Washington

WASHINGTON — Senior Israeli and Saudi officials are holding separate talks in Washington this week as U.S.-Iran tensions rise and President Donald Trump weighs possible military action, officials said. Israel’s military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, met Tuesday and Wednesday with senior officials at the Pentagon, the CIA and the White House, according to people familiar with the meetings. The discussions centered on updated intelligence assessments and potential targets inside Iran should strikes be…

U.S. halts some Somalia aid after WFP warehouse demolished; Mogadishu disputes theft as 75 tons recovered MOGADISHU/WASHINGTON — The United States said it is pausing further assistance that benefits Somalia’s federal government after a dispute over the demolition of a World Food Programme warehouse at Mogadishu Port, escalating tensions with a key partner battling hunger and insecurity. The State Department’s top foreign assistance official said on X that Somali government officials destroyed a U.S.-funded WFP facility and…

WASHINGTON — The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has voted to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, a move that immediately sparked procedural questions and political backlash over altering the nation’s living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. It was not immediately clear how soon a change could take effect. A source with ties to the institution said Congress must approve any name alteration. US Representative Joyce Beatty, an…

U.S. House Speaker Johnson Applauds Trump's Unconventional Cabinet Choices for Shifting Washington's Gear WASHINGTON - As the winds of change blow through the capital, House Speaker Mike Johnson has given a thumbs-up to President-elect Donald Trump's bold cabinet choices. Describing them as "disruptors," Johnson believes they are crucial for shaking up the status quo in the heart of the nation. Johnson, now the chief Republican spokesperson in Congress, shared his thoughts on CNN's "State of the Union," where he defended…

Controversy Surrounds Appointment of Somalia's U.S. Ambassador MOGADISHU, Somalia – The mid-2024 designation of Dahir Hassan Arab as Somalia's envoy to America has stirred the pot, with whispers of favoritism and questionable conduct in the mix. Arab, who previously led SIMAD University, landed this gig courtesy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, despite lacking credentials in diplomacy or foreign management. He's got a Master’s in Education Management from the Islamic University in Uganda. Alongside him, Mohamed Muse,…

The US envoy to Libya said that Washington was in talks with certain actors about the withdrawal of foreign forces from the war-torn country before the planned elections in December. Richard Norland told reporters that part of the importance of Libya's choice was to ensure that a fully empowered, credible and legitimate government could force foreign actors to withdraw their troops. "It will be a very important development and ... very effective, but we do not suggest that we have to wait until next…

This is a new milestone in US-Ethiopia relations. Washington has decided to impose sanctions on Ethiopian and Eritrean officials. First visa restrictions, then strong financial sanctions will follow, especially in the areas of security and financial assistance. The United States accuses officials of the two countries of failing to take significant steps to stop hostilities in the Tigray region, almost…

The United States will impose visa restrictions on Eritrean and Ethiopian officials accused of adding fuel to the Tigray conflict, and regrets that they "have not taken significant steps to end hostilities". "The people of Tigray continue to suffer human rights abuses, atrocities, atrocities and need urgent humanitarian…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern over the "humanitarian disaster" in Tigray, the place the chance of famine is excessive, throughout an interview yesterday (Monday) with the Ethiopian Prime Minister. The US Secretary of State additionally known as on Eritrean troops to withdraw "instantly, fully and verifiably" from Tigray.…

The US State Department publishes a report on Burundi. The 40-page document highlights serious human rights violations, which continue despite the change of president. This US State Department document is based on several reports from local and international NGOs and the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry.One of the few…