Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Swiss investigators are working to identify victims following a fire, launching a meticulous forensic process that typically involves DNA analysis, dental records and fingerprint matching. Authorities have not released further details about the incident, but the identification effort signals that officials are now focused on confirming who was caught in the blaze and notifying families. Forensic teams in Switzerland generally coordinate with cantonal police, medical examiners and prosecutors to establish identities and…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A group of North Western State of Somalia-born politicians based in Mogadishu urged the Federal Government of Somalia on Thursday to avoid punitive steps that could harm the economy, restrict movement, or undermine the security of people living in North Western State of Somalia, calling instead for de-escalation and renewed dialogue as tensions rise over Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia. The politicians warned that coercive or punitive measures would not advance Somali unity. They…

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Swiss authorities are working to identify victims after a pre-dawn fire tore through Le Constellation, a popular bar in this Alpine resort town, turning New Year’s celebrations into a national tragedy and leaving more than 100 people injured. The first confirmed victim is 16-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, an Italian international golfer who had been living in Dubai, the Italian Golf Federation said. Galeppini was in Crans-Montana with his family and had gone to the bar with two friends, who escaped…

Several killed as Iran’s economic protests turn deadly; clashes reported across multiple provinces At least several people were killed in Iran as protests over a plunging currency and soaring prices escalated into violent confrontations with security forces in multiple cities, according to Iranian media, activist groups and local authorities. The semi-official Fars news agency said three protesters were killed and 17 were injured Thursday after demonstrators stormed a police station in Lorestan province around 6 p.m. local…

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said the United States is “locked and loaded” to respond if Iran kills protesters, issuing a stark warning as cost-of-living demonstrations in the country turned deadly and Iranian authorities cautioned Washington against interference. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that if Iran shoots “and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.” His message followed reports of fatal clashes between…

Climate change fueled a punishing year of extreme weather in 2025 that fell hardest on poorer communities, even as a cooling La Niña pattern took hold, according to a new assessment by World Weather Attribution, an international group of climate scientists. The annual report found that 2025 ranked among the three hottest years ever recorded, a sign of how far human-caused warming has pushed baseline temperatures. That backdrop turbocharged heatwaves, droughts, storms and wildfires across continents, widening a stark…

Kenya Issues Alert Over Falsified SIMULECT Drug Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a public alert warning against falsified versions of SIMULECT (basiliximab), an injectable immunosuppressive drug critical for preventing kidney transplant rejection. This warning comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) circulated an alert regarding the counterfeiting of this vital medication. The falsified SIMULECT has been reported in several countries including Rwanda, Bulgaria, and Türkiye. Concerns arise from…

Tragedy Strikes as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Gambia An overcrowded boat carrying migrants capsized near Gambia’s Atlantic coast, highlighting the dangers faced by those attempting to reach Europe. Seven bodies have been recovered, and search efforts continue for missing passengers, underscoring the persistent risks of the West African route to the Canary Islands. The boat, carrying over 200 migrants, overturned near Jinack village. 96 people were rescued, while 10 survivors are in critical condition. Gambia’s…

President Donald Trump said he is taking a daily aspirin dose larger than his doctors recommend, adding new detail to the public picture of his health and prevention regimen in an interview published by the Wall Street Journal. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump told the newspaper. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?” Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, told the Journal that Trump takes 325 milligrams…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government said Thursday that a planned airstrike in the al-Shabab-held town of Jilib on Dec. 10 killed two senior leaders of the extremist group, including a bomb-making chief who carried a $5 million U.S. bounty. The National Intelligence and Security Agency, known as NISA, said the strike killed Abdullahi Osman Mohamed, widely known as Engineer Ismail, describing him as al-Shabab’s chief explosives planner. The United States had offered up to $5 million for information leading to his…