Australia's political scene is marked by Liberal leadership challenges and a Melbourne Herzog protest, while diplomatically, Anthony Albanese raised bulldozed Australian war graves with the Israeli president and fears emerged over an alleged execution in Iran; internally, a Queensland MP spoke against abortion and NSW police action at a protest drew criticism even as DNA technology led to historic arrests.

• Australia news live: strong police presence as thousands gather at Melbourne Herzog protest; Dan Tehan quits Liberal frontbench and confirms deputy tilt — The Guardian -
• Anthony Albanese raises bulldozed Australian war graves with Israeli president — The Guardian -
• Rebel Queensland LNP MP urges colleagues to ‘put on the full armour of God’ and speak against abortion — The Guardian -

• Support builds for Angus Taylor after launching Liberal party leadership challenge against Sussan Ley — The Guardian -
• DNA technology used to catch Golden State Killer leads to NSW arrest over historic alleged sexual assaults — The Guardian -
• NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzog — The Guardian -
• Fears former Canberra boy has been executed in Iran, as Australia makes representations to Tehran — The Guardian -

The **UK economy recorded a modest 0.1% growth despite budget uncertainty, but youth services face severe cuts leading to 'black holes' in council areas, while the housing market shows tentative signs of recovery and new studies revealed concerning rates of child mortality among closely related parents and calls for more support for parents whose children are taken into care, amidst scrutiny over high-profile vetting processes and potential cabinet secretary appointments**.

• UK economy grows by 0.1% despite uncertainty over Reeves’s budget — The Guardian -
• ‘We’re on a cliff edge’: the struggle to keep youth services alive in Knowsley — The Guardian -
• Vetting process for Mandelson needed more awkward questions, expert says — The Guardian -

• Youth work ‘black holes’ in half of all council areas in England, study finds — The Guardian -
• Who is Antonia Romeo and why is she tipped to be the next cabinet secretary? — The Guardian -
• One in 14 children who die in England have closely related parents, study finds — The Guardian -
• Parents of children taken in to care should get more help, say experts after Victoria Marten death — The Guardian -
• Housing market in England and Wales ‘showing tentative signs of recovery’ — The Guardian -

The Tumbler Ridge shooting in Canada tragically involved an 18-year-old suspect identified in a school massacre, leading to nine deaths; elsewhere, DNA technology led to an NSW arrest for historic sexual assaults (already captured in Australia topic, will remove for distinctiveness here), and a US border patrol chief faced scrutiny for praising an agent who shot a US citizen.

• Police identify 18-year-old as suspect in Tumbler Ridge shooting — BBC World -
• Canada Updates: Police Identify Suspect in Mass Shooting — New York Times World -
• Tumbler Ridge mass shooting: What we know so far — BBC World -

• Canadian police identify suspect in school massacre that left nine dead — The Guardian -
• Border patrol chief praised federal agent who shot US citizen in Chicago — The Guardian -

Bangladesh held its first elections since 2024 student protests, with Tarique Rahman promising clean politics, while EU leaders clashed over a 'Buy European' push and Switzerland prepared to vote on a far-right population cap proposal; additionally, China's Xi Jinping made a rare reference to a military purge, a US energy official pressed Venezuela for investment, and Mexico risked losing its measles-free status.

• Bangladesh Holds First Elections After 2024 Student Protests — New York Times World -
• EU leaders to clash over ‘Buy European’ push at Belgium summit — The Guardian -
• Switzerland to vote on far-right proposal to cap population at 10 million — The Guardian -

• China's Xi Jinping makes rare reference to recent military purge — BBC World -
• Top U.S. Energy Official Presses Venezuela to Do More to Spur Investment — New York Times World -
• Mexico May Be on Brink of Losing Its Measles-Free Status — New York Times World -
• Tarique Rahman promises era of clean politics as Bangladesh holds first election since fall of Hasina — The Guardian -
• Three issues that matter to voters in the Bangladesh election — BBC World -

The US House voted to overturn Trump's tariffs on Canada in a bipartisan rebuke, while also passing the Save America Act to impose new voting rules; additionally, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff faced outrage from workers over a joke about ICE.

• Salesforce workers outraged after CEO makes joke about ICE watching them — The Guardian -
• US House votes to overturn Trump's tariffs on Canada — BBC World -
• US House backs bid to block Canada tariffs in rebuke of Trump — The Guardian -

• House passes Save America Act, Trump-backed bill to impose new voting rules — The Guardian -

Russia actively attempted to 'fully block' WhatsApp, pushing users towards a state-sponsored app, while El Paso airspace experienced 'chaos' and closures, initially linked to cartel drones or mistaken balloons, with the Pentagon reportedly supplying a laser weapon for border security.

• Russia attempted to ‘fully block’ WhatsApp, Meta-owned company says — The Guardian -
• Party balloon or cartel drones? Closure of El Paso airspace causes 'chaos' — BBC World -
• Russia moves to block WhatsApp in messaging app crackdown — BBC World -

• Pentagon reportedly gave Customs and Border Protection laser weapon that triggered El Paso airspace shutdown – as it happened — The Guardian -
• US officials lift 10-day closure of El Paso airspace after balloon mistaken for drone — The Guardian -

The world mourned the passing of actor James Van Der Beek, whose fundraiser for his family quickly surpassed its goal, and Bud Cort, star of Harold and Maude, while Olympic figure skaters faced issues over music copyright rules, and Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk secured a Netflix series; a Buddhist monks' peace walk across America also garnered significant attention.

• 'One in a billion': Dawson's Creek stars lead tributes to James Van Der Beek — BBC World -
• Olympic Figure Skaters Are on Thin Ice Over Music Copyright Rules — New York Times World -
• Turkish Nobel Novelist Orhan Pamuk Gets the Netflix Series He Wanted — New York Times World -

• Bud Cort, star of cult classic Harold and Maude, dies aged 77 — BBC World -
• Monks bring balm for America’s wounds as Washington cheers peace odyssey — The Guardian -
• Fundraiser for widow and children of James Van Der Beek surpasses $500,000 goal within hours — The Guardian -

The Dutch preference for four-day working weeks sparked a debate on their sustainability and economic impact.

• The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable? — BBC World -