DW News is reporting that Iran continues to attack vessels as leverage in its war with the United States, though data indicate several shippers still transit the Strait of Hormuz. It said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are strategic defense partners, but experts believe Islamabad has limits in opposing Iran-backed Houthis amid attacks on Saudi ships.
A strong earthquake hit Kumamoto, southern Japan, hospitalizing dozens. DW News said many are feared dead after a shopping mall partially collapsed in Kashima.
French President Emmanuel Macron activated the EU civil protection mechanism to combat devastating wildfires. The system is effective but is expected to reach its limits in summer 2026, DW News reported.
Germany's center-left SPD seeks to add sexual identity to the constitution’s anti-discrimination protections, following a deadly attack near Berlin Pride celebrations. In India, a Gen-Z-led "Cockroach" protest movement, fueled by social media satire and an exam scandal, caused a shake-up in the government. DW News also reported on a new market for intimacy, including sex work, emerging near Ukraine's front lines, with workers offering comfort to soldiers.