Straits Times
Unrealistic to open Strait of Hormuz by force: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared it unrealistic to open the Strait of Hormuz by military force, even as tensions in the critical waterway continue to mount. Instead, Macron has pursued a diplomatic and collective approach, working with allied nations to build a coalition focused on guaranteeing free passage through the strait. The move underscores Europe's preference for multilateral solutions over unilateral military action in one of the world's most strategically vital shipping lanes.
Read article →Straits Times
NASA launches first crewed lunar mission in half a century
NASA has sent astronauts toward the moon for the first time since 1972, marking a generational leap in American space ambition. The 10-day mission serves as a critical proving ground for the hardware and procedures needed to eventually land humans on the lunar surface. Success would cement the US position at the forefront of a new era of deep space exploration.
Read article →Al Jazeera English
Israeli strikes kill 7 in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah targets ground troops
Israeli airstrikes killed seven people in southern Lebanon as ground operations intensify, with Hezbollah retaliating by targeting Israeli troops. Israel's stated objective is to carve out a buffer security zone along the border while dismantling Hezbollah's military infrastructure. The escalating exchange signals no near-term de-escalation, raising fresh concerns about a broader regional conflict.
Read article →Al Jazeera English
Artemis II successfully launches four astronauts into space
NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off Wednesday, sending four astronauts on a historic 10-day journey to the moon. The mission marks the first crewed lunar flight in over five decades, reigniting humanity's ambitions beyond low-Earth orbit. It sets the stage for future Artemis missions aimed at establishing a sustained human presence on and around the moon.
Read article →
SCMP
Historic Artemis II moon mission lifts off, amid US lunar race with China
Four astronauts — three Americans and one Canadian — launched aboard NASA's Artemis II mission Wednesday, marking humanity's deepest journey into space since the Apollo era. The 32-story rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center before tens of thousands of spectators in scenes echoing the iconic moonshots of the 1960s and '70s. The mission signals a new chapter in lunar exploration, with the US racing to assert dominance in space as competition with China intensifies.
Read article →Get this delivered every morning
Join thousands of readers who get the world's most important stories, curated daily.
Start reading free →