Recent headlines reveal Donald Trump's criticism of a pardoned Democrat's loyalty, Russia's alignment with a new US security strategy, Netanyahu's update on the Gaza ceasefire plan mentioning Trump, and Donald Trump Jr.'s comments on potentially ending Ukraine war support, alongside Trump's strong stance on immigration and the EPA's rollback of toxic chemical rules.

• Trump slams ‘lack of loyalty’ after pardoned Democrat says he won’t change party — The Guardian -
• New US security strategy aligns with Russia's vision, Moscow says — BBC World -
• First phase of Gaza ceasefire plan nearly complete, says Netanyahu — The Guardian -

• Maha v Maga: feud grows as Trump EPA rolls back rules on toxic chemicals — The Guardian -
• US may end support for Ukraine war effort, says Donald Trump Jr — The Guardian -
• Trump vows to slam America’s doors shut as he heaps scorn on immigrants — The Guardian -
• Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale has become ‘more and more plausible’ — The Guardian -
• This Nebraska Prison Rehabilitated Inmates. Until ICE Paid to Fill It With Immigrants. — New York Times World -
• In Honduras, Some Voters Were Swayed by Trump, Others Angered — New York Times World -
• Hegseth gives defiant speech defending ‘drug boat’ strikes amid scrutiny — The Guardian -

Key developments include the Chernobyl radiation shield losing safety function after a drone strike, Japan accusing China of aiming military radar at its jets, a massive strike on a Ukrainian city as peace talks conclude, and reports of no end in sight for Ukraine's war-weary troops.

• Chernobyl radiation shield 'lost safety function' after drone strike, UN watchdog says — BBC World -
• Japan Says China Aimed Military Radar at Its Fighter Jets — New York Times World -
• Hostile powers sending spies to west’s universities, says former security chief — The Guardian -

• Ukrainian city hit by 'massive' strike as peace talks in US conclude — BBC World -
• ‘What choice do we have?’: no end in sight for Ukraine’s war-weary frontline troops — The Guardian -
• Ukraine war briefing: With no Miami breakthrough, Zelenskyy turns to European allies — The Guardian -

Tragic events include a deadly nightclub fire in India's Goa killing 25 staff and tourists, a death toll from Indonesia floods passing 900, and Australia bracing for a difficult bushfire season after recent blazes in New South Wales, while an earthquake struck near the Alaska-Canada border and Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted.

• Nightclub fire in India's Goa kills 25 staff and tourists — BBC World -
• Watch: Moment Hawaii volcano eruption engulfs camera — BBC World -
• Watch: Moment Hawaii volcano eruption engulfs camera — BBC World -

• Watch: BBC reports from scene of deadly Goa nightclub fire — BBC World -
• Fire at a Nightclub in Goa, India, Kills at Least 25 — New York Times World -
• Tourists among at least 25 killed in Goa nightclub fire — The Guardian -
• Albanese warns of ‘difficult’ bushfire season ahead as cooler conditions bring relief to disaster-ravaged NSW — The Guardian -
• NSW Central Coast ‘not out of the woods yet’ as bushfire conditions ease – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Death toll from devastating Indonesia floods passes 900 — BBC World -
• Death toll from devastating Indonesia floods passes 900 — BBC World -
• Magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes remote area near Alaska-Canada border — The Guardian -

Three more Farage bloc MEPs are alleged to have followed a Russian asset's script, active travel groups are calling for clear targets on walking and cycling in England, a senior DWP civil servant is blaming victims for the carer's allowance scandal, and young unemployed individuals face benefit cuts if they don't engage with job schemes, amidst Keir Starmer's comments on Angela Rayner's return to cabinet and calls for Nigel Farage to apologize for racism allegations.

