Trump threatens trade cut-off with Spain over Iran bases dispute

Donald Trump, US President has threatened to halt all trade with Spain after Madrid refused to allow American forces to use joint military bases for operations linked to strikes on Iran. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to begin measures that could penalize Spain, including possible embargoes.
Spain’s government has maintained that its Rota naval base and Morón airbase will not support military action against Iran, limiting any cooperation strictly to existing agreements and humanitarian needs.

Middle East conflict widens as strikes intensify

Israeli and US forces carried out fresh strikes on Iranian targets, while Iran launched retaliatory drone attacks across the Gulf. U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon were temporarily closed, and non-essential personnel were ordered to leave parts of the region.
Global markets reacted sharply, with oil prices surging and equities sliding amid fears of prolonged regional instability and supply disruptions.

Father of Georgia school shooting duspect found guilty

A Georgia court has found Colin Gray guilty of murder and child cruelty in connection with a 2024 high school shooting carried out by his teenage son. Prosecutors argued Gray ignored clear warning signs and provided access to the weapon used in the attack.
The case marks one of the rare instances in which a parent has been held criminally responsible for a mass shooting committed by their child.

Mexican cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ buried amid heavy security

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was buried in Jalisco following his death after a firefight with Mexican security forces. His killing sparked widespread cartel violence across multiple states.
Authorities deployed heavy security during funeral proceedings to prevent further unrest linked to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Notorious mafia boss dies in Prison

Benedetto “Nitto” Santapaola, one of Sicily’s most feared Mafia leaders, has died in prison at age 87. He was serving multiple life sentences for orchestrating high-profile murders, including attacks that killed prominent anti-Mafia judges in the early 1990s.
Santapaola’s death closes a significant chapter in Italy’s decades-long battle against organized crime.

AFRICA

Belgium detains suspected Cameroon separatist leaders

Belgian authorities have detained three individuals suspected of leading a Cameroonian separatist militia accused of war crimes. Prosecutors allege funds and operational instructions for armed attacks were coordinated from Belgium.
The Anglophone conflict in Cameroon has killed more than 6,500 people over the past decade.

Sudan accuses Ethiopia of involvement in Civil war

Sudan has, for the first time, accused Ethiopia of allowing drones to be launched from its territory into Sudan during recent attacks. Ethiopia has not responded publicly to the claims.
Sudan’s conflict between the army and Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions and risks drawing in regional actors.

Tunisian tycoon and former PM sentenced

A Tunisian court has sentenced businessman Marouan Mabrouk to 20 years in prison on corruption charges, while former Prime Minister Youssef Chahed received a six-year sentence in a separate case.
The rulings come amid a broader anti-corruption drive that has targeted prominent political and business figures.

US struggles to secure Congo’s strategic minerals

Despite a recent minerals pact between Washington and Kinshasa, U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled supply chains in the Democratic Republic of Congo face obstacles. Ongoing conflict, contested mining licenses and compliance challenges continue to complicate investment plans.
Congo remains central to global supplies of cobalt, copper and lithium.

Migrant boat capsizes off Libya

At least 12 bodies have been recovered after a migrant boat capsized off Libya’s eastern coast. Rescue operations are ongoing as officials attempt to determine the total number of passengers aboard.
The Central Mediterranean route remains one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors, with thousands dying or going missing each year.

Somalia faces deepening hunger crisis

The International Committee of the Red Cross warns that 6.5 million people in Somalia are facing acute hunger as drought devastates livestock and livelihoods. Two failed rainy seasons, combined with ongoing conflict and funding shortfalls, have intensified displacement and humanitarian needs.
Aid agencies caution that without urgent rainfall and increased support, the country could slide toward emergency levels of famine.