Despite the escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, maritime traffic in this vital route remains very limited.

According to data from maritime intelligence analysts at Kpler, only 13 merchant ships were recorded passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. Eight of them left the Persian Gulf, while five entered it.

Only one ship - a cargo ship entering the Persian Gulf - reportedly used the southern route near the coast of Oman, which has been promoted by the US military as a safer passage, CNN writes.

Irani synon bazat ushtarake ndërsa SHBA-të nisin një valë sulmesh

According to Kpler, most of the ships that passed through on Wednesday used the route near the Iranian coast. On Thursday, the MarineTraffic platform showed that two oil tankers left the Gulf near Iran, while another was sailing near the coast of Oman.

The volume of maritime traffic is about a tenth of the pre-war average, although some ships are sailing without turning on the transmitters that indicate their location.

Iran has repeatedly warned that all ships must obtain its permission to use the waterway. An Iranian military spokesman said on Thursday that implementing the rules set by Iran is the only way to reopen the strait, which Tehran declared closed after the latest wave of US attacks began.

Following drone attacks on several ships near the strait over the past week, US forces announced on Thursday that they had again struck Iran's missile and drone capabilities, as well as coastal surveillance facilities, "to further weaken Iran's ability to threaten innocent sailors serving on merchant ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz." /Telegraph

Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati has unveiled the first artificial intelligence model from her new company Thinking Machines Lab.

The model, called Inkling, aims to offer a more flexible alternative to large systems controlled by major AI companies.

Inkling is an open-weight model, meaning that developers can download, adapt, and customize it for their needs, unlike the closed models of some large companies.

The company says the model is designed to work with different types of data, including text, audio and video, focusing on a balance between cost and performance, media reports.

However, Murati has admitted that Inkling is not the most powerful artificial intelligence model on the market, but aims to differentiate itself through flexibility and the possibility of customization.

Thinking Machines Lab was founded by Mira Murati and other former OpenAI employees. The company has attracted significant investment and previously reached a valuation of around $12 billion after a $2 billion funding round.

With Inkling, Murati aims to create a more decentralized approach to artificial intelligence, where businesses and developers have more control over how AI models are used and adapted. /Telegraph/

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces have launched a fifth consecutive night of attacks on Iran, confirming the development through a post on social media.

According to the CENTCOM statement, the military operations are aimed at weakening Iran's military capabilities, while no further details were provided on the targets hit or the damage caused.

The escalation of attacks comes at a time of high tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Shtëpia e Bardhë: Vazhdojnë bisedimet Uashington-Teheran

In the past, American attacks have often been followed by Iranian retaliation, which has struck American targets and military bases in the Persian Gulf region.

Recent developments have increased concerns about a further escalation of the conflict and the impact it could have on regional security.

Otherwise, the White House has announced that peace negotiations between the two countries are continuing. /Telegraph/

Talks between the United States and Iran are continuing, with Washington claiming that Tehran is facing severe consequences as a result of the latest escalation.

White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said Iran is continuing dialogue with the US and is interested in reaching an agreement, due to the "devastating blows" it has suffered, according to her.

"The reason for the recent attacks is that Iran has violated the Memorandum of Understanding that we had reached with them," Leavitt said, referring to US military actions, writes skynews .

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It also claimed that Iran has attacked merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important sea routes for global energy transport.

However, the spokeswoman stressed that the US administration remains ready for diplomatic solutions.

"The president is always open to diplomacy," Leavitt said, without providing further details about the current state of negotiations or the possibility of a new agreement between the two countries. /Telegraph/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Mykhailo Fedorov (now former Minister of Defense) will continue to be part of his team, but the new tasks he will take on will be announced at a later stage.

Zelensky's statement came after a meeting of the "Servant of the People" parliamentary faction, where MPs approved most of the appointments to the new government cabinet, with the exception of the ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

"During wartime, the president should not be the one making decisions in such a situation. I would very much like to see unity. The parties have not managed to find it, and the problem is not only with the parties, but also with me," the Ukrainian leader said.

Ukraina me kryeministër të ri

He added that he takes responsibility for the political situation and is not trying to avoid it.

"I am not abdicating responsibility. Fedorov will remain in my team, but the exact role he will have will be announced later," the Ukrainian president said.

The changes in the Ukrainian government come at a time when the country continues its war with Russia and faces major challenges in the fields of defense, economy and management of international aid. /Telegraph

Montenegro has decided to end the visa-free travel regime for Russian citizens, meaning that from October 1, Russian citizens will need a visa to enter the country.

According to the Montenegrin media outlet DAN , in addition to Russia, the decision also affects citizens of Belarus and Peru, who will also no longer be able to travel to Montenegro without visas.

This decision ends a nearly 18-year period of visa-free travel between Russia and Montenegro, a regime that has significantly facilitated the arrival of Russian tourists and has made Montenegro one of the most frequented destinations by visitors from Russia in the Balkans.

