Clears

With a green light from mission controllers, NASA’s four Artemis astronauts are now cleared to leave Earth orbit and begin a long-awaited return to the Moon, setting up the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half a century. NASA Flight Director Jeff Radigan informed the crew that the mission management team had approved the engine burn aboard their Orion capsule, a critical step that will place the spacecraft on course for the Moon. The five minute and 49 second burn is set for 7:49pm Eastern Time (00:49am), a maneuver…

NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — A regional appeals court on Monday cleared Somalia’s representatives to take their seats in the East African Legislative Assembly, overturning earlier rulings that had blocked their participation and ending a months-long legal dispute over the country’s nomination process. The decision paves the way for Somalia’s full engagement in the East African Community’s legislative body and removes a significant obstacle to Mogadishu’s regional integration efforts since joining the bloc. Somalia’s ambassador to…

IMF approves additional $40 million for Somalia, releases $30 million in immediate budget support MOGADISHU — The International Monetary Fund has approved an additional $40 million for Somalia after completing the fourth review of the country’s Extended Credit Facility, authorizing an immediate $30 million disbursement for budget support. The decision lifts Somalia’s total access under the program to about $140 million and brings cumulative disbursements to roughly $100 million under the arrangement approved in December…

The government has reached agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties with the United Arab Emirates. These arrangements aim to facilitate the return of high-ranking members of the Kinahan organized crime network to Ireland for legal proceedings. This notorious transnational drug trafficking syndicate operates primarily from Dubai. Notably, Sean McGovern, one of its key figures, is currently detained while awaiting extradition to face a murder accusation in Ireland. Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee,…