Recent headlines highlight the Pope's offer for talks with Russia and the rescue of Red Sea cargo ship crew following an attack, while China denies targeting a German military plane with a laser. The Ukraine war escalates with heavy attacks despite Trump's criticism of Putin, and Gaza aid workers are overwhelmed by mass casualty incidents; furthermore, Israel launches new ground operations in Lebanon while Gaza truce talks stall. The European Court holds Russia liable for human rights violations in Ukraine and the MH17 attack, a jailed Kurdish leader declares an end to armed struggle in Turkey, South Korea returns stranded North Korean fishermen, and there are reports of Indians kidnapped in Mali and a Palestinian EU worker abandoned in Cairo.

• Pope offers to hold talks with Russia after meeting Zelenskyy – Europe live — The Guardian -
• Seven crew rescued after sinking of cargo ship in Red Sea — The Guardian -
• Police investigating video claiming responsibility for torching cars at Israel-linked weapons business in Melbourne — The Guardian -

• China rejects German claim it targeted military plane with laser — BBC World -
• Ukraine suffers heaviest attack as Trump criticises Putin — BBC World -
• Gaza aid workers overwhelmed by ‘mass casualty incidents’ at food distribution sites — The Guardian -
• Putin Escalates His War Against Ukraine, Undeterred by Trump’s Words — New York Times World -
• Steve Rosenberg: Moscow shrugs off Trump's irritation with Putin — BBC World -
• After Decades as Enemies, Syria and Israel Now Share a Common Foe — New York Times World -
• Children among 20 people reported killed overnight by Israeli strikes on Gaza – as it happened — The Guardian -
• European Court Holds Russia Liable for Human Rights Violations in Ukraine and MH17 Attack — New York Times World -
• Israel Launches New Ground Operations in Lebanon Despite Truce — New York Times World -
• Has the Trump-Putin bromance finally run its course? — The Guardian -
• Russia Makes Record Attack on Ukraine as Trump Castigates Putin — New York Times World -
• Jailed Kurdish Leader Declares the End to PKK’s Armed Struggle In Turkey — New York Times World -
• Gaza truce talks reportedly stall despite second Netanyahu-Trump meeting — BBC World -
• South Korea Returns Stranded North Korean Fishermen — New York Times World -
• Seoul returns six North Koreans with 'strong desire' to go back — BBC World -
• Families anxious over safety of Indians kidnapped in Mali — BBC World -
• Palestinian who worked for EU in Gaza accuses Brussels of ‘abandoning’ him after office closed — The Guardian -
• Ukraine Turns to Fishing Nets to Catch Russian Drones — New York Times World -
• Trump’s Frustration With Putin Preceded Resumption of U.S. Weapons to Ukraine — New York Times World -

The Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to mass fire federal workers, signaling a return to his administration's policies, as copper prices hit a record high in the US following **Trump's announced 50% tariff and a threat of 200% tariffs on foreign pharmaceuticals raises concerns. Additionally, Trump's expansive view of trade deals is examined, a botched prisoner swap involving Venezuelans is reported, and an AI impersonation of Marco Rubio** is under investigation.

• Kennedy touts ultra-processed meals he once called ‘poison’ — The Guardian -
• Canada Thinks Its Trade Talks With Trump Are Unique. Does That Matter? — New York Times World -
• US cuts visa validity for most Nigerian applicants — BBC World -

• Threat of Trump tariffs ‘puts businesses at risk of going bust’ — The Guardian -
• Copper prices in US hit record high after Trump announces 50% tariff — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Supreme court clears way for Trump to mass fire federal workers — The Guardian -
• U.S. Botched a Deal to Swap Venezuelans in El Salvador for American Prisoners — New York Times World -
• Marco Rubio Impersonation Under State Dept. Investigation — New York Times World -
• What Is a Trade Deal? Trump Takes an Expansive View. — New York Times World -
• Supreme court lifts order blocking Trump’s federal layoffs, paving way for mass job cuts – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Australian government ‘urgently seeking more detail’ after Trump flags 200% tariffs on foreign pharmaceuticals — The Guardian -

Starmer states the UK cannot simply tax its way to growth as resident doctors in England plan a strike, while an inquiry chair claims ministers did not listen to infected blood victims. Furthermore, Thames Water refused to claw back bonuses from an emergency loan, HS2 is billions over budget, and a man passed details on a minister to police posing as Russian spies. The number of abortions in England and Wales hit a record high, the Royal Family welcomed President Macron for a state visit focusing on solving the small-boats crisis, and a Russian plot to burn a London restaurant was uncovered.

