Peace efforts in the Middle East are gaining traction with Trump claiming a largely negotiated deal with Iran, although tensions persist with Israeli strikes in Lebanon and France banning an Israeli minister. Regional mediators are working to solidify a ceasefire, with the fate of the Strait of Hormuz a key point of contention. The economic impact on US fuel prices and international calls to end Israeli settlement expansion remain prominent concerns amidst fragile truces.

• Iran War Live Updates: Trump Says Peace Deal Is Near — New York Times World -
• Middle East crisis live: fate of strait of Hormuz hangs in balance as Trump claims Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’ — The Guardian -
• Britain Preparing for Mission That Could Clear Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -

• Trump says peace deal with Iran ‘largely negotiated’ with strait of Hormuz to open — The Guardian -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Trump says Iran deal 'largely negotiated' including reopening Strait of Hormuz — BBC World -
• A Lull in Fighting Gave Time to Bury Their Dead — New York Times World -
• France Bans Israeli Minister Over Treatment of Detained Flotilla Activists — New York Times World -
• Iran and U.S. Officials Signal Progress as Cease-Fire Hangs in Balance — New York Times World -
• Trump to meet with US negotiators to decide on Iran’s ceasefire proposal — The Guardian -
• Israeli Strikes Pummel Lebanon, Killing Medics Amid Fragile Truce — New York Times World -
• Once Trump’s Co-Pilot Against Iran, Netanyahu Is Now a Mere Passenger — New York Times World -
• Rubio meets Modi during India visit with energy high on agenda — BBC World -
• Israeli bombardment reduces buildings to craters in southern Lebanon — The Guardian -
• Even if the Iran war ended today, US fuel prices aren’t likely to normalize this year — The Guardian -
• Board of Peace focus on Hamas risks return to war in Gaza, critics say — The Guardian -
• Gaza flotilla activists allege abuse by Israeli forces while detained — BBC World -
• Albanese joins coalition of nations calling for an end to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank — The Guardian -
• Regional Mediators Rush to Save U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire — New York Times World -
• In West Bank, Latest Victim of Israeli Settler Violence Shocks in a New Way — New York Times World -
• Qatar sends mediators to Tehran in sign talks to reopen strait of Hormuz are reaching climax — The Guardian -

An alarming Ebola outbreak is spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leading to Red Cross volunteer deaths and a US travel ban facing criticism. The White House is pausing detainee removals to the DRC, while Congo's soccer team faces isolation rules ahead of the World Cup. Major European aid cuts are projected to have a devastating toll on the most vulnerable worldwide.

• Red Cross volunteers die from suspected Ebola in DR Congo — BBC World -
• U.S. Ebola Travel Ban Faces Criticism From Congo Health Officials — New York Times World -
• White House pauses removal of detainees to DRC as Ebola outbreak widens — The Guardian -

• ‘Every health facility said they were full’: alarm over rapid spread of Ebola in DRC — The Guardian -
• What to Know About the Ebola Outbreak as Cases and Deaths Rise — New York Times World -
• White House Tells Congo’s Soccer Team to Isolate, Citing Ebola Outbreak — New York Times World -
• UK, German and French aid cuts will take ‘devastating toll’ on most vulnerable, says study — The Guardian -
• DR Congo players told to isolate before World Cup — BBC World -
• Mob Burns Congo Ebola Center Amid Rare Strain Outbreak — New York Times World -

A devastating coal mine explosion in China has killed at least 82, prompting a call for all-out rescue efforts. Meanwhile, California declared a state of emergency over a toxic chemical leak forcing evacuations, and fentanyl exposure sickened first responders in New Mexico. Other incidents include a deadly shipyard explosion in Staten Island, a fatal vehicle crash in Sydney, and Pope Leo decrying mafia-linked toxic dumping in Italy.

• Xi Calls for All-Out Rescue After Coal Mine Explosion Kills at Least 82 in China — New York Times World -
• California declares state of emergency as fire crews race to contain toxic chemical leak — BBC World -
• China mine death toll at least 82 after gas blast — The Guardian -

• Three dead and 18 first responders sickened by apparent fentanyl exposure in New Mexico — The Guardian -
• At least 82 killed in Chinese coal mine explosion — BBC World -
• Pope decries ‘unscrupulous’ polluters at deadly, mafia-linked dumping ground — The Guardian -
• California: 40,000 people ordered to evacuate over chemical leak fears — The Guardian -
• Three die in ‘horrific’ south Sydney vehicle crash after police welfare check — The Guardian -
• One dead and dozens of firefighters injured in Staten Island shipyard explosion — BBC World -

The Trump administration is under scrutiny for scrubbing DoJ website releases on January 6 defendants and reversing an AI executive order after big tech lobbying. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India highlights concerns over Trump's potential partnership with China, while Trump Mobile faces a data exposure investigation. The Democratic National Committee chair faces resignation calls over a "shambolic" election autopsy report.

• Trump's justice department scrubs its website of news releases about January 6 defendants — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Pursuit of a Partnership With China Raises Concerns in India — New York Times World -
• How big tech got its way on Trump’s AI executive order — The Guardian -

• Democratic chair faces calls to quit over ‘shambles’ of election autopsy release — The Guardian -
• Trump Mobile investigating potential exposure of would-be customers’ personal information — The Guardian -
• Sunrise Movement takes credit for disrupting Trump’s New York state rally – as it happened — The Guardian -

SpaceX successfully launched its massive Starship V3 rocket on a test flight from Texas, marking a significant step in space exploration despite a planned fiery ocean splashdown. In technology news, there's a growing concern among plastic surgeons about clients seeking 'AI face' aesthetics, reflecting the pervasive influence of artificial intelligence.

