Ukraine's defense preparations, Israeli military actions in Syria and their diplomatic implications, and mounting US-China tensions over trade and regional influence highlight ongoing international instability, alongside European nations forging stronger alliances.

• Preparations to deliver Patriot missile systems to Ukraine under way, Nato’s top Europe commander says – Europe live — The Guardian -
• Why Israel Attacked Syria — New York Times World -
• Israel, Mixing Force With Diplomacy, Takes ‘Discordant’ Approach to Syria — New York Times World -

• Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after days of clashes with Druze fighters — The Guardian -
• Syria’s President Condemns Israeli Strikes on Damascus — New York Times World -
• Sirens and evacuations as Taipei rehearses to counter China invasion threat — BBC World -
• Trump’s Brazil Tariff Threats Rekindle Support for President Lula — New York Times World -
• PM dismisses Coalition criticism of trip – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Albanese says Coalition failed to have call with Beijing for years as opposition criticises ‘indulgent’ China trip — The Guardian -
• European missile group MBDA selling parts for bombs that have killed children in Gaza — The Guardian -
• US says 'specific steps' agreed to end Syria violence after Israeli strikes hit Damascus — BBC World -
• US says 'specific steps' agreed to end Syria violence after Israeli strikes hit Damascus — BBC World -
• Germany’s Merz and UK’s Starmer Meet to Cement Ties as U.S. Steps Back — New York Times World -
• China’s Aircraft Carriers Push Into Waters Long Dominated by U.S. — New York Times World -
• Two dead and many injured in Russian strike on Ukrainian shopping centre — BBC World -
• Two dead and many injured in Russian strike on Ukrainian shopping centre — BBC World -
• Afghan Women and Girls Deported From Iran Fear Returning to Afghanistan — New York Times World -
• Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria? — BBC World -
• Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria? — BBC World -

US policy shifts on funding and trade, UK reforms in voting and economic stability, and Australian political misconduct allegations underscore diverse national governance challenges.

• Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz sign UK-Germany friendship and cooperation treaty – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Senate approves cuts to global aid funding and public broadcasting in win for Trump – US politics live — The Guardian -
• UK unemployment rises and wage growth slows as jobs market ‘weakens’ — The Guardian -

• Tens of thousands in US set to join ‘Good Trouble’ protests honoring John Lewis — The Guardian -
• Will Mike Waltz lead a ‘full-frontal assault’ on the UN? — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Trump calls Epstein rumors a ‘radical left’ hoax and condemns Maga ‘weaklings’ — The Guardian -
• They Grew Up on Mexican Coke. Trump’s Cane Sugar Plan Makes Them Uneasy. — New York Times World -
• Voting age to be lowered to 16 in UK by next general election — The Guardian -
• Trump’s $1tn for Pentagon to add huge planet-heating emissions, study shows — The Guardian -
• Rise in unemployment shows UK jobs market is cooling, but it is not collapsing — The Guardian -
• Reform’s anti-renewables stance ‘putting jobs and energy bills at risk’ — The Guardian -
• Labour taking Diane Abbott’s latest comments on racism ‘incredibly seriously’ — The Guardian -
• Jaguar Land Rover to axe 500 UK management jobs as Trump tariffs fallout dents sales — The Guardian -
• Labour MP suspended for opposing disability cuts will keep speaking for ‘invisible in society’ — The Guardian -
• Labour backbench MPs push for tough, wholesale changes to gambling regulation — The Guardian -
• Resident doctors accused of ‘greedy’ pay demands before Streeting talks — The Guardian -
• Childminder costs over school summer holidays as high as £1,800, research finds — The Guardian -
• UK drivers warned of soaring charges to drop off passengers at airports — The Guardian -
• Trump rescinds $4bn in US funding for California high-speed rail project — The Guardian -
• Trump says FBI should investigate ‘the Jeffrey Epstein hoax’ as a criminal conspiracy against him – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Why doctors are striking … again – podcast — The Guardian -
• Prosecutor in Diddy and Epstein cases fired by US justice department — BBC World -
• Trump calls Epstein conspiracy a ‘hoax’ and turns on Maga ‘weaklings’ — The Guardian -
• Trump Has Promised More Tariffs on Mexico. What Happens Next? — New York Times World -
• Maurene Comey: prosecutor in Jeffrey Epstein case reportedly fired by DoJ — The Guardian -
• NSW minister Ryan Park used ministerial car for 456km trip from Sydney to Jindabyne during ski season — The Guardian -

Allegations of workplace toxicity, sexual assault, and discrimination expose ongoing social justice challenges, while civilian casualties in conflict zones and public health warnings emphasize urgent welfare needs.

