World

A landmark piece of legislation passed by Germany’s previous centre-left-led government on 1 April 2024 legalized the personal recreational use of cannabis for adults over 18. At the time, critics warned it would cause a steep rise in drug use, including among teenagers, and boost criminal gangs. Two years later, controversy over the move persists, with critics and proponents at odds over its impact on consumption, youth welfare, and organized crime.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has declared that if his centre-right coalition wins the next general election, he will for the first time bring the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) into government and grant its members key ministerial posts, particularly in immigration and integration. Kristersson, whose polling after four years in office is reportedly unfavourable, stated at a joint press conference with SD leader Jimmie Åkesson that they have agreed to “jump-start the next term and form a strong majority government” if they secure voters' trust.

A "system malfunction" caused several self-driving robotaxis operated by Chinese internet company Baidu to stall in the middle of the road in Wuhan, central China, as confirmed by police. Local authorities reported receiving calls "one after another" on Tuesday night from distressed riders whose autonomous vehicles, part of Baidu's "Apollo Go" service, had frozen. In a statement, police said "multiple Apollo Go cars stopped in the middle of the road, unable to move," with preliminary findings pointing to a system malfunction, though the exact number of affected cars was not specified.

The Italian national football team has failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive time, suffering a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The match ended 1-1 in regular time, with Italy losing 4-1 in a penalty shootout. This result has sparked widespread anger and disillusionment in the football-mad nation, prolonging what local media has termed a "sporting nightmare."

At least 70 people have been killed and 30 injured during an attack in Haiti’s Artibonite region, a human rights group has reported, a figure significantly higher than official estimates. Police initially reported 16 dead and 10 injured, while a preliminary report from civil protection authorities suggested 17 had died and 19 were wounded.

The elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's new supreme leader was treated by many observers chiefly as confirmation of a new hardline order in Tehran. Subsequent rumors about his injury or even death, sparked by his disappearance from public view, have fueled speculations about what this may mean for the Iranian regime.

Finnish authorities are investigating the crash of two drones in southern Finland, with police confirming that one, identified as a Ukrainian AN196 drone, was found carrying an unexploded warhead and subsequently destroyed in a controlled detonation. The incident occurred on Sunday near Kouvola, a town approximately 100 kilometers from the border with Russia, with debris from a second drone located near Luumaki.

A US federal judge, Richard Leon, ruled on Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot proceed with a $400 million ballroom construction project on White House grounds without congressional approval. In the court order, Judge Leon emphasized that "the President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!" and added, "Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!"

A humpback whale stranded off Germany's Baltic coast for over a week began moving again on Monday evening as water levels rose, offering a chance for escape. However, experts reported signs of deteriorating health throughout the day, casting uncertainty on its next steps and survival prospects.

Golf legend Tiger Woods announced on Tuesday that he is stepping away from the sport to seek treatment and focus on his health, four days after he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) following a rollover car crash in Florida. The incident occurred last Friday near his Jupiter Island home, where his Land Rover SUV clipped a pickup truck and rolled onto its side. Although no injuries were reported, the 50-year-old golfer was forced to exit his vehicle through the passenger-side door.

The US National Archives has made millions of NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party) membership cards available online. This data includes information on 6.6 million Germans who were party members until 1945, stored on over 5,000 digitized microfilm reels. Now, anyone can search for the names of their grandparents and great-grandparents, though the records are incomplete: according to the German Historical Museum, in 1945, one in five adult Germans was among 8.5 million party members, meaning they ostensibly supported the fascist regime on paper.

In late 2025, after the US regime shocked the world by suspending global health aid, which experts said would lead to 700,000 more deaths annually, mostly children, Washington began proposing unusual bilateral health agreements to developing countries, infuriating officials and health activists alike. Critics alleged the deals, mostly with African nations, smack of “exploitation,” while at least two countries in dire need—Zimbabwe and Zambia—pushed back against them.