Escalating tensions include international condemnation for an Israeli minister's actions, Iran's threat to expand strikes, reports of US-Israeli plans to install a former Iranian leader, and US pressure on Palestinian leaders regarding a UN bid.

• Far-right Israeli minister condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists — BBC World -
• Trump says no rush to end Iran war; anger grows over video of Gaza flotilla activists – Middle East crisis live — The Guardian -
• Iran Threatens to Strike Beyond the Middle East if the U.S. Resumes Attacks — New York Times World -

• US and Israel ‘hoped to install Ahmadinejad as Iran’s leader’ — The Guardian -
• US puts pressure on Palestinian leaders to withdraw bid for UN vice-presidency role — The Guardian -
• Early War Goal Was to Install Hard-Line Former President as Iran’s Leader — New York Times World -
• UK delays some sanctions on Russian oil and gas amid Middle East conflict — The Guardian -
• Officials to meet Australians detained by Israel – as it happened — The Guardian -
• How Iran Gained Leverage in the War — New York Times World -
• How Iran Gained Leverage in the War — New York Times World -

Former President Donald Trump's dominant influence in Republican primaries, legal challenges regarding a January 6 fund, calls for a college sports boycott over voting rights, and the passing of former Congressman Barney Frank are key developments.

• Trump claims ‘100%’ of his endorsements won in Republican primaries – US politics live — The Guardian -
• January 6 police officers sue Trump over $1.8bn fund, alleging ‘presidential corruption’ — The Guardian -
• Barney Frank: One of the first openly gay US congressmen dies aged 86 — BBC World -

• ‘A Jackie Robinson moment’: Jeffries echoes NAACP calls for college sports boycott over voting rights — The Guardian -
• Former US representative Barney Frank dies aged 86 — The Guardian -
• Eva v Goliath: the 20-year-old climate activist taking on Trump and the fossil fuel industry — The Guardian -
• Trump’s allies in danger of scraping false hope from Maga victory in Kentucky primary — The Guardian -
• Georgia’s Republican races for governor and US Senate head to June runoffs — The Guardian -
• First Thing: Trump critic Thomas Massie defeated in Kentucky Republican House primary — The Guardian -
• Trump exerts iron grip on Republican Party with Massie defeated — BBC World -
• Trump exerts iron grip on Republican Party with Massie defeated — BBC World -
• Georgia mayor who fired town’s entire police force resigns, citing family ‘health concerns’ — The Guardian -
• ‘I’ve got seven months left’: Massie speaks out after losing House primary to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein –as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump's Greenland envoy faces uphill battle on mission to make 'friends' — BBC World -
• Trump critic Thomas Massie defeated in Kentucky Republican House primary — The Guardian -
• Did Trump really rescue Venezuela? – podcast — The Guardian -
• Trump endorses Paxton in Texas, gambling on a challenger with baggage in a crucial race — BBC World -

Major geopolitical events include China's strategic hosting of Trump and Putin, heightened European security concerns due to drone intrusions in Lithuania, the EU's agreement on a US trade deal, and Germany's alert to potential economic impact from China.

• Russian threats against Baltics ‘unacceptable’ and danger to ‘our entire union’, EU’s von der Leyen says - as it happened — The Guardian -
• Same but different: how Xi and China welcomed Trump and Putin — The Guardian -
• Lithuanian leaders rushed to bunkers as drone violates country’s airspace — The Guardian -

• Days After Hosting Trump, Xi Deepens Ties With Putin — New York Times World -
• Xi basks in spotlight as he hosts Putin days after Trump — BBC World -
• Lithuania's leaders take shelter during drone air alert — BBC World -
• China Confirms It Will Buy 200 Boeing Planes — New York Times World -
• EU agrees to implement US trade deal struck last summer — The Guardian -
• Germany urged to stop admiring Beijing and wake up to ‘China Shock 2.0’ — The Guardian -
• Vladimir Putin arrives in Beijing for state visit hot on heels of Trump — The Guardian -

The Ebola outbreak in Central Africa is deemed unlikely to become a global pandemic by WHO, yet rising death tolls and long vaccine development timelines persist, alongside significant global aid cuts affecting regions like Somalia.

• Ebola Outbreak Is Unlikely to Become Global Threat, W.H.O. Head Says — New York Times World -
• Ebola vaccine could take nine months as death toll rise further, WHO warns — BBC World -
• What is Ebola and why is stopping the latest outbreak so difficult? — BBC World -

• US doctor who contracted Ebola in DRC flown to Germany for treatment — The Guardian -
• What to Know About the Ebola Outbreak as Cases and Deaths Rise — New York Times World -
• What the End of Aid Looks Like — New York Times World -

Key developments involve Wes Streeting's resignation and calls for a bolder Labour stance, government plans to scrap a fuel duty rise, alarming waits for children's mental health beds, a Channel 4 apology for sexual misconduct allegations, and the abrupt departure of a British diplomat.

