Axadle Editorial Desk

FRANKFURT — Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, said it has scrapped about 20,000 scheduled flights for the summer after a sharp rise in jet fuel costs driven by worsening tensions linked to Iran.  The carrier said the cuts are intended to contain expenses, adding that fuel prices have climbed steeply as the regional security outlook has deteriorated. The cancellations are expected to reduce consumption by roughly 40,000 tonnes of fuel, with most of the affected services concentrated on short-haul European routes. The…

By David ShepardsonWednesday April 22, 2026 Luggage and travelers' belongings are loaded before the departure of an Ethiopian Airlines plane at N'Djamena International Airport in the capital city of N'Djamena, Chad, December 2, 2025.... Purchase Licensing Rights Ethiopian Airlines moved to widen its long-haul reach on Monday, announcing that it will purchase six more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as Africa’s biggest airline pushes deeper into service across Africa and on routes to the U.S., Europe and Asia. In an interview with…

ABU DHABI — Kenyan President William Ruto and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, using the high-level talks to reinforce bilateral ties and confront shared concerns over regional security, including a forceful condemnation of recent attacks on Emirati infrastructure. The two leaders centered their discussions on widening cooperation through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with attention on investment, renewable energy, technology, and infrastructure. Both…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has issued a sharp warning against any unilateral or incomplete election process, saying Somalia’s long-running electoral dispute can only be settled through a broad national consensus. Addressing journalists in Mogadishu on Wednesday, Sheikh Sharif said the country’s political strains must be tackled through an inclusive dialogue that brings together all political and social stakeholders. He cautioned that decisions made without agreement…

TEHRAN, April 22 — Iran’s political center is shrouded in uncertainty after more than six weeks without a public appearance or recorded message from Mojtaba Khamenei, the man named as the country’s supreme leader amid a tense ceasefire countdown with the United States. The 56-year-old cleric was presented as the successor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after the elder leader died in late February. Yet since the announcement, he has remained out of sight, while state media have filled the vacuum with written remarks…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Tuesday opened the new headquarters of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources in Mogadishu, presenting the move as part of a broader drive to modernize state institutions and improve public services. At the inauguration, Barre said the new facility would give the ministry stronger institutional backing and better support its work as the government moves to expand access to basic services. “This modern building, equipped to meet the needs…

DJIBOUTI CITY, April 22 — Djibouti’s Constitutional Council on Tuesday confirmed that President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has secured a sixth straight term, formally putting his share of the vote at 97.01% in the presidential election. Guelleh, 78, has been in power since 1999, making him one of the Horn of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Early figures published soon after the April 10 ballot had already pointed to another overwhelming victory for the incumbent, with preliminary results showing him ahead on 97.81% of the vote…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Tuesday inaugurated the start of a new Curriculum Development Center in Mogadishu, a project aimed at raising education standards and helping modernize Somalia’s school system. At the ceremony, Barre подчеркнул that education sits at the heart of Somalia’s long-term recovery, describing it as a major force behind economic growth and national stability. He said the government is pressing ahead with reforms designed to strengthen learning…

By  STAN CHOEWednesday April 22, 2026 Wall Street and oil markets lurched back and forth Tuesday as investors tried to gauge what comes next after the ceasefire in the war with Iran, which was due to expire Wednesday. The S&P 500 surrendered an early gain and finished 0.6% lower after U.S. Vice President JD Vance canceled a planned trip to Pakistan, where he had been expected to lead American negotiators in talks with Iran aimed at extending the truce. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 293 points, or 0.6%, after at…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — In a move aimed at reinforcing security after recent political shifts in Southwest state, authorities in Baidoa have prohibited the carrying of heavy weapons inside the city. Bay Regional Police Commander Sadiiq Doodishe announced the restriction on Tuesday, saying machine guns and other heavy weapons would no longer be allowed within Baidoa’s limits. He said the order covers everyone, including government officials. “No one is allowed to carry or use heavy weapons in Baidoa,” Doodishe…