1. Israeli forces massed tanks close to built-up areas of Rafah, after US President Joe Biden vowed to withhold weapons from Israel.

2. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of risking a global conflict as Russia marked the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

3. Britain's opposition Labour Party has increased its poll lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives, according to a YouGov poll for the Times newspaper.

4. Vietnam's foreign affairs ministry has annoyed the European Union by postponing a meeting next week with the EU's top official on Russian sanctions, ahead of a possible visit to Hanoi by Putin.

5. China's exports and imports returned to growth in April.