Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an independent nation, stating it could destabilize the already volatile region, according to BBC World. The announcement came during Erdogan's official visit to Ethiopia. Meanwhile, in other international developments, the US military reported the killing of 11 people in strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, as reported by The Guardian, and peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by US envoys, concluded early in Geneva, as detailed by Al Jazeera.
Erdogan's comments followed Israel's December recognition of Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia over 30 years ago. This move has upset Mogadishu, which still considers Somaliland part of its territory, BBC World reported. Landlocked Ethiopia, a neighbor to Somaliland, has yet to comment on the matter.
In the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, the US military targeted three alleged drug-smuggling boats, resulting in 11 fatalities, The Guardian stated. This action brought the total number of deaths from US strikes to 145 since September, when former President Donald Trump initiated the campaign against alleged traffickers.
Simultaneously, peace talks aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, led by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, concluded earlier than scheduled in Geneva, Al Jazeera reported. These talks, one week before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, represent the latest in a series of mediation efforts.
In other news, BAE Systems, a major defense contractor, announced record sales for 2025, while its Lancashire sites continue to experience strikes over pay, according to BBC Business. The company, which reported a sharp rise in sales and record order backlog, stated it had made a fair offer to staff. One of Britain's biggest unions, Unite, called the weapons maker's 2.6 billion annual profit "obscene" and warned strikes would continue until a better pay offer is made, BBC Business reported.
Additionally, The Guardian reported that Kenyan authorities allegedly used Israeli technology to crack the phone of pro-democracy activist Boniface Mwangi. Mwangi, who plans to run for president in 2027, noticed his phone was no longer password protected after being returned by authorities following his arrest last July, The Guardian reported.
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