Key economic indicators in the UK show a rise in country house sales and job hunters, while a Greene King boss advocates for tax reform and Rachel Reeves proposes youth service investment; meanwhile, local issues range from smartphone bans in schools and measles outbreaks to funding for EV charging and questions about AI's impact on jobs, alongside a Met chief's statement on racial disparity and the restoration of Windrush artworks.

• Tax pubs on profit not property value, urges Greene King boss — The Guardian -
• Sales of UK country houses rise as buyers tempted out by lower prices — The Guardian -
• Number of UK job hunters rises at fastest rate since Covid pandemic — The Guardian -

• Rachel Reeves to announce £500m for investment in youth services projects — The Guardian -
• Turn empty London office blocks into ‘late-night party zones’, report suggests — The Guardian -
• Fathers plan legal action to get smartphones banned in England’s schools — The Guardian -
• Family pay tribute to boy who died after going missing in West Midlands lake — The Guardian -
• Parents urged to get children vaccinated after measles death in Liverpool — The Guardian -
• UK government announces £63m funding for EV charging infrastructure — The Guardian -
• Public support for resident doctors’ strikes collapses ahead of fresh industrial action — The Guardian -
• Tom Dolphin: BMA’s new chair who’s taking on government despite bid to be Labour MP — The Guardian -
• Ofcom head says age checks are ‘really big moment’ for children’s online safety — The Guardian -
• ‘Shameful’ that black boys in London more likely to die by 18 than white boys, says Met chief — The Guardian -
• Teach First job applicants will get in-person interviews after more apply using AI — The Guardian -
• London artworks celebrating Windrush generation restored after vandalism — The Guardian -
• Could AI be accelerating slowdown in the UK job market? — The Guardian -
• Reform wants to cut council diversity roles. The problem is there are already barely any — The Guardian -

Significant domestic events in the US include a deadly Kentucky church shooting and Grand Canyon wildfires, while Texas continues to grapple with severe flooding; President Trump's administration faces scrutiny over a water shortage row with Mexico, FEMA's future, Epstein files, and Secret Service failures after an assassination attempt, with concerns also raised about America's 'brain drain' and a generational low in first-time US homebuyers.

• The deepening water shortage row between the US and Mexico — BBC World -
• Monday Briefing: America’s Brain Drain and the World — New York Times World -
• Two women killed at Kentucky church as gunman opens fire after shooting officer — BBC World -

• Two dead and three injured, including state trooper, in Kentucky shootings — The Guardian -
• Wildfires destroy historic lodge on Grand Canyon’s North Rim, park says — The Guardian -
• Trump defends US Attorney General Pam Bondi over Epstein files — BBC World -
• Heavy rain in Texas halts rescue efforts as officials warn of further flooding — The Guardian -
• Trump wants to ‘remake’ Fema, not eliminate it, Kristi Noem says — The Guardian -
• Secret Service’s ‘cascade of failures’ allowed Trump assassination attempt, report says — The Guardian -
• Texas camp buildings were removed from map showing flood risks, US media reports — BBC World -
• DoJ drops charges against Utah doctor accused of destroying Covid vaccines — The Guardian -
• Rosie O’Donnell dismisses Trump’s threat to revoke her US citizenship — The Guardian -
• Why is the number of first-time US homebuyers at a generational low? — The Guardian -

Escalating conflict in Gaza continues with Israeli airstrikes killing civilians at a water distribution point, alongside settler violence in the West Bank and discussions around a "humanitarian city"; Iran's president was reportedly injured in strikes, while diplomatic efforts for a two-state solution falter, and a Palestine Action ban sparks UK protests, all within the context of Iran's role in the broader Middle East.

• Children Among at Least 10 Killed in Israeli Strike in Central Gaza, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• ‘Humanitarian city’ would be concentration camp for Palestinians, says former Israeli PM — The Guardian -
• Iran president was reportedly injured in Israeli strikes — BBC World -

• Bishops call on UK government to take action over West Bank settler violence — The Guardian -
• Gaza officials say children killed in strike as Israeli military admits 'error' — BBC World -
• Why Trump’s Abraham Accords Have Not Meant Mideast Peace — New York Times World -
• Death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza surpasses 58,000, says health ministry – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Israeli airstrike kills at least 10, including six children, at Gaza water station, say health officials — The Guardian -
• Charlotte Church joins unions and campaigners in opposing ban on Palestine Action — The Guardian -
• Macron not expected at UN summit on two-state solution for Palestine and Israel — The Guardian -
• Are We Seeing the Outlines of a New Middle East? — New York Times World -

European leaders address security concerns as Macron warns of a major threat to freedom and increases military spending, while Hungary's PM Viktor Orban faces crumbling power; the continent also sees an anti-migrant unrest in Spain, France honors Gisèle Pelicot, and grapples with the release of a pro-Putin conductor, as public opinion shifts on UK rejoining the EU and France seeks to save an American revolutionary war vessel replica.

