Andrew sublet three cottages while paying ‘peppercorn rent’ to crown estate 05. June 2026 (06:01) Report into royal property affairs reveals disgraced ex-prince generated private income from Windsor Royal LodgeAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor received private income from subletting three cottages on his Windsor Royal Lodge estate while paying a “peppercorn rent” to the crown estate, a report into royal property arrangements has revealed.The National Audit Office (NAO) review also shows that King Charles pays an “adjusted” rent from his private Duchy of Lancaster income, below open market value, for his disgraced brother’s non-working royal daughters, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to live in royal palaces. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Divine intervention: why Pope Leo visit could be a godsend for Pedro Sánchez 05. June 2026 (06:00) Pontiff’s resolve to highlight plight of migrants has aligned him with Spanish PM, whose inner circle and party are mired in corruption allegationsWhile Pope Leo XIV isn’t due to touch down in Madrid until 10.30am on Saturday, his presence in the Spanish capital is already verging on the ubiquitous.The smiling, avuncular face of the first US pontiff greets visitors from posters, from the sides of buses, from commemorative travel cards and even from the digital screens on the metro system, where it flickers up between adverts for sun cream and banking deals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU summit with western Balkan leaders to reaffirm membership prospects 05. June 2026 (06:00) Macron, Merz and von der Leyen among those due to gather in Montenegro for talks on integration of six countriesEuropean leaders will seek to show six western Balkan countries that they have a real chance of joining the EU one day, despite splits over how to handle enlargement of the 27-member bloc.Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen are among more than 30 leaders expected to gather in the Montenegrin coastal resort of Tivat on Friday for summit talks. The focus will be on integrating the six Balkan countries – among them Montenegro and Albania – more deeply into the EU single market, paving the way for them to join the bloc. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Melanie Hall’s family launch fresh appeal for information 30 years after her murder in Bath 05. June 2026 (06:00) Campaign wants to transport people back to weekend of her disappearance when England drew 1-1 with Switzerland in Euro 96 matchThe family of Melanie Hall, who was murdered after vanishing from a Bath nightclub 30 years ago, have said they still hope her killer may be found – but felt time was running out – as police launched a fresh appeal for information.Melanie’s father, Steve Hall, said: “You always think in the early days there’s going to be a quick resolution. That’s not been the case but we travel in hope. I hope I live long enough to see a conclusion.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Barnaby Joyce and One Nation colleague bungle details of key housing policy in ‘trainwreck’ interviews 05. June 2026 (05:01) Sky News host Andrew Bolt says blunder shows Pauline Hanson’s party is ‘literally making up policy as it goes along’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBarnaby Joyce and a One Nation colleague have struggled to detail the party’s housing policy, with Joyce requesting a second TV appearance to do so and Senator Sean Bell being cut off during what a radio host described as a “trainwreck” interview.Joyce told Sky News on Thursday that his party wanted to force permanent residents to sell their homes – before clarifying with colleagues and quickly returning to say that wasn’t One Nation policy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘You can stop your war’: Zelenskyy’s open letter to Putin – in full 05. June 2026 (03:53) Russians are increasingly tired of the conflict and the time to end it is now, Ukraine’s president tells his Russian counterpart in an open letterVolodymyr Zelenskyy, in an open letter to the Vladimir Putin, has called for a face-to-face meeting with the Russian president to end his war against Ukraine.The letter sets out Zelenskyy’s view of the four-year-old conflict and says that while Ukrainians’ resilience remains intact, most Russians have grown weary of its effects and are ready for peace. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US imposes new sanctions on Cuban president and Castro family members 05. June 2026 (03:07) US secretary of state Marco Rubio says anyone providing services to listed entities ‘is at risk of sanctions themselves’The United States has announced fresh economic sanctions on Cuba’s president and some of his immediate family, alongside members of the Castro family, in Washington’s latest ramping up of pressure on its communist-led neighbour.Among those targeted were the son and a grandson of former president Raúl Castro, who no longer holds an official position but remains a key figure on decisions about the future of the island. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
In second break with Trump in a week, House passes bill to aid Ukraine 05. June 2026 (02:54) Legislation would also sanction key segments of Russian economy, overriding objections from Republican leadersThe House passed legislation Thursday that would aid Ukraine and sanction key segments of the Russian economy, overriding objections from Republican leaders who warned the bill would undermine negotiations designed to achieve a comparable but stronger result.The 226-195 vote is a sign of impatience with Donald Trump’s approach to the war and represents the House’s second major foreign policy break with Trump this week. The day before, the House, for the first time, approved a war powers resolution aimed at halting US military action against Iran. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 100,000 cockroaches worth $200,000 seized from NSW breeder in record-breaking bust 05. June 2026 (02:22) The invertebrates were likely destined for the pet trade, including as reptile foodFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches have been seized from a commercial breeder in New South Wales in a record-breaking bust linked to the pet trade.Biosecurity officials seized the animals, which have a commercial value of up to $200,000, from a breeder in Bathurst in the state’s central west this week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner rejects new allegations of abusive behavior 05. June 2026 (01:34) Platner says claims in New York Times article of physical misconduct and offensive remarks ‘politically motivated’Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate, has rejected an explosive new report about his treatment of women, insisting that allegations of abusive behavior are “politically motivated”.Platner, a progressive running for election in Maine, was responding to a New York Times article published on Thursday that included an interview with a Republican operative who accused him of womanizing, physical misconduct and making troubling comments about rape. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
