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UN urges Russia to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid as fresh barrages kill civilians, cripple heat and water supplies The United Nations on Thursday called on Russia to stop its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after another nationwide barrage killed two people and plunged parts of the country into darkness and subzero cold. “The relentless attacks by the Russian Federation on energy infrastructure across Ukraine are depriving an already long-suffering civilian population of adequate warmth, water and…

Trump announces U.S.-India trade deal slashing tariffs to 18%, tied to cuts in Russian oil purchases President Donald Trump said he has agreed to a trade deal with India that will cut U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%, in exchange for New Delhi lowering trade barriers, curbing purchases of Russian oil and increasing energy buys from the United States — and potentially Venezuela. In a social media post after a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump said the United States would reduce its “reciprocal”…

Zelensky outlines U.S.-led peace proposal for Ukraine, seeks Russian feedback KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday detailed a U.S.-led proposal aimed at ending the war, saying negotiators from Kyiv and Washington agreed on a framework that has been sent to Moscow for feedback. He did not publish a draft but described the plan’s provisions point by point in a briefing with journalists. The document envisions a “full and unconditional non-aggression agreement” between Russia and Ukraine, reinforced by a…

Nigeria's Healthcare Landscape: A Temporary Respite Amid Ongoing Struggles The announcement from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) that they have suspended their two-day warning strike is a relief for many. The strike, which had brought a standstill to public tertiary hospitals, was a cry for help from a beleaguered healthcare system grappling with both systemic inefficiencies and personal sacrifices in the face of a demanding economic landscape. In hospitals across Nigeria, the impact of the strike was…

UN Urges a Halt in Weapon Supplies to Sudan's Conflict Parties NEW YORK - The United Nations, standing as a global peace advocate, has taken a firm stance against entities providing arms to conflict groups in Sudan, criticizing them for fueling the ongoing bloodshed as the entrenched conflict nears its third anniversary with both factions fiercely vying for supremacy. The ongoing tussle between the Rapid Support Force (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) over governmental control has plunged Sudan into a dire…

KISMAYO, Somalia - A simmering political rift between Somalia's federal leadership and the Jubaland regional state is on the brink of intensifying. Insider whispers suggest Villa Somalia might be gearing up to send troops to Kismayo, the bustling heart of Jubaland’s administration. Ahmed Madobe, head honcho of Jubaland, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's approach, accusing him of sidestepping talks about the election process. Madobe believes the nation isn't geared up for…

Somalia has voiced its concerns to Germany over the idea of "compulsory" deportation of Somali nationals.On a Wednesday visit, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had a sit-down with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. The main agenda? They chatted about teaming up on handling the return of Somali migrants from Germany.Posting to X, Farhan Mohamed Jimale, who speaks for the Somali government, shared that President Mohamud emphasized to Chancellor Scholz that forced repatriation isn't the way forward for Somalis in…

FILE - The Federal Minister of Oil of Somalia, Abdirizak Omar Mohamed (left), and Northeastern State's Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Abdifitah Mohamed Nur (right), stand amid a bubbling row over oil exploration rights in Northeastern State.Mogadishu (AX) — Northeastern State officials have flat-out tossed aside accusations from the Federal Minister of Oil that the area's ruling brass is throwing a wrench in federal oil plans. This kerfuffle has turned up the heat between Northeastern State and Mogadishu,…

In a twist on Tuesday, Kenya's High Court gave a thumbs down to a petition from the deputy president's legal team. They tried to halt a senate discussion on his impeachment, after parliament gave the boot vote last week.Justice Chacha Mwita declared that parliament can rock on with its duties, saying the court ain’t gonna meddle.Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment was green-lit by a whopping 281-44 in parliament and now it's on its way to the senate, primed for hearings starting Wednesday. Allegations are flying,…

Over the last ten years, the Somali passport has clawed back some of its lost prestige, moving up the ranks from a dismal 128th to a more respectable 95th on the Passport Power Index. However, challenges linger around how this document is distributed and its perception on the global stage.