Control

SpaceX conducted the fourteenth test flight of its Starship system, launching the vehicle and returning the Super Heavy booster for a splashdown. Coverage of the launch and booster descent drew large live audiences, with spaceflight commentators tracking the vehicle's performance during ascent and the booster's controlled descent over the ocean.

The New York Times reports that Israel has continued to take over more territory in Gaza even as a cease-fire remains formally in place. The report highlights the gap between the truce agreement and the reality on the ground, where Israeli forces have expanded control over additional areas. It is fueling debate over whether the cease-fire is holding and what it means for prospects of a lasting settlement.

Australia's central bank has lifted its key interest rate to the highest level in 15 years as it tries to bring inflation under control. The move makes borrowing more expensive for households and businesses, and signals policymakers remain willing to tighten further despite concerns about slowing economic growth and mounting pressure on mortgage holders.

Fighting has resumed between the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, according to The New York Times, which examines the reasons the conflict has flared up again. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have fought a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in a war that has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

NPR reports on whether the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is finally coming under control. The question of containment is drawing attention as health authorities work to curb the virus's spread, with observers weighing case trends and response efforts to judge whether the outbreak is being brought to heel.

Reporting by The Atlantic examines how Russia is quietly constructing administrative, political and institutional structures in territories of Ukraine it occupies, effectively building a parallel state within the country. The piece highlights how these systems of control operate beneath the surface of the ongoing war, and readers are discussing what this means for Ukraine's sovereignty and any future peace settlement.

Australia's central bank has lifted its key interest rate to the highest level in 15 years in an effort to bring inflation under control. The move means higher borrowing costs for households and businesses, and it signals that policymakers remain determined to curb price growth despite the pressure on mortgage holders and the wider economy.

Russia says its forces have taken control of three more settlements in Ukraine, according to a report carried by US broadcaster WPLG. The claim, made as the war grinds through its fourth year, has not been independently verified, and Ukrainian officials have not confirmed losing the locations. Moscow routinely announces village-level gains along the front line, while Kyiv often disputes them or describes fighting as ongoing.

Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML has said it is not selling its chipmaking machines in Europe, warning that the region risks falling behind the United States, China and India in the semiconductor industry. The remarks have drawn attention in India and China, where ASML's role in global chip supply chains is a sensitive topic amid ongoing export-control tensions and competition to build domestic chip manufacturing capacity.

Nvidia and AMD are pressing the Trump administration to maintain export channels for their semiconductor products to China, according to Politico. The two US chipmakers rely heavily on Chinese sales and face uncertainty over restrictions. The issue sits at the center of the wider US-China tech rivalry, with export controls threatening billions in revenue for American semiconductor companies.

Sudan's governance remains split as the civil war continues. The army-backed administration controls much of the formal state apparatus, while the Rapid Support Forces exercises authority over territory it holds. Washington, however, says neither side represents legitimate constitutional governance, leaving the country with authorities but no internationally recognised government.

The Dutch government is developing an alternative to Microsoft-based infrastructure built on NixOS, the reproducible Linux operating system. The project, presented via the DAWO community platform, reflects a growing push among European public administrations to reduce dependence on US software vendors and gain control over their digital systems. Observers see it as part of wider European efforts toward digital sovereignty, though details about scale, timeline, and which government bodies will adopt the system remain unclear.

A US judge has overturned President Trump's White House media ban, ruling against the administration's restrictions on press access. The decision is drawing wide attention as a significant check on presidential power over media coverage, with broadcasters and press freedom groups closely watching its implications for White House access going forward.

Ukraine's Third Army Corps says it used grenade-launcher ground robots to strike Russian shelters, with infantry remaining out of direct contact. Operators reportedly controlled the machines from tens of kilometers away. According to United24, no side has used similar tactics before in this war, and the assault is drawing wide attention as an example of remote ground warfare.

Forces aligned with Ethiopia's federal government say they have seized a strategically important town in the Tigray region. The claim comes amid the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia, where control of towns has shifted repeatedly. Details remain limited and the report has not been independently confirmed, while observers watch for responses from Tigrayan authorities and any impact on fighting in the region.

Despite only marginal battlefield gains in Ukraine in 2026, Russia has continued updating its official maps and territorial claims, producing a gap of more than 5,000 square kilometres between what it asserts and what it actually controls. Analysts are sharing threads contrasting claimed territory with the front line, arguing the divergence shows Moscow is inflating its cartographic claims for domestic political purposes.

President Donald Trump is preparing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and attention is focused on what it could mean for trade and business. Analysts flag three key issues for companies: tariffs and market access, technology and export controls, and whether the meeting produces any concrete agreements or just rhetoric between the world's two largest economies.

The Pentagon is reportedly weighing a new nuclear strategy aimed at deterring regional conflicts rather than solely major-power war. The reported shift would adjust how US nuclear weapons fit into plans for limited, regional contingencies. The Globe Post reported the story, but no further details on the proposals, their scope, or official confirmation have emerged so far, and reaction from lawmakers, allies, or arms-control groups has not been recorded.

Donald Trump has signed a security deal concerning Greenland, according to the headline making the rounds. The agreement reportedly centres on security cooperation relating to the Danish autonomous territory, which Trump has repeatedly pushed to bring under greater US influence. Details of the deal's scope and Denmark's response were not immediately available, and reaction is still forming.

Ukraine says its forces have recaptured another 51 square kilometres of territory in northern Donetsk as part of Operation Vivaldi. The latest gains reportedly bring the total territory retaken in the operation to 176 square kilometres, with five settlements also coming under Ukrainian control. The claims have not been independently verified, and Russia has not commented on them.

A US judge has overturned a White House media ban imposed under Donald Trump, ruling against the administration's attempt to exclude certain news organisations from access. The decision is being widely reported by major outlets including BBC News and is drawing significant attention, with many seeing it as a key test of press freedom and the limits of presidential control over media access.

The United States' efforts to limit Ukraine's attacks inside Russia point to a widening strategic disconnect between Washington and Kyiv, according to analysis in The Conversation. The piece argues that American attempts to control how Ukraine uses Western-supplied weapons against Russian territory clash with Ukraine's view that such strikes are essential to its defence.

SpaceX has launched its enormous Starship into orbit for the first time, successfully delivering the newest and most advanced Starlink satellites yet. However, flight controllers brought the spacecraft back to Earth early on Monday rather than completing six full laps around the planet as planned. The milestone flight is being closely watched as a major step for the rocket programme.

Democrats are pledging to directly challenge Israel over violence against Palestinians, with party members describing the situation as 'out of control'. The vow signals growing willingness among Democratic lawmakers to publicly pressure the Israeli government over its conduct in the occupied territories and the treatment of Palestinians, a break from more cautious party positioning in the past.

The United States has accused China of conducting secret nuclear weapons tests, raising fears of a new nuclear arms race between the two powers. The claim intensifies tensions in an already fraught strategic relationship, with concerns growing that both countries could resume explosive testing or expand arsenals. Arms control advocates warn the standoff undermines global non-proliferation efforts.