Byrne insists sanctions remain until Russia ends occupation of Ukraine

EU sanctions on Russia should remain in place as long as Moscow occupies Ukrainian territory, Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said, as European leaders weigh a contentious “Reparations Loan” and a new international body launches in The Hague to process war-damage claims against Russia. “The entire basis of our support for Ukraine and our position against Russia and our actions against Russia is that has breached international law,” Byrne told reporters in Brussels ahead of a ministerial meeting.…

Somali rickshaw driver killed in Mogadishu weeks after U.S. visa lottery win

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A young rickshaw driver who had recently won the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery was shot and killed late Sunday in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district, police and relatives said, shattering plans to migrate with his pregnant wife and intensifying concern over attacks on transport workers. Police identified the victim as Abdirisaq Abukar Mohamed. Family members said he was driving his three-wheeled motorized rickshaw when gunmen opened fire, striking him in the chest and throat. He died at the scene. Somali police…

Somali President Meets Swedish Minister Amid Growing Scrutiny of Deportations

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met Tuesday with a high-level Swedish delegation led by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, signaling an effort by both governments to deepen ties on economic development, trade and institution-building amid heightened debate over migration policy. The closed-door talks at Villa Somalia focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation to support Somalia’s reconstruction and governance reforms, according to a statement…

Inside the online misinformation surge after the Bondi Beach attack

After the Bondi Beach attack on Sydney’s Jewish community, a blizzard of false claims and conspiracy theories raced across social media—many amplified by AI systems positioned as authoritative sources. An examination by the European Broadcasting Union’s Spotlight Network shows how misinformation eclipsed verified reporting in the crucial first hours, sowing confusion about what happened, who was involved and even whether the attack was real. On Sunday, Dec. 14, two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi…

Kenyan Police Foil Al-Shabaab Night Raid on Chinese Workers’ Camp

MANDERA, Kenya — Kenyan police on Tuesday said they thwarted a night raid by al-Shabaab militants on a Chinese workers’ residence in Elwak, Mandera County, securing all 10 occupants and repelling the attackers after a prolonged exchange of gunfire. The assault began around 1 a.m. when heavily armed men forced their way into the compound, located roughly one kilometer from the Elwak Police Station, according to a police statement. Officers guarding the site engaged the assailants in sustained fire, preventing them from…

Three states boycott Somalia football tournament amid federation disputes

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Three federal member states — South West, Jubaland and Galmudug — have withdrawn from Somalia’s Federal Member States football tournament, accusing the Somali Football Federation of mismanagement, a lack of accountability and failing to provide basic technical support for a credible national competition. The coordinated boycott threatens Somalia’s flagship domestic showcase and lays bare a deeper governance crisis at the heart of the game. Tuesday December 16, 2025 FILE — Spectators fill the stands…

Dozens Dead as Sudden Flash Floods Sweep Across Morocco

At least 37 people were killed after flash floods struck Morocco’s coastal Safi region following hours of torrential rain that swept cars and debris through the port city, local authorities said Monday. Dozens of people were treated in hospitals, and emergency services reported at least 70 homes flooded in the old city centre. Some roads into and out of Safi were blocked by water, mud and wreckage, hampering relief efforts and isolating neighbourhoods. “It is a dark day for the city,” residents told local media, urging the…

On the front line, aid cuts ravage the world’s largest refugee camp

‘Ground zero’ for aid cuts: Rohingya children in Cox’s Bazar face hunger, lost schooling as funding collapses At a nutrition center in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, a seven-month-old girl named Ahshiya clings to life. She weighs just 4.7 kilograms—little more than an average one-month-old. Her mother, 21-year-old Sajida Begum, fled Myanmar after soldiers attacked her village and burned their home. Now, inside the world’s largest refugee camp, she is battling HIV, diabetes and dengue fever while trying to keep her daughter fed.…

How Africa Can Stop the Resurgence of Military Coups

A Surge of Coups in Africa: Understanding the "Coup Belt" Eight African countries are currently under military rule, an alarming situation that has intensified recently. Within just eight weeks, two successful coups and one foiled attempt have unfolded, raising concerns that a new dimension of instability is emerging in Africa’s political landscape. This phenomenon has led to the emergence of a "coup belt" stretching across the continent, particularly concentrated in the predominantly French-speaking Sahel region. Jakkie…

Somalia confronts budget strain as Turkish aid stalls

Somalia faces budget pressure as Turkish support stalls Delay of $30 million in Turkish budget support adds strain as Mogadishu readies a spending plan of more than $1 billion. MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has confirmed a delay in budgetary support it typically receives from Turkey, with Finance Minister Bihi Iman Igeh saying the funds have not arrived this year as the calendar nears its end. “In previous years, Turkey consistently provided budget support,” Igeh told reporters. “This year’s support,…