Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what is possible with the right policies The timing was rich with symbolism. As intense heatwaves pummelled Europe and Asia, and oil markets around the world leapt and sputtered, the two big chimneys of one of Australia’s largest power stations were being demolished. Meanwhile, the Australian energy minister was holding a media conference to hail a fall of up to 10% in the benchmark electricity price in parts of the country. Quietly, and with surprisingly little fanfare from the rest of the world, Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what is possible with the right policies. The country was already one of the global leaders in domestic solar power, with panels on one in three homes. It also remains, however, a major contributor to the climate crisis through its vast fossil fuel exports.. But it is batteries that are giving Australia a new burst of speed. Continue reading...

Optimism is not high for Mauricio Pochettino’s co-hosts, who are under pressure to justify fans’ considerable outlay on tickets This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...

Minister at Singapore defence summit also reveals Australia to buy only second-hand Aukus submarines from US Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The defence minister, Richard Marles, has said the “seabed is a battlefield” in a combative speech urging Beijing to be more transparent about its maritime operations, and taking aim at weak international controls over so-called “shadow-fleet” vessels. The warning came as the US, UK and Australia announced a new Aukus project to develop new underwater drone technology to protect undersea cables. Continue reading...

Veterans such as Messi and Modric are much in evidence at the finals, but an obsession with celebrity may undermine Portugal It turns out that 2022 wasn’t Lionel Messi’s last dance after all. He will turn 39 during the World Cup, but despite concerns over the “muscular overload” that led to him limping out of Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia Union on Sunday, he remains the figure on whom Argentinian hopes rely. Messi won’t be the only veteran in Canada, the US and Mexico: Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, will also be there – inevitably, given how his career and Messi’s seem inextricably bound. So will Luka Modric and Edin Dzeko, plus the goalkeepers Manuel Neuer, Craig Gordon, Guillermo Ochoa and Vozinha, all of whom are 40. And there is one 39-year-old other than Messi: the Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo. Continue reading...

Key part of Marc Bolland’s government advisory role will be to help disabled or depressed young people find training or job A former chief executive of Marks & Spencer has been appointed as a government jobs adviser in its latest attempt to tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis. Marc Bolland, who oversaw the retail chain from 2010 to 2016, will lead a summit of business leaders, amid warnings that the country risks a “lost generation” without urgent intervention. Continue reading...

‘We will have to improve to try to get a different outcome’ Manager unhappy Arsenal not given extra-time penalty Mikel Arteta spoke of his heartache after a skied penalty from Gabriel Magalhães in the shootout against Paris Saint-Germain ended Arsenal’s hopes of being crowned European champions for the first time, but emphasised the need to take that pain “and turn it into fuel”. Kai Havertz’s early strike and a defensive masterclass in the first half of the Champions League final that frustrated the holders had Arsenal supporters dreaming of a double after their first Premier League title for 22 years. But PSG hit back in the second half through Ousmane Dembélé from the spot before Arsenal thought they should have had a penalty of their own at the end of the first half of extra time. Continue reading...

No 28 seed Potapova stuns Gauff with 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 win Anisimova struggles in heat as Sabalenka progresses Coco Gauff’s defence of her French Open crown came to an end against Anastasia Potapova and sixth-seeded Amanda Anisimova also bowed out, but Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, marched on to the fourth round. Gauff finally met a player in Paris who could match her court coverage in long baseline rallies, as Potapova, seeded 28, won 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4. Continue reading...

A Newark detention center has been at the forefront of anti-ICE protests – and now counterprotests Protests continued on Saturday in front of the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, as a hunger and labor strike inside reached its ninth day, with detained immigrants demanding improved conditions and medical care. On Saturday morning, a small group of rightwing counterprotesters in Trump hats began demonstrating outside the facility waving signs and chanting slogans in support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protesters supporting the detained immigrants and the counterprotesters supporting ICE yelled at each other across barricades set up by state police. Continue reading...

