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- Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries, Intensifying Conflict Amid Attacks
- Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day ceasefire proposal amid ongoing tensions
- B.C. Lions rise in standings following victory against Roughriders
- Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in Congress-approved spending, drawing criticism from lawmakers
- Ten men sentenced to a total of 130 years for arson attack in Stoke-on-Trent
- At least 13 dead after military aircraft crashes during emergency landing in DRC
- Protesters rally in Granada to support Maricarmen Abascal’s eviction
- Plane crash in Democratic Republic of the Congo claims 14 lives
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Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries, Intensifying Conflict Amid Attacks
11:01 am
Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refineries, Intensifying Conflict Amid Attacks
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Ukraine has intensified its military operations against Russia, launching strikes on critical industrial sites. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that attacks have targeted key facilities, including a major oil refinery in Ilsky, igniting fires and further disrupting Russian supply chains. This comes amid heightened tensions as both nations grapple with the implications of these military actions on regional stability. For further updates on the conflict, visit our global conflict updates page.
Economically, the ongoing conflict is creating ripple effects across energy markets, particularly with supply interruptions raising concerns about future oil prices. Analysts anticipate a volatile response from traders in anticipation of further military engagements. Attention now turns to upcoming diplomatic responses from NATO and the EU, which may shape the course of the conflict in the weeks ahead.
Key developments across the world
Netanyahu’s UN belligerence wins cheers at home as world walks out
WORLD POLITICS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s speech at the UN was met with criticism and protests globally.
During his address, Netanyahu condemned international criticism of Israel and defended its military actions. His remarks sparked protests outside the UN headquarters, underscoring ongoing tensions surrounding Israel’s policies.
At Least 2 Killed as Ukraine Strikes Industrial Sites Across Russia
GLOBAL SECURITY — Ukrainian forces have carried out strikes on multiple industrial sites in Russia, resulting in at least two fatalities.
This escalation in hostilities reflects Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive, targeting strategic locations to disrupt Russia’s military supply chains. The strikes have prompted heightened tensions and an increased military alert across Russia.
Ukraine strikes Russia’s Ilsky oil refinery, causing fire, General Staff confirms
GLOBAL SECURITY — Ukraine has confirmed a strike on the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia, igniting significant fires.
This military operation is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to disrupt Russian oil supply and operational capabilities. The attack further exemplifies the intensifying military exchanges between Ukraine and Russia as the conflict continues unabated.
Russia targeting ‘ordinary life’ with attacks on Ukraine’s data centres, Zelensky says
GLOBAL SECURITY — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia is targeting the very fabric of civilian life by attacking data centres.
The cyberattacks aim to disrupt digital communications and services, fuelling concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure amidst the war. This aggressive move highlights how the conflict now extends into digital warfare, posing risks to civilian sectors.
Bangkok roads submerged as flood disaster declared
GLOBAL TRADE — A flood disaster has been declared in Bangkok, causing extensive disruption across the city.
The flooding has submerged roads, affecting transportation and leading to significant economic implications. This environmental crisis underscores the vulnerability of urban areas to climate-related disasters and the need for resilient infrastructure.
What to watch — Keep an eye on potential escalations in military actions between Ukraine and Russia as both nations ramp up attacks.
Further reading from global news sources
Reuters
Russia’s Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery suspends operations after drone attack, governor says
BBC News
Bangkok roads submerged as flood disaster declared
The Guardian
Russia strikes at heart of Ukraine’s digital economy with attacks on ISPs and datacentres
The Moscow Times
At Least 2 Killed as Ukraine Strikes Industrial Sites Across Russia
Al Jazeera
Netanyahu’s UN belligerence wins cheers at home as world walks out
Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day ceasefire proposal amid ongoing tensions
10:00 am
Get you up to speed: Trump ‘rejects’ Iran’s seven-day ceasefire proposal. What’s next?
United States President Donald Trump has ruled out Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week, according to unnamed US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. This decision follows Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s call for the US to take specific actions to facilitate maritime passage in the strait, which is critical for global oil and natural gas shipping.
