On January 15, 2026, President Donald Trump met with 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado at the White House, where she presented him with her gold medal as a "personal symbol of gratitude". Trump praised the move as a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect". “He deserves it, and it was a very emotional moment,” Machado later told broadcaster Fox News in an interview. Despite the gesture, Trump has backed Maduro’s vice president Delcy Rodriguez over Machado — so long as she toes Washington’s line, particularly on access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. “ Machado presented the 18-carat gold medal in a large frame with an inscription recognizing Trump’s "principled and decisive action" to secure a free Venezuela. Trump's Response: Writing on Truth Social, Trump called Machado a "wonderful woman" and stated she presented the prize to him "for the work I have done". Official Status: While Trump intends to keep the physica...

  On Thursday, January 15, 2026, Russia ordered the expulsion of a British diplomat from the Moscow embassy, accusing the official of being an undercover intelligence officer. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) identified the diplomat as Gareth Samuel Davies, a second secretary at the British Embassy in Moscow. The FSB alleged that Davies was working as an undeclared spy for British intelligence services. No specific evidence was publicly provided. Russia has revoked Davies's accreditation and ordered him to leave the country within two weeks. Summoning of Officials: Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the U.K. charge d’affaires, Danae Dholakia, to issue a formal protest. Official Reactions United Kingdom: The Foreign Office dismissed the accusations as "malicious and baseless," stating that Russia’s actions "undermine the basic conditions required for diplomatic missions to operate". The U.K. is currently "carefully considering" its respons...

  The highly anticipated AFCON 2025 semi-final between Nigeria and host Morocco is set for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 9 PM local time (WAT/GMT+1) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, featuring a clash of Nigerian attackers against the Atlas Lions' strong defense, with Nigeria aiming for a fourth title and Morocco seeking their first since 1976. Key Details: Teams: Nigeria vs. Morocco Competition: 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Semi-Final Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Time: 9:00 PM WAT (8:00 PM GMT) Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco Preview: Nigeria (Super Eagles): Are in strong form, having reached the semis with a perfect record, led by key players like Victor Osimhen, and are chasing their fourth AFCON title. Morocco (Atlas Lions): As hosts, they are under pressure to deliver and want to lift their first AFCON trophy in decades, with a solid squad that includes players like Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui. Matchup: Expect a ...

In a swift move, Real Madrid has replaced manager Xabi Alonso with former B team coach and club legend Álvaro Arbeloa, following a Super Cup final loss to Barcelona. Alonso departs after less than eight months, unable to replicate his success at Bayer Leverkusen, with Arbeloa promoted from his role with Castilla to take the helm, reuniting former teammates. In a separate statement Madrid then announced Arbeloa would take Alonso’s place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old’s contract. “Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s academy since 2020,” said Los Blancos. Key Details: Xabi Alonso's Departure: The decision came after a disappointing Super Cup final loss to Barcelona, with mutual agreement cited for his exit after a turbulent seven-month spell. Álvaro Arbeloa's Promotion: Arbeloa, who has coached within Real Madrid's academy and Castilla since 2020, steps up to lead the first team...

The EU has offered Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers the alternative of entering into price undertakings to avoid the imposition of high tariffs. This mechanism allows individual Chinese EV makers to commit to selling their vehicles in the EU at or above a minimum import price, which would replace the anti-subsidy duties. Details of the EU Offer Minimum Import Price (MIP): The EU's guidance document outlines conditions for Chinese exporters to offer price undertakings, effectively setting a MIP for their EVs. The price must be sufficient to offset the injurious effects of the subsidies found in the EU's anti-subsidy investigation. Individual Assessment: Each offer from an EV manufacturer will be assessed individually and fairly, in accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. This means a broadly applicable minimum price for all Chinese manufacturers is not the current approach. Conditions: Offers can be strengthened by including commitments on sales volumes ...

On  Friday, January 9, 2026 , Donald Trump signed an executive order to safeguard U.S.-held revenue from Venezuelan oil sales from being seized by private creditors or through judicial processes. The White House stated this action was taken to "advance U.S. foreign policy objectives" and ensure the funds were preserved for the economic and political stability of Venezuela. The Order blocks any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process against Foreign Government Deposit Funds. Foreign Government Deposit Funds are defined as the Venezuelan oil revenues and diluent sales held in U.S. Treasury accounts. The Order prohibits transfers or dealings in these funds except as authorized, superseding any prior Orders that might block or regulate them. The Order affirms the funds are sovereign property of Venezuela held in U.S. custody for governmental and diplomatic purposes, not subject to private claims. ADVANCING U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY AND F...

  The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned a suite of new federal tax laws, particularly the consolidated Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and other associated reforms that took effect on January 1, 2026.  The NLC describes these laws as regressive because they place an unfair burden on workers and low-income Nigerians. Meanwhile, Nigeria's taxation system, administered by federal and state authorities, has undergone a major overhaul with the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) 2025. The reforms aim to streamline compliance, broaden the tax base, and align with global standards. Key Reasons for NLC's Condemnation Taxation of the National Minimum Wage: The NLC argues that taxing the national minimum wage is unjust, especially amidst escalating inflation and economic hardship, as it erodes the purchasing power of the poorest workers. Exclusion from Formulation: NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the labor unions, who represent the major taxpayers in the country, were deliberately excluded from...