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According to the UN, one in four Somalis may be hungry by the end of the year.

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The UN has warned that 4.3 million people, or 25% of the country’s population, may die hungry by year’s end due to devastating floods in the impoverished Horn of Africa.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that the floods have had a serious negative impact on communities that are still trying to recover from the worst drought in decades, which almost killed millions of people.

Although famine has not yet broken out in Somalia because to humanitarian assistance, the WFP reports that the country is currently seeing its highest levels of malnutrition in over ten years.

Due to insufficient funding, the UN agency is only able to provide food assistance to less than half of those most in need.

“But with a quarter of Somalia’s population – 4.3 million people – expected to face crisis food insecurity or worse… by the end of the year, support from the humanitarian community remains a lifeline”, added the WFP.

At least 31 people have died and some 500,000 have had to leave their homes in Somalia due to flooding caused by incessant rain, according to an official report on Sunday.

Since the beginning of November, Somalia has been experiencing incessant rainfall due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has flooded homes and farmland. El Niño is currently amplifying the rainy season in the Horn of Africa, with serious consequences in Ethiopia (at least 20 dead) and Kenya (at least 15 dead).

Somalia, where the majority of the country’s 17 million inhabitants live off livestock and agriculture, is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, experiencing extreme weather phenomena with greater frequency and intensity.

This poor country is also prey to attacks by Islamist fighters, affiliated to al-Qaeda, who have been waging a bloody insurrection for over 15 years.

UK supreme court declares that a scheme to transfer refugees to Rwanda is illegal

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The controversial government proposal to send certain migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda was declared unconstitutional by the British Supreme Court on Wednesday, dealing a serious blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration’s main policy that has attracted condemnation from across the world.

The country’s highest court, composed of five judges, unanimously decided that asylum seekers who were transported to Rwanda would be “at real risk of ill-treatment” as they may be deported back to the countries from which they had fled.

The decision, according to Sunak, “was not the outcome we wanted.” Sunak has vowed to halt migrants from crossing the English Channel in tiny boats to reach Britain.

But he added, “we have spent the last few months planning for all eventualities and we remain completely committed to stopping the boats.”

Refugee and human rights groups welcomed the decision. Charity ActionAid U.K. called it a vindication of “British values of compassion and dignity.” Amnesty International urged he British government to “draw a line under a disgraceful chapter in the U.K.’s political history.”

Britain and Rwanda signed a deal in April 2022 to send some migrants who arrive in the U.K. as stowaways or in boats to the East African country, where their asylum claims would be processed and, if successful, they would stay.

Britain’s government argued that the Rwanda policy would deter people from risking their lives crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, and would break the business model of people-smuggling gangs. Opposition politicians, refugee groups and human rights organizations said the plan was unethical and unworkable.

No one has yet been sent to the country as the plan was challenged in the courts.

Reading the unanimous decision, President of the Supreme Court Robert Reed said Rwanda could not be relied on to keep its promises not to mistreat asylum-seekers sent from Britain.

He cited the country’s poor human rights record, including enforced disappearances and torture, and said Rwanda practiced “refoulement” – sending migrants back to unsafe home countries.

The judges concluded there were “substantial grounds for believing that asylum-seekers would face a real risk of ill-treatment by reason of refoulement in the event that they were removed to Rwanda.”

The U.K. government has argued that while Rwanda was the site of a genocide that killed more than 800,000 people in 1994, the country has since built a reputation for stability and economic progress.

Critics say that stability comes at the cost of political repression. The court’s judgment noted multiple rights breaches, including political killings that had led U.K. police “to warn Rwandan nationals living in Britain of credible plans to kill them on the part of that state.” They said Rwanda has a 100% rejection record for asylum-seekers from war-torn countries including Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan.

“The evidence establishes substantial grounds for believing that there is a real risk that asylum claims will not be determined properly, and that asylum-seekers will in consequence be at risk of being returned directly or indirectly to their country of origin,” the judges said. “In that event, genuine refugees will face a real risk of ill-treatment in circumstances where they should not have been returned at all.”

The ruling is leaves in tatters a policy that has cost the British government at least 140 million pounds ($175 million) in payments to Rwanda, without anyone being sent to that country. The first deportation flight was stopped at the last minute in June 2022, when the European Court of Human Rights intervened.

In December, the High Court in London ruled that the Rwanda plan is legal, but that the government must consider the individual circumstances of each case before putting anyone on a plane.

The Court of Appeal in June backed a challenge by asylum-seekers from countries including Syria, Vietnam and Iran. The court ruled that the plan was unlawful because Rwanda is not a “safe third country.”

