Ukraine warns of Patriot missile shortage after deadly Russian strike kills 23 in Kyiv region

Ukraine has warned that it is running dangerously low on interceptor missiles after Russia launched another large-scale overnight assault on Kyiv and surrounding areas, killing at least 23 people.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it was unable to intercept any of the 23 ballistic missiles fired during Sunday’s attack because of a “serious shortage” of interceptor missiles. However, air defence units successfully destroyed or jammed 37 cruise missiles and 326 of the 351 drones launched by Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies to strengthen the country’s air defences at this week’s NATO summit, saying additional Patriot missile systems were urgently needed to protect civilians. He argued that Russia would continue targeting residential areas as long as Ukraine lacked sufficient defensive capabilities, describing the failure to expand global missile production as unacceptable in the face of continued attacks.

Charlie Kirk murder suspect appears in court as family attends preliminary hearing

The family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has attended the first court hearing for the man accused of fatally shooting him during a public event in Utah last year.

Tyler Robinson, 23, faces charges including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstructing justice and witness tampering over the killing of Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent ally of United States President Donald Trump.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, although Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
Before proceedings began, Kirk’s widow, parents and sister released a statement describing the court process as a painful reminder of the loss suffered by the family.

Kirk was shot while addressing supporters at Utah Valley University in September 2025, triggering a nationwide manhunt before Robinson was arrested two days later.

Khamenei funeral showcases Iran’s unity and resilience after war

The funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has become a powerful political statement, with Tehran using the event to project strength and national unity following months of conflict with the United States and Israel.

Millions of mourners filled the streets of Tehran as senior government officials portrayed the ceremony as evidence that efforts to weaken the Islamic Republic had failed. Diplomats and regional analysts say the leadership is using the public display of solidarity to reinforce its negotiating position in ongoing regional and international talks.

The funeral is widely seen as marking the beginning of a new phase in Iran’s foreign policy, with officials hoping the country’s survival through months of military confrontation will strengthen its influence in future diplomatic negotiations.

Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs as Xbox undergoes major restructuring

Microsoft has announced plans to eliminate 4,800 jobs worldwide, including more than 1,600 positions at its Xbox gaming division, as part of one of the company’s biggest restructurings in recent years.

The technology giant said the layoffs represent about 2.1 per cent of its global workforce. Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma described the changes as the most significant restructuring in the gaming division’s history, with four game development studios set to become independent businesses.

Microsoft said the move reflects changing customer demands and the need to adapt to rapid developments across the technology sector. While executives stressed that the job cuts were not being made to replace workers with artificial intelligence, they acknowledged that AI is fundamentally changing how work is carried out across the company.

Venezuela earthquake death toll rises above 3,500 as thousands remain displaced

The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 3,535, with nearly 18,000 people still without permanent shelter, according to government officials.

Authorities said more than 16,700 people were injured after the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck within seconds of each other on 24 June, causing widespread destruction across Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira.

More than 12,800 survivors remain in temporary shelters as rescue and recovery efforts continue. The government has defended its emergency response despite growing criticism from residents who say assistance arrived too slowly in some of the worst affected communities.

AFRICA

Senegal’s President Faye moves to establish new political party

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegal’s President  is preparing to launch his own political party, signalling a deepening split with former prime minister and former political ally Ousmane Sonko.

A coalition supporting the president said Faye had instructed senior adviser Aminata Touré to lead preparations for the creation of the new party. The move comes months after Sonko was removed as prime minister before becoming Speaker of the National Assembly.

The political fallout has unfolded as lawmakers debate constitutional reforms and the government grapples with the economic consequences of previously undisclosed public debt inherited from the former administration.

Zimbabwe plunged into nationwide blackout after technical fault

Zimbabwe experienced a nationwide power outage after a technical fault disrupted the country’s electricity network, state power utility ZESA has confirmed.

The blackout affected homes, businesses and public services across the country on Monday evening, prompting engineers to begin emergency work to restore supply. ZESA said investigations into the cause of the fault were ongoing.

Power shortages have become a persistent challenge in Zimbabwe because of ageing electricity infrastructure, limited generating capacity and foreign currency shortages that have constrained fuel and electricity imports. Authorities said they were working to stabilise the national grid as quickly as possible.

DR Congo Ebola outbreak reaches 1,561 confirmed cases

The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported another increase in confirmed Ebola infections as the country’s latest outbreak continues to spread.

Government data released on Sunday showed confirmed cases had risen to 1,561, with the death toll climbing to 506. Health authorities continue to focus containment efforts in the eastern provinces where transmission remains highest.

The figures come as international researchers begin clinical trials of experimental treatments aimed at combating the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Morocco foils Islamic State-linked terror plot, arrests 10 suspects

Moroccan security forces have dismantled a suspected terrorist cell linked to the Islamic State group in the Sahel, preventing what authorities described as planned attacks against strategic sites and public institutions.

The Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations arrested 10 suspects during coordinated raids across several cities, including Casablanca, Agadir and Tetouan. Investigators said the suspects had pledged allegiance to Islamic State and received instructions from the group’s Sahel affiliate.

Security officers recovered weapons, chemicals, military-style clothing and documents detailing how to manufacture explosive devices. Moroccan authorities said the operation highlights the growing regional threat posed by extremist organisations operating across the Sahel.

UN Human Rights Council orders urgent investigation into Sudan violence

The United Nations Human Rights Council has approved an urgent investigation into alleged atrocities committed by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces in the city of al Obeid as fighting continues to escalate.

The resolution, introduced by the United Kingdom and supported by 14 other countries, condemns reports of widespread violence by the paramilitary group and seeks an independent inquiry into alleged human rights abuses.

International officials have warned that the situation in al Obeid could mirror the humanitarian disaster seen in al Fasher, where prolonged fighting led to large scale civilian casualties and displacement. The investigation is expected to gather evidence that could support future accountability efforts for crimes committed during Sudan’s ongoing civil war.