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MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s already fraught political climate sharpened further this week as an opposition alliance urged mass street protests in Mogadishu, even as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud prepared to convene a national dialogue conference on May 10. Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, along with other figures in the opposition-backed Council for Somalia’s Future, said they would take part in demonstrations scheduled for next Sunday. They called on residents uprooted by recent evictions to join the…

As Vienna readies for the Eurovision Song Contest's provocative songs and glittering spectacle next week, the festival's 70th edition is unfolding under heavy security and an intensifying row over Israel's participation. The world's biggest live televised music event will feature contestants from 35 countries — the lowest total since participation widened in 2004 — after several countries, including Ireland, withdrew over Israel's war in Gaza. The semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday will narrow the field before Saturday's…

With tensions still simmering in the Middle East, China's top diplomat Wang Yi urged an immediate halt to the fighting on Tuesday and pressed the United States and Iran to restore access through the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as possible" during talks in Beijing with his Iranian counterpart. "China considers that a complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay, that it is even more unacceptable to restart hostilities, and that continuing to negotiate remains essential," he said, according to a statement from…

Mounting concern over disruptive travelers has prompted Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary to call for a curb on alcohol sales in airport bars before morning departures, arguing that the move is needed to reduce incidents involving drunken and aggressive passengers. Speaking to The Times in an interview published today, the airline chief said the issue had been intensifying. He said Ryanair, which operates primarily across Europe, was now forced to divert nearly one plane every day because of passenger misconduct linked…

Tuesday May 5, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia on Tuesday flatly denied reports that it had expelled the United Arab Emirates ambassador, calling the claims false and misleading. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it was alarmed by the spread of what it described as baseless allegations across several media outlets and social media platforms. “The Ministry firmly rejects these claims and urges all media institutions and social media users to exercise accuracy, professionalism,…

Saturday May 2, 2026 The Kenya African National Union (KANU) has appealed for calm and restraint after a surge of insecurity along the Mwingi–Garissa Road corridor in Kitui County. KANU chairman Gideon Moi said the recent violence was a matter of serious national concern and sent condolences to the families who have lost relatives. “Resource-based disputes must never be allowed to descend into violence, senseless killings, or wanton looting,” Moi said. “The loss of life and destruction of property only deepen divisions and…

MANAMA, Bahrain — Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has called on Iran to stop meddling in Bahrain and the wider Gulf, issuing a blunt warning after weeks of escalating military tension in the region. In remarks published by the state-run Bahrain News Agency, the king condemned the recent strikes as “heinous aggression” that he said was aimed squarely at the safety and stability of the Bahraini people. He added that the strain the kingdom has endured had “exposed many faces” that had previously concealed their real…

Five years after Myanmar’s military seized power and placed Aung San Suu Kyi in detention, the United States is pressing the junta to free the ousted civilian leader without delay, even as authorities say she will be transferred to house arrest. A senior source in her disbanded National League for Democracy (NLD) told AFP that she was expected to remain under arrest at a residence in the capital, Naypyidaw. Min Aung Hlaing, the junta chief, overthrew Ms Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021 and ordered her detention on a raft…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — For British Ambassador Charles King, diplomacy in Mogadishu comes with a soundtrack few envoys ever hear: the thrum of F-16 fighter jets cutting across the morning sky. In a recently published account, King painted an unvarnished picture of life in Somalia’s capital, calling it one of the most dangerous diplomatic assignments in the world. He described a posting defined by security restrictions that shape nearly every movement, with armored vehicles, protective equipment and tightly controlled travel…

Amnesty International has launched a scathing indictment against the Nigerian government, asserting that officials have failed to safeguard Fulani pastoralists detained in Kwara State. The organization alleges that a staggering 150 individuals—predominantly children—succumbed to dire conditions within a military-managed facility where displaced persons endured lengthy incarceration. According to the report, these tragic deaths occurred among roughly 1,500 Fulani individuals, including men, women, and children, who were…