WORLD IN BRIEF: Ukraine deepens strikes, Putin floats truce, US sanctions Kabila, Moody’s exits South Africa and other stories
Iran has threatened a “long and painful” response if the United States resumes military attacks, as tensions between the two sides deepen despite an ongoing ceasefire.
Iran has threatened a “long and painful” response if the United States resumes military attacks, as tensions between the two sides deepen despite an ongoing ceasefire.
Officials in Tehran also reaffirmed control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes. The continued closure has driven up energy prices and raised fears of wider economic fallout.
The warning comes as Donald Trump, the US president, is due to receive a briefing on potential new strikes aimed at forcing Iran back to negotiations, according to Reuters.
Members of the Jewish community in north London say they feel increasingly unsafe following a stabbing attack that left two men injured.
Residents in Golders Green described rising anxiety and frustration, with some questioning whether the government is doing enough to tackle antisemitic violence. The victims are reported to be in stable condition.
The attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Jewish communities in the UK, intensifying calls for stronger security measures and political action.
Ukraine has expanded its drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure, striking a major refinery in the city of Perm, more than 1,500km from the front line.
A dramatic footage showed large explosions and fires at the site, which is linked to Russian energy giant Lukoil. The strikes are part of Kyiv’s strategy to disrupt Russia’s war economy.
The escalation comes as Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, signals openness to a short ceasefire, even as attacks on Ukrainian cities continue.
Myanmar’s military government says detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been transferred from prison to house arrest. The announcement follows years of detention since the 2021 military coup.
However, her family has expressed scepticism, saying there is no independent confirmation of her condition or whereabouts.
The development raises fresh questions about transparency and the treatment of political prisoners in Myanmar.
A Ugandan court has sentenced a man to death for the murder of four toddlers at a nursery school in Kampala earlier this month.
The judge described the attack as deliberate and without remorse, rejecting the defendant’s claims of mental illness. The ruling sparked strong reactions in the community, where the killings have deeply shocked residents.
Although capital punishment remains legal in Uganda, executions are rarely carried out.
The United States has imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila over alleged links to rebel groups in the country’s east.
Kinshasa has long accused Kabila of backing the Rwanda supported M23 rebels, a claim he denies. The move marks a significant escalation in international pressure over the ongoing conflict in the region.
Moody’s has surrendered the regulatory licence of its South African subsidiary as part of a strategic shift in its business model.
The agency said it would continue rating South African issuers from other locations, with no expected impact on the country’s sovereign credit rating.
Regulators have granted local banks a temporary period to continue using existing ratings for compliance purposes.
Jailed Tunisian opposition figure Rached Ghannouchi has been transferred to hospital after a deterioration in his health, according to his party.
The 84 year old Ennahdha leader has been in detention since 2023, with supporters and rights groups describing the case as politically motivated.
His party has called for his immediate release, citing age and ongoing medical concerns.
