Last Over

The New York Times reports that satellite imagery shows Israel continuing to expand its military footprint inside Gaza even as a cease-fire is supposed to be in effect. The images suggest ongoing entrenchment and construction by Israeli forces in the territory. The report is drawing attention because it points to a gap between cease-fire commitments and activity on the ground, raising questions about the durability of the truce and the prospects for a lasting settlement.

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly challenged Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, saying the peace Trump describes does not exist. Speaking to French media, Macron questioned whether the proposal could deliver a lasting settlement for the Palestinian territory and warned against a false sense of resolution. His remarks draw a rare, direct line of criticism between two Western leaders at a moment when international attention is fixed on ceasefire efforts and Gaza's future governance.

The United States and Iran have held talks through separate mediators, according to CNBC, while Middle East oil exports have reached levels last seen during wartime. The combination of diplomatic contact and resilient energy flows suggests both sides are testing channels even as regional tensions persist, with traders and governments watching closely for any shift that could disrupt oil shipments.

A new study covered by CIDRAP suggests that COVID-19 may worsen pre-existing health problems over the long term, adding to the growing body of research on the virus's lasting effects. The finding is being shared in public health circles alongside the reminder that COVID is not over, with commentators noting the risk is not limited to acute illness.

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.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine used its long-range capabilities overnight to strike two Russian defense plants, in the Tula and Voronezh regions, in response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians. He also said Security Service of Ukraine units carried out effective operations over the past 24 hours, framing the actions as part of Kyiv's continuing retaliation campaign.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has withdrawn from a major climate-change case just days before it was due to be heard, according to a New York Times report. The recusal of a justice at the last minute from such a consequential case is highly unusual, and it remains unclear what prompted the decision or how it will affect the court's handling of the dispute.

Commentary argues that the United States and Iran have extended a ceasefire without reaching any underlying agreement, attributing the impasse to indecisive politics on both sides. The piece suggests that a lack of firm political will is leaving the truce fragile, with diplomacy stalled and no substantive framework in place to secure a lasting resolution.

Microsoft is winding down Internet Explorer mode in its Edge browser, removing the last bridge that allowed businesses to run legacy web apps built for the retired Internet Explorer. Companies that still depend on old internal sites and tools will need to migrate to modern solutions. The news is drawing attention because many organizations had relied on this compatibility feature since Internet Explorer's retirement.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi told former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya that relations between Beijing and Tokyo must be "normalized," during their talks. The meeting is the first high-level exchange since relations plummeted over Taiwan last year, and is being read as an early signal that both sides may be looking to stabilise a badly strained diplomatic relationship.

India and the West Indies are meeting in the first One Day International of their 2026 series, with live scores and commentary covering the final 30 overs of the match. Cricket fans are following ball-by-ball updates as the two sides open the bilateral contest, with the result expected to set the tone for the rest of the series.

The United States is ending its military mission in Iraq, closing out a presence that began with the 2003 invasion and lasted more than two decades. The move marks a major shift in the American military footprint in the Middle East, following years of pressure from Iraqi political factions demanding the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces.

A Baghdad official says the US military has completed its withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence that lasted more than two decades after the 2003 invasion. The announcement is a significant shift for the region, though Washington has not confirmed the details and it remains unclear how many troops, if any, may stay in an advisory role.

SpaceX is preparing its Starship vehicle for an unprecedented flight lasting around 10 hours, a major step up from previous test durations. The attempt is being streamed live, and space watchers are following to see whether the spacecraft can endure an extended mission, a key milestone for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.

NASA says it will attempt to put crews aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, pressing ahead with the troubled capsule despite years of delays and technical setbacks. The decision keeps Starliner in contention as a second commercial crew vehicle alongside SpaceX's Dragon. Space observers are debating whether the program can overcome propulsion problems that sidelined the craft after its last crewed test flight.

Dairy farmers in Idaho are voicing concern that President Trump's immigration enforcement campaign, which has so far largely left agricultural workplaces alone, could soon extend to farms. Dairy work depends heavily on immigrant labor, and producers say a shift in enforcement would threaten their operations and milk production.

A new study suggests that COVID-19 may worsen pre-existing health problems over the long term, adding to concerns about the lasting effects of infection. The finding points to a broader long-term health burden beyond long COVID itself, with implications for patients managing chronic conditions and for health systems assessing ongoing care needs.

Boeing has said it is 'incredibly excited' to serve as the nation's only means of astronaut transportation, according to an Ars Technica report. The claim implies SpaceX is currently unavailable to fly NASA crews, leaving Boeing's Starliner as the sole option. Details on why the other provider is grounded, and how long this arrangement would last, were not given.

The conflict with Iran has now lasted seven months. Commentators are marking the milestone, weighing the mounting human and economic cost and questioning whether either side has achieved its stated goals. With no clear end in sight, many are asking how much longer the fighting can continue before international pressure forces negotiations.

Israeli politician and former Knesset member Einat Wilf, in an interview with The Jerusalem Post, set out a plan for a future Israeli government to disarm Hamas, arguing Palestinians must 'stop being treated like infants'. She said lasting security depends on removing Hamas's military capacity and ending international policies she views as infantilising Palestinian leadership.

European natural gas prices climbed as traders weighed the prospect of prolonged disruptions to liquefied natural gas supplies. The rise adds pressure on European energy markets already sensitive to global LNG availability, with buyers concerned about supply security heading into periods of higher demand. Energy market watchers are tracking how long the disruptions could last and what they mean for prices.

The World Bank says the global economy has proven surprisingly resilient in the face of recent shocks, but cautions that this strength may not last. In a new analysis, the institution highlights steady growth despite high interest rates, geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty, while warning that risks could still derail the recovery. Economists are debating how long the resilience can hold.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision to go to war with Iran, arguing that President Trump's actions stopped Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and becoming what he called a 'North Korea in the Middle East'. His remarks come amid ongoing debate over the strikes and their lasting impact on Iran's nuclear programme and regional stability.