2 May, 2025

Esther Hurst Hello. It's been warm in London this week, which means every time I travel on the Tube I daydream about diving into a cool blue sea. So I especially loved the feature below on Rottnest Island's idyllic beaches and cute quokkas. But, as you'll discover, there is more to this "paradise on Earth" than meets the eye. Also in this edition: fact-checking US President Donald Trump's 100 days speech, and uncovering the story of the most damaging double agent in US history. ‌ PS. For more fascinating stories from the BBC archive, sign up to our In History newsletter.

ESSENTIAL FEATURES Visiting a laid-back 'paradise on Earth' Famous for its smiling-faced quokkas, Rottnest Island has become a global favourite. But while celebrity selfies with these happy animals have put the island on the map, it has much more. Keep reading

Can Mount Everest really be climbed in a week? A commercial expedition plans to take clients up the mountain in record time with the help of xenon gas.  ‌ Keep reading > 'The best Marvel offering in years' ★★★★☆  Thunderbolts* is "scrappy, scruffy-looking, down-to-earth fun", writes one of our film critics. ‌ Keep reading > The WW2 history written into Germany's parks  Eighty years on, blasted trees and rubble forests tell a hidden story of wartime bombardment and Nazi terror. ‌ Keep reading > TV shows to watch this May From Tina Fey's new relationship comedy to an action drama from the creator of Lost, add these 10 shows to your watchlist. ‌ Keep reading >

ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS Trump's 100 days speech fact-checked Border crossings, egg prices and jobs: BBC Verify looks into some of the main claims from the US President's speech.  ‌ Keep reading > TikTokers accused of triggering election scandal Romanians return to the polls on Sunday amid an unprecedented political crisis – and influencers are at the centre of it.  ‌ Keep reading > Five things you need to get through a power cut People who spent the day without electricity following national outages in Spain and Portugal share their advice. ‌ Keep reading >