• Mark Latham’s alleged behaviour in parliament is a sign of a toxic political culture for women – and that’s a much bigger problem to fix — The Guardian -
• Lauren Southern, Former Right-Wing Commentator, Says Andrew Tate Assaulted Her — New York Times World -
• Children under seven should not drink slushies containing glycerol, says regulator — The Guardian -

• Several injured after Gaza church struck, patriarchate says — BBC World -
• Restaurant in China criticised for putting baby lion cuddles on menu — The Guardian -
• Armed police threatened to arrest Kent protester for holding Palestinian flag — The Guardian -
• Police race action plan for England and Wales could be sidelined, monitor says — The Guardian -
• Sudan’s children face growing threat of deadly infectious diseases as vaccination rates halve — The Guardian -
• Sydney Muslim cleric told to prominently display online judge’s findings he was ‘racist and antisemitic’ — The Guardian -
• Thursday briefing: Misinformation, access and cuts – the UK’s measles surge explained — The Guardian -
• Alleged sex offender Joshua Dale Brown was sacked by Melbourne childcare centre in 2021 before joining another — The Guardian -
• ‘Mark Latham is a pig’: NSW MP criticised for allegedly taking covert photos of female colleagues in parliament — The Guardian -
• Driver who killed father and injured son, 6, sent 44 Snapchat messages while driving 100km/h before fatal crash — The Guardian -

Brazil's controversial environmental law, the legacy of landmines, and local pollution incidents highlight pressing ecological issues alongside wildlife preservation efforts.

• Brazil passes ‘devastation bill’ that drastically weakens environmental law — The Guardian -
• Prince Harry Follows Diana’s Footsteps in Angola as Specter of Land Mines Returns — New York Times World -
• Melbourne creek turns bright blue after construction chemicals wash into waterway — The Guardian -

• Humpback whale that swam to Circular Quay, delighting ferry passengers, has left Sydney Harbour — The Guardian -

Key corporate legal outcomes and market performance reports demonstrate economic fluctuations, as concerns over AI safety and data privacy emerge as critical technological debates.

• Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s Decade of Legal Woes Ends — New York Times World -
• Frasers Group sales fall amid ‘challenging’ luxury market and retreat from gaming — The Guardian -
• AI firms ‘unprepared’ for dangers of building human-level systems, report warns — The Guardian -

• Samsung boss cleared of fraud by South Korea's top court — BBC World -
• Von der Leyen calls for new EU taxes on big firms in €2tn budget proposal — The Guardian -
• Meta argues its AI needs personal information from social media posts to learn ‘Australian concepts’ — The Guardian -

Major fires at a music festival and a shopping mall, along with a missing hiker in the Pyrenees, underscore unexpected and tragic events requiring emergency responses.

• Tomorrowland Music Festival Is Still On After Blaze Wrecks Main Stage — New York Times World -
• Rescuers Seek American Hiker Missing for Days in the Pyrenees — New York Times World -
• Iraq Shopping Mall Fire Kills at Least 61 — New York Times World -

• 60 dead after fire tears through Iraqi shopping centre, officials say — BBC World -
• Tomorrowland organisers say festival will go ahead after fire destroys main stage — BBC World -
• Fire at newly opened Iraqi shopping centre kills 61 people — The Guardian -
• Fire destroys main stage at Belgium’s Tomorrowland festival on eve of opening — The Guardian -

Ariana Grande's career trajectory captures attention in this brief snapshot of the entertainment world.

• Ariana Grande says she's not abandoning music for film — BBC World -