Iran and U.S. harden positions in talks to end nearly month-old war

Iran and the United States stood at a stubborn impasse Thursday, each digging in over ceasefire terms as diplomacy stalled and fears of further escalation grew with more U.S. forces nearing the Middle East. At the same time, President Donald Trump extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, pushing it to April 6. Tehran also tightened its control over the waterway, while Israel increased troop levels in southern Lebanon as it continued fighting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. In Israel, sirens…

US currency bears Trump’s image and signature despite federal law

President Donald Trump’s signature is set to appear on new U.S. paper currency, the Treasury Department announced, a development that would mark the first time a sitting president’s name has been placed on dollar bills and arrives as the nation prepares to observe its 250th anniversary. Under longstanding practice, the signatures on American dollar notes have belonged to the Treasurer of the United States and the secretary of the Treasury. The plan to put Mr Trump’s name on currency has drawn criticism from Democratic…

State of the Nation Today: Current Issues, Economic Trends & What Lies Ahead

By Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame Friday March 27, 2026 The country stands at a critical crossroads. A combination of public asset disposals, widespread displacement, and intensifying economic and political pressures is steadily shaping a fragile and potentially volatile reality. These developments are not occurring in isolation—they are interconnected forces driving the nation toward an uncertain and potentially dangerous future. What is unfolding is not merely a period of difficulty; it is a defining moment that requires…

Study Finds 6 Popular Frozen Pizzas Contain Significant Nutrition Red Flags

Healthiest to “Red Flag” Frozen Pepperoni Pizzas Nutrition label comparisons of six frozen pepperoni pizzas show wide differences in calories, sodium, saturated fat, carbs and protein. The nutrition profiles provided for six frozen pizzas were assessed per the stated serving size for each product, focusing on factors such as calories, sodium, saturated fat, carbohydrates and protein to determine which options appear less or more nutritionally concerning. Screamin' Sicilian Holy Pepperoni Nutrition (per 1/5 pizza…

France Revokes South Africa’s Invitation to the G7 Summit

France has revoked South Africa’s invitation to the forthcoming G7 summit, removing Pretoria from the guest list for the high-profile gathering. Paris rejected early claims that Washington had pushed for the exclusion, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa likewise dismissed suggestions of U.S. pressure. South Africa, not a G7 member, had been slated to attend as an observer. French officials said they were pursuing a “streamlined G7” and have invited Kenya instead, citing its role in helping France prepare a major…

Somali forces and AU troops kill more than 42 al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle

Friday March 27, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — More than 40 al-Shabab militants were killed on Thursday when the group tried to reclaim a town recently taken in southern Somalia, according to officials. The African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) said the clashes broke out in Mubarak, a strategically placed settlement in the Lower Shabelle region that joint forces from the Somali National Armed Forces and African Union troops seized earlier this month. According to AUSSOM, militants launched an attack on…

UN Human Rights Chief Demands Justice After School Strike Kills 168

The bombing of an Iranian elementary school drew “visceral horror,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said today, as he pressed Washington to finish its investigation and demanded justice for “the terrible harm done”. Turk spoke at the opening of an urgent debate in the UN Human Rights Council called to address the 28 February attack on a school in Minab, describing the strike as an attack on children that none of the council’s members should be willing to justify. “The bombing evoked a…

Guinea Army Commander Linked to 2009 Massacre Dies in Custody

Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, a pivotal figure convicted for his involvement in the 2009 stadium massacre in Guinea, has died in custody following a medical emergency. Diakité, who was serving a 10-year sentence for his actions during the violent episode in Conakry—where over 150 lives were lost and at least 109 women were subjected to rape—was a controversial presence even behind bars. He established a political party and made attempts to vie for the presidency. The prison administration confirmed that Diakité succumbed at the…

Trump Considers Deploying 10,000 Additional U.S. Ground Troops to Middle East

Trump Mulls Sending Up to 10,000 More U.S. Ground Troops to the Middle East WASHINGTON — Confronting mounting regional tensions, Donald Trump is weighing a plan to send as many as 10,000 additional U.S. ground troops to the Middle East, on top of more than 6,000 personnel already en route, according to officials familiar with the deliberations. The prospective deployment is intended to reinforce the American military…