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Minnesota Woman Pleads Guilty in $5.7M Feeding Our Future Fraud

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Guilty plea marks another chapter in the largest pandemic-related fraud case in U.S. history, with $250 million misappropriated from child nutrition programs.

A Savage, Minnesota woman, Ayan Farah Abukar, has pleaded guilty to defrauding a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her admission is part of the largest pandemic-related fraud case in U.S. history, where over $250 million intended to feed underserved children was misappropriated.

Abukar, 43, founder of the nonprofit Action for East African People, admitted to conspiring to defraud the Federal Child Nutrition Program of $5.7 million. Court documents reveal that between 2020 and 2022, she falsely claimed to serve meals to as many as 5,000 children daily across multiple sites in Minnesota. Instead, the funds were diverted for personal enrichment, including purchasing a 37-acre commercial property in Lakeville, Minnesota, and an aircraft in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Somali-American Leader Sentenced to 17 Years for Role in $250M Feeding Our Future Fraud

The scheme was facilitated through $330,000 in kickbacks paid by Abukar to a Feeding Our Future employee. Prosecutors noted that the fraud took advantage of relaxed federal oversight designed to ensure children’s access to meals during school closures.

The Feeding Our Future fraud case has implicated 70 individuals and exposed a wide network of corruption. This multi-agency investigation, led by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, has already resulted in 24 guilty pleas and five convictions at trial.

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Among those sentenced is Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, who received a 17.5-year prison term for his role in diverting $47.9 million. His sentencing included an order to pay restitution of nearly $48 million. Another key figure, Mohamed Jama Isamli, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in October 2024 for similar charges.

The scandal has not only highlighted financial fraud but also revealed attempts to undermine the judicial process. During a June 2024 trial, a juror reported receiving a $120,000 bribe in a Hallmark gift bag, along with promises of further payments for an acquittal. The juror immediately notified authorities, leading to the replacement of the juror and new charges against five individuals, including defendants from the original trial.

Among those involved in the bribery scheme, Seattle resident Ladan Mohamed Ali pleaded guilty in September 2024 to delivering the bribe. Her sentencing is pending.

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The trial of Aimee Bock, the founder of Feeding Our Future, is scheduled to begin on February 3, 2025. Bock and three co-defendants are accused of orchestrating the fraud, with allegations of widespread misappropriation of federal funds intended for child nutrition programs.

While sentencing for Abukar has not yet been scheduled, her guilty plea adds another chapter to this far-reaching investigation, exposing systemic abuse of programs intended to support vulnerable children during the pandemic. The case continues to shed light on the broader implications of pandemic-related fraud, undermining trust in public assistance programs and prompting calls for increased accountability and oversight.

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Editor's Pick

MI5 Unmasks the Real James Bonds: Secrets, Spies, and Soviet Moles Revealed in London Exhibition

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British spy agency MI5 lifts the curtain on its shadowy past, revealing gadgets, double agents, and Cold War betrayals in a rare public display.

Real Spies, Real Secrets: MI5’s Exhibition Reveals the Truth Behind Britain’s Espionage Legends

Move over, James Bond—the real spies of British intelligence have entered the room. For the first time in its 115-year history, MI5 is peeling back the layers of secrecy with a public exhibition that dives deep into its murky archives and infamous operations.

Titled “MI5: Official Secrets”, the new exhibition at The National Archives in London offers a rare glimpse into the real-world tradecraft of British intelligence. From lemon juice invisible ink to surveillance files on Soviet moles, the exhibit pulls no punches in showing how Britain’s security service battled foreign threats across two world wars and the Cold War.

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One of the most jaw-dropping features? Newly released materials on the Cambridge Five—a ring of elite British insiders who betrayed their country by feeding secrets to Moscow. Their names—Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross—still send shivers through British intelligence circles, and their confessions, reports, and surveillance records are now on public display.

Ken McCallum, MI5’s director general, stressed that unlike the glamorous espionage of Bond or the grit of Slow Horses, real spy work is “ordinary people doing extraordinary things” in silence. Still, the lemon juice used by a German spy to write invisible messages during WWI? That feels very 007.

