Rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, ship attacks, and Iranian threats to close the vital waterway highlight the fragility of an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, which saw Hezbollah cooperation amid reports of a killed UN peacekeeper.

• Iran War Live Updates: Tensions Rise in Strait of Hormuz Over Ship Attacks and Iranian Threats — New York Times World -
• Hezbollah is willing to cooperate with a cease-fire with Israel. For now. — New York Times World -
• Middle East crisis live: Trump leaves Situation Room to golf as ships report attacks and Iran closes strait of Hormuz — The Guardian -

• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Strait of Hormuz closed again, Iran says, as ships attacked — BBC World -
• Ships Attacked in Strait of Hormuz as Iran Declares Strict Control of Vital Shipping Route — New York Times World -
• More Displaced Lebanese Head Home as Cease-Fire Is Tested — New York Times World -
• Trump and Tehran’s series of mismanaged posts stall progress towards peace — The Guardian -
• French peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon — BBC World -
• French peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon — BBC World -
• A Potent Threat in Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s ‘Mosquito Fleet’ — New York Times World -
• Iran closes strait of Hormuz again ‘until US lifts blockade’ — The Guardian -
• BBC reports from Lebanese border town as residents try to return home — BBC World -
• Hopes for Peace Deal Rise After Iran Says Strait Is Open — New York Times World -
• Thousands of Lebanese Try to Head Home After Israel-Lebanon Truce — New York Times World -
• Oil prices plunge as Iran says Strait 'open' — BBC World -
• Iran says strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ but sounds warning on US blockade — The Guardian -
• US extends waiver allowing countries to buy Russian oil – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump Is Urged to Move on Nuclear Site Thought to Be Beyond Reach of Bombs — New York Times World -
• Trump Frames Iran War as All but Over in Optimistic Social Media Flurry — New York Times World -
• Watch: Fuel truck leaves trail of fire on road in Syria — BBC World -

President Trump's administration faces scrutiny over stalled peace progress with Iran, loosened Russian oil sanctions, a widening spat with Pope Leo XIV, and reforms for psychedelic drug treatments, amidst a presidency seemingly unravelling.

• Pope Says News Outlets Misread Some of His Remarks as Criticism of Trump — New York Times World -
• Trump Spat Gives Spain Leader Pedro Sánchez a Political Lifeline — New York Times World -
• Trump Extends Sanctions Exemption on Some Russian Oil as High Gas Prices Persist — New York Times World -

• U.S. Officials Visited Havana to Lay Out Proposals for Cuban Reforms — New York Times World -
• Building of Trump's White House ballroom can resume in full, appeals court says — BBC World -
• Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump — BBC World -
• A Mild-Mannered Pope Finds His Voice — New York Times World -
• Trump announces reforms to accelerate access to psychedelic drug treatments — The Guardian -
• ICE deported 174 Daca recipients through most of last year, agency head says in letter — The Guardian -
• Trump’s antipathy for Pope may have roots in childhood Protestant church — The Guardian -
• ‘It’s kind of a tough situation’: US Catholics torn in feud between president and the pope — The Guardian -
• DR Congo accepts first set of deportees from the US — BBC World -
• DR Congo accepts first set of deportees from the US — BBC World -
• Two weeks that pushed Trump to the edge. Is his presidency unravelling? — The Guardian -
• The 27-Year-Old Diplomat Waging Trump’s Cultural War With Europe — New York Times World -
• Senate passes short-term extension of surveillance law – as it happened — The Guardian -
• White House and Anthropic hold 'productive' meeting amid fears over Mythos model — BBC World -
• White House and Anthropic hold 'productive' meeting amid fears over Mythos model — BBC World -

Hungary's political landscape is transformed by Péter Magyar's victory over Viktor Orbán, while Italy's Prime Minister Meloni faces a weakening hold, and the UK diplomatic service grapples with a major Mandelson vetting scandal as a Russian blogger's critique of the Kremlin goes viral.

• Carney’s Liberal Majority Reshapes Fortunes to the Left and the Right — New York Times World -
• Who Is the New Leader of Hungary? — New York Times World -
• Starmer would have blocked Mandelson role over vetting failure, says Lammy — The Guardian -

• Orbán's era was over in a flash and Hungary's next PM is a man in a hurry — BBC World -
• Two more Reform local election candidates accused of offensive posts — The Guardian -
• Olly Robbins ‘thrown under bus’ by No 10, says ex-Foreign Office chief – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Orbán's era was over in a flash and Hungary's next PM is a man in a hurry — BBC World -
• Hungary’s incoming PM seeks Polish help to renew EU relations — The Guardian -
• Norwegian politicians hope Epstein files inquiry will restore faith in democracy — The Guardian -
• As Meloni’s hold over Italy weakens, a progressive challenger gathers momentum — The Guardian -
• Mandelson scandal is biggest crisis for diplomatic service in decades, says ex-Foreign Office chief — The Guardian -
• Russian blogger’s fierce critique of Kremlin goes viral: ‘People are afraid of you’ — The Guardian -
• Young Bulgarians hold out for change in eighth election in five years — The Guardian -
• ‘A defeat for Putin’: Ukrainians hope Magyar’s victory will mark new era with Hungary — The Guardian -

A deadly mass shooting in Kyiv that killed six people is being investigated for potential terrorist links to Russia, highlighting the proliferation of firearms since the war began.

