turmoil

Gulf flight disruption is rippling across global travel, forcing families to reroute long-haul journeys and pushing up fares as airlines cut capacity and fuel costs surge. The uncertainty is especially acute for Irish passengers trying to reach Australia and New Zealand, routes that have long relied on the Middle East’s mega-hubs and are now being squeezed by war-related constraints and shifting safety perceptions. Dublin native Brian Sullivan was due to fly home with his wife and three children from Melbourne via Abu Dhabi…

Oil prices leap past $100 as Iran conflict chokes Hormuz, stoking global food inflation risk LONDON — Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel this week, the highest since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as escalating conflict involving U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran on Feb. 28 rattled energy markets and raised the specter of renewed food inflation worldwide. The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which roughly 20% of global oil supply moves — has seen marine traffic…

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Risch warned this week that continued instability in Somalia poses a direct threat to U.S. national security, pressing for tighter oversight to ensure American counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance advances U.S. interests and is shielded from corruption. “The United States faces real security threats from the instability in Somalia,” said Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “It is essential that our counterterrorism and humanitarian efforts primarily serve…

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame firmly stated that his country should not be held accountable for the internal issues plaguing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a recent address at the National Umushyikirano Council in Kigali, Kagame underscored the principle that each nation must confront and resolve its own challenges. Highlighting the significance of national security, Kagame asserted that Rwanda remains committed to safeguarding its citizens, particularly against threats posed by the Democratic Forces for…

Somalia’s Parliament Approves $1.38 Billion 2026 Budget Amid Chaos MOGADISHU, Somalia — In a raucous joint sitting, Somalia’s federal parliament on Tuesday approved a national budget of $1,386,807,242 for the 2026 fiscal year, pushing the spending plan through despite loud and repeated procedural disruptions on the floor. Parliamentary officials said 174 lawmakers voted in favor, four opposed it and one abstained. The vote capped a session in which interruptions and objections forced pauses but did not derail the tally. The…

Puntland State’s Deni urges inclusive national dialogue, warns of political instability in Somalia KISMAYO, Somalia — Puntland State State of Somalia President Said Abdullahi Deni on Thursday urged Somalia’s federal leadership and political actors to heed warnings from Somali intellectuals and reopen inclusive talks on the country’s future, saying failure to do so risks renewed political chaos and threatens national unity. Speaking at the opening of the Somali Future Council conference in Kismayo, Deni said repeated alerts…

Somalia’s new e‑visa system ignites a storm over money, power and trust The row over Somalia’s newly launched electronic visa system has moved beyond bureaucratic bickering into a full‑blown political and financial controversy, exposing fault lines in a country long divided over sovereignty, economic control and how the diaspora — Somalia’s lifeline — is treated. Accusations, denials and a Facebook post that set it off The controversy began in a blunt Facebook post by Axmed Ismaaciil, the general manager of WorldRemit’s…

Somalia’s Parliament Opening Postponed as Electoral Battle Deepens MOGADISHU — What began as a procedural delay has rippled into a broader political crisis in Somalia, revealing the frictions inside a fragile federal system trying to move from clan-based power sharing to direct elections. Lawmakers were told at the last minute that the Federal Parliament would not open as scheduled on Saturday — a pause President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s office has tied to changes in his travel plans — and the leadership said the 7th session…

The Fragile Landscape of Cameroon's Upcoming Presidential Elections Amid the lush landscapes and vibrant cultures of Cameroon, a pivotal moment looms on the horizon: the impending presidential elections, set to be held soon under the long-standing reign of President Paul Biya. With nearly 43 years in power, Biya's ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) is widely anticipated to secure another term, a common expectation that has gripped political observers since 1992. Yet, with the specter of rising ethnic tensions…

Somalia’s Political Turmoil: A Threatened Stability Amid Al-Shabaab Resurgence MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — In a country where shadows loom large, the specter of Al-Shabaab has once again taken root, troubling citizens and alarmingly opposition leaders alike. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud faces accusations of negligence as opposition figures blame the government’s preoccupation with constitutional revisions for the destabilization currently gripping the nation. These concerns echo the compelling narratives of a battered society,…