Axadle - Breaking news and analysis from Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and across Africa.

Austrian climber convicted of manslaughter over girlfriend’s death near Grossglockner An Austrian court has found a 37-year-old amateur mountaineer guilty of manslaughter after his girlfriend died of cold near the summit of Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, in a case that has drawn attention for its rarity and its implications for responsibility in high-risk alpine environments. The court in the western city of Innsbruck on Thursday handed the man, identified as Thomas P, a five-month suspended prison sentence and a…

NASA has set March 6 as the earliest possible launch date for Artemis II, the first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, contingent on the outcome of final checks and reviews following a full-scale launch rehearsal at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Lori Glaze, a senior official with the U.S. space agency, said work remains before the date can be confirmed, including pad preparations, a flight readiness review and analysis of data from the dress rehearsal. "We need to successfully navigate all of those but…

An Israeli drone strike hit Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp on Friday, killing one person and wounding others, state media said, as the Israeli military claimed it targeted a Hamas command center in the Ain al-Helweh camp near the southern city of Sidon. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported the strike on a neighborhood inside the densely populated camp on Sidon’s outskirts. An AFP correspondent saw smoke rising from a building as ambulances rushed to the scene. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said its…

U.S. Supreme Court curbs Trump’s tariff powers, teeing up potential $175 billion in refunds The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled 6-3 that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a decision that curbs the White House’s latitude on trade and could trigger tens of billions of dollars in refunds to importers. Writing for the conservative-majority court, the justices concluded that IEEPA “does not authorize the president to…

MOGADISHU — The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTAMS) on Thursday welcomed the formal launch of talks between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali Future Council, calling the dialogue a crucial step toward easing the country’s political impasse ahead of looming constitutional deadlines. The meeting, chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the Presidential Palace, brought together senior government officials and opposition-aligned leaders amid heightened tensions and with less…

Understanding Somalia's New Federal Structure This section provides an overview of the implications of Somalia's proposed constitutional amendments, focusing on the restructuring of the country's federal system and the intricate details of the amended Chapter 5. Examines the changes in governmental architecture and federal powers. Explores how these amendments aim to clarify roles and reduce governance conflicts. Highlights the significant shifts from ambiguity to specified constitutional norms. The…

BANGKOK — Thai police disguised as a red-and-yellow lion during Lunar New Year festivities tackled and arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of stealing Buddhist artifacts after weeks of surveillance, authorities said. The Wednesday evening arrest followed a report earlier this month of a home burglary in a suburb of the capital that involved “numerous Buddhist objects and two 12-inch Buddha statues,” according to a statement from Bangkok’s metropolitan police. Investigators also found evidence of repeated attempts to break…

NEW YORK — Jeffrey Epstein’s estate has agreed to pay as much as $35 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging two of the late financier’s closest advisers aided and abetted his sex trafficking of young women and teenage girls, according to a court filing Thursday in Manhattan federal court. The proposed agreement, disclosed by Boies Schiller Flexner, a law firm representing Epstein victims, would resolve a 2024 lawsuit against Epstein’s former personal lawyer, Darren Indyke, and former accountant, Richard Kahn. Both…

UK Athletics pleads guilty to corporate manslaughter over death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei LONDON — UK Athletics Ltd has pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter over the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei, who was fatally struck on the head by a metal pole during a training session in east London in 2017. Hayayei, 36, who represented the United Arab Emirates, died on July 11, 2017, at Newham Leisure Centre after part of a throwing cage fell on him. He had been preparing to compete in the F34 classification in the…

Somalia launches East African Community passport, signaling push for regional mobility MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia has officially begun issuing the East African Community (EAC) passport, a step the federal government cast as historic for regional integration and a boost to global mobility for Somali citizens. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Thursday that the introduction of the EAC passport will expand opportunities in travel, trade and education while strengthening Somalia’s engagement within the regional bloc.…