Abdiwahab Ahmed

A widening investigation into alleged abuse of EU farm subsidies is drawing in more politicians from Greece’s ruling party, deepening a scandal that has burdened the government for nearly a year. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) first set out the alleged scheme last May, saying subsidy recipients filed claims for land they did not own and overstated livestock numbers. In some cases, those collecting payments had no connection to farming at all. The claims triggered a series of raids and arrests last October and…

Facing a restless public and roiled markets, US President Donald Trump used a prime-time address to mount a forceful defense of the month-old US-Israeli war on Iran, insisting the military was close to finishing its task even as he renewed threats to bomb the Islamic Republic back to the Stone Age. He spoke for 19 minutes with global oil prices elevated and his own approval ratings sliding. Here are some key takeaways. 1. Searching for a way out - but not yet Even as he argued the US military was moving toward its goals…

With a green light from mission controllers, NASA’s four Artemis astronauts are now cleared to leave Earth orbit and begin a long-awaited return to the Moon, setting up the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half a century. NASA Flight Director Jeff Radigan informed the crew that the mission management team had approved the engine burn aboard their Orion capsule, a critical step that will place the spacecraft on course for the Moon. The five minute and 49 second burn is set for 7:49pm Eastern Time (00:49am), a maneuver…

After months of grinding advances, Russia’s offensive in Ukraine stalled in March, with Moscow’s forces failing to make any territorial gains along the front for the first time in two-and-a-half years, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Over the same period, Ukrainian troops retook nine square kilometres, the analysis found, as Russian momentum slowed across the length of the front line. The total does not include infiltration missions carried out by Russian forces beyond the…

Washington’s case for the US operation in Iran remains as murky as ever, with shifting explanations about its purpose and endgame leaving Americans and allied governments struggling to pin down exactly what the mission is meant to achieve. The Trump administration’s public message has repeatedly shifted, as the president and his top officials offer conflicting accounts of why the campaign began, what success looks like and when it is supposed to conclude. Since the start of March, President Donald Trump has said more than a…

French President Emmanuel Macron brushed off Donald Trump's taunts about his marriage, saying the remarks were "neither elegant nor up to standard" and not worthy of a reply. Yet after several days of strain over US-Israeli strikes on Iran and renewed friction over NATO, Macron appeared to let his frustration show, warning that "there is too much talk" and insisting that "this is not a show". Mr Trump on Wednesday ridiculed the French president and his wife during a private lunch, as he lashed out at NATO allies for failing…

Scott Mills has said he has faced a wave of "rumour and speculation" since the BBC announced his dismissal earlier this week. In his first public remarks since the story emerged, the former Radio 2 breakfast presenter said he had "co-operated fully" with a Metropolitan Police investigation into allegations of an historic sexual offence. In a statement issued by his lawyers, Mr Mills said: "The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation. "In response to…

What began as a family vacation from northeastern Maine quickly turned into something far rarer for Jason Heath: a front-row seat to history as NASA prepares to send Artemis II into space. "It's definitely cool to know that humans are going further than ever before," said the 40-year-old shipbuilder, speaking from Cocoa Beach, the bustling Florida resort near the NASA launch site where the towering orange-and-white rocket is due to thunder into the sky. "It's definitely pretty cool to know that I'll be around," he said.…

President Donald Trump declared in a televised address that the US military was close to meeting its objectives in Iran, yet he offered no firm end date for the month-long war and warned that the country could be bombed back into the "stone ages". Markets recoiled after Mr Trump signalled that military action would intensify over the next two to three weeks, without setting out a concrete path to ending a conflict that has rattled global energy supplies and raised fears of a broader economic shock. Brent crude, which had…

Ireland is stepping up its support for Ukraine with an additional €40 million in aid as Russia’s war grinds on, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has announced. The new package comes on top of the €25m already committed by Ireland in February. Minister McEntee unveiled the latest funding during a visit to Kyiv. Of the €40m announced today, more than €26m will go toward humanitarian assistance, while almost €14m is earmarked for long-term development and peacebuilding measures. Another €2m from the overall package…