Battle

JALALAQSI, Somalia — Heavy fighting broke out early Sunday in the central Somali town of Jalalaqsi as forces loyal to the district commissioner clashed with armed clan militias following the detention of a traditional community elder, according to officials and witnesses. Residents said they awoke to sustained gunfire as the two sides exchanged fire around district government buildings in Jalalaqsi, in the Hiiraan region. The violence began after local authorities detained a leading elder, prompting members of his clan to…

Reddit sues Australia in High Court to overturn child social media ban, citing free political communication Reddit has filed a lawsuit in Australia’s High Court seeking to strike down the country’s new nationwide ban on social media access for people under 16, calling the measure an unconstitutional intrusion on political discourse and a threat to online privacy. The San Francisco-based platform, which counts Australia among its major markets, asked the court to declare the law invalid on grounds that it interferes with the…

Resurgence of Female Genital Mutilation in Liberia Raises Alarm Liberia is witnessing a troubling resurgence of female genital mutilation (FGM). Recent footage has unveiled that 502 girls and young women were initiated during a combined Sande ceremony across Lofa, Maryland, and Sinoe counties. This alarming trend affects half of Liberia's rural women aged 15 to 49, according to data from UN Women. Health advocates are raising urgent concerns that this latest mass initiation indicates a deteriorating situation amidst…

Uniting Against a Growing Crisis: President Boakai's Call to Action on Drug Abuse In a compelling address that resonates with the challenges faced by many nations today, President Joseph Boakai is urgently navigating the dangerous waters of drug abuse in Liberia—a crisis that has become a nationwide concern. As he unveiled new logistical support for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), including 15 new vehicles that symbolize a tactical response to the escalating drug trade, he emphasized that this issue is not solely a…

West African Deportees Find Uncertain Futures After US Return In a swift turn of events, eleven West African nationals have returned to their home countries after being deported to Ghana by U.S. authorities. This decisive action is more than just a legal maneuver; it casts a long shadow on the ongoing conversation about human rights, immigration policies, and the fate of vulnerable individuals caught in the crossfire of international agreements. A Cautionary Tale of Deportation The group's saga began with a glimmer of…

South Africa at a Crossroads: Donor Cuts Threaten Hard‑Won Gains Against HIV GAUTENG, South Africa — In a conference hall a short drive from Johannesburg’s busy highways, the blunt arithmetic of global aid collided with the realities faced by clinics and families. Scientists, clinicians, activists and people living with HIV spoke in urgent, sometimes angry tones: the era of steady international support that helped turn a tide against HIV may be ebbing, and the consequences could be catastrophic. Stark projections, stark…

U.S. Military Aids Northeastern State in Battle Against ISIS: A Complex Alliance BOSASO, Somalia - The rugged terrain of Somalia’s Al-Miskad Mountains echoes with the relentless pursuit of ISIS militants as the U.S. Africa Command intensifies its airstrikes alongside the Northeastern State Counter-Terrorism Forces. This marks another chapter in the sustained effort to dismantle ISIS from the Horn of Africa, where pockets of militant resistance persist. The Joint Efforts It all began in December 2024 when U.S. Africa…

Mobilizing for Health: Africa’s Fight Against Mpox One Year Later In a world where every second counts, the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) is racing against the clock. One year since declaring mpox a public health emergency, the organization is ramping up its efforts to combat the spread of the disease and save lives across the continent. With the shadow of a global health financing crisis looming, the urgency for international collaboration has never been greater. The Context of a Crisis Mpox, a viral…

"Al-Shabaab will meet its match and lose," says Ethiopia, pledging ongoing efforts to neutralize the group's influence. The country remains unswerving in its mission to protect its borders and preserve the progress made so far. In a weekly press gathering on November 14, 2024, Ambassador Nebiat Getachew, who speaks on behalf of Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored Ethiopia's significant role in weakening al-Shabaab’s impact across the region. “We won't take our foot off the pedal,” Getachew declared,…

In a heartfelt televised address, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris faced a challenging reality head-on—a reality in which her ambitious campaign couldn’t thwart the return of Republican contender Donald Trump to the Oval Office. After clinching a critical win in Wisconsin, Trump, now 78, crossed the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes, securing his presidential comeback. “Though I acknowledge this election outcome, I refuse to back down from the cause that fueled our campaign,” stated Ms. Harris in a poignant message…