Rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon and the US naval blockade of Iranian ports dominate the region, intensifying the Iran war and prompting Israel's spy chief to address criticism, while Hamas rejects a Gaza disarmament plan.

• Rare Direct Talks Between Israel and Lebanon Focus on Hezbollah — New York Times World -
• Israel and Lebanon hold first direct talks since 1993 — BBC World -
• Israel’s Spy Chief Addresses Criticism About the War With Iran — New York Times World -

• 'Bit of pain' worth long-term security from Iran, Bessent tells BBC — BBC World -
• Europe Is Desperate for More Energy. Can Norway Come to the Rescue? — New York Times World -
• Trump’s Latest Oil Blockade Brings Bigger Economic Risks — New York Times World -
• How war in Gulf reveals the ‘cut corners’ on British defence — The Guardian -
• State of U.S. Blockade Is Unclear as Some Ships Transit Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -
• Trump accuses ally Meloni of lacking courage for not joining attacks on Iran — The Guardian -
• Why and how is US blockading Iranian ports in Strait of Hormuz? — BBC World -
• Israel and Lebanon Seek Way Forward in Rare Direct Talks — New York Times World -
• US blockade of Iran ports irresponsible and dangerous, China says — BBC World -
• US blockade of Iran ports irresponsible and dangerous, China says — BBC World -
• White supremacist pleads guilty to Tennessee civil rights center arson — The Guardian -
• Hamas rejects Gaza disarmament plan, Palestinian official says — BBC World -
• Hamas rejects Gaza disarmament plan, Palestinian official says — BBC World -
• Two Iran-Linked Ships Passed Through Strait of Hormuz Ahead of U.S. Blockade — New York Times World -
• Reeves hits out at ‘folly’ of US going to war without clear exit plan — The Guardian -
• The Venezuela Model — New York Times World -
• First Thing: US starts naval blockade of Iranian ports after deadline passes — The Guardian -
• Detention of journalist in Kuwait raises questions about crackdown on freedom of speech — The Guardian -
• As Bahrain Cracked Down Amid War, a Death in Custody Sparked Outrage — New York Times World -
• As War Chills Economy, Dubai’s Most Vulnerable Bear the Cost — New York Times World -
• Iran Proposes Suspending Nuclear Activity for Up to 5 Years — New York Times World -
• Israelis Don’t Feel Much Like Victors in War With Iran — New York Times World -
• Iran tries to cosy up to Europe to increase pressure on US — The Guardian -
• Top US Senate Democrats again try for war powers resolution – as it happened — The Guardian -
• US starts naval blockade of Iranian ports after deadline passes — The Guardian -

The Iran war's economic fallout is causing global recession warnings from the IMF, surging fuel costs that lead to measures like a Canadian gas tax suspension and Australian consumer confidence crashes, and a doubling of Russian oil revenues.

• Carney Suspends Gas Tax in Canada as War Drives Up Fuel Costs — New York Times World -
• Russian Oil Revenues Nearly Doubled in March — New York Times World -
• Iran war escalation could trigger global recession, IMF warns — The Guardian -

• Reeves arrives at IMF with little leeway to prove its UK downgrade wrong — The Guardian -
• Democrat Ro Khanna to introduce bill to stop US gasoline exports amid Iran war — The Guardian -
• Dinner for few: Australians eating out less as fuel crisis deals biggest blow to consumer confidence since Covid — The Guardian -
• Middle East War Will Slow Global Economic Growth, I.M.F. Warns — New York Times World -
• IMF warns ‘unprecedented’ energy crisis could trigger global recession as Australia prepares for G20 fuel talks — The Guardian -
• HSBC says Iran war is hitting confidence as businesses warn over economic risks — The Guardian -
• Holidays take a hit as UK cost of living fears and Iran war bite — The Guardian -
• Uber adds fuel surcharge for non-EV fares in Australia amid petrol price rises — The Guardian -
• ‘Stagflationary shock’ from Iran war a ‘nightmare’ as confidence crashes among Australian households — The Guardian -
• Ukraine war briefing: Hungary’s new leader says he would ask Putin to end the killing in Ukraine — The Guardian -

Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resigned from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations, while House Democrats push to oust Trump and JD Vance defends his stances on Hungary's election and Pope Leo's criticisms, and Virginia moves closer to a national popular vote for president.

• Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales resign from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations — The Guardian -
• Trump’s ‘DoorDash grandma’ had lobbied for ‘no tax on tips’ policy — The Guardian -
• Another woman accuses Swalwell of rape, saying he drugged her in 2018 — BBC World -

• Another woman accuses Swalwell of rape, saying he drugged her in 2018 — BBC World -
• House Democrats call for commission led by JD Vance to oust Trump — The Guardian -
• China now the ‘good guy’ on AI as Trump takes ‘wild west’ approach, MPs told — The Guardian -
• New accuser says Eric Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2018 — The Guardian -
• US edges closer to popular vote deciding winner of presidential elections — The Guardian -
• JD Vance defends Trump amid spat with Pope Leo: ‘Stick to matters of morality’ — The Guardian -
• Trump pick to lead Federal Reserve has assets worth over $100m, disclosures indicate — The Guardian -
• Secretive Bilderberg group just met – but who knows what global elite said? — The Guardian -
• In Leo, Trump Faces a Different Kind of Papal Opponent — New York Times World -
• Trump deletes post with AI image of himself as Jesus-like figure after outcry — The Guardian -

The UK grapples with new junk food ad bans, "Help to Buy" scheme benefits for higher earners, and the relaunch of a women's health strategy, alongside calls for increased defense spending and compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal.

• Lidl and Iceland ads are first banned under new UK junk food rules — The Guardian -
• Higher-income households benefited most from Help to Buy, thinktank finds — The Guardian -
• Health of boy thrown from Tate Modern takes ‘sad step backwards’, family say — The Guardian -

• Streeting relaunches women’s health strategy to tackle ‘medical misogyny’ — The Guardian -
• ‘Bizarre’ lack of urgency in putting UK on war footing, says defence review co-author — The Guardian -
• King Charles III and Queen Camilla Will Visit D.C., New York and Virginia — New York Times World -
• South East Water chief executive to forgo his bonus over ‘unacceptable outages’ — The Guardian -
• UK woman fears being stranded in Spain over new Home Office border rules — The Guardian -
• School food standards pilot in England cuts meal uptake by 15% — The Guardian -
• Government sets aside extra £1bn for victims of UK’s infected blood scandal — The Guardian -
• Reeves condemns Trump’s decision to launch war against Iran as ‘folly’– as it happened — The Guardian -
• V&A censored catalogues after demands by Chinese printer — The Guardian -
• Group of Labour MPs proposes new policies to beat rightwing populism — The Guardian -
• UK’s armed forces are in a sad state – and they have only themselves to blame — The Guardian -
• Bristol UWE student charged with murder of housemate Jamie Collins — The Guardian -
• Scottish Greens pledge free bus travel and basic income in election manifesto — The Guardian -
• UK steel exports to EU at risk as bloc doubles tariffs and halves quotas — The Guardian -
• Baby skeleton wrapped in 1910 newspaper may have lived more than century earlier, inquest hears — The Guardian -
• EHRC updates guidance on how to apply supreme court ruling on gender — The Guardian -
• Officials who made errors before Southport murders ‘may still be making same mistakes’ — The Guardian -
• Soham murderer Ian Huntley died from ‘blunt head injury’, inquest told — The Guardian -
• Telegraph takeover by German buyer cleared by culture secretary — The Guardian -
• Reform activist suspended over racist and antisemitic comments remains election agent — The Guardian -
• Starmer’s ‘corrosive complacency’ on defence has put UK in peril, says ex-Nato chief — The Guardian -
• Police watchdog investigates handling of inquiry into Wimbledon crash that killed two schoolgirls — The Guardian -
• Tuesday briefing: What needs to be done to tackle child poverty in the UK — The Guardian -
• ‘Huge’ increase in kennelling and vet spending by police after XL bully ban — The Guardian -
• MSPs not told about collapse of funding deal for Scottish nature restoration — The Guardian -

Hungary's Peter Magyar defeated Viktor Orbán in a significant election, receiving Ukraine's welcome while the Kremlin downplays the loss of an ally, and the Spanish prime minister's wife faces corruption charges.

