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Oxfam predicts PNG will be worst-hit country in Pacific from the weather pattern, with up to 3 million people affected nationwideFamilies across Papua New Guinea’s Highlands are facing depleted harvests and the threat of hunger after the El Niño weather pattern brought frost and prolonged dry conditions that have destroyed food gardens providing sustenance and income for thousands of households.The effects of El Niño emerged in recent weeks, bringing drought conditions, falling water levels and frost that are threatening food security in some of the country’s most agriculturally productive regions. Continue reading...

Pharrell Williams’s menswear collection had a surf theme, while Saint Laurent models wore skinny suitsIn temperatures close to 40C, most of Paris would have loved to go to the beach this week. Guests at the Louis Vuitton show got the look at least – the ground was covered with sand and there was a huge artificial wave as a backdrop.The menswear collection, designed by Pharrell Williams, had a surf theme. There were branded wetsuits, Ugg-style boots and the chunky knits surfers wear at the end of a day. There were some jumpers and slouchy suiting, but the active lifestyle idea took centre stage with board shorts, caps, skate-style sneakers and a gilet. Some models carried surfboards branded with the Louis Vuitton logo and the final look was a model in a monogram wetsuit carrying a bike on his shoulder. Continue reading...

An additional case is suspected in Western Australia, which would bring the total number of bird flu infections to fourFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDeadly H5 bird flu has been confirmed in two Australian states after a migratory seabird tested positive for the disease in South Australia.Western Australia also has another suspected positive case, in a southern giant petrel, found in the Quindalup region in the state’s south west. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Correspondents across the UK reveal the challenges that Labour’s newest MP will face from day one in the jobGood morning. It seems inevitable that Andy Burnham will become the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade, after Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday morning and, hours later, Burnham’s most likely challenger, Wes Streeting, rowed in behind the former mayor of Greater Manchester.Starmer leaves office barely two years after his landslide victory that swept Labour into power on a mandate of change. Six weeks after the party’s humiliation at the hands of Reform across English councils, and historic defeats to progressive nationalists in the Welsh Senedd and Scottish parliament, Burnham offered the country another “change moment”: winning an emphatic victory over Reform in last week’s Makerfield byelection, cementing the view that he can defeat the hard right at the next general election.UK politics | A generation of young Britons who were locked out of the 2016 EU referendum because of their age now believe that Brexit has failed, with a majority demanding a fresh vote to rejoin the EU, exclusive polling shows.Northern Ireland | Former DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, has been found guilty of 18 sexual offences against two victims who were children at the time of the abuse more than 30 years ago.Heatwave | Met Office forecasters have issued a rare red weather warning for Wednesday and Thursday in the face of extreme heat and humidity, while a red heat health alert has been issued in England indicating “a risk to life for even the healthy population”.Middle East | Iran has agreed to allow UN nuclear inspectors back into the country as part of an agreement under which Washington will lift sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports and the strait of Hormuz will reopen, the US vice-president, JD Vance, has said.UK news | The Metropolitan police is to expand its use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology, first into London’s West End by Christmas and then into a further six areas next year. Continue reading...

Russia intercepted 300 Ukrainian drones across the country and temporarily suspended operations from Moscow airportNearly 60 Ukrainian drones were intercepted heading for Moscow last night, forcing the capital’s airports to briefly suspend its operations during the attack.In total, Russia reportedly downed just over 300 drones across the country.“The Russians are attacking us every day – and we will strike back every day. Our response will grow stronger with each passing day.” Continue reading...

• Western allies, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Belgium, are accelerating military assistance to Ukraine to counter potential Russian escalation. • The new support packages prioritize strengthening air defenses, expanding drone production, and sustaining critical battlefield operations. • This surge in aid comes as European nations express growing concern that Russia may employ its full military capabilities to annihilate Ukraine following recent long-range strikes.

• 7K Studios, the first local film production studio in Taos, held its soft opening celebration on Friday, June 12, in Ranchos de Taos. • The studio provides aspiring filmmakers with essential production space and professional tools to create their projects locally. • This initiative aims to integrate Taos into New Mexico’s rapidly growing film industry by lowering barriers to entry for creators.

