Andy Burnham has opened the door to a fresh Labour leadership battle, saying he would take on Prime Minister Keir Starmer if he secures victory in the Makerfield bye-election later this month. The Greater Manchester mayor said Labour, despite being in government, requires a fundamental reset as it struggles in the opinion polls. Burnham made the remarks during a BBC debate alongside other candidates contesting the parliamentary seat in northern England. Starmer, whose approval ratings rank among the weakest for a British…

Europe’s bid to reclaim the top job at the United Nations food agency has hit an early obstacle, with the Cyprus presidency of the EU conceding there is still no agreement on a single European contender. Ireland has put forward former EU Commissioner Phil Hogan for the role, but his candidacy is facing determined challenges from both Italy and Spain. The stakes are significant. Europe has not occupied the leading post at the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for five decades, and EU agriculture ministers,…

Wednesday March 18, 2026 Iran confirmed Tuesday that Ali Larijani — a senior security power broker and a pillar of conservative politics within the Islamic Republic — was killed in an Israeli strike. He was 67. After U.S. and Israeli strikes late last month that killed Iran’s supreme leader and broadened the conflict, Larijani was widely viewed as the de facto manager of state affairs. Israel announced earlier Tuesday that it had killed Larijani; Tehran waited several hours before acknowledging his death. He had been tapped…

In Somalia, a Public Pledge of Loyalty Raises Stakes Ahead of Fragile Elections MOGADISHU — When Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre walked through the departure hall of Aden Adde International Airport this week, he was not merely inspecting toilets and trash bins. He was, in effect, rehearsing a partnership — an explicit commitment to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that has been rare in Somalia’s recent politics. "I will never run for president against President , who entrusted me to serve Somalia as PM," Hamza said during…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Stirring the pot of political strife, Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre of Somalia declared Monday that Jubbaland's President, Ahmed Madobe, can't legally run for another term, as per the regional charter's term restrictions. At a press event in Mogadishu, Barre expressed, "The maneuvers of President Madobe do not sync with our overarching goals for national unity or the pledges we've embraced. Thus, the election process unfolding in Jubbaland, under his direction, lacks any legal standing."…

In an inspiring show of unity, countless individuals from various corners of the globe are joining a significant run to express compassion for those who have been displaced against their will or who find themselves mired in dire poverty, organizers report. The 'Global Solidarity Run', spearheaded by the Irish-based charity Sanctuary Runners, has unfolded across 75 countries. It kicked off in the Solomon Islands last night and is set to conclude in French Polynesia tomorrow morning. Events are also actively taking place…

Saif al-Islam, the son of the assassinated dictator Muammar Gaddafi, wants to "restore the lost unity" in Libya after a decade of chaos and does not rule out holding the presidency.

Our ambition to restore our country's geostrategic position is now becoming a reality with its membership of the community of East African states. This far-reaching diplomatic and economic act now places our country in the Community of East African States (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. These diplomatic results are part of a foreign policy focusing on good…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has dispelled doubts about his presidential candidacy days after being associated with the move, following his incredible strategy to resolve electoral disputes. Roble, who was first incorporated into government in October 2020, was named as a possible surprise candidate for the election after resolving disputes that nearly plunged the country into possible lawlessness after months of disagreements. Last month, Roble held a nationwide conversation that…

South Africa will be represented at the 93rd Oscar, this Sunday, April 25, in Los Angeles. The movie "The Octopus Wisdom" competes for the Oscar for Best Documentary, having won twenty trophies including Bafta, in the same category in London on 11 April. as reported from Johannesburg, Romain SongThe film tells the story of the…