Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing in Thailand on legitimacy quest as Bangkok backs engagement

Authorities have issued a flash flood warning for New York City, parts of New Jersey and western Long Island as heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds swept across the region, raising the threat of widespread flooding and travel disruptions. Weather officials warned that intense downpours could quickly overwhelm drainage systems, flood roads and affect low-lying areas. The flash flood warning remained in effect through Monday morning, while a broader flood watch was issued for New York City and northern and central New Jersey until the evening. Forecasters also declared a First Alert Weather Day, citing an elevated risk of flash flooding and severe thunderstorms. Moist and humid air moving into the region is expected to produce rainfall rates of one to three inches per hour, with total rainfall forecast between one and three inches. Some isolated locations could receive even higher amounts, significantly increasing the risk of flooding. In response to the severe weather threat, New York City Emergency Management activated its Flash Flood Emergency Plan. City crews were deployed to clear storm drains and catch basins in flood-prone neighbourhoods, while emergency teams were placed on standby to respond to flooded streets, fallen trees and stranded motorists. Officials warned that severe thunderstorms could also generate damaging wind gusts, increasing the possibility of power outages and hazardous driving conditions throughout the day. Meanwhile, a High Surf Advisory was issued for beaches south of New York City and across Long Island, where waves were expected to reach between six and ten feet. Authorities also warned of a high risk of dangerous rip currents and urged residents and visitors to stay out of the water until conditions improve. Temperatures were expected to remain in the low 80s under mostly cloudy skies. Weather experts forecast that storm activity would gradually weaken by Monday night, bringing an improvement in conditions.

In late July, Meghan’s lifestyle range, As Ever, launched a new blackberry spread alongside a softly lit video of her picking the fruit. A month later, she and Prince Harry announced plans to return and live in the UK, just as blackberry season winds down. Whether another such video follows remains unclear, especially since experts say the couple’s wider brand is now at a turning point. Since their departure from royal duties in 2020, most of the Sussexes’ California-based ventures, from streaming deals to fragrance lines, have struggled to draw large audiences. Experts say it’s genuinely unclear what direction they’ll take next. Their UK return has surprised many, and although they will not resume royal duties, questions remain about what comes instead. Oxford marketing professor Andrew Stephen says the couple excelled early at capturing attention and monetising it, but have struggled to turn that into a lasting brand identity. He describes their current portfolio as fragmented, spanning social impact, entertainment and lifestyle, making it hard to define exactly what their brand represents. Their $100 million Netflix deal and $25 million Spotify agreement, both signed in 2020, have delivered underwhelming results by most measures. The Netflix arrangement produced just five shows over five years before being replaced with a lower-commitment, first-look agreement last year. Spotify, meanwhile, parted ways with the couple back in 2023. Branding expert Susan Fournier warns that the couple’s repeated pivots, from royal insiders to critics to media producers to lifestyle influencers, carry real risk. She argues that once a brand shifts direction dramatically, reversing course becomes difficult, and a UK return could look like yet another turn rather than a resolution. Stephen suggests the solution lies in building a focused, coherent set of ventures and credible causes, rather than continuing to diversify. One possibility involves Meghan returning to acting, with reports suggesting talks over a role in Netflix’s “The Gentlemen.” Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, is also expected to continue regardless of the move. A potential relocation to the Cotswolds has also sparked interest, with stylist Laura Stoloff suggesting genuine synergy between Meghan’s brand and English country life. Still, Stephen cautions that a new postcode alone won’t reposition a brand, only consistent action will.

South Africa’s Western Cape High Court has granted President Cyril Ramaphosa a temporary order halting parliamentary impeachment proceedings against him. The interdict pauses the work of a parliamentary impeachment committee until the court reviews a November 2022 panel report in September, which concluded that Ramaphosa “may have committed” serious violations regarding the Phala Phala farm scandal. The controversy stems from a 2020 break-in at Ramaphosa’s luxury farmhouse in Limpopo, where $580,000 in undeclared foreign currency hidden inside a sofa was stolen. While a former spy chief alleged the stolen sum reached $4 million and accused the president of concealing the robbery from tax and police authorities, Ramaphosa has maintained his innocence, stating the cash came from a legitimate sale of 20 buffaloes. Although the ruling African National Congress (ANC) initially quashed impeachment efforts in Parliament in 2022 and prosecutors dropped criminal charges in 2024, a Constitutional Court ruling in May 2026 reinstated the impeachment process. Ramaphosa welcomed Friday’s court decision, affirming his respect for judicial independence while awaiting the full review hearing in September.

