Earlier this week, the United States tech giant Nvidia lost over a sixth of its value to a newly founded Chinese tech company. 

The U.S. AI giant Nvidia and other major tech firms connected to AI, such as Microsoft and Google, saw their values tumble on Monday in the wake of the Chinese AI chatbot.

The Chinese AI chatbot named “DeepSeek” launched just last week with just a fraction of the cost of its rivals and has already become the most downloaded free application in the United States, raising lots of questions about the future of America’s AI dominance and the scale of $500bn (£400bn) investments the US firms are planning in building AI infrastructure.

DeepSeek AI is reported to be trained around the amount of $6 million, a fraction of Nvidia AI cost, with the use of already existing technology and open source code software that can be used, modified, or distributed by anyone free of charge. The chatbot AI emergence was due to the United States restrictions on the sale of advanced chip technology that powers I to China. 

Explore to learn more about the popular Deepseek AI invention and its effect on other AI stock markets.

South Sudan Blocks Access to all Social Media

Due to the current unrest in South Sudan, the authorities have issued a directive, instructing all internet service providers to block access to all social media platforms for a minimum of 30 days.

According to the National Communication Authority (NCA), the order is to curb the spread of footage showing the killings of the South Sudanese nationals in the neighboring Sudan, which has resulted in violent protests and retaliatory attacks against Sudanese nationals.

The shutdown has raised lots of concerns about digital rights, press freedom, and government transparency in South Sudan, where authorities have previously been accused of suppressing dissent.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) coordinator, Muthoki Mumo, has condemned the authorities measure as a blanket act of censorship, warning that it restricts public access to information and hinders journalists’ ability to report.

Local News

• Dangote Refinery To Receive 12m Barrels Crude Oil From US: The $20bn refinery has resorted to crude importation as the local supply challenges hindered the refinery’s push to reach full refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
• Sokoto State Begins The Payment of N70,000 Minimum Wage: The Sokoto State Government, under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, has announced its immediate implementation of the new N70,000 national minimum wage for all state civil servants, local government employees, and the Local Government Education Authority. The government has also allocated N500 million monthly to offset unpaid gratuities and an additional N300 million for retirees who left service from 2023 onward.
• Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially leave ECOWAS: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger officially exited West Africa’s main political and trade group on Wednesday after more than a year of diplomatic tensions. The country rulers accused ECOWAS of imposing inhuman, illegal, and illegitimate sanctions.
• NCAA suspends Max Air operations for three months: The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, has suspended Max Air’s domestic flight operations following a tire burst incident involving one of its aircraft in Kano on Tuesday night.

The Billionaire’s Regret

Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates has opened up again about his divorce with his ex-wife Melinda Gates, describing it as the mistake he regretted the most. This was detailed in a “candid profile” published on Saturday, January 25, by The Times of London, as reported by multiple reports on Sunday.

Speaking to The Times, Bill Gates revealed that he had initially aspired to replicate the 45-year marriage of his parents. 

Reflecting on their dynamic, Gates noted, “I encouraged Melinda to be a little calmer than my mother was, but we were both quite driven. I spent more time with the kids than my dad did, but the ratio was still 10:1, with Melinda doing most things for the kids. We had a great time.”

Gates also expressed appreciation for the bond they shared over the years.

“There is a certain wonderfulness to spending your entire adult life with one person because of the memories and depth of things you have done and having kids together,” he said.

“When Melinda and I met, I was fairly successful but not ridiculously successful—that came during the time that we were together. So, she saw me through a lot.”

Despite the emotional toll of the separation, Gates shared that he feels more cheerful now.

Japanese TV Executives Resign Over TV host’s Sex Scandal

The chairman and president of one of Japan’s top biggest networks, Fuji TV, Shuji Kano and Koichi Minato, have resigned in the wake of a sexual misconduct allegation against the company’s famous TV host, Masahiro Nakai.

The Fuji TV host Masahiro Nakai was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party allegedly organized by Fuji TV staff. 

In a press conference on Monday, Fuji TV chairman Shuji Kano and president Koichi Minato bowed as they announced their resignations after an emergency board meeting. They apologized to viewers as well as stakeholders for the trouble and anxiety caused by a scandal that has rocked Japan’s entertainment industry.

Mr. Minato admitted that the company had known about the allegation against Nakai shortly after the alleged incident took place, but they chose not to disclose it at the time to protect the woman’s physical and mental recovery as well as the protection of her privacy.

The sex scandal has led to dozens of companies pulling out their advertisements from the network, including Nissan and Toyota car manufacturers.

Other Trending News

• Pakistan Ex-Prime Minister and Wife File Appeal Against Graft Convictions: On Monday, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, appealed against their convictions for graft. A special graft court found the pair guilty of corruption and corrupt practices over a welfare foundation they established together called the Al-Qadir Trust.
• Kremlin Awaiting ‘Signals’ From US: In a statement made by the Kremlin spokesman this week, the Russian government has announced that they are still waiting for a signal from the newly elected United States president, Donald Trump, about a possible meeting between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• UK Appoints British-Nigerian As Trade Envoy To Nigeria: A British Nigerian politician, Florence Eshalomi, has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy to Nigeria. She confirmed her appointment on her X profile on Tuesday, making her the second Nigerian to hold the position.
• Belgium warns citizens against traveling to DR Congo: Belgium on Wednesday warned its citizens against traveling to DR Congo, as Brussels Airlines scrapped a flight to Kinshasa after violent protests erupted over the conflict rocking the east of the country.