highlights

Imagine, if you will, the heartfelt tale spun by Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman whose past dances through the tapestry of her narrative. Having sought refuge and sanctuary herself, Omar solemnly unveils the unique shade this issue paints her life. She observes with a melancholy timbre, "My kin and I lucked out with a golden ticket to these United States. Now, countless souls in teeming refugee camps won't be graced with that same twist of fate." What stories lie behind each weary face, yearning for a place called home? This…

BOSASO, Somalia - "Shades of gray," some might say, yet the harrowing raid by the notorious ISIS in Northeastern State was as blatant as a bull in a china shop—jarring and disheartening. The lurking presence of ISIS in Somalia, particularly in the supposedly secure enclave of Northeastern State, was an open secret, yet often considered a dwarf concern compared to the formidable shadow of al-Shabaab. The shockwaves from ISIS's brazen strike on Northeastern State's military outposts still echo like a haunting chorus across…

Meta Bids Adieu to Fact-Checking: A New Era of Free Speech or Chaos? WASHINGTON/MOGADISHU, Jan 12 As the Political Circus Returns, Meta Tosses Its Fact-Checking Habit So, here we are, folks! Meta, you know, the conglomerate behind the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and the new kid on the block, Threads, has declared the dissolution of its once shiny third-party fact-checking program. This cocktail party gem, in place since 2016, just got the ax. And with former President Donald Trump eyeing a return to the…

Mogadishu (AX) — "The wind of change is blowing through Somalia," as the region witnesses ISS's intricate web of terror tighten its grip. On the brink of the new year, December 31 saw the Islamic State Somalia Province (ISS) launching a major assault on Northeastern State's security apparatus, illuminating the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by extremist factions. Through precision and coordination, attackers unleashed suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIEDs) and suicide vests (SVESTs) on a…

The second round of qualifying matches for the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Countries like the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have successfully secured their spots in the much-anticipated final phase of the tournament. As sports enthusiasts tune in, they can't help but feel the excitement radiating from these tense encounters. Every kick, every pass, and every goal scored tells a rich…

The current United States presidential election campaign has unfolded in an unprecedented manner, brimming with captivating episodes that have kept everyone on their toes. As the globe eagerly anticipates the outcome of the fierce competition between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for the coveted seat in the White House, let’s rewind and reflect on some of the most striking developments from the past four months—all encapsulated in under two minutes. Video: Philip Bromwell This election season has truly been a…

FILE - Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin (right) and Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi (left) proudly hoist the Ethiopian flag during the opening ceremony of the revamped Ethiopian Embassy in Mogadishu, dated May 27, 2007. Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia plans to shift the Ethiopian Embassy from its hallowed presidential precinct, signaling a widening chasm in diplomatic relations, primarily triggered by Ethiopia's contentious port arrangement with North Western State of Somalia—a deal Somalia perceives as an affront…

World Bank's Climate Finance Faces Scrutiny: Oxfam Rings the Alarm Bell November 2024 – Nairobi — Oxfam International is sounding the alarm over the World Bank’s climate finance, pointing out murky waters in the Bank's transparency and accountability. Their latest doc, "Climate Finance Unchecked," pulls back the curtain on some dodgy discrepancies between budgeted and real spending in climate projects, hinting at shaky foundations in the fight against global warming. Drilling into data from 2017 to 2023, Oxfam spotlights…

On a Monday rendezvous in Nairobi, Kenya's President William Ruto held discussions with William Burns, the CIA Director, while joined by Noordin Haji, Ruto's African counterpart. Fast-forward two years since the Ethiopian Tigray conflict reached a resolution on October 28, 2022. Although the peace pact supposedly ended hostilities, experts contend that thorny issues still linger unresolved. Tune into today's VOA 60 for more updates on developments across Africa.

A recent study conducted by the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education sounds the alarm on how climate change is intensifying both the frequency and severity of extreme weather phenomena. This escalation is placing the world’s aging network of dams—more than 70,000 in total—under increased threat, particularly in regions marred by conflict where some structures lie neglected and abandoned. Take, for instance, the catastrophic failure of the Arbaat Dam in Port Sudan last August. The region experienced an unprecedented…