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China conducts missile interception tests

China has conducted tests on missile interception equipment, the country’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. The statement said Chinese forces conducted a “land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory” on Thursday. “[It] achieved the desired test objective,” the statement said, without further details. “The test is defensive in nature and not targeted against

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Biden ending US support for Saudi-led offensive in Yemen

President Joe Biden speaks about foreign policy, at the State Department, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) By ELLEN KNICKMEYER President Joe Biden announced Thursday the United States was ending support for a grinding five-year Saudi-led military offensive in Yemen that has deepened suffering in the Arabian peninsula’s poorest country, calling the

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US diplomat discusses Tigray with Ethiopian PM

Antony Blinken urges ‘full and unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further loss of life,’ says State Dept. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the US’ concern Thursday about the situation in the Tigray region during a telephone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the two officials emphasized

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Three Urgent Questions Ahead of Somalia’s Parliamentary Elections

Photo/Somali Times By Jonathan Doernhofer On February 8, Somalia is scheduled to hold parliamentary and presidential elections following three decades of war, fragmentation and the painstaking reconstruction of a permanent government. In a country where democracy has long seemed an improbable dream, a successful election would mark a momentous step forward – but challenges stand

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GOP lawmakers seek to remove Omar from committees as Dems press to drop Taylor Greene from panel

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) speaks to the media at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., January 13, 2021. (Leah Millis/Reuters) By Thomas Barrabi Republicans argue that Omar has made anti-Semitic comments that are grounds for dismissal House GOP lawmakers are seeking this week to oust Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from her committee

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The Djiboutian opposition party sent a message to ruthless dictator Omar Guelleh

Photo: Credit Wikipedia Djiboutian ruthless dictator President Omar Guelleh. The chairman of Djibouti’s opposition RAD party has issued a statement calling on President Ismail Omar Guelleh not to run for a fifth term. He also called on the international community, especially the major countries with military bases in Djibouti, to stand with the people and

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ANTISEMITISM GOES UNCHALLENGED ON BBC SOMALI SERVICE RADIO

Photo: Credit Facebook Somali MP Mohamed Omer Dalha. By Hadar Sela Last week a member of the public alerted us to an edition of a programme called “Dooda Jimcaha” which was aired on the BBC Somali Service radio on December 18th 2020. Among the contributors to that programme was the Somali MP Mohamed Omer Dalha

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The Qatar blockade is over, but tensions with Bahrain are not

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa signing a document during the opening session of the 41st GCC summit in the Saudi city of al-Ula on 5 January (AFP) By AP Muhammed Afsal Weeks after Gulf leaders signed a “solidarity and stability” statement in Saudi Arabia ending a three-and-a-half year blockade on Qatar, Bahrain still

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Top Amisom officials discuss security ahead of elections in Somalia

Credit: AFP/Luis Tato/A group of Nigerian Policemen deployed in Somalia, as part of the African Union peacekeeping mission, patrol in Beledweyne, Somalia, on December 14, 2019. Top African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) officials, led by the Deputy Special Representative of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) Simon Mulongo, were in Baidoa on Thursday

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Malawi sex workers protest at ‘targeted police brutality’ after Covid-19 curfew

Credit: Malawi24 Sex workers held protests in Lilongwe. By Charles Pensulo in Lilongwe Petition urges government to extend closing times for bars as women go hungry and are forced to skip HIV medication Dozens of sex workers took to the streets of Malawi’s capital Lilongwe on Thursday to protest against what they described as “targeted

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