International tensions intensified with Australia's AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and underwater drone plans, US defense secretary Hegseth urging Asian allies to boost their defense, ongoing US-Iran war deal deliberations amidst hardliner opposition, and Russian drone strikes in Romania raising NATO concerns, while Israel cut ties with the UN chief over a sexual violence blacklist.

• News live: Australia to buy only second-hand nuclear subs from US in major Aukus switch; Hanson says she could be PM — The Guardian -
• A Big Bang, a Fire and Panic as War Enters Romanian Homes — New York Times World -
• 'No-one feels safe now': Residents of Romanian city hit by drone share fears — BBC World -

• The Russian Drone That Hit Romania Also Hit European Confidence — New York Times World -
• As Trump Mulls Decision About Iran War Deal, a Restive Middle East Waits to Hear — New York Times World -
• Iran’s Hard-Liners Try to Derail Potential Deal With the U.S. — New York Times World -
• 'I will sleep with fear': Romanians shaken after block of flats hit by drone — BBC World -
• Hegseth’s Message to Asian Partners: Do More to Get More — New York Times World -
• US not 'turning back' on Asia allies, but expects them to boost defence, says Hegseth — BBC World -
• Israel to Cut Ties With U.N. Chief Over Its Inclusion on Sexual Violence Blacklist — New York Times World -
• Russian Drone Hits Romanian Apartment Building, Officials Say — New York Times World -
• US, UK and Australia to develop underwater drone technology — BBC World -
• No deal announced after Trump meeting to make 'final determination' on Iran — BBC World -
• Looming Iran peace deal shows how Trump’s maximalist goals have shrunk — The Guardian -
• Across the Middle East, Muslims Mark Eid Amid War and Crisis — New York Times World -
• What to Know About the Drones That Have Been Crossing Into Romania — New York Times World -
• Iran War Updates: Trump Puts Off ‘Final Determination’ on Iran Proposal — New York Times World -
• US ‘more than capable’ of resuming war against Iran, Pete Hegseth says — The Guardian -
• A broken economy and an emboldened regime: Iranians abandoned to endure fallout from war — The Guardian -
• Vietnam’s Leader Warns Asia About the Risks of Superpower Conflict — New York Times World -
• Who’s the Vegas Retiree With the Big Offer for Greenland? — New York Times World -
• Lithuania, Once Occupied by Germany, Is Glad German Troops Are Back — New York Times World -
• Ukraine using AI drones to strike vital convoys supplying Russian troops — BBC World -
• After Orban’s Defeat, Hungary Is Poised to Get Billions From E.U. — New York Times World -

A deeply alarming Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to rage, while promising new cancer treatments including a jab that eradicated tumors and a multi-cancer blood test show mixed trial results, and a new Trump order aims to halve recommended childhood vaccines.

• What to Know About the Ebola Outbreak — New York Times World -
• Ebola spread in DR Congo 'deeply alarming', MSF warns — BBC World -
• Cancer jab can eradicate entire tumours in patients, trial shows — The Guardian -

• Inside the Ebola Epicenter, the Virus Rages With Little to Stop It — New York Times World -
• What I Saw Inside an Ebola Ward — New York Times World -
• Trial of multi-cancer blood test among 142,000 NHS patients fails to meet main aim — The Guardian -
• Trump order endorses plan to halve vaccines recommended for children — The Guardian -

Colombian elections are a crucial test for the left amid political violence and alleged foreign meddling, UK politics saw new appointments to tackle youth unemployment, Green Party leaders addressing Reform voters' concerns, and a former chancellor regretting backing Liz Truss, while US President Trump's health checkup was released amidst ongoing political scrutiny and Spain's PM Sánchez faces corruption scandals.

