Keir Starmer has said he will join the campaign trail for Andy Burnham in the north-west England bye-election, throwing his weight behind a figure widely seen as a possible rival for the Labour leadership. At the same time, the British prime minister and Labour leader tried to shift attention onto his government’s record and away from what he called “all the other discussions that are going on” — an apparent nod to the leadership speculation that has shadowed him since Labour’s heavy losses in local and devolved elections…

Tuesday May 19, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro on Monday unveiled a new institute in Hargeisa aimed at bolstering the territory’s long-running push for international recognition. Addressing the 35th anniversary of North Western State of Somalia’s May 18 declaration of independence, Irro said the North Western State of Somalia Independence and Recognition Institute would gather the historical, legal and political case for statehood and present it to a wider…

Sunday May 10, 2026 Jigjiga (AX) — The Somali Regional State in Ethiopia has kicked off campaigning for its seventh regional and national elections, with the ruling Barwaqo Party drawing large crowds to rallies across several towns and districts on Saturday. Across the region, thousands of supporters filled public squares, brandishing flags and banners as party candidates began courting voters for both local and federal parliamentary seats. In Dhahaxbuur, Somali Regional State President Mustafa Muhumed Omar spoke at a major…

By Ali Mohamed Omar Saturday May 9, 2026 A Response to the Heritage Institute’s Assessment of Somalia’s Diplomacy There is a sharp line between rigorous analysis and reflexive cynicism, between constructive criticism and the kind of commentary that weakens the very institutions a country depends on abroad. When that line is crossed, scholarship can become a liability instead of a public service. A recent policy paper has asked Somalis, along with our international partners, to judge what the country has achieved during…

Ben SmeeSunday April 26, 2026 A night meant to celebrate Washington’s political press corps was abruptly thrown into chaos when gunfire broke out outside the White House correspondents dinner, prompting global concern and swift condemnation from world leaders. US president Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, officials and journalists were hurried out of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday after shots were heard from the hotel lobby. An armed man later tried to force his way into the event. Canadian prime…

Monday April 20, 2026 Jowhar (AX) — Hirshabelle State President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlaawe has directed his cabinet to accelerate preparations for Somalia’s planned one-person-one-vote elections, pressing for wider public engagement even as political fault lines and security worries grow around the process. Guudlaawe urged officials to step up voter education campaigns and bolster administrative readiness ahead of the expected polls. He also called on residents of Hirshabelle to take part actively in the electoral…

Bound by grief that might once have kept them apart, an Israeli father and a Palestinian father are instead using friendship as their strongest argument for peace. Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin, who stood on opposite sides of the conflict as young men, now describe themselves as "family" and say they have devoted their lives to fostering respect and understanding between their peoples. The pair were in Dublin to address an event hosted by the charity Trócaire. They are no strangers to Ireland, having travelled across the…

Thursday April 9, 2026 Türkiye’s deep-sea drillship Çağrı Bey is due to dock in Mogadishu on Friday, launching a nearly 10-month drilling campaign that will mark the country’s first deepwater exploration project beyond its own shores. The vessel set sail from southern Türkiye in mid-February and is expected to wrap up its 53-day voyage with a ceremony in the Somali capital, where Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar is scheduled to attend. Once in port, the ship will head to a drilling site roughly 372…

Turkey boosts air and ground support as Somalia escalates war on al-Shabab MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has expanded its military footprint in Somalia, reinforcing air and ground units to support the country’s campaign against al-Shabab as attacks intensify in and around the capital, Turkish security officials said Thursday. The buildup includes new deployments to Türkiye’s Air Component Command in Somalia, with the added assets dedicated to counterterrorism missions. The moves come alongside ongoing work by the…

Somalia foils suspected al-Shabab plot in Mogadishu: Five arrested, explosives seized MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali security forces arrested five suspected militants and seized explosives, weapons and vehicles in a Friday operation aimed at disrupting planned attacks on the capital, Mogadishu, the National Intelligence and Security Agency said. NISA said the group was preparing to enter the city to carry out attacks “threatening the security and stability of the capital,” and credited months of surveillance and close…