The US Senate voted against limiting Trump's Iran war powers, while Supreme Court rulings expanded Trump's authority and curbed federal judges' power to block his orders, impacting issues from Obamacare's constitutionality to pornography age verification; Trump administration personnel decisions and policies on DEI were also featured, as California debated its budget and Hollywood film incentives, and New York's mayoral race saw a former governor remain in contention.

• US Senate votes against resolution to limit Trump’s Iran war powers – US politics live — The Guardian -
• University of Virginia president resigns under pressure from White House over DEI programs — The Guardian -
• Liberal supreme court justices’ dissents reveal concerns that the US faces a crisis — The Guardian -

• US supreme court limits federal judges’ power to block Trump orders — The Guardian -
• US supreme court ruling sets stage for more politicized science under RFK Jr — The Guardian -
• Hegseth announces new name of US navy ship that honored gay rights icon Harvey Milk — The Guardian -
• Supreme Court curbs judges' power to block Trump's orders in birthright citizenship case — BBC World -
• US supreme court rules key provision of Obamacare constitutional — The Guardian -
• Top court ruling expands Trump's power - and he intends to use it — BBC World -
• US supreme court rules in favor of age checks for pornography websites to keep children away — The Guardian -
• Gavin Newsom sues Fox News for defamation and demands $787m — The Guardian -
• Ex-Doge employee ‘Big Balls’ gets new Trump administration position — The Guardian -
• Cuomo to stay in New York mayoral race despite Mamdani besting him in primary – report — The Guardian -
• Briefing on Iran strikes divides senators as Trump pours fuel on tensions | First Thing — The Guardian -
• What to know about the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling — BBC World -
• Republicans Propose a New Way to Scrap Fuel Economy Rules: No Fines — New York Times World -
• Trump celebrates ‘big, beautiful bill’ despite Senate parliamentarian rejecting key elements – as it happened — The Guardian -
• The Evolution of Trump’s Views on Foreign Aid — New York Times World -
• Hegseth defends Iran strike amid doubts over Trump’s ‘obliteration’ claims — The Guardian -
• Briefing on Iran strikes leaves senators divided as Trump threatens new row — The Guardian -

Escalating tensions in the Middle East were prominent, with Gaza aid operations scrutinized amid killings near distribution sites and Israeli forces opening inquiries into possible war crimes; Iran's nuclear facilities were reported as seriously damaged following US attacks, which Trump considered repeating, while DR Congo and Rwanda signed a peace deal with US mediation, and Russia seized a key lithium field in Ukraine, underscoring ongoing global instability.

• GHF boss defends Gaza aid operation after hundreds of Palestinians killed near sites — BBC World -
• DR Congo and Rwanda sign long-awaited peace deal in Washington — BBC World -
• Israel Suggests It Could Strike Iran Again to Counter New Threats — New York Times World -

• Trump says he would 'absolutely' consider bombing Iran again — BBC World -
• Trump eyes mineral wealth as Rwanda and DRC sign controversial peace deal in US — The Guardian -
• Middle East crisis: US-backed Gaza aid system is ‘killing people’, says UN chief – as it happened — The Guardian -
• US attacks on Iran redraw calculus of use of force for allies and rivals around globe — The Guardian -
• IDF opens inquiry into possible war crimes after deaths near Gaza aid sites — The Guardian -
• A month into Gaza's new aid system - killings, gunfire and chaos are routine — BBC World -
• 18 killed in Israeli strike targeting Gaza police distributing flour, officials say — The Guardian -
• Tehran is coming back to life, but its residents are deeply shaken — BBC World -
• Amid Attacks, Iran’s Exiled Opposition Remained Divided. Who Are They? — New York Times World -
• Iranian foreign minister admits serious damage to nuclear sites — BBC World -
• Russia Seizes Key Lithium Field in Challenge for U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal — New York Times World -
• India refuses to sign joint statement at defence summit over Kashmir — BBC World -
• Friday briefing: How ​years of ​siege, ​war and ​blockade ​led to ​the ​unravelling of Gaza’s ​economy — The Guardian -
• Friday Briefing — New York Times World -
• U.S. Approves $30 Million for Contentious New Gaza Aid Group — New York Times World -
• Iran’s Foreign Minister Says Nuclear Facilities ‘Seriously Damaged’ — New York Times World -

