Iran has long ranked among the world's most repressive countries for press freedom. In the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders placed Iran 177th out of 180 countries, below Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which ranked 175th. But journalists and media watchdogs say the US-Israel war with Iran has pushed reporting conditions to an even more dangerous point.
Strolling out to Notorious B.I.G.'s Hypnotize for his matches, Hossein Vafaei looks right at home on snooker's biggest stage. It's been a long time coming. For years, diplomatic red tape stalled his career, but he's now making up for lost time at the age of 31.
Isreal has intercepted more than twenty aid ships with 175 activists on board, Israel's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The ships were on their way to the Gaza Strip before being stopped in international waters near Greece. This flotilla mission carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza comes after a fleet of around 45 boasts was intercepted last year.
Iraq war combat veteran Fred Minnick hosts a bourbon tasting dinner at Cordelia, a restaurant in Cleveland's historic district, as part of a tour for his new book, Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man's Life.
Two Israeli soldiers operate in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, April 29, 2026 Ariel Schalit/AP hide caption toggle caption Ariel Schalit/AP MANSOURI, Lebanon — The center of the village lies in ruins. A row of single-story shops blown out, goods scattered on the ground, glass shattered along the sidewalk.
Boats carrying activists and humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza reposition in the port during a symbolic send-off as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 12, 2026.
On April 26, Naftali Bennet, widely considered the main challenger to current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would join forces with Yair Lapid of the centrist-liberal Yesh Atid party ahead of Israel's election in October this year. The new party's name: BeYachad, Hebrew for "together."
Live Published April 29, 2026 last updated April 29, 2026 The UN rights office reports ongoing executions, mass arrests and a sweeping crackdown in Iran during the war, with thousands detained. Meanwhile, the country's currency has hit a record low. DW has the latest.
Why has the UAE decided to quit OPEC now? OPEC, the global cartel of oil-producing nations, operates a quota system that limits how much oil each member can produce. For years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has clashed with Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s most powerful member, over these quotas.
Is a buffer zone — such as the one that Israel is establishing in Lebanon — legal under international law? The short answer is: possibly.
Ukraine's president on Tuesday criticized Israel for allegedly purchasing grain "stolen" by Russia, which occupies large areas of Ukrainian farmland amid its invasion. Ukraine first summoned Israel's ambassador on Monday, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha bemoaning what he called Israeli inaction in allowing shipments to enter Israel carrying foodstuffs from occupied Ukrainian territory.
Back in 2018, an Iranian general put forth a theory about the country's drought: Israel was stealing Iran's clouds. He later walked back on the comments after Iran's own meteorological organization contradicted him, according to state media reports.