The escalating Iran War with US threats against Iranian boats, oil tanker seizures, and economic fallout dominates global concerns, while the EU commits a substantial loan to Ukraine alongside new sanctions on Russia amidst continuing conflict and geopolitical shifts in Eastern Europe.

• Iran War Live Updates: Trump Threatens Iranian Boats He Says Are Mining the Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -
• World’s Biggest Condom Maker Raises Prices as Iran War Rattles Supply Chains — New York Times World -
• EU approves €90bn loan for Ukraine and fresh Russia sanctions – Europe live — The Guardian -

• EU formally approves €90bn Ukraine loan and 20th sanctions package against Russia — The Guardian -
• Hoarding Is Driving Energy Prices Higher Everywhere — New York Times World -
• $106 Billion Loan Reflects E.U.’s View That Peace in Ukraine Is Far Away — New York Times World -
• US-Kuwaiti journalist held in Kuwait over social media posts acquitted, lawyers say — BBC World -
• Middle East crisis live: Trump orders navy to attack any boats laying mines in strait of Hormuz — The Guardian -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Take action over officials in Kyrgyzstan ‘helping Russia evade sanctions’, MPs and peers say — The Guardian -
• U.S. Seizes Second Tanker Carrying Iranian Oil — New York Times World -
• Zelensky details deals Ukraine signed to bolster Gulf nations’ defense against Iranian drones. — New York Times World -
• U.S. Forces Board a 2nd Tanker They Say Is Carrying Oil From Iran — New York Times World -
• The Generals Who Are Now Running Iran — New York Times World -
• Russian Officials Say Town’s Air Is Toxic, Days After Strike on Oil Refinery — New York Times World -
• How People in Lebanon Are Reacting to Talks With Israel — New York Times World -
• U.S. forces stop a second tanker they say is carrying Iranian oil. — New York Times World -
• Lebanese journalist killed in Israeli attack had spoken of death threat — The Guardian -
• Germany, a Steadfast Ally of Israel, Now Voices Some Frustration — New York Times World -
• First Thing: ‘Impossible’ to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ‘flagrant’ ceasefire breaches, Iran says — The Guardian -
• Will Bulgaria’s New Leader Cast His Lot With Europe or Russia? — New York Times World -
• In Tehran, money is short and a return to war looms over daily life — BBC World -
• EU risks fallout with US over Trump-linked Balkans pipeline plan — The Guardian -
• Reported Seizure of Ships Injects New Uncertainty Over Peace Talks — New York Times World -
• Iran behind low-level ‘hybrid warfare’ attacks in UK and Europe, analysts say — The Guardian -
• EU Considers $106 Billion Loan to Ukraine, Delayed for Months by Orban — New York Times World -
• Lebanon accuses Israel of targeting journalist killed in air strike — BBC World -
• Erdogan says Iran war ‘starting to weaken Europe’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Iran Says It Seized Two Ships Near the Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -

Key developments include political scrutiny over the Mandelson vetting scandal and upcoming local elections, ongoing debates on immigration policy and asylum seekers, significant legal cases concerning sexual assault and public sector arrests, and new data on public health trends and cost of living pressures.

• Trump tells BBC that King's visit could 'absolutely' help repair relations with UK — BBC World -
• Man who raped young men and deliberately gave them HIV jailed for life — The Guardian -
• Nine in 10 UK voters across parties support right to abortion, poll finds — The Guardian -

