By Georgina Rannard BBC climate & science reporter A rocket plane is due to fly from New Mexico carrying an 80-year-old British former Olympian, an Aberdeen student and her mother into space. Anastatia Mayers and her mother Keisha Schahaff won the tickets to board the Virgin Galactic flight in a competition. Jon Goodwin, from Newcastle,…

EPA Wildfires on the Hawaii island of Maui have destroyed homes and businesses and displaced thousands. The hardest hit is the historic town of Lahaina. Officials reported at least six people have been killed in the fires. The fires continue to rage as of Wednesday afternoon, with firefighting efforts and search and rescue missions underway.…

EPA By Nadine Yousif BBC News Raging wildfires fanned by hurricane winds have devastated the historic town of Lahaina on Hawaii’s island of Maui. Brian Schatz, a US senator from the state, said on social media that Lahaina is “almost totally burnt to the ground”. At least six people were killed in Maui County, officials…

Getty Images By Saher Baloch BBC Urdu Pakistan’s parliament has been formally dissolved, but polls meant to be held within 90 days will likely be delayed. The electoral commission says electoral boundaries must be redrawn to reflect fresh census data, a months-long process. Last week, former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested and jailed, and…

Getty Images A candidate in Ecuador’s upcoming presidential election has been shot dead. Fernando Villavicencio, a member of the country’s national assembly, was attacked after an event in the northern city of Quito on Wednesday. A member of his campaign team told local media Villavicencio was about to get into a car when a man…

Royal Mint By Sean Coughlan Royal correspondent A special 50 pence coin marking the Coronation of King Charles is going into circulation this week. The Royal Mint is issuing five million of the coins, with a design based on Westminster Abbey, where the Coronation was held in May. It will allow the public to “find…

Private cord blood banking is booming around the world – but would it be better to set up more public banks as the uses for umbilical cord blood increase? In 2019, Praveen Gudipati and Ramya Raj, a couple based in Houston, Texas, gave birth to their first child, Kiaan. Before he was born, they made…

Getty Images By Cherylann Mollan BBC News, Mumbai Gig workers in India are celebrating a small but significant victory in their ongoing fight for labour rights and better working conditions. The work is gruelling, hours are long, the pay is meagre and there’s no job security or access to basic rights like paid leave, insurance…

ORTN By Paul Melly Africa analyst Once involved in peacekeeping efforts in war-hit countries, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has now triggered a major crisis in West Africa by staging a coup in Niger. Low-profile and hitherto little known outside his immediate circle, he was the commander of Niger’s presidential guard until he emerged from the shadows…

In Canada, centring conservation with the country’s indigenous peoples is allowing its original stewards to reconnect to their land and culture – and proving remarkably effective. Every year, when the frozen streams have melted and greenery emerges after months of winter stillness, Dolcy Meness knows it’s time. Packing their truck, she and a colleague set off…