That was challenged at the Supreme Court by the government, which argued at a hearing last month that it had thoroughly assessed the risks and would ensure that Rwanda’s government abides by its agreement to protect migrants’ rights.

It’s unclear whether the British government will try to keep the policy alive. The Supreme Court judges ruled that “the structural changes and capacity-building needed” to make Rwanda a safe country “may be delivered in the future,” but are not in place now.

Some U.K. Conservatives have called for dramatic action. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who was fired by Sunak on Monday, has said the U.K. to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and its court if the Rwanda plan was blocked.

Justice Reed stressed that the “legal rule that refugees must not be returned to their country of origin … if their life or freedom” would be at risk is enshrined in multiple U.K. laws and international treaties, not just the European convention.

Much of Europe and the U.S. is struggling with how best to cope with migrants seeking refuge from war, violence, oppression and a warming planet that has brought devastating drought and floods.

Though Britain receives fewer asylum applications than countries such as Italy, France or Germany, thousands of migrants from around the world travel to northern France each year in hopes of crossing the English Channel.

More than 27,300 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, with the year’s total on track to be fewer than the 46,000 who made the journey in 2022. The government says that shows its tough approach is working, though others cite factors including the weather.

Israeli soldiers entered the Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

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Following a protracted stalemate, Israeli soldiers moved into Gaza’s Shifa hospital on Wednesday night.

Despite the fact that the hospital was packed with hundreds of patients and medical personnel, the Israeli Defence Force declared that it was conducting a “precise and targeted operation” against Hamas fighters.

Speaking from the air just hours before, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby backed Israeli accusations that Hamas was using al-Shifa Hospital as a command headquarters.

The National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, stated, “I can confirm for you that we have information that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad used some hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including al-Shifa, and tunnels underneath them to conceal and to support their military operations and to hold hostages.”

During the day the Hamas-run health ministry had called for a ceasefire to evacuate three dozen premature babies who were without working incubators . After days of air strikes around the hospital it’s power had been cut and images of the vulnerable babies raised international concern. BIG TEXT Earlier premature babies evacuated

The situation in Gaza’s other hospitals is also dire, with the UN saying 22 of 36 are not functional due to lack of generator fuel, damage and combat. The 14 hospitals remaining open have barely enough supplies to sustain critical and life-saving surgeries.

“I just heard the sound of bombing and found myself in the hospital. These are the safe areas they talk about. There’s no safe area in Gaza, not a market, not a park, not a school, not a hospital.”; said Raed Baker, displaced Palestinian from Beach refugee camp.

Hamas continues to deny the Israeli accusations that it uses hospitals in particular al Shifa , to conceal or support their military operations and to hold hostages.

Washington declares that food aid to Ethiopia will resume.

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Following the conclusion of an agreement to supervise the distribution of aid, the US Development Agency (USAID) stated on Tuesday that food aid deliveries from the US to Ethiopia will resume throughout the nation.

Amidst allegations of money being misappropriated for military use, USAID declared that it will resume delivery of aid starting next month. The organisation will examine Ethiopia’s compliance with its pledges for the first year.

“These far-reaching and significant reforms will profoundly change the food aid system in Ethiopia and ensure that aid reaches those suffering from acute food insecurity,” USAID spokeswoman Jessica Jennings said in a statement.

The US agency had already announced in early October a limited resumption of food aid deliveries to meet the needs of thousands of refugees in Africa’s second most populous country. The resumption was to affect around thirty camps in Ethiopia, which is home to almost a million refugees, mainly from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) made a similar announcement a few days later.

Ethiopia is plagued by serious internal violence, a deteriorating economic situation and chronic natural disasters.

Around 17% of Ethiopia’s 120 million inhabitants depend on international food aid. But last June, the UN and the United States suspended the distribution of food aid throughout the country because of “widespread and coordinated” misappropriation.

In May, they had already done the same for the northern region of Tigray, ravaged by two years of war, before extending the suspension to the whole country. At the beginning of October, the WFP stated that it had resumed aid deliveries “after a total reorganisation of the safeguards and controls” on refugee operations.

Chelsea sensation Cole Palmer breaks silence on Erling Haaland altercation after attempting to earwig Man City team chat in 4-4 thriller

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Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s newest sensation, has provided an explanation of his confrontation with Erling Haaland following his attempt to listen in on a Manchester City team conversation.