Sean 'Diddy' Combs faced new rape accusations alongside closing arguments in his sex-trafficking trial, while a Sinaloa cartel hacker was accused of tracking and killing FBI informants; other reports covered global drug trafficking increases, a mother suing ICE over her son's medical care in detention, clergy abuse payouts, murder convictions in London and Australia, terror plots against a Taylor Swift concert, and Japan's execution of a serial killer, alongside allegations against Norway's Crown Princess's son.

• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and son Justin accused of rape in new US lawsuit — The Guardian -
• Sinaloa cartel hacked FBI phones to track and kill informants, US says — The Guardian -
• Authorities Rescue Girl Whose Mother Livestreamed Her Sexual Abuse — New York Times World -

• Cocaine Is the Fastest-Growing Illegal Drug Worldwide. Here’s Why. — New York Times World -
• Former Venezuelan intelligence chief pleads guilty to US drug charges — The Guardian -
• London Man Who Killed a Boy With a Samurai Sword Receives Life Sentence — New York Times World -
• Son of Norway's crown princess suspected of rape, police say — BBC World -
• Catholic religious order must pay $2.4m to New Orleans clergy abuse survivor — The Guardian -
• Son of Norway’s Crown Princess Is Charged With Rape and Sexual Assault — New York Times World -
• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer delivers closing arguments at sex-trafficking trial — The Guardian -
• Barclays and Jes Staley face fresh lawsuit in US over Epstein link — The Guardian -
• Pro-Palestinian Activists Arrested Under Terrorism Law in U.K. Air Base Break-In — New York Times World -
• Man jailed for at least 40 years for sword murder of London boy Daniel Anjorin — The Guardian -
• Teenager Is Charged With Aiding Plot to Attack Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna — New York Times World -
• Son of Norway’s crown princess charged with rape, sexual assault and bodily harm — The Guardian -
• Colombia gangs lure children to join ranks via TikTok and Facebook, UN warns — The Guardian -
• Four people arrested after Palestine Action incident at RAF Brize Norton — The Guardian -
• Man who stabbed wife to death in Bradford street found guilty of murder — The Guardian -
• Syrian charged over plot to attack Taylor Swift Vienna concert — BBC World -
• Japanese Serial Killer Is Executed — New York Times World -
• Moment South Korean man sets Seoul metro carriage on fire — BBC World -
• ‘Twitter killer’ who murdered nine in Japan reportedly executed — The Guardian -
• Japan executes 'Twitter killer' who murdered nine — BBC World -
• Ecuador Captures Gang Leader ‘Fito’ Whose Prison Escape Set Off Violence — New York Times World -
• Home owned by Brad Pitt broken into in Los Angeles — The Guardian -

Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced criticism for multiple policy U-turns and concessions on a welfare bill, despite efforts to secure support; other societal topics included a Wales archbishop stepping down amid scandal, concerns over LGBT veteran compensation payouts, declining local bus services, racial bias in London's criminal justice system for children, protests against oil oversight and nuclear threats, and Ukrainians being denied asylum.

• Archbishop of Wales stands down after Bangor cathedral scandal — The Guardian -
• Starmer still faces Labour anger over risk of ‘two-tier’ disability benefits — The Guardian -
• Reeves expected to freeze income tax thresholds to raise funds after welfare U-turn — The Guardian -

