The US political landscape is marked by Rudy Giuliani's critical hospitalization and ongoing investigations into a Secret Service officer shooting at a press dinner, alongside President Trump's record-high disapproval ratings and contentious decisions like the withdrawal of troops from Germany. Domestically, concerns are rising over a Trump-led plot to amass a 'master list' of voters and the controversial discussion surrounding clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, while internationally, Marco Rubio visits Rome to thaw relations with the Vatican and Italy.

• Rudy Giuliani is in ‘critical but stable’ condition at hospital — The Guardian -
• Who shot a Secret Service officer at the Trump press dinner? — BBC World -
• Two US service members reported missing in Morocco, officials say — BBC World -

• Trump’s disapproval rating hits record high, new poll shows — The Guardian -
• Jeanine Pirro says evidence shows suspect shot officer at White House press dinner — The Guardian -
• Todd Blanche says case against Comey based on more than just Instagram post — The Guardian -
• ‘No one better to fight for us than one of us’: Minnesota flight attendant runs for Congress — The Guardian -
• Republicans ‘concerned’ after Trump threatens to withdraw more US troops from Germany — The Guardian -
• U.S. to Withdraw 5,000 Troops From Germany. But Thousands Will Remain. — New York Times World -
• Republicans appear split on idea of clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell — The Guardian -
• US ‘drowning in misinformation’ under RFK Jr, autism advocates say — The Guardian -
• Marco Rubio to visit Rome, reportedly to ‘thaw’ US relations with Pope and Meloni — The Guardian -
• ‘Apartheid in the US’: Arizona’s secretary of state fights Trump’s plot to amass a ‘master list’ of voters — The Guardian -
• Voters will judge Trump on the economy - how is it doing? — BBC World -
• Germany troop cuts send wrong signal to Russia, say two top US Republicans — BBC World -
• Germany says US troop withdrawal 'foreseeable' as Trump warns of more 'cuts' — BBC World -

The ongoing Middle East conflict has spurred fears of Houthi and Somali pirate collaboration following an oil tanker hijacking, while China strategically maneuvers between Trump and Iran as the war progresses, and Iran claims the US has responded to its latest peace proposal. Internationally, Germany's Chancellor Merz affirms his commitment to working with Trump despite war-related disagreements, and Spain demands the release of Gaza flotilla activists held by Israel, with a jailed Iranian Nobel laureate's deteriorating health also raising concerns.

• Oil Tanker Hijacking Stokes Fear of Links Between Houthi Rebels and Somali Pirates — New York Times World -
• China Seeks an Advantage With Both Trump and Iran as War Evolves — New York Times World -
• Trump says US will ‘guide’ trapped ships from Gulf amid ‘very positive’ talks with Iran — The Guardian -

• Iran says US has responded to its latest peace proposal — BBC World -
• Merz ‘not giving up on working with Trump’ despite Iran war spat — The Guardian -
• Concern for jailed Iranian Nobel laureate as brother fears she is dying — BBC World -
• Spain demands release of Gaza flotilla activists ‘held illegally’ by Israel — The Guardian -
• Russian strikes kill 10 as Zelensky says Ukraine hits oil tankers and terminal — BBC World -
• Nato meetings with TV and film-makers prompt claims it is seeking ‘propaganda’ — The Guardian -

The global economic landscape is notably affected by Spirit Airlines' financial collapse, resulting in thousands of stranded customers and a pilot's emotional retirement send-off, while Australia anticipates a third consecutive interest rate hike dubbed the 'Hormuz hike' due to Middle East turmoil. In the UK, airlines are permitted to cancel flights to conserve jet fuel amidst supply disruptions, and discussions arise around Heathrow's third runway delays, alongside proposals to ban dynamic pay on gig economy platforms like Uber.

• Spirit Airlines says it has nearly finished refunding customers after shuttering — The Guardian -
• Spirit pilot gets ‘overwhelming’ send-off from Southwest after his final flight is cancelled — The Guardian -
• The Hormuz hike: why the RBA is predicted to deliver a third straight interest rate rise this week — The Guardian -

• Heathrow in talks with airlines to end row that could delay third runway — The Guardian -
• UK airlines given green light to cancel or consolidate flights to conserve jet fuel — The Guardian -
• Dynamic pay on platforms such as Uber should be banned, says TUC — The Guardian -

Australia is grappling with widespread Brisbane train cancellations due to industrial action and families of Bondi shooting victims preparing to testify, while a man is charged with murdering three family members in Sydney. A police officer was lowered into a crocodile-infested river to recover human remains, and a man faces murder charges for a five-year-old girl's death near Alice Springs, amidst political debates over Canberra's budget fundraiser season and One Nation's immigration policy.

• Australia news live: hundreds of Brisbane trains to be cancelled amid industrial action; families of Bondi shooting victims to take the stand — The Guardian -
• Police officer lowered into crocodile-infested river to recover human remains — BBC World -
• The ‘Oscars for political nerds’ or a threat to democracy? Grab a ticket, it’s Canberra’s budget fundraiser season — The Guardian -

• Man charged with murdering three family members and attempting to murder fourth at Sydney home — The Guardian -
• Jefferson Lewis charged with murder over death of Kumanjayi Little Baby near Alice Springs — The Guardian -
• Dozens paddle out in Sydney and Newcastle in solidarity with Gaza Flotilla – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Barnaby Joyce blames campaign ‘pressure’ after One Nation Farrer candidate contradicts party on immigration — The Guardian -

UK politics is navigating Green candidates' controversies following an arrest over alleged antisemitism and leader Zack Polanski's stance on protest chants, as Labour's Lucy Powell acknowledges 'no magic bullet' ahead of expected local election losses. Tragically, two Sudanese asylum seekers died attempting to cross the Channel, and a fatal house explosion occurred in Bristol, while an influential Starmer adviser held undisclosed meetings with US tech bosses, and a study highlights opposition to workplace inclusion schemes.

