The Trump administration's influence on domestic policy and political disputes continues, with controversies surrounding Federal Reserve appointments, funding cuts to major cities, and ongoing investigations into the Trump-Russia probe and Jeffrey Epstein's connections, alongside public backlash over statistical data integrity and disputes over congressional redistricting in Texas.

• Texas senator asks FBI to help locate and arrest Democrats for leaving state — The Guardian -
• US judge blocks Trump officials from diverting disaster prevention grants — The Guardian -
• US attorney general orders grand jury hearings on Trump-Russia probe — BBC World -

• Trump administration cuts New York City’s anti-terrorism funding days after skyscraper attack — The Guardian -
• Spike Lee, Adam McKay and over 2,000 writers decry Trump’s ‘un-American’ actions in open letter — The Guardian -
• How a Texas showdown could reshape Congress - and Trump's presidency — BBC World -
• Trump administration to reinstall Confederate statue toppled in Black Lives Matter protests — The Guardian -
• Rwanda Agrees to Accept 250 Migrants as Part of Trump Deportation Plan — New York Times World -
• U.S. Imports Slid in June on Higher Tariffs — New York Times World -
• US House panel subpoenas Bill and Hillary Clinton for Epstein testimony — The Guardian -
• Epstein scandal broadens as trove of letters from famous figures published — The Guardian -
• Rwanda agrees to take up to 250 migrants from the US — The Guardian -
• Texas Republicans vote to arrest Democrats blocking plan to re-draw electoral boundaries — BBC World -
• ‘Latinos deserve a district’: alarm as new Texas maps dilute voting power in Austin — The Guardian -
• Trump says treasury chief Scott Bessent no longer being considered for Fed chair — The Guardian -
• US steps up efforts to help Bolsonaro avoid jail over alleged coup plot — The Guardian -
• Pam Bondi seeks grand jury review of origins of Trump-Russia investigation — The Guardian -
• Nebraska Republican faces heckles and boos at town hall over Trump cuts and Epstein — The Guardian -
• Texas governor vows to arrest Democrats who fled to block redistricting vote | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Trump firing of statistics chief puts US data credibility at risk, experts warn — The Guardian -
• The one thing Donald Trump isn’t saying about tariffs — The Guardian -
• Trump attacks ‘seriously woke’ Jaguar Land Rover as company names new CEO — The Guardian -
• U.S. to Require Some Foreign Visitors to Pay Bonds of Up to $15,000 for Entry — New York Times World -
• Texas Democratic lawmakers rally outside Governor’s Mansion to protest redistricting of maps – as it happened — The Guardian -
• In Delhi and New York, Hindu Right Wing Lines Up Against Mamdani — New York Times World -
• Texas House pushes forward on redistricting as Democrats vow to fight — The Guardian -
• House Democrats sign on to letter urging Trump to recognise Palestinian statehood — The Guardian -
• 'I'm upset, angry and disgusted,' Epstein accuser tells BBC — BBC World -

Tensions remain high in the Israel-Gaza conflict, with discussions at the UN Security Council about escalating military actions, the dire humanitarian situation, and allegations of targeting health services, while international efforts to provide aid and cultural institutions react to the ongoing crisis.

• UN Security Council Meets to Discuss Israel-Gaza War and Hostages — New York Times World -
• ‘Healthocide’: experts warn of rise in targeting of health services in conflict — The Guardian -
• Wednesday Briefing: Netanyahu’s Next Steps in Gaza — New York Times World -

• British Opera Company Cancels ‘Tosca’ Collaboration in Israel After Criticism — New York Times World -
• A wasteland of rubble, dust and graves: how Gaza looks from the sky — The Guardian -
• Israel-Gaza war: Netanyahu deciding on next steps amid reports he could escalate conflict – as it happened — The Guardian -
• U.S. Victims of Hamas and Hezbollah Attacks Sue UNRWA — New York Times World -
• Netanyahu to propose full reoccupation of Gaza, Israeli media report — BBC World -
• Israeli cabinet meeting postponed as tensions rise over Netanyahu’s occupation plan — The Guardian -
• On Gaza, Germany’s Government Faces Pressure From All Sides — New York Times World -
• ‘Heartbreaking’: a London surgeon on the trials of operating in a Gaza hospital — The Guardian -
• 100 Gaza children hope to be evacuated to UK for urgent medical care — The Guardian -
• More than 40 arrested at protest against Gaza war at Trump hotel in New York — The Guardian -

