The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors.

Officials said the Hong Kong government has demanded staff sign a letter supporting Beijing’s claim to Taiwan.

the Israeli Foreign Ministry said Ebrahim Raisi’s election as president should “prompt grave concern among the international community”.

Cuba, whose biotech sector has exported vaccines for decades, has opted not to import foreign vaccines but rather to rely on its own.

The EU said because Banksy “has chosen to be anonymous” his “identity cannot be legally determined”, leading to his trademark to be cancelled on two more pieces.

Brazil has recorded half a million COVID-19 deaths, a toll second only to the US that shows few signs of easing.

The director of a new Pixar animation has dashed the LGBTQ community’s hope that the film Luca is the company’s first major homosexual production.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Saturday announced the passing of their German shepherd Champ, who they called a “constant, cherished companion” for 13 years.

Searchers combed a North Carolina river Friday for two missing tubers after a family on a recreational float went over a dam, resulting in three deaths and the rescue of four people from the water.

Ebrahim Raisi has been congratulated on his victory by the other two candidates, but his dark past troubles Washington DC.

The star witness in tell-all The Closet of the Vatican, gay activist Francesco Lepore writes about “Vladimirum Putin” being called “pro homicida habet” (a killer).

The World Health Organisation’s chief scientist says the variant, more infectious than others, will soon be dominant globally.

In a rare move, the United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly for an arms embargo against Myanmar’s junta, although China and India abstained.

Indonesia is experiencing its biggest surge of the virus since February but Bali’s deputy governor says the province is ready to welcome foreign tourists in July.

Beijing says Dong Jingwei is still running counter-intelligence and warning against foreign agents - but rumours persist that he is now in Washington DC.

The head of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said calls for women “of childbearing age” to avoid alcohol sounded like advice from The Handmaid’s Tale.

Friends of Australian Sean Turnell fear that the junta need to convict him if they’re to find Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of passing information to foreigners.

The European Union on Friday added the US to a list of countries for which travel restrictions should gradually be lifted. The list applies to all American tourists, vaccinated or not, for nonessential travel.

In his first direct comments on US President Joe Biden’s administration, Kim said preparing for dialogue and confrontation would protect the dignity of his country.

Eight flights were cancelled and 10 schools were shut down in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo after a bear shoved its way onto a military base.

Females don’t hit sexual maturity until their late 50s, a new study said, and maybe strangest of all, they are pregnant for a long time.

It is now trapping an “unprecedented” amount of heat, NASA says after two measurement methods arrived at the same conclusion.

Gaza and Israel both launched small-scale attacks as negotiators continue to wrangle the details of the cease-fire and 8000 remain homeless.

The clock is ticking for some 8000 skilled migrants like Amir Tawdrows who meet all the criteria except for a travel exemption.

“It’s not a black thing because none of us are free until we are all free,” said the 94-year-old activist known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors.

When Scott Morrison left his hotel room last Sunday, he made sure one important document was tucked away in his bag.

Would-be audience members don’t have to be born in the USA to see the Boss perform - but it will help to be vaccinated in the USA.

The charity said that their website serves to provide readers with a “full picture” of those its commemorates - but has no plans to remove Blyton’s plaque.

If all goes well, some of the first pills developed in the US could be ready by the end of the year.

Officials said the infant was in good health and that the boatman would receive a house and benefits for his heroic rescue.

By focusing on an array of real or imagined disasters, Republicans avoid addressing the crisis in democracy created by Trump with his efforts to nullify the election,

COVID-19 cases are surging across Africa as health workers warn that a third wave is now taking hold on the continent.  

On June 18, 1983, flight engineer Dr Sally Ride was the first US women to enter space but the media chose to focus on the personal.

Japan will ease emergency coronavirus restrictions in several prefectures including Tokyo while keeping some measures amid fears that the Olympics could trigger a surge in infections.

Countries that did nothing about travel early on made the pandemic impossible to stop, says former New Zealand PM who co-chaired an international expert panel that looked into the virus outbreak.

Beijing’s new Tiangong space station is the latest step in its dream to become a powerful space nation.

Apple Daily’s reporters live-streamed police storming their office for the second time in 12 months on the second anniversary of the city’s biggest protests.

The Pink Floyd co-founder swore a blue streak as he revealed the Zuckerberg-owned company wanted to use Another Brick in the Wall in a campaign.

The most potent ransomware gangs operate with Kremlin tolerance, based out of reach of Western law enforcement

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors.

Biden’s outburst felt like a flash back to the Trump era: a US President putting a CNN reporter under fire as the world watched on.

For Czechs, a Pirate victory would loosen political ties with Poland and Hungary after they clashed with Brussels over rule-of-law abuses. 

The surprise announcement by French Prime Minister Jean Castex comes as France is registering about 3900 new virus infections a day, down from 35,000 in the March-April peak.

In her latest list of complaints about conditions of her incarceration, Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend complained that “vermin droppings fell from air vents”.

The highly-anticipated meeting between the US and Russian leaders in Geneva lasted for under three hours, significantly shorter than both sides had previewed.

One of the first cruises scheduled to sail from the United States has been postponed after eight crew members tested positive for the coronavirus during routine testing.

A US hospital on Wednesday gave the first infusion of an expensive, controversial new Alzheimer’s drug from Biogen.

Dominic Cummings has leaked Boris Johnson’s private messages in a sensational escalation of their feud.

In an address to the OECD, the Prime Minister warned rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific were a threat to the financial prosperity of other nations.