Two California students swept out to sea and drowned while napping on beach

• President Zelenskyy has expressed concerns that peace negotiations between the United States and Russia could exclude Ukraine, potentially leading to a resolution that ignores Kyiv's interests. • The Ukrainian government is specifically seeking firm security guarantees to prevent future aggression and ensure long-term stability.

• Diplomats and analysts are questioning the continued relevance of the G7 ahead of its annual summit in Évian-les-Bains, suggesting the forum has lost influence in the era of Donald Trump. • Critics, including Bloomberg’s Europe editor Flavia Krause-Jackson, note that the G7 was excluded from U.S.-Israeli war planning regarding Iran.

• The Pentagon has renamed the Indo-Pacific Command shortly before the G7 Summit, sparking concerns regarding the stability of India-US relations and future trade ties. • Pentagon officials claim the renaming is a primarily administrative move designed to restore historical military traditions rather than a strategic shift.

• Leaders from Brazil, India, and Kenya met with G7 representatives in Evian to discuss international cooperation and development. • The G7 is utilizing these meetings to present a new narrative on development aid as a strategic move to counter China's expanding economic influence.

• UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported on Tuesday that violence and exchanges of fire in Lebanon have significantly decreased compared to the previous weekend. • In the Gaza Strip, OCHA warned that critical shortages of fuel, engine oil, and spare parts are severely hindering water production, wastewater treatment, and waste management.

• The United States is increasingly utilizing economic power and tariffs as geopolitical weapons to achieve strategic goals that traditional diplomacy cannot. • This shift reflects a broader global trend where powerful economies frame strategic power moves as adherence to universal principles or humanitarian missions.

Officers responding to call about ‘screaming woman’, who was celebrating Knicks win, shot dog named JamesonAs the Los Angeles police department faces mounting scrutiny after officers shot and killed a two-year-old golden Saint Bernard doodle, the city’s political leaders have backed calls for an investigation into the incident.On Saturday, LA police officers responded to a radio call about a “screaming woman” in the Canoga Park neighborhood, about 30 miles (48km) from downtown, which turned out to be celebratory noise in reaction to the New York Knicks’s long-awaited championship win. Continue reading...

Four states file alongside FTC, claiming WPath made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minorsThe Federal Trade Commission and four states sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health on Wednesday, in the latest push by Donald Trump’s administration and others to limit gender-affirming care for transgender minors.The suit alleges the group, known widely as WPath, made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and that its members profited off the claims. Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas filed along with the FTC. Continue reading...

Jackson Lahmeyer, a Christian nationalist and Pastors for Trump founder, loses Trump endorsement to competitorThe Oklahoma congressional candidate Jackson Lahmeyer announced on Wednesday that he was suspending his campaign, after the Christian pastor once endorsed by Donald Trump, who had advanced to a Republican primary runoff, was reported to have sent extramarital, intimate text messages.“After prayerful consideration with my wife, Kendra, and my team over the last twenty four hours, I’ve made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for Congress,” the Christian nationalist and Pastors for Trump founder wrote in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. “I do not want to be a distraction to my family, my church, and the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st congressional district, who deserve a strong conservative voice representing them in Washington. Continue reading...

Qantas now says first Project Sunrise flight due to take off in November 2027. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.The first bill to re-criminalise abortion in the nation’s history passed South Australia’s upper house last night – but failed in the lower house despite the support of the premier and opposition leader. More details soon. Continue reading...

Groups cite detainee maltreatment and degradation of surrounding land as reasons to close facility permanentlySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailAn alliance of environmental groups has welcomed reports that detainees have been moved from Florida’s notorious “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration jail, but have promised to press ahead with legal action to ensure its permanent closure and the restoration of the fragile Everglades wetlands where it is located.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement late on Tuesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and authorities in Florida “have moved illegal aliens from the soft sided facility [and] transferred them to other facilities” for their safety, citing this month’s beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season. Continue reading...

Victims include four airmen, a reservist and three civilians as inquiry into Edwards crash continuesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailAir force officials have released the names of the eight men killed in this week’s fiery crash of a B-52 during a test flight at Edwards air force base in southern California.The deceased, whose identities had initially been withheld while the military notified next of kin, include four active-duty airmen, one reservist and three civilians, military officials said on Wednesday. Continue reading...