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‘It’s never been like this’: Minneapolis’ Somali Americans under sweeping federal scrutiny On an icy Friday morning in south Minneapolis, Mahad Omar watched armed federal agents sprint past his window and tackle a neighbor to the pavement. They cuffed the man and loaded him into a black SUV. “Minneapolis is a great city,” said Omar, 28, an Uber driver who came from Somalia as a child. “It’s never been like this.” Across a metro area known for its immigrant roots and East African cultural hubs, Somali Americans say…

Explosions, low-flying aircraft rattle Caracas overnight as tensions with U.S. simmer CARACAS, Venezuela — At least seven explosions and the sound of low-flying aircraft jolted Venezuela’s capital around 2 a.m. local time Saturday, prompting residents in several neighborhoods to rush into the streets. The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was not clear what caused the blasts, and there were no immediate details on damage or casualties. Residents across multiple areas of Caracas…

U.N. experts warn that al-Shabab remains the most immediate threat to peace and stability in Somalia and the wider region, especially Kenya, even as the U.N. Security Council unanimously extended the African Union’s support-and-stabilization mission in the country through Dec. 31, 2026. Despite sustained operations by Somali and international forces, the al-Qaida-linked group’s capacity “to carry out complex, asymmetric attacks in Somalia remains undiminished,” according to the panel of experts report released Wednesday. The…