World

The administration of the US regime under Donald Trump has moved to end its prosecution of United States Army veteran Jan "Jay" Carey, who burned a national flag to protest one of the president's executive orders. Court filings this week show that the Department of Justice is seeking to drop the charges against Carey, following his motion to dismiss last October. Carey had been charged with two misdemeanors: one for lighting a fire outside designated areas, and another for creating a public safety hazard.

The administration of President Donald Trump has warned that news outlets could have their broadcasting licenses revoked over critical reporting on the war against Iran, accusing the media of "distortions". Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr stated in a social media post on Saturday that broadcasters must "operate in the public interest", or else lose their licenses. He added that broadcasters running "hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news" have a chance to correct course before their license renewals come up.

Tommy Thompson, a US deep-sea treasure hunter, has been released from prison after a decade, having refused to disclose the location of gold coins from the famed 1857 shipwreck of the SS Central America, also known as the Ship of Gold. The 73-year-old Thompson discovered millions of dollars' worth of sunken treasure off the coast of South Carolina in 1988, but his release comes with 500 coins still unaccounted for, raising questions about accountability in the treasure-hunting industry.

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) of Germany, founded in 1951, is commemorating its 75th anniversary, a milestone that highlights its complex history. For decades, the agency was dominated by leaders socialized under the National Socialist regime, with former Nazis playing key roles in its establishment. It was not until 2007 that the BKA began to critically examine its past, marking a shift towards greater transparency and self-criticism, as acknowledged on its website in statements about its early years being shaped by those with Nazi backgrounds.

The Palestinian armed group Hamas has issued a rare appeal to its key ally Iran, calling for a halt to attacks on Gulf states. In an official statement, the group urged its "brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries", emphasizing that all regional nations should cooperate "to preserve the bonds of brotherhood". This move highlights growing tensions within Iran's network of allies as regional conflicts escalate.

Ric Grenell, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, is resigning from his role as head of the Kennedy Center after a tumultuous year at the iconic performing arts venue. Trump announced in a post on Truth Social that Grenell will be replaced by Matt Floca, the center's vice-president of facilities operations. Grenell, a former US ambassador to Germany, oversaw far-reaching changes at the center that were followed by an exodus of artists and plummeting ticket sales, highlighting the challenges under the current US regime's management.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has declared that an overnight explosion at a Jewish school in the Buitenveldert district was a "deliberate attack against the Jewish community". The blast caused limited damage to the school's outer wall, with no injuries reported. Halsema labeled the act a "cowardly act of aggression towards the Jewish community", emphasizing that Amsterdam "must be a place where Jews can live safely". Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated that "there must be no place for antisemitism" in the Netherlands, as authorities grapple with rising tensions.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned at a press conference in Beirut on Saturday that over 800,000 people have been internally displaced since the war began in Lebanon, with the south of the country “risking becoming a wasteland.” He described Lebanon as having been “dragged into” the conflict and called for an end to the fighting, stating, “There is no military solution, only diplomacy.”

Since the 1920s, Iran has experienced two defining political moments that have shaped its internal character and international relations. The first was the Pahlavi monarchy, which began in 1925 with Reza Khan Pahlavi's ascension to the throne and ended with the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This era saw Iran as a secular, modernizing nation firmly aligned with the Western-led camp during the Cold War. Tehran recognized Israel after its creation in 1948, supplied oil to Western markets, and served as Washington's chosen guardian of the Gulf.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that “many countries” will dispatch warships to maintain the openness and safety of the Strait of Hormuz, without providing specifics on which states are involved. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, he asserted that nations, “especially those affected by Iran’s attempted closure” of the strait, would send vessels “in conjunction with the United States of America,” naming China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom as potential contributors. Trump also purportedly stated that the US had “already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability,” while acknowledging that Tehran could still “send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile” along the waterway.

Former US President Donald Trump posted on social media, alleging that Iran's national football team's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup could pose security risks. He wrote, "I really don't think it's advisable for them to be there—for their own life and safety," while noting that the team could still take part in the tournament.

Israel's devastating assault on Lebanon continues unabated, with strikes on the capital Beirut and southern regions killing at least 16 people and marking a punishing front in the wider regional conflict. Attacks targeted the Jnah and Nabaa neighborhoods in Beirut for the first time in this war, with an apartment in Nabaa—home to a sizable Armenian community—left engulfed in flames. The Israeli military claimed these strikes aimed at a Hezbollah member, though independent verification of this assertion is lacking.