UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate halt to weapons flows into Sudan as the country's civil war passed its third anniversary, entering a fourth year of fighting. The plea came with no accompanying enforcement mechanism, underscoring the limits of UN leverage when major arms suppliers operate outside Security Council consensus. Sudan's war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, has produced one of the world's largest displacement crises, with millions driven from their homes and widespread famine conditions reported across multiple regions. Guterres's statement signals continued UN pressure on member states facilitating arms transfers, but absent binding Security Council action, compliance remains voluntary. Analysts and aid organizations will watch whether the anniversary draws renewed diplomatic attention from regional powers, including those in the Gulf and neighboring African states, whose postures toward the warring factions have materially shaped the conflict's trajectory and humanitarian access conditions.
Venezuela's earthquake death toll has reached 1,430 with the US Geological Survey warning fatalities could top 10,000, placing it among Latin America's deadliest in a century. US military planes are landing in Caracas, Washington is mobilising $150 million in aid, and rescue teams from 17 countries are on the ground.
Iranian armed forces attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, briefly halting traffic through the waterway. The strike threatens a fragile US-Iran arrangement and could push shipping insurance costs and oil prices higher.
The US has struck Iran, with President Trump citing an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz as justification. The action raises immediate risks for global oil flows through one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
The US struck ten Iranian targets on the second consecutive day of military action, putting a fragile ceasefire under serious pressure. The escalation raises immediate risks for Gulf shipping, global oil supply, and regional stability.