Economic concerns are prominent, including calls for tax increases to address a budget deficit and declining business profits, alongside challenges in immigration policy, internal disputes within the Royal Family, and critical reports on the prison and healthcare systems that reveal systemic failings.

• Rachel Reeves needs to put up taxes to cover £40bn deficit, thinktank says — The Guardian -
• Prince Harry among those criticised in report on dispute at Sentebale charity — The Guardian -
• UK to bear transport costs of ‘one in, one out’ asylum seeker deal with France — The Guardian -

• Funding for English youth clubs aims to keep children off smartphones — The Guardian -
• Labour thinktank offers sponsorship packages to meet and influence ‘key policymakers’ — The Guardian -
• ‘The Earl of Sandwich is rolling in his grave’: Tesco’s birthday cake sandwich divides opinion — The Guardian -
• Tory and Reform politicians endanger trials with immigration ‘hysteria’, say former ministers — The Guardian -
• Father pays tribute to ‘hard-working family man’ who died at Oasis concert — The Guardian -
• Worker at Berkshire psychiatric hospital where girl died had no experience, inquest hears — The Guardian -
• Support for hardline anti-immigration policies linked to ignorance about migration figures, poll suggests – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Prison bosses make room for possible influx before planned protests across England — The Guardian -
• HMRC could claw back VAT from private school advance fee schemes, experts say — The Guardian -
• Scottish ministers criticised for slow progress in exam passes for poorer students — The Guardian -
• Tommy Robinson, Far-Right UK Activist, Is Arrested Over Train Station Assault — New York Times World -
• BP begins costs review as quarterly profits of £1.77bn beat forecast — The Guardian -
• Domino’s Pizza profits dive as people cut back on takeaways in UK — The Guardian -
• Tommy Robinson bailed after arrest on suspicion of grievous bodily harm — The Guardian -
• Murder investigation after 45-year-old man shot dead in north London — The Guardian -
• British teenager boards wrong flight at Menorca airport and ends up in Italy — The Guardian -
• TV presenter Jay Blades charged with two counts of rape — The Guardian -
• Black warehouse worker wins £3,000 payout over colleague’s ‘slave’ graffito — The Guardian -
• Neil Woodford and his investment firm fined almost £46m over fund failings — The Guardian -
• Jeremy Corbyn warns new rules on council asset sales threaten allotments — The Guardian -
• Guinness owner Diageo’s profits slump as it warns of $200m Trump tariff hit — The Guardian -
• Guidance on police disclosing suspects’ ethnicity should change, Cooper says — The Guardian -
• Lord Dannatt urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at request of US firm — The Guardian -
• Storm Floris: Scottish government holds emergency meeting amid warnings of more UK travel disruption — The Guardian -
• ‘We’re the party of ambition’: Plaid Cymru sets out to topple Labour — The Guardian -
• Prison system was days from collapse three times under Sunak, review finds — The Guardian -

Rapid advancements in AI development are highlighted by new customizable models, while concerns rise over AI regulation, ethical implications of using AI in public office, the environmental impact of large tech companies, and the spread of scams through digital platforms.

• News Corp’s Australian newspaper revenue falls as CEO warns Trump of AI’s ‘art of the steal’ — The Guardian -
• Lib Dems call for urgent regulation of YouTube ads after wave of scams — The Guardian -
• OpenAI takes on Meta and DeepSeek with free and customisable AI models — The Guardian -

• ‘We didn’t vote for ChatGPT’: Swedish PM under fire for using AI in role — The Guardian -
• Google outlines latest step towards creating artificial general intelligence — The Guardian -
• Should big tech be allowed to mine Australians’ text and data to train AI? The Productivity Commission is considering it — The Guardian -
• Jim Acosta interviews ‘made-up’ AI avatar of Parkland victim Joaquin Oliver — The Guardian -

Significant environmental challenges are evident with rising plastic pollution on coastlines, severe coral bleaching impacting the Great Barrier Reef, and widespread wildfires leading to air quality alerts, alongside devastating flash floods and major legal settlements over chemical contamination.

