delays

Government delays school year by one month after devastating floods in southern provinces The government announced Wednesday that the start of the school year will be delayed by one month after severe flooding across the southern provinces destroyed classrooms, cut access to schools and displaced thousands of families. Classrooms destroyed: 281 Schools inaccessible: 218 Schools used as shelters: 80 Students affected: more than 427,000 Teachers affected: 9,204 People affected since October: more than 812,000…

EU, Mercosur set to sign long-sought free trade pact in Paraguay, creating one of the world’s largest markets The European Union and South America’s Mercosur are poised to sign a free trade agreement in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Jan. 17, capping more than 25 years of negotiations and creating one of the world’s largest free trade areas. The pact would eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade across a market representing about 30% of global GDP and more than 700 million consumers. The deal, agreed in Brussels last…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has postponed a planned visit to Somalia that would have marked the first trip by a Chinese foreign minister to the country since the 1980s, Somali officials said Friday. Instead, Wang arrived in Tanzania for a two-day working stop on his annual New Year’s tour of Africa. Somalia had billed the visit as a significant diplomatic moment as Mogadishu navigates fresh pressures at home and abroad. Earlier this week, Israel became the first country to formally recognize the…

MOGADISHU — China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, postponed a planned visit to Somalia’s capital on Friday after authorities imposed sweeping security restrictions across Mogadishu ahead of his expected arrival, Somali officials said. Wang Yi’s visit to Mogadishu was postponed Friday; no reason was given and no new date announced. Parts of the city were sealed off, with checkpoints and major road closures including routes to Aden Adde International Airport. The trip was slated to be the first visit by a Chinese foreign…

DOJ finds more than a million additional Epstein documents, pushing full release back by weeks The U.S. Justice Department has identified more than a million additional documents potentially tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, delaying a full release of records for weeks as officials carry out legally required redactions to protect victims, the department said. The disclosure, made in a statement and echoed in a Justice Department social media post on Tuesday, further complicates a congressionally mandated…

Somalia’s Mogadishu Port switches to 24/7 operations in bid to cut delays and boost trade MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia has begun round-the-clock operations at the Port of Mogadishu for the first time, a step officials say will ease chronic congestion, speed cargo handling, and strengthen the country’s position in regional trade. The shift to uninterrupted service took effect Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, following recent upgrades to core port infrastructure. Senior representatives from the Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport,…

HARGEISA, Somalia - The northern enclave of North Western State of Somalia, which has set itself apart from the rest of Somalia, has reaffirmed its dedication to conducting a forthcoming regional presidential election. This move comes over three years after successfully facilitating a universal suffrage poll in the region. Essa Kayd, who's the region's foreign affairs chief, noted how this election marks a pivotal change. At last, upwards of a million registered voters will be allowed to directly cast their vote for a…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The usual pandemonium ensued in Somalia's parliament as contentious debates over electoral reforms took center stage. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requested lawmakers postpone their break to focus on the upcoming electoral process. Hassan Sheikh, returning for a second term, wants to adjust key electoral guidelines for a long-term shift. He aims to introduce universal suffrage, allowing every citizen to vote. Recognizing the pressing need for these reforms, Hassan Sheikh urged legislators to work…

Why the UN isn't Dropping Boots in Sudan Anytime Soon NAIROBI, Kenya - The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has voiced concerns over the viability of dispatching UN Forces to Sudan. He has implored the Security Council to safeguard civilians amidst the turmoil. The UN Security Council has the heavy task of deciding when and where to send peacekeeping forces. However, they haven't made a move in five years as the conflict heats up in the Horn of Africa. "Sudan's people are enduring horrendous…

Construction of $215M Road Linking Somalia and Ethiopia Faces Delays Over Security Issues NAIROBI, Kenya - Engineers in Kenya have hit the brakes on the construction of a major road intended to bolster connections between Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia due to escalating insecurity in the northeastern region. A spike in Al-Shabaab attacks is largely to blame. This 740-kilometer stretch of road aims to enhance regional socio-economic activities, particularly significant as Somalia recently joined the East African Community…