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Washington (AFP) – The United States is “completely confident” in the Israeli willingness for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal set out by US President Joe Biden. Israel on Tuesday mourned four captives reported dead in Gaza by the army amid growing doubts and international pressure over the plan for a ceasefire outlined by Biden. The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,550 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee says “no activities that contravene the law should take place,” when asked about whether citizens could publicly mourn the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Tuesday, June 4, marks 35 years since Beijing’s deadly clampdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. Hong Kong used to be the only place under China’s rule where public commemorations of the event could take place.

A Chinese probe carrying samples from the far side of the Moon has started its journey back to Earth, according to the country’s space agency. Material collected from the far side may shed light on how the Moon formed in the first place.

Istanbul (AFP) – Thousands gather in Istanbul for a “Justice Rally” to protest against a draft bill seeking to euthanise stray dogs. Turkey is classified as a “high risk” country for rabies by the World Health Organization, and the government says dogs caused 3,544 road accidents over the past five years, killing 55 and injuring more than 5,000.

Varanasi (AFP) – People in Varanasi, a Hindu holy city, react to exit polls following the end of India’s six-week general election. The polls predict Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its coalition allies will win 355 seats, well above the 272 needed for a majority in the lower house. While official results will be announced on Tuesday, analysts have long considered Modi’s victory a foregone conclusion, largely due to his vigorous promotion of India’s majority faith.

São Paulo (AFP) – Thousands of Brazilians parade in the streets of Sao Paulo, specifically along the famous Avenida Paulista, for the annual Pride march. “There is a greater meaning to this, which is to fight for rights, for visibility, against violence,” says Eugenio dos Santos.

(AFP) – Maryana Checheliuk, 24, returns to Ukraine after two years in captivity as a prisoner of war. Russia and Ukraine announced on 31 May that they had exchanged dozens of POWs in one of the only areas of dialogue between the warring countries.

El Bosque (AFP) – Waves wash over abandoned homes in a Mexican village, slowly being swallowed by the sea — a symbol of the climate change effects being felt by the major fossil fuel producer. Located in the southern state of Tabasco, El Bosque is the first settlement in the country to fall victim to the rising tides, forcing some 700 people from their homes.

Tiflis (AFP) – The speaker of Georgia’s parliament says that he has signed a controversial “foreign influence” bill into law. The measure was adopted despite mass protests, Western condemnation and a presidential veto.

Peking (AFP) – China denies accusations by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that it is working to prevent other countries from attending a planned peace summit on the war in Ukraine.

Tbilisi (AFP) – Thousands of Georgians gather in the capital Tbilisi for a charity concert aimed at raising funds for those arrested during weeks of protests against a controversial “foreign influence” law.

Mexico City (AFP) – Claudia Sheinbaum is elected Mexico’s first woman president by a landslide, making history in a country plagued by rampant criminal and gender-based violence.