intensify

President Donald Trump, joined by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, is spearheading an aggressive campaign to streamline the US bureaucracy, resulting in the dismissal of over 9,500 federal employees. Those affected ranged from individuals responsible for managing vast federal lands to dedicated personnel caring for the nation's military veterans. This sweeping initiative has predominantly impacted probationary workers—those who have been on the job for less than a year and enjoy limited employment protections. Reports from…

Mogadishu (AX) — As the sun lazily dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over Mogadishu, a gathering unlike any other took place. Survivors, heartened activists, and earnest government officials came together to honor the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Their voices joined in an impassioned plea urging the swift establishment of a national ban in Somalia. Orchestrated by the Ifrah Foundation, this pivotal event was held in partnership with the Ministry of Women, Family,…

In a race against time, mediators are striving to clinch a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiate a hostage release, spurred on by optimistic declarations from a Qatari official who hinted that a deal could be within grasp "very soon." The efforts, a collaborative initiative involving Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have ramped up as the clock ticks down following Hamas' devastating attack on Israel on October 7, 2023—an assault that has been labeled the deadliest in Israel's history. During a phone call yesterday, US…

In an urgent response to the raging Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles, helicopters dropped water and fire retardant on the steep terrains, aiming to curtail its unsettling eastward advance. The intensity of firefighting on the ground has surged dramatically, especially with wind gusts poised to reach a staggering 113 km/h, posing an additional peril to containment efforts. Tragically, the consequences of these wildfires have already claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals, leaving neighborhoods devastated and pushing…

Northeastern State is actively joining forces with international bodies like the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Red Crescent. Together, they’re crafting plans to send home foreign combatants who lay down their weapons and surrender. Dirir mentioned that while they’re keeping the specifics like timelines and nationalities under wraps, the ultimate goal is clear: these individuals need to return home, and it all has to be orchestrated under proper legal guidelines. "We’ve got foreign fighters in our…

Mogadishu (AX) — For many years, Somalia has been caught in a storm of turmoil, poverty, and uprooting that's left the nation's mental health in shambles. This dire situation has largely been ignored, as highlighted by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). "Women and kids are really taking the hardest hit," they noted in a recent report, pointing to the intensifying mental stress blanketing these already strained communities. From the start of 2024 to September, MSF's dedicated mental health squads have…

The Israeli military has conducted strikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 50 Palestinians throughout Gaza, intensifying their operations around Jabalia in the northern region. This development follows ongoing and fierce confrontations with fighters affiliated with Hamas. According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli fire claimed the lives of at least 17 individuals near Al-Falouja, which is the largest among Gaza's eight historical refugee camps. Additionally, in a separate incident in Bani Suhaila, located in…

Rescue crews tirelessly sifted through the debris in the village of Donja Jablanica, desperately searching for individuals lost amid Bosnia's most devastating floods in years, which struck the Balkan nation just yesterday. According to N1 TV, the catastrophe has claimed 21 lives, with many more individuals still unaccounted for in the Jablanica region, situated approximately 70 kilometers southwest of Sarajevo. "Several villages remain inaccessible at this point, and the uncertainty of what awaits us there is concerning,"…

In the ongoing conflict, Israeli troops clashed with Hamas-affiliated militants in both northern and southern Gaza. Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli airstrikes across the region resulted in the deaths of at least 17 Palestinians overnight. According to medical personnel, these fatalities stemmed from distinct Israeli aerial bombardments targeting Deir Al-Balah, situated in central Gaza, as well as Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern part of the enclave. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, both armed factions,…

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia addressed his nation with a Friday sermon, cautioning the populace about the dangers posed by foreign entities aiming to splinter the country and reaffirming the government's stern opposition to illicit arms trafficking. (Photo: Villa Somalia) Mogadishu (AX) — Delivering a message of urgency, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphatically warned against the possession and trade of illegal arms, underscoring the government's unwavering intent to clamp down on such activities. During…