1. The US says latest Rafah deaths won't change its Israel policy.

2. Israel says Gaza war likely to last another seven months as tanks probe Rafah.

3. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West that NATO members in Europe were playing with fire by proposing to let Ukraine use Western weapons to strike deep inside Russia, which he said could trigger a global conflict.

4. South Korea accused North Korea of sending a large number of balloons across the heavily fortified border between the countries to drop objectsthat included trash and excrement.

5. IMF: China's economy is set to grow 5% this year, after a "strong" first quarter.

6. A Samsung union in South Korea will begin escalating strike action next week over demands for higher wages.