International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva intends to visit Ukraine, though the timing of the trip has yet to be determined, an IMF spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Georgieva last visited Kyiv in February 2023 and is expected to return as the IMF and Ukraine negotiate a new four-year lending program to replace the current $15.5 billion arrangement.

Ukraine has already received $10.6 billion under the existing program, which was approved in March 2023.

“Our staff remains actively engaged with the Ukrainian authorities on macroeconomic policies aimed at maintaining stability, financing essential expenditures, and restoring debt sustainability with a view to continued IMF support,” the spokesperson said.

Ukrainian officials met with representatives from the IMF, the World Bank, and donor countries on Wednesday on the sidelines of the institutions’ annual meetings in Washington.

The discussions focused on Ukraine’s financing needs as the war with Russia nears its fourth year.

A new loan program is necessary because the current agreement assumed the conflict would end by late 2025, an outlook that no longer appears realistic.

According to sources familiar with the talks, the IMF is working to update its economic framework to reflect the prolonged war and Ukraine’s fiscal challenges.

As in 2023, the IMF will require assurances from G7-plus nations to guarantee the new loan, since the Fund’s rules restrict direct lending to countries engaged in active conflict.

A G7 source said discussions on those assurances are ongoing, noting that the United States has informed its European partners it will not participate in the guarantees, leaving Europe to assume that role.

Ukraine continues to view its partnership with the IMF as a cornerstone of economic stability. Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko recently warned that Kyiv faces an $18 billion shortfall in its 2026 budget, which targets a deficit of about 18.4% of gross domestic product.

The pending IMF program is expected to be critical in helping Ukraine bridge that gap and sustain its economy amid the continuing war.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

China has expressed its readiness to strengthen high-level exchanges and deepen strategic cooperation with France, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, following a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French presidential diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne.

During the strategic dialogue held in Beijing on Wednesday, Wang emphasized that China is willing to enhance mutual trust and expand collaboration across multiple sectors, including civil nuclear energy, aerospace, agriculture and food, artificial intelligence, and new energy.

“China hopes that France will provide solid political guarantees for bilateral relations,” Wang said, according to the ministry’s statement, though no further details were provided on what those guarantees would entail.

The two officials also exchanged views on several international issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the escalating situation in the Middle East, and reforms to the global governance system.

Both sides agreed to maintain close and coordinated communication on these matters.

The dialogue comes as Beijing seeks to bolster ties with European nations amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and rising tensions with the United States.

France, for its part, has pursued a policy of “strategic autonomy” within the European Union, seeking to balance relations with both Washington and Beijing.

The latest meeting underscores a shared interest in preserving stability and advancing practical cooperation, as the two countries prepare for further diplomatic engagements later this year.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

A faction of Colombia’s former FARC guerrilla movement handed over its first batch of weapons and munitions to the government on Wednesday, marking a significant step in President Gustavo Petro’s efforts to end the country’s decades-long armed conflict.

The National Coordinator of the Bolivarian Army (CNEB), one of five dissident groups that emerged after the 2016 FARC peace deal, delivered explosives, grenades, mortars, and other armaments as part of a 14-ton cache it has pledged to surrender.

The symbolic handover took place in the southern town of Puerto Asís, Putumayo Department, in the presence of President Petro and rebel leaders.

The war materiel was later destroyed in a controlled detonation by the Colombian Army in a nearby rural area. Officials said two additional deliveries are expected in the coming days in the neighboring department of Nariño.

CNEB leader Walter Mendoza described the event as “a sign of goodwill for peace,” while expressing frustration over the slow pace of government investment in neglected rural regions.

Mendoza has previously said full disarmament and demobilization will depend on state development projects such as roads, schools, and hospitals.

The CNEB, which has around 2,000 fighters and collaborators, splintered from the Second Marquetalia faction led by former FARC commander Iván Márquez, who in 2019 rejected the original peace accord, accusing the government of failing to uphold its commitments.

Analysts say the progress with CNEB represents one of Petro’s few tangible achievements in his broader “Total Peace” initiative, which seeks to demobilize over 20,000 fighters from rebel and criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining.

Talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) and other dissident factions have stalled in recent months, with limited success beyond small-scale disarmament agreements.