• Prince Harry is bringing Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet, to the UK for the Invictus Games. • This trip marks Meghan Markle's first return to the United Kingdom in four years. • The visit is significant as it brings the family back to British soil amid ongoing tensions with the royal family.

Labour mayor giving advisory roles to ex-Bank of England economist and others seen as attempt to reassure marketsMakerfield byelection – latest updatesThree economic heavyweights have been brought in to advise Andy Burnham as he attempts to reassure the markets before his possible return to parliament on Friday and challenge to Keir Starmer.Burnham is understood to be getting advice from Andy Haldane, a former Bank of England chief economist, as well as Richard Hughes, a former chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility and Jim O’Neill, a crossbench peer and former Treasury minister who worked on George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse. Continue reading...

Tehran says fees to cover cost of managing waterway will come into effect at end of 60-day negotiation periodMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran has announced plans to introduce a system of maritime fees in the strait of Hormuz in two months after the 60-day period of negotiation that has been triggered by the signing of the memorandum of understanding.Tehran, claiming a historic victory over the US, added that the strait was under its control and the European plan for a naval mission to escort ships though the strait would not be welcome. Continue reading...

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet last visited Britain in 2022 during late queen’s platinum jubilee celebrationsThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex will bring their two children to the UK for the first time in more than four years, it has been reported.Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, last visited Britain in 2022 during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations. Continue reading...

Lauren Edwards dismisses party internal concerns and criticises ‘anti-democratic’ way bill was haltedThe Labour MP Lauren Edwards who will bring the assisted dying bill back to the Commons has said she will not be dissuaded by concerns about Labour divisions, saying MPs should allow the House of Lords to finish its work on the bill after it was blocked from a vote by peers.It also can be revealed that the Labour MP and disability rights campaigner Marie Tidball is to co-sponsor the bill, alongside the former minister Alex Davies- Jones. Continue reading...

After nights of violence across Belfast this week, politicians continue to call for calm, but what else can be done to stop the violence spreading? Plus, Jessica Elgot has been to Makerfield and spoken to undecided voters on the doorstepThe full list of candidates for the Makerfield byelection: Continue reading...

• Marc Lasry and his Avenue Sports Fund, which already invests in the NC Courage, are seeking to bring a Major League Baseball team to Raleigh. • Lasry expressed openness to partnering with Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, who also possesses ambitions to bring MLB to the region. • To fund necessary sports infrastructure, officials are considering raising the hotel occupancy tax in Wake County, similar to the model used for the Lenovo Center.

India declares onset as up to 280mm of rain falls in 72 hours in Kerala, while downpours hit south-west ThailandThe monsoon season has officially begun in parts of Asia, marking the start of a period of enhanced rainfall vital to the region’s economy.The south-west monsoon begins each year as a consequence of a growing temperature difference between the Asian land mass and the Indian Ocean. Through spring, the land heats up more rapidly than the surrounding sea, creating a pressure difference that draws moisture-laden ocean air inland. Once this contrast reaches a critical point, the humid air pushed over the continent rises, condenses into cloud and unleashes intense rainfall across the region. Continue reading...

• DMK President MK Stalin has launched a sharp attack on the TVK-led government, claiming the ruling alliance only survives due to the DMK's mercy and support. • Stalin revealed that he previously refrained from objecting to post-election political developments to prevent state instability and avoid the imposition of President's rule by the central government. • The DMK chief has now vowed to act quickly to bring down the current administration, signaling a shift toward more aggressive political opposition.

• Marketers are facing a growing challenge in distinguishing genuine human consumer engagement from automated activity generated by AI bots. • Industry projections suggest a massive shift in internet traffic, with every new human user potentially bringing 10 or more AI agents online. • This trend matters because it threatens the accuracy of consumer data and engagement metrics, making it harder for brands to target real people.

British Retail Consortium figures show footfall rose in May, with consumer confidence improving after spending squeezeGreater numbers of consumers went shopping last month as spring sunshine brought welcome relief to retailers, which have faced a squeeze on spending since the US-Israel war on Iran.Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and a separate survey by the accountancy firm BDO showed a bounce-back in footfall during May, reversing a sharp decline in April. Continue reading...

