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Donald Trump Honored with Inaugural Fifa Peace Prize Ahead of 2026 World Cup Draw

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United States President Donald Trump was awarded the first-ever Fifa Peace Prize at a ceremony in Washington DC ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup draw. Introduced by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, the award honors individuals who have taken “exceptional actions for peace” and fostered global unity. Trump received a golden trophy, medal, and certificate before addressing the audience, claiming he had saved “tens of millions of lives” through diplomatic interventions and highlighting record ticket sales for the upcoming World Cup.

The ceremony, held at the Kennedy Center, was attended by football stars, US sports personalities, and the leaders of co-hosting nations Mexico and Canada. Trump, alongside Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, conducted the ceremonial World Cup draw. The event featured a blend of entertainment and politics, including a performance by the Village People and Trump’s commentary on soccer terminology in the United States.

Critics have questioned Fifa’s political neutrality, noting the close relationship between Trump and Infantino and the timing of the award. While some argue that the Peace Prize celebrates extraordinary efforts in a divided world, others view it as an alignment with Trump’s administration. Fifa officials defended the move, emphasizing football’s global influence and its role in recognizing contributions to peace.

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Zuma Family Rift Deepens Over Alleged Russia Recruitment

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South Africa is facing a political storm after Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, filed a criminal complaint accusing her sister, MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, of recruiting South African men to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. Zuma-Mncube alleges 17 men were deceived into believing they were travelling to Russia to train as bodyguards for Jacob Zuma’s political party, Mkhonto Wesizwe (MK).

Police have confirmed they are investigating the claims, while Zuma-Sambudla has not responded publicly. The South African government previously acknowledged distress calls from citizens who said they had been lured into mercenary groups with promises of lucrative jobs. Analysts warn that high unemployment—over 30% nationally and even higher among youth—makes many vulnerable to such schemes.

The allegations come as Zuma-Sambudla already faces terrorism-related charges connected to unrest in July 2021, when violent protests after Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment left more than 300 people dead. She denies wrongdoing and says the case is politically motivated. The accusations add new pressure on the MK party, which Zuma formed after his presidency and led to third place in last year’s elections.

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Albanian PM Accuses UK Home Secretary of “Ethnic Stereotyping” Over Asylum Remarks

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Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of engaging in “ethnic stereotyping” after she highlighted Albanian families while outlining major reforms to the UK asylum system. Mahmood told MPs that around 700 Albanian families were staying in taxpayer-funded accommodation despite having failed asylum claims — a figure Rama dismissed as insignificant compared with the UK’s wider post-Brexit challenges. He stressed that Albania has cooperated closely with the UK, noting that more than 13,000 people have been returned under a bilateral agreement since 2022.

Rama criticised the Home Secretary for echoing “far-right rhetoric” and argued that Albanians are net contributors to the British economy with comparatively low benefit usage. He warned that repeatedly singling out Albanians amounted to demagoguery rather than policy, adding that official decisions should not be shaped by ethnic generalisations. His comments come amid long-standing tensions with UK politicians over how Albanian nationals are portrayed in immigration debates.

Mahmood made the remarks while announcing sweeping changes to what she described as the UK’s “out of control and unfair” asylum system. Under the proposed reforms, refugee status would become temporary, the wait for permanent settlement would increase from five to twenty years, and families with no right to remain could be removed. The UK would also introduce capped legal migration routes while continuing to prioritise the removal of failed asylum seekers “regardless of who they are.”

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German city bans ‘silent fox’ gesture in schools over far-right link

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A northern German city has become the first to ban a classroom hand gesture, commonly used to encourage silence, due to its similarity to a far-right Turkish salute.

The “silent fox” gesture, where the hand mimics an animal with upright ears and a closed mouth, has been a popular teaching tool in Germany and elsewhere to signal children to be quiet. However, authorities in Bremen argue that it closely resembles the extremist “wolf salute,” used by the right-wing Grey Wolves group, making it potentially confusing and politically charged.

This issue gained prominence after Turkish footballer Merih Demiral used the salute during the Euros, leading to a diplomatic dispute and his subsequent ban by Uefa. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the use of the symbol, calling it an unacceptable platform for racism.

Following the incident, Turkish fans protested the ban, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan defended Demiral, suggesting the ban was politically motivated. Germany, with its significant Turkish population, felt the tension deeply.

Patricia Brandt, spokesperson for Bremen’s education authority, stated that the city had no choice but to ban the gesture, as its political implications were incompatible with Bremen’s values. She also noted that many educators found the gesture outdated and too authoritative.

The Grey Wolves, a nationalist and Islamist extremist group, is associated with terrorism and hatred towards various ethnic and religious groups. Despite its controversial nature, the silent fox gesture is still used globally under different names like the whispering fox or the quiet coyote in the US.