On Sunday, the Manchester City academy graduate faced his old team and gave them a brilliant performance that was topped off with a cool stoppage time penalty to make the score 4–4. Palmer participated actively in the whole game and came dangerously close to scoring another with an individual run reminiscent of Eden Hazard’s. While he sought to eavesdrop on City’s late team meeting, he also made an effort to get back at his old teammates.

WHAT PALMER SAID

Palmer has since lifted the lid on that incident, which saw Erling Haaland push him away roughly, as he told reporters on Wednesday: “No I didn’t hear anything [from the team chat], I was just having a laugh to be honest! I think Erling found it pretty funny, I don’t think the others did.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Palmer’s jokey actions will only have endeared himself even more to the Chelsea faithful, after his impressive start to life in west London has already made him a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge. It also saw him earn a call up to the England senior squad from the Under-21s set-up – a decision which he revealed he thought was a joke.

DID YOU KNOW?

Palmer has been involved in eight goal contributions in 11 matches for Chelsea this season. He tops the club’s assists rankings with four to his name, alongside midfielder Conor Gallagher.

  • Cole Palmer England U21 Spain 2023GettyWHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?A maiden senior international appearance awaits. The Chelsea forward has featured heavily for England at youth level and starred during the Three Lions’ triumphant Under-21 World Cup run in July. He will look to get his first minutes under Gareth Southgate when they take on Malta and North Macedonia on November 17 and 20, respectively.

PSG starlet Kylian Mbappe has moved ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eden Hazard in the Ligue 1 record books after winning Player of the Month in October.

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Kylian Mbappe has been named Ligue 1’s Player of the Month for the 10th time, putting him further clear of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eden Hazard.

The outstanding player for Paris Saint-Germain has been awarded the October Ligue 1 Player of the Month. In the online poll, Mbappe defeated Aleksandr Golovin of AS Monaco and his PSG colleague Warren Zaire-Emery to win the prize. Mbappe won the prize for a record-breaking ten times in his career, which takes him even farther ahead of Ibrahimovic (5), Franck Ribery (4), Hazard (4), and Javier Pastore (4).

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The 24-year-old forward appeared in three Ligue 1 games for PSG last month, where he scored three goals and provided an assist. He had netted a brace in the club’s comeback win over Stade Brestois on October 29.

17-year-old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery was also impressive throughout last month, having provided two assists in three matches.

DID YOU KNOW?

This was the 47th time that a PSG player bagged this award in the last 20 years. They now have a convincing lead over Marseille and Lyon, who have produced 24 and 18 awards respectively.

  • Ibrahima Konate Kylian Mbappe FranceGettyWHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?The French national team captain will be in action for Les Bleus in their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece on November 18 and 21, respectively.

Neymar’s “long rehabilitation process” is expected, and the doctor for the Brazilian national team provides an open assessment of the Al-Hilal star’s “complex injury.”

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Brazil national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar has confirmed that Neymar will undergo a “lengthy rehabilitation process” after knee surgery.

During Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay last month, Neymar sustained a knee injury that required surgery to repair a torn meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament. Now, medical director for the Brazil national team Lasmar has revealed that although the top player is making a full recovery, the “complex” nature of his injury will require a “lengthy rehabilitation process.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Al-Hilal superstar has suffered multiple foot and ankle injuries in the past few years which have further worsened his situation. The team doctor also revealed that while the Brazilian underwent two other surgeries in the past, the current one has been the most serious of all, and as a result the 31-year-old needs to be more careful during the recovery period.

WHAT DID RODRIGO LASMAR SAY?

While providing an update on the player’s condition, Lasmar said: “Neymar has been recovering very well. Yesterday [Sunday] I was with the player for a new post-operative assessment, already scheduled. He is recovering very well, of course, still in the initial phase. It’s a complex injury, he ruptured a ligament and needs to be off his feet for a while. Due to the associated injuries, he will go through a lengthy rehabilitation process, he is aware of that. But he has been responding very well, we are satisfied.

“It’s very important that he understands the serious injury he suffered. He’s had other injuries and situations before, this was his third surgery. I participated in the other two, they were shorter periods. This time it is the most serious injury, it takes more time, so we need him to be very focused and dedicated to recovery. He is following everything we propose.”

  • Neymar Brazil Croatia 2022Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?The former Paris Saint-Germain star is not expected to play again this season, but could recover fully before the Copa America 2024, which will be held in the U.S. between June 20 and July 14.

Chelsea may be deducted points after leaked documents reveal hidden Roman Abramovich payments ‘worth tens of millions of pounds’ that may have violated FFP guidelines.