The change comes as part of Montenegro's efforts to harmonize its visa policy with European Union standards, as part of the country's European integration process.

For years, Russian tourists have made up an important part of the Montenegrin tourism sector, especially during the summer season. The lifting of the visa-free regime is expected to affect the way Russian citizens travel, who will now have to complete additional procedures to obtain visas.

The decision also marks the closure of one of the easiest entry channels for Russian tourists into Europe, as Montenegro has long been one of the destinations where they could travel with fewer restrictions. /Telegraph/

A wide-ranging international investigation, coordinated by the Europol task force, has led to the dismantling of an organised criminal network involved in migrant smuggling along the Balkan route.

Serbian authorities, in cooperation with Bulgarian law enforcement agencies, arrested five suspects, including the group's leader and two active police officers.

The network, based in Pirot, Serbia, is suspected of smuggling at least 201 migrants, mainly Afghan nationals, from Turkey through Bulgaria and Serbia to Western European countries between January and July 2026.

During the operation, three vehicles used to transport migrants, firearms, ammunition, radios, mobile phones, as well as around 5,700 euros and 40,000 Serbian dinars were seized.

According to the investigation, the network had been operating since 2025. Migrants were transported from Turkey to Bulgaria, then illegally crossed the border into Serbia following pre-determined GPS coordinates, where members of the criminal group would wait for them. They would provide them with temporary shelter and onward transportation.

The price for transportation from the Bulgarian border to Belgrade was 1,000 euros per person, with another 300 euros paid for the journey to the Hungarian border. Payments were made mainly through the informal Hawala money transfer system.

The success of the operation was contributed by the close cooperation between the regional police forces. Four Bulgarian investigators were sent to Serbia to support the operation, while Europol deployed a specialized expert on the day of the operation. /Telegraph/

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes New Zealand, authorities lift tsunami warning.

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake has struck the town of Te Anau on New Zealand's South Island, causing buildings to shake and prompting authorities to briefly issue a tsunami warning.

According to New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the epicenter of the earthquake was about 40 kilometers north of Te Anau, near the entrance to the popular Fiordland tourist region.

So far there are no immediate reports of injuries or material damage, Reuters writes.

The earthquake struck at 9:14 p.m. local time. Authorities initially estimated its magnitude at 6.3, while NEMA issued a tsunami warning and urged residents in coastal areas to evacuate to safer places.

After reviewing the data and lowering the magnitude to 5.9, the tsunami warning was softened, while authorities only asked citizens to be careful. Later, the tsunami warning was canceled completely. /Telegraph/

The Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has confirmed the appointment of Serhii Koretskyi as the country's new prime minister. 289 deputies voted for his election.

Koretskyi comes to the head of the government from the position of executive director of the state energy company Naftogaz, while previously he also headed Ukrnafta, the largest oil producer in Ukraine.

He has not built a political career, but has more than two decades of experience in the private sector, the media write.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that the priorities of the new government will be preparing for the upcoming winter, protecting energy infrastructure, stabilizing the economy, and more efficient management of international aid.

Speaking to deputies, Koretskyi said the government will focus on fully supplying the armed forces, strengthening the military industry, supporting citizens and the social system, especially for residents near the front line.

He emphasized that preparing for the heating season and maintaining economic stability will be among the main tasks, along with deepening cooperation with international partners and implementing housing programs.

At the end of 2022, he took over the leadership of Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta, turning the companies from multi-year losses into record profits, with increased production and modernization of assets.

In 2025 he was appointed head of Naftogaz, where he increased gas reserves to over 13 billion cubic meters and secured billions of euros in financing from international financial institutions, although plans to increase production were thwarted by Russian attacks.

Now, the biggest challenge for the new prime minister will be to prove that he can apply his managerial experience in leading Ukraine during wartime, while simultaneously securing political support and cooperation with international partners. /Telegraph/

The European Union will provide Ukraine with another 1 billion euros for the supply of drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during her visit to Kiev.

Von der Leyen stated that this funding is only the first step in new European support for Ukraine's military capabilities.

According to her, the EU has also approved a program worth 10 billion euros, which aims to finance the production of drones, missiles and fighter jets.

Von der Leyen dhe Zelensky nënshkruajnë marrëveshjen BE-Ukrainë për dronë

"This is just the beginning," von der Leyen said, emphasizing that Europe aims to increase its defense production capabilities and strengthen support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia.

The new funding comes at a time when drones have become a key tool of modern warfare on the Ukrainian front, with both sides using thousands of unmanned vehicles for attacks and reconnaissance.

Recall that so far, several EU countries have signed individual agreements with Ukraine to exploit its technological prowess.

The agreement approved on Wednesday adds a broader dimension by making the partnership available to all 27 member states. /Telegraph/