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By Shola LawalFriday May 1, 2026 A fresh wave of hijackings off Somalia is rattling shipping lanes and reviving memories of the piracy crisis that once made the Horn of Africa one of the world’s most dangerous maritime corridors. At least three vessels have been targeted this week, according to reports, prompting fears that the region may be sliding back toward the turmoil that plagued global trade in the early to mid-2000s before an international naval response helped bring the threat under control. According to the World…

by STEPHEN ASTARIKOThursday April 30, 2026 Somali football does not need more slogans. It needs the basics: a dependable calendar, a league that actually works and a structure that gives the sport some rhythm. By every outward sign, the game ought to be on the rise. A promising crop of young talent is breaking through, Somali referees are beginning to appear on continental and international assignments, and more coaches are collecting formal licences. Even the country’s youth sides have shown flashes of real potential. Yet…

Harry SekulichMonday April 27, 2026 Shipping routes off Somalia are once again under close scrutiny after a cargo vessel was seized in what authorities believe was a fresh piracy incident, prompting warnings that the danger to commercial traffic in the region is rising. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) lifted the threat level for the area to "substantial" after saying "unauthorised persons" took control of the ship on Sunday and forced it toward Somalia's territorial waters. At least four vessels have been targeted…

A devastating highway bombing in Colombia has killed 20 people and injured 36 others, marking one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region in years, according to a statement posted on X by the local department’s governor. The blast - which local and national authorities have blamed on armed groups - struck just one month before Colombians are due to elect a new president on 31 May. Cauca Department Governor Octavio Guzman called it the area’s "most brutal and ruthless attack against the civilian population in…

Oil prices climbed sharply today as fears of renewed conflict in the Middle East gripped markets after Iran released footage showing commandos boarding a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, with little sign of progress toward reopening the crucial shipping lane. Traffic through the strait, which before the war handled roughly a fifth of global oil output, remains effectively shut down. Iran’s seizure of two cargo ships has also underscored the challenges Washington faces in trying to secure passage through the waterway.…

The meningitis outbreak centered in Kent in the UK has grown to 34 linked cases — up from 29 — as hundreds of students lined up for a third straight day to be vaccinated. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in an update this morning that 23 cases have been confirmed, with a further 11 cases that "remain under investigation". More than 400 people — students and others eligible — queued outside the University of Kent campus clinic for meningitis jabs at the start of the weekend. NHS Kent and Medway reported that 5,794…

TRIPOLI/ATHENS — At least eight people died in two separate Mediterranean crossings this weekend, as five bodies washed ashore near Libya’s capital and Greek authorities recovered three more off the island of Crete while rescuing dozens. Residents in the coastal town of Qasr al-Akhyar, east of Tripoli, found five bodies Saturday and alerted police, according to Hassan al-Ghawil, head of investigations at the local station. He told Reuters the dead were “dark-skinned people,” including two women, and said bystanders reported…

Minneapolis — A fatal shooting by a federal agent in Minneapolis has intensified scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown after a month marked by five shootings tied to enforcement operations and a surge in deaths in immigration detention. The man killed Tuesday was identified in local reports as Alex Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen, registered nurse and licensed gun owner. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said a U.S. Border Patrol agent opened fire after Pretti resisted attempts to disarm him. Local…

As Côte d'Ivoire Prepares for Elections, Misinformation Casts a Shadow As Côte d'Ivoire gears up for a critical election on October 25, a silent yet pervasive threat looms over the democratic process: misinformation. The nation, known for its vibrant culture and commitment to progress, is grappling with a troubling rise in false narratives proliferated through the ever-ubiquitous social media. This election, like previous ones, is not just a test of the political system but a reflection of the societal fractures that…

According to the civil defense agency in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 30 individuals today in the northern region, particularly in the town and refugee camp of Jabalia, amid escalating combat operations conducted by the Israeli military. Mahmud Bassal, the agency's spokesperson, reported that a specific strike occurring shortly before 9:40 PM local time (which aligns with 6:40 PM in Ireland) tragically claimed "12 lives, including women and children" in Jabalia. Furthermore,…