EUROPEAN UNION: Italy today gave crucial support to plans by the European Union to seal a huge free-trade deal with five South American nations that has been negotiated for over 25 years.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was long seen as the key vote in the campaign by European Commission

President Ursula von der Leyen to rally support for the trade deal with the Mercosur nations of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

UGANDA: The United Nations Human Rights Office said today that a presidential election in Uganda next week would be “marked by widespread repression and intimidation” against the opposition and others.

Ugandan authorities have used lawfare, including military legislation, to restrict the activities of politicians and others before voting on January 15, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a new report.

CARIBBEAN: United States forces boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, according to the US military on Friday, as the Trump administration continues to target sanctioned tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.

The US Southern Command said the pre-dawn action showed “there is no safe haven for criminals” as it announced the seizure of the vessel called the Olina.

SOUTH AFRICA: Chinese, Russian and Iranian warships arrived in South African waters for a week of naval drills starting Friday off the coast of Cape Town.

The Chinese-led drills were organised last year under the Brics bloc of developing nations and South Africa’s armed forces said they will bring members of the bloc together to practice maritime safety and anti-piracy operations and “deepen co-operation.”