• BP board suffers triple climate rebellion from shareholders — The Guardian -
• Global Counsel, lobbying firm set up by Mandelson, went bust owing £4.5m just before his arrest – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• UK to pay for French officers to deport asylum seekers from war-torn countries — The Guardian -
• Three men guilty of repeatedly raping woman on Brighton beach in ‘predatory, callous’ attack — The Guardian -
• Former Labour MP calls for Starmer to face Commons committee over Mandelson vetting — The Guardian -
• Police and ombudsman investigate death of boy, 16, at young offender institution — The Guardian -
• UK undershoots annual borrowing target by £700m — The Guardian -
• In Peter Mandelson evidence, Cat Little had the best weapon: an audit trail — The Guardian -
• Five things we learned from Cat Little’s evidence to MPs about the Mandelson saga — The Guardian -
• Former boss at Lucy Letby’s hospital arrested on suspicion of perverting course of justice — The Guardian -
• Russell Brand says he had ‘exploitative’ consensual sex with girl, 16, at height of his fame — The Guardian -
• More than 150 violent offenders granted taxi licences in Midlands city last year — The Guardian -
• Breast reductions in UK overtake enlargements for first time, data shows — The Guardian -
• Olly Robbins refused to give Mandelson vetting summary to Cabinet Office, says Cat Little — The Guardian -
• ‘This is not the country I moved to’: the British Indians showing support for Nigel Farage — The Guardian -
• Starmer urged to bring in ticket-touting ban as resellers target Big Weekend — The Guardian -
• Rise of the ‘ghost owner’: 18,000 UK vehicles in use without proper records — The Guardian -
• UK looked at ways to ‘open doors’ to US chlorinated chicken, FoI request shows — The Guardian -
• Schools forced to cut back on support for Send pupils in England, poll finds — The Guardian -
• Mapped: the elections that could deliver ‘unprecedented’ losses for Labour — The Guardian -
• Thursday briefing: ​Why the US president is losing support from crucial allies — The Guardian -
• Migrant care workers to leaflet Shabana Mahmood constituents over longer wait to settle — The Guardian -

President Trump's administration is making headlines with cannabis reclassification efforts, an advanced border security plan, controversial public appearances, crypto and psychedelic policy initiatives, and ongoing debates over social security cuts and gender-affirming care.

• Senate Republicans bypass Democrats to advance $70bn ICE and border patrol plan in ‘vote-a-rama’– US politics live — The Guardian -
• ‘Worth a thousand words’: Trump photo obscuring women’s tennis team sparks backlash — The Guardian -
• Trump administration reclassifies cannabis as less dangerous — BBC World -

• Italian sports minister dismisses plan for Azzurri to replace Iran at 2026 World Cup — The Guardian -
• Trump to host bash for crypto investors tied to his coin sales — The Guardian -
• ‘Can I have some, please?’: has Trump opened the door to a psychedelic future? — The Guardian -
• California officials tout historic drop in violence as killings fall to record low — The Guardian -
• Republican lawmakers attempt to shield big oil from climate lawsuits in ‘alarming’ bills — The Guardian -
• RFK Jr agenda suffers another loss as trans advocates hail ‘huge step forward’ — The Guardian -
• Democrats say cuts to social security have caused ‘customer service chaos’ for American seniors — The Guardian -
• Leading California governor candidates spar in debate as topsy-turvy race heats up — The Guardian -
• Anti-Trumpism Unites Europe — New York Times World -
• Pentagon announces US navy secretary is leaving ‘effective immediately’ and replaced with deputy – as it happened — The Guardian -

Controversies surrounding the NDIS cuts and cultural institutions, coupled with significant legal cases and police force changes, highlight the national discussion on economic impacts and environmental commitments.

• After collapse and controversy, Adelaide writers’ week has a new director: ‘I don’t envy anyone in this position’ — The Guardian -
• Governments failed to deliver $160m of river improvements including for now-parched NSW wetlands, report finds — The Guardian -
• Rinehart’s $200m donation to convert homes for veterans welcomed by RSL – as it happened — The Guardian -

