Global Pulse

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  • Al-Shabab extremists are greatest threat to peace in Somalia and the region, UN experts say

    Al-Shabab extremists are greatest threat to peace in Somalia and the region, UN experts say

    United Nations security experts have issued a stark warning that the Al-Shabab extremist organization continues to represent the most severe immediate danger to regional stability in Somalia and neighboring nations, particularly Kenya. According to a comprehensive report released Wednesday by UN monitoring specialists, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group persists in executing sophisticated asymmetric operations despite concerted counterterrorism efforts by Somali authorities and international forces.

    The expert assessment reveals that Al-Shabab’s threat profile extends beyond high-profile attack capabilities to include sophisticated extortion networks, systematic forced recruitment campaigns, and a highly effective propaganda apparatus. The group demonstrated its operational reach within the Somali capital on March 18 by attempting to assassinate the nation’s president in Mogadishu.

    In response to the persistent security challenges, the UN Security Council unanimously voted Tuesday to extend the African Union’s stabilization mandate in Somalia through December 31, 2026. The approved peacekeeping contingent will maintain 11,826 uniformed personnel, including 680 police officers.

    The report documents that Al-Shabab has conducted approximately six attacks monthly within Kenyan territory during 2024, primarily targeting border regions of Mandera and Lamu counties. These operations employ improvised explosive devices against security forces, infrastructure sabotage, kidnappings, residential raids, and livestock theft.

    UN analysts confirm that Al-Shabab’s strategic objectives remain unchanged: overthrow the Somali government, expel international forces, and establish a Greater Somalia under strict Islamic governance that would unite ethnic Somali populations across East Africa.

    Additionally, the monitoring panel investigated Islamic State operations in Somalia, reporting that ISIL-Somalia has recruited fighters globally with approximately 60% of its 1,000+ combatants originating from outside Somalia. Despite operating with significantly fewer resources than Al-Shabab, the Islamic State faction constitutes an emerging threat to regional security.

  • Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs files appeal asking for immediate prison release

    Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs files appeal asking for immediate prison release

    In a dramatic legal maneuver, music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has launched an aggressive appeal seeking immediate release from prison and the complete overturning of his conviction on prostitution-related charges. His legal team filed an expedited motion with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging both the validity of the conviction and the severity of the 50-month sentence imposed by Judge Arun Subramanian.

    Attorney Alexandra Shapiro presented a scathing critique of the judicial process, labeling the sentence as “unlawful, unconstitutional, and a perversion of justice” in court documents. The defense contends that Combs’ conduct did not constitute criminal activity and that Judge Subramanian improperly deviated from established sentencing guidelines. The filing further argues that the judge “flouted” new judicial standards and inappropriately considered allegations for which Combs had been acquitted by the jury, effectively acting as a “thirteenth juror” in the case.

    The appeal represents the latest effort by Combs’ legal team to reduce his prison term or nullify his conviction entirely. This follows previous unsuccessful attempts, including a September motion requesting acquittal or a new trial that challenged the application of the Mann Act in his prosecution.

    The original trial, which concluded this spring, featured testimony from two former partners—Cassie Ventura and an anonymous “Jane Doe”—who described coercive sexual scenarios involving male escorts. While the jury acquitted Combs of the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, they convicted him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

    During sentencing proceedings, federal prosecutors had sought a minimum 11-year prison term, while defense attorneys argued for time served. Judge Subramanian ultimately imposed a 50-month sentence, acknowledging Combs’ philanthropic contributions but stating that “a history of good works can’t wash away your record.”

    Combs faces additional legal challenges beyond this criminal case, with dozens of pending civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, rape, and exploitation. These civil claims depict a pattern of alleged misconduct where Combs allegedly used his influence and resources to silence accusers through intimidation. The entertainer’s representatives have consistently denied all allegations, maintaining he “never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone.”

  • Arsenal’s Kepa Arrizabalaga eager for more League Cup heroics against Chelsea

    Arsenal’s Kepa Arrizabalaga eager for more League Cup heroics against Chelsea

    Arsenal’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has set his sights on eliminating former club Chelsea from the League Cup following his decisive performance in Tuesday’s quarter-final victory against Crystal Palace. The Gunners secured their semi-final berth through an intense 8-7 penalty shootout triumph after regulation time ended 1-1 at Emirates Stadium, with Kepa’s crucial save against Maxence Lacroix’s spot-kick proving the difference.

    The 31-year-old shot-stopper, who spent seven seasons with Chelsea before transferring to North London during the preseason, now stands to potentially deny his former team a place in the campaign’s first major final. Having made all three of his Arsenal appearances exclusively in the League Cup, Kepa emphasized the team’s trophy ambitions: “Right now, if you want a trophy, and that’s something that we want, we have to fight against good teams. Both semi-finals are big games, and it’s going to be tough, but we’ll prepare well.”

