Iran says it downed two U.S. jets as search for pilot continues

Saturday April 4, 2026 Media representatives gather in front of a heavily damaged building following a strike at the Azadi Sport Complex in Tehran Iranian forces say they have shot down two US military fighter jets, one over the country’s southwest and another in the area of the Strait of Hormuz, in a sharp escalation of the conflict. In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said air defences had “completely destroyed” an F-15 aircraft. Later the same day, the Iranian…

Somali intelligence agency kills nine al-Shabab militants in Lower Shabelle

Saturday April 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali security forces struck at the heart of al-Shabab’s bomb-making machinery on Saturday, killing nine militants in coordinated operations in the Lower Shabelle region, according to the National Intelligence and Security Agency. NISA said in a statement that the raids were carried out with the support of international partners and were aimed at dismantling sites used to produce improvised explosive devices, the signature weapon of the al-Qaida-linked group. The first phase of the…

Somalia intelligence agency says nine Al-Shabaab militants killed in raid

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali intelligence officials said Saturday that a series of coordinated raids in the Lower Shabelle region, carried out with support from international partners, left nine Al-Shabaab militants dead and destroyed equipment allegedly used to manufacture explosives. In a statement, the National Intelligence and Security Agency, or NISA, said the first strike hit the Kuunyo Barrow area, where forces targeted what it called a major militant site. During the raid, six large generators believed to be used in…

Somalia’s constitution and federal intervention in regional state affairs explained

Saturday April 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal takeover of Baidoa and the swift naming of an interim administration in Southwest State have ignited a bitter constitutional showdown, with supporters of the move pointing to newly amended provisions and critics insisting the action breaches both federal and regional law. Federal government forces, working alongside fighters aligned with Southwest opposition groups, seized Baidoa after intense clashes with regional troops. Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed…

Somalia, AU forces capture senior al-Shabaab commander

Saturday April 4, 2026 A senior al-Shabaab commander has been captured in southern Somalia in a joint operation carried out by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the Somali National Armed Forces. In a statement, the AU mission said the suspect, identified as Salaad Cusmaan Macalin, also known as Sahm, was detained on Thursday on the northwestern outskirts of Mubarak. "Initial interrogation findings indicate that one of his associates, identified as Ismaaciil, a Kenyan national, had…

5 Unhealthiest Fast-Food Milkshakes You Can Order Right Now

5 Unhealthiest Fast-Food Milkshakes You Can Order Several fast-food vanilla shakes rank high for calories, saturated fat and sugar, according to nutrition figures cited by Eat This. By Ali MusaWellness Desk – Health & Nutrition Monitoring. Fast-food milkshakes can pack substantial sugar and fat in a single serving. Below are five vanilla shake options, with nutrition figures cited by Eat This. Fatburger Vanilla Shake Fatburger’s Vanilla Shake is cited as about 890 calories, with 44g of fat, 30g of saturated fat and…

AU welcomes China-Pakistan initiative to restore Middle East stability

AU welcomes China-Pakistan initiative to restore stability in Middle East The African Union (AU) on Friday voiced support for the China-Pakistan five-point initiative aimed at easing the current peace and security crisis in the Gulf and Middle East. In a statement, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf described the proposal as “a timely and constructive contribution” to wider international efforts to reduce…

Somalia agriculture minister urges local production to end aid dependence

By Nuri AdenSaturday April 4, 2026 Somalia's Agriculture minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir on a farm tour. / Others Somalia’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Mohamed Abdi Hayir, widely known as Mareeye, has delivered a blunt message about the country’s direction, urging Somalis, investors and decision-makers to place agriculture, livestock and fisheries at the center of national recovery and long-term growth. Speaking at length in Mogadishu, the minister laid out both the strain and the promise facing the country, saying…

Soaring fuel prices push Somalia’s three-wheeler drivers to the brink

Saturday April 4, 2026 Fuel shortages and soaring prices have turned a familiar Mogadishu street scene into a snapshot of economic strain: three-wheelers sitting idle by the roadside, drivers stranded, and livelihoods slipping out of reach. On April 2, 2026, a staff member refueled a three-wheeler at a petrol station in Somalia’s capital as the ripple effects of war in the Middle East continued to push fuel costs sharply higher across the country.(Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua) Abdulkadir Sharif eased his tuk-tuk to the side…

Puntland State orders newly appointed ministers to declare assets

Saturday April 4, 2026 Garowe (AX) — Puntland State’s top auditing office has moved to tighten scrutiny on public officials, ordering all newly appointed ministers, deputy ministers and state ministers to declare their private assets within 30 days of taking office, in line with Article 77 of the Puntland State Constitution. In a directive released Thursday, Auditor General Osman Mahmoud Ali told the Council of Ministers and other senior officials to comply with the constitutional requirement, which is intended to boost…