Global attention centered on economic strategy, escalating environmental concerns, and heightened geopolitical tensions. Finance ministers from the G7 wealthy democracies, meeting in Canada, agreed to counter "economic imbalances," a clear reference to China's trade practices, while notably toning down their traditional defense of free trade and references to Russia's war in Ukraine, though they left open the possibility of further sanctions on Russia if no ceasefire is reached1. China, in response, acknowledged the importance of US trade talks but emphasized that multilateralism is key to resolving global trade turmoil1. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada's governor warned of weak future growth if uncertainty around US tariffs persists1.Environmental issues took center stage in Brazil, where the senate approved a controversial "devastation bill" that would dismantle environmental licensing processes for farming, mining, and energy projects, drawing condemnation from activists who warn of widespread destruction and a setback for Brazil's climate commitments1. In Australia, parts of New South Wales braced for a reprieve from deadly flooding that "smashed" communities, while severe weather warnings shifted south1.Geopolitical flashpoints remained active. In North Korea, Kim Jong-un was reportedly furious after a new 5,000-tonne destroyer was significantly damaged during its launch, an event he termed a "criminal act"1. Iran warned the US it would be considered a "participant" in any Israeli military strike on its nuclear facilities, following US intelligence reports suggesting Israel might attack if US-Iran talks falter1. Russian President Putin announced the creation of a "security buffer zone" along the border with Ukraine1. The Trump administration escalated its campaign against Harvard University, revoking its ability to enroll international students and threatening similar actions against other universities, citing alleged antisemitism and coordination with the Chinese Communist Party; Harvard called the move unlawful retaliation1. Further fueling tensions, two Israeli embassy aides were shot dead in Washington D.C. by a suspect who reportedly shouted "Free Palestine"1. In a separate incident, President Trump showed Reuters footage from Congo, misrepresenting it as evidence of white farmers being killed in South Africa during a meeting with South Africa's president1.Press freedom concerns were raised in Hong Kong, where authorities targeted journalists and media outlets with "strange" tax audits, seen as an attempt to disrupt the independent press1. In Russia, a St. Petersburg bookstore was fined $10,000 for "LGBT propaganda" for selling works by authors like Susan Sontag and Olivia Laing, amid a wider crackdown1. An international investigation revealed that lawyers and politicians in Lithuania were on the Kremlin's payroll through the Pravfond foundation, which is linked to Russian security services1.In social justice, an international court prepared to hear the case of a woman who died in Peru in 1997 after a forced sterilization, part of a widespread 1990s government policy; a ruling could pave the way for reparations1. In the UK, MPs called for the chief executive of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to resign over failings, particularly in the Andrew Malkinson miscarriage of justice case1. Economic and tech news included a report that Chinese automaker BYD outsold Tesla in Europe for the first time in April 20251. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) dropped its case seeking to block Microsoft’s $69bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard and is also probing Media Matters over Elon Musk's X advertiser boycott claims1. The owner of OnlyFans is reportedly in talks to sell the company for around $8 billion1. A global digital report highlighted that active social media user identities have surpassed 5 billion, with internet users reaching 5.35 billion, and average daily internet use climbing to 6 hours and 40 minutes

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