The exhibition runs through September and is designed to both educate and provoke reflection. In a world once split by East and West—and now again fractured by new threats—MI5’s unveiling of its past is not just history. It’s a subtle message: the spy game is far from over.

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Trump Locks In $2B Drone Deal With Qatar, Signaling a New Power Shift in the Middle East

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First-of-its-kind drone sale to Doha bolsters U.S. military ties with Qatar and reshapes Gulf defense dynamics. 

This isn’t just a weapons sale—it’s a strategic realignment. President Donald Trump’s approval of an unprecedented $1.96 billion arms deal with Qatar isn’t about just eight MQ-9B drones. It’s about staking out a new American red line in the Middle East. And it’s about power—airborne, unmanned, and armed to the teeth.

Qatar, long the shadowy broker in conflicts from Gaza to Kabul, is now becoming a front-row actor. With this deal, Trump is transforming Doha from a diplomatic fixer to a drone-powered sentinel capable of conducting advanced surveillance, target acquisition, and strike operations. The sale signals the first time such high-end American drones are making their way to any country in the region—a slap in the face to traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE who’ve been denied access.

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At the heart of this is Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military base in the Middle East, which Qatar has pumped over $8 billion into since 2003. Trump knows leverage when he sees it. While some in Washington grumble about Qatar’s cozy ties to Hamas and Tehran, Trump sees utility. He doesn’t need moral purity—he needs strategic partners.

This drone deal is a down payment on that partnership. With Hellfire missiles, radar-jamming gear, and top-tier ISR tech, Qatar just became more than a gas-rich Gulf state. It’s now an elite drone hub that can pressure Iran, monitor the Houthis, and shape conflicts from Yemen to the Strait of Hormuz.

Critics will say it empowers a country that shelters Hamas leadership. Supporters will argue it gives the U.S. another heavily armed friend who can do the dirty work. Either way, this deal turns Qatar into a decisive power broker—and proves once again that Trump plays chess, while others are still learning checkers.

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Editor's Pick

Eid Mubarak 2025: Global Celebrations Kick Off with Diverse Greetings Worldwide

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Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:

With the sighting of the new moon confirmed in Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions, Eid al-Fitr celebrations officially begin on Sunday, March 30, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr, known as the “festival of breaking the fast,” is celebrated joyously by nearly 1.9 billion Muslims globally, accounting for about 25 percent of the world’s population. Countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, home to some of the largest Muslim communities, are set to embrace this festive occasion with diverse customs and vibrant celebrations.

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Traditionally, the Eid celebration lasts for three days in most Muslim-majority nations, with activities beginning just after dawn prayers and sermons. Families and friends gather to share meals, exchange sweets, and extend heartfelt greetings as they move from home to home.

The most widespread greetings are “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) and “Eid Sa’id” (Happy Eid), but variations exist worldwide, reflecting the rich linguistic diversity among Muslim communities.

Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:

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  • Arabic: Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك)
  • Indonesian: Selamat Idul Fitri
  • Urdu (Pakistan): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
  • Hindi (India): ईद मुबारक (Eid Mubarak)
  • Bengali (Bangladesh): ঈদ মোবারক (Eid Mubarak)
  • Hausa (Nigeria): Barka da Sallah
  • Turkish: Bayramınız mübarek olsun
  • Persian (Iran): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
  • Malay (Malaysia): Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
  • Somali: Ciid Wanaagsan
  • Swahili (East Africa): Eid Njema
  • French: Bonne fête de l’Aïd
  • English: Eid Mubarak

Wishing everyone worldwide peace, joy, and prosperity this Eid. Eid Mubarak from waryatv.com!

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Editor's Pick

J. Peter Pham: Somalia’s President Insults Trump by Offering Ports He Doesn’t Control

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Ambassador J. Peter Pham, a prominent former US envoy to Africa and influential figure in President Trump’s circle, has openly mocked Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, calling his recent offer of Somaliland’s strategic ports to the US an outright insult and an act of utter foolishness.

