Houston is counting down to the FIFA World Cup, with seven matches on the schedule and a landmark fixture between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Portugal set to draw global attention to Texas. DR Congo booked its place at the tournament by surviving a play-off against Jamaica in Mexico in March. Yet as the city prepares to welcome the team, the buildup has been overshadowed by the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring a "public health emergency of international concern" after an Ebola outbreak in the central…

MOGADISHU, May 16 - Somalia’s economy is expanding at only about 3%, a marked slowdown highlighted in a recent World Bank report cited by Al Jazeera and raising alarm among officials and ordinary Somalis alike. Economists say the downturn is closely tied to escalating political uncertainty in the Horn of Africa country, where tensions among leading political actors have deepened into a damaging stalemate. That prolonged impasse has shaken investor confidence and delayed key international development initiatives, according to…

Rising temperatures are casting a shadow over the World Cup, with a new study by World Weather Attribution warning that 25% of tournament matches are likely to be played in conditions above 26C. Researchers said the finding points to serious dangers for both players and supporters at the event, which will be staged across North America in the US, Canada and Mexico during June and July. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measures the level of physical heat stress placed on the human body. Experts broadly regard a WBGT of…

Excitement is building as the U.S. Department of State has revealed a significant update for international fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Visitors hailing from specific countries previously burdened by U.S. visa bond requirements will no longer have to pay those fees. This development traces back to 2025, when the Trump administration implemented a policy mandating visitors from select nations to submit bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 for tourist visas. Among the 50 nations affected by this…

Somalia Unveils $35 Million World Bank-Funded “Bulsho” Project MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation has rolled out the “Bulsho” project, a wide-reaching program designed to improve public services in some of the country’s most isolated communities. The World Bank-backed initiative carries a budget of more than $35 million and is aimed at expanding infrastructure and delivering essential services to marginalized populations through a joint effort by the federal government…

Ben SmeeSunday April 26, 2026 A night meant to celebrate Washington’s political press corps was abruptly thrown into chaos when gunfire broke out outside the White House correspondents dinner, prompting global concern and swift condemnation from world leaders. US president Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, officials and journalists were hurried out of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton on Saturday after shots were heard from the hotel lobby. An armed man later tried to force his way into the event. Canadian prime…

Amnesty International has accused the leaders of the United States, Israel and Russia of driving a new "predatory" world order, warning that too few governments are willing to challenge them. Presenting the rights group's annual report in London, Secretary General Dr Agnès Callamard singled out US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, branding them "predators". According to the report, such leaders have turned away from the multilateral framework built after…

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Finance is refuting claims made by the World Bank regarding alleged undisclosed expenditures and the misallocation of federal revenue. Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, has characterized these allegations as a misunderstanding of the situation. He emphasized that media narratives indicating a substantial portion of federal earnings is being improperly channeled are not only incorrect but also misleading. This clarification comes as the ministry addresses interpretations of the…

In a sharp rebuke delivered in Cameroon, Pope Leo accused leaders of pouring billions into war while the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,” escalating his rhetoric just days after US President Donald Trump targeted him on social media. Addressing a meeting in the largest city in Cameroon’s anglophone regions, the pontiff condemned politicians who cloak conflict in religious language and called for a “decisive change of course” in an area scarred by a nearly decade-long crisis that has claimed thousands of…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Somalia’s president, Hassan Mohamud, has hailed referee Omar Artan after the 34-year-old became the first Somalian selected to officiate at a World Cup finals. FIFA named Artan among 52 referees chosen for the June-July tournament, which will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States. Mohamud said the appointment had lifted Somalia’s standing on the world stage. "I commend the effort, professionalism, and integrity shown by referee Omar, as he has become a symbol of inspiration for the new…