• Green candidate seen canvassing in London after arrest over alleged antisemitism — The Guardian -
• Two people dead after explosion at house in Bristol — The Guardian -
• Starmer adviser held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech bosses — The Guardian -

• Sudanese woman and 16-year-old girl reportedly die trying to cross Channel — The Guardian -
• UK politics: Polanski says he would ‘discourage’ the use of ‘globalise the intifada’ chant on marches – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Polanski says he would discourage ‘globalise the intifada’ chant but warns against march bans — The Guardian -
• Lucy Powell says Labour has ‘no magic bullet’ as MPs brace for heavy losses in local elections — The Guardian -
• Reform UK council backs release of beavers amid party row over rewilding — The Guardian -
• One in three HR leaders face opposition to inclusion schemes, study finds — The Guardian -
• Reform frontbench promotes JCB’s pothole machine after firm’s £200,000 donation — The Guardian -
• Polanski takes combative approach as Greens enter media spotlight — The Guardian -

A suspected hantavirus outbreak on an Atlantic cruise ship has resulted in three deaths, prompting a WHO investigation, while the US faces severe water scarcity issues with California, Arizona, and Nevada proposing a Colorado River saving plan. Environmental news also includes a potentially lightning-sparked fire destroying a marine science lab in Florida, an unexpected explosion of a 'wartime relic' in Austria injuring children, the tragic intensification of criminal threats in the Amazon rainforest due to rare earth mineral demand, and the positive news of beagles saved from a US research facility after protests.

• ‘They know they’re safe’: beagles saved from US research facility after protests — The Guardian -
• Three passengers dead after suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship — The Guardian -
• 3 Dead in Hantavirus Outbreak Aboard Cruise Ship, W.H.O. Says — New York Times World -

• Three dead in suspected virus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship — BBC World -
• Global Demand for Rare Earth Minerals Is Intensifying Criminal Threats in the Amazon Rainforest — New York Times World -
• California, Arizona and Nevada propose water-saving plan for Colorado River — The Guardian -
• Lightning may have sparked fire destroying top US marine science lab, officials say — The Guardian -
• ‘Wartime Relic’ Explodes Under Campfire in Austria, Injuring Five Children — New York Times World -

AI is significantly transforming China's entertainment industry through microdramas, demonstrating China's burgeoning soft power with open-source AI models like DeepSeek's Sequel, while the UK's 'invention agency' faces scrutiny for granting substantial public funds to US tech and venture capital firms. This highlights the rapid integration of AI into global economies and cultural landscapes, alongside its emerging geopolitical implications.

• DeepSeek’s Sequel — New York Times World -
• How A.I. Is Transforming China’s Entertainment Industry — New York Times World -
• A.I. Shakes Up China’s Entertainment Landscape — New York Times World -

• UK ‘invention agency’ grants £50m of public money to US tech and venture capital firms — The Guardian -

Global social and cultural news includes a US cartel case putting Mexican leaders on the spot, teens storming a Scientology church in New York, and a FIFA crackdown on World Cup watch parties in Canada. Norway faces a Northern Lights tourism scam, while a massive Shakira concert captivated Copacabana beach in Brazil, and Pakistan deals with an insurgency threatening a US pact. Diplomatic tensions see Nigeria summoning South Africa's envoy over attacks on nationals, alongside India's ongoing state elections and the artistic endeavor of creating a 'lost cloud' installation in a UK gallery.

• Crack Down? Close Ranks? U.S. Cartel Case Puts Mexican Leaders on the Spot. — New York Times World -
• Planning a World Cup Watch Party at a Bar? The ‘FIFA Police’ Are Lurking — New York Times World -
• Teens storm Scientology church in New York in latest ‘speed running’ incident — The Guardian -

• Norway’s Northern Lights Nightmare — New York Times World -
• The Insurgency Threatening to Derail a U.S.-Pakistan Pact — New York Times World -
• A Perilous Train Ride Home in Pakistan on the Jaffer Express — New York Times World -
• Canada to be first non-European nation at EPC summit as Carney seeks allies — The Guardian -
• Fashion’s Faustian pact: the high cost of Jeff Bezos’s Met Gala patronage — The Guardian -
• Lost ‘cloud’ of artist who wrapped the Reichstag to be created in UK gallery — The Guardian -
• Nigeria summons South African envoy over attacks on its nationals — BBC World -
• What to Know About Elections in West Bengal and Other Indian States — New York Times World -
• ‘It’s like a cat and mouse game’: on the frontline of Belgium’s fight against drug smugglers — The Guardian -
• Huge crowd attends free Shakira Copacabana beach concert — BBC World -
• Kenya battles to stop the 'goons and guns' as fears of political violence grow — BBC World -
• How we reported in -30C temperatures in Canada's Arctic — BBC World -