• Europe's freedom faces greatest 'threat' since WW2, says Macron — BBC World -
• The 'strongman' PM who inspired Trump's playbook - but now finds his power crumbling — BBC World -
• Macron Increases Military Spending, Saying Freedom Is Threatened — New York Times World -

• Gisèle Pelicot given France's highest award — BBC World -
• ‘Now or never’ to save replica of American revolutionary war vessel, say French campaigners — The Guardian -
• Several people injured in second night of anti-migrant unrest in Spanish town — The Guardian -
• French prisoner escapes in fellow inmate's bag, officials say — BBC World -
• Most people in France, Germany, Italy and Spain would support UK rejoining EU, poll finds — The Guardian -
• Putin's friend Gergiev set for concert as Italy breaks ban on pro-Kremlin artists — BBC World -

US trade policies are causing friction as **Trump's threat of 30% tariffs against the EU and Mexico prompts European leaders to call for resolute defense and delays in retaliatory measures, pushing US allies to seek new trade arrangements** less vulnerable to American tariffs.

• Amid Tariff Chaos, U.S. Allies Try to Redraw the Trade Map — New York Times World -
• EU delays retaliatory trade tariffs against US — BBC World -
• Trump’s latest tariffs ‘are real’ unless deals improve, economic adviser says — The Guardian -

• Macron calls on EU to ‘defend European interests resolutely’ from Trump tariffs — The Guardian -
• EU and Mexico criticise Trump's proposed 30% tariff — BBC World -

Australia confronts pressing domestic issues including a racist slur at a Sydney hospital and a failed koala reintroduction effort, while politically, a Labor group questions an antisemitism envoy's plan and a Queensland government launches an inquiry into a union; internationally, Australia rebuffs calls to commit to a US-China conflict over Taiwan, and Sydney police are involved in a fatal shooting.

• ‘Gross overreach’: Labor group urges Albanese to reject key parts of antisemitism envoy plan — The Guardian -
• Indigenous midwife referred to by racist slur on staff whiteboard at Sydney’s RPA hospital — The Guardian -
• More than half of koalas relocated to NSW forest died in failed government attempt at reintroduction — The Guardian -

• Queensland LNP government launches inquiry into CFMEU state branch and its Labor ‘enablers’ — The Guardian -
• Australia news live: PM says his government ‘support the status quo’ for Taiwan – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Australia rebuffs calls to commit to joining hypothetical US-China conflict — The Guardian -
• Sydney police fatally shot machete-wielding man during wife’s alleged brawl in Westfield car park — The Guardian -

Political instability and conflict mark the continent as South Africa's police minister is suspended amid organized crime allegations and an inquiry is launched; additionally, Sudan's el-Fasher sees renewed fighting as the RSF storms a cattle market and prison, and former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari dies.

• South Africa's police minister suspended over organised crime allegations — BBC World -
• South African President Opens Corruption Inquiry of Police Leader — New York Times World -
• RSF storms cattle market and prison in 'death trap' Sudanese city — BBC World -

• Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari dies aged 82 in London — The Guardian -

High-profile diplomatic engagements are planned as King Charles III prepares to host Donald Trump for a UK state visit in September, carefully scheduled to avoid parliamentary sessions.

• King Charles III Will Host Trump for U.K. State Visit in September — New York Times World -
• King Charles schedules Trump state visit for when UK parliament is in recess — The Guardian -

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine sees Russia's agents killed following a Ukrainian intelligence officer's death, with Kyiv preparing for a future without a ceasefire; a broader look at Canada's Cold War relics highlights the region's evolving security landscape.

• Ukraine must get ready for future in which there is no ceasefire with Russia — The Guardian -
• In Canada’s Northern Outposts, Rusting Relics Once Guarded Against Nuclear War — New York Times World -
• Russia's agents killed after intelligence officer shot dead, says Ukraine — BBC World -

Diverse global developments include the end of a medical student boycott in South Korea, research on gut microbes absorbing "forever chemicals", concerns over the quality of scientific papers, India's linguistic policy debates, and a heartwarming story of Brenda, 95, becoming a TikTok star with her soft toys.

• Brenda, 95, and her soft toys become unlikely stars on TikTok — The Guardian -
• Quality of scientific papers questioned as academics ‘overwhelmed’ by the millions published — The Guardian -
• South Korea medical students end 17-month boycott of classes — BBC World -

• Some gut microbes can absorb and help expel ‘forever chemicals’ from the body, research shows — The Guardian -
• Modi Wants More Indians to Speak Hindi. Some States Are Shouting ‘No.’ — New York Times World -

A historic agreement has been reached for New Caledonia to be declared a new state within the French Republic, granting it more autonomy after past violent protests.

• France Announces Agreement to Give New Caledonia More Autonomy — New York Times World -
• New Caledonia to be declared a state in ‘historic’ agreement – but will remain French — The Guardian -

The ongoing investigation into the Air India crash leaves victims' families dissatisfied with the preliminary report, which cited fuel switches being cut off as a factor, deepening the mystery and lack of closure.

• For Families of Air India Crash Victims, Report Brings No Closure — New York Times World -
• Air India crash victims’ families not satisfied with ‘vague’ initial report — The Guardian -