deal

LAS ANOD, Somalia — Senior traditional elders from the Darood community on Tuesday endorsed the Somali federal government’s decision to cancel security and port agreements with the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi of undermining the country’s unity, sovereignty and national independence. The position, announced after a large gathering of clan leaders in Las Anod, came as the elders convened to witness the inauguration of Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known as Firdhiye, as president of Somalia’s Northeastern Regional…

Tuesday January 20, 2026 DOHA, Qatar — Somalia and Qatar on Monday signed a defense cooperation agreement aimed at deepening military ties and expanding security collaboration, days after Mogadishu formally ended its security and ports partnerships with the United Arab Emirates. Officials from both governments said the pact focuses on military training, exchange of expertise, development of defense capabilities and broader security cooperation. They said the agreement is intended to strengthen Somalia’s armed forces and…

Somalia, Qatar sign defense pact as Mogadishu pivots from UAE ties Agreement signed in Doha by Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani Pact covers military training, exchange of expertise, capability development and broader security cooperation Deal follows Somalia’s termination of defense and ports agreements with the United Arab Emirates Somali officials say move strengthens federal control over…

Somalia confirms talks on Red Sea security pact with Saudi Arabia, Egypt MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has confirmed it is negotiating a proposed three-way security agreement with Saudi Arabia and Egypt focused on Red Sea security and expanded military cooperation, a government spokesperson said. The framework, which officials say is still being finalized, is designed to strengthen strategic security coordination, deepen military ties and reinforce the three countries’ joint role in regional stability.…

EU, Mercosur set to sign long-sought free trade pact in Paraguay, creating one of the world’s largest markets The European Union and South America’s Mercosur are poised to sign a free trade agreement in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Jan. 17, capping more than 25 years of negotiations and creating one of the world’s largest free trade areas. The pact would eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade across a market representing about 30% of global GDP and more than 700 million consumers. The deal, agreed in Brussels last…

Trump warns Cuba to ‘make a deal,’ threatens to cut off Venezuelan oil and cash as Havana pushes back U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Cuba to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, warning that the flow of Venezuelan oil and money to Havana would stop — an escalation that follows Washington’s toppling of Venezuela’s leftist leader Nicolas Maduro last week. “There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba — zero!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without detailing what kind of deal he was…

Irish members of the European Parliament from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael say they will oppose the EU–Mercosur trade agreement in any European Parliament vote, signaling fresh headwinds for a pact that has stalled for years over environmental and agricultural concerns. The coordinated stance by MEPs from Ireland’s two dominant centrist parties underscores persistent resistance to the agreement, which would lower tariffs and open markets between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and…

Ireland to vote against EU-Mercosur trade pact as bloc moves toward approval European Union sources voiced disappointment as Ireland prepared to vote against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, a stance at odds with what they described as the country’s traditional image as an export-driven economy. The vote, set for an ambassadors’ meeting in Brussels this morning, comes as the pact is expected to win endorsement by a qualified majority despite opposition from Ireland, France, Poland and others. Italy’s decision to back the…

Colombia’s Petro, Trump agree to ‘joint action’ against ELN along Venezuela border after first call, minister says BOGOTA — Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to take “joint action” against the National Liberation Army (ELN) along the Venezuelan border after the two leaders held their first phone call, Colombia’s interior minister said. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti told Blu Radio that Petro and Trump used the conversation to de-escalate tensions and align on confronting…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a potential agreement to end Russia’s full-scale invasion is “90% ready,” but vowed he will not sign a “weak” peace that rewards Moscow or risks a renewed assault, setting a hard line as competing narratives and fresh strikes underscored the war’s volatility. In a New Year’s Eve address posted on his Telegram account, Zelensky framed Kyiv’s position as seeking an end to the war “but not the end of Ukraine,” stressing that unresolved core issues — including security guarantees and…