Global tensions escalate as Iran threatens Hormuz closure amid widening conflict
Iran has sharply escalated its warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declaring it will “completely close” the waterway if the United States targets Iranian energy infrastructure.
The threat follows an ultimatum issued by Donald Trump, who warned Tehran it had 48 hours to re-open the strait or face strikes on its power plants. Iranian officials responded that any such attack would trigger sweeping retaliation, including targeting regional energy facilities and infrastructure linked to US interests.
While Iran maintains the strait remains open to most shipping, it has restricted passage for vessels linked to what it calls its “enemies”. The waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and gas flows, has become the central pressure point in the conflict, with disruptions already rattling global energy markets.
Diplomatic signals remain mixed. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, say Tehran is open to cooperation with international maritime bodies, but insist that halting attacks on Iranian territory is a precondition for stability.
Cuba signals readiness for confrontation as blackouts deepen crisis
Cuba has declared it is prepared for potential military aggression from the United States, as the country grapples with a worsening energy crisis marked by repeated nationwide blackouts.
Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Deputy Foreign Minister said Havana would not underestimate threats from Washington, responding directly to remarks by Donald Trump.
The warning comes after another major grid failure left millions without electricity. Although partial power has been restored in the capital, Havana, authorities acknowledge that the system remains fragile. The outages have compounded economic strain already intensified by a long-standing US oil blockade.
Officials say the latest collapse was triggered by a technical failure at a thermoelectric plant, though details remain unclear.
Lebanon warns of wider war after Israeli strike on key bridge
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has warned that an Israeli strike on a major bridge could signal the start of a broader ground offensive.
The attack targeted the Qasmiyeh Bridge, a critical link between southern Lebanon and the rest of the country, in what authorities described as a deliberate effort to sever internal connectivity.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military is expanding operations to destroy
infrastructure it claims is used by Hezbollah, part of a wider campaign that has intensified since early March.
Lebanon’s leadership argues the strikes point to a strategy aimed at establishing a buffer zone along the border, raising fears of further territorial escalation.
Iranian missile strikes injure scores near Israeli nuclear facility
Iranian missile attacks have wounded at least 180 people in southern Israel, with strikes hitting towns near a sensitive nuclear research site.
According to Israeli authorities, 116 people were injured in Arad and 64 in Dimona. The International Atomic Energy Agency said there was no indication of damage to the nearby nuclear facility.
The strikes were reportedly in retaliation for attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, marking another escalation in a conflict that has already seen hundreds of missiles exchanged.
Israeli officials say most incoming projectiles have been intercepted, but the growing frequency and intensity of attacks underscore the risk of a broader regional war.
AFRICA
Kenya offers amnesty to citizens recruited into Ukraine war
Kenya has announced an amnesty for its citizens who were recruited to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, in a bid to address a growing and controversial trend.
Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said dozens of Kenyans had already been repatriated, while others remain missing or hospitalised. Many recruits were reportedly misled with promises of civilian employment before being drawn into combat roles.
The government has also secured an agreement with Moscow to halt further recruitment, as concerns mount over the exploitation of vulnerable job seekers.
Sudan hospital strike kills dozens as conflict deepens humanitarian crisis
A strike on a hospital in East Darfur has killed at least 64 people and rendered the facility inoperable, according to the World Health Organization.
The attack has cut off vital medical services in the region, compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis. The victims include patients, medical staff and children, highlighting the growing toll of the conflict on civilian infrastructure.
Aid organisations warn that continued attacks on healthcare facilities risk collapsing already fragile systems, leaving millions without access to essential services.
South Africa imposes steep tariffs to protect domestic steel industry
South Africa has imposed significant tariffs on structural steel imports from China and Thailand after an investigation found evidence of dumping.
The duties, reaching nearly 75 percent on Chinese imports, are aimed at protecting local producers from unfair competition. Authorities said the imports had been sold below market value, causing material harm to the domestic industry.
The move reflects broader efforts by Pretoria to shield key sectors of its economy amid global trade pressures and slowing growth.
Tunisia jails prominent activist amid concerns over shrinking civic space
A Tunisian court has sentenced leading anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah to eight years in prison, in a case that has drawn strong criticism from rights groups.
Mosbah, known for her advocacy on behalf of sub-Saharan migrants, was convicted on charges including financial misconduct. Her supporters argue the case is politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown on civil society.
The verdict comes amid growing concerns over declining freedoms in Tunisia following sweeping political changes under President Kais Saied.
Chad to deploy security forces to Haiti amid international stabilisation efforts
Chad plans to send 800 security personnel to Haiti as part of a multinational effort to combat gang violence.
The deployment is expected later this year and will contribute to a United Nations-backed mission aimed at restoring order in the country, where armed groups continue to exert significant control.
Officials say the move reflects growing international concern over Haiti’s deteriorating security situation and the need for coordinated intervention.
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