The Guardian World

Paul Gambaccini, a 77-year-old radio and TV broadcaster, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He received the diagnosis in 2025 and stated that 'for now life goes on as normal and I continue to broadcast.'

The UK plans to restrict vape packaging and flavoring to reduce their appeal to children, including plain packaging and limiting device colors to white, black, or grey. The proposals aim to align e-cigarette regulations with tobacco laws, as 20% of teenagers have tried vaping.

The National Weather Service reports an 81% chance of a very strong El Niño developing by year-end, which could rank among the largest in the historical record since 1950. There is a 97% probability these conditions will persist through spring 2027, increasing risks of extreme weather globally.

The US and Iran exchanged the most intense strikes since a ceasefire was extended, resulting in at least 14 deaths in Iran. The US launched airstrikes, prompting Iran to attack Gulf countries, with Trump declaring the agreement 'over'.

Maine Democrats plan to replace scandal-hit Platner through a convention. A Senate pick withdrew in a video accusing the party and media of acting as 'judge, jury and executioner'. The French men’s national soccer team is linked to a charter company involved in the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.

A one-tonne southern elephant seal named Neil caused traffic jams in rural Tasmania before returning to sea. The seal's beachside antics attracted millions of social media views. Premier Jeremy Rockliff noted that Tasmania's infrastructure can now 'breathe a small sigh of relief'.

Volkswagen faces protests in Germany over a proposed plan to cut up to 100,000 jobs and close factories. The union IG Metall organized demonstrations at 18 sites, including the company's headquarters, criticizing CEO Oliver Blume for shifting blame to workers for past failures.

Reform UK activists are being directed to shift focus from the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection to Nigel Farage’s Clacton contest. A WhatsApp message urged members to support the Clacton effort despite the party’s initial focus on Manchester.

Barcelona recorded its highest temperature in 112 years, with some Spanish stations reaching 44C. Europe's June heatwave was declared the 'most severe ever recorded' by climate scientists, while France announced emergency aid for farmers amid rising fertilizer costs linked to Middle East tensions.

Burnham calls for more open public debate about defense spending, aligning with Starmer's foreign policy principles. He pledges not to use party discipline to suppress debate. NHS waiting lists in England have increased for the second consecutive month.

Hundreds of venomous snakes, including cobras and king ratsnakes, escaped from flooded breeding farms in Hengzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, following heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon Maysak. Local authorities issued warnings to nearby residents due to the flooding and escaped snakes.

Neso warns that extreme temperatures could impact power supplies in Great Britain during the third heatwave of the year, requesting additional electricity from generators to meet increased demand from households using cooling devices.

Trump declared the Iran truce 'over' as the US conducted strikes on 170 targets over two nights. Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, while the US strikes in Iran killed 14 people and injured 78 others, according to the Iranian health ministry.

A major Telstra outage disrupted phone connections, trains, and emergency services, prompting questions about telecommunications regulation. Opposition leader Angus Taylor faced criticism for communication failures amid the crisis.

Two British women accused Tyrion Davis, a US airman, of rape in Suffolk. They testified at a court martial on a US base, with one victim describing violent attacks and receiving medical attention for injuries.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are set to sign a major uranium deal during Modi's visit, which is expected to draw a 30,000-strong crowd. The deal could resolve over a decade of delays in regular uranium shipments between the two countries, building on a historic nuclear cooperation pact.

Angus Taylor defends Sarah Henderson’s use of triple-zero calls during Telstra’s outage, calling it part of her job. South Australian police state they are unaware of a claimed death from the outage, despite Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle’s assertion that an elderly person died.

Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record, with surface air temperatures 3.06C above average. The heatwave, linked to carbon pollution, caused record wildfires in France and Spain and triggered the UK's third heatwave of the year. Scientists warn of risks to people, ecosystems, and infrastructure.

Jillian Segal, the antisemitism envoy, proposed an independent oversight committee to review ABC and SBS's coverage of Israel during a royal commission. The public broadcasters currently use an independent ombudsman for complaints.

Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, has suspended his campaign following sexual assault allegations. He accused the Democratic establishment and corporate media of undermining his campaign in an 11-minute video.