Garowe, Somalia, May 30, 2026 – Puntland State’s education minister has accused Somalia’s federal government of standing in the way of efforts to deepen cooperation in the education sector and win backing from international partners, underscoring fresh friction between the semi-autonomous region and Mogadishu. Addressing the launch of Puntland State’s 2025-2026 national certificate examinations, Education Minister Fuad Abshir Ahmed said the regional government had spent more than a year seeking dialogue with Somalia’s…

Wycliffe Muia and Akisa Wandera, NairobiSaturday May 30, 2026 With the Ebola outbreak raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo and cases now appearing in Uganda, a Kenyan court has stepped in to halt a US-backed quarantine plan that had stirred alarm over whether the country could become a staging ground for the virus. The court has suspended American plans to establish an Ebola isolation facility for US citizens in Kenya, a proposal that had already triggered widespread concern about the risk of cross-border transmission.…

Saturday May 30, 2026 Kenya Red Cross workers recover a body after Thursday’s blaze at Utumishi Girls Academy, May 28, 2026. Kenyan police said at least eight students have been taken into custody on suspicion of arson after a fire at a girls’ boarding school left 16 students dead and 79 others injured. The inferno erupted in the early hours of Thursday at Utumishi Girls Academy Senior School in Gilgil, in west-central Kenya. On Friday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation said initial inquiries had singled out eight…

Saturday May 30, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Intense fighting erupted early Saturday on the outskirts of Baidoa, where federal government troops clashed with fighters aligned with former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, officials said. The confrontation took place near Baidoa, the interim capital of Southwest State. No independent casualty count has been verified, though social media videos appeared to show wounded soldiers. Bay regional police commander Sadiiq Duushisho told local media that the battle…

5 Chain Restaurant Appetizers That Can Top 2,000 Calories Some popular chain restaurant appetizers can push past 2,000 calories in a single order, according to nutrition information cited by EatThis.com. By Ali MusaWellness Desk – Health & Nutrition Monitoring. Appetizers can be easy to share, but calorie counts can quickly add up—especially when dishes include fried items, cheese, and rich dipping sauces. EatThis.com highlighted several chain restaurant appetizers that can top 2,000 calories per plate. Applebee's…

Friday May 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s infantry chief, Gen. Sahal Abdullahi Omar, held talks in Mogadishu on Thursday with an Italian government delegation focused on deepening military cooperation, training and support for the Somali National Army. The delegation, joined by Italy’s military attaché in Somalia, was welcomed at the Somali military headquarters by Sahal and senior officers of the Somali National Armed Forces. Military officials said the discussions centered on broadening ties between the Somali and…

by Quincy Thomas Thursday May 28, 2026 Shamso Ahmed Hassan and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf Federal prosecutors say two Minnesota women played a central role in a sprawling fraud tied to the state’s autism Medicaid program, in a case they describe as one of the largest of its kind. Shamso Ahmed Hassan, 55, and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf, 25, allegedly submitted more than $46 million in fraudulent claims and laundered $21 million of those proceeds, according to court filings and statements from prosecutors. Authorities allege that from May…

By Anthony Bettin, Adam DuxterThursday May 28, 2026 Muhammad Omar U.S. Attorney's Office A Minnesota man facing charges in what federal officials describe as a sprawling Medicaid fraud case has been ordered held as a flight risk, underscoring the scale and seriousness of the alleged scheme that siphoned more than $90 million from taxpayers. At an arraignment and detention hearing Wednesday, a judge ruled that Muhammad Omar, 32, of Roseville, Minnesota, must remain in custody while his case moves forward. Omar and a partner,…

Somalia: Rift Deepens Between President and Intelligence Chief Over Galmudug Election MOGADISHU, Somalia — A widening clash between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director Mahad Salad has raised alarm over the risk of unrest in central Galmudug, according to people familiar with the talks. What began as a round of political consultations in Mogadishu has now soured into a breakdown in negotiations over who should lead Galmudug ahead of the regional presidential…

by STEPHEN ASTARIKOThursday May 28, 2026 Education leaders, special school representatives, parents, human rights activists and advocates for children with special needs in Tana River have warned that current funding levels for special schools are too low to meet the rising demands of learners living with disabilities. Speaking at a forum held in a Garissa hotel, the stakeholders said special needs institutions are grappling with persistent problems rooted in underfunding. They pointed to shortages of teachers, a lack of…