Axadle - Breaking news and analysis from Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and across Africa.

Friday April 10, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and Italy on Thursday sealed an agreement to launch the QEPHS-SOM project, a new effort intended to bolster the country’s primary health services and broaden access to care. The deal was signed in Mogadishu by Somali Minister of Health Dr. Ali Haji Aden and Italy’s Ambassador to Somalia, Pier Mario Daccò Coppi, with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) involved in the partnership. The signing ceremony was attended by AICS Head Fabio Minniti and agency official…

Pressure mounted on Hungary on Thursday after new reports alleged Budapest shared sensitive EU material with Moscow, prompting Brussels to demand that the government “explain itself as a matter of urgency”. Last month, a consortium of Eastern European outlets — The Insider, VSquare and Delfi — reported that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had given Russia “direct-line” access to “strategic information on crucial issues”. In a follow-up investigation published Wednesday, the outlets alleged that Mr Szijjarto…

Thursday April 9, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (2nd L) competes during the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg football match between FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in Barcelona, Spain, April 8, 2026. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua) Atletico Madrid left Barcelona with a commanding Champions League quarterfinal advantage on Wednesday, as goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth delivered a 2-0 first-leg victory away from home. The outcome gives Atletico firm control of the tie and comes as a…

For a month, the UK and its allies shadowed a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines in the North Atlantic before the vessels eventually pulled back, Britain's defence minister John Healey said. Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, he said that in recent weeks — even as attention was focused on the crisis in the Middle East — the UK, working alongside Norway and other allies, had responded to what he described as "increased Russian activity" in the Atlantic north of the UK. That activity, he said,…

Osmond ChiaBusiness reporterThursday April 9, 2026 Oil prices climbed in Asian trading on Thursday as markets tracked the increasingly shaky US-Iran ceasefire and what it could mean for shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The two-week truce, already described as conditional, came under fresh pressure after Israel carried out a series of deadly strikes in Lebanon, drawing a warning from Tehran of a "regret‑inducing response" if the attacks go on. Oil prices plunged on Wednesday after the announcement of the agreement…

In one of the war’s few recurring acts of coordination, Moscow has returned the remains of 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine, according to a source in Russia's negotiating delegation, while Kyiv handed back the bodies of 41 dead Russian troops. The exchanges of war dead have continued even as the four-year conflict, unleashed by Russia's full-scale invasion, has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and left little room for cooperation elsewhere. Footage published by Russia's state-run Ruptly video agency showed men wearing white…

Thursday April 9, 2026 London (AX) — A British man has been charged in connection with directing terrorist activity tied to the Somali militant group al-Shabab, as he prepares to appear before a court, the Metropolitan Police said Thursday. Jermaine Grant, 43, who has no fixed address, was charged after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London. Prosecutors say he directed the activities of al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-linked group that has long operated in Somalia. Grant faces three counts of attending an al-Shabab…

As the aftermath of Lebanon’s deadliest day of the war continued to unfold, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today he wants direct negotiations with Beirut, raising the stakes just one day after bombardments killed more than 300 people and cast fresh doubt over Donald Trump’s US-Iran ceasefire. Mr Trump declared a ceasefire in the six-week Iran conflict late on Tuesday, only hours before a deadline after which he had warned he would wipe out Iran’s entire civilisation. In Pakistan, officials were making…

Change is never simple. It comes with pressure, risk, and uncertainty. But for any country seeking real progress, it is often the only way forward. In Somalia, President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has chosen to face that reality head-on. Since returning to office, he has taken a series of bold and, at times, difficult decisions aimed at reshaping the country’s direction. Drawing on his previous experience, he quickly identified key areas that needed urgent attention to deliver visible results. Now, after years of effort,…

Bea SwallowThursday April 9, 2026 Yassin Mohamud said he intended to "use this platform to bring people together" Bristol’s incoming Lord Mayor has called the appointment a "deep honour", saying he wants to help "ensure that every community feels recognised and valued" in the city. Yassin Mohamud, elected as Green councillor for Lawrence Hill in 2021, is set to take up Bristol City Council’s ceremonial mayoral post in May. The position rotates between the council's four largest political groups. He will take over from…