Decades

Austria Deports Two Somali Men to Mogadishu in First Forced Returns in 20 Years MOGADISHU — Two Somali men convicted of drug offenses in Austria were flown to Mogadishu this week, the first deportations from Austria to Somalia in two decades, underscoring a rapidly hardening mood on migration across parts of Europe. Austria’s Interior Ministry confirmed the removals, saying the men were returned after serving their prison sentences. In the Somali capital, relatives told BBC Somali Service that they were warned a removal…

This past week was a rollercoaster for Manchester United, culminating in a 1-1 stalemate with Chelsea and the grim announcement that the club has experienced its worst league beginning in nearly four decades. Moises Caicedo’s sensational long-range volley salvaged a point for Chelsea, leaving United stranded on a mere 12 points — the lowest tally after ten games since the infamous 1986-87 season, according to Opta, the Premier League’s data supplier. Interesting enough, this was the same year when Alex Ferguson took charge,…

 The Somali administration has greenlit a federal budget of $1.34 billion for 2025. This represents a hefty 24.4% uptick from last year’s allocation of $1.079 billion. This financial boost stems from an uptick in local earnings and the need to tackle ongoing expenses, with homegrown revenue expected to hit $429.4 million, up 24% from $346.2 million in 2024.Taking a gander at the 2025 budgets of East African Community (EAC) nations:Kenya: $31.9 billion (up by 3.1% from 2024/25) Uganda: $19.61 billion (a whopping 36% increase)…

DUBAI — Saudi Arabia has embarked on a significant surge in executions, hitting a 30-year apex. With three more executions announced on Saturday, the 2024 tally skyrocketed to 198, per AFP's count. The kingdom ranks third globally in executions, trailing only China and Iran, Amnesty International reported for 2023. This latest figure supercedes previous peaks of 196 in 2022 and 192 in 1995, according to the London-based human rights organization, which has been documenting annual data since 1990. The Saudi Press…

For decades, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah helmed Hezbollah, steering the organization through relentless confrontations with Israel. Under his leadership, Hezbollah evolved into a formidable military entity, gaining considerable influence across the region, buoyed by Iran's steadfast support. Nasrallah emerged as one of the most significant Arab figures of that era. Tragically, the Iran-backed Hezbollah announced that Nasrallah had succumbed to an Israeli aerial attack on Beirut just yesterday. To his admirers, Nasrallah was a…

Folks gathered at the University of Nairobi in Kenya on September 13, 2024, to delve into "Strengthening Sino-African Relations: Reflections on Two Decades of FOCAC". The event, held last Friday, examined the significant milestones since the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) kicked off over 20 years ago. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) This insightful seminar took place on a Friday in the heart of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, scrutinizing key achievements since FOCAC's inception over two decades ago. High-profile…