British army told to halt non-essential training exercises to save money

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report confirming that the El Niño phenomenon is now firmly established. • The WMO warns that the event will intensify into a "very strong" phase over the coming months.

The efforts are part of an ongoing attempt to cripple the country’s power grid ahead of winterRussia keeps targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities in its latest round of overnight attacks, part of an ongoing attempt to cripple the country’s power grid ahead of winter.Odesa region governor Oleh Kiper said that one was died and at least five were injured in the attack. Continue reading...

Seoul reportedly seeking parliamentary approval to send military assets to Middle East but president’s office plays down claimsSouth Korea is reviewing a possible deployment of military assets to the strait of Hormuz amid pressure from Donald Trump over Seoul’s reluctance to provide support in the region, according to domestic media reports.Citing unnamed government and military sources, the reportspublished on Thursday and Friday said preparations were under way and that the government intended to seek parliamentary approval for a new deployment. The reports, which appeared in major South Korean outlets, said the exact scale and timing have not been agreed. Continue reading...

Two key aides to Nigel Farage have stepped down pending an internal investigationEd Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says Nigel Farage was ultimately responsible for the apparent attempt to evade electoral law on donations exposed by the undercover investigation shown on Channel 4 News.In a post on social media this morning, he says:So much for this being a “hoax” then.Clearly very serious questions for Farage to answer given his role in the meeting. Continue reading...

Energy secretary could recommend new North Sea drilling as soon as next week, with Rosebank oilfield likely to followUK politics live – latest updatesBusiness live – latest updatesMinisters are poised to approve a controversial new gasfield in the North Sea later this month, according to government sources, and are also likely to approve a major oilfield later this year.Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, will give her recommendation to approve the Jackdaw field off the coast of Aberdeen as soon as next week, according to people close to the decision, with the formal approval following as soon as a week after. Continue reading...

James Orr and Dan Jukes have stepped down from positions pending outcome of party investigation, says Reform UK Two key aides to Nigel Farage have stepped down from their roles pending the outcome of an investigation by Reform UK into a broadcast by Channel 4 News alleging they breached political donation rules, a party spokesperson said.James Orr and Dan Jukes are alleged to have breached donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company. Continue reading...

‘Challenging’ weather conditions and lack of snowfall are being blamed after a winter that broke multiple heat records Major Australian alpine resorts are closing their ski operations up to a month early after a winter that broke multiple records for heat with limited snow falls being washed away by rain.Predictions in June that a building El Niño could combine with global heating for a challenging ski season came to pass, with seven resorts either already closed or announcing ski lifts will stop operating this weekend.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...

Charles says claims by developer Jean Nassif in an intercepted phone call that ‘we’re reshuffling the government’ did not reflect promises allegedly made to NassifFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe younger brother of Dominic Perrottet has denied asking his brother to appoint a cabinet minister to achieve outcomes for a property developer, a corruption inquiry has heard.Charles Perrottet told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday that claims made in an intercepted phone call featuring developer Jean Nassif days before his brother became the NSW premier – in which Nassif described Dominic Perrottet as “my boy” – did not reflect promises allegedly made to Nassif. Continue reading...

National Audit Office urges government to act as climate crisis, disease and cyberattacks pose growing risksThe climate crisis, disease and cyber-attacks pose growing risks to the UK’s food supplies and the government needs to act to make the system more resilient, according to the public spending watchdog.The National Audit Office (NAO) is urging the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) to work more closely with households, communities and businesses to ensure the flow of crucial food into the country can withstand supply shocks that are becoming increasingly common and severe. Continue reading...

Exclusive: As millions of people face hosepipe bans, many companies are not required to report, let alone cut, use of public supplyLess than 1% of businesses in England use more water than the daily needs of 10 million people, as millions of households face hosepipe bans and three-quarters of the country is in drought.Businesses across England use 2.6bn litres a day from the public water supply, which includes potable and non-potable water provided by water companies. In total, businesses account for about 30% of public supply use, with two-thirds of their consumption in water-stressed areas, according to Mosl, the organisation that operates England’s business water market. Continue reading...

President cites Donald Trump’s suggestion that he might reconsider US support for British sovereignty, and threatens swifter sanctions on British oil interestsPresident Javier Milei has said “winds of change favourable” to Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands were “blowing around the world” in a televised address, citing signs that Donald Trump might reconsider the US position on the islands’ sovereignty.“Recently, President Trump declared that the US is re-evaluating its historic position in relation to the Malvinas,” he said, using the Argentinian name for the islands. Continue reading...