploit a tax break on meals for under-18s, after one venue launched a menu for “kids” featuring wild burgundy snail salad and anchovy butter toast.Rachel Reeves last month announced a temporary cut in VAT on children’s meals from 20% to 5% between 25 June and 1 September, part of a “Great British summer savings scheme” to support struggling venues and ease pressure on families. Continue reading...

Flatlining figure confounds forecasts of an increase to 3% as Bank of England prepares to set interest ratesUK inflation unexpectedly remained at 2.8% last month despite the Middle East war driving up energy prices, official figures have shown.May’s annual price rise reading recorded by the Office for National Statistics confounded economists’ forecasts of a rise to 3%. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: The far right are using social media to foster division, from Southampton to Belfast, but there are calls for clear and urgent ways to counter digital radicalismGood morning. Ten years after the murder of the MP Jo Cox by a rightwing extremist in the run-up to the Brexit referendum, her sister Kim Leadbeater, now herself a MP, issued a clear and urgent summons.In an interview on our Today in Focus podcast, she proposed that political hatred in Britain is worse now than at the time of her sister’s killing, but insisted “those voices who are sowing the division are in the minority.”UK news | A Russian warship fired warning shots within a few hundred metres of a British pleasure yacht sailing across the Channel amid a period of heightened tensions between London and Moscow.UK politics | The Lib Dems will urge Andy Burnham to end Labour’s “torpor and timidity” towards the EU as they call for the UK to rejoin the single market, in a notable strengthening of their own position.Middle East | Iran’s top diplomat has said a peace deal with the US would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, as concern grows that Israel could undermine diplomatic efforts to finally end the Middle East war.Media | A BBC presenter lauded by the corporation for his appeal to young male audiences has a history of making abusive and misogynistic remarks about women, whom he has variously called “slags”, “sluts”, “psychos” and “bitches”, the Guardian can reveal.US news | Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term was “a terrible mistake” that cost Democrats the presidency and may have permanently damaged his legacy, Hillary Clinton has declared. Continue reading...