A devastating apartment complex fire in Hong Kong has resulted in dozens dead and hundreds missing, leading to police investigations into safety lapses, arrests tied to the construction company, and widespread public anger over the lack of alarms and the extent of the damage.

• Hong Kong fire latest: rescue crews search for survivors as death toll rises to 75 with hundreds reported missing — The Guardian -
• At Least 55 Dead in Hong Kong Apartment Fire — New York Times World -
• ‘No Alarm Went Off’: Hong Kong Fire Survivor Recounts Harrowing Escape — New York Times World -

• Hong Kongers Volunteer to Help Fire Victims — New York Times World -
• Firefighters search for hundreds still missing in devastating Hong Kong tower blocks fire — BBC World -
• 'I am devastated': Hong Kong residents in disbelief after fire destroys blocks of flats — BBC World -
• What to Know About the Deadly Fire at a Hong Kong Apartment Complex — New York Times World -
• Hong Kong police say unsafe scaffolding and foam may have spread fire that killed at least 75 — The Guardian -
• Hong Kong’s Worst Fire in Decades Fuels Scrutiny of Safety Lapses — New York Times World -
• Images From the Deadly High-Rise Fire in Hong Kong — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• ‘There should have been an alarm’: in air thick with acrid smoke, people in Hong Kong are reeling and angry — The Guardian -
• At least 65 dead and hundreds missing after fire engulfs Hong Kong tower blocks — BBC World -
• Video shows speed fire spreads in Hong Kong tower block — BBC World -
• Hong Kong’s Worst Fire in Decades Fuels Scrutiny of Safety Lapses — New York Times World -
• Hong Kong’s Worst Fire in Decades Fuels Scrutiny of Safety Lapses — New York Times World -
• What we know about the Hong Kong apartment fires — BBC World -
• Hong Kong Fire Kills At Least 44 — New York Times World -
• Hong Kong Arrests 3 Tied to Construction Company After Deadly Apartment Fire — New York Times World -
• BBC on the scene of the Hong Kong apartment block blaze — BBC World -
• BBC on the scene of the Hong Kong apartment block blaze — BBC World -
• Thursday briefing: ​What could the government’s proposals to scrap jury trials mean for democracy? — The Guardian -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Watch: Dawn aerial vision reveals scale of Hong Kong blaze — BBC World -
• Watch: Dawn aerial footage reveals scale of Hong Kong apartment blaze — BBC World -

The latest UK budget announcements include a freeze on student loan repayment thresholds and income tax thresholds, a tax break for farmers, and an increase in gambling taxes, while net migration figures show a significant drop, and a report claims the ultra-rich are reshaping British politics.

• Debenhams boss could receive almost £150m if he turns around struggling retailer — The Guardian -
• Starmer says budget did not break manifesto tax pledge and scrapping two-child benefit cap was ‘long-standing ambition’ – live — The Guardian -
• ‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims — The Guardian -

• Freeze on student loan repayment threshold could leave graduates struggling, NUS warns — The Guardian -
• The British Public Thinks Immigration Is Up. It’s Actually Down, Sharply. — New York Times World -
• Analysts back British gambling firm stocks despite tax rises for sector — The Guardian -
• Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS figures show — The Guardian -
• OBR chair ‘mortified’ by budget leak as ex-cybersecurity chief called in to investigate — The Guardian -
• Courtauld to embark on £82m campus project at Somerset House in London — The Guardian -
• Income tax threshold freeze will hit poorer households harder, experts say — The Guardian -
• US banks announce UK expansion projects hours after budget — The Guardian -
• Ministers to crack down on ‘for-profit’ litter enforcers in England — The Guardian -
• Thursday briefing: ​What could the government’s proposals to scrap jury trials mean for democracy? — The Guardian -
• Leaders hope budget funding will boost Labour in next year’s Scotland and Wales elections — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves hands farmers inheritance tax break — The Guardian -
• Even the U.K. Prime Minister Can’t Resist ‘6-7’ — New York Times World -
• U.K. Budget Plan Calms Markets and Labour Faithful. Will It Appeal to Voters? — New York Times World -
• UK net migration predicted to drop to pre-Brexit levels, figures show — The Guardian -

Russia's openness to a US peace plan for Ukraine comes as France introduces voluntary military service due to a perceived Russian threat, while Pope Leo's first foreign trip to Turkey and Lebanon addresses global conflict, and tensions persist in South Lebanon and between the US and South Africa over G20 invitations.