Once associated with wealth and celebrity, cosmetic treatments to defy ageing have become more commonplace. What is it doing to beauty standards? Mary Munson’s first non-surgical cosmetic treatment wasn’t the result of a plan, or a concrete decision. She describes it in terms of sating her curiosity. Munson, 41, was visiting a clinic to extend her lashes when a woman working there spoke to her about a procedure that she referred to as “baby Botox” – which was, in fact, Botox. Since deciding to try it, she hasn’t looked back. “It was just a starter to see what it was like, and I realised that I enjoyed it. And to be honest I don’t feel like I see a huge change,” says Munson, who was 37 when she started treatments. While she thinks her Filipino and Scottish genes “give me good skin”, Munson started getting other treatments alongside regular Botox injections, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy (sometimes referred to as a vampire facial, in which platelets are drawn from a patient’s own blood), as well as platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a similar treatment that stimulates collagen. Continue reading...

Carmen Pavlovic had always wished to become a mother but a family wasn’t on the cards for Pete. Then one night in Beijing, he made his ‘outlandish statement’ Find more stories from the moment I knew series In 2003 I was in my early 30s, working for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company The Really Useful Group in Sydney. I don’t remember who introduced Pete and me but I’d seen several shows he’d designed and really liked his work. We immediately got on and I invited him to drop past my office to show me his portfolio. A few weeks later he did. It was a balmy evening and after I’d looked over his work we decided to grab a beer and sit on the office stairs, where we chatted for ages. Between meeting him and him stopping by I’d unexpectedly taken a job in London, but I was genuinely interested in putting him forward for some projects so we agreed to stay in touch. Continue reading...

As a child, I didn’t understand the ancient food decaying in my grandmother’s cupboard. Now I’m beginning to “This oregano is best before 1985!” my sister cries, adding it to the pile on the laminate bench. It’s Hervey Bay circa 1991. My family is staying in Gran’s retirement villa, my sisters and I on camp stretchers in the garage. A single pedestal fan brings short bursts of breeze, rotating relief from the December heat. The town is not yet on the backpacker circuit. There aren’t any cafes, shops or streaming services, and there are only so many games of Scrabble we can take. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Supporters filling north London pubs said they were content with their team winning Premier League The streets of Holloway, usually bustling with families and trolly-dragging shoppers, were uncharacteristically quiet on Saturday afternoon. But shortly after the clock struck 5pm, loud roars echoed through the north London high street, located a short walk away from the Emirates stadium, as Arsenal walked on to the pitch for the Champions League final. While the team, still basking in the glory of their Premier League win last week, were in Budapest for their final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain, Gunners – or Gooners, as they are colloquially known – came out to support the team on their home turf. Continue reading...

It was a showpiece that held the football world in its grip, the tension mounting exponentially, everything on the line. For Paris Saint-Germain, there was the opportunity to make it clear that this is a dynastic team; the rarity of retaining a Champions League title. For Arsenal, it was simple. Never mind the Invincibles. They stood to be immortal, a first triumph in this competition to follow their first Premier League triumph in 22 years; the thing that has changed everything about the mood around the club. Continue reading...

Reggio Emilia prefect stops gig after ‘concerns’ from local Jewish community over rapper’s previous antisemitic remarks A Kanye West concert in Italy has been cancelled over “public order and safety issues”. The 48-year-old rapper, who changed his name to Ye in 2021, was due to perform at the Pulse of Gaia festival at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia on 18 July, but the city’s prefect, Salvatore Angieri, stopped the gigs after “concerns” from the local Jewish community over previous antisemitic remarks by West. Continue reading...

Chiedza Nyanjowa, who wanted to be a nurse, died in hospital after getting into difficulties in the sea A 15-year-old girl, who died after getting into difficulties in the sea off the coast of Merseyside, wanted to be a nurse so she could “give back”, her family said in a tribute. Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire, was taken to Alder Hey Children’s hospital after swimming at Formby beach on bank holiday Monday, Merseyside police said. Continue reading...

Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas say party must seek to understand why disenfranchised electorate were attracted to Nigel Farage’s party The current and former leaders of the Green party have warned that the party should listen to the concerns of Reform UK voters in order to tackle inequality. Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas said on Saturday that the Greens needed to understand why voters affected by the cost of living crisis were attracted to Nigel Farage’s party. Continue reading...

