Ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump's shifting policies and rhetoric regarding Iran and the Pope, and the economic repercussions of the conflict, including rising gas prices and calls for a windfall tax on banks, dominate the headlines.

• Polls close in Ohio and Indiana for high-stakes primaries of 2026 midterms – live — The Guardian -
• Iran War Live Updates: Trump Again Shifts U.S. Focus on Strait, Pausing Mission Announced a Day Earlier — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -

• Middle East crisis live: Trump says he is pausing operation that helps ships leave strait of Hormuz after just one day — The Guardian -
• Reinstate windfall tax on banks after surge in profits, TUC urges — The Guardian -
• Offensive stage of Iran war is over, US Secretary of State Rubio says — BBC World -
• US-Iran truce teeters on meltdown as stalemate takes toll on each side — The Guardian -
• Rubio insists US is ‘very fortunate’ as Iran war pushes gas price near $4.50 — The Guardian -
• Trump Looks for a Silver Bullet to End the Iran War. There May Be None. — New York Times World -
• U.S. Says Cease-Fire With Iran Is Holding, Despite Attacks — New York Times World -
• Iran announces a new system for traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. — New York Times World -
• Can Trump Strong-Arm Iran? — New York Times World -
• Trump accuses pope of ‘endangering a lot of Catholics’ with Iran stance — The Guardian -
• Is It Time to Tax the Oil and Gas Industry’s Windfall? — New York Times World -
• Ex-US spy for Israel calls for Gaza ethnic cleansing as he seeks Knesset seat — The Guardian -
• Four Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage — The Guardian -
• A veneer of normality has returned to Tehran but fears for the future are rife — The Guardian -
• Police investigate suspected arson attack at former synagogue in east London — The Guardian -
• Barrister in Palestine Action trial facing contempt of court proceedings — The Guardian -
• Democrats urge Rubio to acknowledge Israel possesses nuclear weapons amid Iran war — The Guardian -
• Israeli army chief says West Bank troops ‘killing like we haven’t killed since 1967’ — The Guardian -
• The Growing Rift Between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Explained — New York Times World -
• What We Know About ‘Project Freedom’ in the Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -
• Rachel Reeves and Scott Bessent argued in person about Iran war, sources say — The Guardian -
• Protesters push Portland to investigate firm that appears to supply drone tech to Israel — The Guardian -
• HSBC profits fall amid $400m fraud-related charge and Iran war — The Guardian -
• UK electric car sales leap ‘could be hit by Iran war inflation and energy price rises’ — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Tensions rise over Hormuz as Trump threatens to blow Iran ‘off the face of the earth’ — The Guardian -
• Attacks in Gulf Threaten to Reignite Conflict — New York Times World -
• Tuesday briefing: How AI facial recognition in policing works – and how it can go wrong — The Guardian -
• Concierge firm co-founded by queen’s nephew went on ‘ill-timed’ hiring spree before Iran war — The Guardian -
• US strikes Iranian fast boats as Iran attacks UAE oil facility — BBC World -
• First Russian oil reportedly arrives in Japan since Iran war – as it happened — The Guardian -

The 2026 midterm primaries in Ohio and Indiana, a **new charge against the Correspondents’ dinner suspect, and ongoing challenges to voting rights legislation, alongside the Trump administration's stance on transgender women in colleges and antidepressant prescribing**, highlight key domestic issues.

• Correspondents’ dinner suspect faces new charge of assaulting federal officer — The Guardian -
• FDA blocked studies finding Covid and shingles vaccines safe, HHS official says — The Guardian -
• California ‘failing victims’ of violent crime as financial support plummets — The Guardian -

