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The country’s defence minister said the IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon and will not allow the ‘return of the population’Israel and Lebanon agree to renew ceasefire as Trump seeks to overcome barriers to Iran dealIsrael Katz said the US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was a “great achievement in Lebanon, on the ground and also on the diplomatic level”.“We promised security to the residents of the north and we delivered,” the Israeli defence minister said in a statement, according to the Times of Israel. Continue reading...

• US stock markets remained near record highs on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, despite pressure from geopolitical instability. • Oil prices climbed toward $100 per barrel due to renewed tensions involving Iran and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz. • Market resilience was driven by strong corporate earnings and investor optimism regarding the potential reopening of critical shipping lanes.

• Primary election races are currently unfolding across six states, including New Jersey, California, and Iowa, as candidates advance toward midterm battles. • In separate political developments, Senator Marco Rubio is engaging with lawmakers to answer critical questions regarding government policy. • The Trump administration is weighing a decision to relocate certain groups to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the region's severe humanitarian crisis.

• Chinese AI lab DeepSeek is reported to be preparing a 6 billion euro external funding round as it tries to stay competitive in the global model race. • The fundraising would be one of the largest recent AI capital raises, reflecting continued investor appetite for frontier-model developers even as costs and compute needs surge. • The move matters for U.S. technology markets because capital flows and model competition remain tightly linked across American and Chinese AI ecosystems.

• Mid-sized UK institutional investors are shifting their focus from identifying opportunities in European markets to optimizing the execution of those investments. • The move is driven by a desire for better portfolio diversification, access to specialized investment strategies, and proximity to a wider range of asset classes. • This trend is expected to accelerate as financial markets undergo further digitization, specifically through the tokenization of securities.

• The OECD has warned that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East could significantly slow global economic growth and increase uncertainty. • Key risks include the potential for a global recession and rising inflation if the war continues into next year. • Asian nations are expected to be the most severely impacted due to their heavy reliance on energy supplies from the Middle East.

• World stocks and the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index reached record highs as AI-driven investment expanded from tech giants into small-cap sectors. • Alphabet's US$80 billion capital raise underscores the massive spending requirements for AI infrastructure despite a backdrop of sticky global inflation. • Market momentum was bolstered by a significant 4.0% single-session surge in South Korea on Monday, with current rotation shifting toward Hong Kong and China's "A" shares.

US president says he would ‘like to meet’ Mojtaba Khamenei, who US officials have previously said was injured in attacks, and says Iran has said it will not have a nuclear weaponHello and welcome to the Guardian’s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.Donald Trump has claimed Iran has agreed it will not have a nuclear weapon and that the country’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is involved in negotiations with the US.One person was killed and several people were injured in an Iranian drone attack that targeted Kuwait’s airport, according to authorities and state media. Flights were suspended this morning but some later resumed after the country’s civil aviation authority said it assessed the damage at the airport.The attack came hours after US forces fired a Hellfire missile to disable a tanker attempting to break through the American blockade of the strait of Hormuz, and later said they repelled Iranian reprisal attacks in the region and attacked sites on Iran’s Qeshm Island.Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it attacked the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain with missiles and drones in response to the strike on Qeshm, a claim the US military’s Central Command (Centcom) denied.Centcom said two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait “fell short or broke apart enroute”, and that three missiles targeting Bahrain were intercepted by US and Bahrain.US forces also said they shot down three one-way attack drones “launched by Iran toward civilian mariners that were rightfully transiting regional waters” but gave no further details.Israel kept up strikes on southern Lebanon, pressing its campaign against Hezbollah a day after Donald Trump asked Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Beirut to avert further escalation in the three-month-old war. Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire hit south Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least eight people, Lebanese state media reported. Israel’s military ordered residents of the city of Nabatieh, a major Hezbollah stronghold, to leave ahead of strikes.Lebanon’s government has said it would seek a full ceasefire in a new round of talks with Israeli officials in Washington that began on Tuesday, the latest in a series of face-to-face meetings Beirut has attended despite Hezbollah objections.Hezbollah said it fired artillery shells at Israeli troops near Beaufort and targeted Israeli military vehicles south of Nabatieh on Tuesday. It has not announced cross-border attacks since Monday. Continue reading...