With less than a year left in Petro’s term, the latest gesture by the CNEB could offer a rare glimmer of hope in Colombia’s long pursuit of peace.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will stop buying oil from Russia, marking a potential turning point in Washington’s efforts to cut off Moscow’s energy revenues amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking at a White House event, Trump said the commitment from India, one of Russia’s biggest oil customers, represented a “big step” toward tightening global pressure on Moscow.

“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump told reporters. “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”

India and China have become the two largest buyers of Russian seaborne crude, benefiting from discounted rates since European nations and the United States imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In September, Russia supplied 1.62 million barrels per day to India, roughly one-third of India’s total oil imports.

The Indian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether Modi had made such a pledge.

Trump’s statement comes as his administration ramps up efforts to economically isolate Russia and push for a negotiated peace settlement in Ukraine.

In recent months, the White House has targeted India with tariffs to discourage its energy trade with Moscow. Earlier this year, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian exports after trade talks stalled, followed by another 25% specifically over its Russian oil imports.

While Trump has been vocal about India’s energy ties with Moscow, he has so far avoided direct pressure on China, citing the complexities of the U.S.-China trade relationship and the risk of escalating tensions.

Later on Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he told Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato that Washington expects Tokyo to also stop importing Russian energy.

“Minister Kato and I discussed important issues pertaining to the U.S.-Japan economic relationship and the Administration’s expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy,” Bessent wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The Japanese government did not immediately comment.

Trump said India’s phaseout would not happen overnight but would be completed “soon,” describing it as “a little bit of a process.”

Analysts say any move by New Delhi to halt Russian imports would reshape global oil flows and deliver a serious blow to Moscow’s finances, though it could raise energy costs for India.

Benchmark Brent crude prices fell to a five-month low on Wednesday amid market concerns of oversupply, which could help cushion India’s transition away from Russian oil.

The announcement follows a meeting between Modi and Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, in which the two discussed defense, trade, and technology cooperation.

The appointment of Gor, a close Trump ally, has been viewed as a sign of strengthening ties between Washington and New Delhi despite recent trade friction.

If fully implemented, Modi’s reported commitment would mark a significant diplomatic victory for Trump, and a major shift by one of Moscow’s most important economic partners.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Wednesday to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire following days of fierce fighting and airstrikes along their volatile border that left more than a dozen civilians dead and over 100 wounded, officials from both sides confirmed.

The truce, which began at 1300 GMT, was announced after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and the capital Kabul, escalating tensions between the two neighbours to their worst point since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

According to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the ceasefire was implemented “at Kabul’s request” and aimed at preventing further bloodshed.

However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the truce came at the “insistence of the Pakistani side”, adding that Afghan forces had been ordered to observe the ceasefire as long as Pakistan refrained from further “aggression.”

The violence erupted after Islamabad accused the Afghan Taliban administration of sheltering militants responsible for deadly cross-border attacks in Pakistan.

Kabul rejected the allegations, accusing Pakistan of spreading misinformation and harbouring ISIS-linked fighters to destabilize Afghanistan, claims the Pakistani military has firmly denied.

On Wednesday morning, Pakistani forces reportedly bombed the border town of Spin Boldak in Kandahar, killing several Taliban troops, according to Pakistani security officials.

Afghan officials said the airstrike hit residential areas, killing and wounding civilians. Later, another strike reportedly targeted an area in Kabul, though the intended target remains unclear.

The Italian NGO EMERGENCY, which runs a war victims’ hospital in Kabul, said it received 40 casualties, including five dead, following the explosions.

“We started receiving ambulances filled with wounded people… with shrapnel wounds, blunt trauma, and burns,” said Dejan Panic, EMERGENCY’s country director in Afghanistan.

Both sides exchanged blame for launching ground attacks. The Taliban said Pakistani shelling in Spin Boldak killed more than a dozen civilians and wounded around 100, while Pakistan accused Taliban forces of injuring four civilians in Chaman, on the Pakistani side of the border.

Separately, fighting between Pakistani troops and militants in Orakzai district killed six paramilitary soldiers and nine militants, according to Pakistani security officials.

The renewed hostilities have forced the closure of multiple border crossings, halting trade and leaving hundreds of trucks stranded. The border shutdown is especially damaging for landlocked Afghanistan, which depends heavily on imports from Pakistan for food and basic goods.