• Former M&S chief appointed to tackle UK youth unemployment crisis — The Guardian -
• Ecuador accused of meddling in Colombian election with tariff vow — BBC World -
• Colombia’s Elections Are a Crucial Test for the Left in Latin America — New York Times World -

• Green leaders warn party it must listen to Reform voters’ concerns to confront inequality — The Guardian -
• Trump's doctor says he's in excellent health - but are US presidents' health checks a PR exercise? — BBC World -
• Sajid Javid says backing Liz Truss to lead Tories was his ‘biggest political mistake’ — The Guardian -
• White House releases memo describing results of Trump’s health checkup — The Guardian -
• How Curry Shops Got Caught in Japan’s Immigration Crackdown — New York Times World -
• Palace was given emails about Andrew’s trade envoy activities six years ago, report says — The Guardian -
• Why $1bn in Balkans energy contracts are going to an obscure company connected to Donald Trump — The Guardian -
• Inflation won Trump the presidency, but could cost him the midterms — The Guardian -
• Rise in youth unemployment driving more to homelessness, UK charities say — The Guardian -
• Democrats have fresh hope to win back Senate – could they really pull it off? — The Guardian -
• Chinese dissident says he was berated by ‘pro-regime’ interpreter for UK police — The Guardian -
• Colombia prepares to go to polls in election shadowed by resurgence of political violence — The Guardian -
• Spain's Sánchez digs in after eight years as PM as wave of scandals threatens survival — BBC World -
• Trump says he has ‘no interest’ in Kennedy Center after judge orders his name removed from memorial – as it happened — The Guardian -

A harrowing Laos cave rescue successfully freed five miners, with two still missing, while tragic accidents included three climbers dying on Mount McKinley, a 15-year-old girl drowning at a Merseyside beach, an attempted cockpit breach on a United Airlines flight, and an Afghanistan truck crash killing 18, including 10 children.

• Family pays tribute to girl, 15, who died after swimming at Merseyside beach — The Guardian -
• 5 Are Freed in Laos Cave Rescue After More Than a Week — New York Times World -
• Three climbers die and one rescued after fall on Alaska’s Mount McKinley — The Guardian -

• Chicago-to-Minneapolis United Airlines flight diverted after attempted cockpit breach — The Guardian -
• Shackled, transferred, mocked: woman, 23, says she gave in to deportation after ‘humiliating’ ICE detention — The Guardian -
• Four more men freed from flooded Laos cave in hazardous rescue mission — The Guardian -
• Four more men freed from flooded Laos cave after 10 days — BBC World -
• Eighteen people killed in Afghanistan truck crash, including 10 children — The Guardian -
• ‘Essentially diving in coffee’: Australian diver among team rushing to rescue people trapped in flooded Laos cave — The Guardian -
• Washington state crews find body of another victim in paper mill explosion — The Guardian -
• Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Aiding 14 Suicides — New York Times World -

Australian farmers are battling a devastating mouse plague, concerns grow over US incinerators failing to eliminate 'forever chemicals', and environmental protection efforts are underway at Hampstead Heath, while economic challenges include a backlash against Ferrari's new EV, Belgium's potato surplus, rising gluten-free food costs, and unequal impacts of a UK heatwave.

• Ferrari wanted to take on Chinese EVs with the Luce - then the backlash started — BBC World -
• 'It's like a decaying body': Australian farmers battle mouse plague — BBC World -
• Is a Canadian Car the Answer to Trump’s Tariffs? The Bricklin Shows the Risks. — New York Times World -

• Future of first Bramley apple tree in doubt as cottage where it stands is sold — The Guardian -
• US garbage incinerators are failing to eliminate ‘forever chemical’ air pollution, experts warn — The Guardian -
• Ministers urge City of London to act over swimmers in Hampstead Heath wildlife ponds — The Guardian -
• The World Capital of French Fries Has a Problem: Too Many Potatoes — New York Times World -
• ‘That’s why we work in finance – so one day we can afford air-con’: Britain’s unequal heatwave — The Guardian -
• On-street EV charging in UK is postcode lottery as drivers face council objections — The Guardian -
• Gluten-free basics ‘now a luxury’ as price of a small branded loaf nears £4 — The Guardian -
• ‘How can you have a Ferrari without any vroom?’: electric model shocks owners’ club — The Guardian -
• ‘Significant’ storm to hammer millions in WA and bring icy weather to NSW, Victoria and SA — The Guardian -

