Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has sustained injuries, but his life is not in danger. This was stated by the official spokesperson of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
The Iranian women's football team's participation in the Asian Cup 2026 concluded without advancing past the group stage, but their stay in Australia sparked international controversy. The players' decisions to refrain from or sing the national anthem, coupled with asylum requests by several team members, have drawn global attention amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
According to the Reuters news agency, the Qatari-backed investment fund Irth Capital has this month made a $47-per-share offer to acquire pizza chain Papa John's International, marking a second takeover attempt after a previous joint bid with Apollo Global Management last year. The offer values the company at $1.5 billion, with Irth already owning approximately 10% of the company, including derivatives.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that the ongoing war between Iran, the US, and Israel is "creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market." The agency slashed its 2026 oil supply growth forecast by more than half, from 2.4 million barrels per day to just 1.1 million barrels per day. It added that crude production is currently down by at least 8.0 million barrels per day, highlighting the severe impact on global energy markets.
The escalation of the conflict between the US-Israeli alliance and Iran has triggered a sharp spike in oil prices, rising by approximately 30%. This development has raised significant concerns in Germany, where fears are mounting that the price shock could derail hopes for an economic recovery. German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche allegedly stated that "Germany's energy supply is secure," but acknowledged the rapid price increases following the outbreak of hostilities.
China's National People's Congress has approved legislation, referred to as the "ethnic unity" law, which formalizes policies to promote Mandarin as the "national common language" for official purposes, including education and public affairs. Under the new law, educational institutions are now required to teach in Mandarin, and teenagers must achieve a "basic grasp" of the language upon completing their compulsory education.
Three senior American officials reportedly told The Washington Post that Russia is providing Iran with sensitive intelligence, including the precise locations of US warships and aircraft operating across the Middle East. This reveals more than a tactical alliance; it exposes the architecture of a new kind of war—a war without front lines, fought not with tanks or missiles but with radar beams, satellite feeds, and encrypted coordinates. In the Persian Gulf today, the battlefield is the electromagnetic spectrum, and both sides are fighting, above all else, to blind the other.
▪️ Following US strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, US President Donald Trump called on Iranians to "take over your government," purportedly stating, "This will be probably your only chance for generations." However, as the war between the US, Israel, and Iran has intensified over the past two weeks, Iranians are receiving sharply conflicting messages about the potential consequences of opposing their government.
According to investigation results cited by The New York Times, a US Tomahawk missile strike on an elementary school building in southern Iran resulted in the deaths of at least 168 people, predominantly schoolgirls. The investigation indicates that this incident occurred due to severe targeting errors, as US military forces intended to attack a base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) but instead struck the school, which was previously part of that base.
Attacks targeting energy infrastructure across the Gulf region are intensifying. According to a statement from Iraqi authorities, operations have been temporarily halted at all of the country's oil ports. This decision followed an attack on two foreign oil tankers that caught fire near Iraq's southern export terminals. Farhan Al-Fartousi from Iraq's General Company for Ports told state television that one crew member was killed and 38 sailors were rescued as a result of the assault.
Iran's military has stated that it targeted Israeli military bases, including the Palmachim and Ovda airbases, as well as the headquarters of the domestic security service Shin Bet, using drones. The announcement was carried by state television on Thursday, though Israel has yet to comment on these claims. Israel also reported identifying additional missile launches from Iran, with missile alert alarms sounding in Jerusalem and explosions heard as defenses attempted to intercept incoming fire.
Japan's second-largest automaker, Honda, is being forced to undertake a major recalibration of its electric vehicle (EV) strategy. The company stated that this decision is driven by US policy changes and tariffs, as well as reduced competitiveness in Asian markets. Despite previous investments in EV technology development, the current situation is having a severe negative impact on Honda's financial performance.