President Tinubu Visits Benue State Following Deadly Attack and Ongoing Land and Resource Conflicts

President Bola Tinubu traveled to Benue State on June 18, 2025, to express condolences and meet with local leaders following a mass killing in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, where over 100 people were reportedly killed in a violent attack. The visit comes amid a surge in violence across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, driven by long-standing […]

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Golden Valley Man Pleads Guilty in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

Ahmed Mohamed Artan, a 40-year-old resident of Golden Valley, Minnesota, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for his role in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fraudulent Scheme and Charges Artan acquired the nonprofit Stigma-Free International in October 2020, using it […]

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Statement by the Co-Chairs of the United Nations High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, IrelandCo-Chairs: France and the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaWorking Group Co-Chairs: Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, Qatar, Senegal, Spain, Türkiye, United Kingdom, the European Union, and the League of Arab StatesDate: 19 June 2025 The Co-Chairs of the United Nations High-Level International Conference […]

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Ireland: Minister Foley and Minister Naughton Announce €2.8 Million in Funding for Disability Participation and Awareness Projects

Department of Children, Disability and Equality Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley TD, and Minister of State for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton TD, today announced a total of €2.86 million in funding for 22 innovative projects under the latest round of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF). These grants will support projects that […]

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Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants

The State Department is committed to protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.  A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to […]

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Two Men Federally Charged for Possession of Machineguns in Graduation Ceremony Shootings

Hamza Abdirashiid Said, 20, and Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, have been federally charged with unlawful possession of machineguns following shootings at high school graduation ceremonies in Minnesota. Wayzata High School Graduation Shooting On May 30, 2025, University of Minnesota Police responded to a shooting outside Mariucci Arena, where Wayzata High School’s graduation ceremony was taking […]

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Democratic Political Dictatorship Across Africa: A Deep Dive into Power Consolidation, Institutional Erosion, and the Betrayal of Public Trust

In many African countries, the promise of democracy has been subverted by the persistence of authoritarian rule masked by the facade of electoral legitimacy. What emerges is a pattern of “democratic political dictatorship”—a hybrid regime form in which leaders and ruling parties use constitutional manipulation, state institutions, and security apparatuses not to serve the people, […]

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China’s President Xi Jinping Expresses Deep Concern Over Israel-Iran Conflict, Calls for De-escalation

China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday publicly voiced deep concern over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, marking his first official remarks since the outbreak of hostilities last Friday. Addressing the intensifying tensions in the Middle East, Xi emphasized the urgent need for restraint and de-escalation to prevent further destabilization in the region. In […]

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Mosquito, tick or flea? How to avoid, identify and treat insect bites this summer

As the weather warms up, few of us can resist a nice evening walk through the park, or a trip to the countryside to immerse ourselves in natural surroundings. The summer can be wonderful, but all too often we are often forced to share these picturesque moments with unwanted companions. Insects like mosquitoes, bees, ticks, […]

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African Continental Brief – June, 18 2025 Strategic Analysis

1. Sudan: Escalating Humanitarian Catastrophe and Urban Warfare The United Nations has labeled the conflict in Sudan a “crisis of humanity,” citing systemic atrocities amid continued clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). UN mission expert Mona Rishmawi highlighted alarming patterns of sexual violence, starvation, and obstruction of […]

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