Morning everyone. Iran has signalled that it wants to find a way out of its conflict with Israel, but Israel says its attacks on Iran are not yet finished. The situation in the Middle East is changing by the hour amid efforts by European leaders at the G7 summit to move towards a ceasefire – and Anthony Albanese has a ringside seat on the sidelines in Canada, where he is treading a tricky diplomatic path.
At home we bring you a significant investigation into alleged racism and discrimination in mainstream maternity services. Plus: the future direction of the NSW Liberals could be decided today and new research shows that First Nation people lived in the Blue Mountains high country during the last ice age.
Birth rights |A medical emergency duringthe birth of Bobbi Lockyer’s fourth child, and a lack of support before and after it, has traumatised Lockyer. She is one of more than a dozen First Nations women who spoke to Guardian Australia as part of an investigation into alleged racism and discrimination in mainstream maternity services.
Take shelter |New evidencehas revealedthat people lived in caves in the Blue Mountains during the last ice age 20,000 years ago when the high country was treeless, frozen and – until now – believed to be too hostile for human habitation.
Summit steer |Anthony Albanesewill be treadinga delicate path at the G7 summit as he tries to pivot gently towards building more alliances while trying to avoid controversy with Donald Trump, writes our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, who is with the prime minister in Canada. Our US politics blog haswhat’s happening in Kananaskis.
Liberal crunch |The fate of the New South Wales Liberal party will be decided at acrunch meeting todaywhen the party’s federal executive will weigh up whether to end or extend its control over the division.
Rent shock |A two-bedroom apartment in Bondi Junction that is part of an “affordable” housing scheme run by the NSW government has been listedat $1,100 a week to rent, as advocates warn that programs designed to help low-income earners are increasingly out of reach.
Iran-Israel crisis |The UK and France areleading effortsat the G7 summit in Canada to engineer talks with Iran although Israel is opposed to the idea as it continues to trade bombing attacks with the Tehran regime for a fourth day. Israel has issued anevacuation orderto residents of a large part of Tehran, warning them of the imminent bombing of “military infrastructure” as its foreign minister says it has not finished its operation in Iran. More than 300 Australians have asked for help to leave Iran after becoming stranded there because of the crisis, but many such as Mohammad Reza Azimi (pictured) are tornabout what to do. The crisis could alsoreignite inflationin Australia with the oil priceclimbing sharply, economists fear.Follow developments liveand also check out ourvisual explainer on the conflict.
Crash clues |Investigators arepreparing to studythe pilots’ last words for clues as to the cause of last week’s Air India plane crash after recovering the cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage.
Political killing |A man accused of dressing up as a police officer and shooting two Minnesota state lawmakers in their homes – killing one and her husband – allegedlyshowed up at the houses of two other legislatorsthe same night.
‘Looting America’ |Donald Trump has launched amobile phone serviceand $499 gold smartphone, the latest monetisation of his presidency by an empire run by his sons which is being compared to the“looting of America”.
‘Museum’s nightmare’ |An Italian museum has contacted the police after two clumsy touristsalmost wrecked a work of artwhile posing for photos.
Arise, Sir David Beckham
Zoe Williamstalks aboutthe decision to give David Beckham a knighthood, and what its says about the UK’s honours system that it took so long.
Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $https://audio.guim.co.uk/2025/06/16-18538-FS_TiF_BeckhamKnighthood.mp3
Bullying and what to do about it has become a major issue in New South Wales. But, asCaitlin Cassidy reports, some schools are already seeing positive results after introducing an enhanced version of parent-child interaction therapy, a “whole-systems” approach that brings families into the school environment with “dramatic” results.
In our weekly series Ranked, it’s the turn of the Gruffalo author, Julia Donaldson, and her collection of children’s picture books (mostly with illustrator Axel Scheffler).What is her best?Is it the story of the mouse outwitting the monster? Or is it the Highway Rat?
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Cricket |The International Cricket Council is ready to sanctionfour-day Testsin the World Test Championship to help smaller nations to play more games and longer series.
Football |A shortage of fans and decent games means football’s Club World Cup got off to a slow start,writes Jonathan Wilson.
Athletics |The father of the double Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen hasbeen found guiltyof hitting the Norwegian runner’s younger sister, Ingrid, with a wet towel, and was handed a 15-day suspended sentence.
Employers want to introduce new Fair Work Commission clauses toremove some staff entitlementsin exchange for allowing them to work from home, theAustralianreports. The Victoria Liberal partyare ready to dumptwo party elders after their comments about “assertive women”, theAgeclaims. Network Ten iscutting jobsin its Adelaide newsroom, according to theAdvertiser.
Politics |Anthony Albanese will be holding meetings with world leaders at the G7 summit in Canada, with a reception this morning.
Media |The University of Canberra releases its digital news report for 2025.
Melbourne |Initial directions hearing for man accused of Melbourne terror plot.
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