Barcelona clinch La Liga title as relegation battle stays tight

Monday May 11, 2026 FC Barcelona sealed the 2025-26 La Liga title in emphatic fashion on Sunday, beating Real Madrid 2-0 at home to claim the championship in front of their own fans. Marcus Rashford put Barcelona in command early with a thunderous free kick in the ninth minute, before Ferran Torres struck again in the 18th after a slick exchange involving Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo. Real Madrid never looked like getting back into the game, and Barcelona was able to control the match in the second half. Thibaut Courtois kept…

Poorest Somalis suffer as worthless shillings pile up in Somalia

Mohamed Gabobe in MogadishuMonday May 11, 2026 So worn they are now being turned away by buses, Somalia’s banknotes have become a symbol of a cash crisis deepened by a dollarised economy and the growing reach of mobile payments, which are driving up the price of basic goods Muse Omar Jama, 49, sits in his Mogadishu office beside piles of banknotes. He says a government order requiring the Somali shilling to be accepted is being ignored. Photograph: Mohamed Gabobe When US troops pulled out of Somalia in the spring of 1994, a…

Israel imprisons soldiers for desecrating Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

Israel’s military has jailed two soldiers after a widely circulated image showed one of them appearing to place a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon. The photograph, shared online last week, showed an Israeli soldier draping an arm around the statue of Christ’s mother while lifting a cigarette toward her mouth. The military said the episode happened several weeks ago in southern Lebanon and was later examined by commanders in the field. "At the conclusion of the investigation, the…

Floods displace 10,000 families in Garissa, thousands more at risk

by STEPHEN ASTARIKOMonday May 11, 2026 IDPs from floodwaters from Bula Punda in Garissa are camping at the Police Training Centre./STEPHEN ASTARIKO Families across Garissa County are facing a fresh wave of suffering after torrential rains and swelling waters along River Tana swept through villages, flattening homes, ruining farms and wiping out livelihoods in their path. The Garissa County Steering Group says at least 10,000 households in Garissa Township have already been displaced, while more than 60,000 others countywide…

Four years of preventable policy failure, Hiiraan Online says

By Dr. Ali Said FaqiMonday May 11, 2026 When President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud campaigned on the promise of “Somalis at peace with themselves and at peace with the rest of the world,” the line struck a nerve. After years of political turbulence and fragmentation, many Somalis saw in it the outline of a fresh start: reconciliation, rebuilt institutions and a stronger sense of national purpose. Four years on, that optimism has largely given way to frustration. Many Somalis now say the country is more divided than before, its…

Suspect in White House press gala shooting pleads not guilty

A dramatic security scare at last month’s White House press gala has now moved into the courtroom, where a California man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump entered a not guilty plea. Cole Allen, 31, of California, remained silent during the hearing as his lawyer, Tezira Abe, submitted the plea on his behalf. Mr Allen appeared before the court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He is charged with four offences tied to the 25 April attack at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at a…

Somali opposition calls new Mogadishu protest, accuses government of obstruction

Monday May 11, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s dominant opposition alliance said Monday it will return to the streets of Mogadishu on May 16, pressing ahead with an anti-government protest after accusing federal authorities of blocking an earlier rally and using security forces to stifle dissent. The Somali Salvation Forum said it would carry on what it described as a “peaceful struggle” over forced displacement, land seizures and what it called the misuse of power by the federal government. In a statement, the forum said…

Namibians Call for Salary Increases After Transport Fare Hike

A government-approved rise in taxi and bus fares set to take effect on May 18 has sparked swift backlash across Namibia, with many urging authorities to match the move with increases in public sector pay. The adjustment covers taxis, minibuses, and inter-city buses, drawing immediate concern from everyday commuters and civil servants alike. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi said the revision stems from escalating fuel costs linked to persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a squeeze he noted is…

Trossard’s late goal keeps Arsenal five points clear as West Ham nears relegation

Monday May 11, 2026 Leandro Trossard struck late to lift Arsenal past West Ham United 1-0 on Sunday, a result that restored the Gunners’ five-point cushion over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and left West Ham staring at relegation to the second tier. With the match finely balanced and neither side able to seize control, Trossard linked up with Declan Rice before seeing his 15-meter effort take a decisive deflection into the goal with only seven minutes remaining. There was late drama when West Ham striker…