Iranian president accuses Trump, Netanyahu and Europe of fueling protests

Iran accuses U.S., Israel and Europe of exploiting unrest as casualty claims mount Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States, Israel and European leaders of exploiting the country’s economic crisis to incite nationwide protests, as Iranian authorities and rights groups issued sharply conflicting death tolls from the two-week upheaval. In a live state television address, Pezeshkian said foreign actors “provoked, created division, and supplied resources,” drawing “some innocent people into this movement”…

Somali Leader Holds High-Level Talks with Ethiopian and Djiboutian Counterparts

JIGJIGA, Ethiopia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held talks Saturday with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh in Jigjiga, a meeting officials said was aimed at sharpening regional security coordination and expanding economic cooperation across the Horn of Africa. Mohamud was received at Garaad Wiil-Waal Airport before convening discussions centered on political and security challenges facing the region. Somali officials said the president emphasized diplomacy as the…

Horn of Africa Leaders Open Shabeely Resort in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

Jigjiga, Ethiopia (AX) — The leaders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti on Saturday jointly inaugurated Shabeely Resort, a 385-hectare tourism and development project in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, positioning it as a flagship for regional integration and economic cooperation in the Horn of Africa. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh presided over the ceremony, which Ethiopian officials framed as a catalytic moment for cross-border tourism, trade…

7 High-Protein Lunches to Keep You Satisfied Until Dinner

The content provided is best suited for the Healthy Eating format. Reasoning Content Focus: The emphasis is on high-protein lunch options, which aligns directly with nutritional advice and habits. Tone & Style: The language used is informative and practical, consistent with a focus on nutrition and health. Expert Opinion: The inclusion of insights from a nutritionist supports the need for evidence-based information. Practical Guidance: It provides specific meal recommendations aimed at improving dietary habits, a…

France toughens baby formula rules after recent product recalls

France tightens safety limit for cereulide toxin in infant formula after global recalls France has lowered the safety threshold for cereulide toxin in infant formula, moving to fortify consumer protections after contamination in a widely used ingredient triggered recalls by major brands across dozens of countries. The agriculture ministry said the new limit is set at 0.014 micrograms of cereulide per kilogram of body mass, reduced from 0.03 micrograms per kilogram. The change follows a European Union meeting on Jan. 28 and…

U.S. approves $6.6B sale of attack helicopters and assault vehicles to Israel

WASHINGTON — The United States has approved $6.67 billion in arms sales to Israel, including 30 Apache attack helicopters and infantry assault vehicles, as a fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip faces repeated violations and international scrutiny. The State Department said Friday the package would bolster Israel’s “strong and ready self-defense capability,” a core U.S. policy priority. The approvals come as rights groups and United Nations experts intensify calls for Washington to halt military transfers they say risk…

China ends sanctions targeting UK politicians and government figures

China has agreed to lift sanctions on five British lawmakers and two members of the House of Lords, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said during a visit to the country, marking a thaw in a three-year dispute that began over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Starmer said he raised the issue directly with Chinese leaders and was told the restrictions “no longer apply,” adding that President Xi said “all parliamentarians are welcome.” The seven U.K. parliamentarians were sanctioned in 2021, barred from entering China and from…

Thousands rally nationwide against U.S. immigration enforcement operations

Thousands of protesters filled downtown Minneapolis on Thursday as students across the United States staged coordinated walkouts, demanding that federal immigration agents withdraw from Minnesota amid mounting outrage over fatal shootings linked by demonstrators to a recent enforcement surge. The protests targeted a sweeping federal immigration operation in the Minneapolis area that has put heavily armed officers on neighborhood streets and prompted accusations of indiscriminate tactics. Organizers said the day of action…

How Current Geopolitics Shape Africa’s Food Sovereignty Issues

The Food Security Crisis in Benin: A Call for Action This section highlights the pressing food security issues faced by Benin, rooted in economic dependencies and agricultural challenges. It argues for a shift towards sustainable local production. Benin relies heavily on food imports despite having the potential for domestic agricultural production. The agricultural sector remains underdeveloped due to policy failures and reliance on subsistence farming. A call for strategic interventions aimed at achieving…

Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara of Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone dies at 71

LOS ANGELES — Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning Canadian-born actor whose range stretched from the anarchic brilliance of SCTV to the beloved roles of Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, died at her Los Angeles home following a brief illness. She was 71. Her death was confirmed by her agency, CAA, which said further details were not immediately available. O’Hara’s death prompted a wave of tributes across the industry, led by Macaulay Culkin, who played Kevin McCallister opposite O’Hara’s anxious, fiercely devoted mother, Kate,…