Turkey’s efforts to broker a ceasefire on Black Sea attacks face obstacles, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who acknowledged that the positions held by Ukraine and Russia remain “difficult to reconcile.” Speaking in a televised interview on Tuesday, Fidan emphasized Turkey’s primary concern is ensuring the safe export of grain through the Black Sea, a vital resource for many countries. He noted that both Ukraine and Russia are key grain exporters, but ongoing military strikes complicate efforts to secure shipping routes. In response, Ankara has submitted a proposal to both Moscow and Kyiv aimed at halting attacks on civilian vessels.

Separately, Yemen's Houthi movement reported launching missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia on Monday, targeting key sites in Riyadh and the oil facilities of the port city Yanbu. Hours after residents in Riyadh reported explosions, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated the operations were retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. Saree described the attacks as “successful” and specifically aimed at “sensitive sites” in Saudi Arabia, including Aramco infrastructure. The move further escalates tensions between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition involved in the Yemen conflict.

In Belarus, the defense ministry announced that military drills were conducted last week near the country’s western border adjacent to European Union member states Poland and Lithuania. The exercises, described as “strictly defensive in nature,” come amid increased friction between Russia and European countries due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, routinely carries out such drills and has in some instances conducted joint exercises with Russian forces.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is grappling with a deadly public health crisis in Ondo state, where 48 people have died and 182 others fallen ill after consuming locally brewed alcoholic drinks contaminated with methanol. The food and drug regulatory agency reported that the deaths occurred across three districts in the southwestern region. The tainted beverage, locally known as “Monkey Tail,” was found to contain dangerously high levels of methanol and traces of the indica strain of cannabis. Authorities have arrested 15 individuals linked to the production and distribution of the illicit mixture. Some victims suffered severe health complications, including blindness.

In Uganda, the military announced the suspension of defense cooperation with Turkey following a dispute over the extradition of a prominent political blogger, Fred Lumbuye, who is an outspoken critic of President Yoweri Museveni. Army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also Museveni’s son and considered a potential successor, has clashed repeatedly with Turkish officials over Ankara’s refusal to hand over Lumbuye, who faces 15 charges encompassing incitement to violence, dissemination of false information, and computer misuse. The suspension disrupts nearly a decade of close cooperation between the two countries in military training, technology sharing, and counterterrorism initiatives.