Saturday March 21, 2026 Hargeisa (AX) — Marking Eid al-Fitr in the capital, North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro prayed alongside hundreds of worshippers in Hargeisa on Friday morning, then used his Eid remarks to urge economic restraint and a renewed push for peace in areas rattled by recent clan clashes. After the prayer, Irro cautioned that conflicts in the Middle East are upending global trade and key shipping routes, warning that the disruption could spill over into food and fuel…

A sudden policy shift from Washington is sending ripples through global energy markets, as the Trump administration moves to counter surging oil prices amid escalating conflict with Iran. The United States on Friday issued a 30-day waiver allowing the purchase of Iranian oil at sea, a step officials say is aimed at easing supply pressures driven by nearly three weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measure could release roughly 140 million barrels of oil into global…

Saturday March 21, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Marking Eid al-Fitr on Friday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud prayed alongside Somali Armed Forces units in Gendershe, the coastal Lower Shabelle town recently wrested back from al-Shabab. He was accompanied by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) director, top cabinet members, the Somali National Army commander and the national police chief, sharing the holiday with frontline soldiers. In remarks after the prayer, Hassan Sheikh said his government will move…

Friday March 20, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A deepening rift between Mogadishu and Southwest State burst into public view on Friday as a group of federal cabinet members from the region resigned en masse. The departing officials are State Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr. Mohamed Yusuf Hassan (Waliid); Deputy Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development Mohamed Aden Mohamed; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Isaak Mohamud Mursal; Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate…

Wednesday March 18, 2026 Iran confirmed Tuesday that Ali Larijani — a senior security power broker and a pillar of conservative politics within the Islamic Republic — was killed in an Israeli strike. He was 67. After U.S. and Israeli strikes late last month that killed Iran’s supreme leader and broadened the conflict, Larijani was widely viewed as the de facto manager of state affairs. Israel announced earlier Tuesday that it had killed Larijani; Tehran waited several hours before acknowledging his death. He had been tapped…

Taliska Mareykanka ee Afrika (AFRICOM) ayaa sheegay inuu 16-ka Maarso 2026 duqeyn cirka ah ka fuliyay agagaarka Buuraha Golis ee Puntland State, iyadoo lala beegsaday xubno ka tirsan ISIS. AFRICOM ayaa Talaadadii ku sheegtay bayaan in weerarku ka dhacay deegaanka Buuraha Golis, qiyaastii 45 kiiloomitir (28 mayl) koonfur-bari kaga beegan magaalada Boosaaso. “AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade ISIS-Somalia’s ability to threaten the U.S. homeland,…

Drones spark fire at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Two booby-trapped drones landed inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad’s Green Zone early Tuesday, triggering explosions and a fire, a source from Iraq’s Interior Ministry told Xinhua. By Ali MusaAxadle Times international–Monitoring Tuesday March 17, 2026 Facilities inside the U.S. Embassy compound caught fire after the attack, with flames visible from outside the complex, according to the Interior Ministry source cited by Xinhua, who spoke on condition of anonymity.…

Raphinha hat-trick powers Barcelona past Sevilla to keep La Liga lead Leaders win 5-2 at Montjuïc; Cancelo and Olmo on target as Sevilla concede two early penalties Raphinha scored three times — including two first-half penalties — as Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-2 at home on Sunday to maintain a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. The Brazil winger converted spot-kicks seven minutes apart in the opening period after João Cancelo twice drew fouls in the area. Dani Olmo added a third before halftime, and…

Joan Laporta was reelected as FC Barcelona president, securing a new five-year mandate with 68% of the vote in a member ballot that reaffirmed his grip on the club’s future and its most consequential rebuilding effort in a generation. Barcelona announced the result shortly after midnight in the Catalan capital. Víctor Font, Laporta’s only rival, conceded earlier in the evening and congratulated the incumbent on what he called an “unquestionable victory.” The club said more than 48,000 of its 114,000 eligible members cast…

Joan Laporta has secured another five-year term as FC Barcelona president, winning a members’ vote that cements his control of the club at a pivotal moment for its finances, stadium rebuild and sporting project. Shortly after midnight in Barcelona, the club announced Laporta’s victory. With the count complete, Barcelona said Laporta received 68% of ballots cast. His only challenger, Víctor Font, conceded earlier in the evening, congratulating Laporta for what he called an “unquestionable victory.” More than 48,000 of Barça’s…