• How Peter Magyar Defeated Viktor Orban, a Former Ally, In Hungary’s Election — New York Times World -
• Will Viktor Orban’s Legacy Live On in Brussels, Even Without Him? — New York Times World -
• Israeli ambassador to Germany condemns Bezalel Smotrich’s tirade against chancellor — The Guardian -

• JD Vance defends backing 'great guy' Orbán's campaign after landslide defeat — BBC World -
• JD Vance defends backing 'great guy' Orbán's campaign after landslide defeat — BBC World -
• Zelenskyy hails Magyar’s win over Orbán as ‘the victory of light over darkness’ in Hungary – as it happened — The Guardian -
• ‘We were never friends’: Kremlin plays down loss of ally following Orbán’s election defeat — The Guardian -
• Spanish prime minister’s wife charged with corruption — The Guardian -
• Greek police using masked migrants to forcibly push other migrants back across border — BBC World -
• Greek police using masked migrants to forcibly push other migrants back across border — BBC World -
• How Orban Lost His Touch, and Hungary’s Election — New York Times World -

Sudan's war enters its fourth year, with calls for an end to bloodshed amid worsening humanitarian crises, while a Rohingya refugee boat capsized and asylum seekers are moved to army barracks in the UK, raising concerns over ICE detentions.

• Three years of messages at once - a chronicle of Sudan's war pours in as trapped reporter's phone turns on — BBC World -
• UK to call for end to Sudan bloodshed at Berlin talks on third anniversary of war — The Guardian -
• Hundreds of asylum seekers moved from hotels to army barracks, Home Office announces — The Guardian -

• About 250 missing after boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsizes in Andaman Sea — The Guardian -
• French woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to marry 1950s sweetheart — The Guardian -
• ICE detention of US citizen in Minnesota investigated as kidnapping, false arrest — The Guardian -
• French woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to reunite with long-lost love — BBC World -
• French woman, 86, held by ICE after moving to US to reunite with long-lost love — BBC World -
• What Happened After Denmark Adopted a Ruined City in Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Anger at ‘bloody unacceptable’ efforts to end Sudan’s war as conflict enters fourth year — The Guardian -

A UCLA gynecologist was sentenced for sexual abuse, an indictment followed a Florida surgeon's fatal mistake, and a Turkish high school shooting injured sixteen, alongside a retrial over Maradona's death and charges in a cruise ship murder.

• FBI arrests California man shot by ICE on ‘assault’ charges — The Guardian -
• UCLA gynecologist pleads guilty to 13 sexual abuse charges and is sentenced to 11 years in prison — The Guardian -
• Florida surgeon indicted after removing liver instead of spleen — The Guardian -

• Retrial over death of Argentina legend Maradona begins — BBC World -
• Retrial over death of Argentina legend Maradona begins — BBC World -
• Ex-Student Wounds 16 in High School Shooting in Turkey — New York Times World -
• Sixteen injured after ex-student opens fire at high school in Turkey — BBC World -
• Bahamas police release Michigan man questioned after wife disappeared from their boat — The Guardian -
• Police officers among seven arrested over deadly Haiti stampede — BBC World -
• South Korea jails 90-year-old woman for laundering son's drug money — BBC World -
• US military says it killed two people in another boat strike in eastern Pacific — The Guardian -
• Florida teenager charged with sexually assaulting and killing stepsister Anna Kepner on cruise ship — The Guardian -

Chiang Mai's New Year revelry was affected by smog from wildfires, warnings persist for a potential 'super El Niño', and severe storms hit the Plains and Midwest, while typhoons threaten the Northern Mariana Islands and wildfires devastate US cattle country.

