This Month
‘Rigging the system’: UK push for voting age of 16 sparks backlash
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says lowering the voting age by two years will boost participation and trust in the electoral system.
Why even the Guinness craze isn’t saving Britain’s booze giant
As sales of the black stuff soar, unease is brewing at struggling owner Diageo.
UK’s Afghan cover-up shows why no one trusts politicians
The row over the secret resettlement of thousands of Afghans highlights the shambles Labour has made of illegal migration.
AI revolution is Lucky Jim’s chance to boost public sector productivity
The roundtable is a chance for Australia to pick a side between leaders making the most of the technology and those that have effectively banned it.
UK secretly resettled thousands of Afghans after huge data breach
A “super” court injunction was lifted two years after 100,000 people were placed at risk of Taliban reprisals in a major bungle.
UK economy shrinks for second month in fresh blow to Starmer
Gross domestic product declined 0.1 per cent in May after contracting 0.3 per cent the previous month, the Office for National Statistics said on Friday.
Britain and France join forces on nuclear deterrents for first time
France is part of NATO but has maintained a completely independent nuclear posture, while Britain’s deterrent forms part of the alliance’s defence strategy.
Starmer backs Reeves after tearful Commons episode fuels bonds slump
The UK prime minister says he is ‘in lockstep’ with the chancellor, who will be in the position for a ‘very long time to come’.
Dexus sues AMP; Microsoft lays off 9000; The billionaire and the beautician
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
June
BBC reprimanded over Glastonbury ‘death to IDF’ chant
Bob Vylan, who were performing ahead of an appearance by the pro-Palestinian Northern Irish rappers Kneecap, repeatedly shouted “death to the IDF”.
UK vows to spend 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 to hit NATO goal
The new promise marks a significant increase on the government’s current plans, to reach 2.6 per cent – including intelligence spending – by 2027.
UK eyes scrapping expat tax rules after millionaire exodus
The City of London is lobbying Britain’s chancellor to drop a tax on the global assets of non-domiciled residents after a spate of departures by executives.
Trump’s abrupt G7 exit leaves Albanese in the dark on trade, AUKUS
The US president’s hasty retreat from the summit venue near Calgary, Canada came amid a fifth day of open warfare between Iran and Israel.
He came, he saw, but he had no meeting. What now for AUKUS and trade?
Anthony Albanese is not to blame for Donald Trump’s early departure, but he’ll return home with nothing to report.
G7 summit opens with a focus on trade, wars — and not riling Trump
If there is a shared mission at this year’s G7 summit, in Canada’s Rocky Mountains, it is a desire to minimise any fireworks at a moment of combustible tensions.
G7 leaders aim to show they’re not intimidated by Trump
Many world leaders see fewer reasons to be cowed by the US President, even as they recognise the risks if he follows through on his threats.
Business aims for the ‘achievable’ at productivity summit
Business groups accept wholesale tax reform is too much to expect from the August productivity conference.
‘It’s a matter of sovereignty’: PM not for turning on defence
Anthony Albanese has no intention of being dictated to on defence spending, by the US or anyone else.
UK to spend billions on drones, nuclear subs for war readiness
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced major spending plans, saying the country was facing more serious threats than at any time since the Cold War.
Minimum wage to rise; ‘Fix Swiss cheese AI rules’; TACO trade danger
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.