• Streeting says he resigned because Labour ‘in fight of our lives against nationalism’, and is currently losing – UK politics live — The Guardian -
• Three women found dead in sea off Brighton beach identified as sisters — The Guardian -
• DWP pursued woman’s employer for nonexistent ‘benefit debt’ — The Guardian -

• Labour must be bolder or it will lose, Streeting says in resignation speech — The Guardian -
• Brexit may be back, but Britain needs to know what it wants — The Guardian -
• James Roscoe, Deputy British Ambassador to the U.S., Leaves Job Abruptly — New York Times World -
• More than £52m reserved for social housing at risk after collapse of investment firms — The Guardian -
• Channel 4 boss apologises after Married at First Sight sexual misconduct allegations — The Guardian -
• Planned fuel duty rise to be scrapped, says Keir Starmer — The Guardian -
• At least 80% responsibility for ill health in old age down to individual, study says — The Guardian -
• Call for food price caps ‘completely preposterous’, says M&S boss — The Guardian -
• There could be 1,000 or more victims of black-cab rapist John Worboys, says Carrie Johnson — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves to protect ‘critical’ clean energy projects from legal challenges — The Guardian -
• Britain’s second most senior diplomat in Washington abruptly leaves post — The Guardian -
• Children in mental health crisis waiting up to three days in A&E for specialist bed in England — The Guardian -
• Scrap stamp duty and council tax to fix London housing crisis, thinktank says — The Guardian -
• ‘Attainment at all costs’ approach could undermine Send changes, school leaders in England say — The Guardian -
• ‘A world-class producer’: English wines toast record gold medal haul — The Guardian -
• Broadcasters too reliant on vox pop interviews and failing to challenge politicians, says study — The Guardian -

Ethical concerns are mounting over AI bots making significant errors in elections, Google DeepMind staff protesting AI's military applications, and debates on social media bans for minors, while Google announces an AI overhaul for its search and new high-tech glasses.

• ChatGPT and other AI bots made huge errors before Scottish election, study finds — The Guardian -
• Google DeepMind in talks with UK unions amid staff concern over US and Israel’s AI use — The Guardian -
• Limit social media ban for under-16s to unsafe apps, Starmer urged — The Guardian -

• AI engineer says Google unfairly sacked him after he protested against work for Israel — The Guardian -
• Google announces glasses are back and search is getting an AI makeover — The Guardian -

Prominent incidents include a heroic security guard killed in a San Diego mosque attack, fears of new crime rings in Japan, an alleged child abuse survivor challenging Australia's Nauru deal, and tragic deaths of Italian divers and Brighton sisters.

• What we know about the San Diego mosque attack suspects — BBC World -
• ‘Indefensible’: alleged child abuse survivor takes on Albanese government over $2.5bn Nauru deal — The Guardian -
• ‘He sacrificed his life’: security guard killed in San Diego mosque attack hailed as hero — The Guardian -

• The French Civil Servant Accused of Drugging More Than 100 Women — New York Times World -
• Bodies of Last 2 Missing Italian Divers Recovered in the Maldives — New York Times World -
• Police officer catches baby dropped from window of burning home — BBC World -
• Killing in Japan Stirs Fears of Tokuryu Crime Rings — New York Times World -
• Teenagers behind mass shooting in San Diego rushed at mosque ‘fully armored’ — The Guardian -
• Nigeria arrests former minister in hiding after corruption conviction — BBC World -
• Predators able to abuse children due to systemic weaknesses in NSW childcare, inquiry finds — The Guardian -
• ‘Brazen’ alleged shooting in Sydney’s south-west that left one dead and four in hospital was targeted, police believe — The Guardian -
• Man who murdered teen TikTok star in Pakistan gets death sentence — BBC World -
• Woman dies after falling into uncovered New York City manhole — BBC World -
• Woman dies after falling into uncovered New York City manhole — BBC World -

National issues include a neo-Nazi group being denied political party status, the ATO fining a 97-year-old woman, a commissioner accusing politicians of scapegoating immigrants, and a scathing report on FoI request rejections by government departments.

• Neo-Nazi group told by AEC it can’t become a political party while it hides identities of members — The Guardian -
• ATO issues $1,650 fine to 97-year-old woman who had not ‘prioritised tax obligations’ after husband’s death — The Guardian -
• ‘Vein of racism’: race discrimination commissioner accuses One Nation and Coalition of scapegoating immigrants — The Guardian -

• Albanese’s department among those blocking 80% of FoI requests, scathing report finds — The Guardian -

Noteworthy stories feature an Australian swimmer inadvertently becoming a fashion show star, the stranding of Timmy the Whale off Germany, the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine's bird population, heavy floods in China, and Wellington's ongoing sewage spill crisis.

• Australian Swimmer Who Crashed Beach Fashion Show Becomes the Star — New York Times World -
• Interview With Australian Swimmer Who Crashed Beach Fashion Show — New York Times World -
• Timmy the Whale Got Stranded Off the German Coast. Then Things Got Weird. — New York Times World -

• Totó la Momposina, vocalist and Colombian music legend, dies aged 85 — The Guardian -
• Blinded and broken, Sunny the owl becomes another casualty of Russia’s war — The Guardian -
• Heavy Rain and Floods in China Kill at Least 22 — New York Times World -
• Melbourne teenager Bianca Adler becomes youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest — The Guardian -
• ‘How are we going to survive this?’ Wellington faces six-month wait to halt sewage spill — The Guardian -

This section highlights Jeff Bezos defending Amazon's controversial Melania film as a business decision and **George Soros's group pledging $300 million to US economic security and civil liberties**.

• Jeff Bezos defends Amazon’s controversial $40m Melania film as ‘a good business decision’ — The Guardian -
• George Soros group pledges $300m to US economic security and civil liberties — The Guardian -