• Kyiv Mass Shooting Kills 6 and Gunman Is Shot Dead After Taking Hostages in Grocery — New York Times World -
• Investigators examine whether Ukraine terrorist attack was directed by Russia — The Guardian -
• At least six killed in Kyiv as gunman opens fire and takes hostages — BBC World -

Counter-terrorism police are investigating arson attacks in London near the Israeli embassy and on Jewish ambulances, while other news covers a fatal motorway crash, a greyhound racing debate, and allegations of sexual abuse by a former Harrods owner.

• Kensington Gardens reopens after police deem suspicious items non-hazardous — The Guardian -
• Two drivers killed in motorway crash in Perth and Kinross — The Guardian -
• Counter-terror police investigate arson attack in north-west London — The Guardian -

• ‘Whatever life throws at us, we don’t walk alone’: how a London synagogue attack birthed an act of solidarity — The Guardian -
• Fourth suspect in London arson attack on Jewish ambulances remanded in custody — The Guardian -
• Survivors of alleged sexual abuse by former owner of Harrods want enablers to face justice — The Guardian -
• Green MP: Labour caricatures working-class people over greyhound racing — The Guardian -

Victoria extends free public transport, concerns arise over coal lobby funding influencing politics, and coalmine emissions are increasing despite climate policies, alongside a fatal car incident in Melbourne.

• Australia news live: free public transport in Victoria extended; man charged with murder in NSW — The Guardian -
• ‘Independent’ group Energy for Australians that ran anti-Labor ads received more than $1m from coal lobby — The Guardian -
• Australia’s coalmine emissions are increasing. Is this how a major policy to cut climate pollution is meant to work? — The Guardian -

• One dead after car hits pedestrians in Melbourne, police say — BBC World -

Venice requires new flood plans due to rising sea levels, Romania leads EU measles cases amid collapsing vaccination rates, Earth is reportedly getting brighter annually, and HiPP baby food faces a recall in Austria over contamination fears.

• HiPP recalls jarred baby food in Austria over contamination fears — BBC World -
• ‘We can’t wait’: Venice already seeking floods plan B five years after barriers’ launch — The Guardian -
• Earth gets brighter every year but progression is volatile, study finds — The Guardian -

• ‘It’s a powder keg’: Romania leads EU measles cases as vaccination rates collapse — The Guardian -

Venezuela's new leader purges allies after Maduro's capture, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado seeks to revive political change, and Mexico denies a diplomatic crisis with Spain over historical conquest issues.

• Mexico's Sheinbaum denies 'diplomatic crisis' with Spain after conquest row — BBC World -
• Maduro’s Successor Is Purging Allies Who Kept Him in Power in Venezuela — New York Times World -
• Venezuela’s Machado to hold Madrid rally as opposition frozen out after Maduro capture — The Guardian -

Anna Keay is named Queen Elizabeth II's official biographer, the **V&A East opens a Black British music exhibition, a French film star passes away, Madonna surprises Coachella, and Super Mario's fictional brother Luigi** is found to be inspired by a real-life figure.

• Queen Elizabeth II’s official biographer named as historian Anna Keay — The Guardian -
• Father of man who inspired Super Mario was also named Luigi, researcher finds — The Guardian -
• French film star Nathalie Baye dies aged 77, media report — BBC World -

• Millions listen to Ethiopian star's song taking swipe at government — BBC World -
• Madonna joins Sabrina Carpenter to surprise Coachella — BBC World -
• Why are Harvard’s slavery researchers quitting or being fired? — The Guardian -
• Story of Black British music writ large in first exhibition at V&A East — The Guardian -
• Winners and judges out of pocket as £20,000 writing awards appear to have closed — The Guardian -

A cargo ship went missing near Guam after a super typhoon, a United plane made an emergency landing in Pittsburgh, US army soldiers were injured by a brown bear in Alaska, and three people were sentenced for a bizarre "man in bear suit" insurance scam.

• Six Are Missing After Cargo Ship Is Found Overturned Near Guam — New York Times World -
• United plane makes emergency landing in Pittsburgh over ‘possible security issue’ — The Guardian -
• Two US army soldiers injured by brown bear during training exercise in Alaska — The Guardian -

• Three people sentenced to jail for bear-suit insurance scam in California — The Guardian -
• NFL reporter rescues man from car hours after resigning amid investigation — The Guardian -
• US midwestern states at risk of severe thunderstorms, weather agency warns — The Guardian -
• Three sentenced for 'man in bear suit' insurance scam — BBC World -