Sierra Leone’s first lady refuses to condemn FGM without ‘reliable data’ on harms 17. June 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: health professionals, survivors and politicians voice concerns in open letter over comments by Fatima Maadi Bio, who denies supporting the practiceThe first lady of Sierra Leone has denied that she supports female genital mutilation amid rising anger around her perceived approval of the practice.But in an exclusive response to the Guardian, Fatima Maada Bio, the wife of President Julius Maada Bio, also said she would not openly condemn FGM until she saw “reliable data” that the practice was harmful. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Fashion tycoon Bernard Arnault accused of stranglehold over French business press 17. June 2026 (07:00) Arnault’s addition of leading weekly to stable of publications raises concerns about media ownership in FranceHe is known as the “wolf in cashmere” – the owner of the world’s biggest luxury group whose brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Tiffany have made him one of the world’s richest people.But Bernard Arnault, a close friend of Donald Trump, is under fire from journalists’ unions in France for buying up almost all the country’s business and economic press. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ghana to advance reparatory justice at first major gathering since landmark UN resolution 17. June 2026 (07:00) Heads of state and participants from more than 80 countries at three-day event in Accra to pursue actionable commitments to reconciliation and restitutionGhana is hosting a conference to advance the continent’s push for reparatory justice after the adoption of the landmark United Nations (UN) resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.Heads of state and government, ministers, civil society representatives, historians, researchers and legal experts representing more than 80 countries are converging in the capital, Accra, for the three-day event, billed Next Steps, which starts on Wednesday. It is the first major gathering on the issue since the resolution was adopted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lib Dems to urge Labour to drop ‘torpor and timidity’ on EU and rejoin single market 17. June 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: Ed Davey to make call ahead of 10th anniversary of Brexit vote, in strengthening of party’s position on EUThe Lib Dems will urge Andy Burnham to end Labour’s “torpor and timidity” towards the EU as they call for the UK to rejoin the single market, in a notable strengthening of their own position.Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote next week, Ed Davey will challenge Burnham to scrap Labour’s red lines on the customs union and single market if he becomes prime minister and immediately begin talks on a more ambitious deal with the EU. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lives and incomes lost as Ebola takes toll on Bunia’s public-facing workers 17. June 2026 (06:00) A headteacher, a motorcycle taxi driver and a travel agent are among those who are counting the human and economic cost of the virusJustin Keno watches more than 400 pupils stream through the Nelson Mandela school’s gate each morning, and wonders which of them might be carrying Ebola.The institution’s principal has done everything he can to prevent the spread of the virus: installing hand-washing basins at the entrance, providing alcohol-based hand rub for parents, making pupils bring packed lunches instead of eating in the canteen, and banning food sellers from outside the gates. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Enraged’ union boss defends naming and shaming Victorian Labor MPs who had ‘zero conversations’ with voters 17. June 2026 (05:09) Candidates must ‘work their ass off’ to stop One Nation or expect withdrawal of union support, Trades Hall Council secretary saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe head of Victoria’s powerful Trades Hall Council has defended naming and shaming 23 state Labor MPs and candidates for having “zero conversations” with their constituents in the past two weeks, saying they all need to “work their ass off” to stop One Nation’s rise.Luke Hilakari wrote to MPs and candidates on Tuesday morning warning if they “don’t give a shit about winning”, they shouldn’t expect support from the union movement during the November election campaign. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tasmanian devil Mary found 2km from her Gold Coast theme park home after two weeks on the run 17. June 2026 (04:52) Carnivorous animal taken to hospital in an unstable condition after escaping from quarantine facility in Paradise Country on 2 JuneFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAfter two weeks eluding thermal imaging drones and teams of zookeepers, a Tasmanian devil on the run in the Gold Coast has finally been found – and taken to hospital in an unstable condition.The devil, Mary, escaped a quarantine facility in the Paradise Country theme park – more than 15,000km north of her native range – in the early morning dark of 2 June, with zookeepers believing an “abnormally large leap” saw her clear a fence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Will a ban keep the UK’s kids off social media? – podcast 17. June 2026 (04:00) Governments around the world want to keep under-16s off YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Australia has introduced a ban and now the UK is doing the same. Stephen Byrne and Chris Stokel-Walker reportKeir Starmer announced on Monday that he wanted to ban under-16s from social media. Parents were calling out for more controls he said. But their children … well, their children have other ideas.“Snapchat, for example, is one of the best things that’s happened to me,” a 13-year-old tells Helen Pidd. “I don’t think adults understand, that is how we talk to our friends and fit in.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Georgia runoff: Republican voters choose Trump-backed conservative to face Jon Ossoff 17. June 2026 (03:49) Representative Mike Collins defeats former college football coach Derek Dooley, while Rick Jackson selected as governor pickGeorgia’s Republican primary runoff voters chose US representative Mike Collins over former college football coach Derek Dooley to lead the party’s bid to challenge US senator and rising Democratic star Jon Ossoff in November’s midterm elections.They also selected billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson over Trump-backed lieutenant governor Burt Jones to face Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms in November, after a bruising election campaign that led to libel litigation and federal challenges to Georgia election law. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bluey to be available in an Australian Indigenous language for the first time 17. June 2026 (03:29) Five episodes have been dubbed into Australian language Yolŋu Matha for Naidoc Week, with Bandit voiced by a founding member of rock band King StingrayIt’s already been translated into 120 languages around the world but soon the globally loved children’s show Bluey will be available in an Australian Indigenous language for the first time.Five episodes from seasons one and two have been dubbed into Yolŋu Matha, the Australian First Nations language of North-east Arnhem Land, as part of an initiative for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee (Naidoc) Week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