Club’s flawed recruitment meant coach did not deserve the vitriol, but Anfield boos led to executives needing to act Mohamed Salah’s parting shot was to demand the return of heavy-metal football at Liverpool and, in their reasoning for sacking Arne Slot, the club’s hierarchy have concurred. It is a brutal, but understandable decision to remove Slot on the basis that Liverpool’s style must evolve, though responsibility for this season’s regression does not rest with the coach alone. Liverpool have never sacked a title-winning manager on their title-winning watch before now. Sir Kenny Dalglish’s dismissal came in his second, League Cup-winning spell in charge. That underlines the scale of the decision to sack a head coach who won the club’s record-equalling 20th league title 13 months ago and who handled the unprecedented trauma of Diogo Jota’s death with dignity and professionalism last summer. Continue reading...

2nd T20i: Eng, 168-5, bt India, 142-9, by 26 runs India’s decision to retire out Bhatia in run chase backfires Freya Kemp smashed an unbeaten 39 from 13 balls as England finally unleashed some batting firepower to post 168 for five and beat India by 26 runs in the second T20 international. Kemp found able support from Dani Gibson as England’s two finishers added 39 from the final two overs to level the series. The pressure told on India’s fielders, who – after earlier offering Sophia Dunkley a life on nought – twice let the ball slip through their fingers, as Kemp and Gibson showed off their athleticism between the wickets. But mostly the runs came courtesy of good placement and huge power hitting, as Kemp in particular let loose her arms, smashing two sixes and four fours down the ground. Continue reading...

Jab brought ‘unprecedentedly strong responses’ in patients whose disease had become resistant to chemotherapy and immunotherapy Doctors have hailed “unprecedented” trial results that show a triple-action cancer jab can eradicate entire tumours in patients. In an international trial spanning 11 countries, the injection was offered to patients whose cancer had spread or come back and whose disease had failed to respond to other treatments. Continue reading...

Four were part of seven-person group that had traveled to US to ascend North America’s tallest mountain Three people have died after falling while climbing Alaska’s Mount McKinley, according to officials. A fourth climber has been rescued. The four were part of a seven-person group that had traveled to the United States to ascend Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, according to information released by the Latvian Mountaineering Association. Continue reading...

Wigan 40-10 Hull KR Wigan’s Sam Walters dismissed for dangerous tackle Wigan produced another Challenge Cup masterclass to extend their record as the kings of rugby league’s most prestigious competition, ruthlessly picking apart the holders inin imperious fashion. The meeting was, on paper, set to be one of the most intriguing in recent history. The most recent two Super League and Challenge Cup champions squaring off for the first major trophy of 2026 felt too close to call, but Wigan produced an inch-perfect performance. Continue reading...

Revelations come after former Chelsea winger was arrested under suspicion of driving ‘whilst unfit through drugs’ Raheem Sterling has been made to feel “disposable” after a decade at the top of football, a source close to the former England star has said, in the after his arrest on suspicion of driving “whilst unfit through drugs”. The source said the former Man City and Chelsea winger, who is now playing for Feyenoord in the Netherlands, had been suffering from “immeasurable” psychological strain after an “extremely tough couple of years”. Continue reading...

The title-winning glow soon faded for the champions’ manager after tragedy in Spain presaged a dramatic decline on the pitch The Liverpool forward was returning from his native Portugal to England via car then ferry, on medical advice after having a minor lung operation, and was killed in an accident along with his brother, André Silva, en route to the Spanish port of Santander, on 3 July 2025. Jota’s death, 11 days after teammates attended his wedding to the mother of their three children, deeply affected everyone at the club. The celebrations at the end of May of the club’s title win on the streets of Liverpool had previously been cut short by a man driving a car into the crowds, injuring 134 people, some seriously. What should have been a summer of celebration was overshadowed by tragedies, and Arne Slot had to prepare for the new season against a highly emotional background. Continue reading...

Overall leader leaves nothing to chance on final climb Dane will claim first Giro by reaching Rome finish Jonas Vingegaard all but won the Giro d’Italia on Saturday and his attention will soon turn to the Tour de France as he attempts to become the ninth male cyclist to complete the Giro-Tour double. The Dane wrapped up the first part in style, soloing to victory atop Piancavallo at the end of the 20th and penultimate stage to extend his overall lead to more than five minutes from Felix Gall. Jai Hindley remained in third, 6:25 behind Vingegaard. Continue reading...

Expectations were raised after a first semi-final at Qatar 2022 and Mohamed Ouahbi’s side will hope history can repeat itself This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...