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Perennial power player among America's elite, one of the billionaire Koch brothers is eyeing a grand sale of his opulent Aspen property. This upscale estate is now on the market for an eye-watering $125 million, its highest price tag yet. If this estate changes hands for anything near that sum, it will set a new record as the priciest property ever sold in the state of Colorado. Currently, this record is jointly held by former casino tycoon Steve Wynn and finance magnate Thomas Peterffy, who parted with $108 million last…

The New Frontier: Somalia's Ambitious 200-Square-Kilometre Development Project The winds of change are blowing across Somalia's landscape, bringing with them a project that aspires to revolutionize commerce and connectivity. Over the next few months, a comprehensive surveying and feasibility study will mark the beginning of a 200-square-kilometre endeavor designed to enhance the country's trade and economic potential. Picture a gateway not merely for Somalia, but for its landlocked and coastal…

Mogadishu (AX) — In the bustling streets of Somalia's capital, a significant initiative quietly unfolds, marked by the colorful presence of health workers armed with life-saving vials. With palpable determination, the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services, bolstered by global allies like WHO, UNICEF, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has embarked on a crucial four-day polio vaccination campaign. Their mission? To immunize 2.5 million children under the tender age of five against a persistent adversary:…

Mogadishu (AX) – In a move as monumental as it is symbolic, the Somali government has resolved a debt dispute with the Abu Dhabi Development Fund (ADFD) originating from the ill-fated Juba Sugar Factory project. This triumph sees $257 million etched off the slate, an encouraging milestone in Somalia's ambitious economic revival plan. Amid the opulence of Dubai and the stimulating atmosphere of the World Government Summit, a simple yet momentous act took place. Somalia’s Finance Minister, Bihi Iman Igeh, alongside ADFD’s…

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AX) — Picture this. A courtroom in Minneapolis bustling with intense emotion and dramatic declarations. This week, the trial of Aimee Bock, the alleged architect behind one of the most audacious fraud schemes of the pandemic era, captivated the city — and the nation. Dubbed a scam of monumental proportions, her case is tangled in claims, counterclaims, and a ponderous $250 million scandal. At the heart of this unfolding legal drama lies Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit intended to nourish low-income…

In an ambitious stride toward bolstering online safety, TikTok has taken significant action by eradicating nearly 11.9 million videos across nine African nations. This impressive effort touches Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Somalia, Libya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Morocco, with the goal of upholding integrity, advertising, privacy, and safety standards on its platform. Egypt emerges as the country with the most removals, tallying an astonishing 2.75 million videos. This figure underscores the challenges platforms like…

Under the shimmering sun of Mandera East, an initiative, one deeply rooted in compassion and foresight, flickered to life just last Tuesday. A relief for many, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) unveiled a Sh50 million bursary, targeting students whose dreams have been tainted by financial constraints. Imagine the dreams rekindled by such generosity. Not just numbers on paper, but every shilling symbolizes a step, a leap, toward a future filled with possibilities. Our gathering took place at…

In an unsettling twist of fate, the COVID-19 pandemic, which should have propelled global unity and empathy, instead became fertile ground for some to exploit public resources for personal gain. How can we measure the depth of human avarice? Acting U.S. Attorney, Lisa D. Kirkpatrick, threw a harsh spotlight on the situation: "Rather than feed children, Noor and his co-defendants took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic—and the resulting program changes—to enrich themselves by misappropriating millions of dollars in federal…

"These programs were lifelines for so many," lamented a senior Somali official wishing to remain unnamed. The suspension of aid is a stumbling block we simply can't afford to encounter. Consider the meticulously crafted five-year development initiatives recently unveiled by USAID, worth a hefty $28 million. Designed to foster sustainable livelihoods and bolster local resilience, these programs were a beacon of hope for Somalia. A nation where nearly 70% of its denizens are trapped beneath the poverty line, the…

Somalis displaced by the relentless drought gather at the Ladan camp in Dolow, a scene painted with stark reality as of May 1, 2023. (AFP file) UNITED NATIONS: This year, the United Nations has rung the alarm bells for Somalia, revealing that almost six million souls, roughly one-third of the country’s population, are in dire straits and require humanitarian assistance. In a bid to alleviate this plight, they've put forth a funding call, seeking a staggering $1.43 billion. Spare some sympathy for Somalia, a land locked in…