Pham sharply criticized the Somali leader’s desperate bid, declaring on social media platform X, “Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thinks the Americans are fools, offering ports in Somaliland and Puntland—ports he has absolutely no control over.” Highlighting the absurdity of Mogadishu’s move, Pham underlined that the US provides Somalia with nearly $1 billion annually, money he described as being shamefully wasted.

According to Semafor newspaper, President Mohamud wrote directly to Trump, attempting to barter control over the strategic Berbera and Bosaso ports in return for Washington halting its recognition of Somaliland. However, these ports are firmly under Somaliland’s and Puntland’s jurisdiction, beyond Mogadishu’s reach—a fact the Somali president astonishingly disregarded.

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Pham, a staunch advocate of Somaliland’s recognition, portrays this latest diplomatic blunder as proof of Mogadishu’s desperation, incompetence, and disregard for American intelligence. The move has sparked fury and disbelief within American political circles, particularly among Republicans actively campaigning for Somaliland’s recognition over the past two years.

Pham’s strong condemnation reinforces that Somaliland’s recognition campaign has significant momentum in the US, leaving Somalia’s desperate diplomatic tactics increasingly isolated. With influential figures like Pham openly ridiculing Hassan Sheikh’s miscalculations, it becomes clearer that Somaliland stands poised for a historic diplomatic breakthrough, while Somalia flounders amid strategic missteps and political humiliation.

Waryatv.com readers should take note: Somalia’s diplomatic folly has inadvertently boosted Somaliland’s credibility on the global stage, marking a turning point that could reshape the Horn of Africa’s future.

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Algeria Jails French-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal, Igniting New Tensions with France

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Boualem Sansal sentenced to five years under anti-terrorism laws after questioning Algeria-Morocco borders, drawing fierce criticism from France.

Renowned French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court under contentious “anti-terrorism” laws, further inflaming diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France. Sansal, an outspoken critic of the Algerian government, was charged with “undermining national unity” after remarks he made questioning colonial-era border divisions with regional rival Morocco.

The verdict, delivered on Thursday in Dar El Beida near Algiers, stemmed from an interview Sansal gave to French far-right outlet Frontieres last October. Sansal argued that France had unfairly redrawn Algeria’s borders during colonial times, incorporating Moroccan territory—remarks seen as incendiary by Algerian authorities.

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French President Emmanuel Macron swiftly condemned the decision, publicly appealing to Algeria’s sense of “good sense and humanity,” citing Sansal’s reported battle with cancer. The imprisonment of the celebrated author, winner of the 2011 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, has added fuel to already strained Franco-Algerian relations, following France’s recent diplomatic shift to support Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Sansal, who represented himself in court, denied that his comments violated Algerian law or intended harm to national unity. Legal experts suggest his sentence, half of what prosecutors initially sought, still reflects severe judicial overreach and may serve as political leverage amid Algeria’s diplomatic feud with France.

Human rights advocates warn that Algeria continues to misuse stringent anti-terrorism laws to silence critical voices, raising fears over the broader implications for freedom of speech. As international pressure mounts, speculation grows that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune could grant Sansal a presidential pardon during an upcoming national holiday, attempting to defuse escalating tensions with Paris.

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Editor's Pick

Captive German Nurse Makes Desperate Plea After 7-Year Somalia Ordeal

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Sonja Nientiet urges swift German government intervention, warning her health is critically deteriorating after seven years in captivity.

In a new video released after seven agonizing years of captivity in Somalia, German nurse Sonja Nientiet has urgently pleaded for the German government to intensify efforts to secure her immediate release. Nientiet, who was abducted in Mogadishu in 2018 while working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), expressed dire concerns about her rapidly deteriorating health.

“My health is deteriorating,” Nientiet says emotionally in the video, posted by an individual named Liibaan Osman. She urgently warns that “every day that passes makes the situation more critical,” emphasizing that her prolonged captivity could soon claim her life.

