World

The recent war between the US, Israel, and Iran has, for many observers, signaled a further deterioration of the rules-based world order—a system of principles established after World War II to regulate international relations and constrain state behavior. Stacie Goddard, a political science professor at Wellesley College in the US, told DW, "We're really at a low point in a rules-based order." This order, defined by norms and institutions like the United Nations, aimed to foster stability and prosperity but has faced growing criticism for its exclusivity and hypocrisy.

Protests in Ireland over soaring fuel prices have entered their fifth day, leading to the blockade of the nation's sole oil refinery and causing severe fuel shortages that threaten emergency services and transport networks. Authorities have reportedly intervened with force to disperse demonstrators and restore critical fuel supplies, highlighting the escalating tensions amid a global energy crisis.

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has firmly rejected the Iranian government's demand for the right to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a violation of international law. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Dominguez stated that such a move would set a detrimental precedent for global shipping, emphasizing: "Countries do not have the right to introduce tools or payments or charges on these straits. Any introduction of tolls is something that is against international law," and urged the international community not to comply with such demands.

US Vice President JD Vance announced to the press in Islamabad that no agreement had been reached with Iran following 21 hours of negotiations. He claimed that Iranian negotiators had chosen not to accept what he insisted were "quite flexible" US terms. The talks were held under a two-week ceasefire agreed earlier this week, amid a war that began after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026, with Iran and its proxies having retaliated with strikes across the region.

Hungarians went to the polls on Sunday in a parliamentary election that could bring down long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power. The outcome is expected to have significant repercussions for the rest of Europe, the United States, and Russia, as Orbán's government has often clashed with Brussels while cultivating close ties with Moscow.

A machete-wielding suspect randomly attacked three people at New York City's Grand Central station, injuring them before being fatally shot by police, in a rampage that disrupted train services at the nation's largest rail hub. The incident occurred on a subway platform, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the US regime's urban centers.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York has announced an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against US Congressman and California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell. Four women have accused him of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape, including an alleged incident in New York. Swalwell denies the claims, vowing to defend himself with "facts".

Israeli strikes have killed at least 18 people across southern Lebanon, with Lebanese authorities reporting that the overall death toll from the war that began last month has surpassed 2,000. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said on Saturday that strikes on a village near Sidon killed at least eight people and wounded nine others.

Hansjürgen Köhler has been a volunteer for the Central Research Network for Anomalous Phenomena (CENAP) for more than 50 years, based in Germany's southwestern Odenwald region. He sees his work as scientific investigation but also as caring for others. Köhler is a friendly and chatty man in his late 60s who became a salesman early in life because he was not allowed to become an astronomer. His father advised him to "do something respectable," so Köhler's love of space remained a hobby, albeit one he takes very seriously. In 2023, NASA appointed its first director of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), while in Germany, Hansjürgen Köhler has been investigating UFO reports for over five decades.

US President Donald Trump has endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of national elections. Trump wrote in all caps on his Truth Social platform, “Get out and vote for Viktor Orban,” as campaigning in Hungary entered its final stretch. This Sunday, voters will decide Orban’s fate at the ballot box. Orban has blocked EU aid to Ukraine, openly criticized the European Union (EU), and cultivated close ties with Trump, presenting himself as MAGA’s man in Europe.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed that two of its destroyers, the USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, transited the Strait of Hormuz to clear sea mines allegedly laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Admiral Brad Cooper hailed this as a turning point in the US and Israeli war against Iran, stating, “Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage.” This move purportedly aims to secure the vital waterway for global commerce.

A court in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Friday convicted nearly 400 terrorism suspects in a mass trial that spanned four days. The proceedings involved a panel of 10 judges, with many of those convicted receiving prison terms of up to 20 years.