Trump’s Department of Labor claims without data that states defrauded government 17. June 2026 (15:12) Keith Sonderling, acting head of the agency, threatens to withhold administrative funds from states for first time in historyKeith Sonderling sent letters to 53 states and US territories demanding action to “combat waste, fraud, and abuse” within the unemployment insurance program, threatening to withhold administrative funds from states for the first time history.“We are officially putting governors on notice,” said the acting US secretary of labor. “The American people will no longer tolerate the blatant waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars – no state should allow it either. If states allow it, they will suffer the consequences. This department is no longer afraid to use every lever available to ensure taxpayer money is protected.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Protesters to rally against World Cup sponsor Hyundai before Mexico game 17. June 2026 (15:04) Focus on business dealings with mining company Guadalajara rally to highlight fate of ‘disappeared’Hyundai will be targeted by protesters at a rally before the Group A game between Mexico and South Korea in Guadalajara on Thursday, due to the World Cup sponsor’s business dealings with the South American mining company Ternium.A 2025 report from the environmental group Mighty Earth criticised Hyundai’s involvement in what they described as a “dirty steel supply chain”, as the South Korean motor company is a major buyer of iron ore from Ternium for use in steel production. Ternium has faced repeated criticisms for its destructive environmental impact and corporate governance policies from campaign groups, as well as its alleged links to the disappearance of two Mexican activists. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Construction equipment multinationals may be aiding Israeli war crimes, experts say 17. June 2026 (15:00) Images show Israeli military using six companies’ bulldozers and excavators to demolish south Lebanon villagesHuman rights experts have alleged that six multinational construction equipment conglomerates may be aiding and abetting war crimes by supplying excavators and bulldozers to Israel, after photos and videos showed the Israeli military using their equipment to demolish villages in south Lebanon.
The Guardian geolocated and verified images showing the Israeli military using excavators made by six companies – Caterpillar, Volvo, Hyundai, Doosan, Hitachi and Komatsu – to destroy homes, public utilities, shops and other structures across southern Lebanon.Israel has levelled entire villages inside the “yellow line”, a 608 sq km area occupied by Israel along the Lebanese-Israeli border. At least 46 villages in south Lebanon have suffered heavy damage, most of it caused by demolitions carried out after the 17 April Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, according to a satellite analysis by Bellingcat. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump delays Clayton’s nomination for intelligence director in bid to force Congress to pass voter ID bill – US politics live 17. June 2026 (14:52) President says he will keep Bill Pulte as acting director and ‘will not approve Fisa without the Save America Act going along with it’Sign up for the Breaking News US emailDonald Trump was almost an hour late to the first working session of the final day at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains.As he walked to his seat he stopped at the head of the table and joked, “I’m the boss.” He then also joked with press that they could stay for the (closed press) meeting, “It’s okay with me.”If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teen injured by black bear while hiking in Washington state park 17. June 2026 (14:51) Group of hikers encountered a bear and her cubs and the mother bear charged the group, swiping at one of the teensA teenage hiker was injured by a black bear in a mountainous recreation area outside Seattle on Tuesday, according to officials, who closed the trail where it happened.About 12.45pm on Tuesday, a group of three basketball players from Thomas Jefferson high school were about 2.7 miles (4.4km) up the Mount Si trail in the Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area when they encountered a bear and her cubs. The conservation area is composed of four mountain peaks, and about 35 miles south-east of Seattle. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Period tax’ on sanitary products to be abolished, says Pakistan minister 17. June 2026 (14:46) Campaigners welcome announcement cutting levies on menstrual health items, but say their work to end period poverty is ‘far from over’Pakistan plans to abolish “period tax”, in a victory for young campaigners who had taken the government to court over the charges.Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that sanitary towels and related items were “daily necessities that are indispensable for women’s health, dignity and full participation in social activities”, and said he intended to remove the sales tax. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lammy tells Tory deputy chair to apologise for joking on TV about arson attack on Starmer’s home – UK politics live 17. June 2026 (14:40) David Lammy accused Matt Vickers of ‘promoting conspiracies’, as a Conservative spokesperson claims he was ‘trying to be polite’Andy Burnham may have trouble getting through to Keir Starmer if he tries ringing him after the Makerfield byelection to urge him to set a timetable for his departure. Burnham reportedly wants to call Starmer this weekend. (See 9.47am.) But, in his interview with Sky News, Starmer said: “I’m sure I’ll talk to Andy after the weekend.”If Starmer declines to take Burnham’s call, he may be following Ed Miliband’s example. In a Times story today, Patrick Maguire and Steven Swinford report:Sir Keir Starmer’s relationship with Ed Miliband has broken down to such an extent that the energy secretary has been accused of “ghosting” the prime minister in recent weeks.Senior government sources claimed that Miliband declined to take calls from the prime minister during a tense stand-off over defence spending. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Milan tram drivers ‘used WhatsApp for sexist chat about female passengers’ 17. June 2026 (14:34) Drivers suspended as prosecutors investigate group said to have been used to share and comment on CCTV imagesA group of tram drivers in Milan have been suspended from their jobs amid an investigation into a WhatsApp group in which they allegedly exchanged sexist and vulgar comments about images of female passengers.Milan prosecutors placed at least one employee of ATM, the city’s public transport firm, under investigation on Tuesday for allegedly accessing an IT system without authorisation and for hacking a CCTV system to obtain images of female passengers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
At age 18, he’s already graduated law school. Now he wants to fight ‘extremely predatory’ social media companies 17. June 2026 (14:24) Jimmy Chilimigras graduated high school at 12 and is now pursuing a master of laws degree – and he wants to find ‘an area to do some good’A Mississippi teenager who in May became one of the youngest ever law school graduates says he wants to help reform US tax law as well as litigate against social media companies over claims that they design their products to be addictive – and therefore harmful – to youths.“What they’re creating is extremely predatory and harmful, and yet they’re sending it out knowing that it’s … harmful and not really taking any action to reduce the harm or address it,” 18-year-old Jimmy Chilimigras said with respect to his interest in participating in such social media litigation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Electrical retailer AO shifts UK call centre roles to South Africa 17. June 2026 (14:15) About 150 jobs have already been lost in Bolton as company reports 145% rise in profits and hands £20m to shareholdersBusiness live – latest updatesThe online electrical goods seller AO World has revealed it is outsourcing up to 200 UK call centre roles to South Africa blaming rising labour costs, as it handed £20m to shareholders.As the retailer reported a jump in profits, it said it was shifting the majority of call centre jobs overseas “in response to ongoing inflationary cost pressures, and particularly rising employment costs”. It expects to save about £4m a year as a result of the change. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
