A looming government shutdown in the US dominates headlines as the Senate rejects competing funding plans, while Trump's administration pushes controversial policies including military intervention in cities, relaxing environmental rules, and reaching a drug discount deal with Pfizer.

• US on brink of government shutdown after Senate rejects funding plans — The Guardian -
• Senate fails to pass stopgap funding bill as government heads for midnight shutdown – follow live — The Guardian -
• Trump says $500m deal reached with Harvard to settle dispute — The Guardian -

• FCC chair claims he never threatened TV networks over Jimmy Kimmel — The Guardian -
• Delayed US report on global human trafficking is released — The Guardian -
• US energy department cracks down on workers’ use of climate crisis language — The Guardian -
• US cities should be military training grounds, Trump tells generals — BBC World -
• Pfizer agrees to offer discounted drugs through new federal website, Trump announces — The Guardian -
• US federal agency site blames looming government shutdown on ‘radical left’ — The Guardian -
• Trump defends troops in US cities after Hegseth decries military DEI efforts — The Guardian -
• Kash Patel allegedly gave New Zealand officials guns illegal to possess under local laws — The Guardian -
• Trump pressure tactics in Comey case ‘chilling’ – but they could backfire, experts say — The Guardian -
• Trump gutting protected status for immigrants will strain US healthcare, Democrats warn — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Trump and Netanyahu tell Hamas to accept Gaza peace plan or face consequences — The Guardian -
• US shutdown looms after Trump and Democrats end meeting without a deal — BBC World -
• A Global Crackdown on Free Speech — New York Times World -
• Venezuela, America and the Specter of Regime Change — New York Times World -
• ‘I think we’re headed to a shutdown,’ says JD Vance as Mike Johnson calls for more time for negotiations – as it happened — The Guardian -
• US justice department sues Minnesota over sanctuary city policies — The Guardian -
• Top Trump Aides Push for Ousting Maduro, Venezuela’s Leader — New York Times World -

Trump's Gaza peace plan faces a four-day ultimatum for Hamas to respond, as international leaders cautiously welcome the proposal while Palestinians remain skeptical and analysts question its fatal flaws.

• Italy to end support for international Gaza flotilla as it nears destination — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Gaza Plan: What We Know — New York Times World -
• Unpicking Trump's Gaza peace plan map — BBC World -

• Nigel Farage ‘doesn’t like Britain’, Starmer tells Labour conference – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump gives Hamas ‘three or four days’ to respond to Gaza peace plan or face ‘a very sad end’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump gives Hamas ‘three or four days’ to respond to his peace plan for Gaza — The Guardian -
• Bowen: Momentum is the strength of Trump's Gaza plan, but lack of detail is its weakness — BBC World -
• Trump peace plan 'ignores interests of Palestinian people', Hamas official tells BBC — BBC World -
• ‘Fatal flaws’: analysts cast doubt on Tony Blair’s plan for future of Gaza — The Guardian -
• Mass slaughter in Gaza stands apart from other genocides, Chris Sidoti says: ‘People cannot escape’ — The Guardian -
• Watch: What do Gazans and Israelis think of Trump's plan? — BBC World -
• Israel-backed militia groups potentially threaten new peace plan for Gaza — The Guardian -
• For Netanyahu, avoiding a peace deal may now be worse than agreeing one — BBC World -
• With New U.S. Proposal to End Gaza War, a Rare Moment of Triumph for Netanyahu — New York Times World -
• Ambassador Mike Huckabee Postpones Rare Visit to Egypt — New York Times World -
• Trump’s peace proposal welcomed by world leaders but Palestinians remain sceptical — The Guardian -
• Leaders in Middle East and Europe welcome Trump's Gaza peace plan — BBC World -
• ‘There is hope’: Australia welcomes Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza — The Guardian -
• Middle East Updates: Trump Releases Gaza Plan and Says Hamas Must Accept It — New York Times World -

A larger UN force is approved to combat gang violence in Haiti, while Congo's former president Joseph Kabila is sentenced to death in absentia, and investigations into US Green Beret war crimes in Afghanistan highlight a culture of lawlessness.

• U.N. Security Council Approves Larger Force to Fight Gangs in Haiti — New York Times World -
• How War-Crime Accusations Against Green Berets Were Denied and Buried — New York Times World -
• Did a Green Beret Unit Commit One of the Worst U.S. War Crimes in Decades? — New York Times World -

