A projectile strike on a Kuwait-flagged oil tanker near Oman’s Bukha coast has triggered fresh concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, with a fire breaking out aboard the vessel amid escalating Middle East tensions. The tanker, M/T Al Dasma, was struck on October 21, raising fresh alarms over the safety of commercial shipping across the Gulf. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all 21 Indian seafarers aboard the tanker are safe. The vessel remains stationary following the incident as authorities monitor the situation and assess the damage. 

A deadly plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed the lives of 14 people, including two senior military justice officials, after a small aircraft went down in Kenge, Kwango province, on September 25. The aircraft was reportedly returning from Kikwit to Kinshasa when it encountered trouble in flight and crashed while an emergency landing was apparently being attempted. The aircraft crashed in Kenge's Manzawu area and caught fire after impact. Initial reports said there were no casualties reported on the ground. The FARDC has launched an investigation to establish the exact circumstances and cause of the crash, meaning reports of a technical failure remain part of the preliminary account and have not been confirmed as the definitive cause. WATCH