• Ben Roberts-Smith planned to leave Australia and researched buying wellness business in Spain, court documents show — The Guardian -
• David Malouf, Australian author of Remembering Babylon and Ransom, dies aged 92 — The Guardian -
• Private secretary of billionaire Judith Neilson refused bail on $1.6m fraud charges — The Guardian -
• Australians ‘uneasy’ about NDIS cuts amid $53bn in new defence spending, Mark Butler concedes — The Guardian -
• Mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay referred to homicide squad — The Guardian -
• Queensland police recall all service-issued Glock handguns after discovery of fault causing multiple shots to fire — The Guardian -
• Kyle Sandilands berated Kiis FM listeners and bosses in expletive-laden rants, court documents claim — The Guardian -
• War in Iran Gives New Fuel to a Tax Debate in Australia — New York Times World -
• James Valentine, much-loved ABC radio presenter, dies aged 64 — The Guardian -
• University of Queensland Press cancels children’s book over illustrator’s post on ‘Zionist framing’ of Bondi attack — The Guardian -

Major criminal investigations, including a serial killer's rituals and child sexual abuse cases, along with fatal international incidents like a train collision and election violence, reveal persistent challenges in public safety and justice worldwide.

• South Africa's president suspends police chief after court charges — BBC World -
• More than 500 people killed in Tanzania election violence, inquiry finds — BBC World -
• Head-on train collision near Copenhagen leaves five critically injured — The Guardian -

• New documentary reveals ‘kill room’ rituals of Gilgo Beach serial killer — The Guardian -
• Tennessee police investigate after finding bones believed to be from three children — The Guardian -
• MrBeast's company sued by ex-employee over sexual harassment claim — BBC World -
• Eighteen wolves found dead in Italian national park in suspected poisoning — The Guardian -
• Philippines’ ex-president Rodrigo Duterte to face trial for crimes against humanity — The Guardian -
• Criminal gangs profiting as child sexual abuse websites double, experts say — The Guardian -
• Pilot’s selfie led to mid-air collision in F-15K fighter jet, says South Korea’s air force — The Guardian -
• Girl, 14, found in singer D4vd's car died of 'multiple injuries' — BBC World -

Major corporate mergers like Warner Bros and Paramount, coupled with rising energy costs impacting industries and global wealth accumulation trends, underscore dynamic market shifts and consumer data privacy concerns.

• Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount's $111bn takeover — BBC World -
• Warner Bros Discovery vote to approve $110bn merger with Paramount Skydance — The Guardian -
• JetBlue sued over claims it uses customers’ personal data to set ticket prices — The Guardian -

• As U.S. Brands Stumble, China Wins Over Young Indonesians — New York Times World -
• Sainsbury’s boss urges government to help ease rising energy costs for food producers — The Guardian -
• Bibby Stockholm asylum barge contractor admits overcharging UK government £118m — The Guardian -
• City firms bank on ‘savvy squirrel’ advertising campaign to push Brits towards investing — The Guardian -
• Number of billionaires globally could reach 4,000 in next five years — The Guardian -

Pope Leo's critique of African prisons, the migration of a lost Indian tribe to Israel, constitutional reform debates in St. Vincent, and press freedom challenges in the Czech Republic illustrate diverse global social and cultural narratives.

• Pope Leo, Visiting African Prison, Urges Inmates to Find Hope Amid Despair — New York Times World -
• A Lost Tribe in India Makes Its Exodus to Israel — New York Times World -
• St Vincent and Grenadines government pauses constitutional amendment bills after public backlash — The Guardian -

• South African court orders Zambia to return former president's body — BBC World -
• Czech journalists threaten to strike over plan to scrap licence fees — The Guardian -

Concerns over widespread PFAS contamination and hacked traveler data, alongside advancements in immersive film technology and new geological findings about Australia's Twelve Apostles, reveal both environmental challenges and technological innovations.

• ‘A history of the Earth’: Twelve Apostles revealed to be as old as 14m years — The Guardian -
• The cinema lab: brain activity tracked to find secret to creating immersive films — The Guardian -
• Dippy the injured axolotl rescued from Welsh river — The Guardian -

• Private health records of half a million Britons offered for sale on Chinese website — The Guardian -
• Some Interrail travellers told to cancel passports as hacked data posted online — The Guardian -
• Chinese hackers are using everyday devices to hack UK firms, warns watchdog — The Guardian -
• Use of toxic Pfas in consumer goods must be urgently restricted, MPs say — The Guardian -