• Three more Farage bloc MEPs alleged to have followed Russian asset’s script — The Guardian -
• Active travel groups call for clear targets on walking and cycling in England — The Guardian -
• Senior DWP civil servant blames victims for carer’s allowance scandal — The Guardian -

• UK politics: Your Party’s Sultana suggests ‘electoral alliances’ could help stop Farage – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Young unemployed told to engage with jobs scheme or risk benefit cuts — The Guardian -
• Keir Starmer says ‘hugely talented’ Angela Rayner will return to cabinet — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage should apologise after racism allegations, says former watchdog head — The Guardian -
• C of E to challenge Tommy Robinson’s ‘put Christ back into Christmas’ message — The Guardian -
• Faith and Reform: is the religious right on the rise in UK politics? — The Guardian -
• Gambling addicts risk losing ‘life-saving’ help due to funding overhaul, say UK charities — The Guardian -

Recent reports confirm a coup attempt in Benin was foiled by loyalist troops, while Hong Kong held an election amidst mourning a deadly fire and arresting a man for online posts about the fire, with survivors left in limbo and officials moving against 'anti-China' elements.

• Benin coup attempt foiled by loyalist troops, interior minister says — BBC World -
• Benin Coup Attempt to Oust Talon Has Been Foiled, Interior Minister Says — New York Times World -
• Hong Kong Holds Vote as Officials Move Against ‘Anti-China’ Elements — New York Times World -

• Hong Kong Man Arrested After Posting Online About Deadly Fire — New York Times World -
• Hong Kong votes in election as city mourns deadly fire — BBC World -
• Survivors of the Deadly Hong Kong Fire Are in Limbo — New York Times World -

Authorities are continuing a search for the last of three escaped inmates in Louisiana, one person was injured in a second stabbing on a North Carolina commuter train in months, and Heathrow Airport was briefly locked down after pepper spray was used in an altercation, leading to an arrest on suspicion of assault.

• Louisiana officials continue search for last of three escaped inmates — The Guardian -
• One injured after second stabbing on North Carolina commuter train in months — The Guardian -
• Heathrow Airport Is Briefly Locked Down After Spray Is Used in Altercation — New York Times World -

• Man arrested after people at Heathrow allegedly attacked with ‘form of pepper spray’ — The Guardian -

The Queensland Museum is accused of misleading children about climate change causes due to fossil fuel sponsorship, an African swine fever outbreak in Spain may have leaked from a research lab, Australians are buying ineffective iron supplements, and a wild beaver has been spotted in Norfolk for the first time in 400 years.

• Australians buying ‘iron supplements’ containing little more iron than a slice of bread, experts warn — The Guardian -
• Queensland Museum accused of misleading teachers and children about the cause of climate change — The Guardian -
• African swine fever outbreak in Spain may have leaked from research lab, officials say — The Guardian -

• ‘No one knows where it came from’: first wild beaver spotted in Norfolk for 400 years — The Guardian -

Sydney Sweeney has addressed her silence over a jeans advert backlash, renowned British photographer Martin Parr has died at 73, Katy Perry went Instagram official with Justin Trudeau, and New York City's wealthiest are reportedly not fleeing after Mamdani's win, while Iran has arrested marathon organizers over women running without hijabs and Australia is implementing a social media ban for under-16s.

• Martin Parr, Who Photographed Britain’s Unvarnished Quirks, Dies at 73 — New York Times World -
• Martin Parr, photographer acclaimed for observations of British life, dies aged 73 — The Guardian -
• Two marathon organisers arrested in Iran over women running without hijabs — The Guardian -

• No, New York City’s wealthiest are not fleeing the city after Mamdani’s win — The Guardian -
• Sydney Sweeney says her silence over jeans advert backlash ‘widened the divide’ — The Guardian -
• Katy Perry goes Instagram official with Justin Trudeau — BBC World -
• Katy Perry goes Instagram official with Justin Trudeau — BBC World -
• With MaXhosa Africa, Laduma Ngxokolo Is Reweaving South Africa’s Story — New York Times World -
• Australia’s Social Media Ban for Under-16s Is Coming. The Teenagers Are Skeptical. — New York Times World -
• How Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children Will Work — New York Times World -
• A new museum in Doha celebrates Indian art legend MF Husain — BBC World -
• Japan is facing a dementia crisis – can technology help? — BBC World -
• How the solar storms that cause the Northern Lights can wreak havoc on Earth — BBC World -