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Skiers ascend Mount Etna as eruption continues and Italy raises alert level to yellow Ski mountaineers took advantage of the Christmas holiday period to climb and carve down the snow-covered slopes of Mount Etna even as Italy’s most active volcano continued to erupt, drawing onlookers eager to witness thick ash clouds against clear winter skies. Italy’s Department of Civil Protection has raised the alert level for Etna from green to yellow, citing the potential for a rapid escalation in volcanic activity. The shift in status…

MOGADISHU — The European Union on Saturday said respecting Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity is “key to the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa,” after Israel recognized the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state a day earlier. In a statement, the EU said it “reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” in line with Somalia’s Constitution and the charters of the African Union…

Low turnout marks junta-run election in Myanmar as critics call vote not credible Voters in Myanmar appeared to cast ballots in low numbers in the first phase of a military-organized general election, the country’s first since the 2021 coup toppled the elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The ruling junta, which crushed nationwide pro-democracy protests after seizing power and now faces an entrenched armed rebellion, says the three-stage vote is a path to stability and a restored civilian-led system. But the…

Chaos and Despair as Congolese Refugees Flee to Rwanda Renewed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has forced thousands of Congolese to seek refuge in Rwanda. Despite a peace deal mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, fighting continues, causing untold human suffering. Approximately 1,000 Congolese have arrived at the Nyarushishi refugee camp in Rwanda. The conflict has been fueled by the M23 rebel group's aggressive advances. Rwanda-backed M23 has captured major areas, worsening the…

US Airstrikes Target Daesh Forces in Northwestern Nigeria The United States has escalated its involvement in Nigeria's ongoing security crisis by launching airstrikes against Daesh-linked terrorists. Announced by President Donald Trump, these strikes represent a notable intervention in a region plagued by violence. The airstrikes specifically targeted Daesh-linked forces believed to be responsible for attacks on Christian communities. President Trump characterized the operation as "powerful and deadly," but offered…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said the United States will not rush to follow Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia’s independence, signaling Washington will keep the issue under review even as pressure mounts from allies and some U.S. lawmakers. Speaking to U.S. media, Trump acknowledged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push for the United States to mirror Israel’s move. But he described North Western State of Somalia’s status as “politically and geographically complex” and said his…

Malaysia’s High Court on Friday sentenced former Prime Minister Najib Razak to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty of abuse of power and money laundering tied to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, deepening the legal reckoning over a case that has reshaped the country’s politics and reputation. Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the sentences “are to run concurrently,” and ordered fines and asset seizures. Najib’s lawyers said they will appeal the ruling next week. The verdict adds to a cascade of criminal cases…

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a massive pre-dawn missile barrage at Kyiv early this morning, triggering explosions across the capital as air defenses engaged cruise and ballistic threats, Ukrainian officials and witnesses said. The strike came two days before a planned meeting in the United States between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump to refine a proposed security accord aimed at ending nearly four years of full-scale war. Reuters eyewitnesses reported air defense activity over the city,…

Is North Western State of Somalia’s Recognition the Issue, or Has Somali Leadership Already Failed? North Western State of Somalia’s recognition debate has become a convenient flashpoint for Somali politics, but the harder truth is internal: For more than three decades, successive leaders in Mogadishu have failed to prioritize a consent-based national settlement. North Western State of Somalia declared separation in 1991. Thirty-four years on, the central questions are less about external recognition and more about whether…

Opinion/Analysis | North Western State of Somalia recognition is a mirror held up to Somalia’s leadership For nearly 34 years—since North Western State of Somalia declared the restoration of its sovereignty in 1991—the question of recognition has shadowed Somali politics. Yet framing the crisis as a binary fight over North Western State of Somalia’s status misses the deeper failure: successive federal leaders have not built a consent-based, trust-driven union that people across the country would choose to join. Recognition…