The Last Of Us

A intense week of international diplomacy has raised the question of whether negotiations made real progress toward ending the war between the United States and Iran. Commentators and analysts are weighing what the round of high-level talks actually achieved, with observers divided on whether the diplomacy brought the two sides closer to a ceasefire or a lasting settlement.

NASA's Artemis II mission is set to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, prompting questions about why the gap lasted more than five decades. Commentators point to shifting political priorities, soaring costs, and the cancellation of earlier programs like Constellation as reasons the US pause extended so long.

The United States and China have agreed to a trade truce, pausing escalation in their ongoing tariff conflict as economic and political pressure mounts on both sides. The deal is being read as a temporary measure that buys time for negotiations rather than a lasting resolution, with observers watching to see whether talks can ease tensions before the truce expires.

Reporting from Taipei frames Taiwan as the potential deciding factor in the escalating technology rivalry between the United States and China. Taiwan's tech industry produces more than 90 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, the chips that power AI servers, giving the island outsized strategic importance as both superpowers compete for dominance in artificial intelligence.

US stocks have continued climbing even as bond yields surge, a divergence that has caught investors' attention. The Wall Street Journal examined past episodes of rising yields alongside strong equity markets, finding that such periods often end badly, with stocks eventually correcting as borrowing costs weigh on valuations and economic growth.

President Trump has called for trilateral arms control negotiations between the United States, China and Russia, following Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit. The proposal comes amid ongoing tensions over nuclear arsenals and would mark a shift from bilateral US-Russia arms control frameworks. Observers are debating whether such three-way talks are realistic given current diplomatic friction between Washington and Beijing.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared SpaceX to proceed with the 14th flight of its Starship rocket. The regulator's approval removes the last major hurdle for the next test launch from SpaceX's Texas facilities. Starship is central to NASA's lunar landing plans and Elon Musk's ambitions for deep-space travel, and each flight test draws close attention from space watchers and industry analysts.

The US Supreme Court's SAVE ruling is being read as a signal that the Court could weaken a key protection that limits last-minute voter purges ahead of federal elections. Election law watchers say the decision may make it easier for states to remove voters close to Election Day, a practice critics warn risks disenfranchising eligible voters with little time to correct errors.

Standard Chartered is forecasting two further rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve before mid-2027, according to a report picked up by BusinessToday Malaysia. Despite the expectation of tighter monetary policy, the bank says it remains overweight on equities, suggesting it believes stock markets can still perform as rates rise. The outlook offers investors a view on how long the Fed's tightening cycle may last.

US Vice President JD Vance said President Donald Trump chose decisive action only after diplomatic efforts had failed, according to remarks carried by DD News. The statement did not specify which action was being defended, but it frames the administration's move as a last resort following stalled negotiations. Comment is focused on what the decisive step was and its consequences.

The Texas Observer reports, citing Gaige Davila, that the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas — once called a "crown jewel" of US protected spaces — faces mounting pressure from border wall construction. A final lawsuit is being weighed as a way to slow the wall's progress until Congress can intervene to protect the refuge.

Japan has gone from a national rice shortage to a rice surplus within roughly two years. The turnaround is attributed to a combination of factors: drought that squeezed harvests and drove panic buying, a surge in inbound tourism that boosted demand, and pressure linked to the United States, including trade considerations. The reversal is drawing attention to how quickly food supply dynamics can shift and what it means for prices and farm policy.

Lowe's has entered the drone delivery market, becoming one of the latest major US retailers to experiment with aerial delivery of home improvement products to customers. Details on partners, launch locations and timelines remain limited, but the move follows a broader retail push toward drone logistics as companies seek faster last-mile delivery options.

Major US airlines are waiving change fees for travellers across the Northeast as a nor'easter brings disruptive winter weather to the region. The waivers let passengers rebook flights without paying the usual change charges, a standard move ahead of storms expected to cause cancellations and delays. Travellers in affected airports are being urged to check their flight status and take advantage of the flexibility while it lasts.

HBO's The Last of Us has officially cast two actors from the original video games for its upcoming third season, according to Collider. The move continues the show's practice of bringing in talent connected to the source material, a point of interest for fans of the games. Details about which characters the two will play have not yet been announced.

The National League batting title will be decided on the season's final day, with Venezuelan catchers and hitters Salvador Perez-style drama as William Moreno and Luis Arráez enter the last game separated in the batting race. Venezuelan media are closely following the showdown, with both players needing strong final-day performances to claim the crown, keeping baseball fans in Venezuela and the US on edge until the last out.

A nor'easter is causing widespread travel disruptions across the northeastern United States, according to ABC News. The storm is affecting flights and ground transport as heavy weather moves through the region, with airlines and travelers bracing for cancellations and delays. Coverage is focused on how long the disruptions will last and which routes are most affected.

Investopedia has published key findings on how many Americans run out of retirement savings before the end of their lives. The report examines the share of retirees who exhaust their nest eggs and what that means for long-term financial planning, drawing attention to gaps in savings adequacy across the US population.

The Last of Us season 3 has cast Laura Bailey and Ash Swidinski, the actors behind Abby and Lev in the game, in different on-screen roles. The move continues the HBO series' tradition of bringing original game performers into the show, following Troy Baker and Jeffrey Pierce in earlier seasons. Fans are speculating about which characters the two will play when the new season premieres.

'Kuwait vs Iraq' refers to a football fixture between the two national teams, appearing to be part of the Gulf Cup tournament. Search interest is spiking across multiple countries, including Australia, the US, the UK and India, suggesting fans of both nations and the wider diaspora are looking for information. The available coverage focuses on practical details, such as how to buy tickets, pricing for the match and last-minute sales. Little else about the match or team news is visible in the collected posts.

Workers at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital in Ohio are continuing their strike, according to local reporting from WKYC. The job action is ongoing and no resolution has been announced. The walkout adds to a broader wave of labor disputes involving hospital workers in the United States, where staffing levels, pay and working conditions have been central demands. Patients and residents are watching to see how long the disruption to hospital operations will last.