The Cut

French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the international handling of the Gaza crisis, describing the diplomacy surrounding it as a 'spectacle that shames us all'. His remarks are a sharp critique of world powers' failure to translate talks into results for civilians, and they are drawing wide attention as pressure grows over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Millions of people returning to Sudan's capital are finding the city barely habitable, with widespread power cuts and streets filled with rubble, according to reports carried by AFP and other outlets. The reporting highlights damaged infrastructure and basic services in ruins, leaving families who came home struggling without electricity, water or safe housing as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

A UN agency has warned that a funding crisis could leave 8.3 million people without humanitarian aid. The alert, reported by Reuters, underscores growing shortfalls in international humanitarian budgets as needs rise worldwide. Aid organizations have repeatedly cautioned that reduced donor contributions force cuts to food, shelter and medical assistance for vulnerable populations. The warning adds pressure on governments and donors ahead of upcoming funding appeals.

Millions of Sudanese are returning to Khartoum as fighting eases, only to find the capital barely habitable. Reporters describe widespread power cuts, destroyed buildings and rubble across entire neighborhoods, with basic services and water largely absent. The returnees, many displaced for months by the war between the army and paramilitary forces, face rebuilding their lives amid limited aid and unsafe conditions.

Greenpeace is highlighting a wave of climate disasters across Asia, including severe flooding in South and South-East Asia, toxic fire haze, and typhoons striking East Asia. The group says fossil fuels are intensifying the crisis, with homes destroyed, harvests lost, communities cut off, and blackouts leaving families without power. It is calling attention to the millions of people affected and pressing for action on the fossil fuel emissions driving these extreme weather events across the region.

Millions of people returning to Sudan's capital are finding the city largely unlivable, with widespread power cuts and piles of rubble left by two years of war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Returning residents face destroyed homes, no electricity, and minimal basic services, raising questions about how Khartoum can be rebuilt and whether displaced families can realistically stay.

ASML, the Dutch maker of advanced lithography machines essential for producing cutting-edge semiconductors, says it is not selling its chipmaking equipment in Europe. The company warned that the region risks falling behind the United States, China and India in the race to build semiconductor manufacturing capacity. The remarks have drawn attention across Europe, India and China, where debate is growing over Europe's ability to secure a place in the global chip industry.

Posts are circulating claiming that Israeli bombing of Gaza's water infrastructure, followed by cuts to the remaining water supply, has left Palestinians — including children — spending their days seeking access to safe drinking water. Commenters are criticising Western governments for what they see as inaction, and describing the search for water as now central to daily survival in Gaza.

Internet access in Ethiopia's Tigray region has gone down amid escalating fighting. Communications blackouts typically accompany major offensives in the country's conflicts and leave residents unable to contact the outside world or share information about conditions on the ground. Observers are watching for reports on the intensity of the clashes and the humanitarian situation as connectivity remains severed.

Ukraine is using drones to airdrop humanitarian aid to Oleshky, a city in Russian-occupied Kherson province that residents say is on the brink of starvation. With ground access cut off by occupation and front-line fighting, aerial delivery is the only way to get food to civilians remaining there. The operation highlights the worsening humanitarian situation in occupied territories near the Dnipro River.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is seeking to sever Ukrainians' internet and communications networks. According to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, Zelensky framed the efforts as part of Moscow's broader campaign against Ukraine, raising concerns about connectivity and access to information for civilians during the ongoing war.

A New York Times report describes the CDC as 'zombified', saying the agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its workforce, leaving it struggling to fulfill its scientific mission. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his associates are said to have tightened control over the agency. Commenters online are sharing the article widely, expressing alarm about the erosion of US public health capacity.

Heavy fighting is under way in Ethiopia, accompanied by a widespread internet disruption as the conflict intensifies. The blackout is cutting off communications and making it harder to verify the situation on the ground. Observers are watching closely given the country's history of devastating wars and the potential for regional spillover.

Millions of people returning to Khartoum are finding the Sudanese capital barely habitable, with widespread power cuts, rubble-strewn streets and destroyed infrastructure. The city was heavily damaged during the conflict between the army and paramilitary forces, and returning residents face shortages of electricity, water and basic services. Aid agencies warn that conditions remain dire despite claims of security improving in some areas.

Stocks declined as bond markets shifted to price in a 'higher for longer' interest rate environment, signaling that investors expect central banks to keep borrowing costs elevated for an extended period. The repricing weighed on equity markets, with traders dialing back hopes for near-term rate cuts and reassessing positions across rate-sensitive sectors.