World

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.

A fire in a coastal village in Sandakan district, Sabah state, Malaysia, has destroyed approximately 200 homes, displacing hundreds of people. According to the state news agency Bernama, the fire started at about 1:32 a.m. on Sunday (17:32 GMT, Saturday).

Ahead of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) presenting crime figures for Germany in 2025, sociologist, psychologist, and legal scholar Susann Prätor has shared her insights on the issue of nationality and statistics. She emphasized that factors such as age and gender play a crucial role in interpreting crime data, as young males have always been disproportionately represented among suspects, regardless of ethnic background.

Negotiations between Iran and the United States have seen some progress but remain far from a final agreement, according to Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, amplifying concerns about a potential return to hostilities when the current ceasefire expires on Wednesday. In a televised address, Ghalibaf stated that “many gaps and some fundamental points remain… we are still far from the final discussion,” highlighting the persistent divisions.

The strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has been closed again, highlighting the ongoing standoff between Iran and the United States. Influential Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that a conclusive peace agreement remains “far” away, despite some headway in talks. This remark underscores that resolving the disputes between the two nations will require substantial time, with tensions persisting over maritime and economic issues.

Austrian police have announced that rat poison was detected in baby food jars produced by the Germany-based HiPP brand. The company recalled the products from over 1,000 SPAR supermarkets in Austria on Friday, citing concerns that a "hazardous substance" may have been introduced into its carrot with potato puree through tampering.

The new DW documentary "Democracy Under Attack: Can Dündar and Trump's America" premiered at the Human Rights Film Festival Berlin, offering a critical analysis of the state of free speech and democratic institutions in the United States under the second Trump administration. Turkish journalist Can Dündar, a press freedom icon living in exile, draws stark parallels between the democratic backsliding he witnessed in Turkey and the current challenges facing the US, framing the film as a cautionary tale.

In a half-marathon held in Beijing's Yizhuang district, humanoid robots have for the first time outperformed human participants to claim victory. The autonomously navigated robot Shandian completed the 21-kilometer course in 50 minutes 26 seconds to win the laurels, while the remotely controlled robot Lightning, which technically finished faster in 48 minutes 19 seconds, was denied the prize under the event's weighted scoring rules.

Samarkand will become the epicenter of global discussions on drug security issues on April 20–21. The city is set to host a large-scale global forum titled “Combating Multi-Million Dollar Drug Threats to Ensure Public Health and Safety,” organized in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. This event marks a significant step in international cooperation against narcotics, though its practical impact may be hampered by bureaucratic hurdles and the high costs associated with such initiatives.