**Trump’s shrinking ambitions on China and a New York man found guilty of acting as an unregistered agent of China reflect growing tensions, even as Trump visits Beijing to discuss issues where Xi doesn’t need a deal with Trump, with AI as a hidden minefield and China plotting secret arms sales to Iran** further complicating this critical geopolitical rivalry.

• Trump’s Shrinking Ambitions on China — New York Times World -
• New York man found guilty of acting as an unregistered agent of China — The Guardian -
• Why Xi Doesn’t Need a Deal With Trump — New York Times World -

• Trump in Beijing — New York Times World -
• How China Sent a Message to Trump on His Arrival — New York Times World -
• Eric Trump, Who Runs the Family Business, Hops Along on the Plane to China — New York Times World -
• Chinese Firms Plot Secret Arms Sales to Iran, U.S. Officials Say — New York Times World -
• Trade, Iran and Taiwan on the agenda as Trump arrives in China for high-stakes talks with Xi — BBC World -
• Trump and Xi: Beneath the Pomp and Niceties, a Geopolitical Rivalry — New York Times World -
• Why the Bombing of Iran Tied the U.S. More Closely to China — New York Times World -
• Chinese court awards compensation to sacked worker replaced by AI — The Guardian -
• Why A.I. is the Hidden Minefield of Trump’s China Visit — New York Times World -
• The Lecturer and Philosopher King: Xi Jinping Behind Closed Doors — New York Times World -
• What to know as Trump visits Xi in China — BBC World -
• Scepticism and tight security as Beijing braces for Trump visit — The Guardian -
• A Tech Tycoon’s Prosecution Raises Fears of Authoritarian Overreach — New York Times World -
• Trump due in China for high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Nvidia’s Jensen Huang joins other US bosses on Trump trip to China — The Guardian -
• Experts believe breakthrough in US fentanyl crisis may have started in China — The Guardian -
• Rush hour on Air Force one as Melania director Brett Ratner joins Trump China trip — The Guardian -
• How China Could Wield Its Control of Rare Earths Against Trump — New York Times World -

The Iran war is causing housing market weakening in England and Wales and fuel price increases, while Israel's ruling coalition proposes early elections amidst reports of Netanyahu's secret trip to UAE and Israeli strikes killing 22 in southern Lebanon.

• Housing market in England and Wales weakening due to Iran war, say estate agents — The Guardian -
• Israel’s ruling coalition proposes early elections amid ultra-Orthodox anger at Netanyahu — The Guardian -
• Israel Says Netanyahu Made a Secret Trip to U.A.E., Which Says He Didn’t — New York Times World -

• Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon kill 22 people, health ministry says — BBC World -
• Senate fails to curb Trump’s war on Iran even as Republican opposition grows — The Guardian -
• Fuel Prices Drive Sales of E.V.s, Just Not in the U.S. — New York Times World -
• Family of British couple jailed in Iran say they have lost contact — The Guardian -
• Top Gaza Negotiator Urges Hamas to Embrace Rebuilding Plan — New York Times World -
• Benjamin Netanyahu says he made secret trip to UAE at height of Iran war — The Guardian -
• Trump Tower Deal in Australia Falls Apart And a Blame Game Begins — New York Times World -
• Earthquake Shakes Tehran, Where Nerves Are Already Strained by Iran War — New York Times World -
• ‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation,’ says Trump amid Iran talks — The Guardian -
• Europe Tries a Trumpian Tactic With Trump: No Apologies — New York Times World -
• UK housebuilder Vistry warns of ‘significantly’ lower profits amid Iran war uncertainty — The Guardian -
• Gulf Countries Arrest Shiite ‘Traitors’ Amid War With Iran — New York Times World -
• Australian military plane to join efforts to reopen strait of Hormuz as Marles considers ‘how else we can contribute’ — The Guardian -
• PM says opposition ‘reduced to a farce’ as government targeted over CGT – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Iran War Updates: Trump Says Iran Must Make Deal or Face Renewed Attacks — New York Times World -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -

Keir Starmer sets out changes to education, health, and courts in the King's Speech amid speculation about his leadership, with Wes Streeting preparing a challenge and **Nigel Farage facing an inquiry over a £5 million gift**.

