The Democratic Republic of Congo must nearly halve government spending plans this year, the finance ministry said on Monday, in a blow to President Felix Tshisekedi’s much-touted anti-poverty schemes. The government’s budget for 2020 set down the equivalent of $10.59 billion dollars in spending but only $5.45 billion is being allocated, the finance ministry said. […]

Villagers in a restive anglophone region of Cameroon who the UN says were massacred died in an “unfortunate accident,” the army told AFP on Monday. The bloodshed, which occurred on Friday, killed 22 civilians, 14 of them children, according to the UN — deaths which part of the opposition blames on members of the armed […]

Japan said Monday it would cancel a public gathering to celebrate the birthday of new Emperor Naruhito, as fears grow over the spread of the new coronavirus in the country. “In light of various situations, we have decided to cancel the visit by the general public to the palace for His Majesty’s birthday,” the imperial […]

Many Iranians, battered by economic sanctions, political turmoil and the lingering threat of military conflict, say they are in no mood to vote in general elections this week. Speaking of heavy hearts and a sense of bitterness, Tehranis complain they are tired of politicians who have failed to keep their word or to raise living […]

The United Arab Emirates said Monday it has issued a licence for a reactor at its Barakah nuclear power plant, the first in the Arab world, hailing it as a “historic moment”. The UAE has substantial energy reserves, but with a power-hungry population of 10 million it has made huge investments in developing alternative power […]