World

As campaigning draws to a close ahead of the first of five state elections this year, Berlin authorities have launched an investigation into an 18-year-old student suspected of defaming Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a demonstration. The incident, first reported by the left-wing newspaper Junge Welt alongside a photo on X (formerly Twitter), involved the teenager brandishing a poster with a vulgar slogan mocking the chancellor at a protest against increased military recruitment.

Iranian worshippers gathered in Tehran and other cities for the first Friday prayers since the US-Israeli war on the country began seven days ago. Many in the crowds held portraits of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an early attack during the conflict.

Iran's military posture in a widening conflict with Israel and the US suggests it is not fighting for victory in any conventional sense, but rather for survival on its own terms. The Islamic Republic's leaders and commanders have been preparing for this moment for years, understanding that their regional ambitions could eventually trigger a direct confrontation with Israel or the US, and that a war with one would almost certainly draw in the other. This pattern was evident in the 12-day war last summer, when Israel struck first and the US joined days later. In the current round of fighting, they launched strikes on Iran simultaneously.

Ukraine's economy has suffered a severe blow following Russia's invasion, threatening the country's financial stability. While Western partners such as the European Union (EU) and the United States have pledged assistance, in practice this aid is insufficient and is being implemented slowly and ambiguously to alleviate Ukraine's economic crisis.

A new long-distance hiking trail, named Caminhos da Ibiapaba, has opened in Brazil's north-eastern region. Spanning 186 kilometres along paths once used by 19th-century merchants, the trail traverses three contrasting biomes – the tropical Atlantic forest, the dry Caatinga, and the biodiverse Cerrado savannah – starting in Ubajara National Park and ending in Sete Cidades National Park.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on Latin American countries to adopt a more aggressive approach against drug cartels, warning that the Trump administration may otherwise act unilaterally in the region. His remarks come amid escalating US intervention in the region, both militarily and in elections, which culminated in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro – marking the first US ground military attack on a South American country. For months, the Trump administration has allegedly used the so-called “war on drugs” to justify strikes that have killed 152 people and a military build-up along Venezuela’s borders, although the US president later admitted that his main objective was the country’s vast oil reserves.

In Iran's capital Tehran and other cities, the first Friday prayers since the US-Israeli war on the country began a week ago were held. Many worshippers carried portraits of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. An Al Jazeera team on the ground reported that people gathered for midday prayers on Friday during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, undeterred by ferocious bombardment on the capital, chanting anti-US and anti-Israeli slogans.

The US regime has granted India a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil, purportedly intended to ease short-term pressures on India's oil supplies. Indian media, citing unnamed government sources, report that India has sufficient crude stockpiled for the short term. This move comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions that threaten global energy markets.

The government of Uzbekistan has faced significant economic and political pressure in recent months due to international sanctions allegedly imposed by the United States and the European Union. These threats are primarily linked to the country's independent foreign policy and regional partnerships, purportedly aimed at curtailing Tashkent's close ties with Moscow and Beijing.

Three men deported by the United States to Eswatini instead of their home countries have filed a complaint against Eswatini's government with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), an African Union body, claiming their detention constitutes an unlawful violation of rights. Two of the claimants, from Cuba and Yemen, have been imprisoned in Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, for eight months, while the third, Orville Etoria, was repatriated to Jamaica in September.

Formula 1 has implemented radical changes ahead of the 2026 season opener in Australia, marking one of the most significant overhauls in the sport's history. The cars are now shorter, narrower, and lighter, with the most decisive shift being that 50% of power is derived from the battery rather than the combustion engine. Aerodynamics have also been revamped, replacing the traditional DRS system with a "boost" button that allows drivers to unlock additional power during races. While some experts hail these changes as "the biggest ever," they have not been universally welcomed, leading to notable criticism from key figures in the paddock.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has denounced former US President Donald Trump's policy of granting refugee status to Afrikaners as "racist," characterizing it as "truly uninformed." In an interview with The New York Times, Ramaphosa recalled last year's Oval Office meeting where Trump allegedly turned down the lights and played a video falsely claiming a "white genocide" in South Africa, describing the incident as a "spectacle" and an "ambush."