UGANDA: A prominent opposition figure in Uganda will stand trial on the serious charge of treachery, a military court ruled today, escalating the legal trouble Kizza Besigye faces ahead of presidential elections scheduled for 2026.

Conviction of treachery carry the death penalty.

Mr Besigye, who has contested the presidency four times, went missing in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on November 16.

Days later, he and his co-accused, an assistant named Obeid Lutale, appeared before a military court in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

LEBANON: New President Joseph Aoun has asked the head of the International Court of Justice, Nawaf Salam, to form the country’s new government after Mr Salam was named prime minister by a large number of legislators on Monday. 

Mr Salam, in common with Mr Aoun, has the support of the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Hezbollah legislators abstained from naming any candidate for the prime minister's post.

FRANCE: New Prime Minister Francois Bayrou announced today the renegotiation of an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Mr Bayrou told the National Assembly: “I’m choosing to put this subject back on the agenda, with the social partners, for a short time and under transparent conditions.”

NATO: Secretary-general of the western military bloc, Mark Rutte, announced today that the alliance is launching a new mission to protect undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region.

Mr Rutte told reporters that the mission “will involve a range of assets, including frigates and maritime patrol aircraft, among others and will enhance our vigilance in the Baltic.”

He said that a small fleet of naval drones will be deployed to support the mission.