• Keir Starmer sets out changes to education, health and courts in king’s speech — The Guardian -
• As Starmer Rejects Calls to Resign, Some Make Comparisons to President Biden — New York Times World -
• Nigel Farage, Leader of Reform U.K., Faces Investigation for £5 Million Gift — New York Times World -

• Wes Streeting prepares to launch leadership challenge against Keir Starmer — The Guardian -
• Wes Streeting: PM-in-waiting or ‘this generation’s David Miliband’? — The Guardian -
• ‘It’s more incrementalism’: Starmer’s safe king’s speech fails to quell mutiny — The Guardian -
• King’s Speech Comes at an Awkward Time for Starmer — New York Times World -
• Starmer has ‘full confidence’ in Streeting despite health secretary’s allies saying he is planning to resign – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Streeting to fire starting gun in Starmer leadership battle – The Latest — The Guardian -
• Nigel Farage faces inquiry over £5m gift from crypto billionaire — The Guardian -
• Britain Has Had 5 Leaders in a Decade. Is It About to Get Another? — New York Times World -
• What is the king’s speech and what is the state opening of parliament? — The Guardian -
• Wes Streeting plans to resign and mount leadership challenge, allies say — The Guardian -
• Starmer holds 16-minute meeting with Streeting amid leadership crisis — The Guardian -
• Wednesday briefing: How much longer can Keir Starmer cling to power? — The Guardian -
• Labour-supporting unions predict Starmer will not lead party into next election — The Guardian -

JD Vance threatens health funding to states over anti-fraud efforts, Stacey Abrams calls Republican redistricting 'evil incarnate', Kevin Warsh is confirmed as Federal Reserve chair, and Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions are overturned due to jury interference.

• Howard Lutnick said he had three ‘inconsequential’ meetings with Epstein — The Guardian -
• JD Vance threatens health funding to states that don’t comply with White House anti-fraud effort — The Guardian -
• Utah woman who wrote book on grief gets life without parole for killing husband — The Guardian -

• More U.S. Spy Planes are Surveilling Cuba — New York Times World -
• US Senate confirms Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair, replacing Jerome Powell — The Guardian -
• Georgia’s Republican governor calls for special session to redraw electoral maps — The Guardian -
• Missouri man charged for posting bomb-making tutorials that aided New Orleans attack — The Guardian -
• Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions overturned by South Carolina supreme court — The Guardian -
• Mississippi governor rules out redrawn supreme court maps before midterms — The Guardian -
• Trump mega-donors pause Wisconsin development project, citing economic uncertainty — The Guardian -
• Trump urged to rule out ‘unlawful’ Cuba takeover and stop using Guantánamo Bay for migrant detention — The Guardian -
• ‘Failed experiment in human suffering’: Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail to close — The Guardian -
• Pete Hegseth to headline DC faith rally with far-right and Christian nationalist speakers — The Guardian -
• ‘The guards could not speak without yelling’: life as an 85-year-old ICE detainee — The Guardian -
• Epstein abused me while under house arrest, survivor tells US lawmakers — BBC World -
• What to know about Kyle Diamantas, the new acting FDA commissioner — The Guardian -
• Second indictment of ex-FBI chief James Comey signals retaliation fears — The Guardian -
• What to Know About the Federal Gas Tax Trump Wants to Suspend — New York Times World -
• Trump’s rollback of toxic gas rules limits EPA’s authority to protect public health, analysis says — The Guardian -
• Kash Patel lobs false claims about top Democrat as they spar over allegations of FBI chief’s excessive drinking on the job – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump's 'Golden Dome' will cost $1.2tn and might not stop all-out missile attack — BBC World -
• Dominican Republic Agrees to Take Third-Country Migrants Deported by U.S. — New York Times World -
• ‘I’m afraid if she gets out’: US author’s sons say they want mother to stay in jail — The Guardian -

Reports reveal English roast dinners are potentially drenched in 102 pesticides, NHS drugs offer a lifeline for children with muscle-wasting disease, and cruise ships face Norovirus and Hantavirus outbreaks, while Utah approves a datacenter twice the size of Manhattan despite environmental concerns over power and water use.