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Nientiet was kidnapped on May 2, 2018, after armed assailants—allegedly with inside help from a disgruntled security guard—stormed the ICRC office in Mogadishu. Despite intensive German intelligence efforts to track down her location and captors, who have demanded millions of dollars in ransom, the nurse remains captive and vulnerable.

The release of this disturbing footage has intensified pressure on the German government to secure Nientiet’s freedom. Yet, authorities have publicly maintained their longstanding policy of silence on hostage negotiations, declining direct comment.

Before her abduction, Nientiet had provided humanitarian assistance in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting her commitment to aid in conflict zones. The ICRC expressed renewed urgency following the video, stating deep concern for her safety and health.

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With her desperate plea now public, the stakes for Germany have dramatically increased, shifting the crisis into an urgent test of diplomatic resolve—one where each passing day could tragically mark the difference between life and death.

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Editor's Pick

WATCH: Somali, Ethiopian Migrants Escape from Alleged Captivity in Johannesburg

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Johannesburg suburb becomes epicenter of migrant abuse as over 50 Somali and Ethiopian nationals escape horrifying detention.

More than 50 migrants—primarily teenagers and young adults from Somalia and Ethiopia—broke free from an alleged detention house in Lombardy East on Wednesday morning, fleeing into the streets amid cries for help, partially clothed, and clutching scraps of food.

South African Police responded after neighbors and community patrols reported the disturbing sight: migrants screaming and shattering windows to escape a house described by witnesses as “filthy and unlivable.” Inside, reporters found makeshift bedding, buckets used as toilets, and evidence of appalling living conditions—raising immediate suspicion of human trafficking or forced labour, although police currently label it a potential violation of the Immigration Act.

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Adise Chuafmaa Jarse, a translator for the Ethiopian community, painted a horrifying picture: migrants beaten, starved, and stripped of dignity under false promises of employment. “No food and no clothes,” she recounted. “Sometimes people die—they must throw away.”

Police spokesperson Colonel Kaha said statements are still being collected from the 32 to 34 migrants currently in custody, including children as young as 13, but authorities have yet to confirm arrests. This troubling incident closely mirrors a similar January case in Lombardy East, highlighting an alarming trend that suggests the Johannesburg suburb is fast becoming a hub for migrant exploitation networks.

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As investigations intensify, this latest escape underscores a darker reality: migrant exploitation and potential human trafficking in South Africa remains rampant, deeply rooted, and urgently in need of confrontation.

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Kenya Breaks Silence, Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State

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Kenya becomes the first nation in nearly five years to recognize Kosovo’s independence, challenging Serbia-backed diplomatic blockade.

Kenya has officially recognized Kosovo as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so in nearly five years. The historic announcement, confirmed by Kosovo’s former president Behgjet Pacolli, follows intensive lobbying efforts and represents a crucial breakthrough amid longstanding international tensions.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, quickly gaining recognition from over 110 countries, including the United States and most European nations. Yet its path to full international acceptance has been repeatedly blocked by Serbia and powerful allies such as Russia and China, who have used their veto power at the United Nations to prevent Kosovo’s membership.

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Kenya’s decision, formalized by President William Ruto, breaks a diplomatic stalemate that has persisted since Israel’s recognition of Kosovo in September 2020. Pacolli, who personally shared the historic moment, described a tireless, decade-long campaign of “door-to-door” diplomacy aimed at ensuring Kosovo’s sovereignty and international legitimacy.

This new recognition signals not just a symbolic victory for Kosovo, but also a potential shift in the geopolitical landscape, challenging Serbia’s continued refusal to acknowledge Kosovo’s independence. For Kosovo, Kenya’s endorsement is more than just diplomatic—it reinforces the legitimacy of its quest for global recognition.

Kenya’s bold step forward may now encourage other nations to follow suit, potentially reigniting a wave of diplomatic recognitions after years of stagnation. Kosovo, strengthened by Kenya’s recognition, now stands poised to renew its campaign for greater international acceptance—a critical development at a time when global alignments are rapidly evolving.

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In breaking five years of silence, Kenya sends a powerful message: Kosovo’s sovereignty can no longer be ignored.

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