A dramatic security scare at last month’s White House press gala has now moved into the courtroom, where a California man accused of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump entered a not guilty plea. Cole Allen, 31, of California, remained silent during the hearing as his lawyer, Tezira Abe, submitted the plea on his behalf. Mr Allen appeared before the court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. He is charged with four offences tied to the 25 April attack at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at a…

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s opposition leaders said they will push ahead with a planned protest in the capital on Sunday, May 10, despite government pressure, as they accuse federal authorities of forced evictions and the demolition of civilian homes. In a meeting in Mogadishu, opposition politicians restated their support for the demonstration, saying it is meant to challenge what they describe as ongoing displacement campaigns in parts of the city. Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, one of the opposition’s prominent…

In a stark warning, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has highlighted a troubling decline in democratic principles within the nation, particularly focusing on increasing threats to freedom of speech and expression. Their recent statement reflects a mounting public unease regarding potential repercussions for those who dare to voice their opinions. "Currently, a considerable number of Liberians—comprising journalists, students, activists, and everyday citizens—are growing increasingly apprehensive about their ability to speak…

Gulf Powers Call for Unified Front Against Rising Iranian ‘Aggression’ RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a joint warning Monday, condemning continued Iranian attacks against Gulf states as a “dangerous escalation” that threatens the stability of the region. In a high-level phone call, the two leaders said member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council would “spare no effort” to defend their sovereign territories. They pledged to mobilize all…

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed Thursday for the Munich Security Conference, vowing to press European allies on defense burden-sharing while striking a less confrontational tone than Washington deployed a year ago. Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation to the annual security and defense forum, which runs through Sunday in the Bavarian capital. The trip comes amid a delicate moment in transatlantic relations following a bruising year of rhetoric from Washington and a high-profile dispute over Greenland that rattled…

Former Irish ambassador to the United States Dan Mulhall has urged the Taoiseach to raise the case of Irish detainee Seamus Culleton directly with U.S. President Donald Trump on St. Patrick’s Day if Culleton has not been released by then, saying the episode underscores how “uncompromising” immigration enforcement has become. Mulhall told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland he remains hopeful Culleton will be freed sooner, but said the length of his detention is “surprising” and that the Irish embassy is “doing all it can” on his behalf.…

Netanyahu to press Trump on tougher Iran deal as White House weighs second carrier deployment Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to push U.S. President Donald Trump to harden Washington’s stance in nuclear talks with Iran during a hastily arranged White House meeting today, as the president signals he may send a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. The talks, set to begin at 11 a.m. local time (4 p.m. Irish time), come days after Iran resumed negotiations with the United States in Oman…

CPJ Urges Mali to Lift Ban on Jeune Afrique as Media Repression Grows The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Malian authorities to reverse a ban on the privately owned French magazine, Jeune Afrique. The publication faced accusations of "glorifying terrorism" and engaging in "defamation and incitement to hatred," marking a worrying trend for media freedom in the region. This latest move follows a succession of bans on French media by the Alliance of Sahel States—comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina…

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called an Irish journalist a “left-wing hack” during a heated exchange at a press briefing, escalating tensions between the administration and the press over immigration enforcement. The clash unfolded after Niall Stanage, a Dublin-born journalist with U.S. political newspaper The Hill, asked about the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis. Seeking an assessment from the White House, Stanage framed the incident…

Foreign Press Association condemns Israel’s move to keep Gaza media ban in Supreme Court filing An international media association criticized the Israeli government for maintaining its ban on unrestricted media access to Gaza, calling the move “disappointing” after authorities told the Supreme Court in a late Sunday submission that the restriction should remain in place. The government’s filing said continued exclusion of foreign journalists from independently entering the Gaza Strip is necessary. “This is for security…