The US government has not officially responded to Iran’s ceasefire proposal, reflecting a cautious stance amid ongoing indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar. US officials suggest that President Trump’s decision-making regarding potential military actions may be influenced by the outcome of the November midterm elections.
President Donald Trump has reportedly dismissed Iran’s ceasefire proposal and may consider renewed military action following the upcoming midterm elections. Meanwhile, diplomatic communications are ongoing, with Qatar facilitating discussions between the US and Iran, although substantial scepticism remains regarding shared objectives.
What remains unclear — The US government’s specific timeline and conditionality for responding to Iran’s proposal have not been disclosed.
Trump rejects Iran’s seven-day ceasefire proposal amid ongoing tensions
EXPLAINERNews|US-Israel war on IranTrump ‘rejects’ Iran’s seven-day ceasefire proposal. What’s next?
Analyst says Trump may opt to resume attacks on Iran after November midterm elections.
Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026
Published On 26 Sep 202626 Sep 2026United States President Donald Trump has reportedly ruled out an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week, according to unnamed US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Trump’s rejection comes just hours after Iran put forward a new roadmap to opening the strait, through which one-fifth of global oil and natural gas is shipped during peacetime – and days after the US president threatened to “annihilate” Iran from the floor of the UN General Assembly.
Here’s what we know about Trump’s response to the proposal and what could come next in the conflict.
What was in Iran’s seven-day proposal?
The proposal lays out a roadmap to open the Strait of Hormuz with normal maritime passage within a week.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the proposal calls for the US to take actions it committed to under the failed June 17 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on an accelerated timeframe.
Those actions include releasing $12bn in frozen Iranian assets, lifting Iranian oil sanctions and ending the US’s naval blockade on Iranian ports, Araghchi told reporters at a private media briefing on Thursday, according to The New York Times. He also said all hostilities, including in Lebanon, where Israel still occupies part of the south of the country, must cease during the seven-day period.
Araghchi said once the US conditions are met – which he estimated would take four or five days – the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations with the US on a “final deal” would start on day seven.
He said the process could begin as soon as the US accepts the plan.
“The choice now rests with the United States,” said Araghchi. “Iran does not accept coercion, threats or intimidation.”
How has the US responded?
The US government has not publicly responded to the plan.
However, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had quickly ruled it out, citing unnamed US officials.
They said Trump was sceptical about whether Iran would fulfil US demands. Trump’s most persistent demands have been that Iran never be able to acquire a nuclear weapon and that it restore free passage in Hormuz.
Iran says it will not discuss its nuclear programme until the conditions it has laid down are met, which has led to an impasse between the two sides.
Meanwhile, a US official has told WTX News that Washington is in no hurry to respond to Iran’s proposal and that it sees itself as being in a strong position with respect to the Strait of Hormuz.
Late on Friday night, Trump posted an image of a map on his Truth Social platform that labelled it “Trump Strait”.
Trump has previously said the US has “total control” over the waterway and threatened to designate it as a US territory. Iran strongly denied that, saying it has complete control of the strait.
Are peace negotiations still happening?
Yes, but mostly indirectly. At the UN General Assembly in New York this week, Qatar has been passing messages between the two sides as an intermediary.
Both the US and Iran have said the door to diplomacy remains open and a US official told WTX News that ongoing mediated talks are “positive and constructive”.
Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict, said its foreign minister spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday about de-escalation and the conditions for renewed dialogue.
Earlier this week, US officials, including special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, held mediated discussions with Iranian counterparts in New York, a meeting Trump described as “very good”.
Nevertheless, there is “an enormous amount of scepticism in Washington that the two countries are on the same page,” according to Thomas Warrick, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
“I think that the best we can hope for is that this offer from the Iranian foreign minister does lead to further discussions to try to clarify what preconditions Washington is willing to work with,” Warrick told WTX News.
Where does the US-Iran standoff go from here?
Possibly towards renewed hostilities.
According to the US officials cited in The Wall Street Journal, Trump told his aides he expects to carry out a new bombing campaign against Iran after the US midterm elections in November.
