On January 20, 2026, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria issued a formal statement mourning the passing of Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, who died on January 15, 2026, at the age of 90.  The Mission hailed him as a "fearless advocate for religious tolerance" whose outreach across religious communities would continue to inspire both Nigerians and Americans. Legacy of Tolerance Imam Abdullahi gained international recognition for his heroic actions during the June 2018 violent attacks in Plateau State: Saving Lives: He sheltered and saved approximately 300 Christians by hiding them in his personal home and mosque in Nghar village, Gashish District. Courage Under Fire: He reportedly stood his ground against armed assailants, refusing to release those he was protecting by claiming they were all Muslims. International Honors: In recognition of his bravery, he received the U.S. International Religious Freedom Award (2019) and the Nigerian national honor of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)...

  On January 19, 2026, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin received an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace" for Gaza. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow is currently studying the "nuances" of the proposal through diplomatic channels. The Board is a central part of Trump’s post-ceasefire plan to oversee the governance, reconstruction, and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip. Structure: Chaired by Trump, the board includes a 11-member executive committee featuring high-profile figures such as Jared Kushner, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Membership: Trump has reportedly invited roughly 60 world leaders to join as founding states. Funding: Permanent membership is reportedly offered to nations willing to contribute $1 billion toward Gaza's reconstruction; those who do not pay may be limited to a three-year term. Key Invitees: Other leaders who ...

  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...