The clashes have drawn international concern, with China urging protection for its nationals and investments, Russia calling for restraint, and U.S. President Donald Trump offering to help mediate an end to the conflict.

The flare-up also coincided with a rare visit by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, Pakistan’s regional rival.

During the trip, New Delhi announced plans to reopen its Kabul embassy, while the Taliban said it would soon send diplomats to India, moves seen as part of Kabul’s effort to diversify its foreign relations amid growing tensions with Islamabad.

As the ceasefire takes effect, analysts warn that unless both nations tackle the deeper security and political mistrust driving the violence, the fragile calm may not last beyond the agreed 48 hours.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

Five days after catastrophic floods swept across central and eastern Mexico, killing at least 66 people and damaging more than 100,000 homes, authorities are still struggling to locate 75 missing residents and deliver aid to the worst-hit communities.

The disaster, among the deadliest in recent years, has become a major test for President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose administration is facing sharp criticism over its emergency response and the government’s preparedness.

The president has been met with angry crowds and heckling during visits to disaster zones, a rare setback after a year of soaring approval ratings.

The floods were triggered by torrential rains that caused rivers to overflow, set off landslides, and collapsed bridges across several states, including Veracruz, Hidalgo, and San Luis Potosí.

Entire neighborhoods were submerged, with local residents saying they received little or no warning before the deluge hit.

“There were no scientific or meteorological conditions that could have indicated to us that the rainfall would be of this magnitude,” Sheinbaum told reporters on Monday, noting that authorities had been focused on two Pacific storms rather than the sudden Gulf Coast downpours.

Political analyst Antonio Ocaranza said that while Sheinbaum’s visible presence on the ground has earned some praise, the broader response reflects “a problem of competence in the initial reaction to the tragedy,” citing delays in delivering heavy equipment and supplies.

The crisis has reignited debate over the abolition of Mexico’s Natural Disaster Fund (Fonden), which was dismantled under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador due to alleged corruption.

Critics say its absence has left the government ill-equipped to finance disaster recovery.

Sheinbaum has defended the decision, arguing that “defending Fonden is like defending corruption.” She insisted that sufficient funds remain available, saying 19 billion pesos ($1.03 billion) have been set aside for emergencies, with 3 billion pesos already allocated to the flood response.

Speaking Wednesday in San Luis Potosí, Sheinbaum announced a two-stage relief plan: cleanup operations beginning next week, followed by financial “support” based on the level of household damage, with longer-term efforts focused on repairing roads and drainage systems.

Opposition lawmakers, however, accused the government of improvisation and failing to learn from past crises, such as Hurricane Otis in 2023. “There’s no capacity to respond. It’s always the same response, improvisation,” said Deputy Gibrán Ramírez of the Citizens’ Movement party.

As search and rescue operations continue, survivors in Veracruz, where at least 29 people have died, have expressed frustration and despair.

On Sunday, residents searching for missing relatives confronted Sheinbaum directly, holding up photos of loved ones and demanding faster action.

With entire communities cut off and infrastructure destroyed, Mexico faces a long and painful recovery, one that will test not only the resilience of its people but also the credibility of Sheinbaum’s leadership.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday warned Russia that Washington and its allies would “impose costs” if Moscow refuses to end its war in Ukraine, as he pressed NATO partners to increase military support for Kyiv through a new U.S.-led funding mechanism.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at NATO headquarters, Hegseth declared that the U.S. War Department was prepared to act decisively if necessary.

“If we must take this step, the United States stands ready to do our part in ways that only the United States can do,” he said, without elaborating.

The warning came as President Donald Trump’s administration considers a Ukrainian request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, a move that could significantly expand Kyiv’s strike capabilities.

“Now is the time to end this tragic war, stop the needless bloodshed, and come to the peace table,” Hegseth said, adding: “This is not a war that started on President Trump’s watch, but it will end on his watch.”

Hegseth urged allies to strengthen their contributions to the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a program that has replaced direct U.S. arms donations with a cost-sharing mechanism requiring allies to purchase American-made weapons for Ukraine.

“You get peace when you are strong,” he said. “Not when you wag your fingers, but when you have strong and real capabilities that adversaries respect.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that $2 billion had already been pledged under the PURL program but acknowledged the amount fell short of the $3.5 billion sought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by October.