That comes after Trump told the UN General Assembly he was considering whether to “annihilate” Iran and “drive them into hell” in the absence of a deal.
At the same time, Trump has said he believes a deal to end the conflict will come shortly after the midterms.
Paul Musgrave, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, told WTX News that Trump “doesn’t want to end the war on unfavourable terms” and that the result of November’s elections will likely help steer his policy.
If Trump’s Republican party suffers severe setbacks in the elections – and loses its majority in Congress – he may opt for “unilateral actions, including perhaps a resumption of warfare”, said Musgrave.
“That would also mean that Iran would have delivered a really stinging political blow to President Trump,” Musgrave continued, adding this could trigger short-term escalation, “followed by negotiation so that the White House doesn’t look like it’s just surrendering”.
B.C. Lions rise in standings following victory against Roughriders
9:00 am
Get you up to speed: Lions climb standings with win over Roughriders
The B.C. Lions have struggled in their performance, having lost six games into the Canadian Football League season. Immediate results indicate that the team is underperforming compared to expectations.
The B.C. Lions are currently reviewing their performance after the first six games of the CFL season. No updates have been provided regarding changes to the coaching staff or player roster at this time.
The B.C. Lions have acknowledged their struggles early in the season, with head coach Rick Campbell stating, “We need to get better in all areas.” In response, the team is implementing strategic changes in practice to enhance performance and aims to address its shortcomings in the upcoming match against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
What remains unclear — The reasons for the B.C. Lions’ poor performance have not been detailed.
B.C. Lions rise in standings following victory against Roughriders
Six games into the CFL season, the B.C. Lions were floundering.
Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in Congress-approved spending, drawing criticism from lawmakers
7:00 am
Get you up to speed: Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, a move some lawmakers called illegal
President Trump has moved to cancel nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, including $567 million in services for refugees and asylees, according to the White House. This action, executed through a “pocket rescission,” has faced criticism from lawmakers, including Senator Susan Collins and Representative Rosa DeLauro.
The Trump administration’s latest rescission marks the second use of a “pocket rescission” tactic in two years, with the fiscal year ending on Wednesday. The Government Accountability Office has indicated that such actions may violate legal standards set by the Impoundment Control Act, with critics planning to address these legality concerns in Congress.
Republican Senator Susan Collins has condemned the latest rescissions as “unlawful,” stating that lawmakers received no prior consultation regarding the $810 million in cuts. The administration’s previous use of pocket rescissions has faced legal challenges, and opposition lawmakers may pursue legislative action to counter the current cancellations.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how Congress will respond to the latest pocket rescission or whether legal challenges will be mounted against it.
Trump cancels nearly $1 billion in Congress-approved spending, drawing criticism from lawmakers
President Trump moved to cancel almost $1 billion in spending that was approved by Congress, the White House said late Friday, marking the second time the administration has employed a rarely used tactic that some lawmakers in both parties have called illegal.
The administration said it was calling off $567 million in spending on services for refugees, asylees and other migrants through the Department of Health and Human Services. The White House is also rescinding $50 million for several other programs that aid immigrants and noncitizens, $70 million in “Woke International Education” grants and fellowships and $56 million in Housing and Urban Development programs.
“President Trump is committed to utilizing all possible tools to cut wasteful and harmful government spending that does not benefit American citizens,” the White House said.
The White House said it would claw back the spending through a controversial maneuver called a “pocket rescission,” in which the president notifies Congress shortly before the end of the fiscal year that it doesn’t wish to spend funds that lawmakers appropriated.
Under the Impoundment Control Act, the president can propose rescissions of budget authority, which Congress has 45 legislative days to approve. But if proposals are made late in the fiscal year, the funds can effectively be withheld until they expire. The fiscal year ends on Wednesday.
The Trump administration used the same tactic last year to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid funds approved by Congress. That marked the first pocket rescission since 1977, during the Carter administration.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, strongly criticized the latest pocket rescission.
In a statement Friday, she said lawmakers were informed of $810 million in pocket rescissions “without warning or consultation.” She said it appears that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget “intentionally withheld these funds for months to execute this unlawful cancellation of appropriations that were approved on a bipartisan basis and signed into law.”
