The Guardian

UK shoppers return to high street as warm weather brings respite from shadow of war

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...

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BBC World

China's Xi Jinping to make rare visit to North Korea

Xi will be in North Korea from 8-9 June, a rare visit to the isolated regime that is a longstanding ally of Beijing.

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The Guardian

A uni professor admitted using AI to write an opinion piece. Here’s what it revealed about trust in the technology

Without disclosing that work has been generated using the technology, faith in existing industries will continue to be undermined Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcasWhen a university vice-chancellor this week admitted to using AI in writing an opinion piece for a major Australian masthead, but did not disclose that use prior to publication, it highlighted the growing gap between people’s use of AI and trust in the techn

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The Guardian

Andrew sublet three cottages while paying ‘peppercorn rent’ to crown estate

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, fo

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NY Times World

The Priests Revered in the Land of Five Genders

The bissus of South Sulawesi are considered a link between the earthly and celestial because they are thought to embody both male and female traits.

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NY Times World

Russia Rails Against the West but Welcomes Candace Owens and Andrew Tate

While some powerful Russians shun the West, others want to restore ties and embrace friendly Westerners. President Vladimir V. Putin’s annual economic conference illustrates the conflicting impulses.

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NY Times World

Russia Rails Against the West but Welcomes Candace Owens and Andrew Tate

While some powerful Russians shun the West, others want to restore ties and embrace friendly Westerners. President Vladimir V. Putin’s annual economic conference illustrates the conflicting impulses.

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The Guardian

Divine intervention: why Pope Leo visit could be a godsend for Pedro Sánchez

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

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The Guardian

EU summit with western Balkan leaders to reaffirm membership prospects

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 fo

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The Guardian

Melanie Hall’s family launch fresh appeal for information 30 years after her murder in Bath

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 w

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NY Times World

What To Know as China’s Xi Jinping Heads to North Korea

As Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang, he faces an emboldened North Korean dictator, whose alliance with Russia has reduced his dependence on China.

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WSJ World News

Real-Time Satellite Intelligence Is Making Ukraine’s Drone Strikes Deadlier Than Ever

Commercial satellite imagery, sent straight to soldiers’ phones, is speeding up the kill chain and causing new problems for Russian forces.

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The Guardian

‘You can stop your war’: Zelenskyy’s open letter to Putin – in full

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.

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WSJ World News

Japan Prime Minister Says Will Defend Yen by Strengthening Economy

Despite recent foreign-exchange intervention, the Japanese currency has weakened again to near the 160 threshold against the dollar, a level seen as a potential trigger for more government action.

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The Guardian

US imposes new sanctions on Cuban president and Castro family members

US secretary of state Marco Rubio says anyone providing services to sanctioned actors ‘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

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BBC World

US plans to fight flesh-eating screwworm outbreak with flies and dogs

The insect, which has been found in America for the first time since 1966, is a growing concern in the southern US.

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The Guardian

Barnaby Joyce backflips on One Nation policy: ‘Not going to be kicking permanent residents out of their house’

Sky News host Andrew Bolt says MP ‘had no idea what Pauline Hanson’s policy was’ after politician said permanent residents could have homes ‘repossessed’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBarnaby Joyce has corrected himself regarding a key One Nation housing policy after telling Sky News his party would force permanent residents to become citizens or risk having their home repossessed.The Sky News host Andrew Bolt, who

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The Guardian

In second break with Trump in a week, House passes bill to aid Ukraine

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 po

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The Guardian

More than 100,000 cockroaches worth $200,000 seized from NSW breeder in record-breaking bust

The invertebrates were likely destined for the pet trade, including as reptile foodMore 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 commercial breeder in Bathurst in the state’s central west this week. Continue reading...

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NY Times World

House Passes Ukraine Aid in Defiance of Republican Leaders

Eighteen G.O.P. lawmakers broke with their party and joined Democrats to deliver yet another blow to the president’s foreign policy agenda.

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