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Ukraine's Defense Forces reportedly struck the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, with additional hits reported on the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant. In parallel developments, Japan allocated a further $51.5 million to Ukraine, while a bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators urged President Trump to take a harder line against Putin. Commenters are highlighting the combination of deep strikes inside Russia and continued Western financial and political support for Kyiv.

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.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has publicly challenged major powers, declaring 'their power isn't so super' in remarks widely read as a veiled criticism of Donald Trump and his administration. The comments, made at the UN, urged big powers to act responsibly and reflect on their global conduct. The pointed language has drawn broad attention, with observers debating whether the UN chief was directly targeting Washington's policies and Trump's approach to international affairs.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the War Powers resolution deadline does not apply to US military action against Iran, arguing a ceasefire between the two countries has resolved the situation. The claim is drawing scrutiny from lawmakers who say Congress retains authority over prolonged military deployments under the War Powers Act.

Climate outlets report that the El Niño event now developing in the Pacific is shaping up to be so intense that scientists say existing terminology does not adequately describe it. The warming pattern is expected to bring extreme heat, storms and disrupted weather worldwide, and coverage is focused on how unprecedented its strength could be.

President Donald Trump has publicly contradicted US intelligence assessments on Iran and, unlike on previous occasions, did not raise the prospect of regime change in Tehran. The remarks mark a shift in his rhetoric toward Iran and put him at odds with the intelligence community's read on the situation.

Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region, continuing Kyiv's campaign of long-range attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. The strike follows a pattern of drone operations targeting refineries and fuel storage sites deep inside Russian territory, aimed at disrupting Moscow's fuel supplies and export revenues. Russian officials have repeatedly reported such attacks, with fires and temporary shutdowns at energy facilities becoming a regular feature of the war.

General strikes have hit Sudan while the country's army chief remains defiant after the United States denied him a visa. The move by Washington has escalated tensions with Khartoum's military leadership amid the ongoing conflict in the country. Commenters are debating the impact of American sanctions on Sudan's warring factions and the worsening humanitarian situation.

The Israeli military says it eliminated a Hamas sniper who was threatening its troops operating in Gaza. The strike was announced by Israel National News, which published footage of the operation. The incident underscores the ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, where troops continue to face sniper and guerrilla attacks during ground operations.

SpaceX has released its first-ever earnings report, revealing that revenue grew but the company remains unprofitable. The disclosure offers a rare financial glimpse into Elon Musk's privately held rocket and satellite company, and is drawing attention to how its Starship and Starlink ventures balance heavy spending against rising income.

A large-scale drone attack is underway in Russia's Krasnodar Region, with reports of numerous explosions and further drones heading toward the area. The strike comes amid continuing Ukrainian drone campaign against Russian territory, and observers are monitoring the extent of damage and any hit on infrastructure.

Israel's movement pushing for the resettlement of Gaza by Jewish Israelis says it is not giving up, with one figure arguing the movement is 'not militant enough'. The campaign, which seeks to re-establish settlements evacuated in 2005, continues to organise despite the issue remaining politically sensitive. Supporters see the war as an opening, while critics warn such plans would inflame the conflict further.

The Israeli military says its forces killed Adi Adli Abd Al-Aaser, described as a sniper in Hamas' military wing, in an operation in southern Gaza. The announcement comes as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to drive daily updates from the region, with the IDF regularly naming operatives it says it has targeted.

Bill Gates says that simply having an emergency 'kill switch' to shut down advanced artificial intelligence would not be enough to manage the technology's risks. His comments feed into a wider debate among tech leaders, researchers and regulators over how to keep increasingly powerful AI systems safe and under meaningful human control.

Swiss National Bank chairman Martin Schlegel said the central bank is in a comfortable position regarding inflation, according to remarks he made to Swiss broadcaster SRF. The comments suggest policymakers see current price pressures as broadly under control, offering little urgency for immediate changes in monetary policy.

Ireland's football team snubbed Israel, withholding handshakes and wearing black armbands in a protest against what they described as genocide in Gaza. The gesture is drawing attention amid wider sporting and political tensions surrounding Israel's conduct of the war, with reactions split between support for the statement and criticism of politicising the fixture.

A hacker connected to the 2024 Snowflake data breaches, which compromised Ticketmaster and dozens of other companies, has pleaded guilty in connection with cyberattacks affecting 165 organisations. The breach exposed personal data of hundreds of millions of Ticketmaster customers, making it one of the largest data thefts of recent years. Details of the plea, sentencing and broader scheme remain limited.

President Donald Trump said the United States and Cuba will reach a deal, adding that he does not believe military force will be needed. The remarks signal a possible shift in US policy toward Havana, and they are drawing attention given decades of strained relations between the two countries and the sensitivity of any American military option in the Caribbean region.

Serbia is holding a snap parliamentary election, with President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling party seeking to consolidate power as a nationwide student-led protest movement challenges his government. The vote comes after months of demonstrations triggered by public anger over governance and corruption, and observers are watching whether Vucic can outmanoeuvre the revolt at the ballot box.

Switzerland is signalling that it does not intend to adopt a stricter stance of 'neutrality' in response to the war in Ukraine, according to a report in The National Interest. Bern has faced ongoing debate over whether its traditional neutrality obliges it to distance itself from Western sanctions on Russia and support for Kyiv, and the country appears to be rejecting calls to move further toward strict non-alignment.

Congress appropriated $1.3 billion that the Trump administration has not spent, according to NPR reporting. The funds were allocated by lawmakers but remain untouched by the executive branch, raising questions about the administration's handling of approved spending and its refusal to release money Congress directed it to use.

Fortune reports that Chinese companies are now competing head-on with Europe's most profitable industries, from luxury goods like $1,000 Gucci sneakers to German cars. The piece argues China's industrial upgrade means it is no longer just a manufacturing base but a direct rival in premium sectors long dominated by European brands, raising the stakes for the continent's export-driven economies.

MarketWatch examines why recent turbulence in the bond market has not carried over into equities. The report looks at the divergence between surging fixed-income volatility and comparatively calm stock markets, a split that has puzzled investors who normally expect the two asset classes to move together during periods of stress. Market watchers are weighing what the disconnect means for portfolio positioning and risk.

Disney held its D23 fan event, where the company announced a slate of new projects spanning theme park attractions, upcoming films and other entertainment ventures. Coverage highlights the breadth of reveals, from ride expansions to movie announcements, giving fans a first look at the company's plans for its parks and studios in the coming years.

Wired argues that the growing public backlash against data centers, driven by their strain on power grids, water supplies and local communities, has so far stopped short of a serious reckoning with their climate impact. The piece contends that debates over new data center construction focus on costs and land use while largely ignoring the carbon footprint of the AI boom that is accelerating their expansion.

Saturday Night Live has launched its 52nd season with a premiere hosted by NBA star Jalen Brunson and featuring a musical performance from the girl group KATSEYE. The new season also brings notable cast changes, with several departures and additions announced ahead of the opener. Viewers are looking up how to watch the premiere and discussing the reshaped cast lineup.