The World Health Organisation’s regional director-elect for Africa, Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, has died while undergoing medical treatment in India, Tanzania’s parliament announced Wednesday.

Speaker Tulia Ackson confirmed that arrangements are underway to repatriate Ndugulile’s body, though she did not disclose the cause of death.

In August 2024, Ndugulile was appointed as the incoming Regional Director for the WHO African Region, succeeding Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who completed two five-year terms in the role.

He was set to begin the role in February 2025.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus shared his shock and sadness over Ndugulile’s passing in a post on X.

Ghebreyesus posted, “Shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the sudden passing of Dr Faustine Ndugulile, @WHOAFRO Regional Director-elect.

“My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, and the parliament and people of #Tanzania.”

Israel and Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon, have reached a 60-day ceasefire agreement.

US President Joe Biden said the deal would lead to a “permanent cessation of hostilities”. Biden added that the US would lead another push for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Negotiators have described the Israel-Hezbollah deal as the foundation for a lasting truce.

During the period, Hezbollah fighters are expected to retreat 40 kilometres from Israel’s border, with Israeli ground forces withdrawing from Lebanese territory.

Hours before the agreement, Israeli forces bombarded Beirut’s southern border 20 times in two minutes, with Hezbollah saying it launched drones towards Israel.

On Tuesday, Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed 25 people.

Despite the ceasefire deal, Israel has warned residents displaced by fighting not to return to their homes in Lebanon just yet.

Israel and Hezbollah intensified air strike exchanges in August.

Israeli troops began a land invasion of Lebanon almost two months ago.

On August 25, the Israeli military said 100 of its fighter jets launched pre-emptive strikes into Lebanon after identifying that Hezbollah was “preparing to fire missiles and rockets toward Israeli territory”.

Israel said the jets “struck and destroyed thousands of rocket launcher barrels” across dozens of launch sites in Lebanon.

Shortly after the strikes from Israel, Hezbollah said it launched hundreds of rockets and drones into Israeli territory.

The group said it fired more than 320 rockets, adding that the “first phase” of its attack against Israel was complete.

It said the strikes were a retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander in Beirut by Israel.

President-elect Donald Trump vowed punishment Monday that on his first day in office, he would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Mexico and Canada.

“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump said that on Jan. 20, in one of his first executive orders, he would sign all the necessary paperwork to levy a 25% tariff on all products arriving from the U.S.’s North American neighbours.

“This Tariff will remain in effect until Drugs, in particular, Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” he wrote. “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long-simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”

Trump said in another Truth Social post that he also would levy an additional 10% tariff on top of existing tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States.

“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail,” he wrote. “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through.”

Trump said the additional tariff on Chinese goods would remain in place until it stops allowing illegal drugs to pour into the U.S.

Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump threatened to crack down on illegal migrant crossings along the U.S.’s southern border with Mexico and to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the country. He has vowed to declare a national emergency and use military assets to deport a record number of immigrants who are in the United States illegally.

Despite Trump’s claim that drugs and crime are at never-before-seen levels, violent crime in the United States declined for the third straight year in 2023, including instances of murder, rape and assault, according to estimates released by the FBI in September.

Trump’s decision to use tariffs as a weapon to fight illegal immigration and drugs could be a double-edged sword. Economists warn that slapping tariffs on products shipped into the United States could drive up inflation and interest rates and result in higher consumer prices. Tariffs are taxes on merchandise shipped to the U.S. from other countries.