Tigray party appeals for calm, dialogue in volatile Ethiopian region

NAIROBI, Kenya — The Tigray People’s Liberation Front on Saturday welcomed African Union appeals for restraint and said it is prepared to join AU-facilitated talks, as fresh clashes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region and reported drone strikes raised fears of renewed war. The TPLF, a leading opposition group that once ran the country before being displaced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, remains banned from political activity. In a letter to the AU, the party endorsed calls for “restraint and dialogue” and said it was ready…

Egypt Chairs African Union Peace and Security Council, Prioritizes Sudan and Somalia

Egypt takes helm of AU Peace and Security Council, puts Sudan and Somalia atop agenda CAIRO — Egypt on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, pledging to focus its one-month term on the crises in Sudan and Somalia while advancing a broader agenda linking peace, security and governance across the continent. The presidency, which began Feb. 1, comes amid what Cairo described as escalating and overlapping challenges in Africa — from protracted armed conflicts and fragile…

U.S. Starts $70 Million Revamp of Kenyan Air Base Following 2020 Al-Shabaab Attack

U.S. begins $70 million upgrade of Kenyan air base after 2020 al-Shabab attack NAIROBI, Kenya — The United States has launched a $70 million project to expand an airfield at Manda Bay Air Base in coastal Kenya, deepening counterterrorism cooperation with Nairobi four years after an al-Shabab assault killed three Americans at the site. The expansion is underway at the Kenyan Defense Forces facility in Lamu County near the Somalia border, a longtime hub for operations against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab. U.S. Deputy…

Restoring Integrity to Somalia’s Indirect Elections Where It Counts Most

Somalia’s next election is unlikely to be a direct, one person, one vote contest. Time constraints and the limits of the current federal institutions point instead to another indirect vote. The decisive question is not the model, but whether the process can meet a minimum threshold of credibility. After two troubled cycles in 2016/17 and 2021/22, an integrity-first approach is the only path to an indirect election that voters, candidates and institutions can accept. Those past votes did not fail because indirect elections…

Drone strikes hit Ethiopian Tigray towns, leaving one person dead

Drone strikes hit towns in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, killing one ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Drone strikes hit two towns and one district in the central zone of Ethiopia’s Tigray region late Friday and early Saturday, killing one person and wounding another, according to local police and information obtained by the BBC. The fatal strike occurred in the town of Entcho, where one civilian was killed and another injured, police told BBC Tigrinya. The reported attacks came amid renewed clashes between federal government forces and…

U.S. approves potential $9B sale of Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia

U.S. clears $9 billion sale of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to Saudi Arabia The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of Patriot interceptor missiles and related equipment to Saudi Arabia valued at an estimated $9 billion, the Pentagon said Friday. The package centers on 730 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors, known as PAC-3 MSE, with Lockheed Martin named as the principal contractor. In its announcement, the Pentagon said the proposed sale will not alter the military balance…

Top 7 Cheeses to Enjoy While Shedding Belly Fat

Based on the content of the provided source, the most fitting format is: Healthy Eating → science-informed nutrition, habits, wellness trends. This decision is supported by the focus on nutrition, specifically on the benefits of protein-rich cheeses and their role in weight loss and appetite management, aligning closely with the themes of healthy eating and wellness. Protein-Rich Cheeses for Weight Loss Incorporating high-protein cheeses into your diet can aid in weight management, particularly in reducing belly fat.…

Ivory Coast court jails Malian lawmaker over insult to president

You are an elite, award-winning international journalist and a meticulous senior editor. Your job is to transform raw source material into a publish-ready article that meets the highest AP-standard editorial and technical requirements. PHASE 1 — ANALYSIS AND FORMAT DECISION Read the source text thoroughly. Identify the core themes, dominant purpose, crucial facts, data points, and human or structural angles. Based solely on this analysis, select exactly one article format from the list below. Always choose Football…

Drone strikes hit Ethiopia’s Tigray, killing one and injuring another

One killed in Tigray drone strikes amid renewed fighting, officials say Saturday January 31, 2026 At least one person was killed and another injured in drone strikes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region on Saturday, a senior Tigrayan official and a humanitarian worker said, the latest sign of renewed confrontation between regional and national forces. The officials, who requested anonymity because of security concerns, said two strikes hit Isuzu trucks near Enticho and Gendebta, towns roughly 20 kilometers apart in Tigray.…

Trump Threatens to Launch U.S. Military Strikes Against Somali Pirates

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the United States will take “decisive military action” against Somali pirate groups, signaling a tougher posture that could allow U.S. forces to target suspected pirates even if they have not attacked American vessels. Trump said U.S. forces would strike any individual or boat that moves toward a ship, regardless of ownership or flag. “Anyone who tries to move toward a vessel will meet the ultimate punishment,” he said, according to remarks reported by U.S. media. The…