• UK politics: Starmer says welfare concessions are ‘common sense’ but dodges funding question – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer says he ‘deeply regrets’ island of strangers speech — The Guardian -
• Cautious optimism in UK on progress to secure British-Egyptian dissident’s release — The Guardian -
• Starmer Backtracks on Planned Social Cuts After Pushback From His Own Party — New York Times World -
• Suspend UK from oil oversight body over protests crackdown, say campaign groups — The Guardian -
• Greenham Common women urge new generation to ‘rise up’ against nuclear threat — The Guardian -
• No 10 climbs down over welfare bill in move to win over Labour rebels — The Guardian -
• UK launched huge operation to find suspected Russian double agent in MI6 — The Guardian -
• Digested week: It’s summer, and I am a burnt smorgasbord for every bug | Lucy Mangan — The Guardian -
• Triple threat of smoking, drinking and weight ‘puts a million in England at risk of early death’ — The Guardian -
• Welfare bill: what compromises have been made and how will claimants be affected? — The Guardian -
• Third U-turn in a month leaves Keir Starmer diminished — The Guardian -
• ‘There’s probably worse places’: Bognor Regis back at bottom of UK seaside rankings — The Guardian -
• Alarm raised over slow pace of payouts to UK veterans fired over sexuality — The Guardian -
• Local bus services in England still declining despite investment – report — The Guardian -
• Black children arrested in London ‘15% more likely to be criminalised’ than white children — The Guardian -
• Ukrainians who fled to UK being refused asylum on grounds it is ‘safe to return’ — The Guardian -

Major trade developments involving the US included a deal with China on rare-earth shipments and Trump ending talks with Canada over tech taxes, as **Nike anticipated a $1 billion cost from Trump tariffs**; the EU considered its response to potential US drug tariffs, while a **Marks & Spencer boss criticized new Brexit-related labeling rules**.

• US reaches deal with China to speed up rare-earth shipments, White House says — The Guardian -
• Trump says he is ending Canada trade talks amid tech tax dispute — The Guardian -
• M&S boss slams ‘bureaucratic madness’ of products requiring ‘not for EU’ labels — The Guardian -

• ‘Orchestrated grovel’: critics react to Europe’s attempts to tame Donald Trump — The Guardian -
• EU retaliation against Trump drug tariffs would be bad idea, says industry — The Guardian -
• China Confirms Trade Framework With U.S. to Lift Export Controls — New York Times World -
• Nike expects Trump tariffs to cost it $1bn — The Guardian -
• EU ready for trade deal with US but ‘all options on the table’, says von der Leyen — The Guardian -
• Canada passes law fast-tracking 'nation building' projects to counter Trump — BBC World -

Australian news featured debates over Labor's tax on superannuation for high-wealth households, government loans for EV chargers and solar panels, efforts to host the Cop31 climate summit, protests against an alleged Israel technology supplier, ADHD drug shortages, and legal cases including a police taser incident and teenage murder charges in Brisbane, alongside landlords claiming rental losses.

• Fewer than 1% of households with multimillions in super could struggle to pay Labor’s tax, study finds — The Guardian -
• Australian government loans $100m to install EV chargers and solar panels at Bunnings and Officeworks stores — The Guardian -
• Albanese will need to resolve the standoff with Turkey if Australia is to host Cop31 — The Guardian -

• ‘We don’t want to go’: Australian couple told to pay $3,500 to postpone flights amid Middle East volatility — The Guardian -
• Solar power: Kangaroo Point Bridge leads winners as Queensland architecture awards put spotlight on sustainability — The Guardian -
• Former Greens candidate may lose sight after being arrested in Sydney protest at alleged Israel technology supplier — The Guardian -
• Australians with ADHD could face drug shortages for rest of year, TGA says — The Guardian -
• Kristian White did not give Clare Nowland ‘real chance to avoid being Tasered’, prosecutors argue — The Guardian -
• Teenage boy charged with murder over alleged Clayfield stabbing of Greg Josephson at Brisbane house party — The Guardian -
• Two men jailed for life for murder of Aboriginal boy — BBC World -
• Half of all Australian landlords claimed rental losses against their taxes, ATO reveals – as it happened — The Guardian -
• NSW premier was guided by police when he characterised explosive-laden caravan as terrorism, Minns’ team says — The Guardian -
• A third of Pacific island nation applies for Australian climate change visa — BBC World -
• Two men sentenced to life in prison for murdering 15-year-old Cassius Turvey — The Guardian -

Diverse stories included a Norwegian tourist banned from the US over a meme, the mourning of a killed Minnesota lawmaker, El Salvador's controversial mass arrests, Haitians facing deportation from the US, initiatives like introducing chess to Malawi's prisons, the discovery of an ancient runestone in Canada, rising global poverty and hunger in conflict zones, and outrage over Florida's proposed 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant jail.