Africa could suffer economic losses of between $10 billion and $20 billion if a powerful El Niño weather pattern develops, the African Development Bank’s climate chief has warned. The expected weather event could bring severe droughts, floods and storms to different parts of Africa. It could put additional pressure on food supplies, water resources and government finances. Anthony Nyong, the African Development Bank’s director for climate change and green growth, said countries facing the worst effects could see their gross domestic product decline by around 1% to 2%. He said the potential losses could amount to between $10 billion and $20 billion across the continent. The warning comes as forecasters monitor rising temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Current conditions have raised concerns that the next El Niño could become unusually strong. El Niño is a climate pattern that can significantly change weather conditions in different parts of the world. In Africa, it can contribute to drought, heavy rainfall, flooding and storms. A severe event could deepen existing climate problems across the continent. The Sahel region has already faced serious drought conditions in recent years. Other parts of Africa are still recovering from major storms and floods. Nyong warned that the economic consequences may continue long after the weather event ends. He pointed to Mozambique’s experience after Cyclone Idai in 2019. The country needed years to recover from the damage caused by the storm. Agriculture could be among the sectors hit hardest by the expected climate shock. The previous El Niño, which occurred during 2023 and 2024, brought severe drought to Southern Africa. East Africa experienced heavy rainfall and flooding. The extreme weather contributed to crop failures and higher food prices. Coastal areas also recorded unusually high sea levels. African farmers are already facing substantial losses. The African Development Bank estimates that agricultural losses could reach around $327 million this year. Fishing communities could also suffer. Rising sea temperatures and storms are expected to affect fisheries productivity. The bank estimates that fisheries productivity could decline by between 1% and 4%. Nyong warned that food shortages could become a major concern if the expected weather pattern intensifies. Maize is particularly important because it is a major staple food in many African countries. A significant decline in production could push prices higher and increase pressure on vulnerable households. The expected disaster could also put further pressure on national budgets. Many African governments already have limited resources to respond to climate emergencies. Severe weather could force them to spend more on relief, reconstruction and infrastructure repairs. This could mean less money for health, education and development projects. Nyong described the situation as a “climate finance trap”. Countries may have to divert funds from essential services to deal with climate-related emergencies. The African Development Bank is preparing to assess the possible effects of El Niño on its investments. The bank plans to hold a major seminar in September. Senior officials will examine the potential risks to existing and planned projects. The institution is also prepared to restructure some projects if necessary. It will work with affected countries to seek additional international climate financing. Possible sources include the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund and Climate Investment Funds. New loss-and-damage financing mechanisms could also provide support to countries suffering serious climate impacts. The expected strength of El Niño could increase Africa’s climate financing needs significantly. Nyong estimated that the continent could require up to $100 billion this year to strengthen climate resilience and adaptation. He said the need for climate adaptation funding was already extremely high. The possible El Niño event could add billions of dollars to that requirement. The financing gap remains a major challenge for developing countries. Without sufficient funding, vulnerable countries may struggle to prepare for droughts, floods and storms before they occur. The humanitarian consequences could be severe if drought and food shortages intensify. Nyong warned that large numbers of people could be forced to leave their homes in search of food, water and livelihoods. Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Mali, Burundi and Nigeria were among the countries identified as potentially vulnerable to severe impacts. Agricultural losses could leave many communities without reliable sources of income. Shortages of water and grazing land could also increase competition between communities. Such pressures could worsen instability in regions already affected by conflict, poverty and displacement. The African Development Bank has therefore called for greater investment in preparedness and climate resilience. Nyong stressed that governments should act before disasters strike rather than wait until the damage has already occurred.