minister

MOGADISHU — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre met Monday with a senior German delegation for talks on Somalia’s deepening humanitarian crisis, security cooperation and political reforms, as drought-driven displacement and hunger surge across the country. The delegation, led by Germany’s Minister of State for Economic Cooperation and Development, Niels Annen, and including Ambassador Sebastian Groth, discussed emergency assistance, stabilization and development priorities, according to Somali officials. The talks also…

Starmer’s 18-month slide: From landslide to crisis as Mandelson fallout empties No. 10 Keir Starmer marched Labour back into Downing Street in July 2024 with a commanding majority and a promise of sober, competent government. Eighteen months later, the prime minister is fighting for authority after his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and communications chief, Tim Allan, resigned in the wake of a deepening Peter Mandelson scandal. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urged him to quit, saying the “distraction needs to end and…

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling camp swept to a historic election win, securing 316 of 465 seats for her Liberal Democratic Party and, with coalition partner Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), a commanding 352-seat supermajority in the lower house. The result paves the way for her promised tax cuts and a defense buildup aimed at countering China, even as those plans unsettle financial markets and strain regional ties. “This election involved major policy shifts — particularly a major shift in economic and fiscal…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has deployed F-16 fighter jets to support the Somali National Army, Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said Wednesday, describing the move as a significant step in strengthening the country’s air capabilities and counterterrorism operations. Announcing the deployment during a handover ceremony for the new army chief at the defense ministry in Mogadishu, Fiqi said the aircraft will provide strategic backing for ongoing security campaigns. “The arrival of Turkey’s F-16s marks a significant…

Spain will move to ban social media for under-16s and force platforms to adopt robust age checks, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced, positioning the country among a growing number of governments tightening rules to protect minors online from pornography, violence and manipulation. "Spain will ban access to social media for minors under the age of 16. Platforms will be required to implement effective age verification systems, not just checkboxes, but real barriers that work," Mr Sanchez told a summit in Dubai. Framing…

Somalia’s minister of endowments and religious affairs, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, visited the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah on Tuesday to review Saudi Arabia’s efforts to print, translate and disseminate the Holy Qur’an worldwide. During the visit, Sheikh Mukhtar received a detailed briefing on the complex’s mandates and specialized production lines, including its work across editions of varying sizes and recitations, as well as translations of the meanings of the Qur’an into multiple languages. Officials…

Greenland’s prime minister warned that the United States still seeks control over the Arctic island despite former U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to forgo the use of force, sharpening tensions that have pulled in Denmark, NATO allies and Greenland’s Indigenous communities. Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the U.S. continues to pursue “paths to ownership and control over Greenland,” even as Trump has backed away from threats of military action. Trump intensified calls for U.S. control at the start of the year, citing national…

High Court Adjourns Prosecution of Ex-Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta The High Court in Ghana has formally adjourned the prosecution of former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta and nine co-accused individuals. The decision was made to facilitate the "service of summons" on several fugitives residing in the United States, highlighting the complexities of international legal proceedings. During a session held recently, the court announced that the next hearing is scheduled for February 26, 2026. The delay arises from…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government on Monday praised Türkiye for what it called steadfast support in security cooperation and counterterrorism, following talks in Mogadishu between Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and a high-level Turkish delegation. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office described Türkiye as a strategic partner that has bolstered Somalia’s security, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It said Ankara’s engagement has been central to strengthening Somali state institutions,…

Former Nigerian Minister Accused of High-Stakes Bribery Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke is currently on trial in London, facing serious allegations of accepting bribes in the form of luxury goods, high-end properties, and the use of a private jet from individuals vying for lucrative oil and gas contracts. Alison-Madueke is confronting five bribery charges alongside one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, all of which she vehemently denies. During the proceedings at Southwark Crown Court,…