Latest News
- North Macedonia arrests seven linked to Islamic State synagogue arson
- British woman Rachel Kerr found safe in Agadir after disappearance in Morocco
- Trump to raise EU car tariffs to 25% amid trade deal concerns
- EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Takes Provisional Effect, Boosting Global Trade
- Rebels Seize Northern Town Tessalit, Mali
- Israel arrests suspect for racially motivated assault on nun in Jerusalem
- France and Germany send firefighting units to aid Netherlands blazes
- Trump claims no congressional approval needed for Iran war due to ceasefire
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North Macedonia arrests seven linked to Islamic State synagogue arson
5:00 am
North Macedonia arrests seven linked to Islamic State synagogue arson
Arson Arrests
Seven individuals have been arrested in North Macedonia after an arson attack on a synagogue was linked to the Islamic State (IS) group.
Seven individuals have been arrested in North Macedonia after an arson attack on a synagogue was linked to the Islamic State (IS) group.
Arrests Made
Seven individuals were arrested in connection with an arson attack linked to the Islamic State, highlighting North Macedonia’s proactive measures against radicalism.
Seven individuals were arrested in connection with an arson attack linked to the Islamic State, highlighting North Macedonia’s proactive measures against radicalism.
Israeli Response
“Their swift and determined action to hold the perpetrators accountable underscores North Macedonia’s commitment to safeguarding the Jewish community,” stated Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
“Their swift and determined action to hold the perpetrators accountable underscores North Macedonia’s commitment to safeguarding the Jewish community,” stated Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Key developments
An arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia, has been linked to the Islamic State group, according to the Agency for National Security.
Intelligence services conducted multiple raids, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals associated with a radical group tied to Islamic State ideology, with charges laid against two of the suspects.
Arson attack at Skopje synagogue linked to so-called Islamic State, officials say
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An arson attack last month on a synagogue in North Macedonia’s capital has been linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, the country’s intelligence service said on Friday.
Nobody was injured in the 12 April attack, which is the Orthodox Easter, but an entrance of the building in Skopje was left scorched after it was set on fire.
The Agency for National Security said they had raided several properties and arrested seven people believed to be a “part of a radical group ideologically linked to the global network of the Islamic State.”
Police said following the arrests on Thursday, they had charged a 21-year-old and a 38-year-old with terrorism related offences.
“The individuals have been held for further proceedings,” police spokesperson Goce Andreevski said in a video statement.
Surveillance footage shared by the Israeli embassy, purportedly of the incident, shows two men in motorcycle helmets jumping a fence before pouring fuel outside of the building and setting the front courtyard ablaze.
In a statement after the fire, the local Jewish community said the building had only suffered minor damage.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanked North Macedonia’s authorities for the arrests.
“Their swift and determined action to hold the perpetrators accountable underscores North Macedonia’s commitment to safeguarding the Jewish community,” Sa’ar wrote on X.
IS has a profoundly hostile opposition toward Jews and while the group has rarely directly confronted Jewish communities in the Middle East, its ideology frames Judaism as the primary enemy of Islam.
The group has frequently called for attacks on Jews and Jewish sites worldwide.
Additional sources • AFP
British woman Rachel Kerr found safe in Agadir after disappearance in Morocco
3:00 am
Get you up to speed: British woman Rachel Kerr found safe in Agadir after disappearance in Morocco
Rachel Kerr, 31, from Maddiston, Falkirk, has been found safe in an apartment in Agadir, Morocco, after disappearing following her departure from a nightclub. The Agadir Security Authority initiated an investigation after receiving notification of her disappearance on April 27.
Rachel Kerr, 31, from Maddiston, Falkirk, was found safe in an apartment in Agadir after being reported missing on April 27, according to the Agadir Security Authority. Her family noted that she had run out of money during her work trip and had been unreachable due to her phone being switched off.
Rachel Kerr, 31, has been found safe in Agadir, Morocco, and is currently in contact with her brother, who arrived in the country on April 22. Authorities confirmed that Rachel is under normal circumstances after her family raised concerns when she was not heard from following her checkout from the Caribbean Village hotel.
British travel influencer found ‘safe’ in Morocco after vanishing from hotel | News World
Rachel Kerr, from Scotland, has not been seen for days, and her phone is switched off (Picture: Jam Press)
A British woman has been reunited with her family after not being seen since leaving a Moroccan nightclub.
Rachel Kerr, 31, from Maddiston, Falkirk, is believed to have run out of money in the holiday resort of Agadir.
The photographer and content creator’s family said her phone is switched off in an urgent appeal posted on social media.
Ms Kerr was on a short work trip to the African country, according to her family.
Police announced they had found her ‘safe’ in an apartment after checking out of her last hotel.
The Agadir Security Authority said it received notification of the disappearance on April 27 and immediately launched an investigation, using national security databases to identify the woman and trace her movements.
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Authorities confirmed she is still in Morocco under normal circumstances and is in contact with her brother, who entered the country on April 22 and reached her in Agadir.
Her relative Peter Kerr told WTX: ‘She has now been found. She is with her brother but she wasn’t at the time of that report.’
Rachel Kerr was in Morocco on a work trip before going missing (Picture: Jam Press)
Her cousin raised the alarm after she vanished from the Caribbean Village hotel.
She said: ‘However, she checked out on Saturday and we haven’t heard from her since. Her phone has been switched off.
‘We’re very concerned for her welfare and are appealing for any information on her whereabouts or who she may be in contact with out there.
Rachel’s concerned friend Alexis Shaw said: ‘The police are involved.
‘She was last seen at Smart Nightclub 5am on Saturday morning.
‘She ran out of money completely on Friday. Please get in contact if anyone sees her as police are trying to locate her to get her home safely.’
The friend said that Rachel’s brother had at one point flown in to try and find her.
Rachel Kerr hasn’t been seen for days (Credits: Jam Press)
Another British holidaymaker who claimed to have met Rachel while he was out in Morocco said on Facebook: ‘She was out there a month ago when I was there.
‘A little Scottish girl, I was talking to her out there.’
He added that Rachel had told him she was planning to stay in the town of Agadir after her stint at the resort came to an end.
Another commentator familiar with the area claimed that the Smart nightclub is known for drinks’ spiking.
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Trump to raise EU car tariffs to 25% amid trade deal concerns
2:00 am
Trump to raise EU car tariffs to 25% amid trade deal concerns
Tariff Increase
US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25%, effective next week.
US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25%, effective next week.
Trade Relations Impact
Trump’s impending tariff increase on EU vehicles threatens a trade framework valued at €1.7 trillion, jeopardising EU economic interests and bilateral cooperation.
Trump’s impending tariff increase on EU vehicles threatens a trade framework valued at €1.7 trillion, jeopardising EU economic interests and bilateral cooperation.
EU Response
“The EU has been implementing its commitments ‘in line with standard legislative practice’ and will keep its ‘options open to protect EU interests,’” stated a European Commission spokesperson.
“The EU has been implementing its commitments ‘in line with standard legislative practice’ and will keep its ‘options open to protect EU interests,’” stated a European Commission spokesperson.
Key developments
US President Donald Trump will increase tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25% next week, citing non-compliance with a trade deal. The decision heightens tensions amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
A European Commission spokesperson countered Trump’s claims, asserting the EU has adhered to its commitments while remaining open to protecting its interests. Lawmakers are negotiating safeguards within the trade agreement framework.
MEP Bernd Lange condemned Trump’s announcement as a sign of “clear unreliability,” highlighting ongoing concerns regarding US adherence to international trade commitments and the potential impact on EU economies.
Trump to raise US tariffs on EU cars to 25%, accusing bloc of not complying with deal
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will increase the tariffs charged on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25% next week, a move that could further jolt a global economy already rattled by the Iran war.
Trump said in a social media post that the EU “is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal.”
He gave no further reasons for the planned hike, but the announcement comes at a particularly tense time for relations between the White House and the EU.
On Thursday, Trump renewed criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, telling him to focus on ending the Ukraine war instead of “interfering” on Iran.
Germany would likely be hit hard by a sharp tariff on cars and parts, as it is responsible for a significant amount of EU auto exports.
He also referred to European allies Spain and Italy as “absolutely horrible” for their refusal to get involved in the Iran war.
In a statement to journalists, a European Comission spokesperson said that the EU has in fact been implementing its commitments “in line with standard legislative practice” and has been keeping the US “fully informed throughout”. While the bloc remains “fully committed to a predictable, mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship,” it will keep its “options open to protect EU interests”, the spokesperson added.
Bernd Lange, a lead MEP currently negotiating the implementation of the deal with EU member states, criticised Trump’s announcement as showing “clear unreliability”, and accused the US of repeatedly “breaking its commitments” in its trade relations with the EU.
Turnberry Agreement
Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to the trade deal last July which set a 15% tariff on most goods.
Both the US and the EU had previously confirmed their commitment to preserving the trade framework, known as the Turnberry Agreement, which was named after Trump’s golf course in Scotland.
But the status of the 2025 deal was first cast into doubt after the Supreme Court this year ruled that the Republican president lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency and charge tariffs on EU goods.
The initial agreement had been a tariff ceiling of 15% on goods from the EU, but the Supreme court ruling reduced that to 10% as the Trump administration launched a new set of import taxes based on other laws.
The Trump administration is in the middle of investigations on trade imbalances and national security risks to impose a new tariff regime, which could ultimately put the agreement with the EU in risk of violation.
The EU had said it expected the bilateral deal would save European car manufacturers between €500-600 million a month.
The value of EU-US trade in goods and services amounted to €1.7 trillion in 2024, or an average of €4.6 billion a day, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat.
“A deal is a deal,” the European Commission said in February after the Supreme Court ruling.
“As the United States’ largest trading partner, the EU expects the US to honour its commitments set out in the Joint Statement, just as the EU stands by its commitments. EU products must continue to benefit from the most competitive treatment, with no increases in tariffs beyond the clear and all-inclusive ceiling previously agreed.”
Negotiations between MEPs and EU governments ongoing
Trump’s announcement comes amid negotiations between the governments of EU member states and MEPs over how to implement the EU-US deal and bring tariffs on most US industrial goods to 0% – as required by the Turnberry Agreement.
EU lawmakers are seeking to attach safeguards after past threats by Donald Trump over Greenland. These include a “sunset clause” under which the deal expires in March 2028 unless both sides agree to extend it. It also includes a “sunrise clause”, which would make tariff preferences conditional to the US respecting its Turnberry commitments.
Member states are split between those behind France and Spain – who back the European Parliament’s tougher stance – while others led by Germany and Italy favour preserving the deal as it was agreed in July 2025.
Earlier this year, MEPs suspended the pact after the United States Supreme Court ruled that some of the tariffs imposed in 2025 by Washington were illegal, prompting Trump to announce fresh 15% duties on imports.
MEP Zeljana Zovko, lead negotiator of the EPP, the largest political group of the EU Parliament, told EU News that they should refrain from doing the same this time around.
“We should have the deal done and then fight for better relations with the US,” she told EU News.
Additional sources • AP, AFP
EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Takes Provisional Effect, Boosting Global Trade
11:50 pm
Get you up to speed: EU trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc takes provisional effect
The EU-Mercosur trade deal has provisionally come into effect after 25 years of negotiations, creating one of the world’s largest free trade areas with 720 million potential consumers. The agreement, signed in January, aims to lower tariffs and enhance trade between the European Union and Mercosur, which collectively account for 30 percent of global GDP.
However, this provisional implementation is challenged by the EU’s judiciary, which may halt the agreement if it rules against bypassing the EU Parliament.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to hold a videoconference with leaders from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to commemorate the agreement.
EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Takes Provisional Effect, Boosting Global Trade
EU News| Business and Economy EU trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc takes provisional effect
The long-awaited deal creates one of the world’s largest free trade areas with 720m potential consumers.
The EU-Mercosur deal was signed in Paraguay in January [Cesar Olmedo/Reuters] (Reuters)
The long-awaited trade deal between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc has provisionally come into effect, boosting business ties amid tariff threats and deepening uncertainty around global cooperation.
The pact took effect on Friday after 25 years of negotiations, creating one of the world’s largest free trade areas, with 720 million potential consumers and an estimated value of $22 trillion.
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The agreement is only provisionally in effect because it is being challenged by the EU’s judiciary. They are fighting against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s move to sidestep the EU parliament and provisionally enact the deal. The agreement will be halted if the European body rules against it
The agreement, which was signed in January, is designed to lower tariffs and boost trade between the two regions. Together, the EU and Mercosur account for 30 percent of global GDP and more than 700 million consumers.
The new treaty will eliminate tariffs on more than 90 percent of bilateral trade and will favour European exports of cars, wine and cheese, while making it easier for South American beef, poultry, sugar, rice, honey and soya beans to reach Europe.
“This is good news for EU businesses of all sizes, good news for our consumers and good news for our farmers, who will gain valuable new export opportunities, with full protection for sensitive sectors,” Von der Leyen said on Thursday.
The EU leader is expected to hold a videoconference on Friday with leaders of Mercosur nations Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to celebrate the agreement.
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Reaffirmation of multilateralism
Earlier this week, Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a main supporter of the agreement, signed a decree validating the deal in his country.
He said it is a response to unilateral tariffs imposed last year by US President Donald Trump and a reaffirmation of multilateralism.
“Nothing better than believing in the exercise of democracy, in multilateralism and in cordial relations between nations,” Lula said in a celebration ceremony in the capital, Brasilia.
The new trade deal has faced opposition from farmers and environmental groups. They are concerned by a surge of inexpensive South American imports and increased deforestation.
Thousands of Irish farmers protested in January against the agreement, accusing European leaders of sacrificing their interests.
Companies based in Mercosur countries have also expressed fear of tough competition from European peers in hi-tech industries.
Rebels Seize Northern Town Tessalit, Mali
11:47 pm
Get you up to speed: UAE backed rebel checkpoints reported around Mali’s capital, northern town seized
Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has reportedly seized the town of Tessalit in northern Mali and set up checkpoints around the capital, Bamako. The latest developments follow a series of attacks that resulted in the killing of Mali’s defence minister, Sadio Camara.