The ban in Bremen reflects a broader debate in Germany about sensitivity in teaching methods, with some schools now opting for alternative ways to signal silence, such as gongs or different hand signals.

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Spain Demands Apology After Argentina’s President Insults PM’s Wife

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Spain has demanded a public apology after Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, implied that the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Begoña Gómez, was corrupt during a far-right rally in Madrid. Although not directly naming her, Milei’s remarks were aimed at Ms. Gómez, whom he associated with corruption, saying, “When you have a corrupt wife, let’s say, it gets dirty.”

The controversy follows an investigation launched in April by a Spanish court into Ms. Gómez over allegations of influence peddling, which an opposition party had raised. The right-wing anti-corruption group making the allegations has since conceded they might be unfounded, and prosecutors called for the dismissal of the case last month due to a lack of evidence.

In response to Milei’s remarks, Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, demanded an apology and warned that Spain might cut diplomatic ties with Argentina if none was forthcoming. Albares stated that Milei’s comments insulted both Spain and its leader.

However, Argentina’s Interior Minister Guillermo Francos stated that no apology would be issued by Argentina. Instead, he insisted that Spain should apologize for past remarks made about Milei. This follows a recent incident where a Spanish minister suggested that Milei had used drugs, which Milei condemned as slanderous.

The diplomatic tensions between Spain and Argentina have intensified since Milei, known for his contentious remarks about other world leaders, assumed office. He has previously labeled Brazil’s President Inacio Lula da Silva as an “angry communist” and Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador as “ignorant.”

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German far-right met to plan ‘mass deportations’

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned an alleged far-right meeting where plans to deport millions of people, including German citizens, were discussed. The secret gathering, reported by Correctiv, included senior figures from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and neo-Nazis from Germany and Austria.

The focus was on “remigration,” the removal of individuals with non-German ethnic backgrounds. Despite the AfD officially rejecting remigration, participants reportedly expressed doubts about its feasibility, with some supporting the idea for years. Chancellor Scholz emphasized that discrimination based on ethnic origins would not be tolerated in Germany, and participants may face investigation by the intelligence agency.

Correctiv investigative outlet revealed that around 20 individuals, including senior AfD members and neo-Nazis, attended a secret meeting near Berlin to discuss the deportation of people with non-German ethnic backgrounds, even if they are citizens of Germany. The meeting reportedly took place near Potsdam last November, with Correctiv noting the participation of two members of the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) party. Although the AfD officially rejects remigration, internal contradictions were exposed by Gerrit Huy, an AfD member of the German Parliament, who affirmed the party’s commitment to remigration. The AfD confirmed the attendance of Roland Hartwig at the meeting but denied any shift in its migration policy.

Chancellor Scholz, responding to the report, stated that Germany would not allow differentiation based on immigrant backgrounds and that participants in the alleged meeting could face investigation by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the domestic intelligence agency. He underscored the importance of learning from history and emphasized that discrimination based on ethnic origins would not be tolerated in the country. The far-right AfD is currently the second-largest party in Germany, trailing behind the CDU, and has faced scrutiny over its stance on immigration and alleged ties to extremist groups.

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Italian outcry as MP Pozzolo’s gun wounds man at New Year’s Eve party

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A New Year’s Eve celebration turned into a political controversy when it was revealed that a man was lightly wounded by a gunshot fired from a gun owned by Italian far-right MP Emanuele Pozzolo, a member of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party. Although Pozzolo admitted bringing the gun, he denied firing the shot, which injured a 31-year-old man in the leg.

The incident occurred in the small town of Rosazza in the northern Piedmont region, leading local prosecutors to launch an investigation. Pozzolo, 38, reportedly showed his .22 caliber mini-revolver, a weapon he has a license to own, to party guests. The gun was passed between guests and accidentally went off, hitting one person in the leg.

Andrea Delmastro, a party colleague and junior justice minister, claimed he was unaware of Pozzolo having a gun and had stepped outside when the shot was fired. The wounded man happened to be the son-in-law of a member of Delmastro’s security team.

Pozzolo invoked parliamentary immunity to avoid gunpowder residue tests on his clothes. Prime Minister Meloni’s party stated that the incident had no “political relevance” and emphasized that local authorities would investigate. Meloni has not yet responded to the incident.

Critics, including the centre-left opposition leader Elly Schlein, called for action, describing the individuals involved as “incompetents” and a danger to security. Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi criticized Brothers of Italy, calling them “inadequate, incompetent, and dangerous.”

Pozzolo, previously a member of Matteo Salvini’s League before joining Brothers of Italy, has been a vocal opponent of Covid-19 vaccines, labeling them “experimental,” and has opposed Italy’s “Green Pass” system requiring proof of immunization for access to certain venues.

In a separate incident, a 55-year-old woman was shot and killed at a New Year’s Eve celebration near Naples, with a man arrested in connection to the death.

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