Browsing Tag

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EU pledges €63 million in aid to drought-hit Somalia; 6.5 million hungry

Mogadishu (AX) — The European Union on Thursday announced €63 million in new humanitarian funding for Somalia as 6.5 million people face severe hunger driven by drought, conflict and shrinking global aid, according to new food security projections. The EU said the money will be directed to the most vulnerable communities affected by ongoing insecurity, displacement, worsening drought and soaring food prices. Assistance will be channeled through EU humanitarian partners to speed delivery and ensure aid reaches areas with…

Somalia’s Opposition Calls Emergency Meeting Before Parliament Term Expires

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition-aligned Somali Future Council said it will convene a high-level meeting on April 10 to consider “measures to save Somalia’s statehood,” escalating a confrontation with the federal government after talks between the two sides collapsed last week. In a statement issued following a conference in Mogadishu attended by members of the Federal Parliament, political figures and representatives from civil society, the Council alleged the government’s push to amend the Provisional Constitution violates…

Somalia’s Future Council Announces Rescue Summit as Election Impasse Looms

Somali Future Council calls ‘salvation’ summit as election standoff deepens, parliament terms near expiry MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Somali Future Council said Saturday it will convene a “national salvation” summit on April 10, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of blocking a political agreement on national elections as key constitutional deadlines approach. The council — a coalition that includes leaders from Puntland State and Jubaland, former presidents and prime ministers, federal lawmakers, prominent politicians and…

Denmark’s Prime Minister Announces Surprise Early National Election

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday called a general election for March 24, setting up a high-stakes vote framed by security concerns, fraught ties with the United States over Greenland and ongoing tensions with Russia. “Whether I will continue to be your prime minister depends on how strong a mandate you give the Social Democrats in the parliamentary election to be held on March 24, 2026,” Frederiksen said as she outlined her platform, which includes reforming the retirement age and introducing a wealth…

U.S. TV host announces $1 million reward for leads in mother’s kidnapping

Savannah Guthrie said her family is offering up to $1 million for information leading to the recovery of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was kidnapped 24 days ago from her home in Tucson, Arizona. The US TV anchor acknowledged in an emotional Instagram post that her 84-year-old mother may be dead, a stark admission that underscores the urgency and anguish surrounding a case that has gripped the country and baffled investigators since Feb. 1. “We need her to come home,” Guthrie said, fighting back tears. “For that reason, we…

Northeastern administration outlines plans to hold local elections

Puntland State backs federal-led local council elections, warns against interference MOGADISHU, Somalia — Puntland State’s Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation on Tuesday said local council elections in Somalia’s northeastern state will proceed under the leadership of the Federal Electoral and Boundaries Commission, signaling a renewed push for direct polls despite fraught federal–state relations. In a statement, the ministry said it fully supports implementation of the vote in line with Articles 104 and…

NASA announces date for first human lunar flyby in half a century

NASA has set March 6 as the earliest possible launch date for Artemis II, the first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, contingent on the outcome of final checks and reviews following a full-scale launch rehearsal at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Lori Glaze, a senior official with the U.S. space agency, said work remains before the date can be confirmed, including pad preparations, a flight readiness review and analysis of data from the dress rehearsal. "We need to successfully navigate all of those but…

UK commits £6m in humanitarian drought relief funding for Somalia

MOGADISHU — The United Kingdom has announced £6 million in additional humanitarian funding to help drought-affected communities in Somalia, as escalating climate pressures deepen food insecurity across the country. The pledge came during the first official visit to Somalia by the UK Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Jenny Chapman. Chapman held high-level talks in Mogadishu with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and senior officials, and met humanitarian and security partners. She outlined the UK’s…

Uganda Announces Somalia Troop Exit After Nearly 20 Years of Peacekeeping

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda plans to withdraw its troops from Somalia after nearly two decades on the front lines of African Union peacekeeping, a move that could reshape security calculations in the Horn of Africa and test hard-won gains against Al-Shabaab. Gen. Wilson Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said in a post on X on Sunday that the country’s military mission in Somalia “has officially ended” and that preparations are underway for a full pullout. “After 19 years in Somalia, we plan…

South Africa Announces Temporary Withdrawal From G20 Meetings

South Africa announced Monday that it will temporarily withdraw from G-20 engagements while the United States holds the presidency, a move that South African officials called a pause rather than a permanent exit and that analysts say could dent Africa’s voice in the world’s most powerful economic forum. The withdrawal follows a sharp deterioration in ties after U.S. President Donald Trump declined to attend the 2025 G-20 summit in South Africa and publicly accused Pretoria of pursuing policies hostile to American interests.…