    Arsenal’s path to Wembley will feature a two-legged confrontation with Chelsea, commencing at Stamford Bridge on January 14th followed by the return fixture at Emirates Stadium on February 3rd. The Gunners nearly secured victory in regulation time before Marc Guehi’s late equalizer—marking the third instance in Arsenal’s last five matches where their defense conceded during or beyond the 90th minute.

    Kepa, currently deputizing for first-choice keeper David Raya, acknowledged the concerning pattern: “We’ve conceded in a couple of games in the last minute so it’s something that we have to look at.” Reflecting on the match dynamics, the Spanish international noted, “We made a huge effort. We should have scored a couple in the first half. We played so well. Then the second half was more like 50-50.”

    The goalkeeper praised his teammates’ composure during the shootout, stating: “Credit to the guys, they took amazing penalties. They kept us in the game, and they gave me an opportunity to make a save.” He elaborated on the mental transition required after the late equalizer: “Emotionally, you have to be focused, be strong, because obviously when you concede in the last minute and then you have to go to penalties, you need to 100 percent be focused on your penalty takers. It was a change of mindset, and it worked.”

  • Watch: Mudslides, flooding and debris – storms batters southern California

    Watch: Mudslides, flooding and debris – storms batters southern California

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a formal state of emergency declaration for multiple southern counties following a series of destructive winter storms that have battered the region with unprecedented rainfall and powerful winds. The emergency proclamation covers Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties where communities have experienced severe flooding, dangerous mudslides, and substantial debris flows across roadways and residential areas.

    The severe weather system has transformed normally dry riverbeds into raging torrents while sending walls of mud and debris through vulnerable mountain communities. Emergency responders have conducted numerous rescue operations for motorists trapped by floodwaters and residents threatened by rapidly moving mudflows that have damaged homes and infrastructure.

    Meteorologists report that these storms represent one of the most significant atmospheric river events to impact Southern California in recent years, with some areas receiving over a year’s worth of rainfall in just 48 hours. The saturation of soil conditions has created particularly hazardous circumstances in recent burn scar areas where vegetation loss has increased the risk of devastating mudslides.

    State emergency services have been mobilized to assist with evacuation orders, road closures, and damage assessment operations. The governor’s declaration enables affected counties to access additional state resources and federal assistance as communities begin the process of recovery and damage mitigation from the continuing severe weather pattern.

  • Tokyo exhibition tells story of Japan’s invasion of China

    Tokyo exhibition tells story of Japan’s invasion of China

    A powerful photographic exhibition titled ‘Who Has Been Deceived? Face the Truth, Japanese’ opened in Tokyo on December 19, presenting compelling visual evidence of Japan’s wartime aggression in China during World War II. The exhibition, organized by three international donors, aims to educate Japanese citizens about historical truths often omitted from mainstream narratives.

    French national Marcus Detrez, alongside collaborators Bastien Ratat and Zhong Haosong, curated the display featuring 618 historical photographs primarily documenting the Battle of Songhu in 1937 and the Nanjing Massacre. The collection originated from Detrez’s grandfather, Roger-Pierre Laurens, who resided in Shanghai during the 1930s and captured devastating scenes of Japanese bombings and civilian massacres.

    Detrez discovered the historically significant collection in his grandfather’s garage in 2021 while working as an English language teacher in France. In August 2025, he donated the entire archive to the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for permanent preservation and academic research regarding the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    The Tokyo exhibition represents part of an international awareness campaign that previously included events in Seoul and attendance at the National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre on December 13. The organizers produced Japanese-language educational materials and videos to enhance local understanding of the documented atrocities.

    Ratat emphasized the exhibition’s critical timing, noting concerning statements from Japan’s new prime minister regarding Taiwan that potentially threaten regional stability. The organizers faced criticism from Western media outlets and encountered obstructions within Japan but remained committed to presenting factual historical accounts.

    The exhibition series will continue its global tour throughout 2026 with planned events in Europe and the United States, continuing its mission of promoting historical accuracy and international peace through documented evidence.

  • Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike: A watch that lets time be heard

    Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike: A watch that lets time be heard

    Chopard has unveiled its most mechanically sophisticated timepiece to date—the Lopard L.U.C Grand Strike—marking a historic achievement in haute horology. This exceptional watch represents the culmination of over 11,000 hours of dedicated research and development, entirely conceived and manufactured within Chopard’s own workshops.