JNIM called on Malians to “bring down the junta” and implement Islamic law, signalling an escalation in their campaign against the military government. According to reports, JNIM has taken control of multiple checkpoints around Bamako and the town of Tessalit in northern Mali.
The group’s recent activities include capturing the military base in Hombori and two checkpoints near Bamako, raising concerns about the Malian military’s lack of response to these advances.
Rebels establish checkpoints in Bamako, seize northern town Tessalit
Smoke rises at a military base in Hombori, Mali, in this still image obtained from an undated social media video released April 30, 2026. [Reuters]
Al-Qaeda-linked rebel fighters have reportedly set up checkpoints around Mali’s capital, Bamako, and seized the town of Tessalit in the north.
Reuters reported on Friday that Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has called on Malians to rise up to “bring down the junta”, and adopt Islamic law.
The latest developments come days after a series of attacks by JNIM and Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) resulted in the killing of the country’s defence minister, Sadio Camara.
Videos shared on social media by local accounts on Friday show armed fighters inside the Amachach base in Tessalit, with several military vehicles seen driving around.
Video verified by Reuters shows fighters driving through the town and raising the FLA flag.
Media outlets close to the Azawad armed movement, which seeks the independence of northern Mali, said the scenes show fighters in control of the base following the withdrawal of elements of the army and Russia’s African Corps, according to their description.
Russia is the principal foreign backer of Mali’s military-run government.
JNIM said on Thursday that it had captured the base of Hombori in central Mali and taken over two checkpoints near Bamako, after earlier threatening to completely besiege the city.
Russia’s African Corps said in a statement that the JNIM statement about the abandonment of the Hombori base was “not true”.
It said that its helicopters delivered ammunition and other items to Malian military personnel at a base in Hombori on Thursday, “after which soldiers of the Malian Armed Forces injured in battles with terrorists were evacuated”.
It noted that JNIM and AFL “continue to regroup, conduct reconnaissance of the bases of the units of the African Corps of the Russian Armed Forces and the Malian Army, and propaganda work is actively underway aimed at reducing the morale of the Malian Army”.
WTX News’s Nicolas Haque, reporting from Dakar in Senegal, reports that the absence of a response from the Malian military to the rebel advances is surprising, and that four major military camps in the north of the country are now in the hands of armed groups.
“That’s a big development,” Haque said. “It seems that Malian forces are not even putting up a fight up north.”
Mali’s military leaders seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, with a brief period of civilian rule in between. Official authorities are yet to issue a statement on the latest reports at the time of writing.
Israel arrests suspect for racially motivated assault on nun in Jerusalem
11:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Israel arrests suspect for racially motivated assault on nun in Jerusalem
A nun was violently shoved to the ground and kicked in front of the Cenacle on Mount Zion on April 28. Israel Police arrested a 36-year-old suspect on suspicion of assault motivated by racism on 30th April.
Olivier Poquillon, director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, described the attack on the nun as an “act of sectarian violence” in a post on X. Israel Police reported on 30th April that a 36-year-old suspect had been arrested on suspicion of assault motivated by racism, with the investigation ongoing.
Olivier Poquillon, the director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, identified the nun as a researcher at the school and described the attack as an “act of sectarian violence.” The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault is ongoing, with police confirming they are examining all potential motives.
Nun suddenly pushed and kicked in the head while walking through Jerusalem | News World
This is the moment a man runs up behind a nun walking in the street and violently shoves her to the ground causing her to hit her head on a curb before he repeatedly kicks her.
The footage shows the incident in front of the Cenacle, located on Mount Zion, on April 28.
It is not far from King David’s Tomb, which is a site of significant importance to Christians who believe it to be where Jesus Christ had the Last Supper.
Olivier Poquillon, the director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, said the nun was a researcher at the school and called the attack an ‘act of sectarian violence’ in a post on X.
The nun sustained injuries to her head and face (Picture: Israel Police)
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A nun was suddenly pushed over and kicked in Jerusalem (Picture: Israel Police)
She appears to hit her head hard on a curb before the suspect starts walking away.
But he then appears to change his mind and returns, repeatedly kicking her before a shocked eyewitness runs up to stop him.
The footage then shows Israeli police later arresting the suspect after he was identified.
Israel Police said in a statement on 30th April: ‘Officers from the David precinct located the suspect, aged 36, and arrested him on suspicion of assault motivated by racism.’
Reports indicate that the incident has contributed to growing concern over attacks targeting Christian individuals in the area, which are on the rise.
Police declined to disclose the suspect’s nationality but reportedly said that he was arrested “on suspicion of assault, with all potential motives under examination”.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault is ongoing.
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