Sundus AbdiThursday May 21, 2026 BBC short Proper Ladies has struck a nerve online, winning praise for its manic humour and sharply drawn schoolgirl dynamics, while also prompting fresh debate about how Black and Muslim characters are written for television. Its creator says that, at its core, the show is an attempt to do something different. Its creator opens up about trying to reshape the way Black and Muslim characters are used in TV L-R: Kosar Ali (Hani), Sabrina Ali (Munira), Ebada Hassan (Yasmin) and Samira Tahlil…

AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State State of Somalia of Somalia on Thursday said Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is staying in office illegally, arguing that his four-year presidency ended on May 15 after the mandates of Somalia’s federal institutions expired. The accusation came in a communique released after a cabinet meeting in Garowe, which Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni chaired. According to Puntland State, Mohamud’s term expired on May 15, 2026, while the Federal Parliament’s mandate ended on April 14, 2026. The…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, on Wednesday issued a sharp condemnation of any plan by North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared authorities in Somalia’s northwestern region, to open an embassy in occupied Jerusalem. In a statement, Aboul-Gheit said such a step would have no legal standing and would amount to a blatant provocation to the Arab and Islamic worlds. "Such rapprochement seeks to solicit illegitimate recognition of Israel from entities and regions…

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday sharply condemned reports that the self-declared “North Western State of Somalia” region intends to open an embassy in al-Quds, a move that would further signal growing ties between the Israeli regime and the breakaway territory in the Horn of Africa. In a press statement, the OIC General Secretariat said it was deeply alarmed by media reports about plans by “North Western State of Somalia” to establish a so-called “embassy” in occupied Jerusalem. It…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Health said Thursday it is stepping up emergency readiness after Ebola outbreaks were reported in East and Central Africa, with officials moving quickly to reinforce surveillance and public awareness before any case reaches the country. State Minister of Health Dr. Maryan Mohamed Hussein said the federal government is prioritizing early detection, public education and coordination with regional health workers to help keep the disease out of Somalia. “Today, we are…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A reported plan by North Western State of Somalia to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem has drawn sharp condemnation from the Arab League, after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit spoke by phone about the region’s increasingly tense geopolitical climate, officials said. The conversation focused on stability in the Horn of Africa and what both sides described as the need for a coordinated response to the move by the breakaway region. Both leaders…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s Ministry of Health on Thursday stepped up Ebola preparedness efforts after new outbreaks were reported in East and Central Africa, warning that the country must remain vigilant as the virus spreads in the region. State Minister of Health Dr. Maryan Mohamed Hussein said federal authorities are concentrating on early detection, public education and closer coordination with regional health workers to keep the disease from entering Somalia. “Today, we are working on the…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said the deadly attack was a stark reminder of what happens when Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate are allowed to spread unchecked. The US House of Representatives held a moment of silence for the victims of the recent shooting at the Islamic Centre of San Diego. On the House floor, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said she spoke "with a heavy heart" as she paid tribute to Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, who were killed when two teenage gunmen opened fire at the mosque…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s federal government on Wednesday denounced North Western State of Somalia’s plan to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, describing the move as invalid under law and as a deliberate affront to the Arab and Islamic worlds. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the proposed mission carried no legal weight because Mogadishu considers North Western State of Somalia part of Somalia’s sovereign territory. “The Federal Republic of Somalia reaffirms its unwavering…

Thursday May 21, 2026 Garowe (AX) — In a meeting that underscored both security concerns and Somalia’s unsettled politics, a U.S. delegation headed by acting Ambassador to Somalia Justin Davis met Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni in Garowe on Wednesday to discuss cooperation against ISIS and the country’s broader political transition. According to a statement from the Puntland State presidency, the delegation included officials from U.S. Africa Command, among them Col. Shane Jones. Puntland State Vice President…