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A US visa dispute has drawn fresh attention to Sudan's civil war, a conflict that has received far less global coverage than other crises. Commentators say the confrontation highlights how foreign powers — including the US, Russia, Gulf states and regional actors — are competing for strategic footholds in the country while Sudanese civilians continue to bear the brunt of the fighting.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is arresting more people than ever after the Trump administration abandoned high-visibility operations in favour of quieter, faster tactics. The Guardian reports that following public backlash to its 'siege' approach, agents now carry out brief detentions lasting around 90 seconds, making the agency less visible but more widespread, with critics saying ICE is now effectively everywhere.

Anthropic has filed an IPO prospectus, published by Reuters, laying out its sweeping ambitions in artificial intelligence alongside rapidly rising expenses. The filing gives the first detailed public look at the AI company's finances, strategy and the heavy costs of developing and running its models, sparking discussion about its valuation and long-term profitability.

Australia's Reserve Bank has raised interest rates again, and coverage by Hanan Dervisevic of ABC News stresses that the effects go well beyond mortgage repayments. The article explains how RBA decisions flow through the wider economy, touching borrowing costs, savings and everyday household finances, prompting discussion about who really feels the pinch when rates move.

D+C, the Development and Cooperation publication, examines how governments abroad pursue legal cases against human rights activists. The piece looks at the mechanisms used to prosecute or criminalise rights defenders and what this means for civil society internationally. It is drawing attention amid ongoing concern about shrinking space for activists in many countries.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan for a reciprocal State Visit at the White House. The administration framed the visit as a chance to advance the U.S.-China relationship through trade and investment, with Trump saying his approach puts America first while engaging Beijing at the highest level.

Anthropic has filed an IPO prospectus, reviewed by Reuters, laying out a sweeping artificial intelligence strategy alongside sharply rising expenses. The filing gives the first detailed public look at the AI company's finances and its plans as it prepares to go public, drawing attention to the heavy costs of developing frontier AI models.

The opposition group Viet Tan accuses Vietnam of abducting an Australian and a Norwegian activist, claiming they were forcibly taken while abroad. The rights group is calling for their release and for international pressure on Hanoi. If confirmed, the case would fit a pattern of alleged transnational repression by Vietnamese authorities against overseas critics.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to the United Arab Emirates to meet the Emirati leader, in a rare visit by an Israeli premier to the Gulf state. The trip comes after reports that Israel received warnings ahead of Hamas's October 7 attack. The meeting is being closely watched for what it signals about Israeli-Arab relations amid the ongoing fallout from the intelligence controversy.

An Israeli Channel 14 news presenter has framed the potential electoral defeat of Benjamin Netanyahu, who has led Israel through the war that began on October 7, as a colossal and historic disaster not only for the country but for the entire world. The remarks, described by critics as apocalyptic, have drawn attention to the channel's close alignment with the prime minister and the charged atmosphere surrounding Israeli politics ahead of elections.

LeBron James says he envisioned at one point signing with the New York Knicks as a free agent, according to an ESPN report. The comment offers a hypothetical about the star forward's career path, considering he ultimately played for other teams, and has prompted discussion among basketball fans about how different his legacy might have looked in New York.

A documentary revisits the Jason Ivler road rage murder case, one of the most notorious crime stories in the Philippines. Ivler shot and killed Renato Evidente, an official of the World Bank, in a 2009 traffic altercation in Quezon City, triggering a high-profile manhunt before his arrest. The retrospective has drawn large audiences and renewed debate about the case and its aftermath.

A federal court has ruled that Washington, D.C.'s parole and supervised release system discriminates against people with disabilities. The decision, highlighted by the ACLU of the District of Columbia, finds the system failed to accommodate disabled people under supervision. Advocates say the ruling could force reforms in how parole conditions and support services are administered across the capital's criminal justice system.

A new study covering 40 countries finds a connection between political activism and how well citizens feel represented by their political systems. The research, reported by Phys.org, suggests that people who engage in activism tend to have stronger links to representation, a finding that may inform debates on democratic participation worldwide.

Pope Leo is wrapping up a four-day visit to France with meetings and a closing mass in the eastern city of Metz before returning to Rome. The papal trip has drawn live coverage from international news outlets, with audiences following the final events of the visit and the Pope's addresses during his stay in the country.

Apple is reportedly exploring redesigned versions of its Vision Pro headset, with one concept moving the processing hardware into a separate compute puck connected by cable rather than housing it in the headset itself. Such a change could make the device lighter and more comfortable to wear. Details remain sparse, and Apple has not commented on the reported plans.

Pope Leo's visit to France is drawing commentary for being unusually political, with France 24 describing the pontiff, generally seen as a measured diplomatic figure, as having made a deeply political trip. The exact engagements and statements that gave the visit its political character are not detailed in the available reporting.

LeBron James says he envisioned signing with the New York Knicks when he was a free agent, revisiting a decision point from his career in comments reported by ESPN. The remark is drawing attention from basketball fans, many imagining how his path and the Knicks' fortunes might have differed had he chosen New York.

Benchmark has closed Eleven Mortgage, its wholesale lending division, and says it will concentrate on its retail mortgage business going forward. The move means wholesale borrowers and brokers who worked with Eleven Mortgage will need to find other lenders. The company has not detailed how many employees are affected or the reasons behind the decision, which comes as mortgage lenders continue reshaping their operations amid a difficult housing market.

The Vietnamese government is facing accusations that it abducted a Melbourne-based human rights activist. The claim, reported by The Guardian, alleges the activist was taken against their will in an operation attributed to Vietnamese authorities. Details about the activist's identity, whereabouts and the circumstances of the alleged abduction have not yet been confirmed, and Vietnam has not publicly responded to the allegations.

Japan's Foreign Ministry held a workshop on the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, bringing together participants to discuss efforts to curb the spread of ballistic missile technology. The programme also included a site visit to the Hokkaido Spaceport, linking non-proliferation discussions with Japan's growing commercial space activity.

The Foreign Office has been advised that Israel does not have the legal right to close the British consulate in Jerusalem. The UK consulate serves a diplomatic role distinct from embassies, and the advice underscores Britain's position on its long-standing presence in the city. The report has drawn attention amid ongoing tensions over the status of Jerusalem and the conduct of foreign missions there.

Financial advisor Ric Edelman has reiterated his prediction that Bitcoin will reach $500,000 by 2030, saying he does not 'really care about the 4-year cycle' that many crypto traders use to time the market. His call stands out because it comes from a mainstream financial planning figure rather than a crypto industry promoter, and it challenges the widely followed halving-cycle analysis common among Bitcoin investors.

Dennis Haskins, the actor best known for playing Principal Richard Belding on the sitcom 'Saved by the Bell,' has died at the age of 75. The death was reported by the New York Times in an obituary. Haskins was a familiar face to a generation of viewers, and tributes from fans remembering his role as the friendly Bays High principal are circulating.

A new short-focused fund has launched with Michael Burry, the investor known for betting against the housing market before the 2008 crisis, serving as an adviser. The fund is taking aim at risks in the private credit market, where concerns have grown about opaque lending standards and potential losses. Reuters reported the launch, drawing attention given Burry's bearish track record.