Collins noted that the Government Accountability Office has called pocket rescissions illegal.
“Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law,” said Collins, a frequent critic of pocket rescissions who is running for reelection this year. “I will work with my colleagues to address these illegal actions.”
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said the Trump administration is “once again trying to steal more money promised to communities across the country.”
Since returning to office last year, Mr. Trump has sought to call off spending on programs that do not align with his policy priorities, drawing lawsuits.
Last year’s pocket rescissions drew a legal challenge from organizations and businesses that receive funding for foreign aid projects. The Supreme Court ultimately allowed the Trump administration to cancel billions in foreign aid funds, pointing to the president’s power to oversee foreign relations, but did not reach a final decision on the merits.
Ten men sentenced to a total of 130 years for arson attack in Stoke-on-Trent
6:00 am
Get you up to speed: 10 men jailed for 130 years after setting a mother and girl, 13, on fire | News UK
Ten men have been sentenced to a combined 130 years for a revenge attack in which a woman and her daughter were set on fire at their home on Beverley Drive in Stoke-on-Trent. The mother suffered severe injuries, including 65% burns, while her 13-year-old daughter sustained 15% burns during the incident on December 16, 2021.
The investigation involved extensive CCTV analysis, digital evidence, and specialist forensic work to establish the roles of all individuals involved in the incident. Sentencing occurred at Leicester Crown Court, with several men having entered guilty pleas prior to the 11-week trial that concluded in February 2026.
Detective Constable Howard Davies stated that the sentences aim to send a “strong message that this kind of violence will not be tolerated.” All ten men will serve two-thirds of their sentences, with the remainder on licence, as the court concluded that the attack was a “deliberate revenge for the relatively minor injury”.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how many of the ten sentenced men were directly involved in the attack on the mother and daughter.
Ten men sentenced to a total of 130 years for arson attack in Stoke-on-Trent
A total of 10 men have been jailed for a combined 130 years after setting fire to a home in a ‘revenge attack’ that severely injured a woman and a teenage girl.
On December 16, 2021, shortly before 11pm, a group of men smashed the downstairs windows of a house on Beverley Drive in Stoke-on-Trent and poured petrol into the hallway and outside the living room window.
A 31-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl were inside at the time, both of whom had no choice but to jump out of an upstairs window.
Police confirmed that the mother had been struck on the head and set on fire; she suffered 65% burns, a broken pelvis, broken ribs, and a cut to her liver.
She spent two months in a coma and was not expected to survive, but she is now walking again and is predicted to need medical treatment for life.
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The child suffered 15% burns to her arm, requiring skin grafts, in what Staffordshire Police’s major investigations department called a ‘truly shocking’ act of violence.
An 11-week trial followed at Nottingham Crown Court, which concluded in February, while several men entered guilty pleas prior to the trial.
Today, at Leicester Crown Court, seven men were sentenced, while three others had already been sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
On June 3, Bilal Ahmed, 27, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, and Naveed Hussain, 32, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, were sentenced.
Ahmed was given 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, as well as 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
Hussain was sentenced to 22 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possession of a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place.
On July 7, Kashif Ahmed, 26, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 48 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
Sentenced today, Haris Mahmood, 22, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was given 24 years and nine months, having pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.
Shakil Uddin, 23, of Oldham, was sentenced to 34 years after being convicted of one count of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.
Ali Abbas, 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for 25 years after pleading guilty to numerous charges: two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life, two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a knife or blade in a public place.
Riyadh Iqbal, 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life.
Tayyeb Majeed, 24, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years after a conviction for grievous bodily harm with intent.
Lukman Khan, 25, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life.
Finally, Muhammad Sufyaan-Shah, 25, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent.
All will serve two-thirds of their sentences, with the rest on licence.
The court heard how, at approximately 4pm on the day of the fire, a fight broke out between Hussain, Abbas, Bilal Ahmed, and Kashif Ahmed.
According to police, the brawl on Kildare Street, Longton, resulted in Kashif Ahmed sustaining a stab wound to his shoulder, for which he went to hospital.
