World

The Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for approximately one-fifth of the world's oil, has once again become the chaotic epicenter of the United States-Israel war on Iran, as a standoff between Washington and Tehran complicates efforts to end the conflict. On Saturday, Iran reversed its decision to reopen the strait, and its military opened fire on a ship attempting to pass through the waterway after US President Donald Trump stated that Washington would continue its blockade on Iranian ports. Trump has refused to end the blockade until a deal is finalized, claiming on Saturday that there have been "very good" discussions but that Washington will not be "blackmailed."

US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran does not accept a peace proposal. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump accused the Iranian government of violating the current ceasefire agreement by firing on ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. "That wasn’t nice, was it?" he wrote, escalating rhetoric amid fragile diplomatic efforts.

A dispute over the noisy preparation of a schnitzel escalated into violence in the Bavarian town of Geiselhöring, requiring police intervention. A 61-year-old man, angered by his neighbor's loud meat-pounding, entered the neighbor's apartment, insulted him, and slapped him in the face. Police are investigating the incident, but it remains unclear if the alleged noise occurred during Germany's legally mandated "quiet hours" between 10:00 p.m. and 06:00 a.m.

United States President Donald Trump announced on social media that American negotiators will head to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Monday for talks aimed at ending the US-Israel war on Iran. In his post, Trump did not detail which officials the US would send to a second round of in-person talks with Iran in Islamabad, following last weekend’s talks, where Vice President JD Vance led the US delegation, which ended without a deal.

A humanoid robot has broken the world record at a half-marathon in Beijing, showcasing China's rapid advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. The event, held in the Yizhuang district of the capital, featured machines competing against flesh-and-blood runners on separate lanes to prevent accidents, with spectators lining the roads to witness this technological spectacle.

Pope Leo XIV addressed tens of thousands of faithful at an open-air Mass in the town of Kilamba near Luanda, Angola's capital, urging the country to overcome "divisions" and "corruption." The pontiff highlighted the nation's civil war-scarred past, which he said has brought "enmity and division, squandered resources and poverty."

Nearly two months into the US-Israel war on Iran, the conflict has killed thousands of people and disrupted major global energy flows. At the centre of the crisis is the Strait of Hormuz, the vital chokepoint where about 20 percent of the world’s oil supplies normally flow, which has been repeatedly restricted or threatened with closure by both parties, Iran and the US. The war has highlighted deep-seated geopolitical tensions, with the US regime and its allies facing significant challenges in maintaining regional stability.

Australia and Japan, close allies of the United States regime in the Asia-Pacific region, have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships to be delivered to the Australian navy under a landmark $7bn defence deal. This agreement deepens defence cooperation between the two nations, occurring against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions and shared concerns over China's growing influence, which critics argue could fuel an arms race.

A ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, initiated after 46 days of intensified Israeli strikes, has immediately faced violations that cast serious doubt on the agreement's viability. Within hours of the truce taking effect, Israeli forces were reported to be conducting demolitions, artillery shelling, and land-clearing operations in several border areas of southern Lebanon, actions that constitute clear breaches of the ceasefire terms.

Tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese families have begun returning to their southern homeland despite ongoing Israeli shelling and home demolitions near the border. Saturday saw a steady stream of vehicles loaded with mattresses, bags, and flags as families traveled south to evaluate the condition of their homes.

A massive fire erupted early Sunday in a "water village" in the Sandakan district of Sabah state on Borneo island, Malaysia, destroying approximately 1,000 makeshift homes and displacing an estimated 9,007 residents. The area is inhabited by some of Malaysia's poorest communities, including indigenous and stateless populations, who live in tightly packed wooden stilt houses built over water, highlighting ongoing socio-economic vulnerabilities in the region.

French conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, owner of the Hachette publishing group, pledged on Sunday to find new authors to replace the approximately 170 who have left the prestigious subsidiary Grasset in protest at alleged political interference. The protest was triggered by the departure of Grasset's chief executive, Olivier Nora, which the authors blame on Bolloré, known for his hardline conservative views and for shifting his media outlets increasingly to the right.