• Did a JD Vance meme get tourist banned from the US? — BBC World -
• California legislature acts to keep film and TV production at home — The Guardian -
• Killed ex-Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman lies in state alongside husband and dog — The Guardian -

• California leaders approve budget to close $12bn deficit in blow to progressive causes — The Guardian -
• Mother arrested at LA court alongside six-year-old son with cancer sues Ice — The Guardian -
• El Salvador Police Say Quotas and Rumors Fueled Bukele’s Mass Arrests — New York Times World -
• US says Haitians can be deported – days after ruling Haiti unsafe for Americans — The Guardian -
• Chess Lover Introduces Game to Malawi’s Prisons, Schools and Street Kids — New York Times World -
• A Runestone That May Be North America’s Oldest Turns Up in a Canada Forest — New York Times World -
• Severe weather warnings issued for southern Europe ahead of Bezos wedding in Venice – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Rising poverty in conflict zones ‘causes a billion people to go hungry’ — The Guardian -
• Florida plan for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ migrant jail sparks chorus of outrage — The Guardian -
• Ottawa ‘urgently seeking more information’ about death of Canadian citizen in Ice custody — The Guardian -
• Top Chinese general ousted from body that oversees China’s military — The Guardian -
• Iranian woman, who has lived in US for 47 years, taken by Ice while gardening — The Guardian -
• Weather tracker: France hit by severe thunderstorms — The Guardian -
• US electrical worker left dangling after being hit by truck — BBC World -
• 'We can't do without these people': Trump's migrant crackdown has businesses worried — BBC World -
• India recovers data from crashed Air India flight recorders — BBC World -

Billionaire Jeff Bezos's multi-day wedding in Venice drew attention with celebrity guests and satirical mannequins, while Lotus considered ending UK sportscar production, Superdrug planned expansion fueled by demand for weight loss drugs, and Sky sold its German pay-TV business.

• Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Tie the Knot — New York Times World -
• Jeff in Venice: seven takeaways from the Bezos-Sánchez wedding — The Guardian -
• Lotus plans to end UK sportscar production, putting 1,300 jobs at risk — The Guardian -

• Till Jeff us do part: divisive, star-studded Bezos wedding hits full swing in Venice — The Guardian -
• Superdrug to add 25 stores as demand for weight loss drugs soars — The Guardian -
• As Celebrities Arrive in Venice for the Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sánchez Wedding, Details Are Scant — New York Times World -
• Period drama: Here We Flo pulls ‘plastic-free’ pledge amid row over green claims — The Guardian -
• Satirical Bezos mannequins pop up in Venice ahead of wedding — BBC World -
• Sky sells German pay-TV business to RTL for €150m — The Guardian -
• Watch: Stars arrive in Venice for Jeff Bezos wedding — BBC World -

The death of influential photographer Rosalind Fox Solomon was noted, as was composer Lalo Schifrin, known for the **Mission: Impossible theme**; a Dior fashion show in Paris was also highlighted.

• Rosalind Fox Solomon, Whose Photos Captured Emotional Nuance, Dies at 95 — New York Times World -
• Dior Paris show is sweet relief for anyone wanting to flex a cooler muscle — The Guardian -
• Renowned food critic Chua Lam dies at 83 — BBC World -

• Mission Impossible theme composer, Lalo Schifrin, dies at 93 — BBC World -
• Lalo Schifrin, composer of Mission: Impossible theme and more than 100 film and TV scores, dies aged 93 — The Guardian -

Discussions at the Bonn climate talks revealed challenges for the upcoming Cop30 summit, while Danish law aimed to tackle deepfakes by establishing copyright for personal features, and neuroscientists explored optical illusions.

• Scientists Retrace 30,000-Year-Old Ocean Voyage, in a Hollowed-Out Log — New York Times World -
• How Two Neuroscientists View Optical Illusions — New York Times World -
• Wreckers, money woes and mutirão: 10 things we learned about Cop30 from Bonn climate talks — The Guardian -

• Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features — The Guardian -