Signals

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday sidestepped a question about an alleged U.S. strike on a dock inside Venezuela but signaled openness to talks with Washington on drug trafficking, oil and migration after weeks of escalating American pressure. “Wherever they want and whenever they want,” Maduro said in a state television interview, describing potential dialogue with the United States. Pressed on whether he could confirm or deny an attack, he replied, “This could be something we talk about in a few days.” His…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened leaders from several federal member states and the Banadir regional administration on Sunday in Mogadishu, following Israel’s steps toward recognizing North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, according to the president’s office. In a closed-door briefing, Hassan Sheikh told the assembled leaders that the Israeli move violated Somalia’s territorial integrity and statehood. He said the federal government was pursuing a coordinated response grounded in…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s push toward a unified, secure and inclusive digital identity gathered fresh momentum as government leaders, development partners and technology stakeholders mapped the next phase of the national ID rollout at the 2nd Somali National ID Conference, held Nov. 24-25 in the capital. Convened by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, the conference underscored how the country’s digital ID program has…

Fed pivots toward steady cuts to shield jobs, betting inflation will cool The Federal Reserve on Wednesday delivered a quarter-point interest-rate cut and signaled more to come this year, a shift that underscores a growing concern among U.S. policymakers: the danger of a weakening labor market now looks larger than the risk of rekindled inflation. The move, supported by most of President Donald Trump's appointees on the Fed’s policymaking committee, reflects a central bank juggling two aims — price stability and full…

Germany's beleaguered Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently indicated he might request a confidence vote this year, potentially setting the stage for snap elections. “I'm completely open to a confidence vote before Christmas—if everyone’s on board, I’m good to go,” he remarked, following the disintegration of his coalition government earlier this week. Scholz had earlier discussed the possibility of a mid-January vote, which, according to German electoral laws, could lead to new elections by late March—six months sooner than…

Iran downplayed the recent air assault by Israel on its military assets, asserting that the damage inflicted was minimal. This comes as U.S. President Joe Biden urged for a cessation of hostilities that have escalated tensions in the Middle East into potentially dangerous territory. In the early hours of yesterday, a multitude of Israeli fighter jets executed three separate waves of strikes targeting missile production facilities and other significant sites in the vicinity of Tehran and throughout western Iran, according to…

The harrowing day began when Civil Defense teams rushed to aid a man injured by his exploding pager in Sidon, Lebanon, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. (AP Photo) Just a day after Hezbollah-linked pagers detonated, a secondary onslaught hit Beirut and other areas in Lebanon on Wednesday. State media and Hezbollah officials reported that this new wave targeted walkie-talkies and solar gear. The Health Ministry confirmed the second wave's tragic toll—20 fatalities and more than 450 wounded. These attacks, purportedly by Israel…