US political developments feature the Trump administration's military operations against narco-terrorists and reversal of environmental protections, alongside the Justice Department's involvement in California's electoral map lawsuit and approval of boat strikes.

• Hegseth announces military operation to remove ‘narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere’– as it happened — The Guardian -
• Justice Dept. Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels — New York Times World -
• US justice department joins lawsuit to block California’s new electoral map — The Guardian -

• Family of Fisherman Killed in U.S. Military Strike Says It Wants Justice — New York Times World -
• Trump Administration Revokes Biden Ban on Drilling and Mining in Alaska Wilderness — New York Times World -

Australia faces public safety concerns with multiple ACT schools shutting due to asbestos in play sand, while the Liberal party debates climate policy and a high-profile Rolls Royce crash case sees a not-guilty plea.

• Australia news live: former Liberal MP argues climate debate ‘mostly driven by emotion and virtue signalling’ — The Guardian -
• Lanlan Yang pleads not guilty to all charges over crash of $1.5m Rolls Royce SUV in Sydney’s east — The Guardian -
• Multiple ACT schools shut after alert over asbestos in coloured sand products — The Guardian -

Ongoing hostilities in Ukraine saw Russia launch a massive attack on Kyiv, sparking fires and causing multiple injuries across the capital's districts.

• Russia attacks ‘every district’ of Kyiv, sparking fires across Ukrainian capital — The Guardian -

British political shifts indicate Rachel Reeves abandoning plans to raise income tax rates, while archaeological discoveries in Cambridgeshire reveal rare Bronze and Iron Age log boats, offering insights into prehistory.

• Rachel Reeves to abandon plans to raise income tax rates in budget — The Guardian -
• Rare bronze and iron age log boats reveal details of Cambridgeshire prehistory — The Guardian -

In a rare wildlife encounter, a seal dramatically escaped killer whales by leaping onto a photographer's boat in the Salish Sea, providing stunning video and photos of its plight.

• The great escape: seal flees killer whales by jumping on to photographer’s boat — The Guardian -

Capital punishment in Florida continued with the state's 16th execution this year, as Bryan Frederick Jennings was put to death for a 1979 rape and murder.

• Florida kills man on death row in state’s 16th execution this year — The Guardian -