Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Ireland to vote against EU-Mercosur trade deal as France also vows no amid farmer backlash Ireland will vote against the proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement at a meeting of European Union ambassadors tomorrow, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris said, aligning Dublin with France’s declared opposition as farmer protests intensify. Martin said progress had been made on safeguards around imported beef from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, but the Government lacked sufficient confidence that Irish and EU…

Senate advances measure to curb Trump’s war powers on Venezuela as president touts long-term U.S. oversight The U.S. Senate voted 52-47 to advance a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare bipartisan rebuke as the White House signals years-long involvement in the oil-rich nation. The procedural vote moved the war powers measure toward a final Senate vote with a handful of Republicans joining all Democrats. Even if it…

Senate advances bipartisan bid to curb Trump’s military actions in Venezuela after Maduro capture WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday cleared a key procedural hurdle on a resolution to rein in President Donald Trump’s military actions in Venezuela, a rare bipartisan rebuke that follows alarm over the secretive capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The Democratic-led measure, which would bar further U.S. hostilities against Venezuela without explicit congressional authorization, advanced with the support of five…

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron warned Tuesday that the United States is “gradually turning away” from some of its allies and “breaking free from international rules,” delivering some of his sharpest public criticism yet of Washington’s posture under Donald Trump. Addressing France’s assembled ambassadors at the Élysée Palace, Macron said Europe must respond with unity and resolve as the global order frays, citing a spate of U.S. actions that have rattled longtime partners — from Washington’s seizure of Venezuela’s…

NASA is weighing a rare early return of its current International Space Station crew after canceling a planned spacewalk because of an unspecified medical issue involving one astronaut, the agency said. The astronaut, who was not identified, is in stable condition aboard the orbiting laboratory, according to a NASA spokeswoman. “Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority, and we are actively evaluating all options, including the possibility of an earlier end to Crew-11’s mission,” she said in a statement. NASA…

Iranian security forces have killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, during a sweeping crackdown on demonstrations over economic hardship, the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) said, as a nationwide internet blackout was reported by monitoring group NetBlocks amid new subsidy reforms. IHR said the latest day of unrest was the deadliest of the 12-day movement, with 13 protesters confirmed killed. The organization’s director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said in a statement that hundreds more have been…

Colombia’s Petro, Trump agree to ‘joint action’ against ELN along Venezuela border after first call, minister says BOGOTA — Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to take “joint action” against the National Liberation Army (ELN) along the Venezuelan border after the two leaders held their first phone call, Colombia’s interior minister said. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti told Blu Radio that Petro and Trump used the conversation to de-escalate tensions and align on confronting…

U.S. signals no retreat on Trump’s Greenland push as Europe, Canada rally behind Denmark U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he will meet Danish leaders next week and signaled no retreat from President Donald Trump’s aim to take control of Greenland, even as alarmed allies scramble to coordinate a response and lawmakers in Washington push back. A weekend U.S. military operation that seized the leader of Venezuela rekindled concerns about intentions toward Greenland, and U.S. officials have done little to allay fears.…

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has opened an urgent investigation into allegations that its airspace and airports were used without authorization to move Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the UAE-backed leader of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, amid rising regional tensions involving Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Immigration and Citizenship Agency said Thursday it is examining claims that al-Zubaidi transited through Somali territory after skipping planned peace talks in…

SCHIEDAM, Netherlands — Dutch police arrested two teenage boys as they investigated the death of a 60-year-old man following a suspected assault that may have begun with a dispute over snowballs, authorities said. Emergency services rushed to the scene in the city of Schiedam but were unable to resuscitate the man, who died Monday, police said. Investigators identified the teenagers through CCTV footage and took them into custody for questioning to determine what role they may have played in the incident. “A fight may have…