Russian missile, drone assault kills four across Ukraine
Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine overnight, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in coordinated strikes that killed at least four people and injured around 100 others.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was the main target, though attacks also struck other regions. Residential buildings, a school, an opera house and a museum were damaged in the capital and surrounding areas.
Russia’s defence ministry said the strikes involved the Oreshnik hypersonic missile and were retaliation for what Moscow described as Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure — an allegation Kyiv denies.
The latest bombardment drew condemnation from European leaders and heightened fears of further escalation in the war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022.
Blast on military train kills at least 20 in Pakistan
At least 20 people were killed and 70 injured after an explosion struck a train carrying military personnel in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province.
The blast occurred near Chaman Phatak station in Quetta, derailing several coaches and overturning two carriages. The train was transporting service members and their families returning home for Eid celebrations.
The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility, describing the attack as a suicide bombing, though Pakistani authorities have yet to confirm the claim.
Images from the scene showed burnt-out train carriages and damaged nearby vehicles as rescue operations continued.
Trump says Iran deal nearly complete, including Hormuz reopening
Donald Trump, the United States President says a long-term agreement with Iran has been “largely negotiated”, adding that the deal would include reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said discussions involving Gulf leaders, including officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, were progressing towards a broader peace framework.
Iranian officials acknowledged some convergence in negotiations but cautioned that major disagreements remained unresolved.
The talks follow months of tensions and a ceasefire reached earlier this year after the US-Israel conflict with Iran threatened regional energy supplies and global oil markets.
One dead and dozens feared trapped after Philippines building collapse
At least one person has died and dozens are feared trapped after a nine-storey building under construction collapsed near the Philippine capital Manila.
The structure in Angeles City gave way early Sunday morning, sending scaffolding and concrete crashing onto nearby streets and buildings.
Rescue teams have pulled more than two dozen survivors from the debris, while several others remain trapped beneath large slabs of concrete.
Authorities identified the deceased as a 65-year-old Malaysian man staying in a nearby hotel struck by falling debris. Officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
Shark attack kills spearfisherman off Australian coast
A 39-year-old man has died after being attacked by a shark while spearfishing off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia.
Police said the victim suffered critical head injuries near Kennedy Shoal, about 45 kilometres offshore, before companions pulled him from the water and brought him ashore.
The incident marks Australia’s second fatal shark attack in as many weeks following another deadly attack near Perth earlier this month.
Authorities said a report would be prepared for the coroner.
Benin’s Wadagni sworn in as president, pledges jobs and security
Romuald Wadagni has officially taken office as Benin’s new president, promising to improve living standards and tackle growing security threats.
The former finance minister won April’s election with more than 94 percent of the vote, succeeding Patrice Talon after two constitutional terms.
Wadagni pledged to continue economic reforms while focusing on job creation, social protection and access to basic services.
Red Cross volunteers die from suspected Ebola in DR Congo
Three Red Cross volunteers have died from suspected Ebola infections in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo after reportedly contracting the virus while handling bodies in Ituri province.
The volunteers were working in Mongwalu, now considered the epicentre of the outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine.
The outbreak has resulted in hundreds of suspected cases and more than 200 suspected deaths, prompting the World Health Organization to raise the public health risk level to “very high”.
Senegal president sacks PM Sonko after political feud
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegalese President has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government following months of growing tensions between the former allies.
The split comes amid mounting economic pressure and disputes over how to handle Senegal’s rising debt burden.
Sonko, whose popularity helped propel Faye to power in 2024, had publicly criticised the president’s economic management during a parliamentary session days earlier.
The political rupture threatens instability in one of West Africa’s key democracies.
Uganda confirms new Ebola cases as regional fears grow
Uganda has confirmed three additional Ebola infections, bringing its total cases to five amid a widening regional outbreak centred in DR Congo.
Health authorities are intensifying contact tracing efforts as the World Health Organization warns that armed conflict, high population movement and the absence of a vaccine increase the risk of further spread.
The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has already caused hundreds of suspected deaths in neighbouring DR Congo.
Moody’s upgrades South Africa outlook as fiscal pressures ease
Moody’s has revised South Africa’s economic outlook from stable to positive, citing improving fiscal discipline and progress on structural reforms.
The agency maintained the country’s long-term credit rating at Ba2 but said debt levels were expected to stabilise and gradually decline.
South Africa’s government welcomed the decision, though analysts warned that rising global fuel prices linked to Middle East tensions could still weigh heavily on the economy.
