‘Besieged’ Venezuela unveils reduced budget for 2026

CARACAS, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of a “besieged” Venezuela on Thursday unveiled a proposed 2026 budget which, in US dollars, is 12 percent smaller than its spending plan for this year. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez presented a $19.9 billion budget for 2026 to the National Assembly as President…

AfDB grants nearly 18 mln USD in debt relief to Somalia

MOGADISHU, Dec 5 (NNN-XINHUA) — The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) said it has approved additional debt relief for Somalia, paving the way for full cancellation of all African Development Fund loans to the country covering the 2024-2039 period. The lender said the approval follows Somalia’s strong progress on macroeconomic…

US signs health aid deal with Kenya in PresTrump first

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States on Thursday signed a $2.5 billion health aid deal with Kenya, the first such bilateral agreement after President Donald Trump tore down the historic US aid agency and sidelined NGOs. Trump administration officials said the agreement would be the first in a…

Spain, Morocco PMs meet with disputed territory on agenda

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez MADRID, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hosted his Moroccan counterpart in Madrid on Thursday for talks with the European Union’s strategic North African neighbour, notably on the sensitive Western Sahara. The vast, resource-rich former Spanish colony mostly controlled by Morocco has…

Most Germans, French see ‘high risk’ of war with Russia, survey shows

The Kremlin PARIS, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A majority of citizens in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and several other European Union member states believe there is a high chance of Russia going to war with their country, a survey has found.Across nine European countries surveyed, just over half of respondents…

UN warns Sudan’s Kordofan faces mass atrocities as fighting spreads

Members of the paramilitary RSF stand in front of the main gate of the 22nd SAF Infantry Division UNITED NATIONS, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations has warned that the Kordofan region of Sudan could face another wave of mass atrocities as fierce fighting between rival armed forces threatens…

Tunisian opposition leader Chebbi arrested as crackdown escalates

Chebbi is an opposition leader and Head of the National Salvation Front TUNIS, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisian police on Thursday arrested top opposition figure Nejib Chebbi to enforce a 12-year jail term on a conviction for conspiracy, his family said, the latest sign of an escalating crackdown on political…

US reviews ties with Tanzania over post-poll crackdown

Samia Suluhu Hassan is the President of Tanzania WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government on Thursday said it was reconsidering relations with Tanzania in the wake of its heavy-handed response against protesters.In the announcement, Washington said it was concerned with the security agencies’ violent response to protests, including…

US Pres Trump hails ‘great day for the world’ as DR Congo, Rwanda finalise peace deal

L-R: Paul Kagame, Donald Trump and Felix Tshisekedi attend a signing ceremony in Washington WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United States President Donald Trump has hosted the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to sign a peace deal that could end the conflict between the…

Pres Putin challenges US pressure on India over Russian oil during state visit

Putin and Modi arrive for an informal dinner at the Prime Minister’s Residence in New Delhi NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned Washington’s stance on India’s oil purchases from Moscow, pointing to US imports of Russian nuclear fuel as he began a state visit aimed at…