Trump criticizes reports that memorandum text favors Iran

A draft memorandum aimed at stopping the Gulf war appears to hand Tehran many of the gains it has long sought, according to Western, Pakistani and Iranian sources — a prospect that quickly drew fire from US President Donald Trump, who dismissed the reports as wrong. Reuters reviewed multiple versions and descriptions of the ⁠memorandum from Western officials, Pakistani mediators and senior Iranian sources. Iranian media also carried accounts of the proposal. All of the sources cautioned that the text remains unfinished. A…

Kenyan Forces Repel Suspected Al-Shabaab Night Attack Near Somalia Border Military Base

NAIROBI – Kenyan security forces repelled a suspected Al-Shabaab assault on a military base in Mandera County near the Somalia border, officials said on Thursday, after armed men opened fire on the camp during the night. Security officials said the attack took place on Wednesday evening when a group believed to number about 10 militants targeted a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) camp in Lafey district. The assailants are said to have fired from roughly 600 metres away from the military position. Troops inside the base reacted…

Mexico defeats nine-man South Africa in World Cup opener

Friday June 12, 2026 Raul Jimenez (up C) and Jesus Gallardo (up L) of Mexico vie for a header during the match. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez struck in either half as co-host Mexico opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday. Quinones pounced on a turnover to put Mexico ahead early in the Group A contest, and South Africa’s task grew tougher when Sphephelo Sithole was shown a red card for dragging down Brian Gutierrez. Jimenez later headed in…

How Natural Resources Are Fueling an Insurgency in Northern Mozambique

Vast mineral riches were supposed to lift Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, but a new report argues they instead helped light the fuse of an insurgency. The study, Mozambique Exposed, details how resentment tied to natural resources became a potent recruitment message for militants, as residents watched the area’s wealth extracted amid allegations of corruption and abuses by security forces. According to the report, the discovery of ruby deposits in Cabo Delgado in 2009 transformed the province into the source of…

RSF Airstrikes Kill 23 Civilians Amid Ongoing Sudan Conflict

Sudan's North Kordofan capital, El-Obeid, has been rattled by a series of devastating drone attacks attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two-day onslaught has resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread chaos, with strikes targeting homes, a funeral, and essential supply routes, as reported by a Sudanese rights group and healthcare officials. According to the Emergency Lawyers group, RSF operated drones launched relentless assaults on Wednesday and Thursday, killing at least 23 civilians and…

Ethiopia Warns of Fresh Tigray War, Says TPLF Is Preparing Major Army Base Attacks

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia on Thursday warned that the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is preparing a major assault on Ethiopian National Defence Force (EDF) bases in the country’s north, a development that has revived fears of another war only years after a brutal conflict ended. The alert came from Ethiopia’s intelligence chief and was reinforced by a former president of Tigray, both of whom said they had information showing TPLF fighters were mobilising for a large-scale attack on federal military positions. Officials…

South Korea beat Czech Republic 2-1 in World Cup opener

Friday June 12, 2026 Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - South Korea v Czech Republic - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 11, 2026 Czech Republic's Ladislav Krejci in action REUTERS/Paul Childs Purchase Licensing Rights South Korea roared back from an early deficit to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their opening World Cup Group A match on Thursday, with substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu striking the decisive goal in the 80th minute. The Koreans had already squandered several…

Spanish lottery vendor who cheated winner out of €4.7 million faces jail

A Spanish lottery vendor has been handed a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence after a court found he cheated the winner of a €4.7 million jackpot out of the prize in 2012, according to court documents. The court in A Coruña, in northwestern Spain, said the vendor understood the scale of the win when the customer asked him to check the numbers. Instead of telling the truth, however, he misled the ticket-holder and said that none of the numbers had matched. Judges found that the vendor then attempted to claim the jackpot…

Somali intelligence agency seizes explosive chemicals bound for al-Shabab

Friday June 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Thursday that it had intercepted a major haul of explosive chemical materials allegedly destined for al-Shabab during an operation in Lower Shabelle region. NISA said security forces uncovered more than 100 yellow jerrycans packed with volatile chemical precursors that had been buried in the Jilib Marka area. The agency said al-Shabab operatives concealed the materials after realizing that security forces had identified their…

Constitutional Reform Sparks Political Tensions in DR Congo

Even as Ebola resurges and violence grips eastern DR Congo, a fierce political fight is unfolding over a constitutional change that has put the country on edge. The proposal could open the door for President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. Lawmakers in the National Assembly have approved a referendum bill seen as a gateway to sweeping constitutional reform, pushing it through despite opposition boycotts and claims that the ruling camp aims to skirt term limits. Tshisekedi has said he would pursue a third mandate only…