WORLD IN BRIEF: Trump receives Nobel medal, US boosts Africa security funding, other global stories
Trump accepts Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader
Donald Trump has received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal from María Corina Machado, who described the gesture as gratitude for his support for Venezuelan democracy.
The medal was presented during a White House meeting on January 15, with Trump calling it a “wonderful gesture of mutual respect”. Machado said the move symbolised Trump’s “unique commitment to our freedom”, even as he stopped short of endorsing her as Venezuela’s future leader amid ongoing political uncertainty following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
US approves $413m for counter-insurgency in Nigeria, West Africa
The United States has allocated $413m for counter-insurgency and security operations across Nigeria and West Africa in 2026 under AFRICOM, as insurgency and banditry continue to spread across the region.
The funding forms part of the 2026 National Defence Authorisation Act, which authorises $901bn in total US defence spending and signals deepening US military engagement in Nigeria.
South Korea’s former president Yoon jailed for five years
Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted over his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
Yoon, the first sitting president in the country’s history to be arrested and indicted, faces additional trials that could carry far more severe penalties, including a possible death sentence on insurrection charges.
Israeli strikes kill two in Lebanon as UN flags drone incident
Israeli air strikes have killed two people in southern Lebanon in what Lebanese officials say are fresh violations of a ceasefire with Hezbollah.
UN peacekeepers also reported a drone dropping a grenade near their troops, warning that such incidents endanger civilians and violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Canada and China cut ev, canola tariffs in trade reset
Canada and China have agreed to sharply reduce tariffs on electric vehicles and canola in an initial deal aimed at resetting strained trade relations.
Under the agreement, Canada will allow limited Chinese EV imports at a 6.1% tariff, a sharp reversal from the 100% levy imposed in 2024, as both sides signal renewed economic engagement.
Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.
