Trump Plans to Merge USAID into the State Department.
The Trump administration aims to fold the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) into the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday he would lead the aid agency as staff stayed away from its Washington offices.
Rubio said USAID functions would continue but must align with U.S. foreign policy. Democratic lawmakers called the move illegal and warned it would hurt American interests abroad.
President Trump criticized the agency, claiming it faced "tremendous fraud" but offered no evidence. His adviser Elon Musk, who leads an unofficial cost-cutting team called the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), posted messages calling USAID...
Namibia's Trade Deficit Narrows Sharply in December.
Namibia cut its trade deficit to N$119 million in December 2024, down from N$5.5 billion in November. The Namibia Statistics Agency reported this marked a strong improvement from the N$969 million deficit seen a year earlier.
Trade patterns showed that South Africa remained the main source of imports, and China maintained its position as Namibia's biggest export market.
Mining products led December exports, NSA statistician general Alex Shimuafeni said. Diamonds, uranium, and non-monetary gold topped the list. Fish plus fruits and nuts rounded out the top five exports.
Re-exports fell 4.9% from November but rose 50.1% compared to last year. These shipments mainly included...
M23 Rebels Declare Ceasefire as Regional Leaders Plan Crisis Talks.
The M23 rebel group announced a humanitarian ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday. This comes ahead of planned talks between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
M23 and Rwandan forces captured Goma, North Kivu's capital, last week. The fighting has moved to South Kivu province, raising concerns about an attack on its capital, Bukavu.
The River Congo Alliance, which includes M23, promised to stop fighting for "humanitarian reasons." The group said it would not try to take Bukavu or other cities despite earlier threats to march on Kinshasa.
Past peace attempts have failed. Six ceasefires broke down in...
Africa Embraces Female Leadership as Namibia Elects First Woman President.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president, sees hope in Namibia's recent election. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's victory marks another breakthrough for women leaders on the continent.
"When I took office in 2006, a female African head of state felt groundbreaking," Sirleaf said. Her role paved the way for more women to enter high offices across Africa.
Nandi-Ndaitwah's win proves women can overcome political barriers. Her success sends a clear message to young African women: the presidency lies within reach.
Sirleaf noted that female leaders bring vital qualities to government. They often excel at teamwork and building fair societies, which...
Monica Geingos Pledges to Uphold Late President's Legacy.
Former Namibian First Lady Monica Geingos said at Heroes Acre on Tuesday that she plans to preserve President Hage Geingob's legacy according to his wishes.
The one-year death commemoration drew President Nangolo Mbumba, First Lady Sustjie Mbumba, President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and Prime Minister Saraa Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi joined other parliament members and citizens at the ceremony.
Geingos revealed that President Geingob wanted his autobiography to highlight his leadership principles and contributions to Namibia rather than personal matters. The book, written by Information Ministry Executive Director Audrin Mathe, will...
Early Childhood Centers in Zomba Face Crisis Amid Funding Shortages.
Officials report that early childhood programs in Malawi's Zomba district have failed due to severe funding gaps and poor facilities.
The Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Affairs found serious problems during visits to Tigwirizane and Namiwawa childcare centers. Committee chair Savel Kafwafwa said the centers lack basic resources to operate.
"Zomba receives K500,000 monthly to run these centers, but this must support 4,000 caregivers across 943 facilities," Kafwafwa said. He called for increased national funding to address the crisis.
Zomba District Commissioner Reignhard Chavula acknowledged these challenges need urgent attention. "We can handle...
Malawi Airports Need $55 Million for Critical Upgrades.
Malawi's Civil Aviation Authority needs $55 million to upgrade its two main airports to meet international standards by 2026.
The bulk of the funds—$35 million—would go to Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe. Chileka Airport in Blantyre requires $20 million in improvements, officials told Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee.
"Aviation has strict security standards we must follow," said Madalo Nyambosye, Principal Secretary for Administration at the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. These include staff training, new terminal equipment, and runway upgrades.
The ministry plans to raise funds through new Airport Development Charges. International travelers will pay $10...
DAPP Launches Education Project for Girls and Disabled Children in Dowa.
Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Dowa will start a new four-year project to help girls and children with disabilities in local schools. The program aims to train 21 primary school teachers across three zones - Boma, Kapita, and Mvera - in new teaching methods.
DAPP Malawi brings over 20 years of education experience to this initiative. The organization runs four Teachers' Training Colleges and several other education projects in partnership with Malawi's Ministry of Education.
At a District executive committee meeting in Dowa, DAPP Malawi Programs Officer Ndamiwe Munthali outlined plans to improve school hygiene and sanitation. These improvements...
Old Mutual Malawi Plans to Plant 10,000 Trees Amid Sustainability Concerns.
Old Mutual Malawi has announced plans to plant more than 10,000 trees in Mzuzu and Blantyre. The Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) reports that many firms plant trees mainly for publicity, without proper care plans.
At a tree-planting event at Mgathira Primary School in Mzuzu, WESM's Environmental Education and Communications Manager Ausward Bonongwe raised concerns about poor corporate planning.
"Many companies plant trees for the cameras but ignore key factors like site selection, soil tests, and seedling choices," Bonongwe said. "This leads to low survival rates and hurts our reforestation work."
Old Mutual has signed an agreement with...
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