• In Venezuela, Trump Vowed to Show Accountability. But Secret Oil Deals Linger. — New York Times World -
• Senate Republicans propose package including $1bn that could go to Trump ballroom — The Guardian -
• Georgia county poll workers targeted by subpoena seeking their contact details — The Guardian -
• US to take steps to curb antidepressant prescribing, RFK Jr says — The Guardian -
• American Commentator Who Worked for Russian TV Challenges Biden-era Charges — New York Times World -
• Hundreds of animals rescued from ‘appalling’ conditions at California sanctuary — The Guardian -
• US Secret Service agent placed on leave for allegedly fondling himself in public — The Guardian -
• ‘Close to zero impact’: US study casts doubt on effect of phone ban in schools — The Guardian -
• Rubble from Trump ballroom dumped at DC golf course has toxic metals, data shows — The Guardian -
• Trump administration investigates Smith College for admitting transgender women — The Guardian -
• Man accused of starting Palisades fire was ‘angry, intense, driving erratically’, lawyers say — The Guardian -
• Ohio voters head to polls to select candidates for midterm elections — The Guardian -
• Can Indiana lawmakers win after defying the president’s vote? — The Guardian -
• Democrats say ‘fight is just beginning’ after supreme court’s temporary reinstatement of abortion pill access – as it happened — The Guardian -
• US supreme court expedites Voting Rights Act ruling so Louisiana can redraw its maps for midterms — The Guardian -

A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship requiring urgent evacuations, a deadly car ramming in Germany, a fatal blast in Bristol, and mine and fireworks factory explosions in Colombia and China underscore significant health and safety incidents globally.

• Black people in England twice as likely to suffer stroke as white counterparts — The Guardian -
• Unwell British crew member to be ‘urgently’ evacuated from cruise ship after hantavirus cases — The Guardian -
• Hantavirus Outbreaks Are Rare, but They Aren’t Going Away and There’s No Cure — New York Times World -

• Cruise Ship Struck by Hantavirus Is to Head to Canary Islands, W.H.O. Says — New York Times World -
• What to Know About the Hantavirus Outbreak on an Atlantic Cruise Ship — New York Times World -
• Man and ex-partner killed in Bristol blast after he forced entry into house — The Guardian -
• Hantavirus may have spread between passengers on cruise ship, WHO says — BBC World -
• Leipzig, Germany, Car Ramming Attack Kills 2 — New York Times World -
• Two killed and many injured after car driven into crowd in German city of Leipzig — BBC World -
• Nine coal miners die in gas explosion in Colombia — BBC World -
• Second hantavirus case confirmed after deaths on cruise ship — BBC World -
• Fireworks Factory Explosion in China Kills at Least 26 — New York Times World -
• Explosion at fireworks factory in China kills at least 26 — The Guardian -
• Do viruses spread more easily on cruise ships? — BBC World -
• Explosion at China fireworks factory kills 26 people — BBC World -
• Two volunteers among three dead off NSW coast after rescue boat rolls while trying to help sinking yacht — The Guardian -
• Rescuers among three dead after yacht sinks off Australian coast — BBC World -
• Rescuers among three dead after yacht sinks off Australian coast — BBC World -
• British crew member in need of urgent medical care amid suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship — The Guardian -

Calls for a windfall tax on banks and the rise in UK borrowing costs, political tensions within the Labour and Green parties, accusations against Reform UK's migration plans, and the controversy surrounding Andrew Tate's civil trial reflect a complex domestic landscape.

• Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be British Red Cross spokesperson, charity says — The Guardian -
• ‘Grotesque’: parties criticise Reform UK plan to set up migrant detention centres in Green-voting areas — The Guardian -
• Andrew Tate’s Civil Trial Over Assault Claims Is Postponed in Britain — New York Times World -

