Golden ticket: why Versailles invite is the ‘real deal’ for Trump 17. June 2026 (19:48) The US president’s opulent tastes will be well served in a palace that has hosted Putin, King Charles and JFKFor a US president who has likened himself to a king and redecorated the Oval Office with golden paint and gold ornaments, it feels like the perfect dinner venue.Donald Trump said one of the deciding factors in accepting an invitation to dine with Emmanuel Macron at the spectacular, 2,300-room Palace of Versailles was that it was “not gold leaf” but the “real deal”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Macron hails US alignment with G7’s ‘shared commitment’ on Ukraine 17. June 2026 (19:26) French president welcomes group’s unity after ‘very deep change’ in Washington’s approach Emmanuel Macron has said the whole of the G7, including the US, recognises “the territorial integrity of Ukraine” as he hailed a “re-synchronisation” of positions on the issue.The French president welcomed a “very deep change in the US approach”, saying Donald Trump and all the leaders present at the G7 summit at Évian-les-Bains understood that Vladimir Putin was not interested in peace. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer warns against ‘looking backwards’ to Brexit after rivals back UK’s return to EU 17. June 2026 (18:00) Speaking at the G7 summit, prime minister says he stands by Labour’s manifesto pledge not to rejoin blocEurope live – latest updatesUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK and the European Union should not waste time “looking backwards” to Brexit, Keir Starmer said on Wednesday, as he comes under pressure to reconsider rejoining the EU.The prime minister reaffirmed his government’s manifesto commitment to not re-enter the bloc, but said there had been “real progress” with the relationship, which was “slowly but surely building”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kash Patel accused of directing $1m to ‘slush fund’ to pay bonuses to loyalist agents 17. June 2026 (17:32) Congressman Jamie Raskin alleges FBI director authorized substantial recurring payments to agents in his inner circleFBI director Kash Patel has been accused of directing more than $1m in taxpayer-funded bonus payments to a small circle of loyalist agents as part of a “personal slush fund” that may have violated federal law.Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the ranking member of the House of Representatives judiciary committee, alleged Patel had authorized substantial recurring payments to agents in his inner circle and security detail. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Recently single Australian men are seven times more likely to report a suicide attempt, study shows 17. June 2026 (17:01) Fathers particularly affected, with almost 15% reporting suicidal plans after relationship breakdowns, according to survey of 20,000 menGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMen who have recently gone through a breakup are seven times more likely to report a suicide attempt than those who haven’t, a new study showsThe Ten to Men project has followed more than 20,000 Australian men and identified the mental health risks in relationship breakdowns, which can include changes in their contact with their children, in their finances, and in their support network. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Apocalypse when? ‘Earth’s Black Box’ to be installed in remote Tasmanian airfield 17. June 2026 (17:00) Rouser Lab says the steel structure will record ‘every step’ humanity takes towards climate catastropheFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt was designed to survive the apocalypse, as humanity’s last testament to its failure. But for a while it seemed the “Earth’s Black Box” hadn’t even survived its own planning process.Now, five years after it was announced to much fanfare, followed by years of ominous silence, the box is back. Its creators say parts assembly is under way and, in December, the full monolith will be installed near Queenstown on the edge of a remote western Tasmanian airfield. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ancient DNA provides evidence of earliest known plague outbreak 17. June 2026 (17:00) Discovery in Siberia suggests bacterium from raw marmots devastated hunter-gatherer tribes about 5,500 years agoThe earliest evidence for an outbreak of plague has been uncovered at late stone age cemeteries in south-eastern Siberia where dozens of hunter-gatherers and their children were buried.Ancient DNA collected from the remains suggests the disease tore through the sparse communities in devastating waves that began about 5,500 years ago, at least two centuries after the bacterium responsible, Yersinia pestis, first emerged. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK critical infrastructure hit by 200 cyber incidents in a year, agency says 17. June 2026 (17:00) Head of National Cyber Security Centre says UK in ‘ongoing contest with capable adversaries’ and AI could add to threatThe UK’s critical national infrastructure has been hit by more than 200 cyber-incidents over the past year and state-linked assailants were behind three-quarters of the attacks, according to the state cybersecurity body.Richard Horne, the chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, said hostile states such as Russia, China and Iran were increasingly targeting systems behind the UK’s key services. Examples of critical national infrastructure include the UK’s nuclear deterrent, power plants, hospitals and airports. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson’s speech ‘shameful’ and echoed ‘rubbish’ from rightwing figures in UK and US, critics say 17. June 2026 (17:00) Labor minister says Australians would lose their jobs and wages would go down if One Nation’s policies became lawGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson has been roundly condemned for her National Press Club speech, with advocacy groups accusing the One Nation leader of using “hatred for political gain” while the Greens say Hanson is echoing “rubbish” lines from rightwing figures in the UK and US.In Hanson’s first address after 20 years in politics, the leader claimed transgender ideology “has penetrated almost every regulatory authority”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Legislation proposed to stop lawsuits used to silence journalists and whistleblowers 17. June 2026 (16:55) Private members’ bills to crack down on use of Slapps are likely to attract cross-party supportA coordinated push to protect whistleblowers, journalists and victims of sexual assault from being sued by those who wish to silence them has been launched in both houses of parliament.Two private members’ bills designed to crack down on strategic lawsuits against public participation, known as Slapps, have been introduced by Conservative members within 24 hours of each other, and are likely to attract cross-party support. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
