The U.S. military confirmed on the 15th that a B-52 strategic bomber crashed in the southern Mojave Desert in California. The aircraft departed Edwards Air Force Base at about 11:20 a.m. local time and crashed shortly thereafter; rescue teams are en route. Local media place the crash site roughly 160 km north of Los Angeles. Casualties are unknown. The B-52, nicknamed the Stratofortress, typically has a five-person crew and can carry nuclear weapons and various precision-guided munitions; it has

Westpac: expects the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to pause hikes in June but forecasts two further hikes in August and September as inflation remains elevated. Macquarie Group: expects a June pause while signalling the RBA will deliver a hawkish message to reinforce market expectations for an August hike. ANZ: expects rates unchanged in June and no further hikes this year, but says an upside inflation surprise could still prompt a move in August. Commonwealth Bank of Australia: expects a June hold and no further tightening through the remainder of the year, with rate cuts only beginning in 2027. National Australia Bank: expects a June pause and a steady policy stance for the rest of the year, with the next action likely to be a cut.

June 16 — With the final platform loaded in Tianjin Binhai New Area, onshore construction of all platforms for the Bohai 26-6 oilfield development (Phase II) is complete, supporting on-schedule commissioning. Bohai 26-6, in the central Bohai Sea, has reservoirs in Archean buried-hill metamorphic rock at depths exceeding 4,500m and discovered geological oil and gas reserves of more than 200 million cubic meters. Phase I began production in February last year. Phase II adds two offshore wellhead platforms (jacket plus topside); both are designed for unmanned operation.