The Loop: Labor to form majority government, WHO speaks on monkeypox, and Mona Lisa vandalised

Oh hi there. It's Tuesday, May 31 and you're reading The Loop, a quick look at today's news.

Let's start here: Labor will form a majority government

ICYMI last night, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to form a majority Labor government.

Here are a couple of things to know:

• The ABC election computer is projecting that Labor will hold at least 76 seats — the minimum required to form a majority government
• Mr Albanese was sworn in to office last week after it became clear Labor would govern in either majority or minority
• Sources have suggested that it's likely the new government will strike deals with the "teals", independents and Greens to strengthen the passage of its legislation

Election analyst Antony Green explains the complex count in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara.

Something you'll be hearing about today: The new Labor ministry

The Labor caucus will determine who will serve in the cabinet when it meets today.

Here's what to expect:

• The proportion of left and right-leaning members on the frontbench will be determined by how many seats each faction wins
• Mr Albanese is keen to ensure his cabinet has gender parity to reflect Labor's ranks
• The new frontbench will be sworn into office on Wednesday

News while you snoozed

• Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa has been the target of vandalism in the Louvre Museum in Paris. A man reportedly disguised as an elderly woman tried to smash the painting's protective glass before smearing its surface with cake. The 36-year-old was arrested and placed in psychiatric care after the incident, which was supposedly a protest against artists not focusing enough on climate change. Here are Louvre staff trying desperately to clean the glass:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) said monkeypox — a usually mild illness that spreads through close contact and can cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions — is unlikely to lead to another global pandemic. However, the WHO is still considering whether the recent outbreak of monkeypox should be declared a "potential public health emergency of international concern". Such a declaration, as was done for COVID-19 and Ebola, would help accelerate research and funding to contain the disease

Here's what Australia has been searching for online

• David Littleproud. The Queensland MP, who was the deputy leader under Barnaby Joyce, has been elected to lead the National Party. The party had signed a 2050 goal for net-zero emissions with the Liberal Party despite Mr Joyce being a vocal opponent. Mr Littleproud said yesterday's leadership vote was not about "lurching" left or right, but finding the "sensible centre", and he would uphold the net-zero commitment

• AGL. Yesterday the energy giant dumped its plans to split from its coal-focused generation business amid continued opposition from major investors like billionaire (and largest shareholder) Mike Cannon-Brookes. The climate activist isn't ruling out taking a shot at another takeover bid for AGL. He says the company's transition away from coal needs to happen faster than planned if Australia's power supply is to be cheaper and more stable

One more thing

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting destructive winds, low-lying snow, rain and freezing temperatures as a cold blast hits the east coast this week.

After a windy night up the east coast, particularly southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, damaging winds were expected in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Winter starts tomorrow too, so I guess it makes sense?

You're up to date!

Now don't go touching the Mona Lisa.

ABC/wires