• First Foundation Labs (1FL), a life sciences AI company spun out of Luma Group, announced a collaboration with Microsoft on June 2, 2026. • The partnership aims to integrate 1FL's clinical and translational reasoning platform into Microsoft Discovery, an enterprise AI platform hosted on Azure. • This collaboration addresses the limitations of generic Large Language Models (LLMs), which often struggle to provide reliable reasoning within complex, domain-specific scientific environments.

BoM and other agencies expect transition to the first El Niño since spring 2023 sometime during winterFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereAustralia should prepare for an imminent El Niño, with the Bureau of Meteorology and other agencies forecasting that the weather phenomenon is likely to develop in the coming months.“The models are really aligning now,” Felicity Gamble, a senior BoM climatologist, said. “We are expecting a transition to El Niño sometime during winter.” Continue reading...

Bureau of Meteorology says WA residents should brace for wind gusts higher than 125km/h – the strength of category two cyclonesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA major storm system bearing down on millions of Western Australians on Saturday is bringing cyclone-strength winds, and is set to deliver a “wintry blast” to the east of the country early next week.Residents across WA’s populated south-west were warned to tie down loose items and prepare for destructive wind gusts that could exceed 125km/h from Saturday evening. Continue reading...

Three men killed in third attack this week amid Trump administration’s campaign against alleged drug boatsThe US military said it had carried out another strike Friday on a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men in the third attack this week and pushing the overall death toll above 200 people.US Southern Command announced the latest strike in the months-long campaign against alleged drug boats traversing the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific with its usual language that the vessel was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” and operated by a designated terrorist organization. It provided no evidence. Continue reading...

• An exceptionally early spring heatwave has scorched parts of Western Europe, leading to record-breaking temperatures across Britain and France in May. • London experienced a rare “tropical night” on Monday, while firefighters in Edinburgh were deployed to battle grass fires triggered by the extreme heat. • The event is significant as it has already resulted in deaths and prompted government warnings regarding severe risks to public health and life.

Seven years after Lisa Wiese went missing, a police raid on the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has given her family a glimmer of hopeAs he watched the footage of a convoy of police vehicles driving through the security gates of the headquarters of a religious sect, AbdelRahman Hashem felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe now his two children would get answers to what happened to their mother.The last time the children heard from her was seven years ago. In an email sent from a budget hotel in India, she had written: “Mommy loves and misses them so much, so very much … they are both my best friends and my favorite people in the whole world.” Two days later, she disappeared. Continue reading...

• British pop star Olivia Dean performed a "magic" closing set to conclude the star-studded Big Weekend festival, sharing the lineup with artists like Fatboy Slim and Zara Larsson. • The performance follows a successful year for Dean, who recently won four Brit Awards, including best British artist and best album. • Her award-winning second record, *The Art of Loving*, has solidified her reputation as one of the most exciting emerging musical talents in the UK.

• Bangkok, Thailand, will host the inaugural Grand Final of Eurovision Asia on Saturday, November 14, 2026. • The event marks the first-ever edition of the world's longest-running music contest in Asia, featuring 10 confirmed participating nations, including South Korea, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam. • This expansion represents a significant milestone in bringing the global Eurovision brand to the Asian market, fostering international musical collaboration.

Burnham and Streeting’s latest stances confound caricatures of left and right as party faces electoral bindThe Labour party has seemed to inhabit three parallel worlds over the past fortnight.There is a prime minister celebrating good news on the economy and lower migration figures and breezily insisting he will fight the next election, but with his party intent on deposing him. Continue reading...

Gerry ‘the monk’ Hutch has won fans in north Dublin byelection campaign with anti-immigrant rhetoricElaine Roe, 61, a cafe worker, has no doubt what is the most important issue in this week’s byelection for Dublin’s north inner city. “The government is wrecking our country, they’re bringing in rapists and murderers and kidnappers. It’s a shame. I might vote Hutch, he seems a normal person.’That would be Gerry “the monk” Hutch, a prominent gangland figure who is running as an independent in an election that is far from normal. The 63-year-old – who was jailed for robbery convictions in his youth – is a celebrity candidate in a contest for a parliamentary seat that has been dominated by xenophobia and immigration. Continue reading...