Russia maintains attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – Europe live

• 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.

Defence secretary says ‘winds of change’ remarks by Argentina’s president are more about domestic politicsUK politics live – latest updatesBritish ministers have hit back after the Argentinian president said “winds of change” favourable to his country’s claim to the Falklands were “blowing around the world”.Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, said the statement by Javier Milei on Thursday night “tells us more about domestic politics in Argentina than it does about the Falkland Islands”. Continue reading...

Intensification of Middle East conflict and ongoing Russian export ban sees diesel prices rise 10% in less than a weekFarmers are facing an “astronomical” jump in the price of fuel needed to operate their vehicles and machinery after a surge in diesel costs in the UK and US.Renewed fighting between the US and Iran has driven up the price of crude oil, while last week Russia extended a ban on diesel exports, further pushing up market prices. Continue reading...

Officials say pair were rescued from Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel in Nepal after being trapped in depth of 170 metresTwo people have been pulled out alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal nine days after deadly flash floods buried the projects in deep mud and left them trapped.The workers were rescued during an ongoing operation at the Trishuli 3A tunnel, a hydropower project in one of the areas worst-affected by last week’s deadly Nepal floods, according to army spokesperson Brig Gen Raja Ram Basnet. 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...

Collective training exercises for UK-based units to be suspended for most of this year amid budget pressuresThe British army has been ordered to halt non-essential training exercises in an effort to save money.Troops preparing to be deployed or on deployments, those who are on standby or in a quick-reaction role will continue to train as normal. But collective training exercises for UK-based units are being suspended for most of this year amid budget pressures. 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...