• Starmer says UK ‘can’t just tax our way to growth’ as he brushes off call for wealth tax – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Man passed details on minister to police posing as Russian spies, UK court told — The Guardian -
• Number of abortions in England and Wales hit record high in 2022 — The Guardian -

• Thames Water refuses to claw back bonuses paid using £3bn emergency loan — The Guardian -
• Norman Tebbit, Conservative Force in Britain and Thatcher Ally, Dies at 94 — New York Times World -
• Girl, seven, ‘fought like hell’ and shielded others, parents tell Southport inquiry — The Guardian -
• HS2 already billions over budget with work ‘just over halfway done’, says rail boss — The Guardian -
• Ministers did not listen to infected blood victims, says UK inquiry chair — The Guardian -
• Resident doctors in England to strike from 25 July — The Guardian -
• Royal Family Welcomes President Macron to UK for State Visit With Pomp and Pizazz — New York Times World -
• Wednesday briefing: Can Macron and Starmer solve the small-boats crisis? — The Guardian -
• NHS pharmacies to pilot ‘sponge on a string’ test to spot cancer precursor — The Guardian -
• Looser bonus rules and tax breaks needed to save London stock market, says CBI — The Guardian -
• London’s stock exchange needs a shot in the arm from the Treasury | Nils Pratley — The Guardian -
• The Wild Russian Plot to Burn a London Restaurant and Kidnap Its Owner — New York Times World -

Deadly floods in Pakistan are triggered by glacial melt and monsoon rains, as Marseille contained a wildfire and France warns of a high-risk summer for wildfires. Meanwhile, flash flooding in New Mexico killed three people, Texas floods left over 100 missing, and wildfires scarred Syria anew, while climate breakdown is suggested to have tripled the death toll in a recent European heatwave as monsoon rains in East Asia become unreliable.

• Accelerated glacial melt and monsoon rains trigger deadly floods in Pakistan — The Guardian -
• French warned of high-risk summer for wildfires as Marseille blaze contained — The Guardian -
• Umbrellas Optional? East Asia’s Monsoon Rains Are No Longer a Sure Thing — New York Times World -

• Three dead as flash flooding hits mountain town in New Mexico, officials say — The Guardian -
• More than 100 hurt as efforts to contain Marseille wildfire continue — BBC World -
• Wildfire on Edge of Marseille Injures More Than 100, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• Wildfires Scar Syria Anew — New York Times World -
• Far-right conspiracy theories spread online in aftermath of the Texas floods — The Guardian -
• At least three dead in New Mexico flash flooding — BBC World -
• Days after Texas floods, at least 161 people are still missing in one county — BBC World -
• Wildfires Burn Across Europe After Blistering Heat Wave — New York Times World -
• Climate breakdown tripled death toll in Europe’s June heatwave, study finds — The Guardian -
• Research Suggests Climate Change Added Excess Deaths in European Heat Wave — New York Times World -
• Moment house is swept away in New Mexico flash flooding — BBC World -

Australian rental costs are easing for some tenants while Labor moves to combat antisemitism, and police charged a woman fleeing domestic violence with driving offenses. A childcare worker faces abuse charges, leading to an Affinity group installing CCTV in centers, as the Erin Patterson 'mushroom murders' trial captivated media attention, and warmer weather is expected after NSW's coldest June.

