1. Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba denied he had decided to quit.

2. Germany plans to nearly triple its regular defense budget to around $175 billion per year by 2029. Innovations include AI robots, unmanned mini-submarines and battle-ready spy cockroaches.

3. US struck a trade deal with Japan that lowers tariffs on auto imports in exchange for a $550 billion package of US-bound investment and loans.

4. More than 100 organizations called for governments to take action as hunger spreads in Gaza, including by demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the lifting of all restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid.

5. Australia has paid the United States A$800 million ($525 million) in the second instalment under the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

6. Trump administration released a new artificial intelligence blueprint that aims to loosen environmental rules and vastly expand AI exports to allies.