• Typical English roast dinner potentially ‘drenched’ in 102 pesticides, says report — The Guardian -
• NHS drugs go-ahead offers lifeline to children with rare muscle-wasting disease — The Guardian -
• France Clears Cruise Ship to Sail After Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Dozens — New York Times World -

• Passengers allowed to leave norovirus-hit cruise ship — BBC World -
• French Hantavirus Patient Is Critically Ill as Outbreak Reaches 11 Cases — New York Times World -
• Six from hantavirus cruise ship leave Arrowe Park hospital to isolate at home — The Guardian -
• One in seven in UK prefer consulting AI chatbots to seeing doctor, study finds — The Guardian -
• Obesity rates in some countries levelling off or potentially falling, study finds — The Guardian -
• Woman isolating on British island in South Pacific after hantavirus contact — BBC World -
• France confines more than 1,700 people to cruise ship after suspected norovirus outbreak — The Guardian -
• More than 1,000 passengers held on cruise after gastrointestinal illness outbreak — BBC World -
• ‘Irresponsible’: backlash as Utah approves datacenter twice the size of Manhattan — The Guardian -
• Datacentres using 6% of electricity supply in UK and US, research says — The Guardian -
• London prisoner with muscle-wasting condition claims he has to crawl on floor — The Guardian -

Labor's tax reform is questioned over "rent-vesting" impact, the Coalition plans to link immigration limits to new builds, and Palestinian voices are excluded from an antisemitism inquiry, while a man dies in a Sydney prison unit that a watchdog wanted shut down.

• Has Labor’s tax reform killed ‘rent-vesting’ for young Australians seeking a foothold in the housing market? — The Guardian -
• Man dies in Sydney prison unit that watchdog wanted shut down because it ‘cannot provide a safe environment’ — The Guardian -
• Palestinian peak body refused leave to appear at royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion — The Guardian -

• Why budget rhetoric won’t match reality for many younger Australians — The Guardian -
• Coalition to link immigration limits to new builds as Taylor says ‘migration has run miles ahead of housing’ — The Guardian -
• Stella prize 2026: Lee Lai becomes first non-binary person and first graphic novelist to win with Cannon — The Guardian -
• Paramedic felt ‘shock and disbelief’ when Clare Nowland shot by NSW police Taser, inquest hears — The Guardian -
• Police drop charges against Palestinian Australian protester arrested at Isaac Herzog rally as more set to be withdrawn — The Guardian -
• Targeted promotions ‘influential’ in luring Melbourne man who gambled $895,000 back to betting apps, inquest hears — The Guardian -
• One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts again fails to rule out Bondi beach terror attack being ‘false flag’ — The Guardian -
• A Zara dress, the Jim Reaper and a communist state: how Australia’s media interpreted the budget — The Guardian -
• Crisis of First Nations children in care will worsen under NT child protection reforms, advocates warn — The Guardian -
• Coalition vows to repeal Labor’s ‘toxic’ negative gearing and capital gains tax budget changes — The Guardian -
• Capital gains tax and negative gearing benefit the 1% and this chart shows it — The Guardian -

US soldiers' remains are recovered from Morocco exercises, cartel corruption claims push US-Mexico relations to breaking point, and Hungary's new leadership pledges reform to restore EU ties, while Ghana evacuates citizens from South Africa due to anti-immigrant protests.

• Remains of second US soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered — The Guardian -
• Cartel corruption claims push US-Mexico relations to breaking point — The Guardian -
• U.S. and Mexican Officials Deny C.I.A. Had Lethal Role in Mexico Operation — New York Times World -

• Can Hungary’s Magyar​ deliver on his promise​s of reform a​nd restore a relationship to the EU? — The Guardian -
• Bahamas re-elects Progressive Liberal party’s Philip Davis as prime minister — The Guardian -
• Official marking of land for Brazil’s uncontacted Kawahiva people begins after 27-year wait — The Guardian -
• Ghana to evacuate 300 from South Africa over anti-immigrant protests — BBC World -
• ‘Blatant disregard for rights’: concern grows over Gabon’s social media clampdown — The Guardian -

A thief is jailed for stealing unreleased Beyoncé music, a drug counselor receives two years for Matthew Perry's death, and **an internet suicide forum is fined £950,000 by a UK regulator, while bodies of three women are recovered from the sea off Brighton**.

