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.

A Baghdad official says the US military has completed its withdrawal from Iraq, ending a military presence that lasted more than two decades after the 2003 invasion. The announcement is a significant shift for the region, though Washington has not confirmed the details and it remains unclear how many troops, if any, may stay in an advisory role.

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.

Poland has proposed paying the United States $15,000 a year for every American soldier stationed on its territory, along with covering the full infrastructure costs needed to establish a permanent US military base in the country. The offer reflects Warsaw's push to lock in a lasting American military presence amid ongoing security concerns in the region.

Share indexes around the world are showing mixed results in Monday trading, even though Wall Street closed last week with a strong rally. US stocks ended Friday higher, but that momentum has not carried evenly into other regions, with Asian and European benchmarks split between gains and losses as investors weigh rate expectations and economic data.

The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Missouri's 2022 congressional redistricting map for the third time, rejecting another challenge to the district boundaries drawn after the last census. The repeated rulings effectively end efforts by map opponents to overturn the state's Republican-favored districts through the courts.

A proposed Truth and Healing Commission to investigate the history of US federal Indian boarding schools remains pending in Congress as the Day of Remembrance for boarding school survivors approaches. The legislation would document abuses and lasting harms from the schools, and advocates continue pressing lawmakers to advance it.

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.

Asian stock benchmarks moved in mixed directions in Monday trading, failing to follow through on Wall Street's strong finish at the end of last week. Investors across the region appeared divided, with some markets edging higher while others slipped, as traders weighed US momentum against regional concerns and awaited fresh economic signals.

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.

The US Senate is holding its final round of votes this week before lawmakers head home to campaign for the November elections. With control of Congress at stake, the session marks the last chance to advance pending legislation and confirmations until after Election Day, and both parties are watching how vulnerable members position themselves on close votes.

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.

US housing market watchers are confronting an unusual combination: home prices are declining in many markets at the same time mortgage rates continue climbing. The trend is drawing attention from prospective buyers wondering whether to wait, homeowners worried about their equity, and analysts debating how long the squeeze will last. Commentators are urging people to weigh affordability, rate trends and local conditions before making decisions in this uncertain housing environment.

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.

The Last of Us season 3 has reportedly cast two actors from the video games, joining a major Hollywood star for the HBO adaptation's next run. The news has been picked up by entertainment outlets and is generating chatter among fans of the franchise, who are eager to see which game characters will appear on screen and how the new cast members fit into the show's story.

The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 on the final play of their NFL game in Brazil, winning on a walk-off field goal. Sports outlets are also highlighting an undefeated start for the Raiders and Vikings, plus a Commanders upset over the Seahawks. Fans across the US, UK and Mexico are discussing the dramatic finish.