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PORTO, PORTUGAL - MAY 29: Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea smiles following his team's victory during the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The Premier League may sanction Chelsea for payments made during the Roman Abramovich period that could have violated the Financial Fair Play regulations.

Abramovich’s offshore vehicles were used to reroute many payments totaling “tens of millions of pounds” over a ten-year period, according to a recent investigation by the Guardian. The article claims that recipients of these payments include the agent of Eden Hazard and a business partner of Antonio Conte, the 2017 Premier League champion. There are also claims that it has to do with Willian and Samuel Eto’o’s transfer negotiations.

  • Roman Abramovich Todd Boehly Chelsea splitTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The files were voluntarily surrendered by Chelsea’s new owners after they found “incomplete financial information” relating to Abramovich’s tenure, which earned them an £8.6million ($10.7m) fine from UEFA. In the long term, however, the ramifications could be more significant. The Guardian continues that if said payments are found to be in breach of their football rules, such as FFP, then the Premier League could impose strict punishments on the Blues – including a potential points deduction.

Chelsea won 18 major trophies during Abramovich’s tenure, which was the most of any English club during that 19-year period. That haul includes five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, two Community Shields, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.

  • Mauricio Pochettino 2023GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?The Premier League’s investigation is ongoing, meaning the payments must first be found to be in breach of FFP before punishments are decided. With the threat of a potential deduction, Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues will look to put some more points on the board after the international break, when they take on injury-hit Newcastle on November 25.

‘Free Raheem Sterling!’ – Rio Ferdinand criticised England manager Gareth Southgate for leaving out a prominent player from Chelsea’s most recent Three Lions squad.

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Rio Ferdinand has slammed England boss Gareth Southgate after in-form Chelsea ace Raheem Sterling suffered yet another snub from Three Lions squad.

The great of Manchester United was left fuming when England manager Gareth Southgate selected Sterling for the Three Lions side for the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifying matches, ignoring him once more. While criticising the English manager, Ferdinand said that the Chelsea player had contributed more goals this year than both Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford put together.

  • Raheem Sterling England 2022 World CupGettyTHE BIGGER PICTUREThe former Manchester City and Liverpool star hasn’t featured for the English national team since their World Cup quarter-final against France in December 2022. Although the player was injured in the opening round of Euro 2024 qualifying games in March, he was ignored for the next four consecutive England call-ups.

WHAT DID RIO FERDINAND SAY?

Speaking on his YouTube channel Five, the former England defender said: “Free Sterling. Free my guy, Raheem Sterling. I don’t know what he’s done; I don’t know whose nose he has put out of joint. I don’t know what’s happened. For him not to be in the England squad is beyond me. There’s a lot of talent; don’t get me wrong. But if we’re talking form, he’s got more goals and assists, more goal contributions than Rashford and Grealish put together.”

  • Gareth Southgate England 2023Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?Southgate’s men, who have already booked a berth at next year’s European Championship, will first face Malta on Friday before taking on North Macedonia three days later.

Former England and Liverpool player Michael Owen rips out social media users who he perceives as “utterly useless” for allegedly failing to question Howard Webb on Match Officials. Mic’d Up programme

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Michael Owen, a former player for Liverpool and England, has responded to criticism by saying that he didn’t question Howard Webb on “Match Officials: Mic’d Up.”

The ex-professional and current head of PGMOL, the Premier League’s governing body for referees, presents the show each week, which looks to review and explain the significant calls from the last weekend’s league action. In the most recent episode, Webb and Owen touched on a number of dubious incidents, including Newcastle’s controversial winner at home to Arsenal.

Other discussion points included Christian Romero’s sending off in Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Chelsea, as well as Scott McTominay’s disallowed goal for Manchester United against Fulham. But despite the polarising nature of some of the decisions, some supporters felt Owen’s analysis was passive and that the 2001 Ballon d’Or winner failed to push Webb on why such decisions were made.

n response to such critics, which were collocated by The Mail, Owen took to Twitter and said: “You’re just scumbags. Always have been. Trawl through a load of messages until you find a couple of negative ones and then create an article. Most people thought the show was insightful and educational. Which is our aim.”

  • Bobby Charlton EnglandGetty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?Owen is one of four English players to win the esteemed Ballon d’Or award for the best player in Europe, alongside Sir Stanley Matthews (1956), Sir Bobby Charlton (1966) and Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979).

WHAT NEXT?

After a floury of controversial incidents, the Premier League will enjoy a break period ahead of the start of international fixtures. Owen’s old club Liverpool are set to return to action on November 25, with a huge top-of-the-table clash against champions Manchester City on the cards.

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