Democrats seek to oust Republicans in New Jersey and Iowa, while other major races remain up in the airHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.California’s crowded primary for governor remains up in the air after three leading candidates tested voters’ appetites for an experienced politician or promises of sweeping change.Karen Bass came out ahead in Tuesday’s heated primary for Los Angeles mayor, but with less than 50% of the vote will have to defend her seat in November’s general election. She’ll likely run against either Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, or city council member Nithya Raman.Iowa state representative Josh Turek won the Democratic nomination for the state’s open US Senate seat – setting him up to face off against Ashley Hinson in the November general election. A former television anchor turned state senator, Hinson was endorsed by Donald Trump and retiring senator Joni Ernst.Adam Hamawy won the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s 12th congressional district, teeing the army doctor and political newcomer up to face off against Republican Gregg Mele in November’s general election. Hamawy decided to run for office after returning from a medical mission in Gaza in 2024 and meeting congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who announced her retirement in November 2025.Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination for governor in New Mexico. If elected in the November general election, Haaland would become the first Native American woman governor elected in the country.Christina Bohannan won the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s 1st congressional district. She will compete against incumbent Republican congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the November general electionZach Lahn narrowly won the Republican nomination for governor, and will face off against Democrat Rob Sand in Iowa’s general election this November. Five Republicans competed for the nomination to replace retiring Republican governor Kim Reynolds.Former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Benett won the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, and will challenge Republican congressman Tom Kean Jr. in the general election. Kean, who’s been absent from Congress, citing a health issue, since March shared a statement on social media saying he’s “more energized than ever” and will “be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition” when he returns to work in “a matter of weeks”. Continue reading...

Democrats seek to oust Republicans in New Jersey and Iowa, while other major races remain up in the airVoters in Tuesday’s primary elections across the US chose candidates who could flip critical districts in the US House and Senate in November, setting up a series of high-stakes general election contests in a midterm year expected to favor Democrats.Among the most watched races are: a New Jersey Democrat who could oust a Republican incumbent absent with a mystery medical issue for months; several Iowa Democrats hoping to flip their red-leaning state; and California’s redrawn maps that have given Democrats an advantage in the heavily blue state. Continue reading...

Sarah Jones says guidance that black and white suspects should be treated differently gives ‘wrong impression’Anti-discrimination guidance to police that black and white suspects should be treated differently “gives the wrong impression”, according to the policing minister, who said protesters involved in overnight violence in Southampton should not be allowed to shape the reaction to the murder of Henry Nowak.Two people were arrested after unrest in Southampton after the sentencing of the 18-year-old’s killer, Vickrum Digwa, who told police attending the scene of the stabbing in the city on 3 December 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack. Continue reading...

• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a day-long Trinamool Congress (TMC) protest at Kolkata's Esplanade following a historic election loss. • During the demonstration, Banerjee alleged widespread post-poll violence and condemned the alleged assault on her nephew and MP, Abhishek Banerjee. • The protest also highlighted concerns regarding the eviction of hawkers and targeted attacks on various party leaders.

• Japan's Nikkei index reached a record high as Asia-Pacific markets generally opened higher, despite ongoing volatility in oil prices and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. • Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.36% following a report that GDP grew 2.5% year-on-year for the first quarter, slightly missing the 2.6% forecast by economists. • Australian growth was hindered by reduced household and government spending, alongside severe weather disruptions that impacted the mining sector.

• India has dropped to 7th place in global market capitalization rankings as South Korea and Taiwan experience rapid growth. • South Korea reached a $5 trillion valuation driven by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while Taiwan's valuation hit approximately $5.15 trillion. • This shift is fueled by an AI-led rally in the semiconductor industry, specifically the explosive demand for high-bandwidth memory chips and TSMC's massive market footprint.

• Asian stocks opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, June 2, as geopolitical anxiety in the Middle East offset positive sentiment surrounding artificial intelligence. • Market volatility was evident in the MSCI Asia-Pacific index (excluding Japan), which fluctuated between gains and losses and initially dipped 0.5%. • South Korean shares faced significant pressure, recording a 2% decline after an initially higher opening.

• The BSE SENSEX dropped over 400 points and the NIFTY50 opened at 23,229 as Indian equity markets experienced a gap down opening. • The decline was driven by cautious investor sentiment resulting from mixed global market cues and negative indicators from Nifty futures. • Bajaj Finance and Eternal were identified as the top losers among the stocks during this trading session.

• Asian stocks opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, June 2, as markets balanced conflicting global sentiments. • Renewed optimism surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) provided a boost to shares, but this was offset by ongoing anxiety regarding the Middle East conflict and ceasefire uncertainty. • The MSCI broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares, excluding Japan, fluctuated between gains and losses as investors remained hesitant.

• Stock markets remained rangebound as investors weighed uncertainty regarding Iran talks and a series of artificial intelligence developments. • Alphabet's Class A shares fell 2.2% following the announcement of a massive investment program, which includes $10 billion in backing from Berkshire Hathaway under CEO Greg Abel. • In a significant industry milestone, AI startup Anthropic, the developer of Claude, has confidentially filed for an IPO, beating rival OpenAI to the first step of going public.

• Global stock markets rallied driven by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence, specifically following an IPO filing by AI firm Anthropic. • Conversely, oil prices and bond yields declined due to instability in US-Iran talks and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East. • In South Korea, the benchmark KOSPI index experienced high volatility, swinging lower after reaching a record high as major tech stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fluctuated.

The US military said aircraft disabled the engine room of the unladen Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie as it passed through international watersUS forces fired a Hellfire missile to disable a tanker attempting to break through the American blockade and reach Iran, amid an enduring standoff in the strait of Hormuz and stalling efforts by Washington to secure a new ceasefire agreement with Tehran.The US military’s Central Command (Centcom) said its aircraft disabled the engine room of the unladen Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie on Tuesday as it passed through international waters toward Kharg Island, north of the strait near Kuwait, after the crew ignoring repeated warnings over a 24-hour period. Continue reading...

All the latest results and updates as New Jersey, South Dakota, New Mexico and Montana also vote in primariesCalifornia elections: governor, LA mayor and Congress at stakeSign up for the Breaking News US emailVoters in six states have been casting their ballots in the US midterm election primaries. Here are some of the images from polling stations that have dropped on the news wires today:A wave of Democratic doctors, scientists and public health professionals across the country are seeking office in the midterm elections in a rebuke to Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr’s health policies. Continue reading...

• Indian stock markets plummeted on Tuesday, with the Sensex falling over 400 points and the Nifty dropping below 23,250. • The downturn was driven by escalating US-Iran tensions and persistent selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs), causing declines of over 1% in the Auto, Realty, and Consumer Durables sectors. • Despite the broader crash, Nifty IT gained nearly 2%, while 1,650 stocks on the NSE declined compared to 887 that advanced.

• The Sensex and Nifty extended their losing streak to a fourth consecutive day, with the Nifty settling below the 23,400 level. • Market declines were driven by escalating US-Iran tensions, a sharp rise in Brent crude oil prices, and a weakening rupee. • Sectoral performance was mixed, as FMCG, PSU Bank, and realty shares dropped while IT, media, and metal stocks saw gains.

• South Korea has ascended to become the world's 6th-largest stock market, overtaking India, which has dropped to 7th place. • The shift is driven by an AI-led rally that pushed the Kospi and Taiwan's markets to record highs, while India's Nifty 50 experienced a decline. • This realignment highlights the global market's current prioritization of AI-centric economies over India's broader growth trajectory.

Israeli military says it intercepted missiles from Lebanon this morning while Netanyahu says his forces will continue operating in the south of the countryTrump says Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to ‘stop all shooting’Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.Donald Trump has hailed an agreement to de-escalate the fighting in Lebanon, which has killed thousands of people and inflamed tensions in the broader US-Israeli war with Iran.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) threatened to open “new fronts” and keep the strait of Hormuz closed over Israel’s offensive in Lebanon, state media reported. “Iran considers crossing the red lines in Lebanon and Gaza to mean direct war,” state TV quoted the IRGC’ intelligence organisation as saying.The ceasefire already in place between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon, Iran’s top diplomat said yesterday after Netanyahu ordered attacks on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut. “Violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation,” foreign minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.US secretary of state Marco Rubio will face questions at Congress today for the first time since the Iran war began. He will testify before House and Senate committees on the state department’s 2027 budget request, where he is expected to face questions about Trump’s war efforts and shifting diplomatic goals.Oil prices jumped and equities slid as Middle East peace talks stumbled and tensions mounted between Iran and the US. Crude futures shot more than 5% higher yesterday as an Iranian news agency announced Tehran had suspended the negotiations with the US via mediators, AFP reported.US forces intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American forces based in Kuwait late on Sunday, the US military said yesterday. No American personnel were harmed, it added. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets experienced volatility as geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran offset optimism surrounding the artificial intelligence sector. • Tech gains were driven by news that AI developer Anthropic has confidentially filed for a US IPO, potentially reaching a trillion-dollar valuation. • Alphabet shares declined 0.7% following the announcement of a plan to raise $80 billion in equity, including investment from Berkshire Hathaway, to expand AI infrastructure.

• Asian stock markets opened with cautious trading on Tuesday, as the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index fluctuated between gains and losses. • Market sentiment was split between renewed optimism regarding artificial intelligence and ongoing anxiety over the conflict in the Middle East. • South Korean shares experienced a 2% decline after an initially higher open, while Brent crude oil prices remained steady around $95.

• Cybersecurity firm Check Point detected a surge in election-related web activity in January, with approximately 1,300 new domains containing "election" and 2,957 containing "vote." • A new report warns that the upcoming U.S. midterm elections will lead to "elevated" cyber threats targeting media platforms, fundraising sites, and political organizations. • Experts caution that this trend indicates the groundwork for widespread misinformation and disinformation campaigns is already being established.