The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sparked a national debate on political violence, with Donald Trump announcing a posthumous Medal of Freedom and far-right media vowing retribution, while law enforcement continues the manhunt for the suspect.

• Trump to award Charlie Kirk a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom — The Guardian -
• Charlie Kirk shooting latest: FBI recovers rifle believed to have been used to kill Trump ally as suspect still at large — The Guardian -
• Charlie Kirk shooting: FBI says it found weapon as hunt for suspect continues — The Guardian -

• ‘We are in a war’: rightwing media vow retribution for Charlie Kirk killing — The Guardian -
• Charlie Kirk’s Influence Extended Far Beyond the U.S. — New York Times World -
• Charlie Kirk shooting death – what we know so far — The Guardian -
• Europe’s far-right leaders attack ‘hate-mongering left’ after Charlie Kirk murder — The Guardian -
• Far-right commentators echo Trump in calling for ‘vengeance and retribution’ for Charlie Kirk’s death — The Guardian -
• Charlie Kirk: Conservative influencer who rallied a youth movement — BBC World -
• MSNBC fires analyst Matthew Dowd over Charlie Kirk shooting remarks — The Guardian -
• How the Charlie Kirk shooting unfolded — BBC World -
• First Thing: Police search for suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting amid condemnation of ‘targeted’ killing — The Guardian -
• 'Everyone hit the deck and scattered': Witnesses describe moment of Utah shooting — BBC World -
• Utah Republican senator faces backlash over post condemning Kirk’s killing — The Guardian -
• Manhunt intensifies for suspect who killed Charlie Kirk — BBC World -
• Trump blames ‘radical left’ for Charlie Kirk shooting, but does not mention attacks on Democrats as search for suspect continues – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Killing of Trump ally lays bare America's bloody and broken politics — BBC World -
• ‘Despicable’: Republicans and Democrats condemn violence after Charlie Kirk killing — The Guardian -
• Charlie Kirk, Trump ally and rightwing activist, shot and killed at Utah university — The Guardian -

NATO is strengthening its defenses after Russian drones were shot down over Poland, an act the EU calls aggressive and reckless, with Poland planning a no-fly zone and Russia's strategy perceived as testing Western resolve.

• Nato strengthens defences after Russian drones shot down over Poland — BBC World -
• Russian drone incursion an ‘aggressive, reckless act’, says EU as Poland plans no-fly zone – Europe live — The Guardian -
• Russia’s Strategy Against the West: Escalate Slowly and See if It Responds — New York Times World -

• Drone Barrage Over Poland Was a Test for NATO, and the U.S. — New York Times World -
• Thursday briefing: Why Russia’s drone attack marks ‘a new level of hostility’ in the war — The Guardian -

Keir Starmer has sacked UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson over his Jeffrey Epstein ties, raising questions about Starmer's judgment, amidst other UK political shifts and a royal family reconciliation development.

• No 10 says Starmer found Mandelson’s emails to Epstein ‘reprehensible’ – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Reform council to ‘rescind’ climate emergency declaration — The Guardian -
• Mandelson scandal raises fresh doubt about Starmer’s political judgment — The Guardian -

• U.K. Ambassador to U.S., Peter Mandelson, Fired Over Epstein Links — New York Times World -
• Man held after suspected arson attack on office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer sacks Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein ties — The Guardian -
• Doctor’s ‘dangerous’ vaccine claims at Reform UK conference to be examined by GMC — The Guardian -
• Green energy entrepreneur calls on UK to subsidise North Sea oil and gas firms — The Guardian -
• American woman feared losing job and home after Home Office visa error — The Guardian -
• More than £8m of public money spent on subsidies for former PMs — The Guardian -
• Emily Thornberry drops out of Labour deputy leadership race — The Guardian -
• Mandelson’s messages to Epstein were ‘disturbing and sickening’, says minister — The Guardian -
• Harry's tea with Charles could be small but significant step to reconciliation — BBC World -

Ireland threatens to withdraw from Eurovision due to Israel's participation amid the Gaza conflict, a Belgian festival axes an orchestra over its Israeli conductor, and Israeli strikes in Yemen kill 35, while Israel explains its attack on Hamas in Qatar.

• Ireland threatens to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates — BBC World -
• EU divisions over Gaza hit Eurovision as Ireland pulls out — The Guardian -
• Festival axes German orchestra over concerns about Israeli conductor — The Guardian -

• What Drove Israel’s Brazen Attack on Hamas in Qatar? — New York Times World -
• Israeli strikes in Yemen kill 35 people, Houthis say — BBC World -

Concerns are rising over Labor's plan to move autism services off NDIS, the Victorian Liberal party faces infighting, and a Tasmanian museum is criticized for keeping human remains without consent, alongside charges against police officers and child abuse allegations.

• ‘Grave concerns’ from states over Labor plan to move autism services off NDIS — The Guardian -
• Victorian Liberal party shapes up for ‘nastiest, most toxic’ state council in years amid leaks and infighting — The Guardian -
• Jessica has 77 half-brothers and sisters through the same sperm donor. She wonders how many more there could be — The Guardian -

• Tasmanian museum kept and displayed 177 human remains without families’ knowledge, report finds — The Guardian -
• Pocock says Bishop should be ‘reflecting on her position’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Two Victorian police officers charged with negligent manslaughter over man’s fatal 2024 arrest — The Guardian -
• Julie Bishop vows to stay on as ANU chancellor after vice-chancellor resigns amid leadership crisis — The Guardian -
• Senior Liberal insists ‘knives not being sharpened’ for Ley in messy wake of Nampijinpa Price demotion — The Guardian -
• Sydney childcare worker charged with abusing children had 500,000 unique images, police allege — The Guardian -
• Brisbane teen faces court on terrorism charges after violent extremist material and chemicals allegedly seized — The Guardian -
• Victorian Liberals director resigns after messages mocking the party’s women’s council revealed — The Guardian -
• Labor is favoured to win the Kiama byelection. A big loss could be the beginning of the end for Liberal leader Mark Speakman | Anne Davies — The Guardian -

South Sudan's vice-president is charged with murder and treason, Belarus frees 52 political prisoners in a US-brokered deal, and Nepal experiences protests with its military in talks with young demonstrators amid destroyed streets and concerns for regional stability.

• South Sudan vice-president charged with murder and treason — BBC World -
• Belarus Frees 52 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal — New York Times World -
• See Kathmandu's destroyed and barricaded streets after violence — BBC World -

• Nepal’s Young Protesters Find an Unlikely Partner: The Army — New York Times World -
• After crafting quiet Florida life, Shah of Iran’s alleged ‘chief torturer’ must now face trial — The Guardian -
• What to Know About the Protests in Nepal — New York Times World -
• Hong Kong criticised for rejecting bill giving ‘bare minimum’ rights to same-sex couples — The Guardian -
• Fatal dam collapse: 'How do you restart from nothing?' — BBC World -
• Nepal turmoil adds to India's woes in South Asia — BBC World -

Spanish schools will teach students to cope with climate crisis disasters, Mexico City experiences a fatal gas explosion, and deadly flash floods hit Bali and Indonesia, while environmental measures like hedgehog highways are considered in new UK buildings, and Sydney Water is criticized for Pfas testing.

• Spanish schools to teach pupils how to cope with climate crisis disasters — The Guardian -
• Mexico City Gas Explosion Kills 4 and Injures at Least 90 — New York Times World -
• ‘A last resort’: is culling foxes the only way to save Britain’s vanishing curlews? — The Guardian -

• Bali's worst floods in a decade kill 14 — BBC World -
• Sydney Water failed to properly test before declaring ‘no known Pfas hotspots’ in catchments, inquiry finds — The Guardian -
• Hedgehog highways could become requirement for new buildings — The Guardian -
• Flash floods in Indonesia leave at least 15 people dead and 10 missing — The Guardian -
• Wild weather brings flash floods in Sydney and at least two tornados reported in regional NSW — The Guardian -

US inflation rises as companies pass on Trump tariffs, South Korea warns of reduced US investments after a Hyundai-LG plant raid, and Zambia presses China for mine spill compensation, while a prominent scientist warns of big pharma exiting the UK, and John Lewis Partnership reports widened losses.

• Delayed Release of Workers Detained in Georgia Raid Fuels Anger in Korea — New York Times World -
• Zambia presses China for more compensation over toxic mine spill — BBC World -
• US inflation rises in August as companies push Trump tariffs cost onto consumers — The Guardian -

• Big pharma will stop investing in UK, warns eminent scientist Sir John Bell — The Guardian -
• South Korean Leader Warns of U.S. Investments After Hyundai-LG Plant Raid — New York Times World -
• In South Korea and Japan, Fury at U.S. Fuels Backlash Over Trade Deals — New York Times World -
• Firms will hesitate to invest in US after raid - S Korea president — BBC World -

A French report recommends banning social media for under-15s, a South African court rules men can take wives' surnames, and France suspects foreign intelligence in mosque provocations, while a UK doctor's vaccine claims face GMC scrutiny, and Bad Bunny fears ICE raids on his US tour.

• Ban social media for under-15s, says French report warning of TikTok risks — BBC World -
• South African court rules that men can take wife's surname — BBC World -
• Teenage girl stabbed twice in Southport attack relives day ‘like horror film on repeat’ — The Guardian -

• France suspects foreign intelligence over pigs heads left outside mosques — BBC World -
• ‘The chaos is the point’: tumult as Covid vaccine boosters deployed under RFK Jr — The Guardian -
• Ghana agrees to accept West Africans deported from US — BBC World -
• Politicians in at least 51 countries used anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric during elections, NGO finds — The Guardian -
• Bad Bunny says he left US out of world tour due to fear of Ice raids at concerts — The Guardian -

NASA debunks claims about an alien-made comet, celebrates LIGO's 10th anniversary while noting its potential end, and bans Chinese nationals from space programs, with a look back at astrology's influence on weather forecasting.

• Nasa bans Chinese nationals from working on its space programmes — BBC World -
• Interstellar overhype: Nasa debunks claim about alien-made comet — The Guardian -
• Weatherwatch: Forecasting’s astrological origins — The Guardian -

• Happy 10th Birthday to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. Now Drop Dead. — New York Times World -