President Trump's active engagement in Asia, including complex trade talks with China and South Korea and troop reductions in Eastern Europe, shapes a dynamic geopolitical landscape, alongside allegations of trade secret sales to Russia and Kremlin-linked extradition attempts.

• Australian man living in Washington DC pleads guilty to selling trade secrets to Russian broker — The Guardian -
• Chinese Officials Heap Praise on Trump and Xi Before They Meet — New York Times World -
• U.S. Says It Will Cut Troops in Eastern Europe — New York Times World -

• How Japan’s New Prime Minister Bonded With Trump — New York Times World -
• US military to reduce number of troops in Romania as start of European drawdown — The Guardian -
• As China and U.S. Split Over Energy, Korea Is Stuck in the Middle — New York Times World -
• Feted as a Peacemaker in South Korea, Trump Vows to End Hostilities With North Korea — New York Times World -
• In Photos: Trump’s Asia Trip — New York Times World -
• Toyota denies promising to invest $10bn in US after Trump announcement — The Guardian -
• How the Opium War Still Shapes Xi Jinping’s Trade Clash With Trump — New York Times World -
• Defence lawyers would have used Tories’ statements to dismiss China spy case, attorney general says — The Guardian -
• China Outlines 5-Year Plan to Double Down on Global Tech Ambitions — New York Times World -
• S Korea announces lowering of tariffs as part of new US trade deal — BBC World -
• South Korea Gives Trump a Replica of an Ancient Gold Crown — New York Times World -
• ‘A colony of the US’: Argentinians contemplate future after Trump-backed Milei coasts to victory — The Guardian -
• Kremlin-linked operatives scramble to stop extradition of mercenary accused of plotting coup — The Guardian -
• Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka says US revoked his visa — BBC World -
• South Korea awards Trump gold crown amid deal to unlock $350bn trade talks — The Guardian -
• Trump and Xi talks could end months of global economic chaos — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Hand in Argentina — New York Times World -
• Wole Soyinka, Nigerian Nobel laureate and Trump critic, says US visa revoked — The Guardian -
• US Senate passes bill with Republican support to rescind Trump’s tariffs on Brazil — The Guardian -
• North Korea Conducts Missile Test Ahead of Trump Visit to South — New York Times World -

Intense Israeli airstrikes in Gaza follow ceasefire violations, sparking protests against Israeli cruise ships and raising concerns over Israeli weapons companies' presence at defense expos, while a US envoy presses Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

• U.S. Middle East Envoy Presses Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah — New York Times World -
• Video Analysis Shows Staged Recovery of Israeli Hostage Remains — New York Times World -
• Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill at Least 100, Local Health Officials Say — New York Times World -

• Israel strikes Gaza again after overnight bombardment that killed at least 104 — The Guardian -
• Greek police increase security after protests against Israeli cruise ship — The Guardian -
• Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 104, health ministry says, after Hamas accused of killing soldier — BBC World -
• Israeli weapons companies should be removed from Sydney defence expo, MPs and human rights experts say — The Guardian -
• Ben & Jerry's co-founder says Unilever blocked Palestine-themed ice cream — BBC World -
• Israel strikes Gaza after Netanyahu accuses Hamas of breaching ceasefire — The Guardian -
• Netanyahu Orders Strikes in Gaza, as Israel Says Hamas Violated Cease-Fire — New York Times World -

Microsoft's strong earnings despite an Azure outage, **Alphabet's record $100bn quarter, and Meta's mixed results underscore the tech sector's AI-driven growth, amidst CBS news staff layoffs and challenges faced by Boeing and luxury carmakers** due to investment cuts and tariffs.

• Microsoft reports strong earnings as Azure hit by major outage — The Guardian -
• Meta reports mixed financial results amid spree of AI hiring and spending — The Guardian -
• Google parent Alphabet beats forecasts with first $100bn quarter — The Guardian -

• CBS News staffers lose jobs in ‘bloodbath’ as part of sweeping cuts from Paramount — The Guardian -
• UK newspaper apologizes for fake De Blasio interview criticizing Mamdani — The Guardian -
• Mercedes Reports a Drop in Profit but Maintains Its Forecast — New York Times World -
• Boeing takes near $5bn hit due to delays in delivering first 777X jets — The Guardian -
• Profit upgrade at Next raises hopes UK shoppers still keen to spend — The Guardian -
• Santander urges ministers to intervene in UK car finance compensation scheme — The Guardian -
• Aston Martin cuts investment plan by £300m as Trump tariffs bite — The Guardian -

Hurricane Melissa caused unprecedented devastation in Jamaica with warnings of future climate disasters for island nations, while the UK outlines a carbon budget delivery plan, and a UN report reveals declining climate adaptation funds alongside pollution limit violations by US LNG terminals.

• The Warnings Before the Hurricane — New York Times World -
• Jamaicans take stock after hurricane causes damage, flooding and power cuts — BBC World -
• In Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa Brought ‘ Unprecedented Devastation’ U.N. Official says — New York Times World -

• Small Island Nations Lack Funds to Fight Climate Disasters — New York Times World -
• UK unveils ‘carbon budget delivery plan’ to get back on track for net zero targets — The Guardian -
• Matt Kean rebukes Coalition for ‘playing politics ’ as crunch time looms for nature laws — The Guardian -
• All operational US liquefied natural gas terminals have violated pollution limits, says report — The Guardian -
• A River Restoration in Oregon Gets Fast Results: The Salmon Swam Right Back — New York Times World -
• U.N. Climate Adaptation Report Shows Declining Money for Climate Disasters — New York Times World -
• New planning bill could jeopardise UK’s trade deal with EU, ambassador warns — The Guardian -
• Record-breaking Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica and heads for Cuba | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Hurricane Melissa’s Direct Hit Knocks Most of Jamaica Offline — New York Times World -
• Wednesday briefing: ‘Catastrophic’ reports as Jamaica reels from worst storm since records began — The Guardian -
• ‘Storm of the century’: record-breaking Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica and heads for Cuba — The Guardian -
• Melissa Devastates Jamaica as Officials Assess Destruction — New York Times World -
• ‘Animal cruelty’: two-year-old humpback whale found dead in NSW shark net causes anger — The Guardian -
• America’s super-rich are running down the planet’s safe climate spaces, says Oxfam — The Guardian -

The Dutch election sees the centrist D66 party leading amidst debates on far-right influence and affordable housing, while UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves admits housing rule breaches, and France enshrines consent into rape law among other UK policy discussions on immigration and welfare.

• Rachel Reeves admits breaking rules by renting out her house without a licence — The Guardian -
• Centrist D66 party projected to win most seats in Dutch election — The Guardian -
• Centrist D66 party expected to win most seats in Netherlands election – as it happened — The Guardian -

• Geert Wilders convinced Dutch voters the far right could run the country. What is their verdict now? — The Guardian -
• ‘The novelty will wear off’: Labour hopes publicity will be Farage’s downfall — The Guardian -
• Vietnamese arrivals in UK by irregular means will be fast-tracked for deportation, says No 10 — The Guardian -
• Tributes paid after death of Mary McGee, who helped end Ireland’s ban on contraception — The Guardian -
• Inquiry into conditions at Manston asylum centre has stalled, critics say — The Guardian -
• Epping sex offender given £500 after threatening to challenge deportation — The Guardian -
• MPs want clarity over Prince Andrew’s ‘peppercorn’ rent at Royal Lodge — The Guardian -
• France enshrines need for consent into rape law in wake of Gisèle Pelicot case — BBC World -
• MPs vote down Farage’s proposal for UK to leave ECHR – as it happened — The Guardian -
• France Adds Consent to Its Rape Law After Yearslong Fight — New York Times World -
• Female survivors of grooming gangs demand apology from Nigel Farage — The Guardian -
• UK must reform drug pricing to become life sciences superpower, says GSK boss — The Guardian -
• Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises in budget after questioning by Badenoch — The Guardian -
• As the Dutch Vote, One Issue Carries the Day: Affordable Housing — New York Times World -
• Councils in England face clampdown on four-day working weeks — The Guardian -
• Voting opens in Netherlands as narrowing polls suggest second Geert Wilders win — The Guardian -
• Epping sex offender Hadush Kebatu deported to Ethiopia, Home Office confirms — The Guardian -
• Tight race in Dutch election as anti-Islam populist Wilders' hope of power declines — BBC World -
• BBC journalist barred from leaving Vietnam and interrogated repeatedly — The Guardian -
• HMRC pauses child benefit crackdown after 23,500 families caught up in data error — The Guardian -
• Boris Johnson approved China’s London super-embassy proposal in 2018 — The Guardian -
• Director of Bataclan terror attack drama rejects accusations of ‘indecency’ — The Guardian -
• NHS makes morning-after pill available for free across pharmacies in England — The Guardian -

Louvre heist suspects partially admit guilt, an Illinois deputy is found guilty of murder, and a teenager is convicted of a New Year's Eve stabbing, alongside sentences for a plot to kill an Iranian dissident and concerns over online crime gangs targeting Australian girls.

