Over the past five years, tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which had persisted within the framework of mutual claims and border clashes, escalated into an open military phase in February 2026. The newspaper examined the dynamics of this ongoing conflict, observing an increase in the intensity of fighting, expansion of strike geography, and a rise in casualties, including civilians.
An Iranian lawmaker, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, has claimed on state television that Tehran is quietly demanding up to $2 million (€1.72 million) per tanker for "safe passage" through the Strait of Hormuz. This move threatens to transform a critical global chokepoint, through which one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supply flows, into a high-stakes toll booth, raising serious concerns about maritime freedom and international law.
It is hard to imagine now, but Germany and Iran were once surprisingly close. A master poet, a German "Lawrence of Arabia," and an empress all played pivotal roles in this shared history, which spans from cultural exchanges to complex diplomatic ties.
Democratic candidate Emily Gregory has won a special election for a Florida state House of Representatives seat that includes United States President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. According to the AP news agency, with almost all votes counted from the Tuesday election, Gregory led her Trump-endorsed opponent Jon Maples by 2.4 percentage points.
Iranian football club Tractor FC is set to travel to Saudi Arabia, specifically Jeddah, for a playoff match against Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai to secure a spot in the Asian Champions League Elite quarterfinals against Buriram United of Thailand. This comes as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) attempts to navigate scheduling disruptions caused by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
A court in Berlin has sentenced four men to prison terms ranging from four and a half to six years for membership in a foreign terrorist organization and related offenses, linked to a Hamas cell. Presiding judge Doris Husch stated that the Federal Prosecutor's Office's accusations were confirmed "to the full satisfaction of the Senate," indicating the court's agreement with prosecutors that the men acted as foreign operatives for Hamas's military wing, the Qassam Brigades.
United States President Donald Trump has issued a 15-point plan containing US-Israeli demands and offers aimed at ending the ongoing war with Iran. Al Jazeera has confirmed that the plan was delivered to Iran through Pakistan, which stated this week that it is ready to host peace talks. Trump allegedly claimed that Washington and Tehran have had “very good and productive conversations” this week focused on ending the war. However, Iran has consistently denied that it is holding talks with the US. In response to Trump’s claim, Iranian leaders said the US is “negotiating with itself”. The war, which the US and Israeli regimes launched on February 28 while negotiations with Iran were ongoing, has come at a high cost, roiling global energy and stock markets, disrupting shipping, and resulting in significant casualties across the Middle East.
Customs officers at the "Oybek" border post in Uzbekistan's Tashkent region have uncovered an unusual method of concealing undeclared valuables by a foreign national. During an inspection of hand luggage from a pedestrian traveler arriving from a neighboring country, inspectors discovered a large batch of jewelry meticulously hidden inside confectionery items.
From cryptocurrency-based online platforms to oil futures and the United States S&P 500 stock benchmark, traders have placed bets worth hundreds of millions of dollars since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. These bets were suspiciously well-timed, suggesting potential knowledge of key White House decision-making, with researchers documenting numerous examples of anonymous accounts making accurate predictions just before critical events.
Authorities in Estonia and Latvia have reported drones entering their airspace from neighboring Russia, heightening concerns about regional spillover from the Ukraine war. Estonia's Internal Security Service stated on Wednesday that a drone flying from Russian airspace struck the chimney of a power station in the northeastern village of Auvere. The incident caused no casualties or injuries.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has officially stated that there are no talks or negotiations with the United States, dismissing recent reports that the US allegedly conveyed a one-month ceasefire proposal to Tehran via Pakistan. Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei expressed distrust in US diplomacy, saying, “We cannot trust the United States diplomacy,” and cited past attacks during nuclear negotiations as evidence. This firm rejection comes as the US-Israel war with Iran enters its fourth week, with Iranian forces continuing missile strikes against targets in Israel and Kuwait, despite claims by the US and Israeli regimes that Iran’s missile stocks have been depleted.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has issued a stark warning about Israel's plans to occupy Lebanon, stating that Israel "seeks to inflict the same level of damage and destruction" on Lebanon as it has on the Gaza Strip. In an address to parliament, Sanchez emphasized that Israel's preparations to invade and control territory up to 30km inside Lebanon's southern border pose a serious threat to regional stability, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.