All news: Thursday 26 March 2026

Pakistan in the 2026 Iran war

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff confirms that the United States has shared a 15-point peace plan to Iran through the Pakistani government.

Pakistan in the 2026 Iran war

Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar confirms that indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are taking place.

2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis

U.S. president Donald Trump extends his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by ten days, until 6 April, or "face further assassinations of senior officials".

2026 Iranian strikes on Israel

Nine people are injured in Israel after seven salvos of ballistic missiles by Iran.

2026 Iranian strikes on the United Arab Emirates

Two people are killed and three others are injured by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Reactions to the 2026 Iran war

Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba says the country is ready to join the war "on the side of Israel" and says the Ugandan military will enter the war soon if Iranian attacks on Israel do not end soon.

2026 Iran war

Israel claims to have assassinated Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

2026 Lebanon war

One person is killed and 11 are injured by Hezbollah rocket fire in Nahariya, Israel.

2026 Lebanon war

Two Israeli soldiers are killed in action in southern Lebanon.

Foreign involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian war

Zimbabwe confirms that 15 of its citizens have been killed after being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, with more than 60 others still on the front line. Cabinet minister Soda Zhemu says that most of them were lured to Russia through social media.

At least 14 people are killed and 27 others are injured when a private bus collides head-on with a tipper-truck in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

At least 10 people are killed and 35 others are injured when a bus collides with a truck and overturns in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Two people are killed, including a child, and at least 90 families are affected in flooding in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Mexico's navy launches a search and rescue operation in the Caribbean Sea for two sailboats, which departed from Isla Mujeres with nine crew members, carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba after they failed to arrive in Havana as scheduled and lost communication.

Agreement on Reciprocal

The European Parliament approves legislation to implement the EU-US trade deal adopted in 2025.

Russia–United Kingdom relations

Russia says the United Kingdom's decision to board and detain shadow fleet vessels is hostile and vows a "political, legal and asymmetric" response against the UK to protect Russian interests.

Russia–United Kingdom relations

British Chief of the General Staff Roland Walker warns that the UK is now on an "inevitable collision course" with Russia and urges the government to prepare.

52nd G7 summit

South Africa says it is no longer invited to the upcoming G7 summit in Haute-Savoie, France, after an initial invitation, with differing statements from its officials on the reasons for the decision.

Australia–Iran relations

Australia announces a six-month ban on short-term visa applications from Iranian passport holders for tourism and work, citing concerns that some visitors may not depart Australia once their visas expire due to the Iran war. The new policy includes limited exemptions.

Belarus–North Korea relations

Belarus and North Korea sign a friendship and cooperation treaty after North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un welcomed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang.

France–Philippines relations

France and the Philippines sign a visiting forces agreement allowing joint military exercises and cooperation in each other's territory.

Tajikistan–Uzbekistan relations

Tajik president Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurate the Tajikistan embassy in Tashkent during Rahmon's state visit to Uzbekistan.

2026 Faroese general election

Two days after the Danish election, Faroe Islanders vote to elect 33 members of the Løgting.

2026 Faroese general election

The People's Party, led by Beinir Johannesen, wins the highest share of votes, receiving nine seats in the Løgting.

Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war

Norway's Storting passes a bill temporarily cutting petrol and diesel taxes in response to surging energy costs amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war

Mauritius and South Sudan announce measures restricting electricity consumption due to the international energy crisis, with Juba's main electricity distributor saying the capital will start experiencing daily power cuts on a "rotational basis" from today.

Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Europe

The Catholic Church in Portugal agrees to compensate 57 victims of sexual abuse with a total of €1.61 million (US$1.86 million) following findings from an independent inquiry into abuse cases over several decades.

Two people are killed, including the perpetrator, in a stabbing attack at a Pokémon Center at Sunshine City in Tokyo, Japan.

Noelia Castillo euthanasia case

A 25-year-old Spanish woman from Barcelona, Catalonia, undergoes euthanasia after her request was approved by authorities and upheld through multiple legal challenges despite opposition from her family.

Russian 2022 war censorship laws

A court in Chelyabinsk Oblast bans the distribution of the documentary film Mr Nobody Against Putin in Russia.

2026 FIFA World Cup

The Iranian sports ministry bans the men's national football team from travelling to "hostile countries", placing the team's participation in this year's FIFA World Cup tournament in doubt, which is being held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali previously stated that Iran will not play in this year's World Cup.

2028 Summer Olympics

The International Olympic Committee announces that participation in women's events will be limited to athletes classified as female based on biological criteria, with eligibility determined through a one-time genetic test starting from the 2028 Olympic Games. The policy replaces previous rules that allowed individual sports federations to set their own criteria.