• Inside the U.S. Special Forces: 5 Takeaways on a Culture of Lawlessness in Afghanistan — New York Times World -
• UN security council approves new military force to fight Haiti gangs — The Guardian -
• Congo’s Former President Sentenced to Death in Absentia — New York Times World -
• Former DRC president Joseph Kabila sentenced to death in absentia — The Guardian -
• U.S. Officials See Hostage Release as Promising Sign for Deal With Taliban — New York Times World -
• How Chinese Weapons Transformed a War Between Two Neighbors — New York Times World -
• Germany seeks to extradite Ukrainian over 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline attack — The Guardian -
• Russia’s Military Budget Shrinks as War Costs Hit Kremlin’s Economic Limits — New York Times World -
• Putin ‘in his heart of hearts’ knows he cannot win in Ukraine, US special envoy says – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Secretive Program That Keeps Ukraine’s Weapons Firing Is Suddenly in Doubt — New York Times World -
• AfD politician’s former aide convicted of spying for China — The Guardian -
• Entire Ukrainian family killed in Russian drone strike, officials say — BBC World -
• Former aide to far-right German politician jailed for spying for China — BBC World -
• Former aide to far-right German politician jailed for spying for China — BBC World -
• Trump Pardon Ended Probe Into Green Beret’s Killing of Suspected Taliban Bombmaker. Was Justice Served? — New York Times World -
• Pentagon review reportedly confirms Aukus submarines pact is safe — The Guardian -

Bluffs crumbling in California and deadly earthquakes in the Philippines highlight environmental threats, while the US administration relaxes hydrofluorocarbon rules and cracks down on climate crisis language, contrasting with Pope Leo's upcoming speech on climate change.

• Photos show bluff crumbling toward ocean in landslide-stricken California enclave — The Guardian -
• Philippines earthquake: 22 reported dead as rescuers search through wreckage — The Guardian -
• Trump Administration Moves to Relax Rules on Hydrofluorocarbons — New York Times World -

• Common toad is becoming uncommon in UK, study shows — The Guardian -
• Earthquake in Philippines Kills at Least 20, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• US energy department cracks down on workers’ use of climate crisis language — The Guardian -
• NatureScot may raise ‘more than £100m’ in private investment for conservation — The Guardian -
• Australia’s laws to protect the environment don’t work. Woodside’s 40-year greenlight proves it — The Guardian -
• Pope Leo Plans to Speak on Climate Change — New York Times World -
• Typhoon Bualoi death toll rises to at least 30 across Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines — The Guardian -
• Biomethane not viable for widespread use in UK home heating, report finds — The Guardian -
• Week-long fire at Namibia's Etosha National Park contained — BBC World -

UK business confidence falls to a record low amid rising costs, as Keir Starmer draws battle lines with Reform UK, labeling its leader a "snake oil salesman" and promising an "online hospital" for the NHS.

• UK business confidence falls to record low amid rising employment costs — The Guardian -
• ‘A tool in the fight against Amazon’: independent bookshops to begin selling ebooks — The Guardian -
• Starmer brings the steel – and draws up battle lines with Reform UK — The Guardian -

• Starmer Describes Fight for ‘Soul’ of U.K. as Populist Right Rises — New York Times World -
• Met officers suspended over alleged abuse of suspects and support for Tommy Robinson — The Guardian -
• ‘Decency or division’: Britain faces era-defining choice, Keir Starmer warns — The Guardian -
• It’s entered the Labour conference lexicon – but what is a snake-oil salesman? — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves gets a warm reception but business chiefs are wary of another tax raid — The Guardian -
• Covid exercise messaging left children stuck indoors, UK inquiry hears — The Guardian -
• Nottingham paper takes legal action over Reform council’s ban on reporters — The Guardian -
• Black police officers would be ‘silenced’ by new rules, UK association claims — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage ‘doesn’t like Britain’, Starmer tells Labour conference – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Starmer’s further education plans augur well, but the policy detail will be telling — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage ‘doesn’t believe in Britain’, Starmer tells Labour conference — The Guardian -
• Tata bought slabs from rival British Steel as it sought to beat Trump tariff plans — The Guardian -
• Almost a third of Prax Lindsey oil refinery workers to lose jobs — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage a ‘snake oil salesman’ comparable to Andrew Tate, says No 10 chief secretary — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer to announce NHS ‘online hospital’ to help cut waiting lists — The Guardian -
• Royal Mail owner to rebrand thousands of Collect+ stores as it buys stake — The Guardian -

**A California woman receives a $17M settlement for a violent arrest, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces an 11-year sentence, and a delayed US human trafficking report is released amid concerns over free speech crackdowns and racially discriminatory policies in Australia**.

• California woman knocked unconscious during arrest reaches $17m settlement — The Guardian -
• The Activists and the Anime — New York Times World -
• Delayed US report on global human trafficking is released — The Guardian -

