Reuters World News Summary

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

US navy came under missile fire after US attack on Iranian oil tanker, Iran state media says

U.S. military naval units operating in the area of the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian missile fire following an attack by the U.S. military on an Iranian oil tanker, Iranian state media, citing an unnamed military official, said on Thursday. U.S. military vessels were forced ​to retreat after sustaining damage from Iranian missile strikes, it added.

Northern Irish police charge man in connection with March police station attack

Northern Irish police said on Thursday they charged a 48-year-old man in connection with an investigation into an attack on a police station in March. The ​person, who the police did not name, has been charged with attempted murder, attempting to cause an explosion, hijacking, and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or damage property, ‌the police said in a ​statement.

Trump sets July 4 deadline for EU to comply with trade deal or face 'much higher' tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would give the European Union until July 4 to implement trade deal commitments before he raises tariffs on EU goods including cars to "much higher levels." Trump said in a Truth Social post that he issued the new deadline during a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in which the two leaders also agreed that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon.

US launches review of Mexican consulates

The U.S. Department of State has started a review of the more than 50 Mexican consulates operating in the United States, a State Department official said on Thursday. The move, which comes amid tense relations between Mexico and the U.S., could result in the closure of some diplomatic offices, the official said.

Explosion hits Netherlands' largest political party's headquarters, police say

An explosion damaged the headquarters of ‌the largest party in the Dutch parliament, D66, on Thursday evening, local police said, adding there were no injuries. Police said a suspect had been arrested following the explosion, which happened at the party office in the centre of The Hague shortly after 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT).

Iran's Fars news agency says sounds of explosions heard near Bandar Abbas city

Iran's Fars news agency said on Thursday that several sounds resembling explosions were heard near Bandar Abbas city, adding the origin and the location of these sounds was unknown.

North Korea leader Kim inspects artillery that can hit South Korean capital

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the production of new artillery with a range exceeding 60 km (37 miles) that would be deployed at the South Korean border and bolster its ability to hit Seoul and other targets, KCNA state news agency said on Friday. Kim said the extended range of the new 155-mm self-propelled howitzer "will provide a great change and advantage in the land operations of our army," KCNA reported.

Fake rumors, real killings: Inside Congo's deadly health misinformation crisis

In Tshopo, a northeastern Congolese province blanketed in rainforest, rumours rippled through villages late last year claiming a mysterious illness had caused men's genitals to atrophy. Within days, testimonials proliferated on social media that amplified the imaginary threat, triggering a real-life panic that turned deadly ‌before the government could react.

Israeli attack kills son of Hamas leader negotiating with Trump-led board

An Israeli airstrike has killed the son of Hamas' chief negotiator in U.S.-mediated talks over Gaza's future, a senior Hamas official said on Thursday, as leaders of the militant group held talks in Cairo aimed at safeguarding their truce with Israel. Azzam Al-Hayya, son of Khalil Al-Hayya, succumbed to his wounds on Thursday after being struck in an Israeli attack on Wednesday night, health and Hamas officials said. He was the fourth son of Hamas' exiled Gaza chief to have been killed in Israeli attacks.

Australia charges two ‌women linked to ISIS with slavery after return from Syria

Australian police said on Friday they had charged two women linked to the Islamic State extremist group with slavery offences after they returned overnight from Syria, where they had been detained in a refugee camp for more than seven years. The women, aged 53 and 31, face crimes against humanity charges including owning and using a slave in Syria, which carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. They were arrested at Melbourne airport on Thursday upon their arrival.

Moldovan parliament restricts use of Russian, prompts opposition walkout

The parliament in ex-Soviet Moldova, controlled by pro-European President Maia Sandu's party, curbed the use of the Russian language in the chamber on Thursday, prompting a walkout by pro-Russian and right-wing opposition parties. New procedural rules placed time limits on addresses and proclaimed Romanian to be the working language in the chamber. Russian had previously been classified as an "inter-ethnic" language and documents were routinely translated.

UN experts warn US fuel blockade in Cuba puts human rights at risk

U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order in January to impose a fuel blockade on Cuba amounts to "energy starvation" with grave consequences for the Caribbean island nation's development and human rights, U.N. experts said on Thursday. Washington, which has imposed an embargo on the communist-run island since 1960, intensified measures this year by threatening tariffs on countries supplying it with oil and repeatedly suggesting it could take military action against Cuba.

Brazil's Lula reports progress in relations with US after talks with Trump

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday that ⁠three hours of White House talks ​with U.S. President Donald Trump had helped to stabilize Brazil-U.S. relations that have been strained over Trump's tariff policy. The two leaders had been scheduled to take questions from reporters ⁠together in the Oval Office but did not appear, prompting speculation of a breakdown in talks amid Trump’s anger over Brazil’s prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Raging fire at Mexican fairground kills five, authorities say

At least five people died in a fire at a fairground in the southeastern Mexican city of Villahermosa on Thursday, authorities said, after the massive blaze broke out during a concert attended by thousands. Authorities do not know what caused the fire, which erupted early on Thursday morning and is now under control, Civil Protection officials said.

After Beirut strike, Netanyahu says 'no immunity' for militants

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday there was no "immunity" for Israel's enemies, a day after the Israeli military targeted a Hezbollah commander in its first strike on Beirut's southern suburbs ⁠since a ceasefire declared last month.

Israel said the attack killed the commander of the Iran-backed group’s elite Radwan force.

Georgia hands down long sentences to election-day protest organisers

Georgia sentenced ten people, including a prominent opera singer, to lengthy prison sentences on Thursday after finding them guilty of attempting to overthrow the government and organising violence at large rallies during municipal elections last year, in a case critics say underscores a widening crackdown on opponents of the ruling party. Georgian riot police used pepper spray and water cannons to disperse demonstrators on the night of the October 4 vote, which was boycotted by the two largest opposition blocs as part of a standoff with the ruling Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012.

More than ​50 Moscow-bound drones intercepted by Russia, mayor says

Russian air defence units have intercepted more than 50 drones heading for Moscow over a period of about 15 hours, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The running total of drones downed between about 11 a.m. (0800 GMT) on Thursday and 2 a.m. on Friday exceeded 50, Sobyanin said in a long series of dispatches on Telegram announcing the interception of drones throughout Thursday.

US and Iran exchange fire, but Trump says ceasefire still in effect

The United States and Iran exchanged fire on Thursday in the most serious test ⁠yet of their month-long ceasefire, but Iran said the situation returned to normal while the Americans said they did not want to escalate. Iran's military said the U.S. targeted two ships entering the Strait of Hormuz and carried out strikes on Iranian territory. The U.S. military said it fired in response to Iranian attacks.

Iran accuses US of violating ceasefire with new attacks

Iran accused the United States of violating a ceasefire by targeting two ships at the Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas, the country's top joint military command said early on Friday. The U.S. targeted "an Iranian oil tanker traveling from Iran's coastal waters near Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz near the Emirati port of Fujairah," a spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in ⁠a ​statement carried by state media.

US military strikes Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas, Fox News reporter says

The U.S. military on Thursday carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas, a Fox News reporter said in a post on X, citing a senior U.S. official. The official said the strikes do not mean a restarting of the war or an end to the ceasefire announced on April 7, according to the post.

US targets Iraq oil official and militias with sanctions for aiding Iran

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Thursday on Iraq's deputy oil minister and militias over support for Iran, the Treasury Department said. The Treasury Department accused Iraq's deputy minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly of abusing "his position to facilitate the diversion of oil to be sold for the benefit of the Iranian regime and its proxy militias in Iraq."

Countries track passengers of virus-hit cruise ship

Countries worldwide sought to prevent further spread of the hantavirus on Thursday, after an outbreak on a cruise ship, by tracking those who had disembarked before the virus was detected and anyone in close contact with them since. Three people - a Dutch couple and a German national - died in the outbreak on the MV Hondius.

US trade court rules Trump tariffs illegal, but issues narrow block

The U.S. trade ⁠court on Thursday ruled against President Donald Trump's latest 10% global tariffs, finding they were not justified under a 1970s trade law, however the court only blocked the levy on two small businesses and the state of Washington. The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in favor of the two businesses and Washington state that challenged the tariffs, which took effect on February 24. The ruling was 2-1, with one judge saying it was premature to grant victory to the small business plaintiffs.

Pope Leo, Rubio commit to stronger ties, Vatican says, amid Trump tensions

Pope Leo and U.S. Secretary ⁠of State Marco Rubio jointly committed at a meeting on Thursday to improving relations between the Vatican and Washington, at a time when President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the pontiff. Leo ⁠and Rubio "renewed the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations," the Vatican said in a statement after the first meeting between the pope and a Trump cabinet official in nearly a year, amid an atmosphere of tension with Washington.

US-proposed Iran resolution at UN faces likely vetoes from China, Russia

The U.S. on Thursday urged countries to support its United Nations resolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining of the Strait of Hormuz, but diplomats said China and Russia are likely to veto it. A Chinese veto would be awkward ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to China next week, where the Iran war is like to be high on the agenda.

US military says it carries out retaliatory strikes against Iran

The U.S. military said it carried out retaliatory strikes on Iran on Thursday, targeting sites it said were responsible for attacking U.S. forces in what it called unprovoked hostilities by Tehran. Earlier, Iran's top joint military ‌command said the U.S. had violated a ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker and another ship entering the ‌Strait of Hormuz, and by striking civilian areas.

Exclusive-Trump vowed to fight crime in Minneapolis. Prosecutions plunged

The Trump administration blitz that flooded Minnesota with immigration agents also dramatically slowed other federal investigations and prosecutions into an array of serious crimes, a Reuters review of federal court records found. New gun and drug prosecutions stalled. Several top ​prosecutors quit. Some federal agents disappeared from drug task forces and gang cases. Others took the unusual step of bringing their investigations to state authorities.