Kanye West and Travis Scott concerts were canceled in Italy over security fears and antisemitic remarks, **Ian McKellen joined a march for LGBTQ+ equality in Commonwealth countries, Oscar-winning editor Marcia Lucas and French intellectual Edgar Morin passed away, and Ghana's parliament passed an anti-LGBTQ+ bill, while Paris police arrested over 130 PSG fans** celebrating a Champions League win.

• How Putin became master of the image — BBC World -
• Edgar Morin, ‘Grandfather’ of French Intellectuals, Dies at 104 — New York Times World -
• Paris police arrest more than 130 as PSG fans celebrate Champions League win over Arsenal — The Guardian -

• Iran’s Team Trains in Limbo for World Cup Overshadowed by War — New York Times World -
• ‘Happy either way’: Arsenal fans find zen attitude to Champions League final — The Guardian -
• Kanye West concert in Italy cancelled over ‘public order and safety issues’ — The Guardian -
• Ye and Travis Scott Concerts Canceled in Italy Over Security Fears — New York Times World -
• Oscar-winning Star Wars editor Marcia Lucas dies aged 80 — BBC World -
• Trump attacks artists dropping out of US Freedom 250 concert and mulls appearing himself — BBC World -
• Raheem Sterling made to feel ‘worthless’, says close source amid player’s arrest — The Guardian -
• Italy bans Kanye West and Travis Scott concerts over security concerns — BBC World -
• Ian McKellen joins march for LGBTQ+ equality in Commonwealth countries — The Guardian -
• Anthropic’s alliance with pope on AI harms: all in good faith or ‘Vatican-washing?’ — The Guardian -
• What’s gone wrong at Everyman and can the luxury cinema chain regain its magic? — The Guardian -
• Bound by blood: new film highlights Jamaica’s outlawed obeah belief system — The Guardian -
• ‘Maybe it’s because we love the sesh’: how Wales is bucking Britain’s pub-closing trend — The Guardian -
• How did tattoo artists become legal in South Korea? — BBC World -
• Britons travelling home via EU airports ‘should allow three hours’ before flights — The Guardian -
• Moana Pasifika sign off from Super Rugby with a win and emotionally charged hymn — The Guardian -
• Resident group’s objections to bar and restaurant licences ‘destroying Soho’s reputation’ — The Guardian -
• 'Men written by women': How ice hockey romances like Off Campus became TV's hottest new genre — BBC World -
• Exam fail: Indian students complain en masse about marking errors in key final exams — The Guardian -
• Vivid Sydney cancels all drone shows after 83 drones plunged into Darling Harbour — The Guardian -
• Ghana's parliament passes anti-LGBTQ+ bill — BBC World -

A police inquiry gripped South Africa over alleged drug heists and bribes, US military strikes on alleged drug boats in the Pacific continued to raise the death toll, a Canadian man pleaded guilty to aiding 14 suicides, and sexual offence victims may be denied justice for the sake of child perpetrators, while a Miami zoo faced animal welfare violations.

• Animal welfare violations swarm Miami zoo owned by ex-drug kingpin in Tiger King — The Guardian -
• Victims of sexual offences denied justice for sake of child perpetrators, says Jess Phillips — The Guardian -
• Manchester cafe owner says police tried to recruit him to spy on Palestine Action — The Guardian -

• 'Gifts' from a lover and 'botched' cocaine raids: Police inquiry grips South Africa — BBC World -
• Ex-US attorney general defends Epstein files handling in congressional probe — BBC World -
• US military strikes another boat in Pacific, bringing death toll above 200 — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Boat Strikes Have Failed to Curb Cocaine Flow to U.S., Experts Say — New York Times World -