• Chiang Mai’s New Year revelry hit by smog and war-related price spikes — The Guardian -
• Are we heading for ‘super El Niño’ – and what could we expect? — The Guardian -
• Severe storms damage the Plains and midwest as forecasts warn of tornadoes — The Guardian -

• Earthquake jolts rural Nevada near Carson City causing some damage — The Guardian -
• An Underwater Phantom Is Killing Fish and Breaking Hearts — New York Times World -
• ‘Nothing but tree skeletons’: record-breaking wildfires devastate US cattle country — The Guardian -
• Horse swept away in a fast-moving flood in Illinois rescued after eight hours — The Guardian -
• Northern Mariana Islands, Guam On Alert for ‘Extremely Dangerous’ Super Typhoon Sinlaku — New York Times World -
• MSPs not told about collapse of funding deal for Scottish nature restoration — The Guardian -
• NSW promises more fast chargers and electric trucks in revamped EV policy — The Guardian -

A new search engine helps reveal Nazi party ancestors, Elon Musk's xAI faces a pollution lawsuit, China is seen as the 'good guy' on AI compared to Trump's approach, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced new inductees.

• New search engine reveals if ancestors were in Nazi party — BBC World -
• NAACP lawsuit accuses Elon Musk’s xAI of polluting Black neighborhoods near Memphis — The Guardian -
• China now the ‘good guy’ on AI as Trump takes ‘wild west’ approach, MPs told — The Guardian -

• Giant echidnas weighing 15kg roamed Victoria – and the evidence was hiding in plain sight — The Guardian -
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Phil Collins, Oasis, Sade and Wu-Tang Clan among 2026 inductees — The Guardian -

King Charles III and Queen Camilla plan a US visit, while Pope Leo XIV embarks on an African tour and Prince Harry and Meghan return to Australia, highlighting ongoing global and religious diplomacy.

• King Charles III and Queen Camilla Will Visit D.C., New York and Virginia — New York Times World -
• With Algeria Visit, Pope Leo Returns to His Augustinian Roots — New York Times World -
• Cameroon separatists to pause fighting ahead of Pope visit — BBC World -

• Which Four Countries Pope Leo Is Visiting in Africa, and Why — New York Times World -
• How Harry and Meghan's Australia tour differs to their 2018 royal visit — BBC World -
• Watch: What are Harry and Meghan doing in Australia? — BBC World -
• In Leo, Trump Faces a Different Kind of Papal Opponent — New York Times World -
• Harry and Meghan arrive in Australia for four-day tour — BBC World -
• Bongbong Marcos fights ill-health rumours with star jumps — BBC World -

A **€1m Picasso painting was won in a charity raffle, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was saved from closure, and the V&A censored catalogues for a Chinese printer, alongside a Telegraph takeover** being cleared.

• Man wins €1m Picasso painting in €100 charity raffle — BBC World -
• Man wins €1m Picasso painting in €100 charity raffle — BBC World -
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette saved from closure by Maryland non-profit — The Guardian -

• V&A censored catalogues after demands by Chinese printer — The Guardian -
• Telegraph takeover by German buyer cleared by culture secretary — The Guardian -

Debate intensifies over Angus Taylor's Trumpian immigration plan, an aged care algorithm tool is under investigation, and Gina Rinehart faces a court verdict over a billion-dollar fortune, as Qantas adjusts flights due to Middle East turmoil.

• ‘Debased himself’ and risking Australia’s reputation: Liberals torn up about Taylor’s Trumpian immigration plan — The Guardian -
• Labor’s controversial algorithm tool for aged care under investigation by ombudsman — The Guardian -
• Gina Rinehart and rival heirs brace for court verdict on claim to billion-dollar fortune — The Guardian -

• Hanson claims credit for immigration plans; PM arrives in Brunei – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Angus Taylor accused of ‘desperate dog-whistle’ immigration speech as Pauline Hanson takes credit — The Guardian -
• ‘I don’t just ditch my mates’: new Victorian Labor minister defends John Setka ties amid criticism — The Guardian -
• Palestinian groups launch legal bid to shed light on Australian arms export permits to Israel — The Guardian -
• Qantas cuts domestic flights and raises fares as travel patterns shift due to Middle East turmoil — The Guardian -