• Andrew Tate sought CPS assurance he would not be arrested if he returned to UK, court hears — The Guardian -
• MoD has no system to detect civilian deaths caused by military, study shows — The Guardian -
• Prosecutors to ‘fast-track’ hate crime cases in England and Wales after spate of attacks — The Guardian -
• Stop plotting to oust Keir Starmer, ex-deputy Labour leader urges MPs — The Guardian -
• Farage’s partner refuses to confirm how she paid for house in his constituency — The Guardian -
• Badenoch defends seeking a ban on pro-Palestine marches but not Tommy Robinson ones – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Farage deploys the rottweiler to distract from awkward £5m gift story | John Crace — The Guardian -
• Greens must take immediate action against antisemitism in party, says Lucas — The Guardian -
• NI police handling of Katie Simpson case ‘reflected institutional misogyny’ — The Guardian -
• UK homebuyers face worst mortgage affordability since 2008, data shows — The Guardian -
• London Marathon sets record after 1.8% of UK adult population applies for 2027 race — The Guardian -
• UK’s long-term borrowing costs hit highest level since 1998 — The Guardian -
• Slow Alzheimer’s diagnoses ‘mean UK patients missing out on experimental treatments’ — The Guardian -
• Lawyer who represented Hamas in court says UK police falsely listed him as member of group — The Guardian -
• Vodafone to take full control of UK mobile operator in £4.3bn deal — The Guardian -
• ‘Group is a lifesaver’: strangers buy Wetherspoon’s meals for homeless people through app — The Guardian -
• Cabinet minister warns Labour against ‘doomscrolling’ through leaders like the Tories — The Guardian -
• Anger over green light for traffic lights on Argyll’s ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’ — The Guardian -
• Salisbury Cathedral restores stained-glass treasure by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris — The Guardian -
• ‘Time the rest of us stepped up’: terror survivors’ group writes letter in support of UK Jews — The Guardian -
• Vote Lib Dem or ‘regret it’ living under a Reform council, Davey tells voters — The Guardian -
• Jaguar Land Rover could have shifted production from UK without £380m battery subsidy, officials warned — The Guardian -
• Next Scottish government faces ‘really difficult’ spending choices, economists say — The Guardian -
• UK Driving-Test Backlog Leaves Learners Waiting Months — New York Times World -

Deadly Russian strikes in Ukrainian cities and Moscow's heightened security for its Victory Day parade, coupled with Macron's backing of Armenia's pro-Europe PM, signify persistent geopolitical struggles beyond the Middle East.

• Deadly Russian Strikes Rip Into Ukrainian Cities — New York Times World -
• Russian attacks kill more than 20 ahead of rival ceasefires proposed by Kyiv and Moscow — BBC World -
• Zelenskyy condemns Russian ‘cynicism’ over parade truce as 23 killed in attacks — The Guardian -

• Moscow shuts down airports and mobile signals as Victory Day parade looms — The Guardian -
• Macron backs Armenia’s pro-Europe PM as re-election campaign draws to close — The Guardian -
• Drone Hits a Moscow High-Rise Days Before a Major Military Parade — New York Times World -
• Tricked Into Fighting for Russia — New York Times World -
• Taiwan Could Learn From Ukraine. Informally, Connections Are Growing. — New York Times World -
• Inside The Old Skydiving Plane Hunting Drones in Ukraine — New York Times World -

Australia grapples with a national cabinet meeting on the fuel crisis, the impact of global conflict on its economy including rising interest rates, major political shifts in Indian state elections, and legal matters including an antisemitism royal commission.

• India's fiercest female politician faces a fight for survival — BBC World -
• Australia news live: national cabinet meets to discuss fuel crisis; police treating fire at Melbourne car dealership as suspicious — The Guardian -
• Modi’s Triumph in West Bengal Elections Puts Him Closer to an Opposition-Free India — New York Times World -

• ‘Not a good look’: witnesses refuse to appear before NSW parliamentary hearings after court ruling — The Guardian -
• Philip Morris uses secret Senate hearing to warn illegal tobacco in Australia could wipe out legal trade by 2030 — The Guardian -
• ‘It’s quite distressing’: rate rise brings new pain for would-be homebuyers — The Guardian -
• NSW police urged Jewish man to drop claim he was subject to antisemitic slurs and death threats, commission told — The Guardian -
• Albanese government abandons beleaguered inland rail project connecting NSW with Queensland — The Guardian -
• Australians are poorer because of war on the other side of the world – Michele Bullock’s logic is hard to fault — The Guardian -
• Alan Jones claims invalid warrants, police impropriety and ‘willy-nilly’ search in sex abuse investigation — The Guardian -
• Jefferson Lewis excused from appearing in court over alleged murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby — The Guardian -
• Michele Bullock says ‘we are poorer and there is no way out of it’ after rate rise – as it happened — The Guardian -
• RBA interest rates: Michele Bullock says Australians poorer with ‘no way out’ as she warns of more rate hikes — The Guardian -
• A 'fun' superstar stuns rivals and reshapes politics in an Indian state — BBC World -
• A 'fun' superstar stuns rivals and reshapes politics in an Indian state — BBC World -
• Victorian budget 2026: state records first post-pandemic surplus but financial health uncertain as debt nears $200bn — The Guardian -
• Australia eyes security pact with Fiji as pushback from Beijing undermines agreement with Vanuatu — The Guardian -
• Popular Australian author pleads guilty over child exploitation material — BBC World -
• Australian author Craig Silvey pleads guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material — The Guardian -

