Axadle - Leading News from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

North Korea test-fired two “strategic” long-range cruise missiles into the sea, state media said, in a drill overseen by leader Kim Jong Un that he framed as part of an “unlimited and sustained” expansion of the country’s nuclear forces. The launches took place over the Yellow Sea and mark the first reported test of long-range cruise missiles since early November, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Cruise missiles labeled “strategic” by Pyongyang are typically understood by analysts to be designed to carry…

Somalia’s president has condemned Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia as a “naked invasion,” warning that Mogadishu will not allow its territory to be used as a base for Israel to pursue regional conflicts. Addressing an emergency joint session of parliament on Sunday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing the “greatest abuse” of Somalia’s sovereignty in the nation’s history and referred to Israel as an “enemy.” Lawmakers…

Bulgaria will adopt the euro on Thursday, becoming the 21st member of the currency union in a move supporters say will anchor the economy and deepen ties to the West — even as a skeptical public fears higher prices and fresh instability. The shift ends more than two decades of operating under a strict currency board, in which the lev was first pegged to the German mark and later to the euro after the single currency’s rollout in 2002. Joining now gives Sofia a seat at the table where monetary policy decisions are made, a…

Trump and Zelenskiy say they are closing in on a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine, with security guarantees nearly settled but the fate of the Donbas region still unresolved after talks at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. At a joint news conference, the U.S. president said the two sides were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close,” while acknowledging that Donbas remains a “very tough issue.” Both leaders offered few specifics and set no deadline, though Trump said it should be clear “in a few weeks” whether negotiations…

Garowe, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has launched a broad diplomatic and political push to reinforce the country’s unity and sovereignty after Israel moved to recognize North Western State of Somalia, a step Mogadishu says violates international law and Somalia’s territorial integrity. Officials said the president has been in regular contact with leaders of foreign governments and international organizations to urge opposition to the recognition. Somalia’s government argues the move undermines principles of…

Somalia condemns Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as regional “threat” Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud denounced Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, calling it “a threat to the security and stability of the world and the region” in an emergency parliamentary session that underscored rising tensions in the Horn of Africa. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that Israel would become the first country to recognize Somaliland, the self-proclaimed republic that has sought international…

Liverpool 2-1 Wolves: Wirtz breaks duck as Slot’s side hold off late surge after Jota tribute ANFIELD — Florian Wirtz finally opened his Liverpool account and Ryan Gravenberch struck the opener before a nervy finish, as Liverpool edged Wolves 2-1 in a match framed by a moving tribute to the late Diogo Jota and a bleak milestone for the visitors’ winless season. Wolves, competitive throughout and adventurous after the break, fell to a record that underlines the scale of their struggle. Their 18th match without a win from the…

U.S. Airstrikes Target Islamic State-Aligned Camp in Nigeria On Christmas Day, U.S. airstrikes launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones targeted camps linked to Islamic State-aligned militants in Sokoto state, northwestern Nigeria. While the operation has drawn attention, details remain scant. No civilian casualties have been reported. U.S. Africa Command (Africom) announced on December 26 that "multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in the ISIS camps." However, the lack of transparent information has raised concerns among human…

Trump to meet with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago Former President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago, the oceanfront club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Details on the timing, agenda and format of the conversation were not immediately available. The planned Trump–Zelensky meeting comes as the war in Ukraine grinds on and Kyiv continues to press international partners for air defenses, long-range strike capabilities and sustained financing. Any interaction between the former U.S.…

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…