• Putin says US peace plan could form basis for end to Ukraine war – Europe live — The Guardian -
• France to introduce voluntary military service amid threat from Russia — The Guardian -
• Pope Leo on first foreign trip says future of humanity at stake from conflict — BBC World -

• Heading to the Mideast, Pope Leo May Show ‘Who He Really Is’ — New York Times World -
• Pope Leo Lands in Turkey, Planning to Meet Erdogan With a Message of Outreach — New York Times World -
• South Africa hits back after Trump says US won't invite it for G20 next year — BBC World -
• Pope Leo Visits Turkey on His First Trip as Pontiff — New York Times World -
• Trump Cut Europe Out of Ukraine Talks. Here’s How Europe Pushed Back. — New York Times World -
• France Creates Voluntary Military Service as Europe Faces Russian Threat — New York Times World -
• Denmark sets up ‘night watch’ to monitor Trump after Greenland row — The Guardian -
• France to bring in form of military service, 25 years after conscription was phased out — BBC World -
• US deal must punish Russia war crimes, says Ukraine’s Nobel peace prize winner — The Guardian -
• Venezuela bans six major airlines after tensions with US escalate — BBC World -
• Pope Leo arrives in Turkey on first foreign trip of papacy — BBC World -
• South Africa hits back at ‘punitive’ Trump move to bar it from G20 meeting in Florida — The Guardian -
• South Africa hits back after Trump says US won't invite it for G20 next year — BBC World -
• West is ‘missing obscure sanctions that could set back Russia’s war machine’ — The Guardian -
• Year after ceasefire, peace eludes south Lebanon as Israeli strikes continue — BBC World -
• Year after ceasefire, peace eludes south Lebanon as Israeli strikes continue — BBC World -
• An Asia-Pacific Showdown — New York Times World -
• Pope Leo arrives in Turkey on first overseas trip as pontiff — The Guardian -

A Washington D.C. shooting involving National Guard members has led to President Trump calling for a re-examination of Afghan refugees, with the suspect confirmed to have CIA ties, intensifying the debate on US immigration policy.

• Suspect in Washington DC national guard shooting had ties to CIA, agency confirms — The Guardian -
• Trump says US should ‘re-examine’ all Afghan refugees after suspect named in national guard shooting | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Trump shuts the door to Afghans who face crises at home. — New York Times World -

• US suspends immigration requests for Afghans after National Guard shooting — BBC World -
• National guard shooting will likely make Trump crack down even harder — The Guardian -
• National Guard shooting: Trump says US should ‘re-examine’ all Afghan refugees after suspect named — The Guardian -
• Washington DC shooting: Trump calls shooting of national guard members ‘an act of terror’, vows new scrutiny of immigrants – as it happened — The Guardian -
• U.S. to Press Europe and Other Allies on Immigration, Document Says — New York Times World -
• Two national guard members in critical condition after Washington DC shooting — The Guardian -
• Shock and dismay after national guard troops shot near White House — The Guardian -

Australia sees a major overhaul of nature laws following a deal between Labor and the Greens, though concerns persist about missing climate targets and fracking expansion plans, while new rules crack down on high-risk loans, and a coronial inquest finds a premeditated murder of Lilie James.

• Anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe claims her employer gave her immunity from complaints by pro-choice campaigners — The Guardian -
• ‘How far is it going to escalate?’ Fear Santos gas plan in Beetaloo basin could be start of NT fracking rush — The Guardian -
• State Library of Victoria faces job cuts as staff accuse management of pursuing ‘digital vanity projects’ — The Guardian -

• Australian diet set to worsen as national food policy is drawn up by profit-driven industry, experts warn — The Guardian -
• Guardian Australia wins Walkley award for Indigenous affairs for The Descendants series — The Guardian -
• Labor strikes deal with Greens on nature laws overhaul amid criticism ‘dirty deal’ being ‘rammed through’ — The Guardian -
• Australia projected to miss 2035 emissions reduction target ‘by a country mile’ unless it ramps up climate policies — The Guardian -
• Pocock criticises lack of scrutiny for nature laws – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Teens seek urgent high court injunction to block Australian government’s social media ban — The Guardian -
• New rules crack down on high risk loans as Australian property market heats up — The Guardian -
• Large bull shark kills woman and injures man in attack at NSW beach — The Guardian -
• Environmental activist Ben Pennings declares ‘massive victory’ after Adani drops its years-long legal pursuit — The Guardian -
• Two Australian homes win top places in international 2025 Dezeen awards — The Guardian -
• Temperatures to stay up to 8C above average for Queensland and northern NSW into next week after storms wreak havoc — The Guardian -
• Lilie James victim of ‘calculated premeditated killing’ by ex-boyfriend, coroner finds after inquest — The Guardian -

Guinea-Bissau experiences a coup with a new general named leader, a Palestinian-American teenager is freed from Israeli prison, Italy's rape law faces delays, Zambia and Georgia see political unrest, and Jakarta is named the world's most populous city.

• General named new Guinea-Bissau leader a day after coup — BBC World -
• Palestinian-American teenager held in Israeli prison freed after nine months — The Guardian -
• Italy’s rape law stalls as Matteo Salvini claims it could be used for ‘vendettas’ — The Guardian -

• Police investigate theft of four dogs from Malawi presidential palace — BBC World -
• Soldiers seize power in Guinea-Bissau and detain the president — BBC World -
• St Vincent prime minister seeks record sixth term in tight election — The Guardian -
• European progressives must tackle housing crisis to beat far right, say researchers — The Guardian -
• Miroslaw Chojecki, Solidarity’s ‘Minister of Smuggling,’ Dies at 76 — New York Times World -
• Jakarta overtakes Tokyo as world’s most populous city, according to UN — The Guardian -
• Stone-throwing anger unnerves Zambia's 'fix-it' president — BBC World -
• They can't crush our protests, vow Georgians after year of resistance — BBC World -
• £15,000 prize launched for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds — The Guardian -
• Guinea-Bissau’s President Says He Has Been Deposed. The Opposition Says It’s a Trick. — New York Times World -

A monthly injection shows promise for severe asthma control, archaeologists confirm a man-made pit circle near Stonehenge, a Campbell's executive is dismissed for offensive comments, and a celebrity undergoes a second leg amputation, alongside a warning about 'forever chemicals' in Maine's wild turkeys.

• Celebrity Traitors star Ruth Codd recovering after second leg amputation — The Guardian -
• Arrest warrants issued for Miss Universe co-owners in latest twist in pageant saga — The Guardian -
• Soup firm Campbell’s dismisses executive over alleged ‘poor people’ comments — The Guardian -

• Novel scientific method proves pit circle near Stonehenge was man-made, say researchers — The Guardian -
• Belfast youth football coach expelled after posting cocaine prices on league group chat — The Guardian -
• Wild turkeys off the menu in Maine after ‘forever chemicals’ found in birds — The Guardian -
• NHS doctor suspended over alleged antisemitic social media posts — The Guardian -
• Severe asthma can be controlled by a monthly injection, trial finds — The Guardian -
• 'I panic every time she coughs' - Delhi's toxic air is making its children sick — BBC World -