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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he held a “long call” with Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, the first known direct contact between the two since the ouster of Nicolas Maduro, signaling a new phase in U.S.-Venezuela relations that blends cautious engagement with continuing pressure over human rights. “We just had a great conversation today, and she’s a terrific person,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. In posts on social media, he said the pair discussed “many topics,” including oil, minerals,…

MOGADISHU — The Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, has welcomed the direct elections for the Banadir Regional Council, calling the vote a historic milestone and the first of its kind in Somalia since 1969. In a statement issued Thursday, Al-Yamahi said the Mogadishu ballot represents a significant step in Somalia’s state-building process, strengthening democratic governance and citizenship while widening public participation in decision-making. He said the direct elections are expected to deliver…

Zelensky hails ‘very good’ talks with Trump envoys as Ukraine steps up strikes; Poland scrambles jets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he held “very good” talks with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff focused on ending Russia’s “brutal” war, as Kyiv intensified long-range strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure and Poland intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. “We discussed certain substantive details of the ongoing work,” Zelensky said in a social…

Somalia, Türkiye sign fisheries pact to curb illegal fishing and spur jobs Somalia has welcomed a new “Strategic Cooperation and Service Agreement” with Türkiye that sets up a joint licensing and enforcement framework for the country’s vast waters, aiming to protect marine resources, expand the blue economy and create jobs. Somali Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy Ahmed Hassan Aden said the agreement, signed Dec. 17 with Türkiye’s OYAK group, will institutionalize economic cooperation and anchor a long-term…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hailed Somalia’s ties with China as “historic” and “steady,” saying the relationship is rooted in mutual respect and sustained cooperation as the two countries marked 65 years of diplomatic relations this week. In an exclusive interview with CGTN, Mohamud described China as a consistent and reliable partner since Somalia’s early days of independence, noting that Chinese-funded infrastructure remains central to daily life and economic activity. “China has supported…

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday praised South Africans for their unity and hospitality after Pretoria successfully hosted the G20 Leaders' Summit — the first time the gathering was held on African soil — and more than 130 related meetings. In a nationally broadcast address, Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to citizens whose cooperation, he said, helped South Africa present a “People’s G20” to visiting heads of state and delegations. He said global leaders had commended the country’s warm welcome and the spirit of ubuntu…

MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday hosted a dinner in Mogadishu honoring religious scholars who attended the 3rd Somali Scholars Conference, underscoring a deepening partnership between the government and faith leaders to counter extremist ideologies, bolster public awareness and strengthen national unity. In remarks at the event, Mohamud praised the scholars’ longstanding role in Somali society and governance, saying their guidance, advice and moral leadership remain essential as the country…

Atop Rockefeller, a celebration of luck, labor and the long arc of migration On a glittering evening at the top of Rockefeller Center, with the Manhattan skyline folding into dusk, about 40 recipients of what they still call the Morrison Visa gathered to trade stories and to measure a particular kind of success: the steady, ordinary achievement that accumulates into a life remade. The event — a gala that could have been any high‑end New York fundraiser except for the unmistakable Irish cadence in the room — was less about…

At Windsor, pomp and protest — and the hedging of a modern “special relationship” Under a damp English sky, the ancient stones of Windsor Castle hosted a ritual that mixed pageantry, politics and pointed public dissent — emblematic of a transatlantic relationship trying to be both ceremonial and consequential. President Donald Trump called his second state visit to Britain “one of the highest honours of my life,” as he sat beside King Charles at a banquet in the castle’s glittering rooms. The king praised Mr. Trump’s…