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A checkpoint, weathered by time and sand, stands steadfast amidst the arid expanse of Somalia’s Northeastern State region. On a brisk March day in 2018, this sentinel of vigilance welcomed the world to Bossaso's bustling port city. Fast forwarding to today, Northeastern State's guardians are unfurling new strategies to unravel the tangled web of financial channels feeding the Islamic State's voracious appetite. In a bold maneuver, Northeastern State authorities have erected barriers against the clandestine incursion of…

A court in Russia has handed down a nearly seven-year prison sentence to a 72-year-old American citizen accused of serving as a mercenary in Ukraine. The man, identified by media outlets as Stephen Hubbard, was adjudicated in accordance with the country's stringent laws regarding foreign combatants. In recent months, Russia has apprehended several American nationals and orchestrated significant prisoner exchanges. Among those released was Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, as well as Irish citizen Paul Whelan.…

US Raises Alarm Over Growing Islamic State in Northern Somalia PENTAGON — The Islamic State's presence in Somalia has surged almost twofold over the past year, according to the chief of U.S. Africa Command. “Northern Somalia's situation is increasingly worrisome with ISIS numbers on the rise,” Gen. Michael Langley, AFRICOM commander, shared in an exclusive with VOA. While Langley refrained from specifying the exact number of fighters, he noted the group's size had approximately "doubled" in the last…

In Uganda, the 42-day containment in mid-June ordered to fight the new wave of Covid-19 cases that ended on Saturday, July 31. Transportation, including motorcycle taxis, is allowed again and shopping malls can reopen. The curfew will be maintained at 7 pm and the schools will remain closed for the time being, but for Kampala residents, the resumption of operations is a real relief.…