World

The Iranian government has confirmed receipt of a 15-point US ceasefire plan conveyed via Pakistan but rejected its proposals as "excessive." An Iranian official stated that Tehran wants to end the war only "at a time of its own choosing" and "only if its own conditions are met." Key conditions include an "end to attacks and assassinations," the establishment of "concrete guarantees" preventing a recurrence of war, "payment for war damage," and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

In Israel, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continues, schools have been closed nationwide, cultural venues shuttered, and large gatherings cancelled under police orders. Dissent against the war, if it exists at all, is scarcely aired, with the public living under the constant threat of missile attacks.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has called for national unity in Lebanon, vowing to continue fighting "without limits" as Israel's military assault intensifies, with Israeli aerial and ground attacks reportedly killing over 1,000 people across the country and displacing more than 1.2 million others. In a statement on Wednesday, Qassem framed the conflict as a choice between "surrender and giving up our land... or inevitable confrontation and resistance" against Israel.

Border guards in Uzbekistan have intercepted a drug trafficking channel originating from Afghanistan. During a patrol along the Amu Darya river in the border zone, a foreign national was detained while attempting to illegally cross the state border by boat.

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.