• Athens Democracy Forum: Freedom of Speech in Academia Is Under Attack — New York Times World -
• South African Ambassador to France Is Found Dead in Paris — New York Times World -
• Federal prosecutors urge judge to give Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs an 11-year sentence — The Guardian -
• South Africa's top diplomat in France found dead near Paris hotel — BBC World -
• Second victim dies following shooting at Texas immigration facility — The Guardian -
• Madagascar police fire tear gas as president fails to placate protesters — BBC World -
• U.S. Deports Planeload of Iranians After Deal With Tehran, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• US deports 120 Iranians back to Tehran in Trump immigration crackdown — The Guardian -
• Flights in Afghanistan grounded after internet shutdown — BBC World -
• US deporting 120 Iranians after deal struck with Tehran, Iran says — BBC World -
• Hundreds of US women charged with pregnancy-related crimes since fall of Roe — The Guardian -
• ‘It’s hard to know what day it is’: families tell of grim Ice detention in Texas — The Guardian -
• Afghanistan ‘blind without phones and internet’ on second day of telecoms blackout — The Guardian -
• Andrew Tate to face no criminal charges over abuse claims made in UK civil case — The Guardian -
• Nothing to link Banbury gang-rape to migrant accommodation, police say — The Guardian -
• Afghan women lose their 'last hope' as Taliban shut down internet — BBC World -
• Madagascar’s President Dissolves Government Amid Deadly Protests — New York Times World -
• Federal class action lodged over ‘racially discriminatory’ work for the dole scheme — The Guardian -
• A Global Crackdown on Free Speech — New York Times World -
• Madagascar president dissolves government after 'Gen Z' protests — BBC World -
• Melbourne’s men-only Savage Club ends trial of allowing women entry to dine two days a week — The Guardian -
• China court sentences 11 people to death over alleged role in family-run Myanmar scam operations — The Guardian -

Australia introduces a new home buyers scheme, while film producers condemn Trump's tariff proposal, and the Optus triple-zero outage prompts concerns about market dominance as the RBA defers on interest rate cuts.

• Australia news live: PM says new home buyers scheme will see ‘minimal’ increase in prices; Ley sets KPIs for frontbenchers — The Guardian -
• Australian film producers and experts call Trump tariff proposal ‘bizarre’ and impossible to enforce — The Guardian -
• Optus’s triple-zero outage could boost Telstra’s customers – and allow it to charge even more — The Guardian -

• Guardian Essential poll: Australians back emissions target while One Nation support doubles — The Guardian -
• Melbourne charity receives hate mail after senator and others post contact details in wake of Charlie Kirk killing — The Guardian -
• Base formulation may be linked to 20 sunscreens falling short of SPF claims, drug regulator finds — The Guardian -
• The RBA dithers on its next interest rate cut – but it’s not the political flashpoint it once was — The Guardian -
• Michele Bullock says ‘nothing I can do personally’ about house prices – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Optus boss ‘has a lot of work to do’, Anika Wells says after meeting telco in wake of triple-zero outages — The Guardian -
• Productivity commission under fire for failing to consult Australian artists about copyright issues around AI recommendations — The Guardian -

A Chinese woman is convicted in the world's biggest Bitcoin seizure, while an Indonesian school collapse leaves three dead and dozens missing, and a Michigan church shooting suspect is identified with a hatred of Mormonism.

• Chinese woman convicted after 'world's biggest' bitcoin seizure — BBC World -
• Indonesia school collapse: three dead and over 90 missing as rescue effort continues — The Guardian -
• Indonesia school collapse: three dead and over 90 missing as rescue effort continues — The Guardian -

• Michigan church shooting suspect bore a hatred of Mormon religion, locals say — The Guardian -
• Dozens of Students Are Missing After School Collapses in Indonesia — New York Times World -
• Car Bomb Hits Quetta, a City in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province — New York Times World -
• Utah governor calls on people to ‘stop shooting each other’ after Kirk killing — The Guardian -
• Three dead, dozens trapped after Indonesian school collapses on students — BBC World -
• Three dead, dozens trapped after Indonesian school collapses on students — BBC World -
• Russian mum and children found living in Indian cave return home — BBC World -
• Russian mum and children found living in Indian cave return home — BBC World -
• South Korea raises cyber threat level after huge data centre fire sparks hacking fears — The Guardian -

Nicole Kidman files for divorce from Keith Urban after nearly two decades, the use of 'buy now, pay later' explodes among older Britons, and the film industry condemns the emergence of an 'AI actor'.

• Buy now, pay later use exploding among older Britons, data shows — The Guardian -
• Nicole Kidman Files for Divorce From Keith Urban After Nearly 20 Years — New York Times World -
• Nicole Kidman files for divorce from Keith Urban citing ‘marital difficulties and irreconcilable differences’ — The Guardian -

• Night Trains, Beloved Throwbacks Tying Paris to Berlin and Vienna, Will End — New York Times World -
• ‘He loves splashing around’: UK pools host doggy dips for pets and owners — The Guardian -
• Emily Blunt and Sag-Aftra join film industry condemnation of ‘AI actor’ Tilly Norwood — The Guardian -
• Cat Stevens postpones book tour of North America due to visa issues — The Guardian -
• Liverpool poet Brian Patten dies at 79 — The Guardian -
• Sock it to the shoes: why more offices are going footwear-free — The Guardian -
• What It Takes to Get Lunch Delivered to the 70th Floor — New York Times World -
• California police stumped after trying to ticket driverless car for illegal U-turn — The Guardian -