Trump threatens Iran’s infrastructure as US strikes enter 11th day

Donald Trump, US President, has warned that the United States will destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran attacks commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions as US military operations against Iran entered an 11th consecutive day.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said any Iranian attack on vessels in the strategic waterway, whether by missiles, drones or other weapons, would trigger immediate retaliation against key infrastructure, including sites “located next to, or in” Tehran.

The warning came as US forces carried out another round of strikes across Iran, while Tehran activated air defences over the capital and reported explosions in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak and Bushehr, home to the country’s only nuclear power plant.

Iran has vowed to retaliate against continued US attacks and warned Washington against targeting its nuclear facilities. Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan also reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles, highlighting the widening regional fallout.

The latest escalation pushed global oil prices to about $94 a barrel amid growing concerns over disruptions to energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

New York mayor says he lacks authority to arrest Netanyahu

Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor has withdrawn his earlier pledge to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister if he visits the city, saying legal advisers concluded he has no authority to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant.

 

In a video posted on social media, Mamdani said his administration had examined every legal option before determining that only the US federal government could act on the warrant.

 

He nevertheless urged Washington to join the ICC and execute the warrant, while insisting Netanyahu “is not welcome” in New York ahead of the Israeli leader’s expected visit for the UN General Assembly in September.

President Donald Trump rejected the suggestion, saying Netanyahu would not be arrested in the United States under any circumstances.

 

French modelling scout linked to Jeffrey Epstein found dead

French modelling scout Daniel Siad, whose name appeared repeatedly in files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home in a suburb of Paris, prosecutors said.

Siad, 69, was discovered on Monday in Colombes, northwest of the French capital. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of death and ordered a post mortem examination.

Earlier this year, French prosecutors launched an investigation into alleged organised human trafficking involving Siad, but said they lacked sufficient evidence to arrest him. He had also faced several complaints, including allegations of rape, which he denied.

Prosecutors said the wider investigation into possible trafficking networks would continue despite his death.

OpenAI investigates AI after autonomous cyber attack during security test

OpenAI says it is investigating an unprecedented security incident after one of its advanced artificial intelligence agents reportedly escaped testing restrictions and launched an autonomous cyber attack against AI platform Hugging Face.

According to the company, the AI system exploited weaknesses in a controlled testing environment before accessing parts of Hugging Face’s internal systems without human direction.

OpenAI described the behaviour as unprecedented and said it is working with Hugging Face to understand how the incident occurred and strengthen safety measures.

The UK’s AI Security Institute is also examining the incident as governments and researchers assess the cybersecurity risks posed by increasingly capable autonomous AI systems.

US Senate panel advances bill tightening restrictions on Chinese-linked vehicles

A US Senate committee has approved legislation aimed at strengthening restrictions on Chinese automakers, though lawmakers acknowledged the measure could unintentionally affect Mercedes-Benz because of Chinese shareholding in the company.

The bill would bar firms with more than 15 percent Chinese ownership from selling vehicles in the United States, although lawmakers said amendments and waivers could be introduced before it becomes law.

Ted Cruz, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman said the proposal was never intended to block Mercedes-Benz, while accusing General Motors of backing the ownership provision to gain a competitive advantage.

The legislation forms part of broader US efforts to reduce Chinese influence in strategic industries.

AFRICA

Ghanaians petition ICC over xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Two Ghanaian nationals have asked the International Criminal Court to investigate xenophobic violence in South Africa, arguing that attacks against foreign nationals may amount to crimes against humanity.

The petition alleges widespread and systematic violence against migrants, including killings, assaults and looting, while accusing the South African government of failing to prevent or punish the attacks.

South Africa has experienced months of anti-immigrant protests fuelled by concerns over unemployment and crime, prompting thousands of migrants to flee affected communities.

Pretoria dismissed the petition as politically motivated.

Congo Ebola deaths approach 1,000 as outbreak worsens

The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded nearly 1,000 Ebola deaths as the country’s latest outbreak continues to spread, according to official health data.

The National Institute of Public Health said confirmed infections have risen to 2,473, including 999 deaths, after 50 new cases were reported in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

Health officials continue to intensify surveillance and treatment efforts as they seek to contain one of the country’s most severe Ebola outbreaks in recent years.

Liberia seizes $370 million worth of cocaine in biggest drugs bust

Liberian authorities have seized cocaine valued at more than $370 million in what police described as the country’s largest drug bust on record.

The drugs were discovered inside dozens of suitcases and boxes loaded onto a truck during a raid on a suspected trafficking facility in Duazon, near the capital, Monrovia.

Police arrested several Liberian suspects along with two foreign nationals, though no formal charges have yet been announced.
Police chief Gregory Coleman said the operation followed more than a year of surveillance targeting international drug trafficking networks using Liberia as a transit route.

Angola jails two Russians for terrorism and espionage

An Angolan court has sentenced two Russian nationals to prison after convicting them of terrorism and espionage linked to an alleged political influence campaign.

Political consultant Igor Ratchin received an 11-year prison sentence, while translator Lev Lakshtanov was sentenced to eight years. Both denied the charges.

Prosecutors accused the pair of attempting to influence Angola’s political landscape ahead of next year’s presidential election through a network allegedly connected to the Wagner-linked group Africa Politology.

The defendants denied any links to the Russian state or Wagner, saying they had been working on plans to establish a Russian cultural centre in Luanda.

Angolan bank joins China’s payment system as yuan trade grows

Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA), Angola’s second-largest commercial bank, is joining China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) as demand for direct yuan transactions continues to grow.

A source familiar with the decision said businesses trading with China increasingly prefer settling payments directly in yuan rather than using the US dollar.

BFA is expected to become the first Angolan bank connected to the Chinese payment network, with the process due to be completed next year.

The move reflects China’s expanding economic influence in Africa, where trade and investment links continue to deepen.