SOMALIA

Italy has been fined by a European court for violating the human rights of African migrants.

Seven al-Shabab militants were reportedly killed during an overnight airstrike in southern Somalia.

Two major explosions shook the key Somalia city of Baidoa, only hours after Ethiopian troops and pro-government forces there helped wrest the Baidoa from the hands of Al-Qaeda backed insurgents. The intensifying conflict falls on the same day world leaders gather in London for a conference to address diplomatic response to decades of instability in Somalia.

Clinton and Prime Minister Cameron were joined by other heads of state, Arab Sheikhs and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as representatives from several Somali factions.

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd resigned on Wednesday after a row with fellow party member Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Somalia is not the only country known for inflicting such horror on children. During a period of intensified Palestinian–Israeli violence that started in 2000, gunmen surrounded themselves with children while shooting on Israeli forces. Various other reports have also suggested that the Taliban used women and children from their own communities as human shields against coalition forces around the year 2006.

Some of these youths, who have been abducted from their homes and schools, have been subjected to rape and forced marriage.

The crisis means nearly 12 million more people require assistance.

Al-Qaida's leader announced in a video Thursday that the Somali militant group al-Shabab has formally joined the Islamic extremist network, fusing two groups that have been targets of America's counterterrorism efforts.

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was seen in a video posted to jihadi forums today welcoming the militant Somali group al-Shabaab into the international terrorist organization.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced Wednesday that he may pardon journalists, politicians, and dissidents detained under an 2009 anti-terrorism law, while refuting claims that the arrests were politically motivated.

A suicide car bomb kills 11 outside a Mogadishu cafe. Al-Shabab claims responsibility.

The commander of the Navy SEALs, the elite special forces unit who killed Osama Bin Laden and rescued Jessica Buchanan, is being criticized by a retired Lt. General of the armed forces for his media spotlight and publicizing special operations tactics.

An excellent harvest, good rains and food deliveries by numerous aid agencies have helped end famine in Somalia but food stocks could run out again in May, the United Nations has said.

The famine is Somalia is officially over, the United Nations said on Friday.

While Republican states like Arizona and Alabama have passed laws to keep immigrants from finding work, Kansas is exploring a plan that would allow undocumented immigrants to work in industries that face labor shortages.

Somalia's Islamist Al-Shebab rebels have banned the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from operating in parts of the country it controls.

Last week, U.S. Special Operations Forces went in to rescue the two hostages from their Somali kidnappers on orders from President Barack Obama.

A coalition of veterans say retired Lt. Gen. William Boykin's inflammatory rhetoric is incompatible with Army values, and only puts our troops in danger.

The Navy SEALs strike that rescued two Western aid workers on Tuesday, coming as the Pentagon begins detailing how it will adapt to massive budget cuts, reflects a shifting emphasis toward elite, nimble units that can carry out targeted operations.

She could hardly talk about Africa without tears in her eyes.”