Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Viral photo shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaving police custody after questioning over Epstein documents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of Britain’s King Charles, was released from police custody after a day of questioning over allegations he sent confidential government documents to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A stark photograph of the former prince slumped in the back of a Range Rover as he left Aylsham police station in Norfolk went viral after it was published late yesterday. Thames…

Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, has called for a thorough investigation into any Irish links to the convicted U.S. sex offender’s network, telling RTÉ’s The Late Late Show that she is in Ireland to meet “some powerful leaders” and press for action. Phillips’ appeal comes a week after the Dáil was told that a witness statement contained in the so‑called Epstein files alleged a young girl was trafficked through Ireland “for politicians and notable men for the purposes of sex.” “There needs to be a thorough…

WFP warns Somalia food aid could halt by April without new funds, putting millions at risk The U.N. World Food Program warned Friday that its life-saving food and nutrition assistance in Somalia could grind to a halt as early as April unless fresh funding arrives, threatening to push millions deeper into hunger after years of failed rains and conflict. The agency said an estimated 4.4 million people in Somalia face crisis-level food insecurity, with nearly 1 million already enduring severe hunger. A sharp drop in…

Macron urges calm as France braces for rallies over killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm ahead of nationwide rallies planned in memory of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right activist whose killing last week, captured on video, has shocked France and inflamed political tensions ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking at a farming trade fair in Paris, Macron urged “everyone to remain calm” before a high-security march in Lyon, where authorities expect…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority has suspended several aircraft after inspections uncovered technical faults and non-compliance with international safety standards, escalating scrutiny of the country’s fast-growing aviation market following a Feb. 10 incident that stoked public concern. The regulator said the suspensions aim to strengthen flight safety oversight and restore passenger confidence after a Starsky Aviation plane experienced a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu’s…

Trump says he is considering limited strike on Iran as talks crawl toward draft deal US President Donald Trump said he is weighing a limited military strike on Iran, escalating pressure on Tehran even as Iranian officials claimed a draft agreement with Washington to curb its nuclear program could be ready within days. Trump has repeatedly warned that “bad things” would happen if Iran does not strike a deal within a deadline he first set at 10 days and later extended to 15. Asked by a reporter whether he was contemplating a…

Somalia denies claims Türkiye is ‘unilaterally benefiting’ from oil, stresses sovereignty ahead of elections Somalia’s government has rejected online claims that Türkiye is reaping one-sided gains from the country’s natural resources, insisting a new energy partnership protects Somalia’s sovereignty and benefits its people as political tensions rise ahead of elections later this year. The Somali National News Agency said Friday that “allegations” circulating on social media about Türkiye’s exclusive benefit from Somali…

Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia: A Call for Urgent Action The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a dire warning regarding the worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia, emphasizing the urgent need for increased funding and support. This briefing reveals alarming statistics that reflect the escalating hunger crisis affecting millions. Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Ross Smith, calls for global attention. Ongoing drought and conflict exacerbate the situation. Current funding…

Democratic governors escalated demands for consumer refunds after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that former President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by invoking emergency powers to impose tariffs that reshaped global trade and drove up prices at home. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday sent Trump an invoice seeking nearly $9 billion in tariff refunds for families in his state — roughly $1,700 per Illinois household, echoing a Yale University estimate of last year’s average U.S. household burden. In a letter…

The U.K. government will consider introducing a law to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession once police complete their investigation into the king’s brother, it is understood. Any change would require an act of Parliament and the agreement of other countries that share the U.K. monarch, underscoring the constitutional complexity surrounding the royal succession. Detectives continued searching Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate in Berkshire, on Thursday, while…