northern

Syria’s army advanced across swathes of the country’s north, dislodging Kurdish-led forces from pockets of territory where they had exercised de facto autonomy for more than a decade, in a campaign unfolding a day after President Ahmed al-Sharaa declared Kurdish a national language and granted the minority official recognition. The push appeared aimed at consolidating state control after a March accord to integrate Kurdish-led units into government structures stalled. Kurdish authorities welcomed the decree as a “first step”…

Hassan Sheikh’s planned Las Anod visit would be first by a Somali president since 1969, signaling federal push in north MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to visit Las Anod this week, in what would be his first trip to the northeastern city and a highly symbolic bid to reinforce federal authority in northern Somalia, according to sources in the Northeastern Somalia presidency. If confirmed, the visit would be the first by a Somali head of state to Las Anod since President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke…

Storm Goretti battered northern Europe with heavy snow and gale-force winds, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes, closing schools and suspending rail services across France, Britain and Germany as the region endured a week of freezing weather. Emergency crews from the Atlantic coast to the North Sea scrambled to clear downed trees, restore power and keep key corridors open after Goretti slammed into Britain yesterday and moved eastward overnight. France absorbed some of the worst of the impacts as the storm…

Violence in northern Mozambique Spills into Previously Safe Districts, UNHCR Says Attacks in northern Mozambique have spread into districts once considered safe, displacing nearly 100,000 people in the past two weeks alone, the U.N. refugee agency said Thursday. "These simultaneous attacks in several districts are generating a huge challenge for humanitarian actors who have to multiply emergency response in different zones of the country," Xavier Creach, UNHCR's representative in Mozambique, said in a statement. He added…

Nigerian Violence: A Growing Concern Amid Escalating Attacks This section explores the recent surge in violence attributed to banditry in Nigeria, particularly focusing on the abduction of schoolgirls and the death of military personnel. These incidents highlight the urgent need for a reassessment of Nigeria's security strategies. Experts indicate that Nigerians constitute 99% of the bandits in the region. Public outrage is growing due to the alarming nature of the violence. Recent incidents have sparked…

Breaking Barriers: Northern Kenya's New Path to Inclusivity In a significant move for Kenya's northern regions, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently championed President William Ruto's abolition of the contentious ID vetting process, a change hailed as a step towards equal treatment for all Kenyans. Speaking to Lagdera residents in Garissa, Kindiki emphasized the importance of Ruto's efforts to dismantle discriminatory practices that have historically marginalized Northeastern communities. Ending Decades of…

Tragedy struck the northern Lebanese town of Ain Yaaqoub, where at least 14 individuals lost their lives, and 15 others sustained injuries due to an Israeli airstrike, as reported by the local mayor. This strike marks a grim milestone as it represents the northernmost location in Lebanon to be attacked by Israeli forces since tensions escalated in October 2023. The targeted building was home to around 30 residents, including several Syrian refugees. "Some individuals remain trapped beneath the rubble," the mayor noted,…

A looming catastrophe is on the horizon for northern Gaza, with global food security specialists warning that famine could soon strike the region. As Israel escalates its military operations against Hamas, a militant group in Palestine, the situation grows increasingly dire. The independent Famine Review Committee (FRC), in a rare and urgent communication, emphasized the need for "swift action—days, rather than weeks"—from all parties involved in the conflict and those influencing its progression. Failure to act could lead…

NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — Conservation enthusiasts are beseeching the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to bolster their efforts in safeguarding Somali giraffes and ostriches. These iconic creatures are teetering on the edge of extinction due to rampant poaching and ruthless droughts. The North-Eastern Wildlife Conservancies Association (Neca) has issued an urgent plea for action. This illicit hunting of precious wildlife is booming, with giraffe and ostrich meats making their way to marketplaces in northern Kenya and being smuggled…

The civil defense agency in Gaza recently reported a devastating airstrike carried out by Israel in a residential neighborhood, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 73 Palestinian lives in Beit Lahia, located in the northern part of the territory. Israel, however, contended that its military action was aimed at a "Hamas terror target." Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for the civil defense agency, told the Agence France-Presse (AFP), “Our teams have retrieved the bodies of 73 martyrs and many others injured due to the…