Axadle - Breaking news and analysis from Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and across Africa.

UN estimates 4.9 million under-5 deaths in 2024 An estimated 4.9 million children died before age five in 2024, United Nations agencies said, underscoring a global slowdown in mortality reduction even before recent aid cuts. The estimate was produced by UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the UN Population Division. The agencies said most of the deaths were preventable with better access to healthcare and low-cost interventions for complications from pre-term birth and diseases such as malaria.…

By Abdiwahab AhmedAxadle Times international–Monitoring Micheál Martin defends Starmer to Trump in Oval Office Ireland’s Taoiseach defended UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to U.S. President Donald Trump during an Oval Office exchange, positioning Ireland as a bridge between the United States and Europe. During a press-filled Oval Office session, Micheál Martin waited through rapid-fire questions to the president before stepping in after Trump criticized the British prime minister, according to the exchange described in the…

Iran launches missile strike on Tel Aviv; two reported dead Iranian state TV said Tehran fired missiles with cluster warheads at Tel Aviv overnight in retaliation for the killing of security chief Ali Larijani, with at least two people reported dead in the city. By Abdiwahab AhmedAxadle Times international–Monitoring Iran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads, Iranian state television reported, describing the attack as retaliation for what Tehran called Israel’s assassination of Ali Larijani, Iran’s…

Glasgow Central to Partially Reopen After Nearby Building Fire Glasgow Central railway station will partially reopen following a fire that destroyed much of a neighboring building, with Network Rail warning of reduced capacity and advising passengers to check their journeys. By Abdiwahab AhmedAxadle Times international–Monitoring The main part of the station has been closed since March 8 after the fire destroyed much of the building next to the station. Network Rail said the partial reopening will mean reduced capacity and…

Iran has said that traffic through a major strait is still not back to normal, but details remain scarce. In a brief update, officials didn’t specify which waterway they were referring to—though disruptions in routes like the Strait of Hormuz often raise immediate concerns due to their global importance. There was also no explanation of what caused the situation or how long it might last. So far, there’s little clarity on how this could affect shipping or military movement in the region. The source of the statement…

Britain, Ukraine agree drone exports, new AI center Britain and Ukraine agreed to work together to sell drone technology abroad and deepen battlefield AI cooperation during Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to London, according to a Downing Street statement. By Abdiwahab AhmedAxadle Times international–Monitoring Britain said it will combine Ukraine’s drone expertise with the United Kingdom’s manufacturing base under a new military‑industrial partnership aimed at boosting the supply of drones and ensuring artificial intelligence is…

Drones spark fire at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Two booby-trapped drones landed inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad’s Green Zone early Tuesday, triggering explosions and a fire, a source from Iraq’s Interior Ministry told Xinhua. By Ali MusaAxadle Times international–Monitoring Tuesday March 17, 2026 Facilities inside the U.S. Embassy compound caught fire after the attack, with flames visible from outside the complex, according to the Interior Ministry source cited by Xinhua, who spoke on condition of anonymity.…

Kent students to get menB vaccine amid outbreak Students in university halls in Kent will be offered the meningitis B vaccine within days as officials move to contain an outbreak that has killed two young people, according to the UK Health Security Agency and Health Secretary Wes Streeting. By Abdiwahab AhmedAxadle Times international–Monitoring British Health Secretary Wes Streeting said most students would not already be vaccinated against menB and that jabs will begin in the next few days. He told MPs: This is an…

Somalia suspends Mogadishu–Baidoa flights amid Southwest rift Somalia’s federal government suspended civilian flights between Mogadishu and Baidoa on Tuesday as tensions with Southwest State escalated, local officials and sources said. Local sources said that as of Tuesday morning, commercial passenger aircraft were unable to land in Baidoa following the decision, with only United Nations and cargo flights permitted during the suspension. Officials in Southwest State condemned the measure and said travelers were left…

Cuba works to restore power after nationwide blackout Cuba began restoring electricity after a nationwide blackout, with officials saying about two-thirds of the island had power by morning as authorities investigated the cause and reported no immediate damage from a separate offshore quake. Cuba was working to bring electricity back online following a countrywide outage, the government said, without specifying the cause. As of this morning, about two-thirds of the country had power again, according to the government. There…