The United States has committed up to $792 million over five years to support Malawi’s healthcare system under a new bilateral cooperation agreement that signals a fundamental rethink of how Washington delivers global health assistance in Africa. The deal sits within a broader $936 million cooperation framework that combines US funding with increased Malawian domestic investment, underscoring a move away from donor-led service delivery towards shared responsibility and long-term system sustainability. According to a statement issued by the United States Department of State on January 14, the agreement reflects Washington’s push to rewire global health funding around national ownership, stricter accountability and…
Author: Newsdesk
President Donald Trump on Saturday announced plans to impose a 10 per cent tariff on imports from eight European countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, citing their opposition to American control of Greenland. Trump warned that the levy would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if the United States does not secure a “Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.” He said the tariffs were in response to recent visits to Greenland by officials from Britain, the Netherlands and Finland, and “general opposition” to his efforts to acquire the semi autonomous Danish…
OpenAI has announced that it will be rolling out advertisements in ChatGPT, beginning with a test in the coming weeks. According to the company’s X post on Friday, the test will begin in the U.S., targeting free users and subscribers on the low-cost Go plan, while Pro, Business, and Enterprise users will continue to enjoy an ad-free experience. The move marks a major shift in how the AI platform generates revenue. According to the company, the ads will be tested with users on the company’s free tier and the lower-priced Go plan that it is now expanding globally. In a post on…
Canada has announced new immigration options to make it easier for international medical doctors to obtain permanent residence in the country. The update was disclosed in a post by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The move aims to strengthen Canada’s healthcare system by attracting more qualified doctors to work across provinces and territories. According to IRCC, the new framework gives medical doctors five options to obtain permanent residence through Express Entry and regional, provincial, and territorial programs, and they also introduced a faster process allowing them to begin working while their immigration applications are being processed. “faster 14-day work permit processing…
US President Donald Trump has appointed himself as chairman of a high-powered committee constituted to oversee the reconstruction and governance of Gaza. In a statement issued late on Friday, the US administration confirmed the formation of a ‘Board of Peace’, which is a central pillar to President Trump’s 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza. The board’s responsibilities include “governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation”, the statement said. Trump has also nominated other members to the board, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the President’s son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner,…
Three suspected bandits have been arrested over their alleged involvement in the killing of five forest guards at the Old Oyo National Park in Oloka Village on January 5, 2026. The Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Security, Fatai Owoseni, disclosed this while briefing Governor Seyi Makinde who paid an assessment visit to the Old Oyo National Park office, Oloka Village in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Friday, January 16. Owoseni said the suspects are currently undergoing further investigation. During the visit, Makinde said a request would be made to the military authorities in Abuja for…
The Senate of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), has expelled 60 students from various departments for their involvement in examination misconduct. The decision was taken at the 431st meeting of the University Senate held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, following recommendations from the appropriate academic and disciplinary committees, according to an official bulletin issued by the institution. The Senate said the affected students were found culpable of different forms of examination malpractice after due investigation. Their expulsion was approved in line with the university’s extant regulations, specifically Category 20.17 of the General Examinations and Academic Regulations (GEAR) and relevant provisions of…
Kano State Gov, Abba Yusuf chaired the first Executive Council meeting of 2026, emphasising his administration’s focus on good governance and sustainable development. The meeting, the 37th since the administration took office, was held at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, according to a statement by Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa. The Governor stressed the need to prioritise citizens’ welfare and accelerate development in the state, commending the council’s members for their dedication to implementing policies aimed at improving lives. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and effective service delivery, urging the council members to support the government’s development agenda.
Federal Capital Territory Administration workers under the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) have appealed for urgent action on unresolved welfare issues affecting their morale and productivity. The President of the union, Rifkatu Iortyer, made the appeal at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday. Iortyer explained that the goal of the news conference was to draw the attention of the FCT Administration to the long-standing issues troubling workers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (SDAs). She identified some of the concerns as non-remittance of pension and National Housing Funds deductions; no payments or overheads, and unlawful restriction and centralisation of salary…
China and Canada have announced a new trade deal, which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said would open markets for Canadian businesses and workers. In a post on social media platform X, Carney said China is “a more predictable partner” than the US, and wrote: “We’ve secured a new trade agreement with China – unlocking more than $7 billion in export markets for Canadian workers and businesses.” Carney was in Beijing this week to foster economic ties and a renewed Canada-China partnership. He met China’s President, Xi Jinping, the Premier of China, Li Qiang, and the Chairman of the Standing…