Oil and war tensions ease slightly as Hormuz reopens and an Israel-Lebanon truce lets displaced families try to return.
Washington weighs Iran nuclear moves, oil rulings and spying powers, while detention and safety dramas expose human costs.
Markets rally on oil's plunge and war optimism, even as hedge fund Treasury bets raise fears of a sharp shock.
Spaceflight advances, AI metrics and health findings mix with pollution and publishing scrutiny to redefine science's frontier.
Pop culture swirls from oversize cinema and sharp Trump satire to new music, games and a singer's gripping criminal saga.
Stanley Cup hopes, massive MLB and NFL deals, a beloved All-Star's death and chess glory animate a high-stakes sports day.