• Judge Cuts Greenpeace Dakota Access Pipeline Award in Half — New York Times World -
• 2 Louvre Heist Suspects Have ‘Partially Admitted’ to the Crime — New York Times World -
• Teenager found guilty of killing Harry Pitman, 16, during new year’s altercation — The Guardian -

• Illinois deputy found guilty of murder for shooting Sonya Massey after she called 911 — The Guardian -
• Democratic contender for Congress indicted over Chicago ICE protests — The Guardian -
• Two Russians sentenced to 25 years for plot to kill Iranian dissident in US — The Guardian -
• Louvre suspects ‘partially admit’ their role in jewel heist — The Guardian -
• Man charged with murder after triple stabbing in west London — The Guardian -
• Two suspects partially admit involvement in Louvre heist, prosecutor says — BBC World -
• Search under way in California after jail accidentally releases murder suspect — The Guardian -
• Manchester synagogue victim died from single police gunshot wound, inquest hears — The Guardian -
• Man charged with rape and religiously aggravated assault of Sikh woman in Walsall — The Guardian -
• Man arrested after dog walker dies and two injured in west London stabbings — The Guardian -
• Woman denies gas supply sabotage as police investigate death of elderly man at Sutherland hospital — The Guardian -
• Australian girls being 'hunted' by online crime gangs to commit violent acts — BBC World -
• AFP developing AI tool to decode gen Z slang amid warning about ‘crimefluencers’ hunting girls — The Guardian -

Hundreds were killed in a Sudanese hospital massacre amid reports of RSF atrocities, a deadliest police raid in Rio's favela claims over 130 lives, and protests mark Tanzania's elections, while concerns rise over caregiving's impact on women's health and child abuse allegations in Victorian childcare.

• Hundreds Killed in Massacre at Sudanese Hospital, W.H.O. Warns — New York Times World -
• Protests in Tanzania as Voters Head to the Polls — New York Times World -
• ‘This was a slaughter, not an operation’: the favela reeling from Rio’s deadliest police raid — The Guardian -

• Hundreds reportedly killed at Sudanese hospital as evidence of RSF atrocities mounts — The Guardian -
• At least 132 killed in Rio police raid, officials say — BBC World -
• Sudan's military expels top UN food aid officials as conflict escalates — BBC World -
• Sudan’s Military Withdraws From El Fasher in Darfur, Handing City to R.S.F. — New York Times World -
• When Caregiving Makes Women Ill — New York Times World -
• Allegations of violence, abuse and neglect in Victorian childcares jumped in 2024-25 — The Guardian -

The US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates for the second time, the pound slumps against the euro and dollar due to looming tax rises and slowing growth, and Australian inflation jumps, indicating a complex global economic outlook.

• Pound sinks against euro and dollar as tax rises loom and growth slows — The Guardian -
• Fed cuts interest rates for second time this year amid economic uncertainty — The Guardian -
• Inflation jumps to 3.2%, dashing hopes of a Melbourne Cup day rate cut for homeowners — The Guardian -

A teenage cricketer's tragic death and an investigation into a cruise ship fatality are reported, alongside controversies over a Queensland puberty blocker ban and the Bureau of Meteorology's website redesign, while WWI messages in a bottle offer a historical note.

• Teenage cricketer in Australia dies after being hit with cricket ball in Melbourne’s east — The Guardian -
• Watchdog clears Pauline Hanson’s use of taxpayer funds to attend Gina Rinehart’s birthday party — The Guardian -
• Investigation after woman left behind by cruise ship dies on island — BBC World -

• Woman who overturned Queensland’s puberty blocker ban ‘not backing away from the fight’ after LNP reinstates it — The Guardian -
• Messages in a bottle from WWI soldiers found on Australian coast — BBC World -
• Shark feeding frenzy spotted near shore at popular Australian surf beach — The Guardian -
• Ley had ‘a really strong point to make’ on Joy Division T-shirt, Liberal MP says – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Storm in a teacup or dark clouds: why do people hate the BoM website redesign? — The Guardian -
• Victorian Labor forced to rely on One Nation and others to pass voluntary assisted dying bill after factional split — The Guardian -
• Bureau of Meteorology apologises for new website and promises changes after ‘flawed’ update — The Guardian -

A Renaissance treasure returns to Rome after four decades, Gene Hackman's estate goes up for auction, and scientists find longevity lessons from bowhead whales, alongside an NFL player's identity theft case and Japan's plan to deploy troops against bear attacks.

• Four Decades After It Was Stolen, a Renaissance Treasure Returns to Rome — New York Times World -
• Lab monkeys on loose after Mississippi crash were disease-free, university says — The Guardian -
• Annabel Goldsmith, a Queen of British High Society, Dies at 91 — New York Times World -

• Life Lessons from (Very Old) Bowhead Whales — New York Times World -
• Over 400 items from Gene Hackman’s estate up for auction — The Guardian -
• NFL’s No 1 draft pick Cam Ward victim of identity theft in $250,000 scheme — The Guardian -
• Japan Plans to Send Troops to Help Stop Bear Attacks — New York Times World -
• Woman saved after slipping while boarding a moving train — BBC World -
• New Crack at an Ancient Puzzle Reignites Debate for Archaeologists — New York Times World -