• Increase in vapes found on Britain’s coastline by beach clean volunteers — The Guardian -
• Big Tech’s Net-Zero Goals Are Looking Shaky — New York Times World -
• About 100 people missing as flash flood tears through town in northern India — The Guardian -

• Flash Floods in Indian Himalayas Kill 4, and Dozens Are Missing — New York Times World -
• Canada wildfires: 81 million Americans under air quality alerts as blazes rage — The Guardian -
• Great Barrier Reef suffers biggest annual drop in live coral since 1980s after devastating coral bleaching — The Guardian -
• Australian researchers discover two invasive weeds have the potential to be burned as biofuel — The Guardian -
• Three major chemical companies agree to pay $875m to New Jersey over Pfas claims — The Guardian -
• Dozens feared trapped as cloudburst triggers flash floods in India — BBC World -
• Torrential Rain Batters Hong Kong, Flooding the Waterlogged City — New York Times World -
• Scientists identify bacterium behind devastating wasting disease in starfish — The Guardian -
• Tuesday briefing: What the fraught talks to reach a ‘Paris agreement for plastic pollution’ could bring — The Guardian -
• Norway’s Hedged Bet on Europe’s Energy Future: A Garbage Disposal for Emissions — New York Times World -
• Central California issues evacuation orders after wildfire burns 72,000 acres — The Guardian -
• Chemours, DuPont and Corteva Settle $875 Million New Jersey PFAS Claims — New York Times World -

Global trade relations are strained by U.S. tariffs impacting imports and Canada's search for new markets, while Brazil's former president Bolsonaro's house arrest affects trade talks, and geopolitical tensions remain high with Ukraine-Russia ceasefire deadlines and Iran detentions.

• With Canada No Longer Able to Rely on U.S., Carney Pushes New Markets — New York Times World -
• Bolsonaro House Arrest Casts Shadow Over Brazil-U.S. Trade Talks — New York Times World -
• Son of British woman held in Iran speaks to her for first time in 213 days — The Guardian -

• Zelensky thanks Trump for 'productive' talks ahead of ceasefire deadline — BBC World -
• Drone that crossed into Lithuania from Belarus represents ‘alarming sign of spillover of Russia’s aggression’, says Lithuanian minister – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Moldovan regional leader sentenced to seven years in prison over Russian funding — The Guardian -
• Tuesday Briefing: Trump’s Tariff Leverage — New York Times World -
• Bolsonaro Placed Under House Arrest by Brazil’s Supreme Court — New York Times World -
• US condemns house arrest of Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro — BBC World -

Significant domestic issues are unfolding, including a major legal dispute over an Olympic stadium site's cultural heritage, controversies within the state parliament regarding an MP's expulsion, and reforms in the education sector, while new defense contracts strengthen international ties.

• Research into Australian skinks’ resistance to snake venom could streamline design of antivenoms — The Guardian -
• Labor MPs urge government to prioritise reform of ‘failed’ job-ready university graduates scheme — The Guardian -
• Hundreds of jobseeker payments cancelled illegally by government IT system, watchdog finds — The Guardian -

