Dr. Akinwumi Adesina: “I am greatly honored to receive the prestigious African Lifetime Achievement Award in Accra. Thank you ⁦ The AfriHeritage for the great recognition. It’s an honor shared with my dearest wife Grace—my jewel, strength, anchor & partner of 42 years. TheAfriHeritage💕

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: “We are watching you. Our capabilities are not the same—our military and yours. Remember, this is NOT A FAIR FIGHT We know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them. While you are digging out of bombed-out and devastated facilities—WE ARE ONLY GETTING STRONGER… We are LOCKED AND LOADED—on your critical dual-use infrastructure, on your remaining power generation, and on your energy industry. We would rather not have to do it, but we are ready to go at the command of our president and at the push of a button.”

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life early Thursday at the family’s home in Annandale, Fairfax County police said, in what authorities described as a sudden and tragic act of domestic violence amid a pending divorce. Officers responded to the home just after midnight after one of the couple’s teenage children called 911, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said during a morning news briefing. Both of the couple’s children, who are in high school, were inside the home at the time of the shooting. “One of the children was...

Myanmar’s former President Win Myint was freed Friday as part of a broad prisoner amnesty by newly inaugurated President Min Aung Hlaing to mark the traditional New Year, state-run media reported. The pardon order applied to more than 4,500 prisoners, but it was not immediately clear how many people imprisoned for opposing military rule were included and there was no sign that 80-year-old former leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed. Win Myint is Suu Kyi’s longtime loyalist and was elected as president in 2018. He was arrested on Feb. 1, 2021, the same day the military seized power...

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Thursday that while Cuba does not want military aggression from the United States, his country is prepared to fight should it happen. Díaz-Canel spoke during a rally that drew hundreds of people to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the declaration of the Cuban Revolution’s socialist essence. “The moment is extremely challenging and calls upon us once again, as on April 16, 1961, to be ready to confront serious threats, including military aggression. We do not want it, but it is our duty to prepare to avoid it and, if it becomes inevitable, to defeat it,”...

U.K. Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch spoke to BBC Breakfast after top civil servant at the Foreign Office Olly Robbins, said he will leave his post after his department did not inform the Prime Minister Keir Starmer ,that Lord Peter Mandelson had failed security vetting for the role of US ambassador. Starmer claimed he was unaware that the Foreign Office had overruled the recommendation of security officials in early 2025 not to give Peter Mandelson the job. Many considered Mandelson a risky appointment because of his past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The top Foreign Office civil servant,...

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has no plans to resign over revelations that his scandal-tainted pick for U.K. ambassador to Washington was appointed despite failing security checks, officials said Friday. Starmer says he was unaware that the Foreign Office had overruled the recommendation of security officials in early 2025 not to give Peter Mandelson the job. Many considered Mandelson a risky appointment because of his past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The top Foreign Office civil servant, Olly Robbins, took the fall for the decision and resigned late Thursday. Starmer is due to make a statement to Parliament...

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is starting a two-day visit to Spain on Friday where he and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez will meet with other leaders, mostly of mid-to-small-sized countries, who are concerned with the fate of the democratic order and the rise of the populist far right. Lula and Sánchez are both outspoken in their criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened both with punitive tariffs. They are considered standard-bearers of progressive or liberal politics on their respective continents, where reactionary parties and far-right populism have been on the rise for years. Lula and...

Benin ‘s Constitutional Court on Thursday confirmed the presidential election victory of Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni in the West African country’s weekend election. Wadagni, 49, a political protege of outgoing President Patrice Talon, was declared the winner of Sunday’s election with 94.27% of the votes, with Paul Hounkpè, his opponent, garnering only 5.73%. The voter turnout was 63.57%, according to the court. The opposition candidate has five days to file any appeals before the court announces the final results. Analysts had expected a huge win for Wadgani given the support of Talon, who is leaving office after ruling the country...