    The Grand Strike stands as the purest expression of Chopard’s mechanical excellence, featuring three groundbreaking complications seamlessly integrated into one masterpiece: a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and a 60-second tourbillon. The timepiece boasts ten technical patents, with five specifically developed for this creation, making it the most complex instrument ever produced by the Swiss manufacturer.

    Encased in 43mm of ethical white gold, the watch presents a striking openworked design that reveals the meticulously hand-finished L.U.C 08.03-L movement comprising 686 components. The transparent architecture allows full visibility of the synchronized steel hammers positioned at 10 o’clock, which strike specially engineered sapphire crystal gongs to produce remarkably pure acoustic tones.

    Beyond its musical capabilities, the timepiece maintains exceptional precision, carrying both COSC chronometer certification and the prestigious Poinçon de Genève hallmark. The movement operates at 4 Hz with a substantial 70-hour power reserve, while maintaining a wearable profile of just 14.08mm thickness. The watch is completed with hand-sewn alligator straps in grey or deep blue, secured with an ethical white-gold folding clasp.

    This achievement represents more than two decades of dedicated research into chiming watch mechanisms, establishing new standards in both auditory excellence and mechanical complexity within contemporary watchmaking.

  • India gives 2 new airlines initial go-ahead to begin operations, weeks after IndiGo crisis

    India gives 2 new airlines initial go-ahead to begin operations, weeks after IndiGo crisis

    In a strategic move to bolster competition within its rapidly growing aviation sector, India has granted preliminary operational approval to two new airlines. This development comes shortly after widespread flight cancellations by market leader IndiGo exposed systemic vulnerabilities stemming from excessive market concentration.

    The Civil Aviation Ministry issued formal ‘no-objection certificates’ to regional startup alHind Air and carrier FlyExpress earlier this week. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed the regulatory milestone through an official social media announcement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fostering increased competition in domestic air travel.

    The urgency for market diversification became apparent earlier this December when IndiGo’s operational crisis led to approximately 4,500 cancelled flights. The disruption stranded tens of thousands of passengers nationwide and revealed the risks associated with the carrier’s 65% market dominance. Air India Group follows as distant competitor with approximately 27% market share, while smaller operators account for the remaining portion.

    According to operational plans, alHind Air intends to commence services in southern India utilizing ATR Turboprop aircraft, currently progressing through the final Air Operator Certificate acquisition process. FlyExpress similarly indicates impending market entry through its digital communications.

    This authorization continues a pattern of regulatory expansion, with six air operators receiving permits since 2020, including several regional specialists. The approvals represent India’s deliberate strategy to transform its aviation landscape while supporting infrastructure development in underserved regions.

  • Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura wins Honduras presidential election

    Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura wins Honduras presidential election

    Honduras has concluded its protracted presidential election with the official declaration of conservative candidate Nasry Asfura as victor, following weeks of electoral turmoil marked by technical failures and fraud allegations. The National Electoral Council (CNE) confirmed Asfura secured 40.3% of votes, narrowly defeating center-right Liberal Party contender Salvador Nasralla who obtained 39.5%.

    The electoral process, initially conducted on November 30, encountered severe technical disruptions that twice halted vote counting operations. CNE President Ana Paola Hall characterized these interruptions as ‘inexcusable,’ attributing the delays to unauthorized maintenance performed by the private contractor responsible for result tabulation. These complications necessitated manual recounts of approximately 15% of tally sheets to determine the final outcome.

    In his victory statement posted on social media platform X, Asfura pledged: ‘Honduras: I am ready to govern. I will not let you down.’ The declaration comes amid heightened political tensions that triggered nationwide protests last week, with supporters of the governing Libre party alleging electoral fraud in capital city Tegucigalpa.

    Outgoing President Xiomara Castro, constitutionally barred from reelection, had previously denounced what she termed an ‘electoral coup’ and accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of interference. Trump had openly endorsed Asfura during the campaign, warning there would be ‘hell to pay’ if the narrow lead was overturned and threatening to withdraw U.S. financial support should Asfura lose.

    In a surprising pre-election development, Trump granted presidential pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández, a National Party colleague of Asfura serving a 45-year U.S. prison sentence for drug and weapons offenses.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged all parties to respect the official results ‘so that Honduran authorities may ensure a peaceful transition of authority.’ Rubio further indicated American readiness to collaborate with the incoming administration on bilateral security cooperation and combating illegal immigration while strengthening economic relations.

    Contrary to this call for unity, Luis Redondo, president of Honduras’s Congress, declared the election results ‘completely illegal,’ underscoring the deep political divisions that persist following this contentious electoral process.

