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Wednesday April 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is poised to widen its seafood exports after China unveiled a zero-tariff policy for imports from 53 African countries, a move that could reshape the country’s fisheries sector and give a lift to economic growth. The policy, which takes effect on May 1, will allow Somali marine products to enter Chinese markets duty-free, removing a major obstacle that has long held back direct trade. Fisheries Minister Ahmed Hassan Aden said the arrangement opens a direct route to one of…

Thursday April 23, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday opened the new headquarters of the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport, placing fresh emphasis on the government’s push to turn the maritime sector into a pillar of economic growth. Addressing the ceremony in Mogadishu, the president said the federal government is giving priority to upgrading ports, reinforcing maritime security and safeguarding marine resources as part of a broader effort to support long-term national…

In a sweeping test of El Salvador’s hardline anti-gang campaign, a Salvadoran court has opened a collective trial for 486 alleged gang members, marking one of the largest mass proceedings yet under President Nayib Bukele’s controversial use of emergency powers. According to prosecutors, the case against the alleged Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, members covers more than 47,000 crimes committed between 2012 and 2022, including a weekend of bloodshed that became El Salvador’s deadliest since the end of its civil war. Those…

Facing renewed scrutiny over its past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, the Gates Foundation said it launched an external review earlier this year into how the organisation engaged with the late financier and convicted sex offender. The foundation has remained under pressure because of Chairman Bill Gates’ ties to Epstein. That pressure intensified in January, when emails released by the US Justice Department showed exchanges between Epstein and Gates Foundation staff. "Early this year, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman…

Wednesday April 22, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Tuesday opened the new headquarters of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources in Mogadishu, presenting the move as part of a broader drive to modernize state institutions and improve public services. At the inauguration, Barre said the new facility would give the ministry stronger institutional backing and better support its work as the government moves to expand access to basic services. “This modern building, equipped to meet the needs…

Coachella roared to life in the California desert on Friday, drawing thousands of festivalgoers as pop star Sabrina Carpenter stepped into the headliner spotlight for one of the year’s most closely watched music events. The packed bill - also featuring headliners Justin Bieber and Colombia's Karol G - takes over Indio across two consecutive weekends, launching the US music festival season for 2026 in blockbuster fashion. Coachella 2026 - A stacked roster of artists is set to take the stage in Indio over two straight…

Sunday March 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday cut the ribbon on a newly rebuilt stretch of road connecting Mogadishu’s Dabka and Bakaara intersections, a flagship project carried out by the Benadir Regional Administration. Speaking at the ceremony, Mohamud cast the project as a visible sign of the capital’s recovery and of broader gains in security, governance, and economic life. “The reconstruction of this road reflects the revival and visible progress of the capital,…

ISTANBUL — Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, went on trial Monday in a sweeping corruption case that opposition leaders and rights groups call a politically motivated effort to block his path to the presidency. The hearing in Silivri, on the outskirts of Istanbul, was suspended after roughly 15 minutes amid chaos and procedural disputes. Arrested on March 19 last year — the day he was named the presidential candidate of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) — Imamoglu has been held ever since. He is…

Malawi launches fresh investigation into Chikangawa military plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others in June 2024, citing gaps in earlier probes. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango on Tuesday announced a new, comprehensive review of the Chikangawa crash after a government audit found previous inquiries did not provide clear, conclusive explanations for the accident. The minister said a government review of earlier findings — including the national…

ICC opens Duterte ‘war on drugs’ case with claims he authorized murders, hand-picked victims THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court began week-long confirmation of charges hearings against former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, with prosecutors alleging he personally authorized murders and selected some targets in his anti-narcotics campaign. Deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told judges the proceedings were “a reminder that those in power are not above the law,” as the court weighs whether to move…