reports

Trump aide denies claims of Davos meeting with North Western State of Somalia president WASHINGTON — A spokesperson for Eric Trump, the son of U.S. President Donald Trump, has denied reports that he met Abdirahman Cirro — identified by some accounts as the president of Somalia’s northwestern regional administration — during a dinner event on the sidelines of the Davos meetings in Switzerland. Kimberly Benza, a spokesperson for Eric Trump, said no talks took place and no political or economic topics were discussed at the…

Somalia says WFP food aid fully returned after Mogadishu port warehouse dispute; U.S. pauses some assistance MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government said it has returned in full all World Food Programme supplies removed from a warehouse at the Port of Mogadishu, taking responsibility for the incident and pledging tighter coordination with aid partners after the United States announced a pause on certain assistance. In a statement issued late Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government “takes full…

A U.S.-based rights group says it has confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people amid a wave of anti-government protests in Iran, as Tehran warned Washington against intervening and a nationwide internet blackout obscured the true toll. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported it had verified 5,848 deaths since demonstrations that began over economic grievances in late December swelled into mass protests against the Islamic Republic, with the largest crowds on Jan. 8. HRANA said the confirmed dead include 209…

Somalia says 250 al-Shabab fighters killed in foiled assault on Kudhaa Island Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 MOGADISHU — Somali officials said Sunday that about 250 al-Shabab militants were killed in a failed bid to overrun Kudhaa, a coastal town on an island in the Lower Juba region, in one of the deadliest reported setbacks for the group in recent months. Hassan Nur Abdi, the governor of Badhaadhe district, which includes Kudhaa Island, said government and allied forces repelled a coordinated assault and launched pursuit operations…

Somalia is sliding deeper into a health and nutrition emergency as failed rainy seasons, soaring water prices and sharp humanitarian funding cuts fuel a surge in malnutrition and preventable disease, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned Tuesday. MSF teams report rising numbers of children arriving at overcrowded displacement camps and health facilities in critical condition with severe acute malnutrition or illnesses such as measles, diphtheria and acute watery diarrhoea — conditions that vaccination and clean water can…

Venezuela says it has freed more than 400 people from prison as part of an ongoing release process, though local rights groups dispute the figure and say only 60 to 70 detainees have been released in recent days. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced the releases without providing a timeline. The pledge follows public statements last week by Rodríguez and U.S. President Donald Trump that large numbers of detainees would be freed as a peace gesture after what officials in both countries described as the U.S.…

UNICEF says more than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the start of a fragile ceasefire three months ago, underscoring the continuing toll on civilians despite a slowdown in bombardments. At least 60 boys and 40 girls have died in Israeli airstrikes and ground operations during the truce period, the UN children’s agency said. “More than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire,” UNICEF spokesman James Elder told reporters from Gaza City. “That’s roughly a girl or a boy killed here every day during…

Unrest across Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said Sunday, as Tehran warned it would target U.S. military bases and Israel if President Donald Trump follows through on threats to intervene on behalf of protesters. U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel and recorded more than 10,600 arrests in two weeks of demonstrations that began Dec. 28 over soaring prices before swelling into the largest challenge to Iran’s…

Iran unrest death toll tops 500 as Tehran warns U.S. bases would be targets if Trump intervenes More than 500 people have been killed in two weeks of nationwide protests in Iran, a U.S.-based rights group said, as a senior Iranian official warned that any American intervention would put U.S. military bases and Israel in the crosshairs. HRANA, which compiles reports from activists inside and outside Iran, said it has verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 arrests since…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — China on Friday denied social media claims that Foreign Minister Wang Yi canceled a planned visit to Mogadishu over security concerns, calling the reports false and misleading. Wang had been expected to arrive in the Somali capital in what would be the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Somalia since the 1980s. The trip was part of a broader diplomatic tour of Africa focused on strengthening trade ties and cooperation, according to officials familiar with the planning. The Chinese Embassy in…