• SpaceX launches its biggest rocket yet in test flight from Texas — The Guardian -
• ‘You can’t control everything’: the rise in plastic surgeons asked to create ‘AI face’ — The Guardian -
• SpaceX launches massive Starship V3 rocket on test flight — BBC World -

• Moment SpaceX rocket explodes in the Indian Ocean after splashdown — BBC World -

The UK experienced its hottest day of the year, with warnings of more extreme heat, while extra EU border checks at Dover were suspended due to travel delays. New political prisoner cases are rising in Britain due to anti-protest sentences, and London's Green party leader faces a council tax investigation. Debates continue over the UK's potential rejoining of the EU single market, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves proposes a tax cut on children's meals. Further reports cover rising phone theft in London, challenges for young people adapting to the workplace, and efforts to address the country's pervasive pothole problem.

• UK records hottest day of year as forecasters warn of more extreme heat — The Guardian -
• New breed of political prisoner arises in Britain as anti-protest sentences rise — The Guardian -
• GLA considering investigation into Zack Polanski over houseboat council tax — The Guardian -

• Extra EU border checks suspended at Dover as travellers face delays in heat — The Guardian -
• Their Phones Were Stolen in London. Then the Threats Started. — New York Times World -
• ‘I don’t have a life’: man sent to France in ‘one in, one out’ refugee scheme tells of return to UK — The Guardian -
• UK’s ‘anxious generation’ of young people struggling to adapt to workplace — The Guardian -
• UK needs ‘national consensus’ over rejoining EU, David Miliband says — The Guardian -
• Reeves’s tax cut on children’s meals a political ‘soundbite’, say restaurateurs — The Guardian -
• Reeves begins push to remain as chancellor under new Labour leadership — The Guardian -
• Multimedia arts project wins Sycamore Gap tree commission after public vote — The Guardian -
• The pothole puzzle: the bumpy ride to fixing Britain’s broken roads — The Guardian -

Putin has vowed retaliation after Ukraine allegedly hit a student dormitory, while Europe debates strategies for potential peace talks with Russia. Senegal's president sacked his prime minister amid a debt crisis, and **Côte d’Ivoire remains vigilant against jihadist threats along its northern borders. Tensions rise between the US and South Korea over a corporate compliance dispute involving Coupang, while in India, the government ordered the handover of the exclusive Delhi Gymkhana Club. Concerns are also noted regarding Canada handing refugees over to US detention and the geopolitical undertones at the Arctic Games**.

• Putin vows retaliation after accusing Ukraine of hitting student dormitory — BBC World -
• Before Europe Anoints Someone to Talk to Putin, It Debates What to Talk About — New York Times World -
• Côte d’Ivoire wary of jihadist threat in north 10 years on from major attack — The Guardian -

• India’s government orders handover of exclusive Delhi Gymkhana Club — The Guardian -
• ‘Amazon.com of South Korea’ Is New Source of Tension With U.S. — New York Times World -
• Senegal's president sacks PM and former ally after months-long feud — BBC World -
• ‘Canada is handing people over to ICE’: refugees rejected at border face US detention — The Guardian -
• At the Arctic Games, Canada and Greenland vs. Trump Feels Like Its Own Sport — New York Times World -

Candace Owens' Australian tour was cancelled, leaving 15,000 ticket holders without refunds, and Nascar champion Kyle Busch died from pneumonia and sepsis. F1 legend Alain Prost was injured during a home robbery in Switzerland, while Stephen Colbert hosted a Michigan public access show after his Late Show tenure ended. Other stories include a fraudster trying to sell fake ancient statues to Sotheby's, a look inside Brazil's World Cup base camp, India's 'cockroach party' website being blocked, the release of a Greek militant group leader, and the struggle of Australia's 'prettiest street' with TikTok fame. Also featured are **revelations about Stephen Hawking’s father’s early worries and Australian Labor's apprenticeship and tax reform debates**.

• No refunds for 15,000 Australian ticket holders after Candace Owens’ tour cancelled — The Guardian -
• How to Stay Safe Around Jellyfish This Beach Season — New York Times World -
• Nascar champion Kyle Busch died of pneumonia and sepsis, family says — BBC World -

• F1 great Prost 'injured as masked gang raid home' — BBC World -
• Stephen Colbert hosts Michigan public access show day after last appearance on Late Show — The Guardian -
• India's parody 'cockroach party' claims website has been blocked — BBC World -
• Alexandros Giotopoulos of November 17, Greek Militant Group, Is Freed — New York Times World -
• French mum and partner held until trial after sons abandoned by road in Portugal — BBC World -
• Watch: Pitches, PlayStations and protein ice cream - A look inside Brazil's World Cup base camp — BBC World -
• Track Changes — New York Times World -
• Fraudster trying to sell fake ancient statues to Sotheby’s foiled over bogus invoices — The Guardian -
• Jacinta Allan launches state-sponsored apprenticeships at Victoria’s Labor conference ahead of election — The Guardian -
• Stephen Hawking’s father worried his son ‘does not study much’, diaries reveal — The Guardian -
• Anthony Albanese visibly emotional after defending Labor’s capital gains tax and negative gearing changes — The Guardian -
• Australia’s ‘Prettiest Street’ Is Grappling With TikTok and Instagram Fame — New York Times World -