Somalia Denies U.S. Accusation of Destroying Food Aid Warehouse

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government on Thursday denied a U.S. allegation that authorities in Mogadishu destroyed an American-funded World Food Program warehouse and seized food aid, as Washington suspended assistance to the federal government over concerns about possible diversion of relief supplies. The State Department said Wednesday it had halted all U.S. assistance to Somalia’s federal government, citing “a zero-tolerance policy for waste, theft and diversion of life-saving assistance.” The move immediately…

Qatari embassy damaged as Russian barrage hits Kyiv, Zelensky says

Russia launched a “massive” night-time barrage across Ukraine that killed at least four people, wounded 25 and damaged 20 residential buildings in Kyiv and its suburbs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding a drone also hit the Embassy of Qatar in the capital. The overnight assault combined ballistic and cruise missiles with swarms of drones as temperatures plunged to minus 10 C and power outages spread. Zelensky said Russia fired 13 ballistic missiles, including the hypersonic Oreshnik, and 22 cruise missiles, and…

EU reportedly dismayed by Ireland’s rejection of the Mercosur deal

Ireland to vote against EU-Mercosur trade pact as bloc moves toward approval European Union sources voiced disappointment as Ireland prepared to vote against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, a stance at odds with what they described as the country’s traditional image as an export-driven economy. The vote, set for an ambassadors’ meeting in Brussels this morning, comes as the pact is expected to win endorsement by a qualified majority despite opposition from Ireland, France, Poland and others. Italy’s decision to back the…

Over 20 Nations Condemn Israeli Minister’s North Western State of Somalia Visit, Urge Reversing Recognition

More than 20 countries condemn Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urge reversal Friday, January 9, 2026 MOGADISHU, Somalia — More than 20 countries on Friday jointly condemned Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to the region, calling the move a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and urging Israel to immediately revoke its decision. In a coordinated statement, the signatories rejected Israel’s designation of North Western State of Somalia as an…

Trump’s threats stir fear, not defiance, among Greenland residents

Greenland’s culture of calm meets a moment of fear as U.S. pressure mounts As the United States under President Donald Trump increases pressure on Greenland, the island’s deeply rooted tradition of emotional restraint is colliding with a geopolitical confrontation many residents say they are afraid to even discuss. The unease reaches back to the anthropological record. In the 1960s, scholar Jean Briggs lived among Inuit families for 17 months, documenting a culture of striking composure in her 1970 book, “Never in Anger.”…

Somalia’s president rejects Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition, urges return to dialogue

Mogadishu — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday night forcefully rejected Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, warning the move threatens Somalia’s unity and regional stability and renewing his call for direct dialogue with leaders in Hargeisa to resolve decades-old grievances. In a nationally broadcast address, Hassan Sheikh said Somalia would not accept any attempt to divide the country through unilateral foreign action. “The Federal Republic of Somalia is one country, free and…

Somali President Rejects Israel’s Recognition of North Western State of Somalia, Calls for Dialogue

Somali president rejects Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urges dialogue to protect unity MOGADISHU — Somalia’s president on Thursday night forcefully rejected Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, calling the move a threat to Somalia’s unity and regional stability while renewing a call for direct talks with North Western State of Somalia’s leaders to resolve decades-old grievances. In a nationally broadcast address, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia would not accept any…

Ireland and France will oppose EU-Mercosur trade pact in votes

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…

Trump says U.S. oversight of Venezuela could extend for years

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…

U.S. Senate defies Trump on Venezuela with war powers vote

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…