threat

The United States has sharply escalated airstrikes and partner operations in Somalia, pushing the fight against the Islamic State group and al-Shabab deeper into militant strongholds to blunt plots aimed at the U.S. and Europe, according to Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander of U.S. Africa Command. Brennan, a former Special Forces leader who served in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, said the tempo is designed to deny militants time, space and capability to plan attacks. “There’s ISIS-inspired threats. They plot against the…

Trump says U.S. in talks with Havana after threatening tariffs on oil shipments to Cuba WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Washington is negotiating with Cuba’s leadership to reach a deal, days after threatening to choke off the island’s fuel supply by imposing tariffs on countries that sell oil to Havana. The push-and-pull approach comes as the second Trump administration escalates pressure on the communist-run island following the U.S. ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro last month. Venezuela, a longtime ally,…

Snapchat says it has blocked or disabled 415,000 accounts in Australia tied to users under 16 since the country’s world-first social media crackdown took effect, while warning that some minors may still be slipping past age checks. The platform urged Australian authorities to require app stores to verify ages before downloads as an “additional safeguard” for the law, which compels major platforms to stop underage users from holding accounts. The measures took effect on Dec. 10 and apply to Snapchat, Meta, TikTok and YouTube,…

DAVOS, Switzerland — U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday backed away from threats to slap tariffs on European allies over Greenland, ruled out the use of force and said a framework was emerging for a long-term Arctic security and minerals deal that could defuse one of the sharpest transatlantic disputes in years. Trump said the United States and NATO partners had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” and, based on that understanding, he would not impose…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “we are at a crossroads” amid a U.S. threat, signaling a pivotal moment for Europe’s economic and security posture as tensions with Washington simmer. Von der Leyen’s remark, delivered during live remarks monitored by Axadle Times, underscored the sensitivities in transatlantic ties as the European Union assesses risks to its strategic industries and broader interests. No further details were immediately available on the specific nature of the U.S. threat or the…

Donald Trump threatened to levy sweeping tariffs on key European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a transatlantic confrontation that EU leaders say violates existing trade understandings and challenges the sovereignty of the Danish realm. In a post on his social media platform, Mr. Trump said Denmark had “not been able to do anything to get the ‘Russian threat’ away from Greenland,” adding: “Now it is time, and it will be done!” He claimed “NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years,”…

Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland push; EU weighs retaliation, calls emergency summit WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS — Former U.S. President Donald Trump escalated a brewing transatlantic clash by vowing new tariffs on key European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, drawing swift coordination in Brussels and an extraordinary EU leaders’ meeting set for Thursday. Trump said Denmark had failed to counter what he called a “Russian threat” in Greenland, the autonomous Arctic territory of the Kingdom of…

EU ambassadors will convene an emergency meeting later today after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened escalating tariffs on key European allies unless the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, jolting transatlantic relations and trade. Cyprus, which holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, called the meeting for 5 p.m. in Brussels (4 p.m. in Dublin), according to EU diplomats. It was not immediately clear what authority Trump would invoke to impose tariffs of up to 25% on European goods. In a post on Truth…

MOGADISHU — Federal ministers and lawmakers from North Western State of Somalia’s regions of Sool, Sanaag and Awdal on Saturday condemned Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, pledging full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity. Speaking at a news conference in Mogadishu, the officials called the move unacceptable and an attempt to divide Somalia, aligning themselves with the federal government’s position rejecting any action they said undermines the country’s…

Somalia asks U.N. Security Council to rebuke Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia MOGADISHU — Somalia has asked the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel’s formal recognition of North Western State of Somalia, calling the move a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. In a letter sent to the council on Monday, Somalia said Israel’s decision last week to recognize the self-declared Republic of North Western State of…