controversy

Trump resumes Davos trip after Air Force One glitch as Greenland dispute roils transatlantic ties WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump resumed his journey to Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos after Air Force One returned to Washington over what the White House called a minor technical issue, a two-hour delay that did little to ease tensions already overshadowing his visit. Trump is scheduled to deliver an eagerly awaited address to delegates this afternoon, but the trip has been consumed by a widening…

X’s Grok AI “nudification” feature has set off a global backlash and a political firestorm in Ireland, exposing the limits of platform self-regulation and the gray areas where fast-moving AI collides with slower-moving law. A Christmas Eve update that let Grok digitally remove clothing from images—affecting adults and children—promptly spawned requests to undress celebrities and place politicians in bikinis. The most alarming consequence, critics say, was the tool’s ability to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM). As…

The Cookers cancel New Year’s Eve shows at renamed Trump Kennedy Center as backlash grows WASHINGTON — The veteran jazz ensemble the Cookers has canceled its New Year’s Eve performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., becoming the latest group to pull out after the arts institution was renamed to include President Donald Trump’s name. “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice,” the band said in a statement announcing its…

Mogadishu (AX) — Sweden will continue deporting Somali nationals whose asylum claims have been rejected, Migration Minister Johan Forssell said, defending a bilateral return agreement that has come under intensifying political and public scrutiny over funding channels and oversight. Forssell said the cooperation with Somalia has delivered “clear results” and forms part of a broader effort to enforce asylum decisions. He added that Sweden intends to expand similar arrangements with additional countries, signaling a tougher…

Somalia’s planned leap to one-person, one-vote exposes fragile balance between hope and division MOGADISHU — Somalia’s long-simmering experiment with electoral reform has entered a decisive — and potentially divisive — phase. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has announced that Banadir, the region that contains the capital Mogadishu, will pilot what would be the country’s first direct, universal-suffrage poll on November 30. The move comes despite vocal resistance from several federal…

Analysis: Egypt’s luxury resort at Mount Sinai — a test of faith, heritage and development When the first pilgrims come down from Mount Sinai at dusk, they still carry the small, sandy relics of a place that has been consecrated in the imaginations of billions: a rocky peak where, in the stories of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, a prophet received the law. St. Catherine’s Monastery, a fortified Byzantine complex tucked at the mountain’s base, has for centuries been the human anchor in a landscape that Bedouin communities…

A New Political Chapter or Further Division? Somalia's Contentious Electoral Deal In Somalia's often turbulent political landscape, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's recent electoral agreement with a faction of opposition leaders has stirred both hope and hesitation. This deal aims to transition away from Somalia's traditional elder-based electoral model towards more direct elections—a move that some see as progress and others view with suspicion. A Shift Toward Universal Suffrage The core of this agreement is the…

In an intriguing turn of events, the ECOWAS Parliament has decided to send a delegation to Monrovia. Their mission? To tackle the ongoing political gridlock surrounding attempts by certain lawmakers to unseat Fonati Koffa, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Now, it's worth noting that while those aiming to displace the Speaker haven't managed to muster the necessary 49 votes as mandated by law, their actions have nonetheless halted legislative activities. They've effectively disrupted the usual proceedings by…

Somalia's Presidential Decision on Deportation Accord Faces Criticism MOGADISHU, Somalia - Among the cacophony of political discourse, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire does not mince words when challenging President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s deportation pact with Germany, labeling the memorandum of understanding 'reckless.' Khaire insists that any such international agreements must resonate deeply with Somalia's current scenario. The persistent turmoil that pushes Somalis to seek asylum abroad cannot be ignored. He…

The Supreme Court of Liberia has made it clear that lawmakers attempting to oust House Speaker Fonati Koffa must respect the legal procedures in place. This ruling came in response to a petition urging the court to intervene and stop the various factions of legislators who have been conducting their own sessions aimed at unseating the Speaker. In the midst of this political frenzy, Speaker Koffa remains steadfast, declaring that he has no intention of stepping down, despite calls for his resignation. Instead, he has called…