On Sunday, January 18, 2026, the South African government declared a national state of disaster following weeks of torrential rainfall and widespread flooding that devastated the northern region and neighboring countries. “I classify the disaster as a national disaster,” the head of South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre, Elias Sithole, said in a statement Sunday. Impact in South Africa Casualties: At least 37 deaths have been confirmed in the northeastern provinces, with 20 fatalities in Mpumalanga and 17 in Limpopo. Infrastructure Damage: The floods have damaged more than 2,600 homes and 31 schools across the two hardest-hit provinces. Preliminary damage estimates in Limpopo alone exceed $240 million. Tourism: Kruger National Park was forced to partially close and evacuate over 600 visitors by helicopter after rising waters inundated access roads and campsites. Regional Impact The severe weather system has affected the broader Southern Africa region, with the total ...

  In January 2026, the European Union (EU) officially removed Nigeria from its list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions for money laundering and terrorism financing. According to a statement by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the regulation, contained in the European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) C (2025) 8460, adopted on December 4, 2025, is in line with updates by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) from its October 2025 Plenary. The development, which takes effect from January 29, 2026, also confirmed the removal of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania from the list, following their successful exit from the FATF list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring after addressing identified strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. “The European Commission acknowledged that Nigeria and the other delisted countries have strengthened the effectiveness of their AML/CFT regimes, closed key technical and operational gaps, and fulfilled the comm...

  OpenAI announced it will begin testing ads in ChatGPT for free and low-cost users in the U.S. in the coming weeks, with clearly labeled, relevant sponsored content appearing at the bottom of chats, while paid Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans will remain ad-free to maintain trust and provide diverse revenue for accessibility. The ads aim to support free AI access by generating revenue, with a focus on relevant products and services based on conversations, but without selling user data to advertisers. This marks a significant shift in the platform's monetization strategy as it manages high operational costs. Key Details of the Ad Introduction Targeted Users: Ads will initially be tested with free-tier and ChatGPT "Go" (the new $8/month tier) users in the United States. Ad-Free Tiers: Higher-level subscriptions, including Plus ($20/mo), Pro ($200/mo), Team, and Enterprise, will remain ad-free. Format and Placement: Ads will appear as clearly labeled, separate boxes at the b...

  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...