New commitments from Sweden, Finland, and Estonia were announced Wednesday, but major powers such as France and Britain have yet to contribute.

“Now is the time for all NATO countries to turn words into action,” Hegseth said. “There are no free riders.”

According to Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Western military aid to Ukraine fell by 43% in July and August, underscoring donor fatigue as the war drags into its fourth year.

The institute said most new aid now flows through the PURL framework, with Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden already participating.

Ukraine remains heavily reliant on U.S. and NATO-supplied weapons as it prepares for another difficult winter. Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, more than three and a half years into its full-scale invasion.

Hegseth’s comments signal Washington’s growing impatience with Moscow, and a renewed push to ensure that Western allies sustain, and even expand, their support for Kyiv until peace negotiations can begin.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger, who led the country from 1990 to 1997 and played a pivotal role in advancing reconciliation with the Māori people, has died aged 90, his family announced on Wednesday.

Bolger, who had been suffering from kidney failure and undergoing dialysis, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife Joan, their nine children, and 18 grandchildren, the family said in a statement.

Born in Taranaki in 1935, Bolger entered parliament in 1972 and rose through the ranks of the National Party, becoming its leader in 1986. He became prime minister in 1990 after leading the party to victory, overseeing a period of significant political and social transformation.

During his tenure, Bolger’s government introduced the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system, which remains the foundation of New Zealand’s democracy today.

He also spearheaded the country’s first major Māori settlement agreements, establishing a framework for compensation and reconciliation over historic injustices stemming from colonization.

“Jim modernised the whole process of reconciliation in an effort to bring Aotearoa-New Zealand closer together to reflect a more contemporary reality of our nation,” said Tukoroirangi Morgan, chair of the Waikato Tainui iwi (tribe), which signed the first landmark settlement under Bolger’s leadership.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to Bolger, describing him as “a principled and formidable colleague” and “a worthy adversary who never allowed disagreement to become personal.”

After retiring from politics in 1998, Bolger served as New Zealand’s ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2002.

A committed republican, he advocated for New Zealand’s independence from the British monarchy and declined a knighthood, later being appointed to the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest honour.

Bolger is remembered as a steady and pragmatic leader, whose efforts to modernize New Zealand’s governance and promote unity between Māori and non-Māori communities left a lasting imprint on the nation’s history.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

The United States has begun planning for an international stabilization force to help restore order in the Gaza Strip, two senior U.S. advisers confirmed on Wednesday, marking a new phase in efforts to secure the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave under President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan.

Speaking to reporters during a briefing, the advisers said the proposed force aims to “stabilize the situation on the ground” and prevent renewed clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, whose sporadic fighting continues to undermine the fragile truce.

“Right now, what we’re looking to accomplish is just a basic stabilization of the situation,” one adviser said. “The international stabilization force is starting to be constructed.”

According to the officials, the United States will provide up to 200 troops in support roles, though none will be deployed inside Gaza itself. Instead, the American contingent will operate from nearby bases, assisting with coordination, oversight, and logistics.

A small group of about two dozen U.S. personnel is already in the region to help set up the mission.

Washington is currently in talks with several countries, including Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, and Azerbaijan, to contribute personnel or resources to the multinational force.

“The goal is to use all the different local partners who want to help and be involved,” one adviser added.

The advisers also confirmed discussions about establishing civilian safe zones after reports that Hamas executed seven men in Gaza City accused of collaborating with Israel. The zones would serve to protect noncombatants and prevent further retaliatory violence.

The second adviser stressed that no Gazans would be forced to leave the enclave, emphasizing that reconstruction will focus on areas cleared of Hamas militants.

Trump’s long-term plan envisions Gaza’s rebuilding through international investment, with funding pledges already received from several foreign partners.

However, officials warned that recovery efforts, especially the search for remains of Israeli hostages buried beneath rubble and unexploded ordnance, will take time. The U.S. is considering offering financial rewards for information leading to the discovery of missing bodies.

While still in the early stages, the proposed stabilization force represents the most concrete step yet toward implementing Trump’s postwar strategy for Gaza, one aimed at restoring order, encouraging reconstruction, and paving the way for a new phase of regional diplomacy.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua