Moldova's pro-European parties secured a victory in an election overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, while Russia launched a brutal 12-hour drone and missile assault on Ukraine, as Israel continued its Gaza offensive despite calls for ceasefire and Iran faced renewed UN sanctions impacting its economy, with tensions rising in Venezuela due to a US military presence.

• Pro-EU party in Moldova wins election mired in claims of Russian interference — BBC World -
• Moldova’s Pivotal Election Projected to End in Victory for Pro-Europeans — New York Times World -
• Venezuela, America and the Specter of Regime Change — New York Times World -

• Moldova’s pro-European party on course to retain majority in key election — The Guardian -
• For Many Moldovans, Their Election Is a Choice Between Russia and the E.U. — New York Times World -
• Fear and Hope in Venezuela as U.S. Warships Lurk — New York Times World -
• Israel presses on with Gaza assault as Trump again claims ceasefire is close — The Guardian -
• U.S. Ambassador to Israel Is Expected to Make Rare Visit to Egypt — New York Times World -
• Inside Venezuela After U.S. Strikes Boats — New York Times World -
• Russia Hammers Kyiv in 12-Hour Drone and Missile Assault — New York Times World -
• Zelenskyy condemns Russia’s ‘vile and cowardly’ 12-hour bombing of Ukraine — The Guardian -
• Zelenskyy condemns ‘vile’ and deadly Russian strikes on Ukraine; Denmark bans all civilian drones for EU summit – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Iranians Brace for Economic Impact of New U.N. Sanctions — New York Times World -
• Thunberg denies claims Gaza flotilla is a publicity stunt — BBC World -
• Thunberg denies claims Gaza flotilla is a publicity stunt — BBC World -
• 'Hundreds' of drones and missiles fired at Ukraine by Russia — BBC World -
• Sanctions reimposed on Iran 10 years after landmark nuclear deal — BBC World -
• Iran angry as sweeping UN sanctions take effect after failure of nuclear talks — The Guardian -
• Israel, Iran — and the Family Killed in the Crossfire — New York Times World -
• Russia has no intention of attacking EU or Nato states, foreign minister says — BBC World -
• ‘You have to live’: Ukrainians on frontline practise normality despite Russian bombings — The Guardian -
• Russia has no intention of attacking EU or Nato states, foreign minister says — BBC World -

The Labour Party conference saw Prime Minister Keir Starmer fiercely condemn Reform UK's immigration policies as "racist" amidst wider debates on rising youth unemployment and struggling healthcare workers, while Rachel Reeves pledged new primary school libraries and proposed stricter English language requirements for leave to remain, as concerns were raised over Labour's internal "climate of fear" and the Electoral Commission's independence.

• UK graduates and healthcare workers worst hit as jobs market ‘cools’ — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves pledges a library in every primary school in England — The Guardian -
• High standard of English to be required for leave to remain, Mahmood to pledge — The Guardian -

• Starmer decries Reform’s ‘racist’ plans as ministers escalate attacks on Farage — The Guardian -
• ‘Dozens’ arrested at Palestine Action protest outside Labour party conference — The Guardian -
• Andy Burnham says ‘climate of fear’ in Labour is shutting down debate — The Guardian -
• Ed Miliband says it is ‘possible’ that UK government should leave X — The Guardian -
• Labour conference: Starmer calls Reform’s policy on immigration ‘racist’ and says Farage’s party would ‘tear country apart’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Starmer calling Reform ‘racist’ risks backlash while staking Labour’s moral claim — The Guardian -
• Populist threat to rule of law a danger to UK working class, says attorney general — The Guardian -
• Child dies while reportedly trying to reach UK in small boat — The Guardian -
• Watching Caerphilly: Welsh byelection may be bellwether for political transformation in UK — The Guardian -
• Time is the hardest problem, Albanese laments as his ‘mate’ Starmer faces challenge of ‘patriotic national renewal’ — The Guardian -
• UK businesses fear new EHRC guidance on toilets will be ‘unworkable’ — The Guardian -
• UK government urged to restore Electoral Commission’s independence to protect democracy — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer attacks ‘racist’ Farage plan to deport people settled in the UK — The Guardian -
• ‘A serious disappointment’: Labour has to regain business sector’s confidence at conference — The Guardian -
• Far-right Facebook groups are engine of radicalisation in UK, data investigation suggests — The Guardian -
• Lions coach hails AFL grand final win as ‘better than last year’ – as it happened — The Guardian -

The US government faced a looming shutdown with Democrats ready to challenge Republican healthcare cuts, while Illinois Senator Dick Durbin demanded a meeting with ICE amid reports of inhumane conditions for children in detention facilities, and President Trump prepared for talks to avert a shutdown while his administration oversaw mass resignations of federal workers.

• Eric Adams drops out of New York City mayoral race — The Guardian -
• Illinois senator demands to meet with Ice amid clashes at immigration facility — The Guardian -
• Trump to meet with US congressional leaders in last-ditch effort to avoid shutdown — The Guardian -

• What Questions Do You Have About Trump and the World? — New York Times World -
• Crunch time: Democrats ready for shutdown standoff over Republican health cuts — The Guardian -
• Children left short of clean water and sleep amid ‘prolonged’ detention by Ice, watchdog groups allege — The Guardian -
• US set for largest mass resignation in history as Trump continues deep cuts — The Guardian -

A deadly crush at a political rally in India killed dozens, including children, as multiple mass shootings in Michigan and North Carolina claimed lives and injured many across the US, while Argentines protested the brutal killings of young women, and a Mexican megachurch faced allegations of a sprawling sex-trafficking enterprise.

• Australia news live: Labor’s first deficit not as bad as feared; ‘exhausted’ sailors rescued after two days adrift — The Guardian -
• At least two dead and several injured in shooting at Mormon church in Michigan — BBC World -
• At least two dead and eight injured after shooting at Mormon church in Michigan — The Guardian -

• At least 40 dead in crush at political rally in India — BBC World -
• Three dead and several injured after shooting at US waterfront bar — BBC World -
• Stampede at Actor’s Political Rally Kills at Least 38 in India — New York Times World -
• Leaders of Mexican megachurch led a sprawling sex-trafficking enterprise, US prosecutors allege — The Guardian -
• At least 40 dead and 124 injured in crush at Vijay rally in India — The Guardian -
• At least 39 dead in crush at political rally in India — BBC World -
• Argentines demand justice at protest against brutal killings of young women — BBC World -
• Argentines demand justice at protest against brutal killings of young women — BBC World -

Australia grappled with a deficit that was less severe than anticipated and Optus suffered a new triple-zero outage, while outrage grew over a golf course upgrade threatening an Indigenous burial site and shark nets remained contentious despite whale entanglements, as Prime Minister Albanese ruled out a republic referendum and a private prisons operator received a massive contract extension for Nauru detention.

• Australia news live: Labor’s first deficit not as bad as feared; ‘exhausted’ sailors rescued after two days adrift — The Guardian -
• Optus suffers fresh triple-zero outage in NSW as police check welfare of callers — The Guardian -
• US private prisons operator to be paid $790m to hold 100 people on Nauru in quiet expansion of contract — The Guardian -

• ‘Wouldn’t knock down Adelaide cathedral’: outrage as golf course upgrade for Saudi-backed LIV tournament threatens burial site — The Guardian -
• Crisafulli insists on more shark nets to protect human lives despite trapped mother and baby whale — The Guardian -
• Labor’s proposed FoI clampdown ‘ripe’ for high court challenge, legal expert says — The Guardian -
• Clive Palmer banks on Swiss strategy after court throws out $305bn mine compensation claim — The Guardian -
• Albanese rules out holding Australian republic referendum while he is prime minister — The Guardian -

Tropical Storm Imelda strengthened towards hurricane status, while Namibia deployed its army to fight a massive wildfire burning a third of the Etosha game reserve, and an ancient canoe was unearthed in Florida following Hurricane Ian, as efforts continued to create art from the felled Sycamore Gap tree.

• Tropical Storm Imelda forming and expected to become hurricane — The Guardian -
• Army sent to battle fire in Namibia tourist hotspot — BBC World -
• Namibia deploys army to fight wildfire burning third of Etosha game reserve — The Guardian -

• ‘It’s incredibly exciting’: ancient canoe unearthed after Hurricane Ian stormed through Florida — The Guardian -
• Artists given chance to use wood from felled Sycamore Gap tree — The Guardian -

Swiss voters narrowly approved electronic identity cards after a second national ballot, as Denmark implemented a drone ban ahead of European summits following sightings at military sites, and China's secretive spy agency emerged as a major cyber powerhouse.

• Swiss voters back electronic identity cards in close vote — The Guardian -
• What Salt Typhoon Shows About the Cyber Power of China’s Spy Agency — New York Times World -
• Swiss voters narrowly approve plan for electronic ID cards — BBC World -

• Denmark reports more drone sightings ahead of European summits — The Guardian -
• Swiss vote on electronic identity cards for second time — BBC World -

A US citizen was released from Taliban detention after nine months, while Selena Gomez announced her marriage to Benny Blanco, and the Isle of Wight festival increased profits despite falling attendance, as Lola Young confirmed she was "doing OK" after collapsing on stage, and Britain's oldest identical twin died at 105.

• Isle of Wight festival increases profits despite fall in attendance — The Guardian -
• US citizen released by Taliban after nine-month detention — BBC World -
• Q&A: Our New Global Newsletter Host on Creating an ‘Antidote to the Overwhelm’ — New York Times World -

• Afghanistan Frees a U.S. Citizen Held in Prison — New York Times World -
• Britain’s oldest identical twin dies, aged 105, three years after her sister — The Guardian -
• Watch: World's highest bridge opens in China — BBC World -
• Lola Young ‘doing OK’ after collapsing on stage at festival in New York — The Guardian -
• Selena Gomez marries music producer Benny Blanco: ‘My wife in real life’ — The Guardian -
• Jerome Cohen, Lawyer Who Plumbed Chinese Legal System, Dies at 95 — New York Times World -
• Lola Young 'doing OK' after collapsing on stage during gig — BBC World -
• Selena Gomez marries music producer Benny Blanco — BBC World -

EU industry expressed fears over expanding US steel tariffs affecting a broader range of "derivative" goods, while Pfizer faced a major US lawsuit alleging its contraceptive caused brain tumors.

• EU industry fears ever-expanding list of ‘derivative’ goods subject to steel tariffs — The Guardian -
• Pfizer sued in US over contraceptive that women say caused brain tumours — The Guardian -