The US government's deal with tech firms to review AI models for national security, the unionization of Google DeepMind workers, and the growing use of AI in China's entertainment industry showcase the rapid evolution and impact of artificial intelligence.

• US and tech firms strike deal to review AI models for national security before public release — The Guardian -
• How A.I. Is Transforming China’s Entertainment Industry — New York Times World -
• Tuesday briefing: How AI facial recognition in policing works – and how it can go wrong — The Guardian -

• Google DeepMind workers in UK vote to unionize amid deal with US military — The Guardian -
• Canadian fiddler sues Google after AI Overview wrongly claimed he was a sex offender — The Guardian -

Canada's appointment of Louise Arbour as Governor General and the collapse of Romania's pro-Europe government mark significant leadership changes and political turmoil.

• Louise Arbour Named as Canada’s Governor General — New York Times World -
• Carney appoints former war crimes prosecutor as Canada governor general — The Guardian -
• ‘With calm, we will get through this’: Romanian president speaks out after government collapses – as it happened — The Guardian -

• Romania’s pro-Europe government collapses unleashing fresh turmoil — The Guardian -
• Romanian PM ousted in no-confidence vote — BBC World -
• U.S. Revokes Visas of Board Members at Costa Rica’s Top Watchdog Newspaper — New York Times World -

The Rolling Stones' new album launch, Tony Award nominations, and discussions surrounding the Venice Biennale's controversies illustrate vibrant, yet sometimes contentious, cultural developments.

• ‘It kicks ass’: Rolling Stones launch new album at star-studded New York event — The Guardian -
• Dark clouds, protests and resignations dampen start of 61st Venice Biennale — The Guardian -
• David Letterman doubts late-night’s future before Colbert finale — The Guardian -

• Sweary first trailer for young Anthony Bourdain biopic — The Guardian -
• The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! lead Tony nominations with Rose Byrne and Daniel Radcliffe in the race — The Guardian -
• The Venice Biennale and Its Many Flashpoints: An Explainer — New York Times World -
• Rapper Kid Cudi removes British star M.I.A. from tour — BBC World -
• Chasing Stardom in Korea Nearly Destroyed Ejae. Then Came ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ — New York Times World -
• The most talked-about looks at this year's Met Gala — BBC World -
• The most talked-about looks at this year's Met Gala — BBC World -
• Watch: Met Gala sees Beyoncé's return and a star-studded red carpet — BBC World -
• Watch: Met Gala sees Beyoncé's return and a star-studded red carpet — BBC World -

The catastrophic rescue attempt of Timmy the whale, the rescue of hundreds of animals from a California sanctuary, and concerns over France's captive orcas highlight ongoing environmental and animal welfare challenges.

• Hundreds of animals rescued from ‘appalling’ conditions at California sanctuary — The Guardian -
• Rescue of Timmy the whale ‘an all-round catastrophe’ after tracker failure — The Guardian -
• China’s Big Bet on Wind Power Is Paying Off — New York Times World -

• The Uncertain Fate of France’s Last Two Captive Orcas — New York Times World -
• Moment Indonesian river overflows from heavy rain — BBC World -

A rare comet appearing in the Southern Hemisphere and the identification of a US airman missing since WWII represent unique global stories of natural phenomena and historical closure.

• Rare Comet Appears Over New Zealand, Australia and South Africa — New York Times World -
• Remains of US airman missing since second world war laid to rest in Florida — The Guardian -
• Deadly China plane crash was caused by fuel cut-off, says report — BBC World -

• What a Bike Ride in Cape Town Taught Me About Apartheid — New York Times World -