Secret Israeli outposts in Iraq and Iran's war crippling Qatar's economy highlight Middle East tensions, while large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks signify escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict, and North Korean footballers' rare visit to South Korea offers a glimpse of thawing relations amid debate over Australia's Aukus submarine base.

• In Iraqi Desert, Two Israeli Outposts Were Kept Secret for Months — New York Times World -
• Large-scale Ukrainian drone attack kills three in Moscow region, says Russia — BBC World -
• Wave of Ukrainian Strikes Kills at Least 4, Russia Says — New York Times World -

• At least four people killed in Russia as Ukraine launches retaliatory strikes — The Guardian -
• The Iran War Is Crippling One of the World’s Wealthiest Nations — New York Times World -
• ‘Tearing down barriers’: North Korean footballers arrive in Seoul for first time in eight years — The Guardian -
• A North Korean Soccer Team Makes a Rare Visit to South Korea — New York Times World -
• Aukus nuclear submarine base would ‘place a massive target on our backs’, NSW labour union warns — The Guardian -
• Israeli strikes kill six in southern Lebanon hours after extension of ceasefire — The Guardian -

The WHO declares an Ebola outbreak a global health emergency amidst concerns about US lagging on pandemic preparedness post-Covid, further highlighted by a hantavirus outbreak on a nature cruise.

• ‘We’re not ready’: US lags on pandemic preparedness after Covid, experts say — The Guardian -
• WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency — BBC World -
• W.H.O. Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency — New York Times World -

• How a Nature Cruise Turned Into a Nightmare — New York Times World -

Calls for the UK to rejoin the EU are dismissed as 'odd' by a culture secretary, while Labour leadership talks are deemed "froth and nonsense," and a senior minister faces scrutiny for a Palestine Action article amid London protests and the strain of Britain's vape recycling problem.

• Culture secretary says Streeting’s call for UK to rejoin EU is ‘odd’ — The Guardian -
• Labour leadership talk ‘froth and nonsense’, says senior minister – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Fire and ‘sheer volume’: how Britain’s 6m-vape problem is putting recycling under strain — The Guardian -

• Yvette Cooper wrote Palestine Action article despite CPS warning it could affect trial — The Guardian -
• ‘They lost a historic opportunity’: Ken Loach laments Your Party infighting — The Guardian -
• Rival Protests Take Place in London, With a Major Security Effort — New York Times World -

Tech founders protest tax changes with AI-generated images of the Prime Minister, a fatal shark attack at Rottnest Island shocks the community, Qantas bans a passenger for alleged biting, and political defections and byelection results signal shifts in Queensland's political landscape.

• Tech founders use AI-generated images to poke fun at Anthony Albanese in protest against tax changes — The Guardian -
• ‘Fiercely loyal, endlessly generous’ father named as victim of Rottnest Island shark attack — The Guardian -
• Two high-profile Liberals defect to One Nation – as it happened — The Guardian -

• Passenger banned from Qantas after allegedly biting attendant on flight from Australia to US — The Guardian -
• LNP falls ‘agonisingly short’ in Stafford byelection as Labor suffers swing against it — The Guardian -

Workers rushing to finish a reflecting pool for Trump's anniversary celebrations raise safety concerns, and a Trump-backed challenger defeats a Republican senator who voted to convict the former president.

• Workers racing to turn reflecting pool blue for Trump may be at risk, union warns — The Guardian -
• Trump-backed challenger defeats Republican senator who voted to convict president — BBC World -

Birding apps boost tourism in Colombia, Turkey's government struggles to increase birthrates despite incentives, an Andalucían election serves as a gauge for Spain's political future, and car attacks injure pedestrians in Italy as Venezuela extradites a billionaire tycoon amidst its bewildering new era.

• How Birding Apps Are Boosting Tourism in the World’s Top Bird Destination — New York Times World -
• Erdogan Wants Turkey to Have More Babies. Few Parents Are Listening. — New York Times World -
• Man drives car into pedestrians in Italy, injuring eight — BBC World -

• Andalucíans vote in election seen as gauge of Spain’s wider political change — The Guardian -
• JLR and General Motors eye £900m contract to build new range of military trucks — The Guardian -
• ‘Feels like an illusion’: inside post-Maduro Venezuela’s bewildering new era — The Guardian -
• Car Plows Into Pedestrians in Northern Italian Town, Injuring at Least 8 — New York Times World -
• Venezuela Extradites Billionaire Tycoon Alex Saab to U.S. — New York Times World -

A limited-edition Swatch watch launch descends into chaos, Sir Ian McKellen opens a new theatre space in County Durham, Eurovision provides entertainment highs and lows for the UK and Australia, Stockholm prepares to open its first public sauna, and a 56-year-old Panini World Cup sticker book is finally completed.

• ‘It was like a mosh pit’: Swatch closes stores as watch launch causes crowding and scuffles — The Guardian -
• Ian McKellen ‘emotional’ as he opens County Durham theatre space — The Guardian -
• ‘Got!’: Panini 1970 World Cup sticker book completed after 56 years — The Guardian -

• ‘You could dig up a lot of asphalt’: Tim Smit’s Chelsea garden prioritises growing food — The Guardian -
• ‘A place for everybody’: Stockholm to open its first publicly run sauna — The Guardian -
• 'Look Mum, one point': Why does the UK keep getting Eurovision wrong? — BBC World -
• ‘She was phenomenal, she was iconic’: Delta Goodrem wins praise as Australia places fourth at Eurovision — The Guardian -
• Lights, camera, Bangaranga: Highlights from Eurovision — BBC World -