shutdown

President Donald Trump signed a short-term spending bill to end a four-day partial government shutdown, hours after the Republican-controlled House approved the measure 217-214 amid a bruising fight over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the administration’s immigration crackdown. The closure, which began Saturday, halted or disrupted nonessential federal services until Congress sent the measure to the White House on Wednesday. Twenty-one Democrats joined Republicans to push the bill through, while an equal…

Trump says Kennedy Center to close for two years for ‘complete rebuilding’ starting July 4 President Donald Trump said he will temporarily close Washington’s Kennedy Center for roughly two years beginning July 4 — the nation’s 250th anniversary — to undertake what he called a “complete rebuilding” of the landmark performing arts complex. The plan, announced on his Truth Social platform, is subject to approval by the center’s board, which Trump now chairs and has handpicked. “I have determined that the fastest way to bring…

The U.S. government entered a partial shutdown after a budget deadline passed without House action on a 2026 spending plan, but disruption is expected to be limited with the chamber set to return Monday to take up a Senate-backed deal. The lapse follows a breakdown in negotiations driven by Democratic fury over two recent fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, which derailed talks over new money for the Department of Homeland Security. Senate leaders responded by splitting off DHS…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has categorically denied a report alleging that the facility is shutting down for maintenance, labeling the claim as "false and misleading." In a statement issued on Monday, refinery officials emphasized that production is currently ongoing, stable, and uninterrupted. This announcement comes in response to a wave of misinformation that has circulated online regarding the refinery's operational status. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, situated in Lagos, Nigeria, is one of the largest in Africa and…

US government reopens after 43-day shutdown as Trump signs funding bill President Donald Trump signed legislation Wednesday to end the 43-day federal government shutdown, roughly two hours after the House of Representatives voted to restore disrupted food assistance, resume pay for hundreds of thousands of federal workers and revive parts of the air traffic control system. The House approved the measure 222 to 209. The bill had already cleared the Senate earlier in the week. Mr Trump signed it in the Oval Office, telling…

Senate ends longest US government shutdown with 60-40 vote, but many questions remain The US Senate on Monday approved a compromise measure to reopen the federal government, ending what lawmakers called the longest shutdown in American history but stopping short of resolving a host of lingering political and practical problems. The 60-40 vote — carried by nearly every Senate Republican and eight Democrats — restored funding for agencies whose budgets expired on Oct. 1 and pushed a final decision on health insurance…

U.S. Embassy in Somalia Scales Back Services as Washington Shutdown Ripples Overseas Mogadishu — The U.S. Embassy in Somalia said Wednesday it is curtailing some regular operations following a federal government shutdown in Washington, underscoring how a budget stalemate in Congress can reverberate far beyond the Beltway and into one of the world’s most complex diplomatic environments. “Due to the lapse in appropriations, this X account will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, with the exception of…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a fresh turn of events, Abudwak Airport, nestled in Somalia's Galgaduud region, has reopened its doors to domestic flights. This comes after a two-week hiatus spurred by militia threats and rumours of behind-the-scenes political meddling. A turbulent clan dispute had stirred security fears, leading to the temporary shutdown of the airport. The skies are now clear for aviation, deemed secure by local officials. One rebel faction’s vows to strike incoming flights led airlines to halt their routes…

There’s growing chatter around Mandera’s prolonged border closure, with local leaders pushing to lift this directive. They believe reopening the border could spark business opportunities and bolster revenue collection. The border, shut down over a decade ago, hasn't entirely halted illegal trade, claim both leaders and residents. This persistent underground activity continues to impact lawful businesses and has wider economic consequences. The government initially sealed the border to throttle Al Shabaab terror threats and…

Kenya opens airspace for planes to Somalia weeks after shutdown NAIROBI, Kenya - After several weeks of closure, Kenya has finally opened up airspace for planes bound for Somalia, which could help cut expenses for many passengers who use the often busy route most of the time. For weeks, passengers flying from Nairobi to Mogadishu and back, used Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a connecting route,…