What new Epstein files reveal about Trump: five major takeaways

New Epstein document dump sharpens scrutiny on Trump’s past ties, adds detail but few conclusions A fresh tranche of U.S. government records tied to Jeffrey Epstein offers new specifics on former President Donald Trump’s proximity to the financier in the 1990s and early 2000s, while underscoring how much remains unverified or sharply disputed. The materials, uneven and heavily redacted, do not alter the public record on Trump’s conduct. Trump has long denied any wrongdoing, and the Justice Department has labeled some of the…

Kenya Repatriates 119 Citizens Rescued from Myanmar Job Scam Hubs

Kenya has repatriated 119 citizens who were trapped in online fraud syndicates in Myanmar, with nearly 200 more still awaiting evacuation across Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs said Monday. In a statement, the department said 198 Kenyans remain in the pipeline for repatriation. That group includes 66 in Thailand’s immigration detention center, 129 in shelters in Myanmar, and three in a Caritas Catholic safe house in Cambodia, where Kenya’s Embassy has established contact. The…

From Syria to Somalia, US troops deployed this holiday season on open-ended missions

America’s forever wars didn’t end. They receded from view — and risk roaring back. While Washington fixates on China, Iran and Russia, U.S. troops are still fighting, striking and being targeted from the Middle East to the Horn of Africa and the Caribbean corridor. The missions are smaller and quieter than the wars that defined the post‑9/11 era. They are also open‑ended, conducted under authorizations Congress passed more than two decades ago — long after most Americans stopped paying attention. The footprint shrank, not…

Somalia’s fisheries minister praises strategic cooperation with Türkiye

Somalia, Türkiye sign fisheries pact to curb illegal fishing and spur jobs Somalia has welcomed a new “Strategic Cooperation and Service Agreement” with Türkiye that sets up a joint licensing and enforcement framework for the country’s vast waters, aiming to protect marine resources, expand the blue economy and create jobs. Somali Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy Ahmed Hassan Aden said the agreement, signed Dec. 17 with Türkiye’s OYAK group, will institutionalize economic cooperation and anchor a long-term…

Sudan Urges UN Support for Peace Efforts Amid US Advocacy

Sudan's Peace Proposal and the Ongoing Conflict Sudan's Prime Minister has proposed a comprehensive peace plan aimed at resolving the long-standing war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This initiative seeks international support to halt the violence and begin reconciliation. Kamil Idris introduced a cease-fire monitored by international bodies. The plan requires RSF withdrawal and disarmament. U.S. and mediators support a humanitarian truce. Political and International Reactions The response…

Afreximbank Supports Heirs Energies with $750 Million Investment in Nigeria

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Heirs Energies Limited have announced a landmark US$750 million financing partnership designed to optimize Heirs Energy's capital structure and unlock critical liquidity to support its working capital requirements as it pursues its ambitious field development program. The investment is expected to significantly transform Nigeria's domestic energy capacity as demand rises. This collaboration comes at a crucial time for Nigeria, a nation grappling with increased energy demands and…

Greenland pushes back against Trump’s claim he “needs” its territory

Greenland’s leader rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed push to secure the Arctic territory, insisting the island’s future will be decided by its own people, as Denmark and European allies protested Washington’s latest moves. “Greenland is our country. Our decisions are made here,” Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote in a Facebook post, responding after Trump said the United States “needs” Greenland for national security and appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to the territory. “Such words…

Palestinian doctor in Ireland urges greater humanitarian aid for Gaza

In a quiet housing estate in Navan, Co Meath, a Palestinian orthopedic surgeon scrolls through family photos that have become a catalogue of loss. Dr. Mahmoud Abumarzouq’s younger brother, four nieces and nephews, and countless friends are gone — killed in Gaza since the war erupted after the Oct. 7 attacks — and he is pleading for the world to deliver more aid to those who remain. “This genocide, or you call war or ethnic cleansing — bombardment, all day and night,” he said, searching for the words to contain his grief. “My…

U.S. Withdraws Diplomats from Over Twelve African Countries

U.S. Diplomatic Recall Impacts Relations with Africa Amid Trump Administration's Policies In a sweeping diplomatic maneuver, the Trump administration has recalled dozens of U.S. diplomats from posts around the world, with significant ramifications for relationships in Africa. Among the envoys affected are diplomats from 13 African nations, including key countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, and Senegal. This directive mandates that these ambassadors vacate their posts by mid-January 2026, a move that raises eyebrows amid…

Somalia’s Parliament Adopts $1.38 Billion 2026 Budget Amid Turmoil

Somalia’s Parliament Approves $1.38 Billion 2026 Budget Amid Chaos MOGADISHU, Somalia — In a raucous joint sitting, Somalia’s federal parliament on Tuesday approved a national budget of $1,386,807,242 for the 2026 fiscal year, pushing the spending plan through despite loud and repeated procedural disruptions on the floor. Parliamentary officials said 174 lawmakers voted in favor, four opposed it and one abstained. The vote capped a session in which interruptions and objections forced pauses but did not derail the tally. The…