  • Bombed churches and air strikes: Celebrating Christmas in south Lebanon

    Bombed churches and air strikes: Celebrating Christmas in south Lebanon

    On a windswept December morning in the southern Lebanese village of Derdghaya, a small congregation of approximately thirty worshippers gathered for Mass. Mostly elderly residents—the last remaining inhabitants of this predominantly Christian community—filed into a makeshift chapel set within their priest’s residence. Their historic Melkite Greek Catholic St. George Church, reduced to rubble by an Israeli bombing in 2023, lay just steps away as a stark reminder of ongoing conflict.

    The service proceeded against a backdrop of howling winds that congregants sometimes mistook for Israeli warplanes—a haunting sound that has become tragically familiar over two years of violence. The conflict escalated significantly in September 2024 when Israel initiated a devastating bombing campaign that forced approximately one million Lebanese from their homes and killed over 4,000 people. While a November 2024 ceasefire agreement reduced large-scale hostilities, Israeli strikes continue almost daily in southern Lebanon, claiming more than 330 lives since the truce began.

    Despite this atmosphere of destruction and uncertainty, Christmas preparations continue across southern Lebanon’s diverse religious communities. In Derdghaya, construction workers in bright red hats sorted through church debris during Sunday’s service, attempting to stabilize the structure with scaffolding. Plastic candy canes and Santa figurines swayed precariously in the wind, symbolic of both celebration and fragility.

    Georges Elia, a local social activist and son of the village mukhtar, has spearheaded Christmas celebrations despite personal challenges. Recently injured in a serious road accident that nearly cost him both legs, Elia dressed as Santa and visited schools in neighboring Muslim villages on a motorcycle decorated as a sleigh.

    The situation is particularly dire in border villages like Deir Mimas, where resident Rami (a pseudonym for security reasons) described adapting to near-daily bombings. “We’ve gotten used to it,” the 26-year-old university student remarked with ironic laughter. His medieval monastery village, which suffered Israeli military incursions including tank and bulldozer damage to its cemetery, has seen many residents flee despite the ceasefire.

    Displacement statistics remain incomplete due to Lebanon’s registration system that ties citizens to ancestral villages regardless of actual residence. Pierre Atallah, mayor of the border village Rachaya al-Fukhar, estimates his community lost approximately 20 of its 120 households since the conflict began. Yet he plans to bring his family to the village for Christmas, where a public tree awaits amidst ongoing concerns about regional stability.

    The lingering threat of escalation shadows holiday preparations. Lebanon approaches an end-of-year deadline to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River per the ceasefire agreement—a task Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Saturday is nearing completion. For now, southern Lebanon’s Christians maintain their traditions with resilient determination, celebrating Christmas in damaged villages where wind howls mimic warplanes and church services occur amidst rubble.

  • Mohammad Bakri, renowned Palestinian director of Jenin, Jenin, dies at 72

    Mohammad Bakri, renowned Palestinian director of Jenin, Jenin, dies at 72

    Mohammad Bakri, the acclaimed Palestinian actor and filmmaker renowned for his politically charged documentary ‘Jenin, Jenin,’ passed away Wednesday at age 72 in an Israeli hospital. His death followed complications from heart-related conditions that had recently worsened, according to family statements.

    Bakri’s 2002 documentary ‘Jenin, Jenin’ became his most controversial work, documenting the Israeli military’s assault on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The film presented harrowing testimonies from Palestinian survivors of the 11-day offensive that resulted in 52 Palestinian casualties and the demolition of nearly 300 homes.

    The documentary triggered significant backlash in Israel, culminating in a nationwide screening ban imposed by an Israeli court in 2021 after years of legal challenges. Despite sustained pressure and what Bakri described as ‘incitement campaigns,’ the filmmaker remained unwavering in his commitment to exposing Palestinian experiences through cinema.

    Born in 1953 in the Galilean town of Bi’ina, Bakri belonged to the Palestinian community that remained within Israel’s borders after the 1948 Nakba. He studied Arabic literature and theater at Tel Aviv University before embarking on an international acting career that spanned theaters across Europe and North America.

    Bakri made his cinematic debut at age 30 in Costa-Gavras’s 1983 film ‘Hanna K.’ and later collaborated extensively with Gaza-born director Rashid Masharawi. His directorial debut ‘1948’ (1998) examined the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians during Israel’s founding, featuring survivor testimonies and archival materials.

    Throughout his career, Bakri contributed to 43 works as actor, director, and producer. He is survived by his wife Leila and six children, including three sons—Adam, Ziad, and Saleh—who followed him into acting. His seminal work ‘Jenin, Jenin’ remains accessible on Vimeo, preserving his artistic testament to Palestinian resilience.