• Australian rental costs easing for some ‘maxed out’ tenants even as property prices edge up — The Guardian -
• Labor to move quickly on special envoy’s plan to combat antisemitism — The Guardian -
• Queensland police charged woman with driving offences while she was fleeing domestic violence — The Guardian -

• Fears grow for 26-year-old German backpacker missing in rural Western Australia — The Guardian -
• Affinity Education childcare worker facing multiple child sexual abuse charges — The Guardian -
• Affinity group to install CCTV at all its childcare centres – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Warmer weather on the way after NSW records coldest June in almost 20 years — The Guardian -
• Erin Patterson trial was Victoria supreme court’s largest media matter in recent history, court data reveals — The Guardian -
• 'You did it': How doctor realised mushroom cook was a killer — BBC World -
• Australian childcare operator to install CCTV after abuse claims — BBC World -
• ‘Fungi fatale’ and ‘death cap stare’: how the world’s media reported Erin Patterson’s guilty verdict — The Guardian -

French police raided the National Rally headquarters over campaign finances, while South Sudan reports deportees from the US are under government care. Kenya's leader orders police to curb violent protests by 'shooting in the leg', Canada charges an armed group in a plot to seize Quebec land, Mexico City protests remote workers, and Guatemala closed schools after earthquakes, as hundreds of Chinese children were poisoned with lead from kindergarten food.

• South Sudan says eight deportees from the US are under government care — The Guardian -
• French police raid on National Rally HQ prompts outrage from party leaders — BBC World -
• Police raid headquarters of French far-right National Rally party — The Guardian -

• 'Shoot in the leg' - Kenyan leader orders police to curb violent protests — BBC World -
• Canadian Armed Group Charged in Plot to Seize Quebec Land — New York Times World -
• Why Are Protesters in Mexico City Angry at Remote Workers? — New York Times World -
• EU urged to build stockpiles to prepare for pandemic, natural disaster or invasion — The Guardian -
• Guatemala Closes Schools in Capital After Earthquakes — New York Times World -
• Hundreds of Chinese Children Poisoned With Lead From Kindergarten Food — New York Times World -
• Wednesday Briefing: Rare Earths, Made in Europe? — New York Times World -
• Are India's skies safe? Air safety watchdog responds amid rising concerns — BBC World -

Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO of Elon Musk's X, and **Nvidia became the first company to reach $4tn in market value. In related news, Musk's Grok chatbot is criticized for praising Hitler** and insulting politicians.

• Linda Yaccarino stepping down as CEO of Elon Musk’s X — The Guardian -
• Nvidia becomes first company to reach $4tn in market value — The Guardian -
• Musk's Grok chatbot praises Hitler and insults politicians — BBC World -

New research questions the severity of withdrawal from antidepressants, while another study charts a 37,000-year chronicle of what once ailed us through genetic analysis.

• New Research Questions Severity of Withdrawal From Antidepressants — New York Times World -
• A 37,000-Year Chronicle of What Once Ailed Us — New York Times World -

A Canadian couple's message in a bottle was found 13 years later, Red Bull sacked team principal Horner, and the BBC is deciding the fate of a new MasterChef series after its presenter was sacked. A fashion influencer hosted a Dior watch party, a BBC commentator apologized for misnaming a US footballer, Philadelphia union workers ended a strike, the latest Daniel Craig Knives Out movie will open the London film festival, and a rodeo bull named Sauce Boss became an escape artist.

• Canadian couple’s message in a bottle found 13 years later in Irish bay — The Guardian -
• Red Bull sack team principal Horner after 20 years — BBC World -
• BBC deciding what to do with new series of MasterChef fronted by Gregg Wallace — The Guardian -

• Not Invited to Dior’s Show in Paris, a Fashion Influencer Hosts a Watch Party Instead — New York Times World -
• BBC commentator Andrew Castle sorry for getting US footballer’s name wrong — The Guardian -
• Philadelphia Union Reaches Deal to End Strike That Led to Trash Pileup — New York Times World -
• Latest Daniel Craig Knives Out movie Wake Up Dead Man will open London film festival — The Guardian -
• Sauce Boss the rodeo bull becomes latest US animal escape artist — The Guardian -
• The Bayeux Tapestry, a British Masterpiece, Returns to England After 900 Years — New York Times World -
• Can we trust nuclear power again? - podcast — The Guardian -