political

Overview: Jack Schlossberg enters New York's 12th Congressional District race Jack Schlossberg, the 32-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy, has formally declared his candidacy for New York’s 12th Congressional District in next year’s elections, a campaign that immediately drew attention because of his family name and youth. The district includes high-profile Manhattan locations and is likely to be a closely watched Democratic contest. Schlossberg is the only grandson of former President John F. Kennedy and…

Somalia’s new e‑visa system ignites a storm over money, power and trust The row over Somalia’s newly launched electronic visa system has moved beyond bureaucratic bickering into a full‑blown political and financial controversy, exposing fault lines in a country long divided over sovereignty, economic control and how the diaspora — Somalia’s lifeline — is treated. Accusations, denials and a Facebook post that set it off The controversy began in a blunt Facebook post by Axmed Ismaaciil, the general manager of WorldRemit’s…

Speculations and Political Morality: The Case of George Weah In the era of instant information, where social media platforms act as both news outlets and rumor mills, the case of former Liberian President George Weah has ignited a firestorm of debate. With murmurs circulating about his health and even rumors of his death, the incident raises profound questions about the ethical landscape of Liberian politics and, by extension, the global political arena. Is the political discourse in Liberia suffering from a loss of moral…

North Western State of Somalia, Somalia and the politics of the skies: Why a digital visa is touching a raw nerve Airspace rarely makes front-page news until it does. In the Horn of Africa, where borders are contested and history weighs heavy, the latest salvo isn’t happening on the ground but in the air—and online. North Western State of Somalia’s Minister of the Presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, has accused Somalia’s federal government of waging a “war” over air travel and airspace, claiming the aim is to pressure North…

Puntland State’s Quiet Experiment: Local Power, Measured Reform and What It Means for Somalia In a country where headlines often focus on violence, famine and the limits of central governance, Puntland State offers an alternative story — not a miracle, but a pragmatic experiment in balancing security, institutional reform and political negotiation. The autonomous region on Somalia’s northeastern coast has, in recent years, shown that local leadership and slow, deliberate reform can yield tangible results: a shrinking…

Stalled talks in Kismayo expose a deeper crisis for Somalia’s unity and security KISMAYO — A week of chest‑thumping and handshakes in this southern port city has done little to resolve the core question that has shadowed Somalia since the collapse of central authority three decades ago: who truly speaks for the places that sit on the line between clan, commerce and the state? President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Kismayo and his face‑to‑face with Jubaland strongman Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe produced the ritual…

When a Budget Fight Becomes a Battle for Power The United States finds itself once again at the mercy of procedural paperwork made emotional — a partial government shutdown because Congress failed to pass the stopgap spending bill that keeps federal paychecks flowing and services running. On paper, the dispute looks technical: a few pages of appropriations law and a deadline on the calendar. In practice, it has become a pitched political battle over health-care subsidies, presidential authority and the very idea of…

Somali opposition forms “Somalia Future Council” as political clock ticks In a conciliatory — and potentially combustible — move, prominent Somali leaders gathered in Nairobi this week to unveil a new opposition coalition they call the “Somalia Future Council.” Brought together by regional heavyweights and veteran national figures, the alliance aims to shape the country’s fraught political transition as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term edges toward its final months. Who’s in the room matters The coalition combines…

You are a senior international journalist. First, read the source news carefully and decide whether it is best written as: Breaking News → urgent, fast-moving event, immediate facts first. Feature Story → human, textured, on-the-ground narrative. Opinion/Analysis → reflective, interpretive, connecting events to wider trends. Based on the content, automatically choose the right style (don’t ask me to specify) and rewrite into an original piece for a global audience. Rules: Length: 700–1100 words depending on…

Somalia’s Parliament Opening Postponed as Electoral Battle Deepens MOGADISHU — What began as a procedural delay has rippled into a broader political crisis in Somalia, revealing the frictions inside a fragile federal system trying to move from clan-based power sharing to direct elections. Lawmakers were told at the last minute that the Federal Parliament would not open as scheduled on Saturday — a pause President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s office has tied to changes in his travel plans — and the leadership said the 7th session…