Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

ANKARA, Türkiye — Türkiye on Thursday denounced Greece’s new agreement with U.S. energy major Chevron to explore for hydrocarbons south of Crete, calling the move unlawful and contrary to good-neighborly relations in the Eastern Mediterranean. “We oppose this unlawful activity, which is being attempted in violation of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Jurisdiction between Libya and our country,” the Turkish Defense Ministry said at its weekly briefing. The ministry added that while the work does not directly…

Florida lawmakers approve renaming Palm Beach International Airport after Trump; DeSantis expected to sign TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s Republican-led legislature has approved a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J. Trump International Airport, state records show, setting the stage for one of the country’s most prominent travel hubs to bear the sitting president’s name. Gov. Ron DeSantis, once a political rival of Trump, is expected to sign the measure into law. Palm Beach International sits…

Ethiopia asks Türkiye for diplomatic backing in push for sea access as Erdogan visits Addis Ababa Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Tuesday he asked Türkiye for diplomatic support in Addis Ababa’s effort to secure access to the sea, making the issue a central focus of talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a rare high-level visit to the Ethiopian capital. At a joint news conference, Abiy said he discussed Ethiopia’s “quest for sea access” with Erdogan and welcomed what he described as strong and…

Epstein estate agrees to pay up to $35 million to settle remaining victim claims The estate of convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has agreed to pay up to $35 million (€29.7 million) to resolve outstanding legal claims from potentially dozens of victims, according to a proposed court judgment filed in New York. The agreement would create a class encompassing people who said they were sexually assaulted, abused or trafficked by Epstein between Jan. 1, 1995, and Aug. 10, 2019, the date of his death in a New York jail,…

Somalia and Saudi Arabia on Friday signed a comprehensive maritime transport cooperation agreement in Riyadh, laying out a long-term plan to modernize Somalia’s ports, strengthen shipping services and deepen logistics ties along one of the world’s most strategic sea lanes. The accord was signed by Somalia’s minister of ports and marine transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, and Saudi Arabia’s minister of transport and logistics services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. Officials from both governments described the deal as a…

Eric Dane, the U.S. actor who rose to fame on Grey’s Anatomy and later earned a new generation of fans on Euphoria, has died at 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), his representatives said in a statement shared with The Associated Press. Dane spent his final days surrounded by friends and family, including his wife, actress Rebecca Gayheart, and their daughters, Billie and Georgia, his representatives said. No additional details were immediately released. Dane became a household name as Dr. Mark…

Friday February 20, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s new army chief met senior African Union leadership in Mogadishu to tighten battlefield coordination and accelerate the country’s Security Transition Plan as Somali forces prepare a renewed push against al-Shabab following Ramadan. Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud, commander of the Somali National Army (SNA), hosted a closed-door session at army headquarters with Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, the Special Representative of the African Union and head of the…

South African police have arrested Bellarmine Mugabe, 28, the youngest son of Zimbabwe's late former president Robert Mugabe, on an attempted murder charge after a shooting at a property in an upmarket Johannesburg suburb, authorities said Wednesday. Police said a 23-year-old man believed to be a gardener was critically injured in the incident and remains hospitalized. Officers searching the house recovered bullet cartridges but did not find a firearm at the scene, the statement said. Another man was taken into custody as…

California avalanche search to continue into weekend as storms halt recovery on Castle Peak Authorities in Northern California said Friday the search for a ninth person believed killed in a massive Sierra Nevada avalanche will extend into the weekend, as relentless storms and unstable snow continue to thwart efforts to recover victims on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said eight victims of the backcountry avalanche have been located but cannot be safely moved. “Due to hazardous weather…

LONDON — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation Thursday after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, as detectives said they will continue searches at his former home in Berkshire. The development follows the release of files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and marks the first time in modern history that a senior royal has been arrested. Andrew was held in custody for around 11 hours before Thames Valley Police released him under investigation. The force said…