• Valdo Calocane brother tells inquiry he felt powerless over killer’s mental ill health — The Guardian -
• Thief jailed after stealing unreleased Beyoncé music from car — BBC World -
• Drug counselor who delivered ketamine dose that killed Matthew Perry gets two years — The Guardian -

• Alabama woman sues alleging she gave birth on prison floor as guards watched — The Guardian -
• US man accused of killing rock singer in 1993 arrested after decades on the run — The Guardian -
• Bodies of three women recovered from sea off Brighton — The Guardian -
• US-based internet suicide forum implicated in 160 UK deaths fined £950,000 — The Guardian -
• Czech police hunt thief who stole 800-year-old skull of saint from church — The Guardian -

Milka's maker is found to have "milked" shoppers over chocolate bar size, Nissan considers building cars for Chinese rivals at its Sunderland plant, and Meta is sued for profiting from illegal scam ads, while thousands of Waymos are recalled after a robotaxi swept into a creek.

• Milka maker milked shoppers over size of chocolate bars, German court rules — The Guardian -
• Thousands of Waymos recalled after robotaxi swept into a creek — BBC World -
• Meta profited from illegal scam ads, California county lawsuit alleges — The Guardian -

• Nissan ponders building cars for Chinese rivals at Sunderland plant — The Guardian -
• Lab testing group Intertek to back £10.6bn takeover by Swedish firm EQT — The Guardian -
• Chelsea flower show garden designers clash over use of AI — The Guardian -
• Is Big Brother watching you shop? – podcast — The Guardian -

A black bear fatally mauls a uranium contractor in northern Canada, Cynthia Shange, who defied apartheid, dies at 76, and "Les Simpson" returns for its 36th season in Quebec, while the Princess of Wales embarks on her first official trip abroad since her cancer diagnosis.

• Black Bear Fatally Mauls Uranium Contractor in Northern Canada — New York Times World -
• Cynthia Shange, Who Defied Apartheid at a Beauty Pageant, Dies at 76 — New York Times World -
• Beware of Drunk Deer, French Police Say, Announcing Season of Inebriation — New York Times World -

• The south London community where ‘pioneering’ scholarship choristers are made — The Guardian -
• Catherine, Princess of Wales, to Make First Official Trip Abroad Since Cancer Diagnosis — New York Times World -
• Camden Highline, London’s answer to New York park, is scrapped — The Guardian -
• Les Simpson: return of Québécois show spares viewers from ‘European French’ — The Guardian -
• EU proposes end to ‘five tabs, three apps and a prayer’ for cross-border train bookings — The Guardian -
• Magnus the wandering walrus leaves Scotland for Norway — The Guardian -
• Marine Le Pen’s party hits back at Kylian Mbappé comments — The Guardian -
• A Physicist Who Thinks in Poetry from the Cosmic Edge — New York Times World -
• Climbers clear path to Everest summit past giant chunk of ice — BBC World -
• Gaza sisters win prize for turning rubble into reusable bricks — BBC World -
• Nigerian film star Alexx Ekubo dies aged 40 — BBC World -
• Neuty the nutria, viral pet rodent whose family fought a state to keep him, dies of cancer — The Guardian -
• Are These the Bones of the Fourth Musketeer? This Dutch Village Hopes So. — New York Times World -
• Catherine, Princess of Wales, to Visit Italy — New York Times World -
• Jason Collins, NBA's first openly gay player, dies aged 47 — BBC World -

Deadly Russian drone attacks resume on Ukraine after a ceasefire expired, leading to Slovakia closing a border crossing, while Russia targets Ukraine with more than 800 drones in a large-scale assault.

• Deadly Russian drone attacks on Ukraine resume after ceasefire expires — BBC World -
• Slovakia closes border crossing with Ukraine amid warnings of further Russian strikes – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Russia targets Ukraine with more than 800 drones in deadly daytime assault — The Guardian -

• A Shift in Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Russian drone attacks kill nine in Ukraine after ceasefire expires — BBC World -
• Russia-Ukraine War Shows Cease-Fires Have Lost Meaning Under Trump — New York Times World -

Gunshots were fired in the Philippine Senate as a lawmaker wanted by the ICC remained holed up in the building to evade arrest.

• Gunshots fired in Philippine Senate where lawmaker wanted by ICC is holed up — BBC World -
• Gunshots fired in Philippines senate in standoff with senator wanted by ICC — The Guardian -