• Mark Latham escapes NSW censure motion for now – but faces privileges committee — The Guardian -
• Exchange student, 13, charged with murder after 14-year-old girl stabbed at NSW host family home — The Guardian -
• Snowtown murderer granted parole after decades in jail for South Australia’s ‘bodies in the barrels’ serial killings — The Guardian -
• Transgender woman treated as ‘hostile invader’ when joining women-only app Giggle for Girls, court hears — The Guardian -
• ‘Grave’ fears for missing couple and dog after plane vanishes flying from Tasmania to NSW — The Guardian -
• Qantas frequent flyer points devalued as airline rolls out changes to loyalty program — The Guardian -
• Snowtown murderer granted parole; exchange student, 13, in custody after 14-year-old fatally stabbed – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Chris Minns stares down backbench revolt over handling of Sydney Harbour Bridge protest — The Guardian -
• Aboriginal group launches legal bid to stop Brisbane Olympic stadium — BBC World -
• Woman claims she was left with fractured rib after NSW police allegedly pushed her to ground during arrest — The Guardian -
• Australia’s biggest battery now on standby to prevent NSW power blackouts — The Guardian -
• ‘Absolutely the best ship’: Japan wins $10bn contract to grow Australia’s war fleet — The Guardian -
• First Nations group launches federal appeal to block construction of main Brisbane 2032 Olympics stadium — The Guardian -
• NSW faces constitutional showdown as parliament’s push to expel convicted rapist Gareth Ward delayed by supreme court — The Guardian -
• Convicted rapist fighting to remain in parliament in Australia — BBC World -

Concerns over public safety are widespread, with mass shootings and murders reported, kidnappings in Haiti, and a deadly Legionnaire's disease outbreak in New York City, alongside rising COVID-19 cases and challenges in securing mental health and child protection services.

• Verbally abused children more likely to have poor mental health as adults, study finds — The Guardian -
• Family of Irish missionary kidnapped in Haiti 'devastated' — BBC World -
• Ireland calls on Haiti to secure release of group kidnapped from local orphanage — The Guardian -

• Tennessee execution of man with heart device ‘result of pure cowardice’ — The Guardian -
• Montana manhunt continues as Tennessee murder suspect is arrested — The Guardian -
• Two people killed and six wounded in mass shooting at LA warehouse party — The Guardian -
• China Wages War on Chikungunya Virus With Drones and ‘Elephant Mosquitoes’ — New York Times World -
• Legionnaire’s disease outbreak in New York City leaves two dead and 58 sickened — The Guardian -
• Covid cases rising in US as officials plan to restrict booster vaccines — The Guardian -
• Spirit Airlines pilot ‘removed from duty’ after being arrested on stalking charges — The Guardian -
• China reports 7,000 cases of chikungunya virus — BBC World -

Remembrances of historical events like the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are explored through survivor stories and photography, while new archaeological discoveries in Rome reveal ancient homes, and the passing of influential figures like Romania's former president and a celebrated British musician is mourned.

• 'Hiroshima survivor stories were painful to draw' — BBC World -
• Ion Iliescu: Romania's first democratic leader with a divisive legacy — BBC World -
• Man who lit cigarette from French war memorial flame faces legal action — The Guardian -

• Ion Iliescu, Who Steered Romania After Revolution, Dies at 95 — New York Times World -
• Photos: What Atomic Bombs Did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki — New York Times World -
• Former Romanian President Ion Iliescu dies aged 95 — BBC World -
• Homes of ‘working-class Romans’ discovered during Rome metro dig — The Guardian -
• Terry Reid, British musician championed by the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page and more, dies aged 75 — The Guardian -
• With Festivities and Papal Prayer, the Vatican Aims to Attract the Young — New York Times World -
• Watch: Fireworks ignite as blaze hits Japanese festival launch boats — BBC World -

Investigations into major safety failures reveal preventable tragedies like the Titan submersible implosion and the Jeju Air plane crash, while fatal accidents in high-speed racing and ongoing searches for missing persons underscore the risks in challenging environments.

• US Coast Guard releases report calling Titan disaster a ‘preventable tragedy’ — The Guardian -
• Driver trying to set speed record at Utah salt flats race dies after losing control — The Guardian -
• Search Underway for Alec Luhn, American Journalist Missing in Norway — New York Times World -

• Rescuers in Norway resume search for journalist missing in wilderness — The Guardian -
• Nasa to put nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 - US media — BBC World -
• Takeaways From the Times Investigation Into the Jeju Air Crash — New York Times World -
• Jeju Air Plane Crash Highlights Decades of Blunders and Deadly Runway Wall — New York Times World -