The Expanse

A New York Times visual investigation using satellite imagery reports that Israeli forces continue to expand positions inside Gaza even as a cease-fire remains formally in place. The images document new earthworks, cleared ground and military infrastructure in areas of the territory. The findings raise questions about whether the truce terms are being honored, and are prompting renewed debate over international monitoring of the agreement.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree immediately increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel. The decree replaces all previous ones on army size and is described as the seventh expansion of Russia's military staffing since the start of the war in Ukraine. Commentators see it as a continuation of Russia's gradual force buildup.

President Putin has signed off on an expansion of Russia's armed forces, adding 15,500 active personnel and raising the total to 1.55 million troops. The move signals Moscow's continued effort to grow its military despite heavy losses in the war against Ukraine. The increase, announced via a decree, is being widely covered as a sign that the Kremlin is preparing for a prolonged conflict.

The UN Security Council convened on Monday morning to address a Middle East peace process under strain on two fronts. In the West Bank, settler violence and settlement expansion are fuelling fears of wider escalation, while efforts to advance a plan for Gaza have stalled. Ambassadors discussed the deteriorating situation, with diplomats under pressure to find a path forward on both fronts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says North Korea is preparing to deploy an additional 10,000 soldiers to support Russia's war effort. The claim points to an expansion of Pyongyang's military involvement, which already saw thousands of North Korean troops sent to fight alongside Russian forces. The announcement adds to concerns about foreign manpower sustaining Russia's invasion and widening the conflict's international dimensions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a new expansion of Russia's military, according to reporting picked up by international outlets including The Brussels Times. The decree adds to a series of build-ups announced since the invasion of Ukraine, as Moscow seeks to enlarge troop numbers and strengthen its armed forces. The move is being watched closely by NATO members and European governments concerned about long-term Russian military capacity.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has criticized Western actions in Ukraine, repeating Moscow's position that the West is fueling the conflict through its support for Kyiv. The remarks come as the war continues to dominate international diplomacy, with Western governments maintaining arms supplies and sanctions against Russia while Moscow blames NATO expansion for the crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree expanding the size of the Russian armed forces for the fourth time in 2025, according to Euronews. The move comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues to generate heavy troop losses, forcing the Kremlin to repeatedly raise recruitment targets. It underscores the mounting strain the conflict is placing on Russia's manpower and military planning.

New satellite imagery indicates North Korea is expanding its uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon, the country's main nuclear complex. The expansion suggests Pyongyang is continuing to build up its fissile material production capacity despite international sanctions and long-stalled denuclearisation talks, drawing attention from nonproliferation analysts and regional observers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree raising the official size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, according to Russian state agency TASS. The increase continues a pattern of expansion since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and signals Moscow's intent to sustain a prolonged military campaign.

A 60 Minutes report examines how the race to build artificial intelligence is driving a rapid expansion of data centers across the United States, and the growing resistance from communities where the facilities are being built. Residents have raised concerns over energy demands, water use, noise and strain on local power grids, turning data center approvals into a contested political issue in towns across the country.

North Korea has warned the United Nations about what it calls Japan's 'attempts at rearmament', voicing alarm at Japan's expanding defense posture. The statement, reported by Anadolu Agency, reflects Pyongyang's long-standing opposition to Japanese military buildup and adds to regional tensions over security policy in East Asia.

Samsung is expected to more than double its production of HBM4 and HBM4E high-bandwidth memory DRAM next year, according to a report citing sources. The expansion targets surging demand for advanced memory used in AI accelerators, where Samsung competes with SK Hynix and Micron for supply deals with chip and data-center customers.

The UN human rights office has added 61 more companies to its blacklist of firms accused of violating Palestinian human rights through business ties to Israeli settlements. The move expands a list first published in 2020 and is expected to draw criticism from Israel and its allies, while rights groups welcomed the step.

France's far right has made gains in indirect Senate elections, where mayors and local councillors choose half of the upper house's seats. The results point to the National Rally's continued expansion beyond its traditional strongholds. Observers see the vote as another sign of the party's growing normalization and mainstream acceptance in French politics.

Israel has withdrawn the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats in retaliation for Netherlands sanctions targeting Israeli settlers and entities linked to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move escalates a diplomatic dispute between the two governments, with the Netherlands among European states imposing measures over settler violence and settlement expansion.

The Acting Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process delivered remarks at the United Nations Security Council on the Secretary-General's report on implementation of Resolution 2334, which concerns Israeli settlement activity. The briefing came as part of the Council's regular monitoring of the resolution, adopted in 2016, amid continued concern over settlement expansion and the broader prospects for a two-state solution.

Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats in retaliation for the Netherlands' sanctions on Israeli settlers and settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move escalates a growing rift between Israel and Western governments that have imposed measures over settlement expansion and settler violence, raising questions about the future of diplomatic ties with European allies.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out a broad expansion of arrests and detentions across the United States over the summer, in what the New York Times describes as a quiet surge that unfolded 'everywhere all at once'. The reporting highlights how enforcement activity spread rapidly through multiple cities and regions simultaneously, drawing attention to the scale of detentions and the effect on immigrant communities.

Construction delays on Los Angeles subway projects are raising concerns about transit readiness for the 2028 Olympic Games. Reports point to setbacks on rail expansion work that planners had hoped would ease movement for athletes and visitors. Observers are questioning whether key transit lines can be completed before the Games begin, and officials face pressure to show the city's transport plans remain on track.

CNBC's Daily Open newsletter highlights a growing split in the artificial intelligence world: some of the technology's own creators are publicly warning about AI's dangers, while companies continue investing heavily in data centres, chips and other infrastructure to expand it. The piece frames the tension between safety concerns and the commercial race as a defining issue in the sector right now.

China has extended travel restrictions to cover leading artificial intelligence specialists and their family members, according to a Bloomberg report. The move suggests Beijing is tightening control over experts in strategic technology sectors, preventing key AI personnel from leaving the country. The expansion of curbs has drawn attention as a sign of how far the government will go to retain talent critical to its AI ambitions.