Then, several hours later, a gang went to the two-bed property on Beverley Drive and demanded to speak to Hussain, at which point the revenge attack was carried out.
Hussain’s ex-partner was ‘relaxing in her home’ at the time, unaware that he had been in a street fight earlier on, while her teenage daughter was ‘on her phone upstairs’ when she heard the men breaking in, demanding to know where her stepdad was. It is believed Hussain visited his ex and her child at the house ‘periodically’.
Judge Mayo said it is ‘virtually impossible to imagine a more horrific scene’ than what the victims faced that night, with the girl having recalled hearing her mother screaming as her ‘hair, face, arms, and legs’ were on fire while she was unclothed.
The attack was described as ‘deliberate revenge for the relatively minor injury to Kashif Ahmed’, with prosecutor Siobhan Collins adding: ‘It is clear when that was put in motion the intended victim was Naveed Hussain.’
Commenting after the offenders were sentenced, Detective Constable Howard Davies said: ‘We hope these sentences send a strong message that this kind of violence will not be tolerated and that those responsible will be held to account.’
At least 13 dead after military aircraft crashes during emergency landing in DRC
5:00 am
Get you up to speed: At least 13 killed after plane crashes in emergency landing near homes | News World
A military aircraft crashed into a hillside in Kenge, Kwango province, Democratic Republic of Congo, killing all 13 people on board. Among the victims were high-ranking military officials, including General Likulia Bakumi, and the plane was attempting an emergency landing after suffering a technical malfunction.
An investigation into the crash has been launched by the government aviation accident body, with details pending on the specific technical malfunction that led to the accident. The Democratic Republic of Congo has a notable history of aviation accidents, despite accounting for a mere 0.1% of global air traffic.
The government aviation accident body has initiated an investigation into the crash, which resulted in the deaths of all 13 individuals on board, including high-ranking military officials. Remy Saki Bokinda, the province vice governor, stated, “With no landing strip available in Kenge, the plane crashed into a residential plot,” highlighting the challenges faced in aviation safety in the region.
What remains unclear — The specific technical malfunction that caused the aircraft to crash has not been disclosed.
At least 13 dead after military aircraft crashes during emergency landing in DRC
The military aircraft crashed into a hillside in DRC, killing all people on board (Picture: X)
Several people have died after a plane crashed in a fireball in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At least 13 people were killed in the collision involving a military aircraft.
High-ranking officers were among the victims, according to officials.
The plane was travelling to the capital, Kinshasa, from Kikwit city when it suffered a technical malfunction.
The pilot tried to perform an emergency landing, but the aircraft plunged towards homes in Kenge, Kwango province, in southwestern DRC.
The plane had attempted an emergency landing, but it crashed in a fireball in Kenge, DRC (Picture: X)
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Remy Saki Bokinda, the province vice governor, told Reuters: ‘With no landing strip available in Kenge, the plane crashed into a residential plot.’
The plane was carrying General Likulia Bakumi, the army’s auditor general, a major, a captain, other military personnel and civilians, he confirmed.
Breaking – L-410 crash on DR Congo. All 13 aboard died.
Flight had diverted to Kenge due to technical difficulties enroute but crashed at Kenge and burst into fire.
Amongst the victims were the president of the military high court and other military and civilian personnel.…
— Francisco Cunha – ✈️ Aviation et al (@OnDisasters) September 25, 2026
All people on board are said to have died after the wreckage was engulfed by flames.
Footage shows people rushing to the burning plane, with thick smoke billowing into the air from the hillside.
In another clip, the lifeless body of the pilot was carried away on a stretcher.
Twelve people were ‘burned beyond recognition,’ while the pilot was discovered outside the aircraft, Mr Bokinda said.
An investigation into the crash has been launched by the government aviation accident body.
Deadly aviation accidents are not uncommon in DR Congo, the second-largest African country, where distances are long and roads are in poor condition.
The country has featured high on the list of countries for most aviation accidents in the past, despite accounting for only 0.1% of global air traffic.
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